Unfortunately, here in Canada vitamin D insufficiency is VERY common. In fact, it’s estimated that 70- 97% of Canadians have vitamin D insufficiency.
Relative to most countries we Canadians have to pay extra special attention to this! As you will see in this article, it’s often not as simple as getting more sun-time. We all develop these issues differently and it’s important to examine what your reasons might be.
Vitamin D deficiencies contribute to some of the most prevalent conditions, such as:
– Cardiovascular disease
– Cancer
– Asthma
– Eczema
– Osteoporosis
– Depression
– Crohns disease
– More….
The Top 3 Reasons For A Vitamin D Deficiency
1) Lack of sun exposure.
The higher the latitude, generally the worse the sun exposure is. Not only will your geographical location affect this, so will pollution status. If the city you’re living in is heavily polluted, that is blocking sun rays!
Also worth noting, are you constantly covering up with clothes or sunscreen? While there are good reasons for this, it will make it harder to get vitamin d from the sun. On this same note, simply having a darker complexion will also make absorbing sun rays harder.
Lastly, the older you get, the worse you get at making vitamin d from the sun. This is also coupled with a higher demand for vitamin D in growing age! Both of these facts together make vitamin D deficiency very likely as we age.
2) Low consumption of vitamin D-rich foods.
Vitamin D foods include, but are not limited to:
– Oily fish, cod liver oil, eggs, mushrooms, liver and fortified foods (cereals, orange juice, milk, tofu).
3) Poor absorption.
Here I am talking about the internal absorption of our foods, aka through our gut. If you have a lot of inflammation in your gut, that will generally make it harder to absorb nutrients. Extreme examples of this would be conditions such as Crohn’s and Celiacs.
It’s also important to note that vitamin d is a fat-soluble vitamin. This means it relies on bile acid for optimal absorption. This is a big issue in people with gallbladder removal!
With any digestive concerns, you might be deficient in key nutrients like vitamin D!
If you related to some, or all, of these points, you may want to consider getting your vitamin D levels checked! Like anything in your health, you want clear and concise guidance.
Book your complimentary assessment today to learn more!
Disclaimer
Information can be empowering, but we all have unique health profiles and needs. The health-related information contained in this article is intended to be general in nature. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. In no cases should this information be used as a substitute for a visit with a licensed naturopathic doctor.
References
1) Schwalfenberg, G. K., Genuis, S. J., & Hiltz, M. N. (2010). Addressing vitamin D deficiency in Canada: a public health innovation whose time has come. Public health, 124(6), 350-359.
2) Gaby, A. (2017). Nutritional medicine (Vol. 265). Concord: Fritz Perlberg Publishing.