Nutritional Deficiencies: An Epidemic in America

Vitamins and minerals serve important biological functions in the human body. For example, vitamin A is important for eye health and vitamin C is needed for growth. Yet despite how crucial these nutrients are, 90% of the population is deficient.

How can this be?

Because our crops are not as nutritious as they were a hundred years ago, food may no longer enough to prevent deficiencies.

Another cause is the excessive consumption of processed foods that are devoid of key nutrients. Genetic mutations, environmental pollution, and stress can also affect your bodies ability to absorb nutrients.

Vitamins and Minerals That Are Difficult to Obtain

Further compounding the problem of rampant deficiencies, certain nutrients can be very difficult to obtain. Here are a few examples:

Vitamin D – A large part of the population do not have high enough levels of Vitamin D due to lack of time spent in the sun. Low Vitamin D is associated with depression and increased risk of fractures.

Choline – You would need to eat 5 to 7 cups of vegetables a day in order to reach dietary choline requirements. One could also consume 4 to 5 eggs or organ meat. Choline deficiency can cause fatty liver disease and neurological problems.

Vitamin B9 – Otherwise known as folate, is found naturally in produce. The government has chosen to fortify processed foods with synthetic folate due to deficiencies. Low folate levels can lead to anemia and digestion problems.

How to Solve Nutrient Imbalances

Strive to consume a varied diet filled with meats, vegetables, fruit, and nuts. A multivitamin can also offer good insurance against potential deficiencies. Deciphering a diet plan can be complicated. If you find yourself confused, find a health and wellness center that can help you create a nutrition plan.