Identifying Nutritional Deficiencies: 4 Common Deficiencies

Learning about identifying nutritional deficiencies is a great idea if you are someone who does not understand the impact food has on your overall health. The fact that AlexaMD focuses on providing their patients with holistic treatment options — a practice also known as alternative medicine or functional medicine — means that they are the go-to health care professional for those who are in need of nutritional advice.

What does "nutritional deficiencies" mean?

Having a nutritional deficiency simply means that someone is not providing their body with all of that nutrients it needs in order to be healthy. If you feel your health could be improved by making better food choices, your first step is making an appointment to identify any nutritional deficiencies you may have. There are a few different ways that AlexaMD can look for any nutritional deficiencies in their patients and if they find any, they will then create a clinical nutrition plan specifically designed for each individual patient.

4 Common types of nutritional deficiencies

The list below includes some of the more common types of deficiencies people are being diagnosed with nowadays.

1. Iron deficiency

According to Healthline, iron deficiency affects more than 25% of people worldwide. When someone is diagnosed with a deficiency in iron, it can lead to their being anemic, which means that their body is no longer able to use oxygen as efficiently. This often leads to their feeling tired or weak and can even make them more susceptible to getting sick.

2. Calcium deficiency

Calcium is a very important mineral that every cell in the body needs in order to properly function. It supports healthy bone growth and is necessary for the heart, muscles and nerves to work as they are supposed to, making this nutritional deficiency one that is very important. Symptoms include feeling tired and weak and often result in an osteoporosis diagnosis or a soft-bone diagnosis in children.

3. Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that travels through the bloodstream and plays a very important role in having healthy cells. Some of the more common symptoms that come with a vitamin D deficiency include muscle weakness and bone loss. The fact that this vitamin also plays an important role in one’s immune system makes it essential for everyone to make sure that they are getting the recommended daily amount of vitamin D.

4. Vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 allows for proper blood formation, brain functioning and nerve functioning. The body relies on this vitamin to function properly, but because the body is not able to produce its own B12, it must be introduced into the body via food and/or supplements. A deficiency in this vitamin often shows as a blood disorder that makes one’s red blood cells larger, which makes someone more susceptible to being diagnosed with certain diseases, such as Graves’ disease or lupus.

Need help identifying nutritional deficiencies?

Now that you know from the above information that AlexaMD is a health care professional who focuses on providing their patients with alternative treatment options, is this something you are interested in learning more about? When you understand the types of foods you need to eat in order to experience good health, you are more likely to always be in good health.