19/08/2022
𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗩𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻 𝗗
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙑𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣 𝘿?
Vitamin D is an essential micronutrient required for our body for good health, strong bones, and muscles. Our body gets Vitamin D mainly from the sunlight.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣 𝘿?
Vitamin D deficiency is mainly due to lack of exposure to adequate sunlight. Most people have no symptoms or only vague ones such as tiredness or muscle weakness. In adults, a severe vitamin D deficiency can cause osteomalacia, a condition where bones become softer and cause severe bone pain and muscle weakness. Children can develop rickets which can cause permanent deformities to the bone, weaken muscles and reduce growth.
Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to several health problems such as osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, autoimmune conditions, and heart disease.
𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙄 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣 𝘿 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮?
Most people should be able to get all the vitamin D they need by getting sufficient exposure to sunlight. If you go out in the sun two or three times a week for at least 15 minutes (before applying sunscreen) in the middle of the day between 10.00 am to 3.00 pm, your body may make enough vitamin D. People with darker skin and the elderly will need more exposure.
Around 10% of our vitamin D requirement comes from diet. The best food sources are oily fish, such as sardines, herring, tuna, mackerel, salmon, cod liver oil, egg yolks, shiitake mushrooms, and organ meats.
If you are concerned that you or your family are not getting enough vitamin D, speak to your health care professionals. A simple blood test can be done to check vitamin D levels. Depending on the vitamin D levels, an appropriate course of treatment will be prescribed.