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You probably hear a lot today about nutrition and all the different things you can do to make your life healthy. The problem is, many of these health gurus want to sell you some magic pill or powder and don’t necessarily care if it benefits you.
When you take any supplement or start any new diet, you want to know why you are doing it. Are there some nutritional deficiencies that make it reasonable to make these changes in your life?
There are signs that show you may have a nutritional deficiency and ways for you to treat it so that you can feel better and live a healthy and active lifestyle. We are going to talk about some of those in this article, so keep reading to learn about the top 5 signs your body gives you to show you have a nutritional deficiency.
If you have a lot of fatigue and feel like you are tired all the time, you could have an iron deficiency. Many people feel like they cannot get rested no matter how much sleep they get. Sometimes people experience hair loss. That can also happen to people who eat a vegan or vegetarian diet. Red meat contains lots of iron, so if you aren’t consuming much meat, you could easily get low in in this mineral.
You can supplement with iron, but to truly know how much you need, you should consider getting a blood test. Iron affects your red blood cells. Iron is an essential mineral because it binds with hemoglobin and transports oxygen to your cells. Iron deficiency is extremely common, affecting over 25% of the world’s population. If you find that you are feeling weak and tired often, you should get your iron levels checked. (1)
Sometimes thyroid issues get undiagnosed for patients because their lab tests come back within the normal range. The problem with that is they could be on the low end of normal and still show signs of a thyroid problem.
If you have an enlarged thyroid, called a goiter, you could experience increased heart rate, unexplained weight gain, and shortness of breath. These are signs that you could have an iodine deficiency. You can get more iodine in your diet by consuming eggs, fish, and dairy. You can also use an iodine supplement to help with this deficiency. (2)
You may be wondering how depression and pain can both be symptoms of the same deficiency, but your body will often give you multiple signs that something is wrong and needs to get addressed. If you have depression that lingers and you cannot pinpoint a reason, or experience general achiness that doesn’t go away, you could have a vitamin D deficiency.
Some other signs are shortness of breath, or asthma in some cases. You may also get sick often because your immune system is weaker than it should be. Around one billion people are low in vitamin D. (3)
One of the best things you can do to know you are getting adequate amounts of vitamin D is to take a quality supplement. You should also try to get at least fifteen minutes of direct sunlight each day. Many of us have a hard time getting enough sun exposure depending on our geographical location. Getting enough vitamin D can make a massive improvement in your health. When you take vitamin D, you want to make sure you also take vitamin K2 with it. That supplement helps you absorb your vitamin D better, and it also has cardiovascular benefits.
Most of us have an off night every now and then. We get things on our minds and can’t seem to shut our brains off to have a proper night’s rest. If you have poor sleep often, that could indicate a magnesium deficiency. Other signs of this could be leg cramps, especially while trying to rest, heart issues, and anxiety. Some people find that they feel anxious and nervous all the time. (4)
You may be experiencing one or all these symptoms. Your doctor may order a lab test to check your magnesium levels. You can get more magnesium in your diet by eating dark leafy greens, nuts and seeds, and avocados. You can also take a magnesium supplement. Many people find that taking a magnesium supplement at night before they go to bed helps them sleep better. That also helps them have a much better day afterward because their energy levels are higher when getting proper sleep. Magnesium can be a total game changer for many people.
Another thing you can try is an Epsom salt bath. It can be very relaxing before bed and help you absorb magnesium from the Epsom salts.
One of the number one problems people have today is poor gut health. Many people experience things like bloating and digestion issues. You can have either diarrhea or constipation that gets diagnosed as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). So many people don’t have enough healthy gut bacteria. Some people even go to their doctors for unexplained weight gain.
If you have a lot of digestive issues, you may not have enough healthy bacteria and you need to replenish those to heal your gut. You can incorporate probiotic-rich foods into your diet to help. You want to look for foods like Greek yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut. You can also drink kombucha but be cautious if you are not making your own. Many of the grocery store varieties are loaded with sugar, and sugar is terrible for your gut. It causes inflammation and kills healthy bacteria.
You should also take a probiotic every day. When you buy a probiotic, it is crucial that you know you are getting a quality product. Check to see if the probiotics will be viable at room temperature if they don’t require refrigeration. There are many probiotics on the grocery store shelves that won’t do you any good. Always buy from a reputable company that will give you the absolute best product for the money you invest. (6)
There is another nutritional deficiency symptom you should recognize. Many people get signs of low potassium but don’t know that is the problem. If you have swelling in your body, especially in your ankles and feet, you could have a potassium deficiency. Some people also get cramps and irregular heartbeats. (6)
Potassium is an essential nutrient, but around 98% of Americans are deficient in it. You can take a supplement to get more potassium or eat more potassium-rich foods. You can eat more nuts, avocados, fruit, yogurt, and plenty of other healthy foods that naturally contain this critical nutrient.
Your body will let you know when something is not quite right with your health. Some of us keep going and don’t pay attention to the warning signs. Our bodies were designed to heal naturally and get the proper nutrients through our diets. With today’s farming methods, that can be a challenge. Our soils are not as healthy as they once were.
When we have nutritional deficiencies, there are still natural methods that will help. Some people have more pharmaceuticals in their cabinets than they do vitamins.
If you haven’t given your body the chance to be healthy naturally, consider the methods we’ve mentioned in this article. Your body will thank you for it. One of the benefits is that you won’t get all the nasty side effects like you could with prescriptions. As always, if we can help you on health journey, we are available for consults and to assist you any way we can with your wellness needs.
References :
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-common-nutrient- deficiencies#TOC_TITLE_HDR_3
https://carolinadigestive.com/about-us/news/the-signs-and-symptoms-of-an- unhealthy-gut
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Potassium-HealthProfessional/
https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2020/02/gut-troubles
