Ways To Detect Common Deficiencies

Fast food has become very readily available, and because of that, people have stopped eating healthy food, and they eat fast food with little to no nutrition. When you think about it, some people hardly eat food, and the foods they eat are not nutritious. This is when deficiencies develop. Having a deficiency as a child can be more harmful because you can have those problems for life. So children should always eat healthy, nutrient-rich foods. Even if you are grown up, you must have better foods that are good for you because you can live a longer and happier life if you have all the nutrients. 

Iron Deficiency 

Iron is one mineral that is essential for us to live. Iron is in the body for transporting oxygen to all the cells in your body. There are two kinds of iron that your body can consume. Heme iron is an iron that absorbs into the body well. The only source of this iron is in animal foods. Red meats have a high amount of this iron.

Non-heme Iron 

Iron deficiency is prevalent, and many people do not consume enough iron. More than 25% of people have an iron deficiency. This type of iron is in plant and animal foods, but the body does not absorb non-heme iron as easily as heme iron. For example, menstruating women might lose a lot of blood, and they need to consume enough iron, but almost 30% of women are deficient in iron. 

Some sources of iron are seeds, beans, green leafy vegetables, red meat, shellfish, organ meats like liver, and canned sardines. You can consume any of these foods to increase the iron in your body.

Iodine Deficiencies 

Iodine is in the body to produce the thyroid hormone. The thyroid has many functions like growth, bone maintenance, and brain development. The thyroid also affects your metabolism. Many places in the world have people suffering from thyroid deficiencies. If there is less iodine in our diet, then a symptom is known as goiter, and the thyroid gland enlarges. 

You might gain weight, not be able to breathe easily, and your heart rate can increase as well if you get goiter. Children might get some abnormalities, and they might suffer from mental retardation if they get goiter. Some sources of iodine are – eggs, dairy, fish, and seaweed. Some countries have passed laws that all salt has to have iodine in it. This can help prevent anyone from getting any deficiencies. 

Vitamin D Deficiency 

Vitamin D is fat-soluble. It acts as a steroid hormone in the body. It can reach the cells by traveling in the bloodstream, and it can tell genes to turn off or on. Most cells in your body have a receptor for vitamin D. Cholesterol in your skin takes vitamin D when your skin receives sunlight. If people stay far away from the sun away from the equator, they might have vitamin D deficiency. It can be helpful if you take Vitamin D supplements. 

As people age, they are more deficient in vitamin D, and people with darker skin cannot produce as much vitamin D from the sunlight. A vitamin D deficiency takes years to surface. Even the symptoms are not very obvious. Some sources of vitamin D are cod liver oil, fatty fish, and egg yolks. If you have a deficiency in vitamin D, you can supplement or increase the amount of exposure you get from the sun because it is challenging for you to get all that vitamin D that you need from foods.