The Vitamin You’re Not Getting Enough Of: Vitamin D

If you’ve been feeling particularly wore out lately or you’re noticing some weakness in your muscles, you may be seeing symptoms of a problem nearly half of the population experiences: vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, is soaked up by your skin’s contact with the sun as well as being present in some fish and enriched dairy products. This important vitamin enables your body to use calcium properly which leads to strong bones and muscles and can even affect mental capacity. But vitamin D is also one of the most common vitamin deficiencies with most people never even realizing they’re deficient.

A study done in 2011 found that about 40% of the U.S. population was deficient in vitamin D. They also found that vitamin D deficiency was correlated with higher risks of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and even cancer. Considering how dire these risks are, it’s so important to make sure your body has enough Vitamin D. Here’s how to make sure your body stays healthy and strong:

Your safest bet is to take a daily vitamin D supplement. Taking a standard dose of the vitamin every day will stop you from having to guess whether or not you’re getting enough sun, especially considering that increased sun exposure, while beneficial when it comes to vitamins, can be dangerous for your skin. You can also try upping your intake of fish or fish oil and enriched dairy products to increase your vitamin D levels. Enriched dairy products also have the benefit of containing calcium which the vitamin helps your body use to support strong bones and muscles.

If you want to really protect your muscles, consider adding additional supplements including Traditional Tonic Nourishing Collagen. This collagen supplement contains 18 amino acids which your body uses to repair and support your muscles and joints. With plenty of vitamin D, calcium, and collagen, you should feel stronger and more confident about your bone and muscle health.

Sources:

Forrest, K. & W. Stuhldreher (January 2011). Prevalence and correlates of vitamin D deficiency in US adults. Nutrition research. 31 (1), 48-54.