Being nutritional deficient isn’t just about lack of food, you could eat all day long and sill not eat right. This happens when you just consume lots of empty calories that have very little nutritional value, like chips, candies, french fries, and so on. The body needs nutrient-rich foods like veggies, fruits, whole grains, and nuts, to prevent it from being nutrient deficient.
The body sometimes go an extra mile when it’s trying to tell you that you are skipping some vital nutrients. So, you end up having your immune system impaired which exposes you to certain health risks.
While you may have heard overtime how important it is to listen to your body, knowing what exactly it says is much easier. Below are some weird signs you should look out for to know if you are deficient.
1. Your cravings increase
When the body is deficient in vital nutrients, it sometimes begin to crave for what it really needs. Your body might crave for sweet, juicy oranges if it’s deficient in vitamin C. This is one sign many people don’t really pay attention to, and it can be successfully achieved by listening closely to what your body says and notice little changes in your system.
On the other hand, you could crave for something really odd that no one eats, like chalk or dirt. If you’ve ever experienced this, it could just be a signal that you are nutrient deficient. Studies have shown a correlation between iron and dirt, so you are likely to crave for dirt if your body lacks enough iron. Some of the foods containing iron include: beans, seafoods, iron-fortified cereals, dried fruit, and red meat.
2. Red, scaly rash on the face and hair loss
This is usually seen in those deficient in biotin (B7), because the body stores fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, E, and K, but doesn’t store the B vitamins. This means you will need to ingest more of it to create a balance. You can find biotin in salmon, soybeans, raspberries, nuts, bananas, and avocados. Ensure you also avoid eating raw egg, as studies have proven it to inhibit the body’s ability to absorb biotin.
3. Muscle cramps
This isn’t always the usual muscle cramps, but the ones that come in form of stabbing pains in toes, calves, arches of feet, and backs of legs. It could be due to a deficiency in magnesium, calcium, and potassium. Eat foods rich in these nutrients to stop the cramps. Some of these foods include: almonds, squash, apples, cherries, broccoli, spinach, and hazelnuts.
The body speaks, you only have to listen well and know what it says.
Image courtesy of: rd.com, .health.com.
