Nutritional Deficiencies can be more serious than you may have realized.
Nutritional deficiencies are usually a big red flag that reads– poor nutrition or if you are nourishing your body adequately but foods aren’t being absorbed by your body you may be experiencing malabsorption which leads to malnutrition. 

If your last lab test results came back with low levels of Iron, iodine, vitamin D or calcium you need to realize that, nutritional deficiencies are no joke. If left untreated, your organs will eventually take a toll and end results can be devastating leading to some conditions such as:

• Mood disorders (panic disorders and depression)
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Thyroid disease (Iodine deficiency)
• Osteoporosis
• Obesity
• Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia
• Gum disease
• Cardiovascular disease

The list goes on…

Strangely enough, nutritional deficiencies are very common today, and can even happen to some of us trying to lead a healthy lifestyle, where all of that healthy food, juices, and supplements may not be absorbed.

This happened to me, and still working on it.   In my case, it was due to a lack of solid sleep, very little nourishing foods while in college and a bacteria –Helicobacter pylori that I contracted while traveling abroad in the 90’s.   Helicobacter P. is the bacteria responsible for the damage of the lining of the stomach, and that also leads to ulcers.

[box title=”Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori):” style=”noise” box_color=”#efe3f0″ title_color=”#060705″ radius=”12″] Is a type of bacteria that causes infection in the stomach. It is found in about two-thirds of the world’s population. It may be spread by unclean food and water, but researchers aren’t sure. It causes Peptic ulcers and can also cause stomach cancer.[/box]

Not knowing what I know now,  I was put on the strongest type of antibiotics {8 pills a day}, in order to get rid of it because of I had a small ulcer that was causing the worse acid reflux, and pain.  Eventually, the bacteria were eradicated, and the healing process began.

When nutritional deficiencies are present every single organ suffers including the brain. That is why it is imperative to pay attention to symptoms and get tested pronto.  Do you suspect you may have nutritional deficiencies? Then keep on reading it gets better…

What Are Nutritional Deficiencies

Nutritional deficiencies are imbalances caused in our body due to the absence, less intake, or even in rare cases, an excessive intake, of certain minerals and vitamins. These minerals and vitamins especially Vitamin D3, are necessary for the body to function properly.

Vitamins and proteins are organic chemical substances needed for normal growth and the regeneration and replacement of dead-tired cells and tissues.

Since our body is composed of cells, it is extremely important that quick regeneration is present for faster growth. When vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, fatty acids, minerals, and roughage are not ingested in the required amounts, you may experience symptoms of nutritional deficiencies.

Unlike vitamins, minerals are inorganic substances that are directly responsible for the proper functioning of bones, teeth, hair, and tissues.  According to the World Health Organization individuals between 10 and 19 years are more at the risk of nutritional deficiencies, and around 200 million people worldwide suffer from the deficiency.

What Causes Nutritional Deficiencies

A number of factors can cause you to become nutritionally deficient including gluten sensitivity,  stress, little rest & lack of sleep, dependence on alcohol, and medicines, a poor diet filled with processed foods unhealthy fats; to name a few. Consequently, nutritional deficiencies hinder the body’s capacity to absorb the nutrients from the foods you ingest.

Here’s a great video that sheds some light on the connection between gluten sensitivity and nutritional deficiencies by Dr. Peter Osborne:

Read his full article here.

If you are clearly suffering from nutritional deficiencies you may experience conditions such as anemia, osteoporosis, dementia, rickets, night blindness, and pellagra, among several other conditions caused by inadequate intake of essential nutrients.

How do you know if YOU are Malnourished- The Precursor of  Nutritionally Deficiencies?

The first thing you should do to find out if you are experiencing nutritional deficiencies is to pay attention to your symptoms or by requesting a simple vitamin and mineral levels test with your Doctor, PCP, Naturopath or Holistic Nutritionist.

If for some reason you can’t order these tests or your doctor can’t figure out what your symptoms are there are other alternatives alternative.

• You can get a nutritional assessment, which is a set of screening questions used to establish whether you are likely to have a vitamin or mineral deficiency. This questionnaire will outline changes in weight, activity and food consumption. A nutritional assessment can be performed by a doctor, nutritionist or can be done online.(source)
• If your doctor can’t do it for some reason you can get a Vitamin, Mineral and Nutrition Test from Walk-In-Labs. It is convenient and way affordable -compared to medical bills when it’s too late.
  Vitamin and nutrition blood tests can detect gluten, mineral, iron, calcium and other deficiencies, telling you which vitamins you lack and which you are getting enough of through natural sources. Don’t just take supplements, know how much and which ones you should be taking.  Walk-in Labs has several types of tests that range from thyroid, wellness tests, hormonal panels, health tests for Men and many more.
• There is a home evaluation kit from Optimal Wellness Labs (which I took and was shocked to learn that I, in fact, had malabsorption in the gut a few years ago).  I’ve worked hard to turn that around.  That is in part how healYOUnaturally was born too. A reliable and reputable company located here in the US.
  The MAP (Matrix Assessment Profile) is a very simple test— that peeks into your biochemistry and evaluates the condition of the ‘Human Matrix’ — the complex system of organs, glands, tissues and cells that sustain your river of life. All of this is done from the comfort of your home at your own pace.
• Also, have a hair analysis done. Properly called a hair tissue mineral analysis.  This test consists of taking a hair from your head and thoroughly checking for signs of mineral deficiency or metal exposure. The use of hair ensures accuracy because hair tissues change slowly. This means if you eat a steak, iron levels will not rise rapidly in your hair as it will in your blood, so you will get a more accurate reading.

 Treatment and Prevention of Nutritional Deficiencies

If you already aren’t– start consuming probiotic-rich foods such as kefir, sauerkraut, yogurt, kombucha and fermented foods.  I wrote this article which highlights the top natural probiotic foods.  You can also supplement with a top of the line probiotic,  vitamins, a mineral complex and whatever else you are lacking, along with a tailored protocol to heal your gut.

I prefer this probiotic and Garden of Life Primal Defense for when my family or I feel we need an extra boost (ei: after an inevitable round of probiotics or traveling).

A great tool to get your nutritional values up is to juice as much and as often as possible.  My favorite kind to get the most out of your juicing experience is with you have a juicer– dust it off and use it. If not get yourself a top-notch Juicer and start juicing immediately. The Magic Bullet or the  Nutri bullet high-speed blender/ mixer are highly recommended and what I use, because it pulverizes fruits and vegetables, nuts and fruits, allowing you to get all of the nutrients. Plus, all of that great fiber for digestion.

If you prefer you can get a regular juicer for the days that you can’t juice.  As always, keep in mind that it is always best to eat fruits and vegetables with every meal.

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A multivitamin (we prefer the liquid form), and a mineral supplement that is hopefully made of wholesome organic foods, & bioavailable. Additionally, it is important to supplement your minerals and eat foods to support your hormones such as healthy fats, daily servings of fruits and vegetables, cut down on high glycemic index (HGI) foods, and eat a protein with each meal.

While most of us are relatively deficient in omega-3s, this is not likely to show up on a blood test. Therefore, a reliable source of Omega 3 fatty acids is ideal. The liquid fish oil Omega-3 is one of the purest out there. However, if you are following a vegan lifestyle you can get an all plant based Omega 3, 6 & 9 Flax Oil , iodine, and several other minerals are essential for the proper functioning of the body.

An inadequate intake of these essential vitamins and minerals exposes the body to a number of physical and mental problems. Thus proper intake of essential vitamins, minerals, and natural organic products is important for the body to function properly.

Now let’s hear it from you.  Have you been diagnosed with  Malabsorption or Nutritional Deficiencies? What lifestyle changes have you made to heal your condition?

 

To your best health,

 

 

 

 

 

 

References
http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/index.html

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

http://dermatlas.med.jhmi.edu/derm/result.cfm?Diagnosis=227
http://youroptihealthsite.com/nutritional-vitamin-deficiency-why-is-it-so-important-to-avoid-and-how-to-avoid-it