Look Out for These Signs and Symptoms
The best you can ever offer your body is good food, healthy and balanced diets. Consuming a healthy and balanced diet would not only help you grow strong but also strengthen your body’s defenses against illnesses.
A balanced diet is a kind of diet that is rich in essential vitamins and minerals as well as antioxidants that the body requires to perform its functions properly, without pressure or stress.
When your food lacks these nutrients, it begins to tell quickly in your body. Your body then, at some point, would begin to show you symptoms, of which some could be severe. These symptoms arise as a result of your body trying to notify you about something being wrong with what you are maintaining it with (food).
It is one thing to notice these symptoms, and it is another to pay attention to them and do the needful. The best way to tackle deficiencies is by adding foods and supplements that are nutritious and contain essential vitamins to your diets in order to replenish the lost ones.
This article elaborates on the most common signs and symptoms of vitamin deficiency and how to tackle each of them.
Brittle Nails and Hair
One major deficiency that can trigger this symptom is biotin deficiency. Biotin is a kind of vitamin that is also referred to as vitamin B7. It is an essential nutrient that helps in the processes involved in food conversion to energy in the body. Although, very few people experience biotin deficiency as it is a very rare condition. However, when the deficiency occurs, some symptoms like brittle nails and hair begin to occur.
Some other symptoms of this deficiency include; Cramps, fatigue, and numbness in the feet and hands.
Research has shown that people who may be at risk of experiencing biotin deficiency include pregnant women, people suffering from chronic health conditions like Crohn’s disease, drinkers, and smokers.
People who are on certain medications like anti-seizure drugs and prolonged antibiotics can also be at the risk of developing biotin deficiency.
More research has shown that eating egg whites excessively can also trigger biotin deficiency, as egg whites contain properties known as avidin, which is effective at disrupting the absorption of biotin in the body.
In order to replenish the lost biotin in your body, add the following foods to your diet; Seeds, sweet potatoes, bananas, broccoli, nuts, dairy, meat, fish, cauliflower, and whole grains. These foods have high biotin contents and are capable of replacing your lost biotin.
In cases where the deficiency is higher, you can supplement your meals with biotin supplements for faster results.
Cracks on the Lip and in the Corner of the Mouth or Mouth Ulcers
Have you ever noticed swellings or sores in your mouth? That is a pointer that your body is lacking an essential vitamin. Mouth sores or ulcers are usually linked to a deficiency in all vitamins B and iron.
Research carried out on patients with mouth ulcers showed that over half of them were iron deficient, while the remaining percentage of the mouth ulcer patients population was deficient in B vitamins like B1, B2, and B6, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, respectively.
Riboflavin deficiency is the suspected cause of life breaks and sores. This usually leads to a condition that triggers excess salivation or severe dehydration.
Some iron-rich foods include; legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, fish, and meat. While rich sources of B vitamins include: organ meats, meat, fish, seeds, eggs, dairy, poultry, starchy vegetables, legumes, and nuts.
If you notice sores in your mouth, try adding these foods to your diets, and watch out for effects. If symptoms continue, visit your health care provider immediately.
Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums can be caused by a number of factors, of which rough brushing of teeth can be among. However, when you are sure you were not rough on your gum while brushing your teeth, yet your gums are bleeding, it automatically means you are deficient in a particular vitamin, which is suspected to be vitamin C.
Vitamin C is an indispensable vitamin that plays an important role in the strengthening of the defenses of the body. It encourages the speedy healing of wounds as well as the boosting of the immune system.
Since the body does not create vitamin C by itself, you are expected to eat foods that are abundant in vitamin C in order to enjoy the health benefits vitamin C provides. People who devour vegetables and fruits on a regular basis rarely experience vitamin C deficiency. This is because fruits and vegetables are rich sources of vitamin C. However, most people are guilty of sidelining fruits and vegetables from their diets, which can be quite unhealthy.
Vitamin C deficiency may not only cause bleeding gums but can also lead to processes that would trigger tooth loss. Do you want to lose those beautiful sets of teeth? If no, then do the needful.
More side effects lead to conditions that are capable of weakening the immune system, as well as the bones and the muscles. Others may include nose bleeds, the delayed process of wound healing, and scaly skin.
In order to top the vitamin C levels in your body, try eating at least 2 fruits per day with plenty of vegetables.
Poor Eyesight
The eye is the doorway into the body. Deficiency in certain nutrients can lead to poor vision. This is why it is important to be intentional about what you eat. The major vitamin deficiency known to cause this effect is vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A deficiency can lead to tampered vision, especially at night or with low light. This is because one of the major functions of vitamin A to the eyes is the production of rhodopsin, in the eye that helps you see with low light or at night. When vitamin A deficiency is left untreated for a long time, it can lead to conditions that can migrate into complete blindness. You obviously do not wish to be blind at any point in your life. If you agree with this, jam-pack your diets with vitamin A-rich foods.
The eye conditions that may result from vitamin A deficiency can disappear immediately upon the body coming in contact with vitamin A remedies like foods and supplements. Some foods that are rich in vitamin A include eggs, organ meats, dairy, green leafy vegetables, and fish.
Note that, except you are diagnosed with this deficiency, d not embark on any vitamin A supplement journey, as it could be harmful to you. Vitamin A supplements, when consumed in large quantities, can deposit fats into your body, which can turn out to be dangerous for you.
Some other symptoms of vitamin A deficiency include skin irritation, nausea, bones, and joint pains, headaches. It could also make you slip into a coma, and if care is not taken, death.
Dandruff and Scaly Skin
Dandruff is one of ye many skin conditions that affect the parts of the skin that produce oil. It is characterized by flaky and itchy skin. Unlike some other skin conditions, dandruff mostly affects the scalp, while the others are known to affect other parts of the body. Research has shown that everybody at some point is likely to experience dandruff in their lifetime.
Some of the known cases of dandruff include the deficiency in nutrients like niacin, zinc pyridoxine, and riboflavin.
Although, the major causes of these effects on the skin is not yet fully known. However, if you suffer from dandruff or any other skin condition, do well to boost the nutritional profile of your diet, incorporating more niacin, B vitamins, and zinc-rich foods.
Some foods that have been found to be rich in riboflavin, niacin, and pyridoxine include meat, fish, poultry, whole grains, eggs, organ meat, dairy, green vegetables, starchy vegetables, seeds, and nuts.
On the other hand, foods that are rich in zinc include the following: nuts, legumes, whole grains, dairy, meats, and seafood.
In conclusion, eating a healthy and balanced diet is essential for a healthy you and healthy growth. Balanced diets should involve essential nutrients that provide healthiness to the body. Eating rich foods can also help prevent you from experiencing symptoms associated with nutrient deficiencies. The symptoms vary from person to person and from nutrient to nutrient. However, it is best to be on the safer side by lacing your meals with healthy and nutritious foods.
