It’s crucial for all of us to have a healthy and well-balanced diet, sometimes aided with vitamins from health stores like Supplement First. If not, we face the risk of malnutrition, which refers to when someone’s diet doesn’t provide adequate or the appropriate balance of nutrients for good health.
The common causes of malnutrition include inappropriate dietary choices, difficulty obtaining food, low income, or certain physical or mental health conditions. Both underweight and obese individuals are prone to malnutrition, and it can create a severe impact on their health, even becoming life-threatening.
That’s why it’s important to prevent that from happening through an adequate diet with any appropriate medication and supplements prescribed from the doctor from brands like Nordic Naturals ProOmega 2000 in Supplement First.
Here are the signs of malnutrition you must watch out for.
Undernutrition
Undernutrition occurs when you do not receive enough nutrients from your diet, which can cause the following symptoms:
- Weight loss
- Loss of muscle mass and fat
- Sunken eyes and hollow cheeks
- Swollen stomach
- Dry skin and hair
- Fatigue
- Delayed wound healing
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Anxiety and depression
Some types of undernutrition would have other effects. For instance, Kwashiorkor is a protein deficiency that causes a protruding abdomen and fluid retention. Or marasmus, a condition results from calorie deficiency results in significant muscle and fat loss.
Undernutrition may also lead to micronutrient deficiencies. These are the common deficiencies and their symptoms:
- Vitamin A deficiencies can lead to night blindness, dry eyes, and an increased risk of infection
- Zinc deficiencies can lead to loss of appetite, delayed healing of wounds, diarrhea, hair loss, and stunted growth
- Iron deficiencies can cause impaired brain function, stomach issues, and decreased production of the thyroid hormone
- Iodine deficiencies can cause enlarged thyroid glands, growth and development issues and decreased thyroid production
Overnutrition
Yes, having too many nutrients is also a sign of malnutrition. The main signs of it is overweight and obesity, which can also result in nutrient deficiencies.
Research shows that those who are overweight or obese are more likely to have low blood levels and inadequate intakes of certain nutrients compared to those with normal weight.
Another study showed that obese people have lower blood levels of vitamins A and E. That is likely because overweight and obese people may overconsume fast food and processed food high in fat and calories but low in nutrients.
A study found that those who consumed more fast food had lower intakes of vitamins A and C, along weigh higher calorie, sodium, and fat consumption compared to those abstaining from fast food.
Regardless of what kind of malnutrition condition you may have, it’s important to have this checked by your doctor, who will prescribe any necessary medication and supplements, along with a diet plan to help get you to a normal weight range with nutritious food.
Wrapping It Up
If you experience any one of these signs of malnutrition, contact your doctor for treatment right away.
