This is what you don't know yet about a vitamin D deficiency

Did you know that 80% of Belgians are deficient in vitamin D during the winter? If you wear sunscreen, suffer from milk allergies or follow a strict vegan diet, you may be at risk of a vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D, also called the sunshine vitamin, is produced by the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight. It also occurs naturally in some foods, including some fish, egg yolks, and fortified dairy and grain products.

Vitamin D is essential for strong bones, so vitamin D helps the body use calcium from food. Traditionally, vitamin D deficiency was associated with rickets, a condition in which bone tissue does not harden properly, leading to soft bones and skeletal deformities. But more and more research is revealing the importance of vitamin D in protecting against a range of health problems.

Symptoms of bone pain and muscle weakness may indicate a vitamin D deficiency. However, for many people, the symptoms are subtle. However, even without symptoms, a vitamin D deficiency can pose health risks. Low blood levels of the vitamin have been linked to the following:

Your exposure to sunlight is limited. Because the body produces vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight, you may be at risk for a deficiency if you spend a lot of time indoors, live in northern latitudes, wear long robes or head coverings for religious reasons, or have an occupation that requires sun exposure. prevents. During the winter, vitamin D deficiency may be more common because there is less sunlight available.

Your kidneys cannot convert vitamin D to the active form. As people age, their kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D to the active form, which increases the risk of vitamin D deficiency.

The Metis Winter Essentials can give you that extra boost, especially during the autumn and winter months!