Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that our bodies need to help absorb calcium and maintain healthy bones. Although it’s not found naturally in many foods, you can get it from salmon, sardines, fortified milk, and cereals. Also, your body makes vitamin D when it’s in direct sunlight because it converts a chemical on your skin into an active form of the vitamin. That said, vitamin D deficiency is a common health problem that many face due to certain medical conditions such as Crohn’s disease, which make it difficult to absorb vitamin D, or other reasons, and depending on the Cleveland Clinic, “Vitamin D deficiency is a common global problem. Around one billion people worldwide are vitamin D deficient, while 50% of the population is vitamin D insufficient. Approximately 35% of adults in the United States are deficient in vitamin D. As a result, many turn to supplements and eat this, not that. Health spoke with experts who share what to expect when taking daily vitamin D. As always, consult with your doctor for medical advice and before taking supplements. Many can have adverse interactions with certain medications and cause harmful side effects. Read on and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure signs you’ve already had COVID.
Lisa Richards, nutritionist and author of the candida diet explains: “The signs and symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency can easily pass as a side effect of your busy and exhausting lifestyle. However, chronic fatigue and other symptoms can be signs of a serious vitamin D deficiency. Others surprising signs of vitamin D D deficiency includes hair loss, muscle pain and depression.”
sad betterMPH, RD, LD says, “Taking vitamin D daily can improve the health and energy of your immune system. Vitamin D supplementation can be beneficial, especially for those with a known deficiency, because it can be difficult to obtain through the diet. Some symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are commonly confused with symptoms of other conditions. Chronic fatigue associated with vitamin D can also be confused with tiredness associated with aging or typical life stress.”
Richards states: “Vitamin D is essential in allowing your body to use the calcium it is given to support bone health and growth. When vitamin D levels are low, this process is not as efficient and our bones they can weaken. While we may not notice this initially, the side effects of our chronic vitamin D deficiency can show up later in life through brittle bones.”
According to Richards, “Vitamin D is becoming popular due to the immune support benefits that have been observed. The active form of vitamin D will help mitigate the body’s inflammatory response and increase the body’s production of immune cells.”
Best tells us, “The relief you get from your fatigue once you correct a vitamin D deficiency is surprisingly significant. If you have chronic fatigue, muscle weakness, mood disorders, and/or bone weakness, you may have a vitamin D deficiency.
According to Best, “Because vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, it is possible to reach toxic levels of this vitamin when taken in supplement form. Side effects are relatively mild at first and include nausea, vomiting, frequent urination and kidney problems. However, it can lead to more serious effects, such as bone problems and kidney stones. Vitamin D is a nutrient responsible for increasing the absorption of calcium, phosphate, and magnesium. The average individual needs between 400 and 4,000 IU per day.”
heather newgen
Heather Newgen has two decades of experience reporting and writing on health, fitness, entertainment and travel. Heather currently works as a freelancer for various publications. Read more about Heather
