Myriads of people around the world suffer from one nutrient deficiency or the other. Most of them don’t even know it!
The signs are there staring us right in the face most times, but we just can’t decode them, either due to ignorance or insensitivity.
Other times we notice those odd symptoms but we choose to be negligent and nonchalant and not until the signs become highly uncomfortable and unbearable do we decide to take action regarding it.
Yet, recognizing these signs and acting on them can be a lifesaver.
Some warning signs include the following:
Canker sores
Contrary to popular belief that those visible sores hanging on our lips are mainly caused by herpes, they could just be a sign that you are iron and vitamin B12 deficient – just as it is with most other mouth sores.
It could also be the cue you need to know that you are lacking in your intake of B vitamins. While vitamin B1, also known as thiamin, is necessary for cell growth, Riboflavin – vitamin b2 is needed for healthy skin and body tissues. Riboflavin is needed in the body to aid in the breaking down of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats – it also helps the body utilize oxygen.
Lack of it has been linked with symptoms like itchy and burning eyes, light sensitivity, and mouth sores. Eating diets rich in fish, pork, and milk should resolve the issue. Otherwise, see the doctor.
Brittle nails
Brittle, broken, ugly fingernails are annoying because they compromise the aesthetics of our hands and general body appearance.
Apart from the after-effect of a lengthy laundry session, brittle nails – both toe and fingers – could also be a sign of a poor diet. Scientists have linked it to a deficiency in iron and biotin.
Biotin is needed by the body for the creation of keratin, which is a necessary nutrient for the production and healthy growth of nails, while iron helps with the provision of blood.
Night blindness
While it is normal to experience some difficulty with sight at night, especially in a relatively dark environment, being completely blind in the dark could be a sign that your body lacks a necessary nutrient.
Night blindness happens as a result of the eye’s inability to properly adjust to environmental light changes and it has been heavily linked to a deficiency in rhodopsin.
Rhodopsin is responsible for allowing the rods in our eyes to absorb photons and perceive light. Without it, sight in the dark is impossible as the eyes won’t be able to adjust to low-light environments.
Vitamin A is essential for the proper functioning of rhodopsin, as it loses its photosensitivity when it is deficient, which then causes night blindness.
Leafy greens, peppers, dairy, and fish are great natural sources of VIT.A.
Numb fingers
Calcium deficiency in the body, medically termed hypocalcemia, has been found to be a major cause of finger numbness and tingling sensations.
Another possible reason for that numbness you feel in your fingers could be your body’s way of telling you that you are short on Vitamin D. This is because, vitamin D and calcium work together in the body for proper nerve, muscle, and bone function.
While calcium helps in the building and maintenance of strong bones, Vitamin D is needed by the body to absorb calcium. This implies that you can have a healthy level of calcium in your body but still be deficient in it because your body can’t utilize it.
Fishes, oranges, dairy products and eggs are good natural options for vitamin D and calcium.
Fatigue
Fatigue is a common phenomenon that everyone around the world can relate to. We all get tired now and then, especially after a stressful day.
However, constant fatigue and general tiredness can well be your body telling you that you are lacking in iron.
Iron is needed by our body to be able to produce hemoglobin – a protein that allows for the carriage of oxygen to our muscles and tissues by the red blood cells. A low level of iron in the body means a low level of oxygen in the body which causes fatigue, muscle, nerves, bone weakness, anxiety, and even depression.
Iron deficiency can degenerate into anemia, if not promptly acted upon – and this could be fatal. For good natural options for iron, beef, chicken, oysters, spinach, broccoli, and watermelon are highly recommended sources.
Conclusion
Our body communicates with us through signals and signs, which makes it important for us to understand these cues. Learn your body language today, listen, and take action.
