Alexis Unlimited

Hello World!  Do you know if you are lacking in any vitamins or minerals? Read on and find out how to fix this. It is more common than you think, and not hard to fix either…

Most Common Deficiencies & How to Fix Them Naturally

Nutritional deficiencies are more common than you think. While Americans tend to consume more than enough calories, we are, as a population, generally lacking in the nutrition department.

We are eating mostly empty calories that provide little nutritional value. But even the slightest deficiency in minerals and vitamins can have profound consequences on your health.

In order for your body to function at its peak, we need rounded and balanced levels of all the vitamins and minerals our body requires. Here are 5 of the most common nutritional deficiencies, along with some natural tips for promoting internal balance:

VITAMIN D

More of a hormone than a vitamin, vitamin D plays a huge part in immune

system regulation, hormonal balance and calcium’s absorption into the bones. But according to the EWG, 95% of US adults are deficient in vitamin D. So, with those odds, you probably are, too.

The best way to get vitamin D is to expose as much of your skin as possible to direct sunlight for about 10 minutes a day. But unfortunately for many of us, especially northerners, the sun simply isn’t strong enough all year to encourage the body to begin vitamin D synthesis. So, we either need to focus hard on getting it through diet (which is challenging) or supplement.

Powerful food sources of this vitamin include cod liver oil, salmon, mackerel, sardines and raw milk dairy. For vegans, the best sources are sunlight or supplementation. Opt for D3 over D2 when buying supplements as it has been shown to be more bio-available and effective in your body. Just be sure to find a brand that is derived from lichen or algae rather than animal products.

MAGNESIUM 

Magnesium is alluringly known as the “relaxation mineral,” but over 60%

of us don’t eat enough of it. Even worse, most of us are steadily chipping away at the magnesium we actually have in storage throughout our everyday lives, from drinking coffee to stress to your eating refined sugars.

Involved in over 300 enzymic reactions in your body, magnesium plays a role in supporting protein synthesis, blood pressure regulation, your blood sugar control, muscle and nerve function, and so much more. If you have taken a powerful magnesium supplement in the past, you may have noticed the laxative effect. It is much more pleasurable to get your magnesium topically or through diet. Taking regular Epsom salt baths is a great way to boost magnesium levels, as the mineral is effectively absorbed by your skin.

On that note, there are high quality magnesium oils that work well, too. In terms of diet, great sources of magnesium include spinach, chard, dark chocolate, pumpkin seeds and almonds. Ditching excessive coffee and getting a handle on your stress levels will make the world of difference, too.

IRON

You need iron in order for your body to make hemoglobin in your blood, so

it’s pretty darn important. Iron deficiency, however, is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world, and it is especially prevalent among women. While grass-fed beef and liver are traditionally the most potent sources of iron, vegans and vegetarians can reap the benefits of spirulina. Just one ounce of this algae powder contains over 40% of your daily needs. Other iron-rich plant foods include lentils, spinach, black beans and dark chocolate.

B VITAMINS

There are a lot of B vitamins, 8 to be exact, and they all have different

functions in your body. But they all work together to support healthy and sustained energy levels in your body.

Perhaps the rarest of the B vitamins is B12. This vitamin is essential for red blood cell production, DNA synthesis, and your healthy nerve and brain function. A mild deficiency of B12 can manifest as impaired mental function and low energy. Vegans and vegetarians can have a tough time getting enough B vitamins if they aren’t cautious. A good vegan source is fortified nutritional yeast, or supplementation. Non-vegan sources include grass-fed beef and beef liver, sardines, salmon, mackerel, feta cheese, nutritional yeast and eggs.

VITAMIN K2 

This underestimated vitamin protects us from heart disease, promotes

healthy growth and development, helps prevent cancer and supports your bone, brain and skin health. Vitamin K2 is found in egg yolks, grass-fed butter, chicken liver and cheeses, but vegans can find it in fermented products like natto and sauerkraut. Grazing animals get their K2 from grazing on nourishing grasses like wheat grass. Since our bodies aren’t designed to break down the tough fibers in grasses, juicing your own wheat grass daily can also be a powerful way to bypass the animals and supplement your body with important nutrients, including K2.

Even the mildest chronic deficiency can have profound effects on your health. When you balance your diet and your lifestyle, you balance your body. It’s incredible what a little bit of healthy eating, self-care and stress management can do on the cellular level.

To me, the most difficult thing to do is to balance my stress levels. How about you? What do you find most difficult? I’d love to hear from you and you can leave me a comment below…

Have a great healthy day!