5 Extremely Common Nutriend Deficiencies In Canton GA

Dear Neighbors,

This is a monthly column that I contribute to address common health topics of all sorts. My intent at a Canton GA chiropractor is to write in a casual Q&A format so that children and adults alike can read and understand very important health topics. I have spent the last 15 years studying the most effective natural treatments for health problems, and have spent the last decade in clinical practice applying these treatments with great success. I wish to pass some of the best kept secrets onto you…

Question In Canton GA: “What are the most common nutrient deficiencies?”

Answer: When you enter the world of nutrition and nutrient deficiencies and people ask for your advice on what they should eat or take as supplements, it's sort of like trying to have an answer for a 17 year old that asks what he should do when he grows up. So many factors go into finding the "correct" answer, and the "correct" answer sometimes needs to be found through trial and error. Here's what I've come to realize after almost two decades of reading, listening, and writing about nutrition:

• nothing can take the place of eating good food
• most people simply aren't dedicated enough to eat good food consistently
• for those who do, our food is still largely deficient in many of our needed nutrients
• certain nutrients are more important than others when considering supplementing

So, I've decided to look into 5 common nutrient deficiencies and give a brief explanation of each:

Magnesium: you may have heard about magnesium recently as it's been associated with muscle cramps and soreness. It's also been associated with more serious longer term health implications such as metabolic disease, heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. It's a key mineral for us that is involved with many enzyme reactions and has a key role in maintaining our bone structure.
Food sources of Magnesium:

• dark green leafy vegetables like spinach
• seeds, nuts, and beans
• whole grains like oats

Calcium: another extremely important mineral for our health. Everyone knows calcium is essential for the formation of strong bones and teeth, but perhaps even more importantly, it's critical for your heart, muscles, and nerves to work properly. Typical symptoms of a calcium deficiency are osteoporosis and muscle cramps.
Food sources of Calcium:

• fish
• dairy
• dark green vegetables like kale and broccoli

Vitamin D: many people believe Vitamin D is one of the most influential nutrients that we need. It acts like a hormone and affects virtually every cell in our body. It's produced from cholesterol in our bodies and gets activated by sunlight so a healthy dose of sunlight is needed to maintain proper levels of Vitamin D. Recent research has suggested it has a critical role in supporting a healthy immune system and potentially even fighting cancer. Fatigue and mood shifts can signal a lack of Vitamin D.
Food sources of Vitamin D:

• fatty fish like salmon and sardines
• egg yolks
• red meat

Vitamin B12: also known as cobalamin, this vitamin is critical for brain and nerve function. Ironically, we cannot produce it so we must get it from our food or supplements. It's found in animal foods, so vegetarians are classically at risk for Vitamin B12 deficiencies. Fatigue is a common sign of a Vitamin B12 deficiency.
Food sources of Vitamin B12:

• meat
• fish
• dairy

Iron: this nutrient is necessary for carrying oxygen within our red blood cells. Without it, we'll have fatigue or shortness of breath caused by a lack of oxygen getting to our cells. Growing children, menstruating women, and vegetarians are at most risk for low levels of iron.
Food sources of Iron:

• red meat
• beans, seeds and lentils
• dark, green leafy vegetables

If you take supplements, make sure you have a reputable company that you order from. Sometimes the cheapest, or most available supplements not only don't give you the benefit you need, but also contain harmful additives and have questionable safety records. Also, check into the bioavailability of your supplements. This means the ability for our bodies to absorb them. Some nutrients need other nutrients to be absorbed so if our supplements don't have both, we're wasting our money. Don't hesitate to reach out if you need any advice. Hopefully this will provide a good start, and as always...Become a Priority In Your Life!!

Dr. Jeff can be reached for comment at:

Canton Chiropractic and Massage
400 Argonne Terrace, Canton, GA 30115
jgetbehead@yahoo.com
Office: (678) 880-7024
Cell: (504) 473-0636