Know Why Your Body Needs Vitamin D

Our body needs regular proportions of Vitamin D to absorb calcium and phosphorus, along with aiding in bone growth. Risking your body to adequate quantities of Vitamin D means helping in the onset of bone abnormalities such as fragile bones – Osteoporosis and soft bones – Osteomalacia.

Are You Vitamin D Deficient?

Here are some symptoms of this vitamin that are observed in adults:

Stress fractures in hips, pelvic and leg regions.

Severe bone or muscle pain that makes it difficult to climb stairs or get up after sitting on the floor.

Fatigue, tiredness, aches and pains.

Doctors generally diagnose this deficiency by prescribing a blood test. Sometimes, they may even suggest you take a few X-rays to investigate overall bone health.

Sadly, most urban residents are Vitamin D deficient because:

We tend to spend humongous amounts of time indoors – either in our offices or at home.

Most of our tall skyscrapers block the natural sunlight.

Our cities experience dangerously high pollution levels.

How To ‘Up’ Vitamin D levels?

Thankfully, this vitamin (also called the Sunshine Vitamin) is naturally produced by our skin when we expose it to sunlight. Alternatively, you can even up your vitamin D levels by consuming certain foods and supplements.

All pregnant women are usually advised to take 400 IU supplements of vitamin D each day. This will help the baby get enough vitamin d for the first few months of life

Dr. Ashish, M.B.B.S., M.D.

Benefits Of Vitamin D

Next time you fret at the thought of spending some time in the basking glory of the morning sun, remember these benefits that this Vitamin could bless you with:

1. Fighting Depression

Every second person in our city today is fighting some form of depression. This vital vitamin helps to regulate mood and ward off depression. Most people who experience anxiety are known to have Vitamin D deficiency too.

2. Weight Loss

Many studies have proved that people who are trying to shed those extra pounds should add Vitamin D supplements to their diet. That’s because Vitamin D has an appetite-suppressing effect.

Along with this, Vitamin D is also known to help in treating autism, autoimmune disorders, neuromuscular diseases, etc.

3. Stronger Teeth

Good teeth make a good smile, no? Absolutely! And the most critical factor for our happy, healthy teeth is Vitamin D. As per research, people who lack vitamin D have problems with chipping teeth enamel, gaps, etc.

4. Mentally Sharp And Agile

Being forgetful, are you? If yes, then you need more Vitamin D. Vitamin D is known to boost memory function, information processing ability and much more. If you are unsure of your Vitamin D levels, speak to your doctor to be prescribed a blood test.

5. Boosts Overall Health

Vitamin D helps keep common colds, flu and germs away. Taking regular Vitamin D supplements can help to boost your immunity system to defend your body against infections and diseases.

6. Lean Abs

Want to lose weight but tired of trying different diets? You might want to start your day with a delicious glass of fresh orange juice (mind you, no juice box can replace fresh juice!). Orange juice is filled with the goodness of vitamin D. According to research, people who drink vitamin D-fortified orange juice; we’re able to lose weight successfully. However, stick to drinking one glass of juice a day.

7. Healthy Heart

Did you know lacking vitamin D or having deficient levels of vitamin D is a significant cause of heart trouble? If your family has a history of heart ailments, you might want to get your vitamin D levels checked ASAP! To avoid heart problems, ensure vitamin-D-rich foods are included in your diet.

8. Lustrous Hair

Growing old with a head full of hair without any bald patches is a dream come true. Vitamin D plays a significant role in determining good hair, i.e., it can help revive the hair follicles. This is true, especially in the case of male pattern baldness.

9. Risks of Cancer

Cancer is a deadly disease and unfortunately, we often overlook the nutritional status of the patient suffering from the disease. Lacking vitamin D is a common point in many cancer patients. It is best to get a test done if you have a family history of cancer.

Now, if you are thinking about how you should up your Vitamin D levels in this season when there is a dearth of sunlight, worry not! Here’s a list of essential food sources that help to increase Vitamin D levels naturally:

• Oatmeal
• Milk
• Cereal
• Orange juice – Fortified
• Tofu
• Ricotta cheese
• Mushrooms

People with low levels of vitamin D may speak to their doctor about the nano vitamin D supplements. Your doctor can prescribe you the correct dose and duration for any vitamin D supplement that you may need.

You can boost Vitamin D content in your body by incorporating dry fruits such as almonds, raisins, prunes, and figs. Also meat, mushroom, and yogurt are also good sources of vitamin D.

Dr. Ashish, M.B.B.S., M.D.

Do not consume these in excess and be aware of a toxic condition called Hypervitaminosis D which is nothing but excessive Vitamin D in the body, a rare but serious condition.

People who suffer from Vitamin D toxicity generally experience:

• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Kidney and liver ailments

Routine blood tests to check vitamin D levels can help you maintain them in a healthy range.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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Ref

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532266/#:~:text=Patients%20with%20a%20prolonged%20and,D%20deficiency%20leading%20to%20osteoporosis.
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26204630/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2912737/
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8483281/#:~:text=Excessive%20vitamin%20D%20causes%20marked,granulomatous%20diseases%20and%20lymphoproliferative%20malignancies.

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