For our bodies to run at their best potential, they need the right balance of vitamins and minerals. When we eat a healthy diet we can usually get everything we need from our food. However, it’s not foolproof. Certain illnesses can affect absorption, and being unwilling or unable to eat particular foods or food groups can also cause a problem. When your body lacks in these vitamins, it can lead to serious health issues, and so it’s important to know the risks- and what you can do to prevent them.

 

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Iron

Having too little iron in the body results in anaemia. This can be caused by long-term blood loss in the body such as from a peptic ulcer to a hiatal hernia or som forms of cancer. Heavy menstrual periods are another culprit, or it could be a result of a lack of iron in the diet.  Iron injections or iron therapy are sometimes needed, even a blood transfusion in some cases. However it can often be treated by changing the diet, dark leafy green vegetables, beans, peas and dried fruit are all iron rich foods.

 

Calcium

It’s common knowledge that calcium is needed for strong teeth and bones, but it’s also essential for nerve health, stabilising blood pressure and muscle contractions. The heart is a muscle that contracts- highlighting how important this is! If you exclude dairy from your diet, you can have an increased risk of becoming deficient in calcium. Be sure to track your calcium intake which you can get from other sources other than dairy and animal products. Hormonal changes can result in calcium being leeched from the bones after menopause women can experience this. It can cause brittle bones, osteoporosis and mean that any kind of fall or injury can be extremely dangerous.

 

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 works to keep the body’s nerve and blood cells healthy. The body doesn’t make this vitamin itself, and it’s only natural form is in animal products, which means that vegans can’t get this in their diet. For this reason, a supplement containing vitamin B12 is needed, or they can eat vitamin B12-fortified grains. Another option is to use IV therapy. Here vitamin b12 and other important vitamins are delivered through an IV. It means a 100% absorption rate and has many proven benefits.

 

Magnesium

Magnesium is needed for a whole host of processes in the body. It includes everything from regulating muscle and nerve function to maintaining blood sugar levels as well as blood pressure. Magnesium is needed protein, bone cells, and even our DNA. Deficiencies are often caused by alcohol abuse, as well as chronic stress, uncontrolled diabetes and long-term stomach problems like vomiting or diarrhoea. If you have a magnesium deficiency, you’re likely to experience muscle cramps, tremors, nausea, anxiety and high blood pressure. It’s important to get to the route of the problem first, then supplements and eating magnesium-rich foods can help to get you back on track.