90% of the time the answer is YES, you do have vitamin and nutrient deficiencies!
Scientists estimate that between 90 and 92% of the US population has a nutritional deficiency.
Even more astonishing is the fact that over 200 medical conditions are caused by nutritional deficiencies.
Optimal vitamins and minerals are required by the body to undertake thousands upon thousands of cellular functions.
This can include properly eliminating toxins, promoting the health needs of your digestive system, cardiovascular system, metabolism and total body strength.
Signs can be both external and internal and can be caused by the over consumption of one vitamin or mineral which can leave your body out of balance and deficient in another mineral.
WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN TO US?
4 Primary Causes of Nutritional Deficiencies
There a dozens of reasons why someone can have vitamin and or nutritional deficiencies.
However, we can narrow the vast majority of those reasons down to four:
1. The Standard American Diet
Let’s face it, The Standard American Diet is not a diet that humans were designed to thrive on.
No, humans thrived on a diet that was selected hundreds of thousands of years ago.
It consisted of plants, tubers, meat, poultry, fish and occasionally fruit.
It did not consist of fast food, packaged food, industrial seed oils and artificial ingredients.
2. Lifestyle & Environment
4% of the entire worlds population lives in the United States, yet we consume over 50% of the worlds medications.
Sadly, this is our current way of life and lifestyle.
While these medications certainly play a role in fighting disease, they tax our bodies and begin to actually contribute to the development of disease.
For example, antacids such as Pepcid, Tagamet, Prevacid and Prilosec all contribute to Vitamin B12, Folate, Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron and Zinc deficiencies.
Birth control blocks all B vitamins.
Antihistamines for allergies and sinuses can impact your brain chemistry and alter the production of powerful neurotransmitters essential for overall well being.
3. Gut Health & Food Sensitivities
If you have followed me for some time then you should understand the role that our gut plays in overall health.
I know you’ve heard the saying, “You Are What You Eat.” – but it’s more like “You Are What You Absorb.” and the gut plays a major role in nutrient absorption.
This means you can be eating all the right foods but not absorbing those nutrients. So in order to optimize your health, the gut needs to be properly evaluated.
When the gut is not healthy, then your immune system is on red alert and this results in food allergies and sensitivities; which further causes nutrient absorption issues.
4. Genetics & Individuality
Finally, your nutritional needs and susceptibilities ultimately come down to your genetics, lifestyle and environment.
What you need at the age of 10 is going to be completely different in your 20’s, 50’s and beyond.
So instead of guessing, I always recommend testing for clients I am working with. There are so many good functional medicine tests out there today to look under the hood and find out what is happening to cause imbalances, and disease. For those of you who really know me, you know I am all about “OPTIMAL” health! Im about getting to the root cause of an issue, not just band aiding a problem or symptom.
The 6 Essential Functional Medicine Tests that I believe should be run, but often are not are:
- Comprehensive functional blood testing
- Micronutrient testing
- Food chemical sensitivity testing
- Advanced hormone and adrenal gland testing
- Stool testing for optimal gastrointestinal health
- Organic acids test
The goal in life is to THRIVE, not just survive. Unfortunately we live in a world today where this is becoming increasingly more difficult. As a Health Coach, I help people navigate the road to get to OPTIMAL health. There is rarely one quick fix to solve a problem. As I always tell people, It’s worth it to do the work to feel your best! Your worth it!
“It’s Your Life, Live a Great One!”
I hope your find this article helpful. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
www.liveyourgreat.life
