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Top 10 Signs You Have a Serious Deficiency in This One Vitamin
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People are just coming around to the fact that vitamin D is much, much more important than we ever realized before. In fact, taking vitamin D while we are still young can be very good for us in the long run. Studies recently done at the University of Zurich confirmed what we already suspected; that consistently getting sufficient amounts of vitamin D are absolutely necessary to maintain healthy bones.
Unfortunately, eating healthy foods is simply not enough. Very few foods contain sufficient amounts of vitamin D to maintain good health. In order to get sufficient amounts of vitamin D through your diet, you would need to eat two servings of fatty fish (such as salmon) every single day. We could also try to get more vitamin D through safe sun exposure, but even for light skinned persons, you would need one hour of sun each and every day for proper body functioning. This isn’t exactly practical for most people.
In fact, vitamin D isn’t what you would call a stand-alone vitamin. In order to work well, vitamin D needs other vitamins such as magnesium and zinc.
Just a few decades ago, doctors believed that vitamin D was only important for our teeth and bone health. New studies show that this vitamin plays a complex role in the proper functioning of the human body, not to mention its ability to lower the risk of developing diseases.
Even though research has shown the potential healing power of this vitamin, not everyone is on the vitamin D bandwagon. Our modern lifestyle of working inside building has only contributed to America’s vitamin D deficiency.
Are you one of the millions of people who are deficient in this important vitamin? Of course the only way to know for sure is to take a blood test. You can ask your doctor to do this test, or buy a do it yourself test. Before you spend money on a test, see if any of the following 10 signs of vitamin D deficiency apply to you.
1. Psoriasis
UK PubMed Central published a study in which subjects with psoriasis were given synthetic vitamin D supplements and saw dramatic improvements in their skin condition.
2. Weakness in the muscles
This is perhaps the most common symptom. Skeletal muscles need vitamin d to work properly and their receptors that recognize this vitamin must be supported with sufficient levels of vitamin D.
3. Sensitivity to pain
Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to chronic pain, especially for African Americans.
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4. Sadness/Depression
Women with low levels of vitamin D are twice as likely to have depression, according to a study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. It’s especially important for pregnant women and in our early years to satisfy the body’s need for vitamin D. The brain has vitamin D receptors that need this vitamin for proper brain development and mental functioning in our later years.
5. Bone fractures
We all know vitamin D is important for our bones, but when you don’t get sufficient amounts, you bones become weak and it’s much easier to develop stress fractures. Some studies show that your risk could be as much as doubled if vitamin D levels fall too low.
SEE ALSO: 8 Common Diseases Caused from a Lack of Vitamin D
6. Susceptibility to the flu
Children that are low in vitamin D levels predispose them to developing respiratory diseases such as the flu or pneumonia, according to a study published in the Cambridge Journals.
7. High blood pressure
Even our hearts depend on vitamin D. Congestive heart failure is linked to a deficiency in this vitamin. Harvard University conducted research among its nurses and found that women with low levels of vitamin D had as much as a 67 percent increased risk of developing high blood pressure.
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8. Periodontal disease
If you suffer from chronic gum disease you are already well aware of the swelling and bleeding that comes with it. Consider taking more vitamin D as it encourages the body to make cathelicidin and defensins, compounds that lower the bacteria level in the mouth due to their microbial properties.
9. Lower endurance levels
Several studies have shown that a lack of this vitamin reduces the aerobic capacity as well as overall endurance levels.
10. Cancer
A study done at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington DC found that there was a connection between a reduced risk of breast cancer in those who had high intakes of vitamin D. These studies were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research and they stated that higher doses of this vitamin was linked to as much as a 75 percent reduction in cancer growth overall as well as a 50 percent reduction in tumor cases for those who already had developed cancer. An interesting note to this study was the ability of vitamin D supplements to help control the growth of breast cancers, especially breast cancer that was sensitive to estrogen. Read also about the link of Vitamin D defficiency to prostate cancer.
Prevention is the best cure. You don’t need to be nervous about developing these health conditions. You can save yourself a lot of pain and thousands of dollars, as well as gain priceless peace of mind simply by taking long walks in the sunshine, eat plenty of green leafy vegetables, and take supplements if you live in places where there is little sunlight in the winter.
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