

Early detection is important to prevent irreversible damage over time, especially to the nervous system. People who are deficient in folate may not have any symptoms or may have symptoms of anemia, an irregular heartbeat, weakness, tiredness, or nerve damage.

If you don't eat enough folate-rich foods, or if your body doesn't store or absorb enough of it, your levels may be low. Folate helps with the healthy development of fetal tissues and cells. This vitamin is important during pregnancy to help prevent congenital disabilities (conditions present at birth) of the brain (e.g., anencephaly) and spine (e.g., spina bifida). Folate is a water-soluble vitamin that helps your body make red and white blood cells grow tissues build DNA and turn food into energy. The Folate Test measures the level of vitamin B9, also known as folate, in your blood. Calcium is naturally found in black soybeans, leafy greens, and almonds. Our bodies do not produce calcium, so we must get it from food or supplements.

Abnormal calcium levels in the blood may be a sign of bone disease, kidney disorders, thyroid disease, or other conditions. If you don't get eat enough calcium-rich foods, or your body doesn’t store or absorb enough of it, your levels may be low. Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption and helps to enhance calcium reserves over time. This leads to bone loss and, eventually, osteoporosis (a condition that causes bones to gradually thin and weaken).įor your body to absorb enough calcium, you must also have sufficient levels of vitamin D. If we don't consume enough of it, our bodies will take it from where we need it the most: our bones. Calcium is necessary for blood clotting, muscular movement, heart function, and bone strength as we age. Many people know the importance of calcium for strong bones, but it also helps keep muscles, nerves, and blood vessels working properly. Calcium is a major mineral the body uses and stores in large amounts. The Calcium Test measures the total calcium levels in your blood. Tocopherol is naturally found in foods such as plant oils, eggs, olives, nuts, seeds, peanuts, peanut butter, red bell peppers, and leafy green vegetables (beet greens, collard greens, and spinach). Our bodies do not make tocopherol, so we need to get it daily from food or supplements. Too little tocopherol may cause tiredness, weakened immunity, difficulty with balance and coordination, poor vision, or digestive problems. If you don’t eat enough tocopherol-rich foods, or if your body doesn’t store or absorb enough of it, you may have low levels. Even though other tocopherols are absorbed and serve various roles, your body does not make them into alpha-tocopherol for use. Alpha-tocopherol is the only type your body uses. Each one does something different in the body. Tocopherol also helps strengthen your immune system, make new red blood cells, heal wounds, reduce inflammation, and stop blood clots from forming inside blood vessels.
Vegetables high in chromium free#
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble vitamin that protects cells from damage caused by free radicals (unstable molecules) because it is an antioxidant. The Vitamin E Test measures the levels of alpha-tocopherol and beta-gamma-tocopherol, also called tocopherol, in your blood. Vitamin D is naturally found in foods such as meat, seafood (trout and salmon), cod liver oil, or fortified dairy and plant-based milk products. Your liver and kidneys change the inactive form of vitamin D into the active form (25-hydroxyvitamin D) your body needs. It then stores an inactive form of vitamin D in fat cells until it's needed. Your body makes vitamin D after direct exposure to sunlight. Not having enough vitamin D can lead to bone pain, muscle weakness, or depression. If you don’t eat enough vitamin D-rich foods, or if your body doesn’t make enough of it, you may have low levels. Vitamin D can also help the immune system fight infections. These are essential nutrients for strong bones and healthy cells. Vitamin D also helps regulate calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble vitamin that is necessary for the proper functioning of your heart, blood vessels, insulin, and mood. The Vitamin D test measures the amount of 25-OH vitamin D in your blood, an indicator of the level of vitamin D in your body.
