VITAMIN D GOT YOU IN THE DUMPS?

VITAMIN D GOT YOU IN THE DUMPS?

Im sure I don't have to rant on about how beneficial it is to get outside in the great outdoors but why is that?

We live in the technological age right now, living quite sedentary lifestyles staying indoors and on our devices for longer than ever. I don't have to explain how bad this movement is cause i'm sure we can all relate to how bad this is becoming for our mental and physical health...

It has been stated that getting 15 minutes a day in the sun is going to provide you with enough of a vitamin D stimulus that you need however we are finding an increasing number of people with vitamin D deficiency, osteoporosis, muscle/joint pain or injury which can all be related to decreased activity and sunlight exposure.

Now i'm not going to sit here and state all of the problems in the health industry are related to lack of outdoor/sunlight exposure but it can be a start to helping mitigate the problems faced with vitamin D deficiency.

The last statistic made by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) stated that 1 in 4 Australian adults are facing either mild to severe vitamin D deficiency...

Being vitamin D deficient can lead to a loss of bone density which can lead to conditions like osteoporosis or increased risk of muscle/joint damage.

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include but is not limited to:

1. Fatigue: Feeling tired or fatigued is one of the most common symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.

2. Muscle weakness: Low levels of vitamin D can cause muscle weakness and aches.

3. Bone pain: Vitamin D is essential for strong bones, and deficiency can lead to bone pain, particularly in the back and legs.

4. Mood changes: Some studies have linked low levels of vitamin D to depression and other mood disorders.

5. Impaired wound healing: Vitamin D plays a role in the body's immune response and can help with wound healing. Deficiency may lead to slower healing of wounds.

6. Hair loss: Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to hair loss.

7. Slow healing of infections: Vitamin D is involved in the body's immune response, and deficiency may lead to a higher risk of infections and slower healing times.

Now.. if you begin to notice the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency come up in your daily life it could be a good idea to consult with your GP to ensure you even need supplementation cause most times it could be that all you need is more sunlight exposure or minor supplementation :)

Supplementing any vitamin or mineral provides no extra benefit to you if you are not actually deficient. So if you have some of these symptoms and go out on a wim to your local chemist to buy some vitamin D supplements when you are actually not deficient you are creating an expense for no reason...

Be smart and get outdoors you only need 15 minutes a day to ensure you are getting the right amount for you :)