Low Vitamin D – Who Knew?

Well, apparently, I didn’t know.  For years I have worked nights.  This was wonderful because it allowed me the opportunity to work from home, earn a decent living and still be a stay at home mom.  My priority has always been my family.  I had no idea just how much I needed the sunlight.

I should mention that I am lactose intolerant and don’t drink milk ( a great source of vitamin D).  I rarely eat any dairy.  When I do, it is the cheese on top of my pizza or on a taco.  I had noticed that my hair was thinning much more than it had in the past. I have always had extremely thick hair, so I was accustomed to seeing lots of it on my hairbrush.  I didn’t feel any bone pain or muscle weakness.  I was tired, but I honestly thought that was because I worked so much.  I work a lot.  I was taking a multivitamin and I thought that I felt pretty good.  I had absolutely no idea that I had an issue with my Vitamin D level.  It snuck up on me.

Low levels of Vitamin D can cause issues with bone density, renal diseases, liver disease, gastrointestinal issues, and many other potential issues.  Now that I have been diagnosed with this issue, I have learned that you can obtain Vitamin D through the sun, your diet, and supplements.  I already knew that but I honestly never thought about it.  I have olive-colored skin and have found out that people who have darker skin pigmentation absorb less vitamin D from the sun than those with lighter skin. Using sunscreen inhibits the absorption as well.  My physician has placed me on 50,000 units of Vitamin D once a week to get my levels up.  

I have also learned that people who are overweight are more at risk of having low Vitamin D because their body fat can bind to Vitamin D and prevent it from getting into the blood.  This could also be an issue with me.  I am not slim and trim anymore — I am not fat, just a little fluffy.  I could stand to lose some weight.  My work schedule combined with not eating well-balanced meals didn’t help with the weight issue.  Plus, working nights has been known to slow down a person’s metabolism.  Right now I am working on becoming healthier and enjoying my sunny days.

If you are feeling drained, be sure to get checked out by your physician.  Your physician can check your blood work to determine if you have any deficiencies.  Since I have started taking the new supplement, I have felt great, and I believe that my Vitamin D level will return to normal.