QUIZ
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS SOUND FAMILIAR TO YOU? SEE HOW MANY YES ANSWERS YOU HAVE – AND AT THE END, SEE WHICH NUTRIENTS YOU MAY NEED SOME EXTRA HELP WITH, EITHER IN FOOD AND/OR WITH A SUPPLEMENT.
NUTRIENT 1
1. Are you losing a lot of hair?
2. Are your nails discoloured?
3. Do you have foggy brain more often than you’d like to admit?
4. Do you often feel fatigued?
5. Do you have fertility problems?
6. Are you suffering from hypothyroidism?
7. If you are asthmatic, is it getting worse?
8. Do you have a poor immune system?
NUTRIENT 2
1. Do you have elevated homocysteine levels?
2. Are you anaemic?
3. Are you constantly fatigued?
4. Do you frequently get unexplained pins and needles and ‘shock wave’ feelings?
5. Are you very forgetful?
6. Is dizziness a recurring problem?
7. Do you have vision problems?
8. Is your complexion very pale?
Those especially at high risk for this deficiency include:
• Vegans and vegetarians
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women
• People with gastrointestinal problems such as chronic diarrhoea, stomatitis, anorexia
• Those who have stomach infections, Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis or have had part of the stomach removed
• Bariatric surgery patients
NUTRIENT 3
1. Do you bruise easily?
2. Do your wounds heal very slowly?
3. Do your gums bleed? Are they swollen or inflamed?
4. Do you experience dry and splitting nails and hair?
5. Is your skin rough, red or very dry?
6. Do you experience frequent nosebleeds?
7. Is your immune function low?
8. Are your joints swollen and painful?
You’ll be at a greater risk of deficiency of this one if you: • Smoke
• Are on a very restrictive diet
• Use drugs or alcohol often
• Have malabsorption of food; low stomach acid
• Have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• Are older
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
NUTRIENT 4
1. Do you often feel tired, and does your tongue hurt?
2. Does your heart often pound heavily?
3. Are you out of breath when you’ve climbed stairs?
4. Do you have restless legs?
5. Do you have frequent headaches?
6. Do you crave ice, dirt or clay (called ‘pica’)?
7. Are you losing your hair?
8. Are you a vegan/ vegetarian?
NUTRIENT 5
1. Do you have muscle twitches, cramps, fatigue and/or muscle weakness?
2. Do you suffer from frequent headaches and migraines?
3. Have you been diagnosed with osteoporosis?
4. Is constipation a regular problem?
5. Do you suffer from anxiety?
6. Have you got high blood pressure?
7. Are you asthmatic?
8. Do you have an irregular heartbeat?
NUTRIENT 6
1. Is your immunity low?
2. Are you having skin problems? Stretch marks? Eczema?
3. Is your hair noticeably thinning?
4. Do you have diarrhoea often?
5. Do you have white marks on your nails?
6. Has your sense of taste disappeared?
7. Is your hearing not what it used to be?
8. Do you get frequent infections?
These symptoms, of course, can apply to many different conditions and are by no means exhaustive (I’ve kept them to 8 per nutrient; there are dozens of other symptoms we can include) – but these are the most common.
1. Selenium
2. Vitamin B12
3. Vitamin C
4. Iron
5. Magnesium
6. Zinc