{"id":17157,"date":"2023-01-18T18:51:34","date_gmt":"2023-01-18T18:51:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/?p=17157"},"modified":"2023-05-17T05:47:58","modified_gmt":"2023-05-17T05:47:58","slug":"5-signs-you-need-more-vitamin-d","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/5-signs-you-need-more-vitamin-d\/","title":{"rendered":"5 signs you need more vitamin D\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in the US, but the signs of low intake aren\u2019t always obvious. If you\u2019re noticing changes in your body or increased discomfort, chat with your doctor. It may be a sign that you\u2019re lacking some important nutrients, like vitamin D.Here\u2019s 5 signs that you may need to up your vitamin D intake.What is vitamin D?Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it\u2019s absorbed in your bloodstream and can be stored in your tissues. It plays a role in many different processes in your body, including maintaining healthy bones, immunity, mood and even sexual wellness. It\u2019s nicknamed the sunshine vitamin, because your body can produce it on its own when your skin is exposed to the sun\u2019s UVB rays. And while your body is able to make vitamin D \u2013 exposure to the sun isn\u2019t always a useful source.Who gets vitamin D deficiency?Living in the northern latitude, having a darker skin tone, wearing UV-blocking SPF and age can all make it hard to get vitamin D from the sun. Given all these risk factors, it makes sense that 42% of U.S. adults are deficient in this key vitamin. If you\u2019re worried you might be low, here\u2019s some symptoms to look out for:5 signs your vitamin D might be low1. Bone weaknessThis probably isn\u2019t surprising, as vitamin D\u2019s role in bone health is well-known. Not only does the sunshine vitamin play a major role in bone development (vital for calcium absorption), but also in preserving bone health. Symptoms of achy bones, especially in your lower back might be a sign that you\u2019re not getting enough vitamin D in your diet.2 Of course this doesn\u2019t apply if you\u2019ve slipped while walking or lifted heavy objects, but if you\u2019re having trouble pinpointing why it\u2019s happening \u2013 it\u2019s best to make an appointment with your doctor and get your levels checked.2. Sore musclesThe root cause of sore muscles or weakness can be linked to many different reasons: stretching incorrectly, intense exercise or even not working out enough. But if none of these reasons add up, those aching muscles could also be a sign your low in Vitamin D. Scientists believe vitamin D plays a part in your body\u2019s pain signaling pathway, though more research is needed. Your body has nerve cells called nociceptors that recognize pain \u2013 and scientists think vitamin D plays a role in how these cells communicate with each other. What does that mean? Low vitamin D levels can trigger symptoms of muscle soreness and weakness.3. Fatigue and poor sleepExperiencing fatigue and poor sleep every now and then is just a natural part of life. But if you\u2019re facing unexplained tiredness, it might be related to inadequate levels of vitamin D, according to a study.Not just that, but it can be affecting your sleep too. And while quality shuteye can be disrupted because of stress or from scrolling a little too long on TikTok (hey, no judgement!), but if sleep has been a nightly struggle for some time now, it could be related to low vitamin D (especially during the winter months). A small study linked low levels of vitamin D to poorer sleep quality, waking up more frequently and delayed bedtimes.4. Impaired Immune FunctionWhen we start feeling the sniffles coming on, we often reach for supplements such as vitamin C or zinc. And while these do play an important role in your immune response \u2013 we can\u2019t overlook vitamin D. Your immune cells need vitamin D to function properly. Researchers are still figuring exactly how vitamin D helps those immune cells but if you\u2019re someone who\u2019s levels aren\u2019t quite up to par \u2013 you may have a harder time fighting and recovering from colds or infections.55. Decreased LibidoA decrease in sex drive can happen for many reasons, usually reasons that we\u2019re aware of or can be easily identified. Anything from excessive stress, fatigue or changes in health can all have an impact. But if you\u2019re noticing a decrease in libido, a vitamin D deficiency could also be the culprit. Low Vitamin D levels may influence sex hormones, causing less sexual desire according to a small study.Sources of vitamin DSalmonCod liver oilTunaMilkEggsFortified orange juiceFortified cerealTakeawayVitamin D is undoubtedly crucial for many functions in your body, but as important as it is, it\u2019s also a nutrient many of us struggle to get enough of. And while the signs and symptoms of low D aren\u2019t always obvious, if you\u2019re noticing any unexplainable changes, it\u2019s best to check with your doctor to ensure your levels are within a health range. If they\u2019re not- adding a supplement to your routine might help.Learn more about vitamins, read 4 important B vitamins for brain healthAbout NatalieNatalie is a nutritionist with a Bachelor\u2019s in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of North Florida. Natalie believes that proper nutrition doesn\u2019t have to be complicated and is determined to help others reach their health goals.Do you have questions about supplements? Reach out to one of our experts, or take Persona\u2019s free nutrition assessment, and learn exactly what you need to take your wellness to the next level.*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. Do not use the information from this article for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal, or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this article.","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in the US, but the signs of low intake aren\u2019t always obvious. If you\u2019re noticing changes in your body or increased discomfort, chat with your doctor. It may","protected":false},"author":491,"featured_media":18577,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1827,1891,1931],"tags":[1971,19],"class_list":["post-17157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-healthy-aging","category-vitamin-101","category-vitamin-101-healthy-aging","tag-vitamin-d","tag-vitamins-2"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17157","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/491"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17157"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17157\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18111,"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17157\/revisions\/18111"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18577"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}