I was feeling down most of the time and it felt like I didn’t even have the energy to move my hands and reach for something. Every move felt heavy and almost unbelievable to make; it used to take me one hour to summon the energy to get out of bed. It was so hard for me to focus on anything and everything made me feel overwhelmed and restless.
I didn’t feel an ounce of hunger in my stomach; I could not fathom the idea of food. I actually felt too lazy to even chew my own food; eating felt like a difficult chore because it requires me to move my jaw.
I rarely left my bed, let alone leave my house; the sun was too bright for my taste. I spent my time watching tv because I was too tired to scroll through social media and I didn’t want to see what others were posting. It felt like everyone was living their lives while I was held captive in my own bed.
I was suffering from depression-like symptoms and it felt like I was in a coma for a year in my life. It wasn’t until I started taking vitamin D supplements that I started feeling better about myself. It took me almost 3 to 4 months to see those changes and it was unbelievable.
Who knew that vitamin D deficiency feels similar to depression? In fact, some researchers suggest that vitamin D deficiency could lead to actual depression! So, you may not be depressed, you may be suffering from a deficiency of vitamin D.
I was making my condition worse and worse because I didn’t have the energy to go outside and get my D’s from the sun. My condition was also deteriorating because I never had enough energy to cook my own meals or even conduct the actual act of eating, so I never got this vitamin from food either!”
How soon will I feel better after taking vitamin D?
It may take you several weeks to genuinely feel better; it took me 3 to 4 months to see tangible results. Realistically, you need some time for your vitamin D levels to rise.
How do I know if I have a vitamin D deficiency?
The symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are very similar to those of depression. The symptoms look like this:
- Feeling anxious all the time.
- Being in an endless bad mood swing.
- Feeling irritable with everything and everyone.
- Feeling low on energy.
- Feeling pain in muscles, bones, and joints.
- Getting frequently sick.
- Having troubles falling and staying asleep.
- Losing hair in unbelievable amounts.
However, it’s not enough to say that you feel these symptoms and consequently diagnose yourself with vitamin D deficiency. A simple blood test can detect vitamin D deficiency so you can treat it accordingly.
Treating a slight deficiency is not the same as treating a high deficiency. Those who are diagnosed with severe vitamin D deficiency have to take vitamin D injections.
When is the best time to take vitamin D?
Research suggests that the best time to take this vitamin is in the morning. Taking it later in the day or in the evening may make you lose sleep and affect the quality of your sleep.
Moreover, it is strongly advised to take vitamin D with a meal because it does not dissolve with water. Specifically, it is best to take it with foods that are high in fat, such as dairy products, avocados, and seeds.
How to get your D’s
- Vitamin D in food: Truth is, vitamin D is found in very few foods. Fatty foods, such as salmon, are very high in vitamin D. In fact, a medium piece of a salmon fillet has more than the daily recommended dose of vitamin D. Moreover, you can find it in milk, cheese, eggs, pork, tuna, tofu, and mushrooms.
- Vitamin D from the sun: You only have to spend 15-20 minutes outside to get your recommended daily dose of vitamin D. Do not underestimate the power of mother nature in healing our bodies; remember that everything exists for a reason. And no, putting on sunscreen will not prevent you from getting your recommended daily dose; it can prevent skin cancer and other skin-related diseases.
- Vitamin D in supplements: Not all of us are privileged to get regular exposure to sunlight; some people live in countries where the sun doesn’t shine for several months. In this scenario, it is best to get the recommended daily dose from supplements to avoid getting diagnosed with a vitamin D deficiency.
Health Benefits of Vitamin D
There is no doubt that this vitamin is essential for our overall health. Below are the top health benefits of vitamin D:
- Increased Immune system: The deficiency of vitamin D will jeopardize your immune system and make you more subject to getting sick. Research has proven that you are less likely to get a cold if you have sufficient amounts of vitamin D.
- Decreased risk of cancer: Research suggests that vitamin D may help prevent cancer. In fact, one study has shown that the regular consumption of vitamin D decreases the risk of cancer by 60%.
- Fights several diseases: Vitamin D decreases the chances of developing heart diseases and developing bone abnormalities.
- Fights depression: The relationship between depression and vitamin D is a strong one that we cannot simply deny. The lack of vitamin D can cause depression and depression can cause a lack of vitamin D. Consuming this vitamin will give you a fair chance to fight depression and ease its symptoms.
- Helps you lose weight: Research has found that vitamin D helps people with their weight-loss journey. The compounds found in this vitamin work on decreasing the appetite and make you feel full for longer periods of time.