What are the Signs of Poor Nutrition?

We all have to eat. But if what we eat is unhealthy, you can’t expect to get much nourishment from it. Consuming a lot of unhealthy food can also raise your risk of heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and much more. In order for your body to function well, you need to eat nutrient-dense foods, not processed, unhealthy foods. Eating the proper foods, in the correct amounts, is essential for a long and healthy life. Especially as you age. While it can be hard to notice, if you aren’t feeding your body correctly, your body will give off the tell-tale warning signs of poor nutrition as a way to alert you. When this happens, you will want to take notice and re-examine your diet, but this can be hard to do if you aren’t aware of the signs of poor nutrition.

Poor dietary habits can be the root of many health problems, but it can be difficult for a person to recognize this. However, if you are experiencing any of these signs of poor nutrition, be sure to talk with your doctor.

Spoon-Shaped or Ridged Nails– Your nails can reflect the state of your health and be an indicator of nutritional deficiencies. Spoon-shaped nails can be an indicator of an iron deficiency. At the same time, brittle or ridged nails can also be an indicator of an iron deficiency or a lack of essential fatty acids.

Mouth Issues– Burning mouth syndrome can arise when a person becomes deficient in zinc, iron, or vitamin B. While having a swollen or pale tongue or experiencing cracking at the corners of the mouth, it can be an indicator of a vitamin B or iron deficiency.

Dry, Brittle Hair– Just like nails, the state of your hair can speak volumes about your overall health. While some hair loss is normal, brittle hair can signal a deficiency in iron, fatty acids, protein, and other nutrients.

Feelings of Exhaustion– If you feel tired and exhausted all the time, this is a significant indicator of a much larger problem forming. Feeling tired all the time can be caused by an iron deficiency, which can lead to anemia. Feelings of fatigue can also be a result of low levels of vitamin C or an indicator of a diet heavy on carbs and low on protein.

Excessive Weight Loss/Gain– A common warning sign of poor dietary habits, unintentional weight loss can be an indicator of malnutrition. While on the other hand, unintentional, excessive weight gain is an indicator of a diet heavy on empty calories. Empty calories provide little to no nutritional value to the body, making it easy to gain weight.