The Power of Vitamin D

With fall quickly approaching and daylight hours starting to wane, the question you will need to ask yourself is, Will I still get enough vitamin D each day? According to recent studies, there’s a good chance you won’t. In 2009, researchers reported that the levels of vitamin D in the U.S. population had dropped between the years of 1988 and 1994, and then again between 2001 and 2004. But, not only did average levels drop, more than 75 percent of the people studied had inadequate levels of vitamin D in their blood overall.

The reason being - similar to Omega 3 - we as humans do not produce vitamin D naturally. Our only 2 options for obtaining vitamin D is from 1) the environment - the sun being our primary source and 2) from foods. But, other factors such as lifestyle, race and age can put you at risk for a deficiency.

Who is more at Risk for Being Vitamin D Deficient?

If you fit any of the following descriptions, you may need to consider getting more vitamin D in your life:

• You live in a Northern Latitude
• You are over 65
• You shun the sun
• You are African American (or have darker skin)
• You keep a Vegan diet
• You are obese

So, what’s the deal with Vitamin D anyway? Is it really that crucial to our health, and why?

What Damage Can a Vitamin D Deficiency Do?

Vitamin D deficiency is linked with an increased risk for serious diseases. Reduced levels of the vitamin are associated with cancer, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, and autoimmune disorders. Deficiency is also linked with multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, depression, and more. That’s why it’s so import to get enough vitamin D. But identifying vitamin D deficiency can be tricky… in fact without a proper blood test, it is often very hard to detect.

Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms

Again, having a full blood panel performed is your best bet to determine if you are lacking in Vitamin D, however, there are potential symptoms to be on the lookout for including:

• Fatigue
• Muscle / joint pain weakness
• Depression
• Bone pain

If you’re at risk for deficiency or experiencing any noticeable symptoms, you should speak with your doctor. He or she can help determine if you need supplements and the amount that’s right for you.