Vitamin D deficiency is a common issue, affecting 1 billion people worldwide. That’s approximately 50% of the global population.
Researchers are continuously uncovering the numerous roles that vitamin D plays in keeping our bodies strong and healthy. However, one thing is clear: its significance to our well-being is paramount.
Signs of a Vitamin D Deficiency
While there are often no symptoms or signs of a vitamin D deficiency, there are some indicators to watch out for. If you’re experiencing more exhaustion than usual or sudden muscle pain or mood changes, your vitamin D levels may be low.
Here are some potential symptoms of low vitamin D:
1. Weak, achy muscles and/or bones
Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb calcium, which is essential for strong bones. Deficiency may cause pain or weakness in bones or muscles and increase the risk of developing bone diseases like osteoporosis over time.
2. Constant fatigue
Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones, muscles, and the production of energy in cells. A shortage of vitamin D can leave you persistently tired and decrease your stamina.
3. Hair loss
Vitamin D is processed by skin and hair cells that make keratin. Without enough of it, keratinocytes struggle to regulate your natural hair growth and shedding cycles.
4. Delayed wound healing
Vitamin D is crucial for skin cell regulation and the function of platelets, which help with blood clotting and tissue repair. A deficiency can slow down wound healing.
5. Overeating
Some studies indicate that low levels of vitamin D may impair satiety and lead to overeating or even binge eating, especially in teenagers.
6. Weight gain
Lower vitamin D levels are associated with a higher body mass index (BMI) and metabolic issues such as diabetes. This can potentially slow down metabolism and hinder weight loss efforts.
7. Brain fog
Some studies suggest that a vitamin D deficiency can cause brain fog and memory problems, as well as age-related cognitive decline.
8. Mood issues
Vitamin D plays a role in the metabolism of neurotransmitters like serotonin. A deficiency can lead to emotional disturbances, depression, and/or anxiety.
9. Sleep problems
Research suggests that vitamin D plays a role in regulating melatonin and other aspects of the sleep-wake cycle. If you’re deficient, you may have trouble falling or staying asleep.
10. Dizziness
A lack of vitamin D can cause dizziness, as it’s essential for regulating blood pressure and fluid balance.
11. Heart issues
Vitamin D protects heart cells and the lining of blood vessel walls. Therefore, deficiency can elevate the risk of heart disease.
12. Frequent infections
Vitamin D is crucial for healthy immune cell function. If you’re deficient, you may get sick more often than usual.
How to Determine if You’re Deficient in Vitamin D
Your doctor can provide a simple blood test to check your vitamin D levels.
People with darker skin tones produce vitamin D less efficiently due to higher melanin content. This makes them more prone to deficiency.
Seniors aged 65 and older may also produce less vitamin D than in their earlier years, especially if they spend limited time outdoors.
Best Sources of Vitamin D
Some of the best sources of vitamin D include:
- Sunlight
- Fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, sardines, and cod liver oil
- Egg yolks
- Mushrooms
- Beef liver
- Fortified dairy products like milk and yogurt
- Fortified non-dairy milk products, such as almond, soy, and oat milk
- Fortified orange juice
- Fortified breakfast cereals
In addition to sunlight and food sources, you can also take a vitamin D supplement. Let's explore how to properly supplement with vitamin D.
How to Supplement with Vitamin D Properly
If you’re under 65, doctors typically recommend a daily intake of 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D3. For those over 65, the recommended intake may increase to 800 IU.
Experts recommend taking vitamin D3 (animal-sourced) as opposed to D2 (plant-sourced) because the body absorbs D3 more easily, and it keeps vitamin D levels high for a longer period.
In cases of significant deficiencies, a doctor might prescribe a higher dose. It’s important to work closely with your doctor to ensure you receive the correct dosage, as taking too much vitamin D can cause complications like nausea, kidney stones, or toxicity.
Can You Take Too Much Vitamin D
Frequently Asked Questions
Is holistic healing safe?
Holistic Medicine does not pose a danger as many people think. However there are risks associated with this treatment. Most common side effects are headaches, dizziness (drowsiness), nausea, dizziness or dizziness, constipation, diarrhea, insomnia, and constipation. These side effects must be understood and weighed against the potential benefits of alternative treatments like acupuncture.
However, holistic medicines have not been linked to any deaths.
Talk to your doctor before you begin any new treatment plan.
What is the distinction between holistic medicine, alternative medicine and holistic medicine?
Holistic medicine addresses the whole person, including mind, body and spirit. Holistic medicine considers all aspects of a person's health. This includes the spiritual, psychological, and environmental factors that are often overlooked in conventional medicine. Alternative medicine is used to treat conditions like arthritis, asthma, and allergies.
What does holistic actually mean?
Holistic means whole-based. Holistic means seeing the whole picture and not just parts of it. This can be hard because we are used seeing things as parts.
Most people think only in terms of white and black. But actually, there is an infinite variety of shades of grey.
So, when working on a project, try to see everything from different angles. Take a look at it from every angle.
You should try to see it all as one. How does each of its components interact with one another?
If you do find a problem, try to figure out why. And don't forget to consider the impact of any change you make.
Complementary and Alternative Healthcare: Does it Have Evidence?
Although evidence for complementary and other medicine is still being developed, there are many benefits to these treatments. They might have tried conventional therapies but were unsuccessful, or they might want to try alternative treatments because they feel it offers more benefits than the conventional ones. Alternatively, they might seek complementary and alternative medicines as part of a holistic approach to health. Patients should always check if any complementary and alternative medicines they use are supported by scientific research. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure if a treatment is effective. It can save you both time and money.
Statistics
- category.[111]Edzard Ernst characterized the evidence for many alternative techniques as weak, nonexistent, or negative and in 2011, published his estimate that about 7.4% were based on “sound evidence.” However, he believes that may be an overestimate. (en.wikipedia.org)
- In 83% of the cases, the readers agreed. (en.wikipedia.org)
- These studies found that 38.4% concluded positive or possibly positive effects for CAM (12.4%), 4.8% concluded no effect, 0.7% concluded harmful effects, and 56.6% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
- In the 17% in which they disagreed, a third reader agreed with one of the initial readers to set a rating. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The concept of regression toward the mean implies that an extreme result is more likely to be followed by a less extreme result. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
liebertpub.com
- Games for Health Journal
- The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials on Acupuncture to Treat Insomnia
doi.org
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- A sociological perspective on the rise and fall of complementary and alternate medicine – PubMed
- PubMed – Holistic medicine
cam.cancer.gov
How To
What should I look for when looking for a qualified holistic doctor
How to find a good doctor who specializes in holistic medicine?
The best doctors are those who specialize in the field they practice. Holistic medicine is what we are referring too. This means that doctors should be able to treat their patients holistically. It is important for them to understand how to treat the whole person, not just their symptoms. They should understand holistic health and why you want to see a holistic doctor.
The doctor should be able to understand holistic health as well as complementary and alternative therapies (CAM), such chiropractic care, massage therapy, and acupuncture.
Holistic health practitioners should also be able to diagnose your condition and explain the different treatments available to make an informed decision about your treatment options.
You should also inquire if the doctor is certified through professional organizations like The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, or the American Holistic Medical Association. NBOHMCA certifies in many areas such as naturopathic medicine (naturopathy), acupuncture and homeopathy, clinical nutrition (herbalalism), and aromatherapy.
Our directory can help you find holistic practitioners in your area. If you don't see a practitioner listed, you might be able to look online for one.
Ask your local hospital or doctor to verify if they offer holistic care.
For books and other resources about holistic health, you can visit your local library.
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This blog is a source of general information and discussion on health and related topics. Information and materials on this blog, on the website, or in any of the connected materials are not intended to replace or used as a substitute for the advice of a medical professional, diagnosis, or treatment. This blog does not represent the application of any nursing, medical or other health professional advice or diagnosis. We are unable to diagnose health conditions, offer second opinions or provide specific treatment recommendations via this blog or on our website.
If you or another person is suffering from a medical issue and you are concerned, consult your doctor or seek out other medical professional treatment as soon as possible. Do not disregard medical advice from a professional or delay seeking it due to information you seen on the blog or website or in any of the linked materials. If you're experiencing an emergency medical situation, dial 911 or seek emergency medical assistance on the closest phone immediately.
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By: Dick Benson
Title: Deficient in Vitamin D? Signs of a Vitamin D Deficiency and How to Remedy
Sourced From: alternativemedicine.com/immunity/deficient-in-vitamin-d/
Published Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2023 15:28:15 +0000
Frequently Asked Questions
Is holistic healing safe?
Holistic Medicine does not pose a danger as many people think. However there are risks associated with this treatment. Most common side effects are headaches, dizziness (drowsiness), nausea, dizziness or dizziness, constipation, diarrhea, insomnia, and constipation. These side effects must be understood and weighed against the potential benefits of alternative treatments like acupuncture.
However, holistic medicines have not been linked to any deaths.
Talk to your doctor before you begin any new treatment plan.
What is the distinction between holistic medicine, alternative medicine and holistic medicine?
Holistic medicine addresses the whole person, including mind, body and spirit. Holistic medicine considers all aspects of a person's health. This includes the spiritual, psychological, and environmental factors that are often overlooked in conventional medicine. Alternative medicine is used to treat conditions like arthritis, asthma, and allergies.
What does holistic actually mean?
Holistic means whole-based. Holistic means seeing the whole picture and not just parts of it. This can be hard because we are used seeing things as parts.
Most people think only in terms of white and black. But actually, there is an infinite variety of shades of grey.
So, when working on a project, try to see everything from different angles. Take a look at it from every angle.
You should try to see it all as one. How does each of its components interact with one another?
If you do find a problem, try to figure out why. And don't forget to consider the impact of any change you make.
Complementary and Alternative Healthcare: Does it Have Evidence?
Although evidence for complementary and other medicine is still being developed, there are many benefits to these treatments. They might have tried conventional therapies but were unsuccessful, or they might want to try alternative treatments because they feel it offers more benefits than the conventional ones. Alternatively, they might seek complementary and alternative medicines as part of a holistic approach to health. Patients should always check if any complementary and alternative medicines they use are supported by scientific research. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure if a treatment is effective. It can save you both time and money.
Statistics
- category.[111]Edzard Ernst characterized the evidence for many alternative techniques as weak, nonexistent, or negative and in 2011, published his estimate that about 7.4% were based on “sound evidence.” However, he believes that may be an overestimate. (en.wikipedia.org)
- In 83% of the cases, the readers agreed. (en.wikipedia.org)
- These studies found that 38.4% concluded positive or possibly positive effects for CAM (12.4%), 4.8% concluded no effect, 0.7% concluded harmful effects, and 56.6% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
- In the 17% in which they disagreed, a third reader agreed with one of the initial readers to set a rating. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The concept of regression toward the mean implies that an extreme result is more likely to be followed by a less extreme result. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
liebertpub.com
- Games for Health Journal
- The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials on Acupuncture to Treat Insomnia
doi.org
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- A sociological perspective on the rise and fall of complementary and alternate medicine – PubMed
- PubMed – Holistic medicine
cam.cancer.gov
How To
What should I look for when looking for a qualified holistic doctor
How to find a good doctor who specializes in holistic medicine?
The best doctors are those who specialize in the field they practice. Holistic medicine is what we are referring too. This means that doctors should be able to treat their patients holistically. It is important for them to understand how to treat the whole person, not just their symptoms. They should understand holistic health and why you want to see a holistic doctor.
The doctor should be able to understand holistic health as well as complementary and alternative therapies (CAM), such chiropractic care, massage therapy, and acupuncture.
Holistic health practitioners should also be able to diagnose your condition and explain the different treatments available to make an informed decision about your treatment options.
You should also inquire if the doctor is certified through professional organizations like The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, or the American Holistic Medical Association. NBOHMCA certifies in many areas such as naturopathic medicine (naturopathy), acupuncture and homeopathy, clinical nutrition (herbalalism), and aromatherapy.
Our directory can help you find holistic practitioners in your area. If you don't see a practitioner listed, you might be able to look online for one.
Ask your local hospital or doctor to verify if they offer holistic care.
For books and other resources about holistic health, you can visit your local library.
