3 Nutritional Deficiencies That Are Ruining Your Quality of Life

(Shutterstock*)

At the root of any health issue is typically some type of deficiency that is compromising the proper functioning of the body. With continuously tilled soils, heavy processing, poor absorption, and excessive cooking, it is extremely easy for the body to become depleted of essential nutrients and other life promoting agents.

Although each individual has their own set of deficiencies due to their history and habits, there are 3 common nutritional deficiencies occurring across North America, that if rectified, would have a significant effects on overall health.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is often called the sunshine vitamin, but is actually a neuroregulatory hormone. It is very important in helping prevent cancer, ease depression, improve bone health, boost brain function, enhance heart health, and much more.

Unfortunately, our location, lifestyle, and choice of foods have made it increasingly difficult to get adequate levels of vitamin D. These choices that lead to decreased absorption of vitamin D include:

• Living in a location that has less than 9 months of sun that can be absorbed through exposed arms and legs
• Working and playing indoors for majority of prime daylight hours
• Applying sunscreens to the body prior to adequate sun exposure, thereby blocking the uptake of vitamin D
• Diets low in vitamin D rich foods

Eggs are especially important if you live in a location where sun exposure is difficult for the majority of the year. (Shutterstock)

This deficiency can lead to all kinds of health problems, like asthma, depression, heart disease, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, cancer, periodontal disease, and diabetes.

However, a vitamin D deficiency can be rectified by:

• Choosing more vitamin D rich foods such as cod liver oil, salmon, tuna, mushrooms, and eggs. This is especially important if you live in a location where sun exposure is difficult for the majority of the year.
• Using a vitamin D3/K2 supplement during the winter months and considering an ultraviolet lamp.
• Allocating 30 minutes or more a day to get out in the sun with at least your legs and arms exposed.
• Using non-toxic sunblock only AFTER you have received adequate sun exposure on your bare skin, without burning.

If you are unsure of a deficiency, have your levels checked. Medical doctors tend to believe levels below 32ng/ml are considered sufficient, but functional doctors look for ranges between 60-100 ng/ml for optimal vitamin D3 levels.

Magnesium

Magnesium, often called the miracle mineral, is a vital nutrient that helps maintain:

• Good heart health
• Proper muscle function
• Healthy blood sugar balance
• Strong bones
• Efficient digestion
• Quality sleep patterns
• Reduced stress levels
• Healthy metabolism

However, due to poor soil conditions, lifestyle choices, and eating habits, people have become generally deficient in this very important mineral. As a result, more people are suffering from heart disease, muscle cramping, diabetes, stress and sleep disorders, bowel disease, and osteoporosis.

Sunflower seeds are high in Magnesium. (Shutterstock)

If you suspect a deficiency, make sure to increase your consumption of magnesium rich foods like pumpkin seeds, cacao, Brazil nuts, sesame seeds, and almonds. To increase bioavailability, ensure you soak the nuts and seeds listed.

Here’s a nice list of magnesium rich foods.

Enzymes

Enzymes are substances that make life possible. They are required for every chemical reaction that takes place in the human body. Without enzymes, no activity would take place as neither vitamins, minerals, nor hormones can do any work without enzymes.

Unfortunately, due to their delicate nature, enzymes do not survive well during excessive processing and cooking. As a result of our neglect to eat raw, whole foods primarily based in produce, we experience all kinds of health conditions related to every system in the body.

If you want to ensure you are ingesting enough life promoting enzymes on a daily basis, eat raw, enzyme rich foods such as papaya, pineapples and melons. (Shutterstock)

If you want to ensure you are ingesting enough life promoting enzymes on a daily basis, eat raw, enzyme rich foods such as papaya, pineapples, melons, mango, kiwi, grapes, avocado, raw honey, bee pollen, kefir, fermented vegetables, and wheatgrass.

READ MORE

• 17 Enzyme-Rich Foods to Include in Your Diet

Nutritional deficiencies are only one of the many reasons we are ill and have trouble healing our body. For a complete list of factors you NEED to know in order to properly assess your lifestyle, check out Why Am I Always Sick?

By Derek Henry, Holistic Health Coach for Healing the Body

*Image of “soups“ via Shutterstock