For years, you have heard about the dangers of the sun. The risk of premature aging, cancer, and wrinkles have likely caused you to lather up with sunscreen before leaving your house for the day. However, while they might have benefited you when it comes to your appearance, it might have created another issue altogether. It turns out that shunning the sun, along with adhering to a strict vegan diet and having milk allergies can cause a vitamin D deficiency, which can wreak havoc on your body according to WebMD.

Health Risks Associated With Vitamin D Deficiency

A vitamin D deficiency might sound innocuous, but being low in this important vitamin can cause some significant problems in your body. For example, Health Line says the following unpleasant symptoms can be caused or exasperated by lacking enough vitamin D:

  • Bone Loss: Vitamin D plays a vital role when it comes to bone metabolism and calcium absorption. Therefore, lacking in this vitamin can create a weakening of your bones.
  • Slow Healing: A test-tube study mentioned on Health Line’s site suggested a correlation between vitamin D and the production of vital compounds needed to form new skin or heal wounds. Vitamin D also plays an important role in fighting infection, so all in all, a lack of the vitamin can cause a delay in healing.
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  • Depression: Health Line posted a review of various studies that have shown a link between vitamin D and depression in 65% of the cases. Therefore, it’s safe to conclude that the vitamin D, nicknamed the “sunshine vitamin” has a lot to do with keeping your mood elevated.
  • Other: There are various other conditions that are made worse when vitamin D is lacking, such as muscle pain and even the loss of hair. Suffice it to say that vitamin D plays a big role in the overall balance of your body, meaning you need adequate levels to function properly.

What Are Proper Vitamin D Levels?

Determining your vitamin D level is accomplished by a simple blood test. According to Berkley Wellness, your vitamin D level should be at least 30 ng/mL. However, some experts recommend that you should aim for even more vitamin D, reaching a level of 40 or 50 ng/mL.

How to Replenish Your  Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a unique vitamin that actually functions much like a hormone, affecting various systems throughout your body according to Health Line. Therefore, when you realize your level is low, you want to address it quickly. Web MD claims it’s difficult to increase your vitamin D levels substantially through diet alone. Therefore, in most cases, supplements will be necessary to increase your levels. Contact your doctor before beginning any supplements.

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