Welcome to Vitamin D 101 – All About the Sunshine Vitamin

When approaching a healthy diet, people often take into regards proteins, carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Every single component is important when it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle but there are few nutrients that are overlooked and most ignored; one of these include Vitamin D. Yes, the sunshine vitamin. It is a steroid hormone that is produced from the cholesterol in the skin when it comes in contact with sunlight.

When you were younger you probably heard your elders say that playing in the sun gives you Vitamin D. While they were right to some extent, sunlight might not provide you with an adequate amount of Vitamin D so it is important to incorporate vitamins through supplements and dietary changes.

Pexels | In fact, it is reported that only 41.6% of the US population has Vitamin D deficiency

Here’s What It Is

In simple words, Vitamin D is fat-soluble in nature. That means that once it enters your body, it gets absorbed into the fats that are present and they can often be stored for quite some time. However, there are 2 dietary forms of Vitamin D available:

1. Vitamin D3: It is also referred to as cholecalciferol and is sourced from animal products like fatty fish and egg yolks. Vitamin D3 is said to be more effective and efficient when it comes to increasing the Vitamin D rates in the blood.
2.  Vitamin D2: This Vitamin D subtype is called ergocalciferol which is sourced from plants, yeast, and mushrooms.

Pexels | The sunshine vitamin could be hiding in places you never even thought to look

Spotting Vitamin D Deficiency

So you know that by taking supplements and making dietary changes, you can incorporate Vitamin D into your lifestyle but how do you know if you are doing enough? There are some subtle signs and changes that can appear over time and indicate a potential deficiency. Usually, if you face these certain signs and symptoms, your doctor will run a few tests and determine whether it is a Vitamin D deficiency or any other underlying issue. So, it is important for you to keep an eye out for the following signs.

1. One of the leading signs of Vitamin D deficiency is bone-related issues such as rickets. Since Vitamin D is essential for strengthening and facilitating the growth of your bones, the deficiency could lead to the patient suffering from weak bones.
2. Similarly, the lack of Vitamin D in your diet can also lead to onset osteoporosis, increased risks of fractures, and sometimes, the body takes longer to recover from such injuries.
3. Lastly, apart from many other signs, some of the important signs can be muscle weakness, fatigue, and cramps.

Pexels | Be sure to take even your little ones for regular consultations

So, next time you visit a doctor, make sure to ask them to recommend you a Vitamin D supplement.