Very few people get all the necessary vitamins and minerals from their diet alone, and even if you do take a daily multivitamin, you might have some deficiencies that you aren’t aware of. Vitamin D deficiency is the most common medical condition worldwide, and it might be causing symptoms that you haven’t noticed.
At BodyLogicMD of Hartford in Glastonbury, Connecticut, Dr. Anita Petruzzelli provides specialized nutrient testing and customized pill packs to help you get the vitamins and minerals your body needs to stay healthy. One of the most common issues she sees in her patients is Vitamin D deficiency.
If you’re interested in boosting your health, getting on a supplement plan is the first step to correcting your vitamin deficiencies.
Like many other deficiencies, the signs of a vitamin D deficiency are often subtle and insidious. Many people live for years with vitamin D deficiencies, and just accept the symptoms as part of their life.
If you suspect you’re not getting enough vitamin D, look for these signs and symptoms.
Plenty of us are busy and tired, but you might be surprised by how much your deficiency is dragging you down. Other factors might contribute to your fatigue, but increasing your vitamin D intake can improve your energy levels.
When you think of our bones, your minds jump immediately to calcium. However, vitamin D plays an important role in calcium absorption. Older people, especially post-menopausal women, should up their vitamin D intake to keep their bones healthy.
Studies show that vitamin D plays a vital role in wound healing and preventing inflammation. Without it, your body might struggle to heal flesh wounds, leading to cuts and scrapes that take forever to heal.
Believe it or not, vitamin D plays an important role in your mood. Depression, especially seasonal depression, has been linked to a lack of sunlight and vitamin D. While taking supplements won’t cure your mental illness, getting more vitamin D can help alleviate your symptoms.
As you can probably guess, vitamin D is essential to your immune system as well. If you frequently end up ill from colds, the flu, and other infections, it might be a sign that your immune system needs a vitamin D boost.
Vitamin D isn’t your average vitamin. Every single cell in your body has a vitamin D receptor, and it functions more like a hormone than a vitamin. You can get vitamin D from foods, particularly fish and dairy, but you need more than your diet can provide.
Sunlight helps your skin metabolize cholesterol into vitamin D, but most people don’t get enough sun to produce healthy levels. Certain factors can put you at risk for vitamin D deficiency, including your age, skin color, and distance from the equator.
Those who stay inside and wear sunscreen every day are also more likely to be deficient. This isn’t a call to action to expose your skin to the sun — you can get a healthy dose of vitamin D from supplements.
Think you might have Vitamin D deficiency? Call our office at 860-375-4935 or request an appointment online.
