Vitamins play a vital role in your overall health. Derived primarily from the foods you eat, a carefully balanced diet is required to maintain optimal vitamin levels.
Unfortunately, that’s not always possible.
Inconsistency in your meal planning, restrictive diets, and circumstances beyond your control make eating properly every single day difficult. Unfortunately, an unbalanced diet can upset your (quite difficult-to-maintain) vitamin levels.
The signs of vitamin deficiency are subtle. So subtle that you may not notice them right away. Here are eight of the biggest signs your body sends you to tell you something is off.
1. Bleeding Gums or Poor Oral Health
Bleeding gums, oral lesions, and cracking skin at the corners of your mouth are all indications that your body is missing some vitamins it needs. Deficiencies in vitamins B12 and C are often the cause of these oral conditions.
2. Dry Skin
While it’s easy to blame it on dry air, dry skin could be the result of a vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A is responsible for aiding the process your skin goes through to create and shed skin cells. A lack of vitamin A disrupts this process, leading to dry itchy skin and dandruff.
3. An Increase in Bad Hair Days
The many B vitamins in your body are essential in supporting a healthy supply of blood that moves oxygen to your hair and scalp. A deficiency in these vitamins and folic acid leads to changes in the texture of your hair.
4. Vision Impairments
Changes to your vision, such as color blindness or night blindness, are sometimes a vitamin A deficiency.
5. Fatigue
Fatigue is the easiest sign to brush off. Most people blame their lack of sleep, stress, and hectic schedule. Though these things may play a role, they aren’t always the underlying cause. A lack of vitamin B12 causes chronic fatigue that won’t let up. According to The Institute of Natural Health, B12 Injections increase energy and vitality.
6. Aches and Pains
Muscle pains, stiffness, and those awful cramps that wake us up in the middle of the night can all be the result of a deficiency in vitamin D.
7. Prickly Feelings in Toes or Fingers
Prickling, tingling, and numbness are often the result of a lack of vitamin B12.
8. Mood Swings
Everyone has off days, but if mood changes have become a problem, there’s likely a deficient vitamin or two to blame. Vitamins D, B6, B12, Iron, and Omega-3 fatty acids all play a role in maintaining your overall mental health. A deficiency in any of these can affect how you feel.
Time to Make a Change
If you’ve been experiencing any or all of these issues, consider your options in vitamin supplements to start feeling better faster.