Are You Deficient in Essential Nutrients? Know The Signs of Deficiency

While eating a well-balanced, whole foods diet is essential for disease prevention and the maintenance of health is it enough if you are deficient in key vitamins and minerals? What are the signs and symptoms of deficiencies the you can observe our your body?

The following is quick guide to signs that may suggest deficiency in certain nutrients. Remember these are just signs and can vary in different people. Each sign can often mean multiple things that aren’t necessarily related to a deficiency. This should not replace proper medical examination and laboratory testing.  

Head
Thin, dry hair: low thyroid function or essential fat acid deficiency
Hair loss: zinc deficiency
Dandruff: zinc and essential fatty acid deficiency
Noise sensitivity: Magnesium deficiency
Excess earwax: fat deficiency

Face 
Dry, cracked lips: B-vitamin deficiency
Tingling lips: calcium or vitamin D deficiency (also consider a herpes infection)
Pale under eyelids: anemia
Blood vessels visible around nose and cheeks: gastric (hydrochloric) acid deficiency
Goiter/swollen thyroid: Iodine deficiency (now very uncommon in North America)
Loss of smell: zinc deficiency
Light sensitivity: B2 deficiency
Eye twitches: Magnesium deficiency

Mouth
Bright purple/red tongue: vitamin B2, B3 or B12 deficiency
Loss of taste: zinc deficiency
Spongy gums and loose teeth: vitamin C deficiency
Hoarse voice: iron deficiency (also consider low thyroid function)

Body
Easy bruising: iron, vitamin K or vitamin C deficiency
Tingling in hands (carpal tunnel): B6 deficiency
White specks in nails: zinc deficiency
Ridges in nails (longitudinal): gastric (hydrochloric) acid deficiency
Brittle nails: zinc and sulfur deficiency
Frequent muscle cramps: magnesium and potassium deficiency
Red palms: B-vitamin deficiency
Pale skin: iron deficiency anemia

Note: This list is NOT meant to diagnosis medical conditions. Please see you licensed healthcare practitioner with any concerns.

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