Have you ever considered if you’re deficient in any vitamins or minerals? You may not have, but you should. Our bodies need nutrients to function and perform their duties, and when we don’t provide them with what they need, they can become malnourished. As a result, they do their jobs a little less effectively. Here are the five signs of a vitamin deficiency to look out for.
1. Changes In Hair, Skin, Or Nails
This is frequently one of the first indicators of deficiency, according to Podiatry Today. If your nails were formerly hard and strong but have recently begun breaking or cracking, it might be due to a lack of nutrition. Similarly, if your hair suddenly begins to fall out, gets thin and brittle, or your skin becomes dry and itchy, this might be an indication of a deficit. B vitamins, notably biotin and vitamin B12, as well as omega fatty acids, are common nutrients that may be deficient.
If they can do it and make it look so cool, then why shouldn’t you? Almost all of the facilities you visit on a daily basis, from school to work and the gym, have drinking water available. You can easily refill your own water bottle that you carry from these sources. The bigger the bottle, the lesser the chances of needing a refill in the first place.
2. Frequent Minor Illnesses
It’s easy to ignore recurrent colds, cases of flu, or aches and pains, but if you’re often unwell, your body may be lacking something. When you are lacking in particular vitamins, your immune system declines, and it becomes more difficult to fight against foreign invaders. If you’re taking longer than normal to recover from a persistent cold or flu, or if you seem to bounce from one sickness to the next, take a close look at your nutrition. Is there something missing?
3. Leg Cramps
Muscle cramping is frequently a marker of vitamin insufficiency, which manifests as nocturnal leg cramps. Examine your calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 consumption to discover whether you are deficient in any of these nutrients.
4. Anemia
Anemia is typically connected with iron deficiency, but did you know that vitamin B12 and folic acid deficits may also cause anemia? If you’ve been feeling unusually weary recently, or if you’ve seen physical symptoms like pallor or’ spooning’ of the nails, in which the fingernails take on a concave aspect, you may be suffering from anemia.
5. Neurological Symptoms
It is only recently that researchers have discovered a link between neurological symptoms and vitamin insufficiency. Patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, restless legs syndrome, and even schizophrenia were found to have low levels of certain vitamins. Peripheral neuropathy, a common consequence of diabetes, can also be caused by a lack of B-complex vitamins, vitamin E, or omega fatty acids.
Final Thoughts
Vitamin deficiencies can have a wide range of negative impacts on health and everyday life. All you need to do to prevent a vitamin deficiency is eat a healthy diet, which does not involve any expensive medical treatments or medications. Of course, if the symptoms of vitamin deficiency remain despite a balanced, dermatological diet, you should contact your doctor.