The Scary Truth About Vitamin C Deficiency.

Vitamin C deficiency can lead to a wide variety of symptoms. Even though many people in the US don’t get enough vitamin C, deficiencies are rare. Scurvy causes anemia, bleeding, weakness, and loose teeth. Many early explorers died of scurvy. The Scottish doctor James Lind showed that citrus fruits might cure or prevent the condition. Vitamin C was discovered in the 1930s.

10 Warning Signs Of Vitamin C Deficiency

Easy bruising: Blood vessels at the skin’s surface break, causing bruising. It’s a natural reaction following a knock or tumble. Unexpected bruises may indicate a vitamin C deficiency. Deficiencies might enhance bruising. Vitamin C may help if you bruise easily. Easy bruising is an indication of more dangerous ailments if it doesn’t go away.

Inflamed, bleeding, or swollen gums: Low vitamin C levels are often associated with problems with oral health. This involves recurrent mouth ulcers as well as inflamed, bleeding, or swollen gums. Because your gums are supported by collagen, which they lose days at a rate of around 20%, regular vitamin C consumption is essential for the health of both your gums and your teeth.

Slow wound healing: Take a closer look at what you’re eating if you’ve observed that the scratches and scrapes on your body are taking an eternity to heal. Collagen, a connective tissue that can enhance healing, can only be produced with vitamin C. It was surgeons from Harvard Medical School who first noticed the connection in 1937. Both the immune-stimulating properties of vitamin C and its potent antioxidant properties promote quicker recovery.

Dry and split hair and/or nails: The first thing you should think about is your nutrition if you want healthy hair and strong nails. When it comes to body tissue, hair is seen as non-essential, therefore nutrients are initially directed toward the most vital tissues and organs. So, if you don’t consume enough vitamin C, you’ll see it in your hair and nails. Additionally, it’s essential for absorbing iron since a lack of it may cause brittle nails, sluggish hair development, and hair loss.

Dry, rough, and red skin – Dry skin is one of the first signs of scurvy and results from a deficiency in collagen. Keratosis pilaris is another frequent (but innocuous) skin condition brought on by low vitamin C levels. On the cheeks, buttocks, thighs, arms, and arms, this results in hard and tiny pimples. But there’s no need to worry; all you have to do is increase your vitamin C consumption for a quick recovery. Additionally, it might make your skin look better and lessen the harm done by UV radiation.
Depression & Fatigue: Depression and exhaustion are symptoms of numerous ailments, so it may be hard to diagnose a problem based on them alone. If you have these and other symptoms, you may have a vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C insufficiency is linked to mental health. According to the Mayo Clinic, hospitalized individuals have low vitamin C levels. The supplements increased patients’ moods by 34%, according to the research.

Frequent Nosebleeds: The capillaries at the front of the nose are responsible for around 90% of nosebleeds. Regular nosebleeds are caused by these blood vessels becoming brittle from a lack of vitamin C in the body. It may be due to vitamin C if you commonly have nosebleeds or if they have begun happening more frequently.

Unexplained Weight Gain: Vitamin C deficiency increases waist circumference and body fat. According to ASU researchers, vitamin C absorption influences the body’s capacity to utilize fat as fuel at rest and during activity. The four-week trial comprised 20 obese people who were given vitamin C and a low-fat diet. Daily placebo or vitamin C capsules were also supplied. Those with low vitamin C levels had the most body fat at the start of the experiment, but this fell by 11%.

Painful & Swollen Joints: Your joints may swell and hurt if you have inflammatory arthritis, but it may also be a sign that you need to change your diet. According to research by the Arthritis Foundation, people with low levels of vitamin C are three times more likely to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis than those who get enough of the vitamin.

Poor Immune Function: Our bodies are protected from disease, infection, and sickness by our immune systems. Our consumption of vitamins and minerals, notably vitamin C, may have a significant impact on this. A deficit reduces the body’s ability to fight against viruses. Vitamin C is essential for many immune system functions. Your body stays healthy with vitamin C, which also lessens the likelihood of being sick and the intensity and length of any sickness.

People At Risk for Vitamin C Deficiency

You should boost your intake if you’re concerned about any of the aforementioned symptoms and believe you may be in danger of a deficit. You may safely eat far more than that in a day, as you can see from the suggested daily amounts. Therefore, consider increasing your vitamin C consumption before rushing to the doctor.

Although many people don’t get enough vitamin C, a deficiency is quite uncommon, as we noted above. A third of Americans (31%) do not consume enough vitamin C. But some people are more susceptible to deficiencies than others:

People who are dependent on alcohol and/or drugs.
People who frequently partake in highly restrictive diets.
Pregnant women.
Breastfeeding women.
The elderly, tend to eat a diet that is less varied.
Smokers are at a higher risk because nicotine products absorb vitamin C from foods and the body. more quickly. Smokers should increase their intake to 250 milligrams daily.
People who don’t eat a healthy balanced diet, including daily doses of fruits and vegetables.
People who have medical conditions affecting their capacity to digest and absorb foods, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease,

Final Thoughts

Clearly, vitamin C plays a key role in our bodies, as do all vitamins. It helps to produce collagen, slow down the effects of aging, and strengthen our immune system so that we can fend off many diseases and ailments. Although it’s unlikely that any contemporary Americans would die from a severe vitamin C deficiency, it may nevertheless lead to significant and unpleasant ailments.

The best way to get the recommended amount of vitamin C (and more) every day is to eat fruits and vegetables. You may want to think about taking supplements if you are unable to eat enough of them to meet your RDA. If you have any known ailments or are on any of the drugs mentioned above, you should speak to your doctor.

The significance of your food is made clear by the additional breakdown of how crucial this vitamin is. It is the cornerstone of your overall health and well-being. You won’t have to be concerned about supplements filling in the gaps if you make sure that your food is balanced and nutritious.

Make sure your diet is consistent and that you’re making the right choices. Are you one of the 31% of Americans who don’t consume the recommended amount of vitamin C each day?