Vitamin D
Looking back, do you remember an adult telling you to "take your vitamins"? Or do you recall the Flintstones gummies? While it was a common refrain, not many people understood why vitamins are important or how they can significantly affect the body if you don't take them.
I remember hearing one reason growing up for taking vitamins: that our foods don’t provide many nutrients anymore due to over-processing. However, we weren’t taught about the serious consequences, like the chronic illnesses and autoimmune diseases that could harm or even be life-threatening.
If you think a vitamin doesn't have much impact, you'll be surprised to learn just how crucial a vitamin like Vitamin D truly is. Vitamin D is essential for immune system function and brain health, particularly cognitive health. Low or deficient levels of Vitamin D can negatively affect your cognitive abilities.
What is cognitive health?
Well... A healthy brain is one that can perform all the mental processes that are collectively known as cognition, including the ability to learn new things, intuition, judgment, language, and remembering. (source)
Have trouble remembering where you placed your keys or parked?
Are you always losing your phone or forgetting why you walked into the room?
Do you have an autoimmune disease and commonly feel depressed?
Many call these events "Brain Fog" because it sounds better than saying your "cognitive health is failing because your brain is exhausted and unhealthy...."
Vitamin D deficiency is more common than you might think. (source)
Globally, studies suggest roughly one billion¹ people are vitamin D deficient. In the US alone,
- 42%² of adults are deficient
- 50%³ of children aged between one and five
- 70% of children aged between six and 11 are low on vitamin D or experiencing Brain fog. But this can connect to a more dangerous result; Depression.
Depression symptoms often go hand-in-hand with Symptoms of low vitamin D.
Vitamin D is directly related to a healthy brain. Healthy levels of Vitamin D are needed to ensure proper cognitive function and symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency are similar to the symptoms of depression. Resulting in poor health and a struggling brain.
Vitamin D deficiency has similar symptoms to those of depression, including but not limited to:
- Mood changes accompanied by overwhelming feelings of hopelessness and sadness
- Fatigue
- Forgetfulness / Brain Fog
- Loss of interest in activities
- Suicidal thoughts
- Anxiety
- Loss of appetite
- Excessive weight loss or gain
- Trouble sleeping (Source)
I am not a Dr. and I can't "prescribe" anything, however, I can advise you to look into your levels of Vitamin D by asking your Dr. for bloodwork. As someone who struggled with declining health and a list of autoimmune diseases, I saw benefits from taking Vitamin D.
Other Possible symptoms include:
- Muscle pain
- Bone pain
- Increased sensitivity to pain
- A tingly, “pins-and-needles” sensation in the hands or feet
- Muscle weakness in body parts near the trunk of the body, such as the upper arms or thighs
- Waddling while walking, due to muscle weakness in the hips or legs
- A history of broken bones
- Muscle twitches or tremors
- Muscle spasms
- Bowed legs (when the deficiency is severe) (Source)
Story. Time.
I started collecting chronic health issues as a child and continued to pick up new ones straight into my 20s. I have been diagnosed/labeled with anything the Psychologist could think of, including PTSD, MDD, Bipolar, and Anxiety disorder. I've had negative reactions to medications and those I didn't negatively react to, my body quickly became tolerant to. I was told to settle for the coping results of the SSRIs: absolute numbness. I was OD'd on tranquilizers by the nurses of a looney bin, which resulted in a trip to the ER to be drained. My health was paying the price of this action.
What got me here today, free of antidepressants, was more than just Vitamin D alone; it took supplementing other vitamins as well, however, Vitamin D was the first one I started with on my journey because it was easily accessible and had benefits I needed.
I experienced less Fog and started having better moods, which was especially important during the dark winters of Chicago as a Floridian who was used to endless summers.
Like I mentioned. It took more than just 1 vitamin to help me recover. It took time to understand my brain and how it was impacted by my life experiences. Understanding where my health stood required taking a moment to pause/listen to my body and giving it the nutrients it was desperately asking for with each growing symptom. Along with adding lifestyle hacks to my daily routines.
What causes vitamin D deficiency?
Vitamin D deficiency can come from any of these reasons:
- Not enough exposure to sunlight
- Darker skin pigment
- Malnutrition
- Kidney or liver failure, which prevents the body from adequately processing vitamin D
- Certain medications
- Certain types of cancer, such as lymphoma
- A family history of vitamin D deficiency or childhood rickets (Source)
Pause
Give yourself a moment right now and ask your body how it is feeling,
What does it need from you to feel better?
Try practicing gratitude and apply other lifestyle "hacks" such as:
- Vitamin D
- DLPA
- MCT Oil
- Emotional Freedom Technique- EFT,
- Grounding Techniques
- Reprogramming Thought Patterns
- and more.
You deserve to Thrive, not just Survive.
With my symptoms at bay, my opinion on Vitamin D is that it's worth looking into and trying. With dedication and consistency, you can see the heavy symptoms of trauma lift from your life, allowing you to make clear choices and create a happier reality.
However, like anything in life, it takes time, one pill only one day will not undo years of trauma overnight. You will have to practice consistency and self-discipline to see the change take place. But trust me, compared to the Sh*t you went through, this is nothing. And unlike the sh*t you went thru, this will lead to brighter and more successful results.
I look back at 23-year-old me, determined to be proof that there IS a cure for mental health, and I am proud that she didn't believe the stigmas and instead focused on getting her life back. Though it was far from a smooth journey and came with many dark days, setbacks, and relapses, the outcome was worth every bit of temporary struggle.
I remember how she thought these hacks were too simple to make sense. Yet gave it a serious try anyways, and for that, I thank her ✨
Remember you are NOT alone, depression is NOT the stigma of "crazy" "possessed", or "broken".
Depression is a physical health concern; a symptom calling to check in with yourself and your brain.
So take time to listen to your body and feed it the vitamins and supplements needed to create energy to function properly, drink water, and practice daily hip stretches that help release stored traumas and stress. With patience and determination, you will see a difference.
CLICK HERE for A good Vitamin D3 supplement I have used myself, especially during a dark Chicago Winter.
NATURELO
VITAMIN D3 - 2500 IU
PLANT BASED FROM LICHEN
Supplement for Immune System, Bone Support, Joint Health - Vegan - Non-GMO - Gluten Free - 120 Capsules
Recommended Intake of Vitamin D
(source)
| Age | Male | Female | Pregnancy | Lactation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-12 months* | 10 mcg (400 IU) |
10 mcg (400 IU) |
||
| 1–13 years | 15 mcg (600 IU) |
15 mcg (600 IU) |
||
| 14–18 years | 15 mcg (600 IU) |
15 mcg (600 IU) |
15 mcg (600 IU) |
15 mcg (600 IU) |
| 19–50 years | 15 mcg (600 IU) |
15 mcg (600 IU) |
15 mcg (600 IU) |
15 mcg (600 IU) |
| 51–70 years | 15 mcg (600 IU) |
15 mcg (600 IU) |
||
| >70 years | 20 mcg (800 IU) |
20 mcg (800 IU) |
Resources
For help with my writing, I asked Grammarly to respond to these AI prompts: Prompts created by Grammarly - "Improve it"