Incredibly Common Nutrient Deficiencies
By Sara Butler
There are many nutrients your body needs in order to sustain its health and continued wellness. A diet that is balanced and based in reality, and minimally processed foods, probably checks all the nutritional boxes without really trying. But modern diets can lack in a few very important nutrients, nutrients your body will definitely miss. Here are the most common nutrients deficiencies to be on the lookout for.
Iron Deficiency
Iron is an essential mineral your body needs to help form red blood cells to transport oxygen all over your body. There are two types of iron your body gets from food. They are:
- Non-heme iron - This is the most common type of iron found in both plant and animal foods; you cannot absorb it quite as easy as heme iron
- Heme iron - This form of iron is readily absorbed by your body; it's found only in animal products, such as red meat
Iron deficiency impacts about 25 percent of people worldwide, with about half of those being preschool-aged children. Vegetarians and vegans also have issues with iron deficiency since they consume only non-heme iron. Not getting enough iron results in anemia, which may cause symptoms such as:
- Weakness
- Tiredness
- Impaired brain function
- Weakened immune system
The best sources of heme iron are red meat, organ meat, shellfish, and canned sardines. You can find non-heme iron in beans, seeds, broccoli, spinach, and kale.
Iodine Deficiency
Your body needs iodine in order for your thyroid gland to function properly. Your thyroid helps your body and brain to grow, and also regulates your metabolism. If you don't get enough, then you may have an enlarged thyroid gland called a goiter. You may also have an increased heart rate, weight gain, and shortness of breath.
You can find iodine in seaweed, fish, eggs, and dairy. It's also added to table salt.
Vitamin D Deficiency
A fat soluble vitamin, Vitamin D travels through your body into your cells to help turn genes on or off. You produce your own Vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight, so the farther you live from the equator, the higher your chances of being Vitamin D deficient.
In the United States, about 42 percent of people are deficient in this vitamin. The symptoms of this issue are subtle, but adults may experience bone loss and muscles weakness. The best way to get Vitamin D in your diet is through fatty fish such as salmon, trout, or mackerel, egg yolks, and cod liver oil.
Do you have a nutrient deficiency? Talk to the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic to find out!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Mission Viejo, Calif.