Vitamins You're Likely Lacking
One major element of good health that far too many people overlook is vitamin and mineral intake.
We spend a high amount of time and energy making sure we get in the right amount of calories in the form of proteins, carbs and healthy fats, but then we completely overlook the micronutrient element of things.
If you start to fall short in certain vitamins and minerals, this can have a significant influence on the quality of results that you see from your diet plan and how you feel on a day to day basis.
Three of these nutrients in particular are missing from most people's diets so look over your meal plan to check that you're getting enough to support optimal health.
Iron
Most often found in red meat, iron is also present in many vegetables, legumes and some grains.
The roll of iron in the body is to support proper growth and development, as well as ensure that your overall red
blood cell concentration remains where it should be.
When red blood cell counts start dropping, you will find that you feel fatigued often throughout the day as your body isn't getting the oxygen and nutrients to the tissue cells as it should.
Those who suffer from iron-deficiency anemia, which is a state where iron status has been low for quite some time, will experience dry brittle hair and nails, feeling cold all the time, a general sense of weakness, and low endurance levels.
To up your iron intake, focus on eating plenty of lean sources of red meat such as beef, venison and bison.
Vitamin D
This is often termed the sunshine vitamin because it is manufactured in your body naturally when you are out in direct sunlight.
Since many people aren't spending as much time outdoors any longer due to the threat of skin cancer (or are using
sunscreen to protect their skin when they do), this means that they will not be likely to reach their adequate intake the old-fashioned way.
Those who are deficient in vitamin D intakes can be at a higher risk of heart attacks or stroke due to the fact that this vitamin can help control inflammation in the arteries.
You can assess your current blood levels by having your doctor perform a test for it and if you are falling short, consider adding a supplement to your diet plan.
Potassium
Finally, the last deficiency that is relatively common among is potassium.
This is an essential mineral in the body and helps with maintaining a regular heartbeat, so it's not one that you can afford to overlook.
Furthermore, potassium is going to help the cells in the body utilize the glucose that you are taking in, so from that regard, it can also help ensure that your energy levels stay up to where they need to be.
Potassium is found most concentrated in fresh fruits and vegetables, and with most of the population not getting as
many of these nutrient-dense foods as they should, we're seeing the deficiencies creep up.
In addition to issues with maintaining a regular heartbeat, potassium deficiencies can also lead to low blood pressure and a general feeling of weakness in the body as well.
If you're a highly active individual, it's also going to be essential that you maintain a good potassium-sodium balance in the body as you can lose these nutrients when you sweat heavily.
Some of the best foods for potassium include bananas, potatoes and avocados.
One thing that you can do to encourage a better overall nutritional status is to eat a wide variety of foods, rather than gravitating to the same five favorites over and over again.
the Dutch Guy