7 Nutrient Deficiencies That Can Make You Sick

The average restaurant meal today is more than four times larger than in the 1950s. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults are, on average, 26 pounds heavier. Despite being surrounded by food, many Americans are still nutrient deficient. Some people just aren’t getting what they need from their diet, whether it’s because they’re eating too much junk food, they’re not getting enough of certain nutrients, or they’re not eating a varied enough diet.

The Second Nutrition Report from the CDC has found that there are certain nutrients that many Americans are not getting enough of. Long-lasting health effects can come from nutrient deficiencies, as well as making you feel bad. There are many vitamins and minerals that people lack in their diets which can cause a variety of symptoms, from memory loss and bleeding gums to decreased work productivity and depression. We also talk about Nutrient deficiencies in kids.

7 Nutrient Deficiencies That Can Make You Sick

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is found naturally in animal products including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy, but not in plants. The vitamin is important for making red blood cells, having normal nervous system function, and making DNA. This important vitamin is lacking in up to 15 percent of the population.

The symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are megaloblastic anemia, fatigue, weakness, constipation, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Neurological problems, such as numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, can also occur. The other symptoms that come along with Scotophobia are balance issues, depression, confusion, dementia, poor memory, and soreness around the mouth or tongue area. Vitamin B12 has also been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamin C

While most animals have the ability to produce vitamin C, humans cannot and must obtain it from their diet or risk getting scurvy like sailors used to. Some of the major sources of vitamin C in the diets of Americans are citrus fruits, tomatoes, and potato juice. Other good contributors to a healthy diet include red and green peppers, kiwi, broccoli, strawberries, Brussels sprouts, and cantaloupe. Vitamin C is not usually added to grains, but some breakfast cereals have it added in.

If you do not have enough vitamin C in your diet, you may get scurvy. The symptoms of scurvy include feeling tired, weak, or unhappy; having sore gums and losing teeth; and having joint pain or poor wound healing. Scurvy is making a comeback due to fad diets and bulimia among teenagers. It can also affect alcoholics or older people, whose ability to absorb vitamin C has diminished from excessive medications or poor eating habits.

Vitamin D

Not many foods naturally contain vitamin D. Fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel, and fish liver oils contain a high amount of vitamin D which helps to regulate calcium in the body and maintain strong bones. Magnesium is crucial to many bodily functions. It helps with muscle movement, the nervous system, immunity, and reducing inflammation. The recommended dietary allowance for vitamin D is 600 IU for males and females between 19 and 70 years.

Though vitamin D deficiency among children has become less common since the 1930s, it can still lead to rickets. With rickets, the bones become soft and bend. In adults, a lack of vitamin D leads to osteomalacia, which causes bone pain and muscle weakness. There is a connection between not having enough vitamin D and feeling tired during the day.

Iodine

Iodine is essential for the production of thyroid hormones, which control other vital functions. Thyroid hormones are necessary for bones and brains to develop correctly during pregnancy and after birth. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) is 150 micrograms (mcg) for people 14 years and older, 220 mg for pregnant women, and 290 mcg for breastfeeding women.

There is a link between iodine deficiency during fetal development and brain impairments later in life. This is a problem in many parts of the world. In adults, even a mild iodine deficiency can cause a goiter (a swelling of the thyroid gland in the neck) and Also Problems with thinking, concentrating, and being productive at work. Chronic iodine deficiency may contribute to an increased risk of some forms of thyroid cancer.

Iron

This means that more people are affected by iron deficiency than any other nutritional disorder. Dietary iron comes in two forms, heme and nonheme. Red meats, fish, and poultry all contain heme iron, while nonheme iron is found in plants such as lentils and beans. The type of iron added to enriched and fortified foods is nonheme iron. Although animal-derived iron is absorbed better than nonheme iron, most dietary iron is nonheme iron.

The symptoms of iron deficiency can be things like being really tired and weak, not doing well in school or work, taking a long time to develop mentally and socially as a child, not being able to keep your body temperature normal, having a weak immune system, catching infections easily, and having an inflamed tongue.

Magnesium

Maintaining a balanced magnesium level is important for keeping the body functioning properly. Magnesium is involved in regulating over 325 enzymes and has a role in organizing many body functions, including muscle control, electrical impulses, energy production, and the elimination of harmful toxins. The RDA for males between the ages of 19 and 30 is 400 mg. The RDA for males 31 and over is 420 mg. Women aged 19-30 should aim for 310 milligrams of iron per day, while those aged 31 and over should aim for 320 milligrams.

Early indications that someone is not getting enough magnesium in their diet can be identified by looking for symptoms like a loss of appetite, feeling nauseous and vomit, appearing tired and weak. Magnesium deficiency can cause a variety of problems including numbness, tingling, muscle contractions and cramps, seizures, personality changes, abnormal heart rhythms and coronary spasms. Eating a diet rich in magnesium may lower your risk of having a stroke, according to one study.

Zinc

Zinc is important for helping the immune system to fight bacteria and viruses. Zinc is also important for the production of cells and during pregnancy and infancy. During childhood, zinc helps the body develop correctly. Zinc is necessary for proper wound healing and for normal taste and smell function. The RDA for zinc is the recommended daily allowance for zinc. This is the amount of zinc that is needed for adult men and women.

Zinc deficiency can cause slow growth in infants and children, delayed sexual development in adolescents and impotence in men. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you may be zinc deficient: hair loss, diarrhea, eye and skin sores, loss of appetite, problems with wound healing, decreased ability to taste food, and lower alertness levels.

What is Nutrient Deficiency in Kids?

As children grow, they need different nutrients to support their development and avoid developing nutritional diseases.

Since the body does not produce micronutrients, vitamins, and minerals naturally, it is necessary for kids to get them through their diet.

A child’s nutrient deficiency or micronutrient malnutrition occurs when the child does not consume enough of a specific nutrient. The body not absorbing a specific nutrient properly can also lead to deficiencies.

If you don’t consume enough of certain nutrients, it can result in various health problems such as stunted growth, digestion problems, skin issues, and weak bones.

What are the common symptoms of nutrient deficiencies in children?

It may be difficult to tell if symptoms are due to nutrient deficiencies or other problems. The most common symptom of a nutrient deficiency in children is a general feeling of unwellness. If you think that your child is not getting enough of one or more nutrients, it is a good idea to talk to your child’s healthcare provider to make sure there is not a more serious problem.

Symptoms of iron deficiency

If your child is lacking in iron, their muscles won’t be able to function properly and they may feel exhausted and have difficulty thinking clearly. Other potential symptoms include a decrease in appetite, pale skin, hair loss, brittle nails, and irritability.

If you don’t treat an iron deficiency, it can turn into anemia. Anemia can cause you to be really tired, grow slowly, have trouble learning, and have trouble thinking clearly.

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency

If your child complains of bone pain or muscle cramping, they may be deficient in vitamin D. An untreated deficiency in vitamin D can lead to stunted growth, bones that are softened and deformed, and a weakened skeletal structure.

For older children, a lack of vitamin D can make them more likely to get a bone fracture.

Symptoms of a zinc deficiency

If your child is constantly sick, this might be because they’re not getting enough zinc.

Zinc is essential for children’s growth, wound healing, memory, learning, and attention span. A zinc deficiency can cause all of these things to be impaired.

Symptoms of a calcium deficiency

The lack of calcium in the body often goes unnoticed as there are rarely any symptoms associated with it. However, when calcium levels are low, people may experience dry skin, dry hair, brittle nails, and muscle cramps.

Children who do not have enough calcium in their diet can develop rickets, which is a disease that causes their bones to weaken. They may also have impaired growth, weakened tooth enamel, and seizures.

Symptoms of a B12 deficiency

Children who are deficient in vitamin B12 often have non-specific symptoms that include developmental delays, irritability, weakness, poor appetite, and poor growth, according to researchers.

If someone has a B12 deficiency, they may initially experience fatigue, weakness, redness in the lining of the mouth (stomatitis), decreased appetite, weight loss, and sometimes gastrointestinal issues.

If not treated, kids can get a specific type of anemia where the red blood cells are larger than normal.

Symptoms of a potassium deficiency

Symptoms of dietary potassium deficiency are rare. If your child experiences vomiting and diarrhea, and/or a fever, this can upset the delicate balance of electrolytes in their body and cause symptoms of a potassium deficiency.

These symptoms include muscle weakness, constipation, and fatigue. If you are severely deficient in potassium, you may urinate excessively, have difficulty breathing, experience muscular paralysis, or have an irregular heart beat.

Symptoms of a fiber deficiency

If your child isn’t getting enough fiber, they could start having tummy trouble. Most commonly, a fiber deficiency contributes to constipation.

Fiber helps your child’s digestive system work properly by making sure there is enough bulk in their stool and by helping the muscles in the digestive tract move.

A lack of fiber can surprisingly also lead to diarrhea. A low fiber diet may not provide enough helpful bacteria for your child’s gut, which may make them more susceptible to gastrointestinal infections.

Can nutrient deficiencies lead to nutritional diseases in children?

If a child doesn’t have the right amount of essential vitamins and minerals, it can affect their growth and health in the long run.

Many diseases have been linked to nutritional deficiencies, according to researchers. There are a number of negative outcomes associated with being born premature. These can include developmental delays, both physical and cognitive, an increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, and poor health in general later on in life.

Children who don’t get enough nutrients can develop chronic health problems later in life. Some of the chronic health issues that can come from a lack of vitamin D include rickets, iron deficiency anemia, obesity, coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer, and osteoporosis.

How do you test for nutrient deficiencies?

A test or series of tests to check the levels of certain vitamins and minerals in the body is done to find out if someone is lacking any nutrients.

The test results can help diagnose nutritional deficiencies and diseases in children.

The healthcare provider will ask about your child’s health history and current symptoms before testing.

If your child’s healthcare provider suspects that they have a vitamin deficiency, they can order a vitamin panel test.

How can we prevent nutritional deficiencies?

A healthy diet is all that is usually needed to make sure your child is getting the vital nutrients they need to avoid a nutritional deficiency. There are many reasons why kids might not be eating a well-balanced diet.

Some challenges parents may face include:

• Picky eating
• Gastrointestinal issues that prevent the proper absorption of nutrients
• Children with medical conditions that impact nutritional status, such as cystic fibrosis
• Food allergies
• Genetic disorders

The parents should use ChooseMyPlate.gov as a guide for their children’s diet. It will tell them how much of certain foods their kids need for a healthy diet.

Some healthy eating tips for kids include:

• Choose a variety of foods for your kids to try. An ideal meal should incorporate items from each different food group-grains, protein, dairy, and fruits and vegetables.

• Try filling half of your child’s plate with vegetables and fruit. Depending on your child’s age, aim for 1–3 cups per day of vegetables per day. For fruit, kids should try to get 1-2 cups every day.

• To meet a child’s calcium requirements, kids need 2-3 cups of milk or milk-alternatives with calcium. Try to serve lower-fat milks and avoid milk-alternatives that contain a lot of sugar.

• Depending on their age, kids need 1.5 to 4 ounces of whole grains each day. Try to offer whole wheat bread, oatmeal, and brown rice.

• Kids need 2-6.5 ounces of protein every day, depending on their age. Rich protein sources include chicken, turkey, fish, beef, eggs, tofu, beans, nuts, Else nutrition products, and lentils.