Vitamin D Deficiency

 

Vitamin D is an important vitamin needed for a healthy life.  It is very easy to get, but approximately 85% of people do not get the recommended daily value, thus leading to deficiency.  Those who do not get enough sunlight, have a dairy allergy, or who are strictly vegan may be at risk of having vitamin D deficiency.  This deficiency can have some scary consequences.



Vitamin D deficiency can affect many different areas of the body.  Some common signs and symptoms of the deficiency include:

Bone & Muscle:
Osteoporosis
Osteoarthritis
Osteomalacia (softening of bone which can lead to deformation of bone in adults)
Rickets (softening of bone which can lead to deformation of bone in children)
Muscle aches & weakness

Psychiatric:
Depression
Schizophrenia

Circulatory:
Hypertension
Coronary heart disease

Pulmonary:
Wheezing

Cancer:
Colon
Breast
Prostate

Other:
Diabetes
Obesity

There are many natural sources of vitamin D, the most natural being sunlight.  Your body absorbs vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight.  That does not mean that you should expose your skin to sunlight unprotected, though.  Always wear sunscreen!  It will not affect the absorption of the vitamin.  Okay, I’m off my soapbox now.  Other sources of vitamin D can be found in foods such as milk, eggs, cheese, fatty fish, cod liver oils, butter, whole grains and fortified cereals.  Of course, you can always take a supplement, however they are rarely absorbed as well as natural sources.  The recommended daily value of vitamin D is 600IU (international units). 

 

There are several benefits of taking vitamin D on a regular basis.  Those benefits include:

·         Supporting a healthy immune system

·         Promotes calcium absorption

·         Linked to weight loss

·         Promotes cell growth

·         Prevention of depression

 

If you or someone you know in the Gallatin Valley area is looking for a chiropractor, please call Dr. Shea Stark with Pro Chiropractic at 406-219-2462 to schedule an appointment in our Belgrade, Manhattan, or Bozeman office.  Dr. Stark is a board certified chiropractor and the author of this blog post.  To learn more about Dr. Stark and the many benefits of chiropractic care, please visit our website: www.prochiromt.com.