5 Common Nutrient Deficiencies

Even if you are extremely healthy or believe that you live a balanced life, there are high chances of having some nutrient deficiencies that you are not aware of. Here are some of the most common nutrient deficiencies that most people all over the world experience:

Vitamin D Deficiency

At the top of common nutrient deficiencies, we have vitamin D deficiency because most of the population lacks this vitamin. According to a study, 12,000 people were kept under observation. It was found that 72 percent had vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency.

Lower levels of this vitamin were associated with high BMI, cholesterol, as well as high blood pressure. It is important to understand what vitamin D deficiency is and how it can affect your lifestyle.

Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency

To understand vitamin D deficiency, it is essential that you are aware of the symptoms. These include:

• Hormonal imbalance
• Low bone mineral density
• Low immunity and falling ill every other day
• High blood pressure

Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency

It is not a myth that human beings get most of their vitamin D through the sun. However, since we wear clothing that covers a large chunk of our bodies, apply sunscreen, and spend most of our time inside the house, it is natural for us to develop a vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D is mainly produced when sunlight hits the exposed skin. This helps the body naturally produces vitamin D. However, lacking all the factors we posted above leads to vitamin D deficiency.

Magnesium Deficiency

One of the most common nutrient deficiencies is magnesium deficiency. In fact, 50 percent of Americans are not even included in the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for this vitamin. While magnesium deficiency is extremely common, many people are unaware of how it affects health.

Magnesium helps regulate your sleep, digestion, as well as mental wellbeing. Moreover, magnesium deficiency also makes you more vulnerable to cardiovascular disease.

Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency

If you have a magnesium deficiency, you are likely to experience the following symptoms:

• Migraines
• Liver damage
• Impotence
• Kidney damage
• Intense PMS symptoms
• Cavities
• Osteoporosis

Causes of Magnesium Deficiency

It is no secret that our soil no longer contains the recommended levels of magnesium because of the depletion of nutrients. Moreover, chemical processing is to blame for weakening our food supply. This means that it is difficult to reach the recommended levels of magnesium with only your diet.

For example, even though grains are a great source of magnesium, most of their magnesium content is lost when they go through the refining process. Moreover, certain medicines may also affect the levels of magnesium. For example, antacids reduce the amount of magnesium absorbed by the body, while diuretics can increase the amount of urinary excretion.

Iodine Deficiency

If you thought that people are mostly unaware of magnesium deficiency in the list of nutrient deficiencies, you are mistaken. Iodine deficiency is not paid attention to at all!

Since iodine has been introduced to table salt, people worldwide have stopped using iodine supplements, completely ignoring this essential mineral. In fact, globally, 2 million people are dealing with iodine deficiency.

Symptoms of Iodine deficiency

Here are some common symptoms of iodine deficiency that you need to keep an eye out for:

• Flaky, dry skin
• Sudden weight gain
• Heart rate fluctuations
• Irregular menstrual cycle
• Swelling in the neck
• Causes of Iodine Deficiency

Causes of Iodine Deficiency

The mammary glands, thyroid, and stomach lining all use iodine to make absolutely important hormones for the body to function properly. Even though iodine is extremely important, the body does not make it naturally.

This means that your iodine consumption must come from your diet. To increase iodine in your body, opt for foods such as dulse on your salad, kombu in your soup, and seaweed salad. All these are great sources of iodine.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 has an essential role in keeping you alive. It is responsible for making your DNA as well as ensuring optimal brain function. However, like iodine, the body does not naturally make B12 which is why loads of people suffer from a deficiency.

Almost 15 percent of people suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency. This leads to weight loss and fatigue. Without sufficient B12 levels in your body, you will face constipation and will not feel like eating.

Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

The following are some symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency:

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Numbness of body parts
• Tingling of body parts
• Paleness of the skin
• Brain fog
• Gas and bloating

Causes of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

You will find loads of vitamin B12 in animal products. However, this vitamin cannot be found in plant products. Hence, most vegan individuals have a vitamin B12 deficiency and mostly take supplements to make up for this.

However, it is surprising to note that even those individuals who consume animal protein every single day have low levels of B12 in their bodies.

Iron Deficiency

Even though iron seems to be very straightforward, loads of Americans face an iron deficiency. This eventually causes iron deficiency anemia- a serious medical situation in which the body does not have enough red blood cells.

Surprisingly, 25 percent of people all over the world are dealing with anemia. Furthermore, in 50 percent of the population, iron deficiency is the main cause of anemia. Hence, if you want to ensure good health, you must regulate your iron levels.

Symptoms of Iron Deficiency

Below are some of the most common symptoms of iron deficiency:

• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Palpitation
• Fatigue and tiredness
• Being sensitive to temperature

Causes of Iron Deficiency

Iron can be found in animal as well as plant-based food products. You can also find iron in plant foods, such as legumes, seeds, leafy greens, and nuts. However, it must be kept in mind that iron found in plant-based products contains less iron than that found in animal products.

This means that vegans and vegetarians have more chances of having iron deficiency than omnivores. Moreover, women who menstruate and usually experience heavy flows are more likely to lose more iron from their bodies.