Vitamin D, Deficiency, Symptoms and Natural Food Sources

Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins that our body needs to function properly. When the skin is exposed to sunlight, our body goes through a process of converting cholesterol into Vitamin D, which is why it is advised to go out in the sunlight every day, so that our body can produce enough Vitamin D. Although Vitamin D is also found in the food we consume every day, it is not enough to fulfil our daily needs.

Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency is the most commonly observed vitamin deficiency in the world. About one billion people around the globe face Vitamin D deficiency, which can be caused by being stuck indoors all day and overuse of sunscreen.

Importance

Vitamin D is critically important for the proper functioning of our body. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that is mainly responsible for bone health and proper immune system functioning. Vitamin D may even be helpful in preventing cancer and in protection against several chronic diseases, as well as in dealing with depression, bone loss, heart disease, type two diabetes, and multiple sclerosis.

What are the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency?

• Easily Getting Sick:

  Vitamin D is responsible for supporting proper immune system functioning. Getting sick easily and catching infections easily can be associated with vitamin D deficiency.  

• Fatigue:

  Although mostly overlooked fatigue and tiredness can also be associated with Vitamin D deficiency.

• Bone Pain and Lower Back Ache:

  Vitamin D is responsible for maintaining bone health. It aids in the absorption of calcium into the bones. Bone pain and lower back ache are frequent symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency.

• Depression:

  Depression is also sometimes associated with Vitamin D deficiency.

• Hair Loss:

  Stress is majorly responsible for hair loss, but Vitamin D deficiency can also sometimes lead to hair loss, mostly is the case of women.

• Muscle Pain:

  Muscle pain can happen because of many reasons, often time’s vitamin D deficiency can be the reason.

Food sources of Vitamin D:

• Fatty/ Oily fish: Fishes and fish oils are a great source of vitamin D; salmon, herring, sardine, sword fish and cod liver oil are great sources of Vitamin D. Consumption of these in moderate amounts can be very good for health.
• Egg Yolks: Egg yolks are rich in vitamin D, eating eggs daily are great for full filing vitamin D requirements.
• Mushrooms: For those who prefer vegan/vegetarian food mushrooms are a great choice. Mushrooms when exposed to UV rays synthesize vitamin D, like humans.
• Fortified foods: Nowadays many food products are artificially fortified with vitamins to make them more nutritious for consumers. Some vitamin D fortified foods are Cow’s milk, Soy milk, Orange juice, Cereal and oatmeal.

Apart from food, health supplements can also be very helpful in fulfilling Vitamin D deficiency.

Limezo DZ the Zinc, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D supplement is available in a chewable form. The power-packed multi-vitamin keeps infections like influenza, Covid-19 and common cold at bay. The tablets also help the body mitigate typhoid fever, dengue and chikungunya.

Benefits of Limezo DZ:

• Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that strengthens body defences and keeps one protected from infections like the common cold and influenza.
• Zinc is an important integral mineral required to build and maintain immunity. Zinc and vitamin C in combination is more effective as an immune booster.
• Vitamin D3 helps replenish the body’s stores of vitamin D that helps in optimizing health. Vitamin D3 modulates the innate immune system — the first line of immune defence, by increasing the phagocytic ability of immune cells.