Many times we normalize symptoms in our daily lives that we should perhaps pay more attention to. It does not have to be related to a serious or concerning illness, but rather to a lack of nutrients, and the way the body makes us aware of this is through this type of symptomatology. There is a study that has shown that more than half of the world does not consume enough macronutrients that are considered essential for health, among which iron, calcium, and vitamins E and C stand out.
This is why specialists advise listening to the body’s symptoms to understand what is happening to us. An example is gastroenterologist Saurabh Sethi from California, who uses his professional profile on social media to share medical content. In one of his videos, he shares 5 signs that could indicate that the body needs more nutrition. He refers to brittle nails, eyelid twitching, joint cracking, premature aging of hair, and easy bruising. All of these are related to a lack of nutrients such as vitamin D, magnesium, vitamin B12, vitamin K, collagen, or copper, which can lead to diseases such as iron-deficiency anemia.
Are we getting enough nutrients?
More and more studies reveal that people’s lifestyle and eating habits are losing quality. Natural foods are being replaced by processed and ultra-processed ones, which seem to offer a faster and more convenient alternative, but the truth is that they are proving to be highly harmful to our bodies. Did you know that recent studies claim that more than half of the planet does not consume sufficient macronutrients? These are essential foods for our health that we are replacing with other types of products. This is leading to a low intake of iron, calcium, vitamins C and E, which is concerning.
How do I recognize if my organism lacks of nutrients?
There are doctors and specialists who use their personal and professional profiles on social media to carry out very interesting outreach work. This is the case of Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist from California, who uses his TikTok profile to publish this type of content. In one of his videos, he lists five signs or symptoms that could indicate a lack of nutrients. However, he reminds us that if you experience any kind of discomfort or pain, you should see a doctor and not rely on an article from the internet. With that clarified, let’s see what 5 signs could indicate that our body needs more nutrients.
Brittle nails
According to Sethi, “This indicates a deficiency of protein and iron in the diet.” The main compound of nails is keratin, so having protein in our diet is essential. Some of the foods that should not be missing from your diet (as long as you have no contraindications) are eggs, fish, spinach, or whole grains.
Eyelid twitching
How many times have you been in front of a computer screen and your eyelid started to twitch as if it were dancing? This is related to stress, fatigue, or caffeine consumption, and according to Sethi, “Twitching in the eyelids or extremities indicates a deficiency of magnesium, which is critical for transmitting nerve impulses”.
Joint cracking
Sethi warns that it could be a warning sign of vitamin D3 or calcium deficiency.
Premature graying of hair.
This occurs when gray hairs appear before the age of 20. It is believed that it could be due to a deficiency in vitamin B12 or copper, but it has also been linked to genetics, autoimmune diseases, pollution, tobacco use, vitamin deficiencies, and age. Sethi stated, “This could indicate a deficiency in vitamin B12, which is crucial for the production [of red blood cells] and the transport of oxygen in hair follicles. This could also be a sign of copper deficiency, which is responsible for the production of melanin, imparting color to your hair”.