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5 worrying signs your body needs more nutrients, from a doctor
For people juggling childcare commitments, multiple jobs, bills, and lifes other myriad stresses, checking your body for signs of malnutrition can feel like an unnecessary chore.
Fortunately, it doesnt need to take long. And your body will thank you for it in the long run. TikToks Doctor Sethi took to the social media platform recently to share 5 things he advises we all look out for that indicate that our bodies arent getting all the nutrients they need for optimum health.�
5 signs your body isnt getting what it needs
Given the very real dangers of overloading on vitamins, it may be worth checking your body for a few critical clues as to whether its actually lacking something before throwing caution to the wind and popping multivitamins with abandon.
Here are five things Dr Sethi recommends you check for �its as easy as scanning your body.
1. Brittle nails
If your nails are brittle and snap easily, this could be an indicator that your body lacks protein and iron.
The amount of protein your body needs per day depends on your lifestyle and how much you weigh. Generally speaking, 0.75g of protein per pound of body weight is the correct quantity for optimal health.
Iron deficiency is startlingly common in the US, with 1 in 3 adults at risk. Avoid running low by pairing plant-based sources of iron (lentils, beans, tofu, green leafy vegetables) with foods rich in vitamin C. This allows your body to absorb it better.�
You can also get a lot of iron from animal-based foods. Or, if you dont mind consuming more ultra-processed foods, fortified breakfast cereals can be a good source.
2. Twitches in your eyelids or limbs
If your eyelids twitch in a way you cant control, or you feel muscle spasms in your legs or arms, this could indicate a magnesium deficiency.
Those eyelid twitches could also be caused by stress or fatigue.
Magnesium is critical for transmitting nerve impulses. Taking a magnesium supplement regularly can also boost your vitamin D levels just make sure youre taking it at the right time of day to get the maximum benefit.
3. Clicks in your joints
If your joints click more than youre used to or more than others’ joints do it might be because youre deficient in vitamin D3 or calcium, Dr Sethi says.
Vitamin D3 is the lesser-known superhero of the supplement world, and one that neuroscientists recommend taking, though only as recommended by a healthcare provider.
It has the power to enhance bone density and skeletal function by helping your body absorb calcium; calcium is essential for bone density, and vitamin D plays a key role in its absorption.
4. Premature greying
It may be possible to reverse premature hair greying, for example by giving up smoking. If you dont smoke and youve gone grey earlier than expected, it could be because youre not getting all the vitamin B12 your body needs, suggests Dr Sethi.
B12 is essential for producing red blood cells, which transport oxygen to hair follicles.
Another potential cause of your early greying could be copper deficiency, which Dr Sethi explains is responsible for melanin production, which in turn gives color to your hair.
5. Easy bruising
Do you bruise easily? If you do, it could indicate several things. On the more extreme end is blood cancer, but there are more likely culprits.
Dr Sethi explains that bruising easily can indicate a vitamin C deficiency, because vitamin C is behind collagen formation, among other things.
Alternatively, it could be vitamin K1 youre short on. This helps with blood clotting, which is one of the mechanisms behind stopping excessive bleeding.
Lacking vitamin C also causes joint pain. Fortunately, vitamin C is easy to come by as part of a balanced diet.
A few hacks you could try to boost your intake include leaving the leaves on the strawberry next time you treat yourself to a punnet, squeezing lime juice onto your next salad or into your next glass of water, and having an orange as a mid-morning snack, rather than something processed and out of a packet.
