Whether you strictly adhere to a vegan diet, suffer from milk allergies, or have just shunned the sun, there are high chances of you being one of the 1.2 billion people in the world who suffer from vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin, is essential for optimizing multiple bodily functions, but according to research, more than 43.4% of adults in the United States are deficient.

Apart from sunlight, vitamin D is present in fortified foods such as fish, egg yolks, cod liver oil, grain, meat, and dairy products.

Even people who consume a relatively healthy diet often have insufficient Vitamin D levels because sometimes our bodies aren’t able to absorb or convert the vitamin to its active form, known as calcidiol.

The National Institute of Health states that vitamin D helps absorb calcium, strengthens bones, and bolsters the immune system. Many people often don’t realize the subtle symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, although it has significant adverse effects on their quality

of life.

Here are a few symptoms that signify you need to consult a healthcare practitioner to get your vitamin D levels checked so that appropriate levels of supplements can be prescribed.

Sign # 1 You Get Sick Often or Get Infections All The Time

Vitamin D keeps your immune system intact by directly interacting with cells responsible for warding off infections. If you're prone to catch flu or cold easily or recurrently face respiratory infections and allergies, low vitamin D may be the culprit behind you falling sick so often.

Sign # 2: Your Back Pain Just Won’t Go Away

Since vitamin D aids in calcium absorption in the body, it plays a massive role in maintaining optimal bone health. Studies have concluded that chronic lower back pain is linked to vitamin D deficiency.