FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY
By Dr Sarah Myhill MB BS, UK physician specializing in chronic fatigue and environmental medicine - Inspired by an article in the BMJ https://www.drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Nutritional_deficiencies_-_What_signs_to_look_for_if_you_think_you_may_have_them
Nutritional Deficiencies - What Signs to Look for If You Think You Have One.
Here are some of them:
HANDS
Cold hands - magnesium deficiency, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue with low cardiac output
NAILS
White spots - mineral deficiency but often low zinc content
Ridges - zinc deficiency
NAILS
Soft or brittle nails - magnesium deficiency
Bitten nails - general mineral deficiency
SKIN
Stretch marks - zinc deficiency
Follicular hyperkeratosis - vitamin A deficiency
Spontaneous bleeding - vitamin C or K or platelet deficiency
Dry, flaky skin with hair follicles clogged with twisted, distorted hairs and a red halo - vitamin C deficiency
Yellow palms - excessive beta-carotene intake
Rough, pimply skin on the back of the arms, "chicken skin" - essential fatty acid deficiency
MOUTH
Pale fissured tongue - iron deficiency
Sore and painful cracked tongue - vitamin B3 deficiency
Burning tongue and lips and peeling of the lips - vitamin B2 deficiency
Swollen tongue with lateral indentations of the teeth - food intolerance
Sore tongue with a smooth appearance - folic acid deficiency
Chapped lips - vitamin B2 deficiency, thrush
GUMS
Pyorrhea - Co-Q10 deficiency
Bleeding gums - vitamin C deficiency
Gum disease - Co-Q10, folic acid, vitamin C deficiency
FACIAL SKIN
Oily red scaly skin on the face and sides of the nose - vitamin B2 deficiency
Seborrheic dermatitis around the nose and acne-like rash - vitamin B6 deficiency
THE EYES
Cataracts - chromium deficiency or excess free radicals
Bags or dark circles under the eyes - food allergies or intolerances
Blue eyes and blond hair are often found in hyperactive male children - deficiencies in zinc, magnesium, B6 and essential fatty acids
Blue eyes and premature gray hair - vitamin B12 deficiency - a characteristic of pernicious anemia
THROAT
Thyroid swelling - iodine deficiency, hypothyroidism
HEART
Any heart problem, including irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, cardiomegaly - magnesium and Co-Q10 deficiencies and caffeine sensitivity.
LEGS
Tender calf muscles - magnesium deficiency
Quick knee reflexes - magnesium deficiency
The following problems may suggest specific deficiencies or allergies:
Nasal polyps - sensitivity to salicylates
Catarrh, sinusitis, history of tonsil or adenoid removal - milk intolerance
Poor healing - zinc deficiency
I don't remember dreams - vitamin B6 deficiency
Sugar cravings, blood sugar fluctuations, hypoglycemia - chromium deficiency, carbohydrate intolerance and intestinal fermentation syndrome
Premenstrual syndrome - deficiencies of magnesium, zinc and essential fatty acids
Glandular fever - inadequate liver detoxification mechanisms
Sensory symptoms - B12, B1, magnesium deficiencies
Mental symptoms - any vitamin B deficiency, allergies, toxic stress.
Cervical dysplasia - vitamin B6 and folic acid deficiency
Arthritis - boron and sulfur deficiency (MSM)
Measles - vitamin A deficiency
Persistent diarrhea leading to fatigue - magnesium and potassium deficiencies
Many diuretics cause magnesium and potassium deficiencies
Muscle cramps - magnesium deficiency
Handshake - magnesium and vitamin B1 deficiencies
Hypertension - magnesium deficiency
Dysphagia - magnesium deficiency
Sensitivity to light - magnesium deficiency
Osteoporosis - don't forget to think about magnesium
High blood pressure during pregnancy - magnesium deficiency
Hair loss - thyroid, iron stores (must measure serum ferritin), biotin, zinc and essential fatty acid deficiencies
Frequent colds - zinc and vitamin C deficiencies
Infertility, miscarriages and premature birth - zinc deficiency
Poor sense of smell and taste - zinc deficiency
Poor vision or night blindness - zinc and vitamin A deficiencies
Dry eyes - vitamin A deficiency
The contraceptive pill and HRT can cause increased copper levels and deficiencies in zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6
Blocked nose in red wine - molybdenum deficiency
Any cancer or family history of cancer - selenium deficiency
Mercury amalgams in teeth - selenium and glutathione deficiencies
Cardiomyopathies (Keeshan's Disease) - selenium deficiency
Heart attacks - vitamin E deficiency (Shute brothers)
Hair loss, dandruff, eczema, excessive earwax production, poor wound healing, excessive thirst (especially in hyperactive children), premenstrual symptoms of all kinds - essential fatty acid deficiency
Carpal tunnel syndrome - vitamin B6 deficiency
Vegan - deficiencies in vitamin B12, zinc and iron
Gastrectomy - vitamin B12 and hydrochloric acid deficiencies
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy - vitamin B12 deficiency
Elderly - all weakness, especially vitamin B and HCl deficiencies
Persistent infections - vitamin C and zinc deficiencies
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