With all the high tech advances in food preparation, genetics and just technology altogether, there really shouldn’t be any nutritional deficiencies in America right?
I think we’d all like to think that were the case, however this is unfortunately false. Nutritional deficiencies are incredibly common in America. Our soil is depleted and genetic engineering of food has changed that which our body WAS used to digesting. Every day you try and eat healthy, yet your body becomes more nutrient deficient.
Or maybe you’re “normal” and you just aren’t eating so healthy.
Most foods in the Standard American Diet are nutrient poor, which means there are plenty of calories but not a lot of nutrients at all. Maybe the food is full of simple carbohydrates and sugar. Unfortunately eating this way has no possibility of long term success.
Both methods are leading to nutritional deficiencies. Here are the 5 most common nutritional deficiencies in America right now.
Don’t forget your Podcast FREEBIE: 5 Most Common Nutritional Deficiencies
Iron
Iron is an essential nutrient which is a major component of red blood cells. It binds with hemoglobin and transports oxygen to the cells. 25% of people are iron deficient worldwide and 47% of preschool children are iron deficient. Vegans and vegetarians are also iron deficient.
If you have an iron deficiency, it can lead most commonly to anemia, which causes tiredness, weakness, a weakened immune system and impaired brain function. Get more iron in your day by eating more liver, meat, eggs, nuts and dried fruit.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is called the sunlight vitamin. You actually do get it from the sun. Your skin absorbs vitamin D from sunlight unless you cover yourself with sunscreen. So, basically, everyone is deficient in vitamin D. This creates a series of problems. Vitamin D affects your immune system, so being deficient in vitamin D could get you sick. Back pain, bone pain, depression, impaired wound healing, muscle pain, blood sugar problems and hair loss, are all common effects of vitamin D deficiency.
Magnesium
Magnesium is a key mineral in the body. It is essential for bone and teeth structure, and is also involved in more than 300 enzyme reactions. Almost half of the US population (48%) consumed less than the required amount of magnesium in 2005-2006.
Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart disease and osteoporosis some from low magnesium. Good food sources of magnesium are:
- Whole grains:
- Nuts: 20 almonds provide 17% of the RDI
- Dark Chocolate
- Leafy, green vegetables
B vitamins
Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin. It is essential for blood formation, as well as for brain and nerve function. Every cell in your body needs B12 to function normally, but the body is unable to produce it. Therefore, we must get it from food or supplements.
Vitamin B12 is only found in animal foods (with the exception of nori seaweed and tempeh). Therefore, people who do not eat animal products are at an increased risk of deficiency. Studies have shown that vegetarians and vegans are highly likely to be deficient in vitamin B12. Some numbers go as high as 80–90%.
Good food sources for vitamin B are:
- Shellfish, especially clams and oysters:
- Organ meat
- Meat: A small, 6-ounce beef steak (170 grams) provides 150% the RDI
- Eggs: Each whole egg provides about 6% of the RDI.
Iodine:
Iodine is an essential mineral for normal thyroid function and the production of thyroid hormones.
Growth, brain development and bone maintenance are function of the thyroid hormone. The thyroid also regulates metabolic rate.
Iodine deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in the world. It affects nearly one-third of the world’s population.
Goiter, an enlarged thyroid gland, is the most common symptom of iodine deficiency It may also cause an increase in heart rate, shortness of breath and weight gain.
Severe iodine deficiency may also cause serious adverse effects, especially in children. These include mental retardation and developmental abnormalities .
There are several good dietary sources of iodine:
- Seaweed: Only 1 g of kelp contains 460–1000% of the RDI.
- Fish: 3 ounces (85 g) of baked cod provide 66% of the RDI.
- Dairy: One cup of plain yogurt provides about 50% of the RDI.
- Eggs: One large egg provides 16% of the RDI.
Moving Forward
There you have it – these are 5 of the most common nutritional deficiencies. You don’t have to do anything special to improve them. Simply start eating nutrient dense foods. It will change your life. Sometimes however, nutrient dense foods aren’t enough to give you everything that you need. Problems with the environment and soil depletion cause us to suffer with poor nutrients even in good foods.
Consider high quality supplementation to help you in this area. Talk today with our health coach and learn how we can incorporate a high quality diet and nutrition protocol to help you to achieve your health and wellness goals today.
Get more energy, reduce your pain, experience clear thinking and everything else that comes with getting good nutrients every day.
