Be in the know and Stay Healthy
We all know that Vitamin D is good for your health. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps keep your bones strong, helps to regulate sleep, and positively impacts your mental health and outlook on life. A lack of Vitamin D in the body can lead to an array of health issues and the fact is that with less time outdoors in the winter months, almost 1 in 4 adults are considered to be D deficient. This is often part of what leads to Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. While this is far more prevalent up north than it is here in Florida, it does still apply.
Vitamin D Deficiency has become more common in recent years as people spend less and less time outdoors. This is leading to fatigue, depression, and bone issues.
Wondering if you are low on Vitamin D? Check out the symptoms
- Exhaustion
- Poor Sleep
- Feeling achy often down to the bone
- Losing hair
- Muscle weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Pale appearance
- Getting sick often
A simple blood test can gauge your Vitamin levels.
How to Overcome Vitamin D Deficiency and Feel Like Yourself Again
Sunlight! – Make time to get out in the sun even if it’s cold and just for a few minutes. When your skin is exposed to sunlight the UV rays on your skin created Vitamin D within the body.
Eat with Boosting your Vitamin D in mind – Food such as these can help your body take in Vitamin D.
- Canned fish (sardines or herring)
- Fatty fish (tuna, salmon, trout, mackerel)
- Egg yolk
- Fish liver
- Beef liver
- And fortified options including:
- Milk
- Soy milk
- Almond Milk
- Breakfast Cereals
- Orange juice
Take Vitamin D via supplement – Supplement with D3 or take a cod liver oil supplement. The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin D for young adults is 600 international units. A doctor may write you a prescription-strength dose of vitamin D if your levels are very low.
Are You at Risk for D Deficiency?
- Those with darker skin are better UV protected. Because of this, they require more time in the sun to create natural Vitamin D. This leads blacks and Hispanics to have a higher rate of D deficiency.
- Those who are obese
- Those who have osteoporosis
- Those with celiac disease
- Or those with inflammatory bowel disease
All have an elevated risk
If you are concerned you have low Vitamin D levels and would like to talk to a doctor about it, schedule an appointment with Internal Medicine, Lipid, and Wellness of Southwest, Florida – Your concierge service doctors. 239-362- 3005 Ext 200. www.imlwp.com.
