The Reason You're Lacking Nutrients

Nutrient deficiencies can have a significant impact on our overall health and well-being. They occur when our bodies lack essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients necessary for optimal functioning. In this post, we will delve into the root causes of nutrient deficiencies, exploring the role of poor gut health, inadequate diet, and subpar supplements. By understanding these underlying factors, we can take proactive steps towards preventing and addressing nutrient deficiencies.

1. Poor Gut Health:

Our digestive system plays a crucial role in absorbing and assimilating nutrients. When our gut health is compromised, several issues can arise, leading to nutrient deficiencies. Let's explore three key factors:

Gut Dysbiosis: Dysbiosis refers to an imbalance in the gut microbiome, with an overgrowth of harmful bacteria and a decline in beneficial ones. This disruption can impair nutrient absorption and metabolism, contributing to deficiencies. A Comprehensive Stool Test and Organic Acid Tests can provide valuable insights into the presence of dysbiosis.

Low Stomach Acid: Adequate stomach acid is vital for breaking down food and extracting nutrients.¹ However, conditions like hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid) can hinder this process, leading to poor nutrient absorption, particularly of minerals like iron, calcium, and zinc. Guess what reduces stomach acid? Chronic stress! That’s right, you can end up malnourished due to stress!

Poor Pancreatic Enzyme Production: The pancreas produces digestive enzymes necessary for nutrient breakdown.² Insufficient enzyme production can impair digestion and absorption, resulting in nutrient deficiencies. Identifying pancreatic enzyme deficiencies through functional lab testing can guide targeted interventions.

2. Poor Diet:

A well-balanced and nutrient-rich diet is essential for meeting our body's nutritional needs. Unfortunately, certain dietary choices and habits can contribute to nutrient deficiencies. Here are some factors to consider:

Inadequate Intake: A diet lacking in a variety of nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, can lead to deficiencies. Consuming processed foods high in calories but low in essential nutrients can leave the body deprived of vital vitamins and minerals.³

Food Sensitivities and Intolerances: Food sensitivities or intolerances that have not been uncovered can disrupt nutrient absorption. An extreme case example is celiac disease. This is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten, and can damage the intestinal lining, impairing nutrient absorption.

Insufficient Micronutrient Synergy: Nutrients often work synergistically, meaning they depend on each other for optimal absorption and utilisation. Focusing on individual nutrients without considering their interplay may lead to imbalances and deficiencies. Emphasising a varied, whole-food-based diet promotes synergistic nutrient intake.

3. Cheap & Non-Absorbable Supplements:

Supplements can play a role in addressing nutrient deficiencies, but not all supplements are created equal. Check out this post to see a comparison between Daily Essential Formula (DEF) and conventional supplements.

Nutrient Forms: DEF employs highly bioavailable and easily absorbable nutrient forms, such as methylated B vitamins and chelated minerals (e.g., magnesium glycinate). In contrast, conventional supplements utilise cheaper forms with lower absorption rates, potentially leading to toxic build-up in some cases.⁴

Quality Control: DEF undergoes rigorous quality control measures to ensure purity, potency, and optimal bioavailability. On the other hand, conventional supplements may have less stringent quality control standards, compromising their effectiveness.⁵

Comprehensive Formulas: DEF is designed to provide a balanced combination of nutrients, considering their synergistic interactions so we take ratios very seriously! In contrast, conventional supplements may focus on single nutrients, potentially neglecting the importance of holistic nutrition support.

4. Soil Degradation

Soil is a priceless, non-renewable resource and mass farming has resulted in soil being depleted of nutrients.⁶ It takes thousands and thousands of years to form just an inch of topsoil. What does this mean? Well, we are running out of the good stuff, and whilst this has terrible implications for the climate, it is also detrimental to our health.

We are depleted of nutrients and minerals too, especially calcium and magnesium. In fact, some recent studies have found that there has been a 5% to 40% decline in some minerals and nutrients in our fruit and vegetables! What a crazy statistic…

When soil loses certain physical, biological or chemical qualities, it can affect the life within it. Whilst it might sound counterintuitive, healthy soil should be full of biodiversity, in fact, just a teaspoon of soil can contain more microorganisms than there are people on Earth.

So, when nearly 99% of the world’s daily calorie intake can be traced back to soil, it is inevitable that nutrient-depleted soil results in nutrient-depleted people.

Our foods do not contain the nutrient and mineral levels that they once did, and therefore even if we had the most diverse and healthy diet out there, we still wouldn’t be getting all the nutritious goodness that we need to function optimally.

What Does This Mean?

Understanding the root causes of nutrient deficiencies is essential for maintaining optimal health. Poor gut health, an inadequate diet, soil degradation and subpar supplements can all contribute to nutrient deficiencies. By addressing these factors, we can take proactive steps towards preventing and correcting deficiencies.

When it comes to poor gut health, identifying and addressing dysbiosis, low stomach acid, and poor pancreatic enzyme production is crucial. The Comprehensive Stool Test and the Organic Acid Test can provide valuable insights into imbalances that may be impairing nutrient absorption and metabolism. 

A poor diet lacking in nutrient-dense foods and riddled with processed options can leave the body deprived of essential vitamins and minerals. Emphasising a varied, whole-food-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins is key to ensuring an adequate nutrient intake. For recipe inspiration, check out our membership platform. 

When considering supplements, it is vital to choose high-quality options that provide optimal bioavailability and comprehensive formulas. The Daily Essential Formula stands out above the others due to the utilisation of highly absorbable nutrient forms, rigorous quality control, and consideration of nutrient synergies. Incorporating the DEF into a daily routine can help address nutritional deficiencies and support overall well-being.

The best place to start in addressing nutrient deficiencies is by making the Daily Essential Formula a daily habit. This comprehensive all-in-one powder can provide a solid foundation of essential nutrients to bridge any gaps in the diet.

References:

¹Krajmalnik-Brown, R. et al. (2012) ‘Effects of gut microbes on nutrient absorption and energy regulation’, Nutrition in Clinical Practice, 27(2), pp. 201–214. doi:10.1177/0884533611436116.

²Montoro-Huguet, M.A., Belloc, B. and Domínguez-Cajal, M. (2021) ‘Small and large intestine (i): Malabsorption of nutrients’, Nutrients, 13(4), p. 1254. doi:10.3390/nu13041254.

³Cena, H. and Calder, P.C. (2020) ‘Defining a healthy diet: Evidence for the role of contemporary dietary patterns in health and disease’, Nutrients, 12(2), p. 334. doi:10.3390/nu12020334.

⁴Ronis, M.J.J., Pedersen, K.B. and Watt, J. (2018) ‘Adverse effects of nutraceuticals and dietary supplements’, Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 58(1), pp. 583–601. doi:10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010617-052844.

⁵Starr, R.R. (2015) ‘Too little, too late: Ineffective regulation of dietary supplements in the United States’, American Journal of Public Health, 105(3), pp. 478–485. doi:10.2105/ajph.2014.302348.

⁶Kopittke, P.M. et al. (2019) ‘Soil and the intensification of Agriculture for Global Food Security’, Environment International, 132, p. 105078. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2019.105078.