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Chill Out! The Cold Truth About Vitamin Deficiencies

health

By Julian F.

- Jul 9, 2026

Being your go-to 'shiver-whisperer', let's dive into why you might be notified for 'Radiating Arctic Vibes' on an average summer day. The culprit? A deficiency in certain vitamins like B12 or iron might just be chilling you to your very marrow.

A kind of anemia called 'megaloblastic anemia' - think fewer, overgrown red blood cells - can originate from a B12 deficiency and give you cold feet, literally. This can occur because of a disease where your immune cells mistake your stomach for an enemy base and rain havoc, compromising B12 absorption. Diets low in animal products, some stomach surgeries, medications for acid reflux or diabetes can all mess with your B12 barometer. But hey, you can always beef up your B12 levels with meat, fish, dairy or supplements.

Folate or Vitamin B9 also teams up with B12 in the red blood cell game. A lacking here can introduce you to the world of larger-than-life red blood cells (megaloblastic anemia again!) and increased vulnerability to cold. Dark leafy green veggies, beans, fruit, whole grains, sunflower seeds, fish and liver can help fill any folate gaps in your diet.

Just FYI, don't try to cure your chilly vibes with Vitamin D - it's got its hands full with muscles and bones. Still wrapped up in blankets in the height of summer? Your iron fortress might need some reinforcements. Iron deficiency anemia - hello, most common nutritional deficiency worldwide - can affect the 'oxygen carriers' of your body, or red blood cells. Causes could range from an injury that led to blood loss, heavy menstrual period, or bleeding from the gastrointestinal or urinary tract.

And while you might have heard that Vitamin C is a faithful pal in iron absorption, remember, your body isn't lacking in Vitamin C just because it's deficient in iron. Same goes for iodine; a deficiency here can lead to hypothyroidism and leave you feeling frosty, but it's not a common occurrence in the U.S.

The crux of the matter is, if you're shivering more than usual, there's a chance your body is trying to send you an icy SOS. But before you start popping vitamins or minerals like candy, get a concrete diagnosis. Misdirected supplementing could undermine the real issue and your health might continue to spiral downwards. Remember, it's about addressing the root of the problem. That way, you can restore balance, alleviate symptoms and go back to complaining about how hot it is outside just like everybody else.

Extreme temperature sensitivity isn't something to take lightly, better to 'snowball' your concerns into your doctor's office than 'ice skate' around the problem.

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