Learn about Vitamin D Deficiency and Alternative Treatments

Learn about Vitamin D Deficiency and Alternative Treatments
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Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency

If you are wondering about the possibility of identifying vitamin D deficiency, and alternative treatments for improving your vitamin D levels, you’ll see that the symptoms are many, but the good news is that the remedies are simple.

The possible symptoms associated with vitamin D deficiency are varied and include many different body systems. The following are some of the most common:

The Inability to Fight Colds and Flu: People who constantly catch every bug that’s going around are likely to have low vitamin D levels. A lack of vitamin D compromises the immune system, making it difficult for the body to fight seasonal illnesses as effectively as it should.

Osteoporosis: Rickets is what many people think of when they think of vitamin D deficiency, but bone problems like osteoporosis are more common. If you have brittle bone disease, you may have low vitamin D levels.

Gum Disease: Inflamed gums are a sign of vitamin D deficiency. If your gums bleed when you brush your teeth, you may need to have your vitamin D levels checked.

Fatigue: Chronic fatigue can frequently be explained by a lack of nutrients. Vitamin D is one nutrient that will cause fatigue when there is a shortage in the body.

Depression and Anxiety: If you have recently become anxious and/or depressed, have your vitamin D levels checked. People who notice a correlation between the winter season and their depression are most likely to suffer from a deficiency of vitamin D. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD is caused from a lack of this nutrient due to low amounts of sunshine during this time of year.

Muscle Pain and Limb Weakness: Sore muscles and weak arms and legs can be caused by vitamin D deficiency.

Systemic Inflammation: When the body is low in vitamin D, overall inflammation is the results. This can cause many problems in all body tissues and organs. Asthma and allergies, as well as high blood pressure are only a few problems that can come from inflammation.

Food Intolerance: Inflammation due to vitamin D deficiency can be a factor in the development of food intolerance.

Obesity: Studies have shown that many obese people are deficient in vitamin D. The jury is still out on whether or not obesity can be caused by a vitamin D deficiency, but there does seem to be a connection.

Hypersensitive Skin: Vitamin D deficiency can be at the root of some sensitive skin issues.

Treating Vitamin D Deficiency

Most people just assume that the only way to improve a vitamin deficiency is to take supplements of the deficient nutrient. The following are some simple methods for improving vitamin D deficiency, and alternative treatments like these are easy, yet effective. While it is certainly true that you can improve vitamin D levels with supplements, those who have a significant deficiency need much more than the RDA. Instead, taking 2,000-5,000 mg per day will restore vitamin D levels much faster and more effectively. Eating wild salmon 3 times a week can also boost vitamin D levels. In addition to supplements and diet, removing any food intolerance from the diet will improve the absorption of this nutrient. Getting at least 15 minutes of sun without sunscreen is a great way to increase vitamin D levels without popping a pill, and it packs a bigger punch than anything that can be added to the diet.

Resources

1. Web MD: https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/are-you-getting-enough-vitamin-d

2. Stanford Wellsphere: https://stanford.wellsphere.com/wellpage/symptoms-of-vitamin-d-deficiency

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