I heard back from my doctor about my test results. I originally posted about the weirdness I saw in my Blood Work Protein Levels before I left for California. I was concerned that I had a problem with my thyroid or maybe Celiacs or something. All those results came back OK. My doctor did let me know that my Vitamin D was on the low side so of course I turned to the internet.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D Deficiency is a common problem found in many people and it really shouldn’t be ignored. There are some common causes of this deficiency and its very easy to reverse. If Vitamin D Deficiency is left untreated it can also lead to very serious problems in people of all ages. Vitamin D also helps the body use calcium properly.
Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms
The symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency may be different form one person to another from from research these are some of the most common.
- Fatigue
- Achy bones
- Muscle cramps
- Joint pain
- Lack of energy
- Weight gain
- High blood pressure
- Restless sleep
- Poor concentration
- Headaches
- Bladder problems
- Constipation or diarrhea
What Causes Vitamin D Deficiency
The most common cause of Vitamin D Deficiency is lack of sunlight. That’s right, Vitamin D is actually produce by the body when your skin is exposed to sun light. Vitamin D Deficiency is very common among people that live in areas where it isn’t practical to be outside often. Also sunlight has different strengths in different parts of the world which would make you require an even longer exposure.
Vitamin D Deficiency can also be found in people with diets that lack vitamin D. This is common in vegetarian diets where food containing vitamin D just aren’t consumed.
Obese people are also known for being Vitamin D deficient. This isn’t only because obese people don’t go outside but actually because they are just to fat. Vitamin D is absorbed from the body by fat cells so if you have a high BMI those fat cells are drawing all of your vitamin D for themselves.
There are other health problems related to Vitamin D deficiency such as kidney problems, Crohn’s disease, Celiacs or Cystic Fibrosis.
Foods With Vitamin D
If your low in Vitamin D you can increase your levels by increasing your intake of Vitamin D through foods that are known to contain it. Here is a list of some foods that have Vitamin D.
- Fatty fish
- Fish oils
- Oysters
- Caviar
- Egg yolks
- Cheese
- Fortified milk
- Beef liver
- Mushrooms
Vitamin D and Weight Loss
If you search around the internet you will read many articles saying YES Vitamin D helps with weight loss, and you will read the same amount that say it doesn’t. Another popular subject you will find is the correlation between obese people and lack of Vitamin D.
There have been a few studies in the last few years that show signs of increased weight loss in people that have had increased levels of Vitamin D while dieting.
I felt the best feedback I could get on Vitamin D and Weight Loss was by reading through some of the weight loss forums like the MFP community.
Majority of what I’ve read from actual people that have been diagnosed with low Vitamin D and had doctors give them supplements to increase their levels have not lost weight. Many of these people have read the things I have in hoped that adding high doses of vitamin D to level them off would help them shed the pounds. I couldn’t find any stories of people that were losing any more or faster than the had been on their original diet plans.
Vitamin D and Me
After reading all the symptoms I could see how this may have been effecting me. My doctor has prescribed me a three months supply of 50,000/IU vitamin D capsules and wants me to report back when I’m finished. I have to take these once a week.
I discussed this with my mom and she says that she was given the same prescription and after a few weeks she felt much more energized. That’s probably the biggest symptom I could see myself having but I just took my lack of energy as the norm.
I guess its also good that this was caught so I don’t risk any of those diseases that can happen after not having enough of the D in my body for so long. I will just keep pushing forward with my diet but I thought this was a good subject to update the site with. If taking this Vitamin helps me lose some weight I will just consider that a bonus!
