Here’s Why Vitamin D Deficiency Needs Your Attention

New Delhi: Calciferol or Vitamin D has been declared a health hazard in India and across the world. Vitamin D deficiency was categorised as an age-related problem once, but today it transcends all age groups. Despite receiving sunlight in abundance, almost 60-70% of Indians are vitamin D deficient. Nutritionist Ekta Vermani Tandon, Nutrition Head at Fitness First draws our attention to the precarious situation and shares her expertise on the constituents of vitamin D.

We live in a country with a lot of sunlight through the year, and take it for granted that somehow we will get our vitamin D naturally. Not just that, not many of us even know the true importance of the sunshine vitamin.

Apart from making the bones and teeth strong, it helps in the absorption of calcium and phosphorous, and nourishes and smoothens the functions of our immune system.

Vitamin D- Risk Factors and Key roles

Lack of vitamin D can cause severe bone defects, from osteomalacia that softens the bone or osteoporosis or fragile bones. It plays a vital role in controlling auto-immune diseases like multiple sclerosis and type-1 diabetes. It also helps in preventing breast and colon cancers.  Having proportionate vitamin D levels is a sign of healthy heart. A recent study also shows the link between Vitamin D and the body’s immunity towards cold and flu.

Also Read: Vitamin D Deficiency Is A Bigger Problem Than You Thought

Growing reasons for vitamin D deficiency

• Doctors have increasingly been pointing out to our sedentary lifestyles as the leading cause of Vitamin D deficiency.
• Increasing levels of pollution, staying indoors for long hours due to work or leisure is a rising cause as the most natural way of obtaining vitamin D is by getting sufficient amount of sunlight.
• To protect our skins, demand for sunscreen lotions are on a rise. These lotions act as a deterrent thereby defeating the entire purpose of sunlight.

Ways to counter the deficiency

• Sunlight is the most natural way of ensuring enough vitamin D presence in the body. Skin creates ultraviolet B from the sun
• Include vitamin D rich foods like fatty fish, fish liver and egg yolk in your diet plans. In addition, milk and cereals enhance the sunshine vitamin levels in our body
• Lastly, taking the most frequently adopted means, supplements. Doctor recommend pills to people suffering from ailments as their digestive system cannot absorb the vitamin.

Word of advice

• Nutritionist Ekta suggests intake of supplements with foods that contain fat as it’s a fat soluble vitamin, enhancing better absorption.
• Switch from supplements with D2 to D3 as the former has a less potent form of vitamin D.
• Vitamin D needs to be taken in proportionate levels as an excessive amounts lead to problems of their own.

Also Read: Common Pain Killers Cause More Side-Effects Than Relief: Study