Imagine this scenario: You’ve had a full night’s sleep but you wake up feeling tired. Your bones ached and the sunny skies outside irritate rather than uplift you. This is exactly what Disha Mathur, a 27-year-old marketing professional from Mumbai, experienced. She didn’t know that the root cause of these issues was Vitamin D deficiency, a common yet often overlooked condition among Indian women.
Disha, like many women, spends most of her day indoors, working a desk job or commuting in confined spaces, leaving her with minimal exposure to sunlight, the most natural source of Vitamin D. Combined with traditional Indian dietary habits that are lacking in Vitamin D-rich foods, it’s not surprising that she is deficient in this essential nutrient.
Also Read: India’s Best Nutrition Platform for Women
“I often felt fatigue and joint pain but never realised it was due to vitamin D deficiency. It was only after consulting my doctor that I realised how important this vitamin is for overall health,” says Disha.
Disha is one of many Indian women in the same situation. Lack of awareness about the importance of Vitamin D, coupled with lifestyle and dietary habits, are major contributing factors in making this problem widespread.
Common causes of this defect include:
Limited exposure to sunlight: More time spent indoors and higher levels of air pollution block UVB rays.
Eating habitTraditional vegetarian diets lack vitamin D-rich foods such as fish and fortified dairy products.
Skin pigmentation: Higher concentrations of melanin in the skin may result in decreased vitamin D synthesis.
In a country like India, sunshine is plentiful but Vitamin D is not.
One of the main causes of vitamin D deficiency in Indian women is low exposure to sunlight. India is a tropical country with abundant sunlight, but cultural practices and lifestyle choices often limit the amount of direct sunlight women are exposed to. Many women wear clothing that covers most of their skin for modesty and protection from the sun, which reduces the skin’s ability to synthesize vitamin D.
Another important factor is dietary habits: traditional Indian diets, especially vegetarian diets, often lack sources of vitamin D. Foods naturally rich in vitamin D, such as oily fish, egg yolks and fortified dairy products, are not consumed in significant quantities in many Indian households.
Urbanization and indoor living also contribute to vitamin D deficiency. With an increasing shift towards indoor work, public transport and spending leisure time indoors, many women are not getting enough sunlight. This change in modern lifestyle has a significant impact on the natural synthesis of vitamin D in the skin.
Here are some stats and solutions
70% of Indian women are vitamin D deficient
Vitamin D deficiency more prevalent in urban areas
A high-protein diet improves muscle mass and overall health
Combining Vitamin D with plant-based protein powder is a strategic approach to address nutritional deficiencies, especially for populations such as Indian women who are often deficient in Vitamin D. This combination leverages the benefits of both nutrients to improve overall health and well-being.
Plant-based protein powders are made from sources like pea, soy and hemp that are rich in essential amino acids. These proteins support muscle repair, growth and overall metabolic function. When combined with Vitamin D, they optimize calcium absorption and utilization, helping to strengthen bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
