Vitamin D deficiencies can increase the risk of cancer, autoimmune disease, and catching colds or the flu.
Vitamin B12 is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies.
Stomach acid is needed for the absorption of minerals such as vitamin B12, magnesium, calcium, and zinc. Those suffering from GERD are often deficient in these minerals.
H. pylori affects stomach acid levels so get tested for it if you have ulcers or are taking an acid blocker.
To help the body produce more stomach acid, consume leafy greens and a spoonful of apple cider vinegar (or a bite of ginger before meals) before meals.
Symptoms of poor liver function can go beyond the liver and show in the form of dry itchy skin or acne.
Foods that help boost liver health are pasture-raised egg yolks, liver, oysters, dandelion greens, and other leafy greens.
If you think you have vitamin or mineral deficiencies, take a full-spectrum, food-based multivitamin, improve your digestion, or consider supplementing with vitamin shots or IV therapy.
Most common nutrient deficiencies and symptoms of them
Vitamin D is technically a hormone, not a vitamin. Every cell in the body has a receptor for vitamin D so if you are deficient, you’re more at risk for cancer, autoimmune disease, and get colds and flus more frequently
Stomach acid is required to absorb B12. Vitamin B12 deficiencies can be due to low stomach acid, because stomach acid is required to absorb B12. Stress reduces stomach acid because if the body is stressed, it’s not focused on digesting food. Those low in B12 are often tired because B12 is required to make energy.
Magnesium, calcium, and zinc also require stomach acid to be absorbed into the body so taking acid blockers such as Nexium can result in deficiencies of not only B12, but these other minerals as well.
Dr. Lo explains that most of the time when someone is suffering from GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease, it’s not a result of too much stomach acid, but actually of too little.
When there isn’t enough stomach acid to digest food completely, the food ferments, expands then goes up into the esophagus and burns.
Sometimes this can be caused by H. pylori. If you have an ulcer or are on Nexium, you should get tested for H. pylori.
To help train the body to produce more stomach acid, try eating more bitter greens, such as dandelion, spinach, or kale. You can also take a spoonful of apple cider vinegar before meals to help get the stomach ready for the food you’re about to eat. Ginger helps as well.
Another common nutrient deficiency is the mineral magnesium. Magnesium is used in over 300 reactions in the body. Low magnesium can affect many body systems and result in leg cramps, foot cramps, and trouble sleeping.
Adding in foods magnesium-rich foods or supplementing with magnesium can help relieve these symptoms.
And then we move on to liver health, arguably the most important organ in the human body.
How do you know if you have a liver problem?
If you feel lethargic after drinking, have itchy skin, or acne can all be signs of a liver problem.
To address liver issues and give your liver a huge boost, you can do an elimination diet, avoid alcohol for a month, and add in nutrients, herbs, and detox supplements.
The liver is a regenerative organ so there are foods that help boost liver health, such as:
If you think you have vitamin or mineral deficiencies, consider taking a full-spectrum, food-based multivitamin that has at least 100mg vitamin B complex, 400mg of magnesium, 100mg of zinc, and 1000 IU of food-based vitamin D3 (as well as Vitamin K2 for absorption).
Make sure you’re doing the things to stimulate the production of stomach acid. In addition to the one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar before meals, put a few tablespoons in 16 ounces of water and drink that every morning as soon as you wake up.
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