8 Nutrients You May Be Lacking

Fighting back feelings of fatigue, irritability, or depression? Before you diagnose yourself with a chronic condition, take a look at your diet. Sometimes, common medical symptoms can signal a nutritional deficiency.  In the United States, 1 in 10 people have at least one nutritional deficiency, says Christine Pfeiffer, PhD, a research chemist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Center for Environmental Health. That figure, based on nutrition indicators in blood and urine tests, comes from theCDC’s latest nutrition report, published in 2012. While the survey doesn't capture all nutrients, Dr. Pfeiffer says, it does include many, and it gives a snapshot of what we might be missing, nutrient-wise.  Here, the eight nutrients you're most likely to be deficient in, and ways to make up the deficits. Vitamin B6 More than 10 percent of those surveyed had low levels of vitamin B6, the most common vitamin deficiency in the CDC's report. Your body needs vitamin B6 formore than 100 different enzyme reactions in the body, and it's needed during pregnancy for normal fetal brain development. If you are low on vitamin B6, you may: Have a higher risk of colon and other cancers Notice itchy rashes or cracks at the corners of your mouth Feel depressed. Adults ages 19 to 50 should get 1.3 milligrams (mg) a day, says Sonya Angelone, RDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Angelone's motto: Try getting ...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news