Vitamin D deficiency can wreak havoc on your health, but it’s not always immediately apparent that the lack of vitamin D is what’s wrong.
We all know getting your daily vitamins is incredibly important. Few are as important as Vitamin D. Are you getting enough though? Here are a few simple tidbits about Vitamin D and how to know if you’re getting enough or if you’re running a bit low.
What Is Vitamin D And Why Do You Need It?
The first question in your mind is probably what is vitamin D and why do I need it? Vitamin D is a key element of absorbing calcium into your body. Simply put Vitamin D is incredibly important to having and maintaining strong, healthy bones. You need to make sure that you have the recommended daily amount of Vitamin D in your diet at all times. If you don’t, you’ll be low in vitamin D and that’s really bad. You just can’t afford to be short of Vitamin D.
What Causes Vitamin D Deficiency?
- You just don’t get enough vitamin D in your diet.
- You’re overweight.
- You don’t get out(side) much
- You have dark skin
- Your kidneys have trouble processing vitamin D
- You can’t process vitamin D (usually caused by a medical condition such as Crohn’s Disease)
Health Issues Caused By Vitamin D Deficiency
- Asthma
- Increased risk of cancer
- Higher chances of having cardiovascular (heart) disease
- Impairment issues (dementia, depression, Alzheimer’s)
Simply put, the stakes are pretty high when it comes to not getting your Vitamin D. Do you really want to increase your risk of cancer or asthma or heart problems? Do you still think Vitamin D deficiency is a minor or trivial issue? Well, it’s not. Hopefully, you see that now.
Not everyone gets the recommended daily amount of vitamin D from their normal eating habits, though that doesn’t automatically mean you are experiencing a vitamin D deficiency. You can still get your vitamin D on without eating it? How’s that? The sun is a great source of Vitamin D. You can get your daily fill by spending a day under the rays of the sun (with ample sunscreen of course).
What To Do If You’re Low On Vitamin D
So if you do have a vitamin D deficient, what do you do about it? You have several options. You can talk to your doctor to see if taking a vitamin d supplement is right for you. You can also increase your intake of Vitamin D rich foods, such as soy milk, fish, eggs, milk, fortified orange juice, or just get out in the sun? Have you ever heard of a better excuse to work on your tan?
How much should you take? The recommended daily amount is 2000 IU’s for adults, and half that for kids. You can get your 2000 IU’s any way you like, but you do need to get, or you’re running at a vitamin d deficiency.
Many suggest that if you do decide to take a vitamin D supplement, that you spread your vitamin out over the course of the day for better absorption. The theory is that there is only so much vitamin D (or any other vitamin for that matter) the body can handle at any one particular point in time, so it’s pointless to give it any more than that amount. If you take 2000 of vitamin D for example, in the form of say 9 capsules, you might spread it out over the day, taking three with your breakfast, three with lunch, and three with dinner. That way, you get the maximum bang for your buck and don’t run the risk of taking too much at one time. The word danger may be subjective, but still it’s not a good idea to take more than the recommended daily amount.
Looking At Supplements
Another thing to think about when dealing with a vitamin D deficiency is not all vitamin D supplements are the same. Some brands are better than others. Consult your doctor or health care professional to find the brand that’s right for you.
Be creative. If you have a vitamin D deficiency, it’s not the end of the world and there are multiple ways to deal with the issue. There are different ways for different people so you can’t help but find the solution to the problem if you’re dedicated and consistent. There is a certain investment cost in terms of time and money, but it is certainly cheaper and better than dealing with the health consequences of not dealing with it. Who wants to deal with cancer or heart disease? Nobody! So why not do everything you can to avoid the issues?