Tag: Deficiencies

Brussels sprouts pack in the fiber, which prevents constipation, feeds beneficial bacteria in the gut, and manages blood sugar levels. The vitamin C in Brussels sprouts boost immune function, keep skin healthy, and fight iron-deficiency anemia by improving iron absorption. Vitamin K in them keeps bones strong while their omega-3 fatty acid content prevents cognitive decline.

A vitamin C deficiency put you at increased risk of gingivitis or early gum disease, skin problems like petechiae and purpura, osteoporosis and bone development problems. Even iron deficiency anemia can result from this deficiency. If you leave it untended, you may even wind up with scurvy in a few months’ time.

A vitamin E deficiency, though rare in developed countries, may result from malnutrition or fat malabsorption. Health issues associated with it include neurological problems, muscle weakness, and bone abnormalities. Peripheral neuropathy, hemolytic anemia, eye problems and gastrointestinal problems are also a possibility. So are disorders like ataxia and abetalipoproteinemia.

Insufficient vitamin B1 may cause neurological symptoms like walking trouble, pain, confusion from dry beriberi or breathing problems, rapid heartbeat, low BP and severe cardiac symptoms from wet beriberi. Extreme deficiency may result in slurred speech, odd eye movements, and gait abnormalities from Wernicke encephalopathy. Ignoring these signs could have fatal outcomes.

Not getting enough riboflavin or vitamin B2 can cause dermatitis or skin lesion, sores, and itchiness. It may also cause diarrhea and nausea, blurred vision, and anemia. Besides anxiety, depression, and headaches, look out for cracked lips, mouth sores, and a red swollen tongue so you can correct your diet.

A deficiency in vitamin C can cause fatigue, anemia, easy bruising, nosebleeds, inflamed and bleeding gums. You may also notice frequent infections, slow wound healing, and inflamed, painful joints. A vitamin C deficiency may also be responsible for dry hair and split ends, weight gain, and dry, rough, scaly skin.

Vitamin K may not get as much attention as some other vitamins but it is just as important. Kiwi, prunes, and avocados are a good bet if you want to load up on this nutrient via fruits. Blackberries, blueberries, grapes, pomegranates also offer up vitamin K. So do tomatoes, dried figs, pears, and apricots.

An overwhelming majority of people in the United States have insufficient vitamin E intake. When this deficiency begins to show, it causes nerve and muscle damage, loss of sensation and trouble coordinating limbs, vision problems, dry skin, and brittle hair. It even raises susceptibility to infections.

A vitamin D deficiency can leave you with weak bones from osteopenia or osteoporosis. It could cause mental health issues like depression and schizophrenia or hamper cognitive ability and bring on dementia in the elderly. Skin problems like eczema are also possible, so take a good hard look at your vitamin D numbers.

A vitamin D deficiency can leave you with brittle or misshapen bones and even bring on depression. If you aren’t getting enough sunlight to make vitamin D, boost your dietary intake with vitamin D-rich foods like oily fish, liver, kidney, eggs, or mushrooms. Many foods like milk, yogurt, cereal, margarine, and juice are fortified with vitamin D.

Vitamin K plays an important role in blood clotting. Increased bleeding or bruising, blood in vomit, stool, and urine, heavy menstrual bleeding may indicate a deficiency. Babies with a deficiency maybe excessively sleepy or fussy. Low levels may also increase risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, so watch out for signs of these as well.

Your body may not need a lot of selenium but it is key to immune and thyroid function and has antioxidant benefits for your body. Fall short and you may experience fatigue, hair loss, weight gain, joint and muscle pain. Signs that indicate problems like Kashin-Beck disease or Keshen disease may also develop.

If you have a vitamin K deficiency, you may notice your blood takes longer to clot or that you bleed excessively after an injection or a cut. Bone health might suffer, menstrual periods could be heavy, and you could develop anemia. Babies may even develop potentially life-threatening vitamin K deficiency Bleeding.

A vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is usually triggered by poor nutrition or health problems that interfere with its absorption. VAD can cause eye diseases such as night blindness, Bitot's spots, corneal xerosis or ulcers, and keratomalacia,. Anemia and poor skin and hair health are also common as are frequent infections. Young children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable.

Iron deficiency diseases like anemia have symptoms like fatigue that are easily confused for regular tiredness, but ignore them and you could wind up experiencing heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and worse. Even hair loss, pica, mouth ulcers, tinnitus, or restless legs syndrome could be connected to an iron deficiency.