Even though we know that staying in the sun for prolonged amounts of time can wreak havoc on our skin, the sun isn't all bad — in fact, it's the main source of vitamin D for most humans, according to the Vitamin D Council. In fact, it's one of the only vitamins that our body can produce on its own (with a little help from those rays, of course).
This special vitamin is essential for your overall health, including bones, muscles, and healing.
With all of that said, it's definitely possible that you aren't getting enough, either from not being outside or not supplementing with foods rich in vitamin D.
Most of the symptoms associated with a deficiency are fairly subtle and easy to shake off or confuse with another problem.
Giving your body more vitamin D could be as easy as taking a walk outside.
Learn the signs that you aren't getting enough vitamin D!
Photos: Laura Caseley for LittleThings; Flickr / fuangg's photos
1. Fatigue
We all get tired from time to time. Your fatigue could just be a lack of sleep, but it's also possible that you're not getting enough vitamin D.
The Vitamin D Council outlines that tiredness is a common symptom of a lack of vitamin D.
2. Back Pain
There are few things more debilitating or uncomfortable than back pain.
If you've ever experienced back pain, then you know that you'd do nearly anything to get relief.
Luckily, it might be as easy as taking a step outside or taking some vitamin D supplements.
The Vitamin D Council reports that a study published in the Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry found a significant link between low vitamin D levels and chronic back pain.
3. Bone Pain
Do you feel like you're having growing pains even though you're an adult? If so, there's a good chance it's just regular old bone pain.
Bone pain is by definition painful, but it's possible that a vitamin D boost is a quick fix.
The Vitamin D Council again cites bone pain as a side effect of not getting enough sunlight.
4. Depression
You don't need to be a doctor to know that being out in the sunlight makes you feel happy.
However, some doctors at Issues in Mental Health Nursing did find that people who have lower vitamin D levels were at a greater risk for depression.
5. Wounds Take A Long Time To Heal
Normally, a scrape or cut will heal within a week or two of the initial injury.
However, the same can't be said if you aren't getting enough vitamin D.
Advanced Tissue cites a study published in the journal Advances in Skin & Wound Care that explains that skin cells require an overhaul of vitamin D for wounds to properly heal.
If you were low on vitamin D in the first place, your wound will probably take longer than it normally would to heal.
With that said, make sure not to bask your cut in the sun, which will just cause unnecessary scarring.
6. Bone Loss
Experiencing some bone loss is totally normal as we age. However, you may lose bone at a faster rate than you should if you aren't getting enough vitamin D.
The Vitamin D Council explains that vitamin D is essential to help absorb calcium and maintain good bone health.
If your body doesn't have enough vitamin D to properly absorb calcium, you're not doing your bones any favors and are putting yourself at greater risk of developing osteoporosis.
7. Hair Loss
Even those of us with superior scalp health are bound to lose hair on a daily basis. However, most of us would like to keep our manes as thick and luscious as possible.
Medical News Today cites a study in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine that found that vitamin D can actually help create new hair follicles.
In other words, vitamin D is essential for healthy hair growth, and a lack thereof could be traced back to low vitamin levels.
8. Muscle Pain
We usually assume that muscle pain occurs after or because of an injury. However, that's not necessarily always the case.
Research published in The Journal of Neuroscience theorized that most adults with musculoskeletal pain are also vitamin D deficient.
An experiment done with rats and different levels of vitamin D also found that those with less of the nutrient were inclined to experience more of this kind of pain.
9. Muscle Weakness
This probably goes without saying, but people who are experiencing things like bone and muscle pain as a result of vitamin D deficiency are also prone to unexplained weakness.
10. High Blood Pressure
There are almost a million reasons why you may suffer from high blood pressure.
However, it is possible that a lack of vitamin D has something to do with it.
Although more research is needed, the Mayo Clinic reports that the deficiency may be linked to heart disease and hypertension.
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