Vitamin Deficiency
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Overview of Vitamin Deficiency Care Online
Vitamins restore nutrients your body isn’t getting through food and nutrition alone. These supplements can be administered through capsules, pills, oils, food, and intravenously.
Sometimes our bodies simply do not absorb vitamins correctly through food. They can also be depleted through heavy exercise or urination. Many people can develop deficiencies if they don’t eat (or have access to) foods with sufficient amounts of certain vitamins. For example, people that decide to live a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle might have iron deficiencies because they don’t eat meat.
Some people don’t get enough vitamins and nutrients because of lifestyle choices, too. For example, people who live in areas of the world that don’t get much natural sunlight may be deficient in Vitamin D.
Common Nutrient Deficiencies
Some of the most common vitamin and nutrient deficiencies could include:
- Biotin
- Calcium
- Choline
- Folic acid
- Healthy gut bacteria
- Iodine
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Omega fatty acids
- Pantothenic acid
- Potassium
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
Who Should Take Vitamins?
Anyone who experiences any of the below symptoms of vitamin deficiencies should take vitamins, supplements, and food nutrients to maintain healthy levels.
If you know your lifestyle choices may be preventing you from getting healthy levels of vitamins and nutrients (such as veganism and vegetarianism), you may want to get tested for deficiencies.
What Are the Symptoms of Vitamin Deficiences?
Since there are so many vitamins that help the body’s systems run in synchronicity, the symptoms of vitamin deficiencies can vary. Just some of the most common symptoms include:
- Bone pain
- Burning sensations
- Clumsiness
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Forgetfulness
- Hair loss
- Irregular heartbeat
- Mood changes
- Nighttime blindness
- Numbness
- Pale or yellow skin
- Shortness of breath
- Tingling in hands and feet
- Weakness
- Weight loss
Side Effects of Vitamins
Vitamins can feel like a godsend for some, but patients should be somewhat wary about taking just any supplement.
Taking too many vitamins or supplements you don’t need can also cause health problems. Also, some supplements are loaded with fillers or inactive ingredients that can cause havoc on the digestive system and other areas of the body. Just some of the common side effects include:
- Hives
- Upset stomach
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Increased urination
- Nausea
- Swelling
- Unpleasant taste
- Dry mouth
How to Get Tested for Vitamin Deficiencies
If you don’t have a vitamin deficiency, your doctor probably won’t recommend you begin a vitamin regimen. Sometimes vitamin deficiencies can share symptoms with other conditions, so it’s important to get tested for such deficiencies before taking vitamins.
If you or your doctor thinks you could have a deficiency, we recommend ordering an at-home testing kit for vitamin deficiency. Some of the online companies that we recommend and believe in that offer such testing kits include:
Baze (urine strip)
Simply order the test online; you’ll get the kit within a few days. Follow the instructions for a blood, urine, or saliva sample, and mail the kit to the lab. Your results will be sent to you within three business days in most cases.
Some kits even show you immediate results — no lab required.
If you’re concerned you may have a vitamin deficiency, we recommend getting tested before starting a supplement regimen. You’ll save time and money and stay healthier by not taking supplements your body doesn’t need.