Common Symptoms of Nutrient Deficiencies

Common Symtoms of nutrient deficiencies.jpg


Nutrient deficiencies are incredibly common in our modern age. Fruits and vegetables are being grown in nutrient poor soils with a focus on transportability, appearance,  longevity and low price point. What we don’t often realize is that many of the symptoms we experience are related to simple nutrient deficiencies. Stress (physical, emotional, environmental, nutritional)  and a poor diet are the most common factors that will cause deficiencies.

Our body is constantly communicating with us. Unfortunately, most of don’t know how to read its signs.  Just because a symptom is common, for example white spots on nails or PMS, doesn’t mean this is normal and we should just live with it. For instance the longer we are zinc deficient, the more a variety of problems will start to arise such as poor thyroid function, skin problems, slow wound healing, thinning hair, etc.

 

It’s all connected.

 

Here are some signs of common nutrient deficiencies:

  • White spots on nails = zinc

  • Any kind of skin issue (acne, rashes, eczema, dry, itchy skin, etc)  = B vitamins, zinc (always take zinc with vitamin c), vitamin A, vitamin E

  • Bruise easily = vitamin C, D

  • Cold hands and feet  = iron, iodine

  • Fibroids and fibroadenomas = iodine

  • Muscle cramps = magnesium (take magnesium with vitamin D3 for increased absorption), vitamin D, calcium, potassium

  • Slow wound healing = zinc, vitamin C

  • Hard bumps on back of upper arms or around elbows,  = vitamin A (should be taken with zinc and vitamin E)

  • Brittle nails = iodine, calcium, biotin

  • Poor night vision, eyes sensitive to bright light, eyes strains of any kind  = vitamin A

  • Dandruff = vitamin A, selenium

  • Dizziness = iron, B vitamins

  • Fatigue = B vitamins, iron, iodine

  • Anemia = iron, B vitamins, vitamin C, B12

  • Insomnia = B vitamins, magnesium, vitamin D, calcium

  • Spoon shaped nails = B12

  • Ringing in ears = B12

  • Numbness, tingling in hands and feet = B12

  • Constipation = magnesium, iodine

  • Skin spots (petechiae) = vitamin C

  • Brittle hair = B vitamins, vitamin E, silica

  • Bleeding gums = folic acid

  • Gingivitis = vitamin C

  • Thin hair = selenium

  • Irregular heartbeat = calcium, magnesium

  • Thyroid problems = iodine

  • Hangnails = biotin

  • Vascular issues, varicose veins, spider veins = vitamin C (plays a crucial role in that it strengthens the walls of our veins)

  • And so much more…

As you can see vitamins and minerals work synergistically. A deficiency in one vitamin or mineral can cause a variety of problems.

Just because you have this symptom doesn’t mean that you automatically are deficient in the mentioned vitamin or mineral. It’s simply a starting point. We all have different needs and what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another.

 

My Personal Examples

These are some examples related to blood work I’ve had done in the past few years. Each and every time, a simple nutrient deficiency was the issue and solution. For those who don’t eat red meat, make sure you have your B12 and iron levels tested. Some deficiencies, like B12, can create permanent neurological damage. Test don’t guess.

Iron – TSH – Anxiety

  1. My very low iron (9)  increased my circulating levels of TSH( 9.8). Ie. Low iron = high TSH in this particular circumstances.  I started supplementing with iron which doubled my levels (17)  within 3 weeks and consequently my TSH (5.1) came down to “normal” range according to blood work parameters. With a TSH within normal range, my T4 and T3 also normalized and my thyroid regained a healthy function.  No need for thyroid medication. Simply examining where my body was deficient. A poor function thyroid can also be linked to anxiety.

Homocysteine – B12

  1. My high homocysteine ( an amino acid which can be a marker for the development of heart disease)  was linked to a  B12 deficiency. I started supplementing with B12 and my homocysteine came back down to “normal” blood work ranges.

Mercury Fillings – Thyroid

  1. Low mineral levels due to having my amalgam fillings removed ( I went the cheaper route and didn’t use a biological dentist which increased my circulating levels of mercury in my body.) Increased mercury levels will create mineral deficiencies and lead to a slew of issues. An underactive thyroid may be linked to increased levels of mercury because mercury displaces iodine, an important mineral, in cells. It also displaced my zinc which led me to having skin issues which took forever to heal. Once I started supplementing with zinc my skin healed itself within a few days.

Read this article to find out what supplements I use.

I say “normal” because blood work essentially looks for disease and isn’t necessarily a measure of health. Just because your numbers a within a certain range doesn’t mean you’re healthy. Your numbers might be fine but you still feel like shit. Everyone’s markers for health will vary and might not necessarily align with the blood work’s parameters.

If you’re supplementing and not seeing any results, there might be an absorption and digestion issue. Supplementing can also mean consuming more food that’s rich in that particular nutrient.

 

Stress, sugar and refined foods deplete vitamins and minerals.

 

If you’re experience any kind of issues, chronic or short term, I can’t express enough the importance of starting with a micronutrient test. This isn’t always the solution but a great starting point. Your body knows how to heal, it just needs the right nutrients to do it.  Get to the root of your symptoms, and don’t just mask the symptoms with pills and creams.

 

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HealthRachelle PoitrasComment