Nutritionally Speaking: Nutritional Inadequacy Symptoms (draft)

Dear Dr. Meinig:

I don’t know if other folks worry about whether or not their nutrition is adequate, but I do. With so much being written about this subject, I feel dumb to be so confused. Perhaps you could tell me what some of the more common symptoms are that occur when nutrition is inadequate. – S. O.

Dear S.O.: Let me briefly go over a few of the more common symptoms that are evidence of nutritional insufficiency.

1. Lack of hair luster: This is often due to a deficiency of essential amino acids found in protein; to a need for biotin (part of the vitamin B2 complex), and/or to a lack of the trace element zinc.
2. Skin that is dry and like sandpaper: This can be due to a deficiency of vitamin A or, if it is adequate in the diet, to poor absorption; the skin and all body parts need lubrication just as your auto needs oil and grease; Omega three fats and oils are the most useful ones to the body.
3. A tongue that is very red instead of pink, or one that is fissured: A deficiency of vitamin B3 (niacin) is the predominant cause, with the B complex playing a secondary role.
4. Excessive gas after eating; bloating and difficulty digesting fatty foods: These symptoms are usually due to an insufficient amount of the digestive enzymes–too little acid produced by the stomach, a shortage of pancreatic digestants or a deficiency of bile from the liver. It may be any one of these or a combination of the three. When digestion of our food is incomplete, the nutrients of even the best of diets are not absorbed. This means tissues and organs suffer from slow starvation. The lack of these enzymes is quite common as people become older.
5. Gums that are red and bleed readily: These frequently occurring symptoms are often due to a need for vitamin C, folic acid, and zinc as well as to the accumulation of irritating tartar deposits in the gum crevice.
6. Stools that are light yellow instead of brownish in color: Involved may be a deficiency of bile, vitamin C, copper, and possibly the amino acid taurine.
7. Craving for sweets: When the trace elements chromium and manganese are deficient in the diet or when excess amounts of insulin from the pancreas is present, an increased appetite for sweets can take place. Sugar in itself is addicting and is a cause of each of these factors taking place.
8. Cracks or redness in the corners of the mouth: This condition denotes a B vitamin deficiency, particularly vitamin B2.
9. Bad breath: The answer to statement (4) above applies here as well; conditions of alkalosis may be due to one’s diet, particularly when composed mainly of fruits and vegetables and devoid of grains; in addition infected teeth and gums are common offenders.
10. Nails (splitting): These frequently are due to a protein deficiency, particularly to the amino acid lysine, and may also occur when the levels of vitamins C, D, F, and B are low. (Ridged nails): Involved may be the thyroid and pituitary glands, vitamin deficiencies, and body infections.
11. Tooth decay: Results because of shortages of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, vitamin C, saliva and its enzyme ptyalin. Also playing a part are too high an intake of starches and sweets and too little or too much protein.
12. Constipation: Mostly responsible are high intakes of highly refined and processed grains resulting in too little fiber; low intake of vegetables and fruit; too little water; numbers of vitamin deficiencies including choline, one of the B complex vitamins.

These are a few common conditions related to nutritional inadequacy. There are numerous others. Each often has additional causes as most body ailments are not due to a single entity but are multifactorial in origin.

Even so, at least part of the growing interest in this subject occurs when individuals find success nutritionally in treating some ailment that has plagued them for a long time.

Each success using better dietary habits results in more and more enthusiasm for the role nutrition plays in achieving optimum health.