Vitamin C is a miracle ingredient for skin and hair, playing an important role in its regime. It is an essential nutrient and should be consumed daily. It is a water-soluble vitamin, which isn’t stored in the body. Unlike the other fat-soluble vitamins, the extra vitamin C is excreted through urine, and the absorbed vitamin is transported via body fluids to body tissues. To avoid symptoms of vitamin C deficiency, one must consume vitamin C daily.
Alcoholism, severe mental illness, smoking, kidney disease, and, most importantly, poor diet are the most common risk factors for vitamin C. Such people with these factors need extra 35 milligrams of vitamin C per day than the normal person. A balanced diet and the availability of vitamin C supplements can cover vitamin C deficiency. Naturally, males need 90 milligrams, and females require 75 milligrams of vitamin C daily. Many fruits and vegetables have vitamin C in abundance.
10 Common Symptoms Of Vitamin C Deficiency
1. Slow Wound Healing
Vitamin C produces collagen, which is important in repairing and healing the skin. When you are wounded, the blood and vitamin C produce more collagen. It also helps the neutrophils, a WBC (white blood cells) type, to fight infection. Due to vitamin C deficiency, old wounds can reopen, and infections can grow back. A non-healing leg ulcer is also a result of vitamin C deficiency. It is an advanced sign of deficiency.
2. Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums becomes red and swollen, one of the common symptoms of vitamin C deficiency, whose severity can lead to tooth loss. For healthy gums and teeth, collagen is essential. Gum tissue becomes weakened, inflamed, and blood vessel bleeds easily when this vitamin is deficient. Vitamin C helps in blood clots and keeps the blood vessels healthy.
3. Painful And Swollen Joints
Vitamin C is associated with joint pain, and severe conditions can cause limping and difficulty in walking. Joints have loads of collagen-rich connective tissues, and collagen production is related to levels of vitamin C. Low level of vitamin C can cause bleeding in joints, swelling, and pain.
4. Weak Bones
Vitamin C deficiency affects bone health. It can increase the risk of weak and brittle bones, as it is important for bone formation, leading to osteoporosis and fracture. Children’s skeletons are more likely to be affected by vitamin C deficiency when they grow and develop.
5. Weight Gain
Studies show the connection between the deficiency of vitamin C and a higher amount of body fat. Vitamin C regulates fat release from fat cells, reducing the stress hormone, and decreasing inflammation. It plays an essential role in how well your body burns fat for energy. It can also lead to excess belly fat.
6. Dry And Wrinkled Skin
The antioxidant in vitamin C protects the skin from free radicals. Healthy skin has a high amount of vitamin C in the epidermis or the skin’s outer layers. Therefore, people with a vitamin C diet have smoother and softer skin. It also boosts collagen production, keeping skin youthful and plump. Low vitamin C levels are linked with dry and sun-damaged skin.
7. Tried And Fatigue
Low vitamin C is linked with tiredness and irritability. Studies show office workers felt less tired when given vitamin C within 2 hours. The earliest signs of vitamin C appear are fatigue and poor mood. The problem can be resolved by taking an adequate amount of vitamin C after just a few days.
8. Poor Immunity
If you have difficulty recovering from the sickness or get sick easily, you have low vitamin C levels. Vitamin C is related to your immunity, and it is an important nutrient for our immune system. This vitamin is accumulated in various immune cells, protecting and lowering the risk from an illness like pneumonia, bladder infection, heart disease, and cancer types.
9. Scurvy
Before the 1700s, the major and deadly disease for sailors was scurvy. It is now a rare disease, but there is a possibility if you get 10 mg per day. Loose teeth, cracked fingernails, joint pain, brittle bones, and corkscrew body hair (hair grow in a bent or coiled shapes) are some symptoms of scurvy. The condition can be cured in three months, and you can see the improvement from the first day if you boost your vitamin C levels.
10. Vision Loss
Consuming vitamin C is beneficial for healthy eyes. The deficiency of vitamin C can worsen the condition of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Getting enough vitamin C helps in the prevention of cataracts.
Conclusion
The symptoms of vitamin C deficiency are seen in three months. Fatigue, red gums, easy bleeding, rough skin, and joint pain are the earliest symptoms of vitamin C deficiency. As vitamin C cannot be stored in the body, consuming it through fruits and vegetables is necessary.
All the signs and symptoms are the result of impaired collagen production and nit-consuming antioxidants. Vitamin C deficiency can further result in iron deficiency anemia, inflammation, brittle nails, and brittle hair. It’s easy to resolve the deficiency problem by restoring vitamin C by taking supplements or natural ways by eating fruits and vegetables.
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