You’ve Got the Blues
Serotonin, one of the brain hormones associated with mood elevation, increases with exposure to light. If you aren’t getting enough sun to have an optimal level of vitamin D, your serotonin levels aren’t where they should be, either.
You’re Tired All Day
A 2012 study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that lower levels of vitamin D were linked to daytime sleepiness. Instead of dozing, try getting outside and going for a walk. Both the exercise and the sun exposure will boost your energy.
You’re Older than 50
As we age, our bodies don’t produce as much vitamin D in response to sun exposure. And as we get older, kidneys become less efficient in converting vitamin D into the form our body uses, meaning that we are at a higher risk of being vitamin D deficient in our golden years.
You’re Overweight or Obese
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble hormone, meaning the body collects and stores it in fat cells. If you’re overweight or obese, you likely need more vitamin D than a slimmer person.
Your Bones Ache
Vitamin D aids in the body’s ability to absorb calcium into the bones, fortifying them and protecting against osteoporosis later in life. A vitamin D deficiency may cause throbbing or aching bone pain as a result of a defect in the body’s ability to put calcium in the collagen matrix in your skeleton.