What Vitamins Should I Take? Symptoms that Can Be Signs of Deficiencies
It can be hard to make sure you’re getting all the nutrition you need from just your diet. Sometimes we try and sometimes we succeed, remembering to buy broccoli, chickpeas, and quinoa. Other times, we just don’t have the time or energy and buy Oreos, Honey Smacks, and ramen instead.
And that’s okay! Because there’s an entire industry worth over $30 billion built around the foundation that many, many people don’t have the time, knowledge, or ability to consume and properly absorb all the vitamins and minerals necessary to be a day-to-day high-functioning individual. Of course, it is always best to try and get the bulk of your nutrients from your diet. But we are only human after all, and that’s why supplementary vitamins exist.
Enter: the multivitamin and supplement industry. There are thousands upon thousands of vitamins, supplements, pills, shots, etc. out there, available right at your fingertips. But when it comes down to deciding which ones you need versus which ones you don’t, where do you even begin to start? If you are suffering from vitamin choice paralysis, you’re in the right place.
A word to the wise real quick before we hop into it: OnMi recommends always consulting your doctor if you are experiencing any drastic symptoms or changes.
Why You Might Need to Take a Daily Vitamin
Many times, individuals with certain conditions need to take certain supplements in order to achieve a complete nutritional profile. There are differences in the needs of men versus women, as well as those with dietary restrictions. For example, women need more iron during periods of menstruation, and those who adhere to a vegetarian or vegan diet need to take a vitamin B12 supplement, a vitamin only found in animal products.
Those who are older often have poor food intake due to a decrease in appetite or difficulty swallowing food, which can necessitate taking vitamin supplements. Pregnant women need to consume more folate, iron, calcium, vitamin D, and DHA than the average person and therefore should consider taking supplements during pregnancy.
Furthermore, any medical condition that inhibits one’s ability to absorb vitamins is a reason to look into the benefits of a daily vitamin. These diseases and conditions can include, but are not limited to, celiac, cystic fibrosis, surgeries that remove parts of organs that are vital to the digestive process, and alcoholism.
Certain diuretics prescribed to lower blood pressure can play a part in depleting the body’s stores of magnesium, potassium, and calcium. And vitamin D deficiencies are common in individuals who get less sun exposure, like those who live farther from the equator.
So who needs to take a daily vitamin, exactly? It all depends on the factors that affect and define how you live. If you find yourself asking “what vitamins should I take?”, and you don’t have any of the above conditions, we advise you to first step back and ask yourself, “how am I feeling?” Your body is smart, and when you are deficient in certain vitamins or minerals, it will “tell” you through certain symptoms.
So, What Vitamins Should I Take?
Based on symptoms, here are some common deficiencies you might be experiencing:
Tiredness, Constipation, Loss of Appetite, Balance Issues
You could be deficient in vitamin B12. This deficiency, affecting between 1.5-15% of Americans, comes from a lack of meat and dairy products in one’s diet. Vegans and vegetarians are especially susceptible to this deficiency, but if you adhere to one of these healthy diets, never fear! OnMi has a completely plant-based, all-natural source of vitamin B12 for you in our Energy Patch, seeing as oftentimes those deficient in B12 experience fatigue.
Dry Skin, Dry Eyes, Night Blindness, Acne and Breakouts
These symptoms could be a sign that you are deficient in vitamin A. Vitamin A is found in two different forms: preformed and provitamin. The former is found in meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products. The latter is found in the form of carotenoids in red, green, yellow and orange fruits and veggies and converted to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is readily found in absorbable form in OnMi’s Multivitamin Patch as well!
Skin Disorders, Nausea, Confusion, Anemia
You could be experiencing a vitamin B6 deficiency. Found in poultry, fish, potatoes, and fruits (except citrus fruits), symptoms of a vitamin B6 deficiency can have negative long-term health effects. Fortunately, OnMi’s Relax Patch contains 8mg of this vitamin, so hop on it and purchase some patches that increase your daily intake of vitamin B6 while helping you relax!
The first course of action before asking yourself “what vitamins should I take?” is considering your diet and how you could be incorporating a wider variety of whole, unprocessed foods, namely fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
After that, consult with your doctor and consider OnMi vitamin patches as a daily supplement to your diet to help you reduce the symptoms you’re experiencing. We would love to help you get all the vitamins and minerals you need to enjoy your life.