Thinking of supplementing your diet?

There are a variety of different vitamins and minerals we need to ensure we remain healthy, and that our bodies have all the building blocks they need to look after themselves. It is possible to do this through diet alone, however taking supplements as well can make things easier which is why PillTime offer a supplements service with your pouches.

Vitamin B

There are numerous types of vitamin Bs (8 to be exact) and all are important in our general wellbeing. They aid in regulating our body’s nervous system and help us release energy from our body. As well as this:

• vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin) helps our bodies make blood cells which allows us to carry oxygen throughout our body and helps us use folate (another important component of blood cells production)

• Biotin helps us make fatty acids which keep our brain healthy among other benefits.

• Folic acid helps us form healthy blood cells, reduces the risk of birth defects (often used as a supplement for pregnant women) and reduces the risk of anaemia.

Signs and symptoms of low Vitamin B levels:

• B1 –include fatigue, irritability, poor memory, sleep issues, weight loss, abdominal discomfort, and loss of appetite.

• B2 - skin disorders, sores in the corners of the mouth, swollen and/or cracked lips, hair loss, sore throat, liver issues, problems with reproductive and nervous systems.

• B3 - severe deficiency can cause dermatitis, dementia, and diarrhoea.

• B5 - headaches, fatigues, irritability, restlessness, disturbed sleep, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, a numbness sensation in hands and feet and muscle cramps.

• B6 - skin rashes (red, itchy areas on scalp, face, neck, and upper chest), scaling on lips and cracks at corner of the mouth, confusion, and depression.

• B12/ Folate - extreme tiredness, lack of energy, pins and needles, sore and red tongue, mouth ulcers, muscle weakness, disturbed vision, depression, and confusion.

• Biotin - hair loss, dry scaly skin, cracking in corners of mouth, dry eyes, loss of appetite, fatigue, insomnia, depression.

Multivitamin

Multivitamins contain all the vitamins Bs, as well as...

• Vitamin A (Retinol) which helps the body’s natural defence against illness and infection, improves vision in dim light, and keeps the skin and lining of parts of the body such as the nose healthy.

• Vitamin C which helps protect cells, maintains healthy skin, bloods vessels, bones, and cartilage, helps us fight infection more effectively and aids wound healing.

• Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) which helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body helping keep bones strong and teeth and muscles healthy. Through summer months we can get vitamin D using natural sunlight, however the rest of the year it is advised we all take supplements to keep levels sufficient in the body.

• Vitamin E helps to maintain healthy skin and eyes and strengthen the body’s natural defence against illness and infection by helping build a strong immune system.

• Vitamin K2 helps with blood clotting and helping wounds heal.

Signs and symptoms of low Vit A, C, D, E:

• Vit A - night blindness (one of the first major signs), dry eyes, infection, blind spots, skin irritation, stunted growth

• Vit C - tired, weak, irritable, scurvy symptoms (bruising, gum and dental problems, dry hair, and skin)

• Vit D3 - fatigue, not sleeping well, bone pain or achiness, depression, hair loss, muscle weakness, loss of appetite, getting sick easily, Ricketts in children.

• Vit E - nerve and muscle damage, loss of feeling in arms and legs, loss of body movement control, muscle weakness, vision issues.

Selenium

Helps the immune system work properly, as well as in reproduction, and prevent damage to cells and tissues.

Signs of deficiency

Shedding hair, discoloration of skins and nails, itchy scalp or bad dandruff, fatigue, foggy mind, muscle weakness, a weak immune system (i.e. often ill), infertility issues in men and women.

Joint support

• Glucosamine 2KCl/ /Chondroitin sulphate has been used in the past to treat osteoarthritis.

• MSM - Anti-inflammation properties which can help with joint pain and inflammation.

• Vitamin C

Symptoms of low levels of glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM:

• Glucosamine - joint aches and pains, muscle and joint stiffness, symptoms of osteoarthritis, decrease in muscle mass and strength, reduced bone density.

• Chondroitin – joint issues, reduced strength around joints.

• MSM - Sore joints/ muscles, fatigue, wrinkles, dry and damaged skin, hair, nails, signs of arthritis.

Omega 3

• Can help prevent heart disease.

• Important for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding as can help baby's nervous system to develop.

Symptoms of low Omega 3: dry skin, brittle hair, thin nails, fatigue, and trouble sleeping, deficits in concentration and attentiveness, joint pain.

Iron

Important in making red blood cells (RBC), which carry oxygen around the body.

Symptoms of low Iron: tiredness and lack of energy, shortness of breath, noticeable heartbeats (i.e. heart palpitations), pale skin.

Other vitamins

Vegan vitamin D3

Vitamin D3 through summer months for most people the body creates vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors but should therefore be supplemented throughout winter months or if outdoor time is low. Helps regulate the amount of calcium (good for bone strength) and phosphate in the body which help keep bones teeth and muscle healthy.

Signs of Vitamin D3 deficiency - fatigue, not sleeping well, bone pain or achiness, depression, hair loss, muscle weakness, loss of appetite, getting sick easily, and Ricketts in children.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

• Helps protect cells and keeping them healthy.

• Maintaining healthy skin, blood vessels, bones, and cartilage

• Helps with wound healing.

Signs of low levels of Vitamin C: tired, weak, irritable, scurvy symptoms (bruising, gum and dental problems, dry hair, and skin).

Vitamin E

Helps maintain healthy skin and eyes and strengthen the body’s natural defence against illness and infection (the immune system).

Signs of low vitamin E: nerve and muscle damage, loss of feeling in arms and legs, loss of body movement control, muscle weakness, vision issues.

Vitamin K

Group of vitamins that the body needs for blood clotting which helps wounds heal.

Signs of low vitamin K: easily bruised, excessive bleeding, heavy and painful menstruation, risk to gastrointestinal tract due to increased risk of internal bleeding, loss of bone density, reduced cardiac health, bleeding gums and teeth, increased risk of low vitamin K to new-borns.

Food supplements must not replace a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Vitamin supplements are not intended to treat or prevent any disease. As with other food supplements, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using if you are under medical supervision, pregnant, breast-feeding, have epilepsy, suffer from food allergies, or are allergic to any of the ingredients. Supplements provided by PillTime will be checked against your medication records as an indication of compatibility, but this will only be against those medicines which you have had previously from PillTime. Not suitable for children.