Health Desk- Did you know that you can be deficient in Vitamin C ? This is possible because Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin and hence it is required by your body on a daily basis. If you are not aware of this, then you need to read the causes and symptoms of vitamin C deficiency carefully, because its deficiency can cause many serious diseases.
What are the reasons for deficiency of Vitamin C in the body?
Vitamin C deficiency can be caused by a number of reasons, including low intake of a healthy diet, genetic disorders, excessive exercise, and metabolic syndrome. Along with this, due to high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, there can be deficiency of Vitamin C in the body.
Infants and old people may be deficient in Vitamin C-
Vitamin C deficiency is also found in infancy and old age. Economically weak families are not able to consume Vitamin C in sufficient quantity. Because of this, they are more likely to be deficient in Vitamin C.
Market milk can cause Vitamin C deficiency in the baby-
It has also been revealed in the research that sufficient amount of Vitamin C is present in the mother’s milk, while heating the milk available in the market reduces the amount of Vitamin C. That’s why babies who are fed mother’s milk get more vitamin C than other babies, due to which they remain more healthy.
Vitamin C can be reduced due to lack of nutritious diet-
There are thousands of such people in the world, who live their lives by staying away from the family. Due to loneliness and run-of-the-mill life, they are not able to pay much attention to their food and drink. Due to not eating nutritious food, they may have vitamin C deficiency. Such people often cook food that can be prepared quickly in less time. There may be a deficiency of Vitamin C in this food.
Smokers may be deficient in Vitamin C-
According to the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), people who smoke are more deficient in vitamin C than those who do not smoke. The main reason for this is the unbalanced diet taken by the people who smoke. Similarly, people who eat canned or processed food are also prone to vitamin C deficiency.
People who smoke should consume 35 mg more vitamin C than normal people to maintain adequate amount of vitamin C in their body. With this additional dose, the prescribed amount of vitamin C can be supplied in the body of smokers.
Vitamin C can be reduced in case of serious illness-
Due to some serious illness, there can be deficiency of Vitamin C in the body. Vitamin C deficiency can also occur in the body due to serious intestinal diseases or cancer. Similarly, severe kidney disease can also cause vitamin C deficiency.
What are the symptoms of Vitamin C deficiency in the body?
Following are the symptoms of Vitamin C deficiency:-
1. Bad breath and weakening of teeth-
When there is a deficiency of Vitamin C in the body, then as a result, foul smell starts coming from the mouth. Teeth start getting weak. You should contact a doctor if these symptoms appear.
2. Dryness of the skin and wrinkles on the face-
Deficiency of Vitamin C causes dryness in the body parts. The skin becomes dry, and wrinkles appear on the face and around the eyes. If there is a wound or injury in your body, then due to vitamin C deficiency, there is a delay in healing the disease.
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3. Viral infection, nausea and fever-
Deficiency of Vitamin C can cause problems like cold, viral infection, loss of taste of food, nausea. Along with this, fever can also occur.
4. Decreased eyesight-
The main function of Vitamin C is to keep the cells of the eyes healthy. In a research, it has been found that problems related to eyes such as low vision or symptoms of cataract can be caused due to vitamin C deficiency. However, there is no information about any authentic facts related to this. Therefore, whenever these problems occur, vitamin C should be consumed only after consulting a doctor.
Diseases caused by deficiency of Vitamin C-
Due to excessive deficiency of Vitamin C in the body, symptoms related to it start appearing within a month, which can be as follows:-
1. Swelling and bleeding gums-
If the gums start swelling and bleeding, then it can be a symptom of vitamin C deficiency.
2. Rashes on the skin-
This is one of the major symptoms of Vitamin C deficiency. If there is a red rash on the body, then it should be understood that there is a deficiency of Vitamin C.
3. Weakness of teeth-
If your teeth start getting weak without any reason, then understand that this can also happen due to lack of Vitamin C.
4. Deterioration of collagen synthesis-
When there is a defect in the body’s collagen synthesis process, it can be a symptom of vitamin C deficiency.
5. Decrease in physical strength-
Due to lack of Vitamin C, there can be a decrease in physical strength. If this happens you should contact the doctor. Similarly, perifollicular hemorrhage and weakening of body tissue are also symptoms of vitamin C deficiency. If the symptoms of Vitamin C deficiency are identified in the early stage, then the body can be made healthy by preventing it.
6. Weak immunity-
If you are constantly suffering from any disease, such as cold, cough, cold or infection etc., then understand that there is probably a deficiency of Vitamin-C in your body. Vitamin-C helps in more production of white blood cells, which keeps our body safe from infection or allergy. But, due to lack of Vitamin-C, your immunity will be weak.
7.Anemia-
Vitamin-C and iron deficiency often occur together. Iron deficiency can cause problems like tiredness, pallor, breathing problems, headache. If there is deficiency of Vitamin-C in the body, then it leads to iron deficiency in the body which is also known as anemia. It can also be a disease.
8. Hair loss-
If your hair is falling or breaking more than usual, it means that you are not taking Vitamin-C properly. Therefore, instead of spending on products for your hair, you should take vitamin-C rich food like, Broccoli, Orange, Kiwi, Amla etc. Vitamin-C makes our hair strong. Along with this, early breakage of nails can also be due to Vitamin-C deficiency.
What should be eaten when there is deficiency of Vitamin-C ?
1. Consume oranges-
Orange is a better source of Vitamin C. If you drink 1 cup of orange juice, you get 124 mg of vitamin-C from it, which is 137.8% of your DV. The taste of orange is sour sweet. By including oranges in your daily diet, you can fulfill the deficiency of Vitamin-C in the body.
2. Consume guava-
Guava is a winter fruit which is very much liked in its season. It contains Vitamin-C in abundance. You get 377 mg of vitamin C in one guava, which is 419% of the daily dose.
3. Use lemon-
Vitamin C is found in sufficient quantity in sour juicy things. Lemon is one of them. One lemon contains 44.5 mg of Vitamin-C. Which is 49.4% of DV. You can use lemon comfortably in salads or as lemonade.
4. Consume mangoes-
Mango is the king of fruits for its taste and quality. If you consume 1 cup of mango, then you get 60.1 mg of Vitamin C, which is 66.7% of your daily dose.
5. Use broccoli-
You must have found consuming broccoli more to those people who want weight loss, because it is very low in calories but at the same time it contains Vitamin-C in abundance. One cup of broccoli contains 81.2 mg of vitamin-C, which is 90.2% of your DV, which is very high.
6. Consume Kiwi-
Kiwi is a good and tasty source of Vitamin-C. One Kiwi contains 64 mg of Vitamin-C and this is 71.1% of your daily dose. Kiwi is often used by people in cakes, pastries or fruit salads.
7. Potato is also beneficial-
Potatoes are used almost every day in every kitchen. Potato is such a vegetable that mixes with every vegetable and enhances its taste. A large potato contains 72.7 mg of vitamin C, which is 80.8% of the daily dose.
8. Strawberry-
Vitamin C is rich in strawberries. If you eat one cup of strawberries, then you get 97.6 mg of vitamin C from it, which is 108% of our daily dose.
Now you have got complete information about Vitamin C deficiency, its symptoms and diseases. Also, what should be eaten to complete it? Therefore, consume fruits and vegetables regularly so that vitamin C is present in sufficient quantity in your body. Keep in mind that if you want to consume vitamin C supplements, then consult a doctor before consumption. Thank you.
