Joy Onuorah

Vitamin deficiency anemia is a lack of healthy red blood cells caused when you have lower than normal amounts of certain vitamins. Vitamins linked to vitamin deficiency anemia include folate, vitamin B-12 and vitamin C.

Vitamin deficiency anemia can occur if you don’t eat enough foods containing folate, vitamin B-12 or vitamin C, or it can occur if your body has trouble absorbing or processing these vitamins.

signs that you lack vitamins include;

• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Pale or yellowish skin
• Irregular heartbeats
• Weight loss
• Numbness or tingling in your hands and feet
• Muscle weakness
• Personality changes
• Unsteady movements
• Mental confusion or forgetfulness

Vitamin deficiency usually develops slowly over several months to years. Vitamin deficiency signs and symptoms may be subtle at first, but they increase as the deficiency worsens.

Healthy foods that provide vitamin

You can prevent some forms of vitamin deficiency anemias by choosing a healthy diet that includes a variety of foods.

Foods rich in folate include:

• Dark green leafy vegetables
• Nuts
• Enriched grain products, such as bread, cereal, pasta and rice
• Fruits and fruit juices

Foods rich in VVitamin B-12:

• Eggs
• Fortified foods, such as breakfast cereals
• Milk, cheese and yogurt
• Meat and shellfish

Foods rich in vitamin C include:

• Broccoli
• Citrus fruits and juices
• Strawberries
• Green peppers
• Tomatoes

Pregnant and breast-feeding women may require more of each vitamin.