What Happens to Your Body When You’re Low on Vitamin C?
•Posted on June 12 2023
Oranges, tomatoes, strawberries, broccoli – there are so many sources of vitamin C to choose from. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting enough.
Vitamin C deficiencies are not too common in developed countries where there is easy access to fresh, high-quality produce, but this doesn’t mean everyone is consuming enough of the foods that are brimming with this crucial vitamin.
Poor lifestyle choices and severe mental illness are also known to affect the absorption of vitamin C, which can make a minor deficiency much worse.
To help you get a better understanding of whether you might be dealing with a vitamin C deficiency, here are some key signs to look out for.
10 Signs Your Body Might Be Alerting You to a Vitamin C Deficiency
Sign 1: You Pick Up Viruses and Infections Easily and Often
When you don’t get enough vitamin C, your body is unable to protect your cells from oxidative stress and fight infections, making you more susceptible to viruses and respiratory infections. If you’ve been feeling like you just keep getting sick, your body could be crying out for more vitamin C.
Sign 2: You’ve Gained Weight Unexpectedly
Vitamin C is responsible for regulating the release of fat from the cells and while there is still some debate around the cause of this relationship, several studies suggest that sudden and unexpected weight gain could be linked to low levels of vitamin C.
Sign 3: You’re Constantly Tired
This is one of the most obvious signs that you could do with some more vitamin C. However, if you feel that your fatigue has gotten much worse, it’s best to also see a doctor to rule out any other or additional causes through bloodwork.
Sign 4: Your Hair Follicles are Red
Your hair follicles contain small blood vessels which carry nutrients to this area. But, when there’s a lack of vitamin C, these blood vessels become far more fragile, which can cause them to break and create bright red spots around your hair follicles.
Sign 5: You’re Struggling with Bleeding Gums
Because vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, it can keep gum disease at bay. However, those who aren’t consuming enough will very likely start to experience bleeding gums.
Sign 6: You Always Have Bruises
Everyone bruises but if you seem to be noticing more bruises than usual, a vitamin C deficiency could be the explanation you’re looking for. It should also be said that a low platelet count can also cause you to bruise easily, so you may want to arrange for some bloodwork too.
Sign 7: Your Skin Has Become Rough
Your skin is another area of the body that’s impacted by low levels of vitamin C. This is because vitamin C and collagen work hand in hand to give you healthy connective tissue. Rough, bumpy skin is an indicator that your body needs a little more vitamin C than usual.
Sign 8: Wounds are Slow to Heal
There’s a reason why doctors recommend higher doses of vitamin C after surgery. Your body needs enough vitamin C to maintain healthy collagen levels and heal your skin.
Sign 9: Your Joints are Aching
Joint pain is another clear sign of a lack of vitamin C, particularly in the hips and knees. This too is linked to the relationship between vitamin C and collagen. Collagen is essential for joint support. Without enough collagen, you will experience more stiffness and swelling in the joints.
Sign 10: Ongoing Iron Deficiency
Anemia, aka an iron deficiency, can also be linked to low levels of vitamin C, especially if you just can’t seem to shake it. An iron deficiency presents many of the same symptoms as a vitamin C deficiency, including dry skin and fatigue, so it’s easy to see why the two are linked.
In Closing
If you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms, you can easily reverse the effects by consuming more foods that are high in vitamin C – you can also use a supplement such as Immune Shield from Vita Sciences to further increase your intake. Just be aware that it can take several weeks to experience the positive effects of increasing your vitamin C intake.