Keeping healthy and knowing the right foods to eat for optimal health is a minefield, but the scale of many people’s cluelessness was brought to light in a new study which found that worryingly some of us believe that Kryptonite and kerosene are essential vitamins and minerals!
In addition to the compound that can destroy Superman, the bizarreness continued with one in 20 of the 2,000 adults polled in the survey by Healthspan, believing they need to be eating krill oil and vegetable oil for a healthy body. It’s fair to say that many Brits have no idea about the different vitamins and minerals they should be consuming.
Thankfully, experts have revealed the everyday symptoms that could point to a vitamin or mineral deficiency. Persistent dandruff, itchy or dry skin, low mood and even stress could also be signs you need more of a certain vitamin or mineral in your diet.
Other issues which could point to a deficiency include thinning hair, a low libido, white spots on your nails and tiredness.
The survey also highlighted that many of us are blissfully unaware that taking medications, antibiotics and even drinking tea and coffee can all affect how we absorb vitamins and minerals.
Healthspan’s head of nutrition Rob Hobson said: “Many of these symptoms are things people put up with every day, thinking they are just par for the course.
“But often, they could be a sign that you are suffering a vitamin or mineral deficiency and simply eating foods which contain the item you are lacking could ease your symptoms.
“For example, a headache could be an indicator that you need more magnesium, vitamin B12 and B6 – something you can get from eating pumpkin seeds, prunes, banana or fortified soy milk.
“And even bad breath, while a possible sign of poor oral hygiene, could also be linked to your gut health and an iron deficiency.
“It’s important to bear in mind that your ability to absorb vitamins and minerals can also be affected by medications you are taking, such as antibiotics or the oral contraceptive pill as well as aspects of your diet such as whether you drink tea or coffee.”
Other tell-tale signs include cracking lips which could possibly be a sign of a vitamin C or iron deficiency, with eating more red meat, red peppers, kale and tofu a way of boosting levels of the vitamins and minerals in your diet. While persistent dandruff could be an indicator that you need more biotin or vitamin B7 and feeling stressed could be a sign that you need to consume more magnesium, zinc or essential fatty acids.
Check out the body diagram chart below. If you have any concerns, see your GP.
Image credits: www.123rf.com.
