We need a variety of vitamins for maintaining normal processes like metabolism in our body. However, sometimes we can experience vitamin deficiency, or a lack of one or another kind of herbal vitamins in our body. Usually it is linked to imbalanced diet, health disorders or substance abuse, and this condition can bring to quite serious consequences. Besides, if it goes enough long it can even trigger some serious diseases like diabetes, respiratory system problems, osteoporosis and so on.

Factors that can cause vitamin deficiency:

• A lack of natural vitamin sources in your daily diet. Eating insufficient amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables usually causes vitamin deficiency.
• Eating disorders. Health conditions like bulimia and anorexia are linked to improper nutrition and can trigger a lack of certain vitamins.
• Having some particular diseases (like diabetes or asthma). Many diseases are accompanied with a lack of appetite causing inadequate levels of body vitamins.
• Being a heavy smoker. Increased levels of nicotine in the body are associated with vitamin C deficiency.
• Alcohol abuse. Increased amounts of alcohol cause severe vitamin D deficiency.
• Being under effect of stresses (especially prolonged stresses), depression and overwork. These conditions are very closely linked to unhealthy eating and imbalanced nutrition.
• Being a pregnant woman or a nursing mom.

But how do you know if you have one or another type of vitamin deficiency? You can try to recognize certain symptoms pointing on the fact that you need to increase your consumption of one or another vitamin. For example, if you have a lack of vitamin A in your body, you should experience problems with vision and have too dry skin. Vitamin C deficiency causes bleeding gums and swellings. B2 vitamin deficiency causes dry mouth, B6 vitamin deficiency causes sores in the mouth and dizziness, B12 vitamin deficiency causes short breath, brittle hair and numbness. By the way, there was no scientific evidence found to prove the fact that cracked nails should be considered a sign of vitamin deficiency (as it is commonly believed).

Also, if you are very much concerned about the levels of vitamins in your body, you can go for special medical tests which can help you find out if you have a lack of some vitamins. Usual urine and blood tests usually can give a general picture to your health care specialist about the levels of the most important vitamins in your body, so he or she can suggest you consuming more of certain foods (as sources of herbal vitamins your body is lacking), or using special vitamin supplements. In addition, if you want to eliminate a possibility of having one or another vitamin deficiency, you can take blood antioxidant test. Vitamins are building blocks of antioxidants, so if you are low on certain antioxidant enzymes, you can be having decreased levels of related vitamins.

Author Info: Hi! My name is Carla and I am a 5th year medical student at HYMS. I am interested in alternative medicine and I have done months researching the topic of herbal medicine. Besides, I like interviewing people and learning more about their experiences with one or another type of herbal treatments. I am willing to contribute to this site with my knowledge, and I would be happy to help you out to the best of my ability with any specific questions or problems related to alternative medicine.

One Response to “Herbal Vitamins And Vitamin Deficiency”

1. Wesley Says:
   May 29th, 2013 at 3:03 am

   All in all, our bodies have multilevel defense systems to
   fight free radicals. -Beta Carotene, Vitamin C and Vitamin
   E are essential antioxidants, offering protection to the skin against harmful damage.

   Fact: Free radicals are highly reactive compounds produced during our
   normal metabolic process.