The start of a new year – when you’re back into your working week – can be an exciting time if you’re full of vitality. But it’s not such an exciting time if you’re feeling sluggish, lacking energy or having difficulty sleeping. It doesn’t have to be this way. All of these symptoms could be signs of a vitamin deficiency which can be addressed by boosting your nutrient levels. Here are five warning flags to watch out for and how to take action.
1. You’re feeling sluggish
If your mind and body are feeling sluggish one of the best supplements for energy is vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in optimal brain and nervous system functioning, as well as the formation of red blood cells. A lack of this vitamin may lead to a type of anemia called megaloblastic anemia which causes, among other things, a lack of vitality.
Most people get enough B12 in their diet, but if you’re not, other signs include chronic inflammation, agitation, mood swings, poor memory and appetite, and restlessness. A vegan diet puts you at a higher risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency, as does being a woman, especially if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Next time you go shopping, add to your list: eggs, red meat, salmon, poultry, mackerel, dairy, cheese, tofu, soy milk, and sardines. The best way to know if your body has a vitamin deficiency is by testing, so check your nutrient levels via a blood test to be sure.
2. You’re having difficulty sleeping
Trouble sleeping, depression, obesity, and aching bones are four signs you may be lacking vitamin D. If you’ve enjoyed a few glasses too many of your favorite drink over the holidays, your vitamin D levels may be lowered. Whether alcohol interferes with your body’s ability to absorb and activate vitamin D is still a topic of debate, but we suggest avoiding or limiting your alcohol for optimal health and a deeper, more restorative sleep.
Other factors which increase the demand for vitamin D include aging, insulin-dependent diabetes, lack of exposure to the sun, obesity, pregnancy, smog exposure and eating a vegetarian diet.
There are other nutrients required to improve your sleep, but to boost your vitamin D levels add nourishing foods like cod, halibut, herring, tuna, butter, eggs, milk, and sprouted seeds to your diet. Baze uses Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol), the form naturally produced in your body from sunlight, which is superior to Vitamin D2.
3. You’ve got dry skin
Hydrated skin slows down the aging process of your skin. Lack of water is usually the cause of dry skin, so load up on good old H2O. Drink about 1/2 ounce of water for every pound of body weight. So, if you weigh 130 lbs., that’s about 64 ounces of water every day. If you’re drinking plenty of water and your skin is still dry, increase the amount of essential fatty acids in your diet, specifically omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3s play a crucial role in the functioning of your brain, healthy growth and development as well as hydrated skin. At the grocery store stock up on oily fish, eggs, nuts and seeds – especially flaxseeds and chia seeds. And if your Baze test reveals an omega-3 deficiency, your personalized supplements will contain the omega-3s that you need to correct your levels.
4. You’re experiencing muscle cramping
Muscle cramping and low energy could be signs of a magnesium deficiency. To get more magnesium into your diet, eat more dark green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds, soybeans, lentils, legumes, whole grains, avocados, bananas, and dairy, and take a supplement.
At Baze, we use magnesium citrate form of magnesium, which has three times the absorption rate compared to other common types of magnesium supplements. Good quality dark chocolate and raw cacao are packed with magnesium, too.
5. Your skin is breaking out in acne
If you’re suffering from any skin problems such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, scar tissue or stretch marks, your body may need more vitamin E.
To remedy this, stock up on foods rich in vitamin E including almonds, beef, dark green leafy vegetables, corn, egg yolk, hazelnuts, sunflowers, and wheat germ.
Remember though, the only sure-fire way to know if you have a vitamin deficiency is to test your current levels. Get started today with a Baze Kit which provides you with accurate results and personalized supplements to boost your vitality, and sluggishness will soon be a thing of the past.
Baze is a next-generation personalized nutrition service that offers you the real science behind supplementation and results that you can feel. Learn more about our team here.