You get it. You KNOW how vital unseating your seat is.
After all, your doctor is constantly hounding you about it. And practically every time you turn on the TV or read a magazine, you’re reminded too.
Heck, even I keep repeating how important it is to fit in some extra movement during your day. You can’t escape it.
And you’d like to. Except you can’t. You’re just too exhausted.
These days we’d be more likely to catch you taking a power nap than a power walk. A 30-minute walk feels more like a 30-mile marathon. And let’s face it yet another pep talk sure isn’t going to put the pep back in your step.
But here’s the thing. No matter what the fitness freaks and gym rats say, it’s NOT your fault. You’re NOT lazy. And you aren’t weak-willed either.
In fact, chances are the cause of your exhaustion is that your just running low on one critical nutrient. And the problem is far more common than you might imagine.
Could THIS vitamin be the cause of your exhaustion?
A new study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology has revealed that folks with higher levels of vitamin D have the energy they need to exercise.
When researchers compared the cardiorespiratory fitness of nearly 2,000 volunteers to their vitamin D levels, one thing became clear. For those folks with the highest D levels working up a sweat was… well… no sweat.
Their hearts and lungs easily stood up to the stress of exercise. And, naturally, they were fitter as a result.
The researchers believe that vitamin D essentially attaches to cells in your body. And once in place, it helps produce the energy those cells need to support you through any kind of physical activity. Which, of course, includes those workouts you’ve been too exhausted to muster up the energy for.
And running low on vitamin D is a far more common problem than most folks realize.
Exhaustion linked low D is common
First, many of us spend far too little time in the sun. We’re stuck inside all day. And when we do venture outside heavy clothing and sunblock can keep our skin from absorbing the sun’s rays.
Which means our bodies may not have enough raw materials to make all the vitamin D we need.
And to make things even more complicated, your body becomes less efficient at making D as you age. Plus age-related chronic diseases and even medications you are on can drain the D from your system.
Which means lagging levels of this vital vitamin could be behind YOUR lack of energy… or outright exhaustion. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Because low D levels are associated with other problems too, including…
Alzheimer’s disease:
A study published in the journal Neurology tracking more than 1600 people found that even moderately low levels of vitamin D could double the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Depression:
Everyone struggles with the blues sometimes, especially this time of year. Don’t let low vitamin D levels make it worse. Experts say seniors who get too little vitamin D are at much higher risk for depression. And research has found a connection between some cases of seasonal affective disorder (the “winter blues”) and low vitamin D levels.
Heart disease:
Low levels of vitamin D and heart disease often go hand in hand. And in a UK study, folks taking vitamin D supplements had a 34 percent improvement in pumping function. Which means raising low D levels could fight heart failure.
Cancer:
A study published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research linked low vitamin D levels to a particularly aggressive form of prostate cancer. Other research found D deficiency is associated with a 31 percent higher risk of colon cancer. And experts say low vitamin D levels may account for thousands of premature deaths from breast, ovarian, prostate, and colon cancers every year.
Weakened immunities:
Experts from all around the globe have linked low vitamin D to weaker immunities. The vitamin helps keep you healthy raising a shield against colds, flu, pneumonia, and other bacteria and viruses.
But the good news is low vitamin D levels are usually easy to reverse. Ask your doctor to check your numbers and for advice on raising your levels if they are low.
During the warmer months, spending 15 to 20 minutes in the sun daily with skin exposed and no sunscreen can help naturally raise your levels. But if you’re no spring chicken anymore, you might want to consider taking a vitamin D3 supplement too… especially during the colder months.
And once your numbers return to normal, you can expect your exhaustion to disappear as your energy comes rushing back. Plus you can rest easy knowing you’re protecting your health too.
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