Vitamin C is a vital nutrient for the body. Unfortunately, more than 46% of Americans lack this vitamin, thus jeopardizing their overall health and wellness. Vitamin C helps wounds heal faster, facilitates the growth and repair of body tissues, and aids in iron absorption.
Some common signs of vitamin C deficiency include:
- Gingivitis
- Inability to fight infections
- Anemia
- Bleeding gums
- Poor bone development
Scurvy is a disease commonly caused by vitamin C deficiency. Some symptoms of this disease include:
- Hair loss
- Delayed wound healing
- Swollen and bleeding gums that may eventually lead to loss of teeth
- Fatigue, malaise
- Anemia
- Spots and bruises on the skin that result from injury and rupture of blood vessels
What Should You Do Now?
The first thing you should do when you notice that you have the above symptoms is to consult your health provider. They might give you vitamin C supplements in tablets or capsules.
Next, you must make healthy lifestyle changes by incorporating foods rich in vitamin C into your diet. Some rich sources of Vitamin C include:
- Chili peppers
- Guavas
- Rose hips
- Lemons
- Broccoli
- Oranges
- Sweet yellow peppers
- Parsley
- Mustard spinach
- Strawberries
- Papayas
As you can see, there’s no shortage of foods that can provide you with vitamin C. However, there are some concerns that excessive oral consumption of vitamin C can lead to kidney stones, diarrhea, and localized esophagitis. But this has not been observed in patients who have healthy kidneys. So, please consult with your doctor so they can examine you individually and give you clear directions and recommendations.
