Symptoms That May Indicate You’re Low In Vitamin D Status

Vitamin D is a nutrient that we all need to be concerned about because it is one that will have a large influence over our overall health. One thing that many people don’t realize is how many different ways vitamin D impacts us. Some may understand it to be a bone boosting nutrient, which it is, but really, it does so much more than that.

Many foods don’t contain vitamin D, so it can be hard to get it in sufficient amounts. Luckily there are great supplements out there that do make it easier.

So this said, how can you tell if you’re potentially low in this nutrient and should consider supplementing? Let’s take a closer look so you can get the full story on vitamin D deficiency.

Increased Body Weight

Did you know that lack of vitamin D can make you more prone to weight gain? Those who are obese are 35% more likely to also be low in vitamin D status, showing that the two may go hand in hand.

Those who are overweight are 24% more likely to be low in vitamin D status than their normal weight peers. Clearly something is going on here.

While vitamin D probably won’t stop you from gaining weight if you overeat, it may provide some protective factors.

Risk For Diabetes

It should come as no surprise then that vitamin D may also be indirectly linked to diabetes. If you’re overweight, your chances of falling ill to diabetes are already higher. Now it appears as though those who suffer from diabetes are also more likely to be deficient in vitamin D.

If you currently don’t have diabetes but are just worried about possibly developing it at some point down the road, this is definitely cause for adding the supplement to your daily diet plan.

Heart Disease

Another disease that you want to be on the lookout for because it is one of the biggest killers in today’s society is heart disease. Heart disease can come about due to a great number of reasons - poor diet, lack of exercise, too much smoking, stress, and so on.

Low vitamin D may also be a contributing link. While not getting enough vitamin D is unlikely to cause heart disease, it has been seen that very low levels of vitamin D do put you at a greater risk of dying due to heart failure or sudden cardiac death. For this reason, it pays to get more in.

It’s as simple as popping a vitamin so there’s not really any excuse for not doing it.

Lupus

When your body is inflamed, you feel miserable. While short term inflammation can be a good thing and is all part of the body’s own internal healing process, when inflammation becomes a chronic long-term thing, it can lead to pain and great discomfort.

Lupus, a condition where your body’s own immune system is actually going to attack its own tissues and organs is associated with low vitamin D status. Those who suffer from it are often prescribed corticosteroids, which can help manage low vitamin D levels.

Load up on the vitamin D and you may be able to side-step it entirely.

Premature Labor

If you’re a woman who’s pregnant, know that vitamin D is important for not only you, but your growing baby as we ll. Women who have low vitamin D stores are more likely to go into labor early compared to their counterparts who are reaching their vitamin D needs.

This is another good reason why taking a proper prenatal vitamin is a must. Without it, you’re putting more than just yourself at risk.

PMS

Not pregnant but dealing with a severe case of PMS? Vitamin D might help with this as well. Women who are taking enough vitamin D going into their period tend to experience a lower severity of all the unpleasant symptoms associated with pregnancy such as cramps, irritability, and low energy levels.

This doesn’t mean you won’t ever get PMS, but the severity and possibly duration of your symptoms will be a lot lower.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Nutrient deficiencies are very often linked to inflammatory bowel disorder, a condition where your digestive system and bowel movements are never working quite optimally. If you happen to have the IBD called ulcerative colitis, you’ll also often experience great pain when eating certain foods.

The good news is that these conditions are often manageable and can be treated by taking the right nutrients. Vitamin D is one of them that can get you feeling better and not dreading every single meal that comes your way.

Hair Loss

If your hair has been feeling a little thinner than normal, this might actually be due to nutrient deficiencies as well. While many nutrient deficiencies can show up in terms of hair loss, vitamin D is one of the main players. Vitamin D is needed for hair c cycling to occur, which is what pushes the hair from the resting phase into the growth phase.

When you’re not getting enough vitamin D into your diet, it’s very likely that you’re going to notice your hair isn’t growing as fast as it should or it may not be growing at all. What may result is you’re left with places where hair has fallen out but not replaced.

Gum Disease And Tooth Loss

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for the bones and teeth so it shouldn’t be surprising that when you aren’t getting enough vitamin D, it can lead to tooth decay and even tooth loss.

While brushing your teeth is important to maintain a healthy and attractive smile, so is getting your vitamin D in.

So make sure that you aren’t overlooking the benefits that vitamin D holds. If you aren’t sure if you’re getting enough, check out these symptoms or read up on others that may be taking place. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin so it is possible to get too much, however most people do not have to worry about this. It’s getting too little that’s the issue.