The human body is a very intricate design, and it comprises of 60 chemical elements with a precise amount of water, fat, mineral, and protein. All of these are very important and beneficial for your overall health.
However, the body lacks something, it tells us by displaying some symptoms and knowing these signals helps us to put things in order. These are a list of common nutritional deficiencies that your body may display;
1. Brittle nails and hair
This could happen if the body is deficient of protein. Protein is a significant part of our body. It is responsible for the production of bones, hair, nails, muscles and even the skin, but if there isn’t enough protein for the body to take from, it can cause some extreme health issues. Some common symptoms that may display would affect the skin, nails and hair.
People who regularly eat meat and fish stand are at lesser risk of being affected. However, vegans can go for green peas, nuts, brand, Quinta, mushrooms, tofu, chicken pea, oats, etc.
2. Wrinkles and dry skin
Essential fatty acids like Omega-6, are very vital because they can cause a skin barrier against water loss. If there aren’t enough fatty acids in your body, it can cause your skin to dry making it prone to wrinkles. It could also cause it to itch, make it become flakey or even crack.
Other unpleasant symptoms may include hair loss, dandruff and dry eyes. You are a risk if you are on a diet and you skip the intake of fat. I’d advise you use high-oil and consume more fatty fish if you are experiencing dry skin and wrinkles.
3. Muscle weakness and consistent fatigue
These are symptoms that manifest when magnesium is deficient. If you always feel tired even after resting or waking up from sleep, it is probably because you aren’t eating enough magnesium-rich foods.
You can remedy this by getting good sources of magnesium, and some food rich in magnesium would include cacao, cashew nuts, chia seeds, flaxseeds, sunflower, pumpkin seeds, and almonds.
4. Paleness
If you notice your skin is looking pale, then this might be a sign of extreme deficiency in iron. This can cause your haemoglobin levels to drop significantly. A reduction in your haemoglobin level can cause your blood to lose some of its colour. And can also cause our gums to bleed, inside of our lips, eyelids and nails lose their healthy and natural colours.
It is very fatal for pregnant women, people who have a poor diet, vegetarians and those who donate blood frequently. It is best to eat red meat and liver since they are very rich in iron. Also, vegetarians can eat broccoli, spinach, and lentils to boost the level of iron in their body. There are also iron supplements you could take to do the job.
5. Rashes and acne
You may experience zinc deficiency in the body if you are a fan of alcohol and processed foods. Zinc deficiency affects the whole body and can lead to intestinal problems. It can also mess with your immune system and increases allergies.
You can best replenish your zinc level by eating foods rich in zinc such as beef, lamb, oysters, beans, chicken peas, spinach, mushrooms and cashews. You could still take zinc supplements to serve the purpose best.
6. Rapid weight gain
If your weight seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Unexpected weight gain could be as a result of a deficiency in iodine. Iodine is solely responsible for producing thyroid hormones.
These are hormones responsible for controlling your body’s metabolism, but when the thyroid level is low due to iodine deficiency, it could cause your body to store more fat than it needs because it is unable to burn calories. Some sources of iodine can be found in seaweeds, fishes from the ocean or sea, dairy products, shellfish and iodised salt.
7. Wounds that don’t heal fast and bleeding gums
If you’re having issues with injuries healing slow or bleeding gums, then this is because there isn’t enough vitamin C in your body. This can be solved by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. Also, an orange a day can easily do the trick.
8. Depression
Depression is mental health condition can cause you to lose interest in doing anything. And it could be displayed as a feeling of sadness. If you feel this way, especially during winter months, then it could be a clear sign of vitamin D deficiency.
It isn’t uncommon for people who don’t get enough sunlight to get depressed. It could also cause overweight which puts with depression at more health risk.
It is best to expose your body to the sun every now and then, consume foods rich in vitamin D such as cod liver, salmon, sardines, herring, egg yolk, tuna, oysters and shrimps. You could also take some vitamin D supplements.
A symptom displayed may indicate different types of health issues, so making a diagnosis could be a bit more complicated. So it is best to seek a doctor’s opinion before concluding that something is wrong. In the meantime, maintain a balanced diet, because, in the end, you are what you eat. So it is best you do all you can to take care of yourself.
Ever noticed an odd feeling in your body? Were you able to tell what was wrong at first glance? What foods help you with depression? Please share with us in the comments. Thanks for reading.
