If you are feeling tired, have a loss of appetite, or you are falling ill more often, the problem could be a lack of minerals.
Overview
What are minerals?
Minerals are nutrients required by the body, absorbed from the food we eat.
How can I fix a mineral deficiency?
Usually via your diet, although supplements may help if you cannot get the nutrients you need from food (because of an allergy etc). See below.
What are the symptoms of deficiency?
Wide ranging, but include tiredness and fatigue, loss of appetite and impaired immune system (so you fall ill more often).
How do I get tested?
Book a simple blood test now.
Did You Know?
Iron deficiency is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in the world.*
The problem with minerals
Our bodies need minerals. They are the nutrients we absorb from the foods we eat. But when you do not enough of the right foods, or when foods that should be high in minerals are not, your body can become deficient.
Junk food diets and diets that rely heavily on processed ingredients are typical examples of diets likely to be low in minerals. Yet increasingly, even diets that appear to be balanced and which contain lots of organic foods can deliver fewer minerals than you might expect.
Analysis by the Food Commission discovered that, because of over farming, over-processing and changes in food trends (e.g. the move from full fat milk towards skimmed) many foods are giving us fewer minerals now than they once did. Milk produces less iron and calcium. Iron levels in steak have dropped by more than 50%. And the trace minerals within some fruits and vegetables have fallen by as much as 76%, because there simply are not enough nutrients left in the ground. As a result, whatever type of diet you enjoy, it is now more likely than ever that you and your family could be experiencing the effects of mineral deficiency.
What are the effects of mineral deficiency?
The symptoms of a mineral deficiency can be wide-ranging depending on the mineral(s) that are lacking.
- Calcium: You are only likely to notice a severe calcium deficiency, which can lead to stomach cramps, tingling and numbness, fatigue and an irregular heartbeat. Whilst symptoms of a less severe deficiency are not obvious in the short term, in the long term it can lead to osteoporosis.
- Magnesium: Although rare, symptoms can include nausea, vomiting and feeling tired and fatigued. Left untreated, symptoms can worsen to include stomach cramps, numbness and seizures.
- Zinc: Too little zinc can affect the immune system, reducing your body's resistance to illness and infection, and increasing the time it takes to heal wounds. Hair loss, impotence, diarrhoea and loss of appetite may also occur.
- Iron: A lack of iron leads to anaemia, the symptoms of which include tiredness and fatigue. In children, cognitive development may be affected, and you may notice a deterioration in performance at school.
- Chromium: May play a part in preventing heart disease. Symptoms of deficiency include fatigue, anxiety and an inability for your body to process blood sugar.
- Copper: Symptoms include fatigue, low immunity to illness, and often feeling cold.
- Manganese: Deficiency can lead to osteoporosis, anaemia and a poor immune system.
Testing and treatment
The challenge in trying to increase your intake of minerals is knowing which minerals to target. B2KYB's mineral levels testing gives you the information you need to make changes to your diet or talk to your GP about supplements.
Build more minerals into your diet by choosing more of the following foods:
- Calcium: Dairy products (milk, cheese, yoghurt); beans, peas, kale, broccoli, cereals and juices
- Magnesium: Nuts, seeds, whole grains; green, leafy veg (such as cabbage or spinach)
- Zinc: Dairy foods, beans, nuts, whole grains
- Chromium: Onions, whole grains, wheat, orange juice
- Copper: Liver, lentils, almonds, sunflower seeds, dried apricots, dark chocolate
- Manganese: Whole grains, nuts and green, leafy vegetables
Additionally, many breakfast cereals are fortified with a wide range of minerals.
How do I get tested?
Better2Know offers a simple blood test designed to check for a range of minerals, including:
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Iron
- Copper
- Chromium
- Manganese
To get tested, please contact Better2Know on the number above.