Here’s an alarming fact: your well-balanced diet may not be enough to ensure that you’re getting all the nutrients that you need. How come? Well, for one, certain factors like age and health conditions can affect your body’s ability to absorb the nutrients from food.
That’s not all, we also have to remember that storage time, processing and soil quality also have an impact on food’s nutrient levels. A dark leafy green vegetable may not be as rich in vitamin C as you think.
So what can you do? Apart from making sure that you get food from reputable sources, you also have to watch out for signs of nutritional deficiency. If you lack in a particular nutrient, you have to increase your intake through food sources or supplements. You also have to consult your doctor to find out if your body is having any difficulty absorbing nutrients.
Mouth Corner Cracks
Angular cheilitis, a chronic condition characterized by the inflammation, cracking and redness of the corners of the mouth, is a warning sign that you’re not getting enough iron or vitamin B2. The condition typically starts from dry skin, which becomes infected over time. It causes red blisters and even pus to appear.
To make sure this annoying and embarrassing problem doesn’t happen to you, load up on iron-rich food sources like dried beans, dried fruits, egg yolks, beef, oysters, fortified cereals and chicken liver. As for vitamin B2, you can get it from beef liver, milk, mushrooms, almonds, cottage cheese and pasta.
Unexplained Fatigue
You’ve been getting enough rest, eating well, and not working too hard. So why is it that you still feel tired all the time? Nutritional deficiency may be to blame. Iron deficiency in particular leads to anemia, which makes you feel exhausted and weak. Apart from eating more foods rich in iron, you may also want to talk to your doctor. Unexplained fatigue is also a possible sign of thyroid disease, depression or heart problem.
Brittle and Dry Hair
Hair is made mostly of protein. And when it appears brittle and dry, it’s a red flag that you’re not getting enough nutrients, particularly essential fatty acids, iron and protein. This can be resolved by taking supplements, or eating foods rich in these mentioned nutrients. Fatty fish like salmon should be incorporated into your diet, and so should flaxseeds, almonds and other foods rich in omega 3.
Mood Swings
It seems like you’re having more bad days than usual. What’s strange is that you’re getting upset over nothing. Unexplained changes in one’s mood can be a sign of depression. It would be a smartmove to consult a psychologist to rule out this problem. If this isn’t the case, it can be an indication that you’re deficient in certain nutrients, and that your body is not receiving adequate nutrition to maintain high energy levels.
Tingling and Muscle Cramps
Tingling of the hands and feet is not just a sign of exhaustion. It may also mean that you lack in vitamins B6 and B12. Deficiency in these nutrients can have a negative impact on peripheral nerves. You can make up for this by eating more spinach, beets, eggs, beef and asparagus.
Muscle cramps, meanwhile, can be a sign that you’re short in calcium, magnesium and potassium. Even if you’re not too fond of eating vegetables, you should fix this by having more squash, kale, spinach, cabbage and broccoli in your diet.
Nutritional deficiencies are not something that you can take lightly. Remember that the body needs essential nutrients to function properly and ward off serious ailments. Do something about this problem before it takes a toll on your health.