Vitamin D Deficiency and COVID-19

 

What’s the deal with vitamin D and COVID?…

 

Countries have found their sickest people with COVID-19 also have tested deficient in vitamin d.

Countries with the highest death rates from COVID-19 also reported highest rates of vitamin d Deficiency.

Low Vitamin “D” Often Stands for Depression

This is no surprise, as Vitamin D is crucial for a healthy immune system. More vitamin D usually means less colds and flu in general.

Am I Prone to Vitamin D Deficiency?

 

This should be a good enough reason to keep up on your vitamin d supplementation or to ask your doctor to order labs for a blood draw to check that your vitamin d level is not deficient, especially during COVID-19!

…Especially if you have Signs/ Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency.

 

Do You Have any of these Signs/ Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency?

 

 

 

Ask Your Doctor 

Only Take Vitamin D after Your Doctor orders a lab test that determines deficiency. As always, follow your doctor’s recommendation for how much to take.

Many take 1,000 I.U.-5,000 I.U. Some take even more. Your doctor will let you know what range to start with. You will know within a few months from the next lab test if you are within a healthy range.

 

Be Your Own Health Advocate

You may have to prod your doctor to order the test. I am always advocating for my own health by nudging my doctor to run tests and it has served me very well! You get an intuition about things once you start to really pay attention to your body and what is normal for it.

Get curious. Speak up for Yourself-and Your Body! It is the only one you get.

 

When Should You Take Vitamin D?

Some need to supplement all year, while some only need to take during Fall/ Winter months depending on sun exposure and other individual factors. I get my vitamin D checked in labs twice per year to see if I need to supplement during the summer months as well as during the winter. Many of us across the world are needing to take it year-round. 

 

Can You Take Food with Vitamin D?

It is a fat-soluble vitamin which means it absorbs better with fat. So, I try to take mine in the morning with chia seeds or my black cumin seed oil, flax seed/flax seed oil or nut butters.

I like to take it in the morning around coffee time just because that is when I remember to take it. Setting it in front of the coffee machine as a hoop to jump through before my ritual cup of love helps me to remember.

Don’t get caught-up on the taking it with fat thing too much, though. I found some were not compliant in taking it daily if they had to skip breakfast due to thinking they needed fat with it at the same time. You should get enough fat eventually in your day to absorb it.

Just do what works for you in order to be compliant. If taking it at night works better, then of course do that. 

 

 

Summary of Vitamin D Deficiency

• Many are Deficient Worldwide
• Many long-term Health effects 
• Calcium needs D for Absorption (Bone health/ Heart health)
• COVID-19 & Low Vitamin D
• Diagnosed with Blood test 
• Easy to Supplement

So, look out for Low Mood and Low Energy-it Could be Low Vitamin D!

 

See other Signs/ Symptoms of Low Vitamin D Here

Ask your doctor to order a blood test to screen for vitamin d deficiency if you have low mood and/or low energy. If it is not low, then you have ruled out one possible cause to your low energy and mood. Note: many doctors in private practice (like my primary care doc) actually like to see vitamin d level higher than what conventional family medicine doctors deem as “healthy range” levels of vitamin d.

Why? …because vitamin d can be high enough to keep you alive, though may not be “optimal” for your health as an individual. Just like with vitamin C; you may have enough to not get scurvy. However you want enough for “optimal” health to avoid illness in general.

 

Licensed Acupuncturists, Naturopathic doctors and Functional Medicine Doctors look at this way as well. Providing medicine from a prevention perspective strives to keep the body in balance to avoid disease or dis-ease. It is a different medical paradigm than the Western one which is focused on treating only once there is a state of disease. Both types of medicine are needed and each has its time and place, for sure. I sure do appreciate the Emergency Room and antibiotics (when necessary).

 

The two main symptoms or main complaints that walk into my practice are low mood and fatigue.

The body needs to remain in balance to stay in optimal health.

Aleesha D Acupuncture carries vitamin D in liquid form for better absorption.

This liquid form comes with added vitamin k2 to help your body absorb the vitamin d even better!-Watch out if you take blood thinners like Coumadin®/ warfarin as vitamin k is contra-indicated for use with blood thinners as it can lower the effect of the drug. This is why you always check with your doctor first before adding supplements like vitamins.

 

Low Mood or Energy? Low Libido or Imbalanced Hormones? Aleesha Treats Mood, Energy, Hot flashes and Fertility, too.

Go online to Schedule at: AnokaAcupuncture.com

 

Thanks for Reading!

Written by Aleesha D Ackerman, LAc

Aleesha Ackerman is a certified and state licensed acupuncturist with a Master’s degree in acupuncture. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree from Hamline University. Aleesha owns and operates Aleesha D Acupuncture clinic for Pain and Women’s Health in Anoka, MN.

She became interested in acupuncture and holistic medicine when acupuncture cured her of debilitating migraine pain after an auto collision with a semi-truck. Aleesha specializes in treating acute and chronic pain and Women’s Health. Women come to her everyday with issues such as hot flashes, mood imbalance, low energy and for Cosmetic Acupuncture for wrinkles, crow’s feet, laugh lines and improvement in overall skin tone . Read more about Aleesha and what she specializes in Here.

 

Patients at Aleesha D Acupuncture say they feel cared for and listened to. They are happy to get the much-needed pain and stress relief from their treatments!

 

Aleesha D Acupuncture is located in historic downtown Anoka at 229 Jackson Street just off Highway 10 with free parking.

Get in and Feel Better, Move Forward!

 

DISCLAIMER

This article is not intended to replace any health care. No information on this site should be relied on to determine medical diagnosis or treatment for a medical condition. As with any health concerns, always be sure to consult your health care provider with any health concerns.

Licensed Acupuncturist in Anoka Serving Andover, Anoka, Big Lake, Champlin, Circle Pines, Columbus, Coon Rapids, Dayton, East Bethel, Elk River, Forest Lake, Fridley, Ham Lake, Isanti, Lino Lakes, Maple Grove, Minneapolis, Now Then, Oak Grove, Osseo, Ostego, Ramsey, Saint Francis, Saint Paul, Shoreview, Spring Lake Park, Vadnais Heights and White Bear Lake.

Zip codes we treat: 55304, 55303, 55309, 55014, 55316, 55433, 55448, 55327, 55330, 55432, 55040, 55401, 55402, 55403, 55404, 55406, 55407, 55408, 55409, 55410, 55411, 55412, 55413, 55416, 55418, 55419, 55421, 55422, 55011, 55311, 55369, 55102, 55103, 55104, 55105, 55106, 55107, 55108, 55101, 55109, 55110, 55111, 55113, 55114, 55116, 55117, 55120, 55124, 55125, 55115, 55118, 55119, 55121, 55122, 55123, 55126, 55129, 55130, 55146, 55127, 55128, 55133, 55144, 55145, 55155, 55164, 55165, 55166, 55166, 55168, 55170, 55175, 55187, 55188, 55171, 55172, 55014, 55025, 55371, 55398, 55308, 55960