Vitamin D Deficiency – Its Causes, Symptoms, and Home Remedies

Vitamin D deficiency is simply a deficiency in this essential vitamin, resulting in a variety of symptoms that could lead to complications if left untreated.  This vitamin is important because it helps regulate the amount of calcium circulating in the blood as well as helps manage the calcium level in the bones. 

Vitamin D is produced by the body when our skin gets exposed to sunlight.  We can also get it from the food we eat such as dairy products as well as fatty fish.  Doctors recommend at least 400 IU to 800 IU of Vitamin D daily. 

Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency is a common medical problem and affects about 42% Americans.  Worldwide, Vitamin D deficiency affects about a billion people. 

The main causes of Vitamin D deficiency include diet and limited sunlight exposure.  People who are on a strict vegan diet typically have low Vitamin D levels because this vitamin is mostly found in animals like fish, eggs, milk, and liver (especially beef).  Some people also have a hard time absorbing Vitamin D because of digestive tract problems like Crohn’s Disease and celiac disease as well as obesity. 

Symptoms and Complications of Vitamin D Deficiency

If you’re always getting sick, feeling tired most of the time, very susceptible to infections, or have a slow wound healing process, then you might be suffering from Vitamin D deficiency.  Vitamin D helps boost your immune system’s health, making it stronger to fight illnesses. 

Because Vitamin D is important in bone health and calcium absorption, a deficiency in this vitamin could result in back pain, bone pain, and bone loss since your bones aren’t absorbing enough calcium. 

Finally, a deficiency in Vitamin D could contribute to the development of depression, hair loss, cancer, and heart disease. 

Home Remedies for Vitamin D Deficiency

You can improve your Vitamin D deficiency symptoms by doing these simple home remedies. 

Improve your diet and eat foods rich in Vitamin D like fish, mushrooms, fortified milk, etc. 

Take Vitamin D supplements. 

Spend more time under the sun so your body can produce its own Vitamin D. While you’re at it though, why not get some much-needed exercise?  Just avoid exercising under direct sunlight while the sun is at its peak to prevent sunburn and skin cancer. 

Am I Vitamin D Deficient? 

In addition to the above symptoms, it’s relatively easy to find out if you really are Vitamin D deficient by getting your Vitamin D level checked.  Your doctor can order the test for you, but if you don’t want the hassle and stress of setting an appointment and waiting for your doctor, you can simply learn how to test vitamin D levels at home. 

There are medical e-commerce sites where you can order your in-home kit.  Simply purchase a kit from them, and they will send you the kit.  You only have to prick your finger to draw a little blood, put a drop on the blotter paper, and send the specimen back to laboratory clinic. 

Another convenient way of testing for Vitamin D deficiency is ordering the test online through a medical e-commerce site.  Just choose the Vitamin D test that you need and the laboratory clinic where you want it done.  Print out the receipt and present it to your selected laboratory clinic on your preferred schedule. 

The best thing about ordering the test online is that these medical e-commerce sites will compare the prices of the laboratory clinic’s Vitamin D Test cost so you can easily choose one that will fit your budget.  Once you have the test, the Vitamin D test results will be sent to your home.