Is a Lack of Vitamin D Making You Tired?

Is a Lack of Vitamin D Making You Tired?

Statistics are starting to indicate that many Australians are deficient in the essential Vitamin D and the numbers could be at a quarter of the entire population. So it is worth asking yourself whether you are getting enough Vitamin D in your life – after all 1 in 4 Australians are running on a deficit.

Why has a lack of Vitamin D become a problem?

What it boils down to is that our lifestyles have changed for a number of reasons. As a nation we used to spend a whole lot more time outside both as children and adults.

Before the wonders of technology that we have now in years gone by we used to be outdoors a lot more playing outside as kids, working the land, walking, gardening and a lot of other outdoor activities were regulars for us.

Because of this lifestyle Vitamin D from the sun was there and there wasn’t a need to give it more thought.

However nowadays a lot more of our time is spent indoors working and socializing and when we do venture outside we are covered with clothes or sunscreen.

How to get enough Vitamin D from the sun

The recommended guidelines for exposure to the sun so that you get an adequate amount of Vitamin D is for adults is 5 – 15 minutes of sunlight a day, 4 to 6 times a week outside of the hours 10am to 2pm.

This is an average and does vary depending on your geographical location, how old you are and the colour of your skin.

Many people are not aware that people who have darker skin may need up to three times more sun than people with lighter skin just to receive the same synthesis of Vitamin D.

Can diet help with Vitamin D?

There are not many foods that are an actual source of Vitamin D. Fish liver oils are the highest such as salmon, cod and mackerel and meat, egg yolks, milk, and sprouted seeds have some Vitamin D.

Generally it is best to combine foods, some sun exposure and even by adding supplements to your daily routine for enough Vitamin D – consult a health professional before undertaking to use supplements.

What happens to my health if I don’t have enough Vitamin D?

There is new information released all of the time that documents the importance of Vitamin D to our overall health.

It gives you energy, keeps bones and teeth healthy and contributes to the proper functioning of a number of areas of the body.

It is also thought to lower the risk of disease, help the body to metabolise normally and helps the heart, muscles, immune, inflammatory and nerve functioning as well.

Studies are emerging that indicate that Vitamin is a great help in either preventing or treating health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, cancer, flu, arthritis, infectious diseases and upper respiratory conditions.

How to know when you have a Vitamin D deficiency

It is not obvious when your body is suffering from a deficiency on Vitamin D though if you are feeling weak with muscle aches and pains it is worth getting checked out.

Your doctor can give you a simple blood test to check your Vitamin D levels.

If you are self prescribing Vitamin D sometimes it can lead to other issues with your health so it is worth chatting to your health professional if you suspect that a lack of Vitamin D is causing you problems.

Some other facts about Vitamin D

Some other interesting facts about Vitamin D include:

• Vitamin D is actually a fat soluble vitamin and its primary role in the body is to help the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestine
• Vitamin D helps to build as well as maintain bone mass
• It reduces inflammation, stops malignant cell growth, assists with the moderation of the immune system and helps to level moods
• Having a deficiency in Vitamin D is thought to be related to cancer, obesity, cardiovascular disease, depression, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure.