Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are more common than you might think. Research suggests that most people lack vitamin B12, vitamin D3, magnesium, and iron, among others. Depending on the vitamin, both Avena and Valente note that a deficiency can stem from a lack of sun exposure, diet, or underlying health conditions.
So, what can you do about it? First, see a doctor to get a better idea of what’s going on in your body. “Ideally, you’d have blood work done to see what your levels are for certain vitamins and minerals,” says Valente. “After that, depending on what your levels are, you might consider supplementation or focus on choosing foods rich in certain nutrients.”
“While it’s possible to get most of your essential vitamins and nutrients from food, a standard American diet is low in a variety of important vitamins that cause common deficiencies,” notes Avena. To remedy this, take one of Valente’s top pieces of nutrition advice: Eat a wide variety of foods from different food groups. “It helps make eating more enjoyable –– variety and all — but also helps you get a diverse mix of nutrients,” she says.
If your levels are super low or you’d just rather go the supplement route, Avena recommends looking for vitamin and mineral brands with current good manufacturing practices. These are tested for strict quality and purity standards, so when you’re in the market for a supplement, it helps find the more reputable brands.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are very common, but it’s possible to boost your levels by eating a balanced diet or taking supplements.
As per healthline.com
