A well-balanced and nutritious Hallelujah Diet has so many benefits for our bodies, inside and out. As God intended, eating the proper food powers our miraculous body from emotional and mental health to physical health and even benefits our skin. We love teaching you all about how every aspect of your food can influence our daily lives but are you still on the fence about starting our diet? Have you ever wondered if there was some sign it was time to change your diet? Do you know whether or not you are currently suffering from a vitamin deficiency? Have you been searching for a reason to switch over to The Hallelujah Diet? Because if so, we may have that reason! A poor diet could mean you miss out on the right vitamins you need, but how do you know? What are the signs? We're humbled and happy to share. Let's dive right in!
What is Vitamin Deficiency?
Vitamin deficiency is when your body lacks the right amounts of vitamins it needs to function properly. This can happen if you are not eating well, not eating enough foods containing the vitamins your body needs, or if your body has trouble with absorbing and processing specific vitamins. Without these much-needed nutrients, your body's processes can't function properly, reducing your health causing your body to communicate various vitamin and mineral deficiencies in many different symptoms.
What are the Signs of Vitamin Deficiency?
Since our bodies need many different vitamins, we'll be starting with the most essential, such as vitamins A, C, D, and K, and covering their most common signs and symptoms that your body needs more of them. Today, we'd like to share some of the signs of vitamin A and C deficiency with you.
Signs of Vitamin A Deficiency
Vitamin A is one of the vitamins that the human body cannot produce on its own, which means it is essential to incorporate it via food or supplement. When you don't get enough vitamin A, you run the risk of developing vitamin A deficiency, leading to numerous health concerns and, even worse—possibly death. Deficiencies in vitamin A are prevalent in Africa and Southeast Asia and can occur in adults with diseases of the gastrointestinal system that interfere with the absorption of vitamin A. The Symptoms of Vitamin A Deficiency:
- Night blindness. If you have trouble seeing in low light or cannot see well without very bright light, this could lead to complete blindness at night.
- Do you find that your eyes are dehydrated and constantly crusted? This condition is called Xerophthalmia. The dryness and crustiness can cause further damage to the eye and retina if it continues.
- A person with a vitamin A deficiency may experience more frequent infections as their immune system may not be able to fight them off as easily.
- Bitot spots. This condition presents itself as a buildup of keratin in the eyes, causing hazy vision.
- Skin irritation. Those experiencing vitamin A deficiency could have more skin issues such as dryness, itching, and scaling.
- Keratomalacia is a disorder that stems from a lack of vitamin A. This eye disorder involves the drying and clouding of the cornea, the transparent layer that sits in front of the iris and pupil.
- Keratinisation. This is a process where cells become filled with keratin protein, die, and form tough, resistant structures in the urinary, gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts
- Stunted growth in children.
- Fertility issues.
Without enough vitamin A, it could become far more challenging to conceive and possibly lead to infertility.
Ways to ensure you get enough vitamin A?
Luckily, there are ways to ensure that you are getting enough vitamin A.
- Hallelujah Diet Total Eye Health Supplements are an excellent source of vitamin A with no questionably sourced ingredients. They are also packed with 10x more carotenoids, more bioavailable than those from leafy greens.
- Add these high sources of vitamin A to your daily diet: carrots, butternut squash, sweet potato, and spinach.
The Symptoms of Vitamin C Deficiency
Vitamin C is another crucial vitamin that we cannot produce ourselves and must come from our diet.
- Rough, bumpy skin. Vitamin C plays a key part in collagen production, the protein is abundant in connective tissues within our joints, bones, blood vessels, and skin. When we experience vitamin C deficiency, we may begin to have a skin condition known as keratosis pillaris.
- Perifollicular hemorrhage is a well-documented sign of severe vitamin C deficiency that shows as bright red hair follicles. Small blood vessels become weak and break easily, which results in small, bright red spots around the hair.
- Red spots or red lines in fingernails as well as fingernails being spoon-shaped. Spoon-shaped nails are recognizable by their concave shape and are often very thin and brittle. Along with spoon-shaped nails, red spots or red vertical lines in the nail bed, known as splinter hemorrhage, may also indicate a vitamin C deficiency.
- Dry and damaged skin. Vitamin C helps keep skin healthy but protects it from oxidative damage caused by the sun and exposure to pollutants. Dry, damaged skin can often be linked to vitamin C deficiency.
- Easy bruising. Bruising can be a sign of lacking vitamin C since poor collagen production causes weak blood vessels, which in turn causes bruises.
- Painful, swollen joints and, or bleeding between the joints.
- Vitamin C deficiency and iron deficiency often occur together. If you suffer from persistent iron deficiency anemia, you may also have a vitamin C deficiency.
- Fatigue and poor mood. Two of the earliest signs of vitamin C deficiency are fatigue and poor mood, appearing before a full-blown deficiency develops
Ways to Ensure You Get Enough Vitamin C?
- Make sure you are supplementing your vitamin C, either with Liposomal Vitamin C or calcium ascorbate. Both are fantastic sources of vitamin C.
- Add these vegetables and fruits to your daily diet: Acerola cherry, guava, blackcurrants, sweet red peppers, kiwifruits, lychee, lemon, orange, strawberry, papaya, broccoli, and parsley. Remember when you add your daily recommended vitamin sources from fruits and vegetables that it's essential for the ultimate in nutrients that you choose non-GMO, certified organic, 100% all-natural, pesticide produce so our bodies can absorb as much as possible.
Additionally, there's no shame in adding the right supplements to ensure you get the highest amount. Suppose you find yourself with gastrointestinal issues and are worried about not being able to absorb enough from supplements and food. In that case, you might want to check out our amazing Digestive Enzymes. At The Hallelujah Diet, we're here to help in any way we can. You deserve to fall in love with food and your body all over again!
