Maintaining your physical health can seem like a full-time job. Exercise, diets, and general lifestyle habits all contribute to your well-being or lack thereof. One of the easiest ways to monitor your health is to check your vitamin levels.

A vitamin deficiency test can determine if your body lacks any vitamins and nutrients. You can then change your lifestyle to raise your vitamin levels, so you stay healthy longer.

If you want a vitamin blood test, London Blood Tests can deliver the fastest results at unbeatable prices. If you’re still not sure why getting your vitamin levels tested is so important for your health, then read on.

What are Vitamins?

Vitamins are substances your body needs for cell function and growth. Experiencing low vitamin levels can result in various conditions depending on which vitamin your body lacks. Some of the most common essential vitamins, sources, and deficiency symptoms are listed below. Regardless of which vitamins you’re most concerned about, London Blood Tests can look for the essential vitamins your body requires.

Essential Vitamin Functions, Sources, and Deficiency Symptoms

Vitamin A

Functions

Vitamin A strengthens teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, and skin. Vitamin A also plays a crucial role in eyesight and pregnancy.Sources

You can find vitamin A in meat, fish, poultry, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. If you want to raise your vitamin A levels, then your diet should contain:

• Beef liver.
• Broccoli.
• Cantaloupe.
• Carrots.
• Eggs.
• Fish oils.
• Kale.
• Mango.
• Milk.
• Red bell pepper.
• Spinach.
• Sweet potatoes.
• Tomatoes.

Deficiency Symptoms

Mild to severe vitamin A deficiency can result in:

• Dry eyes.
• Dry skin and/or hair.
• Fatigue.
• Infertility.
• Night blindness.
• Susceptibility to infections.

Vitamin B1

Functions

Also known as thiamine, vitamin B1 helps your body convert carbohydrates into energy. You simply cannot live without energy.Sources

Meats, fish, and whole grains contain vitamin B1. You can find vitamin B1 in:

• Beans.
• Fish.
• Fortified breakfast cereals.
• Green peas.
• Pork.
• Sunflower seeds.
• Yoghurt.

Deficiency Symptoms

If you do not receive enough vitamin B1, you can experience:

• Confusion.
• Lowered immunity.
• Memory loss.
• Muscle weakness.
• Weight loss.

Vitamin B2

Functions

Vitamin B2 is also known as riboflavin. This vitamin works with other B vitamins to grow cells, produce energy, and break down fats.Sources

If you need to add vitamin B2 to your diet, you can turn to a variety of meats, fortified foods, nuts, and green vegetables:

• Almonds.
• Beef liver.
• Cheese.
• Chicken breast.
• Dairy milk.
• Eggs.
• Lean beef and pork.
• Salmon.
• Spinach.
• Yoghurt.

Deficiency Symptoms

Although vitamin B2 deficiencies are rare, those who suffer from them can display any of these symptoms:

• Anaemia.
• Cracked lips.
• Hair loss.
• Itchy, red eyes.
• Mouth and/or throat swelling.
• Skin rash.
• Sore throat.

Vitamin B3

Functions

Vitamin B3, also called niacin, can promote healthy skin and nerves as well as help lower cholesterol.Sources

You can find vitamin B3 in many foods like:

• Bananas.
• Beef.
• Brown rice.
• Fish.
• Nuts and seeds.
• Pork.
• Poultry.

Deficiency Symptoms

Since vitamin B3 is found in multiple sources, deficiencies are unlikely. If you lack vitamin B3, you can encounter:

• Depression.
• Fatigue.
• Hallucinations.
• Headache.
• Memory loss.

Vitamin B5

Functions

Vitamin B5 helps your body break down fats, reduce cholesterol, and produce hormones.Sources

Like its B vitamin counterparts, B5 can be received through a substantial diet of:

• Avocados.
• Beef.
• Broccoli.
• Brown rice.
• Chicken breast.
• Dairy milk.
• Eggs.
• Mushrooms.
• Nuts and seeds.
• Oats.
• Potatoes.
• Yoghurt.

Deficiency Symptoms

People who have low vitamin B5 levels could deal with:

• Fatigue.
• Hand/foot numbness or burning.
• Headaches.
• Irritability.
• Muscle cramps.
• Restlessness.
• Stomach issues (nausea, vomiting, and/or cramps).

Vitamin B6

Functions

Vitamin B6 can help more than 100 enzymes perform a multitude of functions, such as red blood cell production. Sufficient levels of this vitamin can support immune and brain health.Sources

You can maintain your vitamin B6 levels when you eat:

• Bananas.
• Beef liver.
• Cantaloupe.
• Chickpeas.
• Dark leafy greens.
• Fortified cereals.
• Oranges.
• Poultry.
• Salmon.
• Tuna.

Deficiency Symptoms

Since vitamin B6 can help your immune system and brain, it makes sense that lacking the vitamin affects those areas as well. Vitamin B6 deficiency symptoms can include:

• Confusion.
• Depression.
• Reduced immunity.
• Skin conditions.

Vitamin B9

Functions

Also known as folate and folic acid, vitamin B9 helps produce your body’s DNA which controls tissue growth and cell function. Vitamin B9 also teams with B12 to create red blood cells.Sources

Vitamin B9 is found in a wide range of foods:

• Asparagus.
• Beans.
• Broccoli.
• Brussels sprouts.
• Eggs.
• Fresh fruits.
• Peanuts.
• Romaine lettuce.
• Seafood.
• Spinach.
• Sunflower seeds.

Deficiency Symptoms

While rare, vitamin B9 deficiency can cause:

• Concentration issues.
• Fatigue.
• Hair loss.
• Irregular heartbeat.
• Mouth sores.
• Pale skin.
• Shortness of breath.
• Weakness.

Vitamin B12

Functions

As previously mentioned, vitamins B12 and B9 make red blood cells. B12 also helps keep the central nervous system healthy.Sources

A diet rich in these foods can keep your vitamin B12 levels at an optimal level:

• Cheese.
• Eggs.
• Fish and shellfish.
• Liver.
• Milk (dairy, soy, and rice).
• Poultry.
• Red meat.
• Yoghurt.

Deficiency Symptoms

If your vitamin deficiency test finds that your B12 levels are too low, then you could experience:

• Certain types of anaemia.
• Confusion.
• Dementia.
• Depression.
• Fatigue.
• Hand and/or leg numbness/tingling.
• Memory loss.
• Seizures.
• Weakness.

Vitamin C

Functions

Chances are you already know what vitamin C does. Possibly the widest-known vitamin in the world, vitamin C is vital for teeth, gums, body tissue, and wound healing. It can also help you absorb iron, an essential mineral in its own right. It helps the body absorb iron and maintain healthy tissue. It is also essential for wound healing. Sources

If you want to raise and maintain your vitamin C levels, then you need to incorporate fruits and vegetables in your diet:

• Bell peppers.
• Broccoli.
• Brussels sprouts.
• Cabbage.
• Cauliflower.
• Grapefruit.
• Lemon.
• Oranges.
• Strawberries.
• Tomatoes.
• White potatoes.

Deficiency Symptoms

Developed populations rarely have to deal with vitamin C deficiencies. Fatigue, iron-deficiency anaemia, and scurvy are the three most common deficiency signs. Scurvy’s symptoms include:

• Skin spots.
• Gum swelling or bleeding.
• Tooth loss.
• Hair loss.
• Reduced skin healing capacity.

Vitamin D

Functions

Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, which helps you develop healthy teeth and bones. Studies have shown that vitamin D can also reduce cancer cell growth and inflammation.Sources

You will not find vitamin D in many foods. The best source of the vitamin is sunlight. If you want to add vitamin D to your diet, you must eat:

• Cereals, orange juice, and dairy and plant milks fortified with vitamin D.
• Cod liver oil.
• Egg yolk.
• Salmon.
• Sardines.
• Swordfish.
• Tuna fish.

Deficiency Symptoms

Sun exposure and your diet can help you prevent these symptoms:

• Bone pain.
• Fatigue.
• Mood changes (depression, etc.).
• Muscle weakness, aches, and/or cramps.

Vitamin E

Functions

Vitamin E helps your body form red blood cells, as well as use vitamin K, which helps your blood clot. Vitamin E also gathers free radicals that damage cells while improving immune function.Sources

You must look to plant-based foods for vitamin E:

• Almonds.
• Asparagus.
• Avocado.
• Collard greens.
• Mango.
• Peanuts.
• Pumpkin.
• Red bell pepper.
• Spinach.
• Sunflower seeds.

Deficiency Symptoms

In addition to reduced immunity, people with vitamin E deficiencies can suffer:

• Loss of control of body movements.
• Nerve damage.
• Retina damage.

Take Control of Your Health Today

Wouldn’t you want to know if you have a vitamin deficiency before you develop problems? London Blood Tests vitamin testing can help you prevent life-threatening conditions, ensuring you get a clear view of your vitamin levels so you can adjust your lifestyle.

If you already have a vitamin deficiency, shouldn’t you monitor your levels? Life can throw a lot at you. Work and family can distract you from the most important person in your life: you. You have to take care of yourself before you can take care of all of your responsibilities. Sometimes life’s obligations make us forget about our health. Sometimes we avoid our problems because we don’t want to change how we live. Ignoring your vitamin deficiency will not make it go away. Checking it from time to time can let you know if you’re making progress.

Our tests can help you improve your well-being so you can live your life on your terms. Our Vitamin Profile test can check your:

• Vitamin A.
• Vitamin B1.
• Vitamin B2.
• Vitamin B3.
• Vitamin B5.
• Vitamin B6.
• Vitamin B9 (Red Cell Folate).
• Vitamin B12 (Active).
• Vitamin C (Frozen).
• Vitamin D.
• Vitamin E.

We also provide Premium Blood Profile, Essential Blood Profile, and Premium Well-Being Profile tests to give you a comprehensive look into how your body operates. You can visit any of our 5 London locations at your convenience or even schedule a home visit.

Book an appointment now while your health is fresh in your mind.