source file Delivery logo.png
0
  • Home

  • Nutritional profiles

  • Genomics

  • Endocrinology

  • Gastrointestinal and immunology profiles

  • Shop

  • SALES

  • More

    health

    Testing for Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies

    April 24, 2016

    |

    Udi

     

    Vitamin deficiencies can do more than merely leaving you feeling unwell; they may also influence your future health. Although eating a balanced diet is usually considered sufficient to reduce the risk of becoming vitamin-deficient, more often than not, this is not enough. This is because very few of us are actually living a balanced life.  In addition, some health conditions can cause poor vitamin absorption, as well as the use of certain drugs. Getting tested for a deficiency is the only way to identify for sure that you are vitamin-deficient.

     

    Step 1

    Monitor yourself for symptoms of vitamin deficiency. These frequently include shortness of breath, weakness, being ill more than usual, unusual sensitivity to changing temperature, mood swings, hair loss, pale fingernails and pale eyelids.

     

    Step 2

    Evaluate your lifestyle. People who do not eat healthy foods, who take certain medications or suffer from medical conditions such as anorexia or bulimia are likely to be malnourished. Malnutrition can cause vitamin deficiencies and symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue and weight loss. You can be malnourished even if you are deficient in just one vitamin.

     

    Step 3

    Get a nutritional assessment.  This is a set of screening questions used to establish whether you are likely to have a vitamin or mineral deficiency. This questionnaire will outline changes in weight, activity and food consumption. A nutritional assessment can be performed by a doctor, nutritionist or can be done online.

     

    Step 4

    Have a hair analysis done. Properly called a hair tissue mineral analysis, this test consists of taking a hair from your head and thoroughly checking for signs of mineral deficiency or metal exposure. The use of hair ensures accuracy because hair tissues change gradually. This means if you eat a steak, iron levels will not rise rapidly in your hair as it will in your blood, so you will get a more accurate reading.

     

    Step 5

    Get a blood test from your doctor. A blood test can be helpful in uncovering signs of vitamin or mineral deficiencies, especially with iron, magnesium and selenium levels. If you have symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia -- weakness, pallor or sensitivity to cold -- your doctor might test your blood to get a red blood cell count. A low count with no other health condition present might indicate low iron levels.

     

    Warnings

    If you are experiencing unexplained changes in mood, skin discoloration, shortness of breath or unexplained weakness, see a doctor. These symptoms might be linked to health conditions other than vitamin deficiencies and can be potentially life threatening.

     

    Tips

    Prevent vitamin or mineral deficiencies by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and taking supplements.

     

    Tags:

    mineral testing

    vitamin deficiency

    mineral deficiency

    Please reload

    Featured Posts

    Popular heartburn medication can cause kidney failure – here’s how to avoid them

    April 21, 2016

    EMOTIONAL SPRING CLEANING – TIME TO CLEAN UP, CLEAR OUT AND BID WINTER GOODBYE

    April 15, 2016

    The connection - stress and ab-flab

    April 23, 2016

    1/6
    Please reload

    Recent Posts

    Probiotics versus prebiotics

    May 19, 2017

    Super foods from a super foodie

    May 11, 2017

    Still, sparkling, mineral, tap, filtered... what's your choice?

    May 7, 2017

    The number one rule when eating fruit

    May 1, 2017

    The 4 major metabolic factors that will help you lose weight.

    April 16, 2017

    Iron deficiency in menopausal women

    April 7, 2017

    Misdiagnosed thyroid problem

    March 19, 2017

    4 simple tricks on how to get rid of seasonal allergies.

    March 10, 2017

    Are your goals SMART?

    March 5, 2017

    Why I am a flexitarian - and why you should consider becoming one too.

    February 25, 2017

    Please reload

    Search By Tags

    Glycaemic load

    High Intensity Interval Training

    K2

    ab-flab

    acid reflux

    adaptogens

    alcohol and sleep

    allergies

    amaranth

    anxiety

    artificial sweetener

    berries

    brain food

    breakfast

    breathe

    buckwheat

    carb-loading

    cholesterol

    cortisol

    cravings

    detox

    diabetes

    diet

    diet drinks

    eat healthy

    eat whole

    eggs

    emotional eating

    exercise

    fibre

    food

    fructose

    fruit

    gerd

    gluten free

    glycaemic idex

    healthy

    healthy diet

    healthy nutrition

    heartburn

    heartmath

    insoluble fibre

    insulin

    insulin intolerance

    keto diet

    kids supplements

    kitchen detox

    lactose intolerance

    lunch

    meat

    meditation

    mental health

    millet

    mineral deficiency

    mineral testing

    nutrition

    obesity

    omega3

    organic

    outdoor training

    pesticides

    physical fitness

    protein

    psoriasis

    quinoa

    resilience

    smoothie

    soluble fibre

    stress

    stress in children

    supplements

    teen obesity

    vegetables

    vitamin C

    vitamin deficiency

    vitamines

    weight gain

    whole grain

    Please reload

    Follow Us
    • Facebook Classic
    • Twitter Classic
    • Google Classic

     

    +44 (0) 2075588607

     

     

    Follow me:

    • w-facebook
    Facebook

    info@medicaltesting-europe.com

    Share
    GDPR Privacy Policy

    design @medtesteu