We’re all aware that nutritional deficiencies can impact the complex machine that is the human body. Lack of certain nutrients and vitamins manifest in various weaknesses, illnesses and problems. However, the body also gives us signals when something is not right. By paying attention to what the body is telling us can make spotting nutritional deficiencies and, while less common, the over consumption of certain nutrients, and then rectifying those problems much easier!
Here are some common issues of the nails and skin that signal that nutritional deficiencies of one sort or another might be plaguing you. Check back with us next week for more signals that our bodies give when something isn’t quite right!
Nails
White spots: These are typically nothing to worry about, sometimes the result of trauma to the nail. If excessive, it could be an indicator of low zinc.
Ridged nails: This can also indicate a lack of zinc.
Weak or brittle nails: Lifestyle factors such as having your hands in water often or living in an environment with low humidity may be the culprit. With those factors taken into consideration, Weak and brittle nails could also be a signal of too little magnesium, vitamins A or C and the B vitamin biotin.
Spoon nails: If nails curve upward at the edges like a spoon it may be a sign of iron-deficiency anemia or excess iron absorption called hemochromatosis.
Dark discolorations: These are not a signal of a nutritional deficiency but warrant an immediate visit to the doctor as they can be caused by a form of melanoma, a deadly skin cancer.
Skin
Face: The face is a great indicator of vitamin B deficiencies. If you are plagued with greasy, red, scaly skin on the face (typically on the sides of the nose) this can be a signal of too little vitamin B2. Acne that appears like a rash on the forehead and sides of nose can indicate a vitamin B6 deficiency. If you notice that your skin seems paler than usual it can be a symptom of B12 deficiency. Take a look at your tongue as well, which should appear somewhat bumpy. If it’s completely smooth, this is another signal that you are lacking in B12.
Stretch Marks: It’s a popular misconception that these are hereditary. However it is a lack of zinc which impacts collagen formation in the body that could be the culprit. If you are prone to stretch marks, these slight tearings of the skin may be due to a zinc/collagen deficiency.
Yellow Palms: This is not caused by nutritional deficiencies, rather the opposite. Yellow palms are a signal that you are consuming too much beta carotene, found in foods with the same coloring such as carrots, peppers, sweet potatoes, etc.
“Chicken Skin”: Typically found on the backs of the arms, pimply rough skin signals that you are lacking essential fatty acids or vitamin A.
Through the Get Well Make Well program, a serving of re:iimmune will be donated for every box purchased to organizations who work daily to improve the health of under-served populations and catastrophe relief. Your purchase of re:immune helps you to “get well” and simultaneously helps “make well” the life of another. To date Get Well Make Well has enabled us to donate over 100,000 servings world-wide through Convoy of Hope.
Every year a half million children under the age of 5 die from dehydration and millions more suffer from poor intestinal health and malnutrition. Lack of clean water sources lead to an increase of diarrheal diseases which cause severe dehydration, leaving the body in a depleted state and requiring more than just plain old H2O to rehydrate efficiently.
Dr. Kerri Miller, the creator and founder of Make People Better spent time volunteering as a medical aid in Nicaragua where she witnessed lethal dehydration up close and inspired her to develop re:iimmune and eventually the Get Well Make Well campaign. She worked with the Nicaraguan government to introduce the World Health Organization’s protocol and implement the use of the oral rehydration solution with zinc for immune support. A prebiotic and probiotic complex promote the growth of beneficial bacteria which help destroy bad bacteria and support the immune system, while L-glutamine assists in tissue repair and ginger reduces nausea. By first restoring hydration and then offering support to the immune system, re:iimmune proved helpful to people facing terrible intestinal diseases such as cholera and dysentery.
Our Get Well Make Well campaign gives you the opportunity to help people a world away. For each box of re:iimmune sold, one potentially lifesaving serving is donated to organizations who work daily to improve the health of underserved populations and disaster relief. If you would like to get involved and use re:iimmune in your global health organization please follow this link to obtain more information.
Our gut health impacts nearly every other part of our bodies. When it’s functionality is disrupted due to poor diet, illness, bacteria, stress, etc. it can really take a toll on our system and quality of life. Here are a few tips to get your gut health back on track!
Melinda Lund MS, RD
Dietitian, Center for Health Improvement/Outpatient Diabetes Services
It’s so wonderful to hear from the doctors, nurses and dietitians like Melinda who are witnessing the benefits of re:iimmune in their patients. The creation of our product was born from a desire to help folks who are recovering from a variety of illnesses to get better in a better and more convenient way. From l-glutamine to repair intestinal tissue, probiotics to help feed healthy gut bacteria to ginger to ease the discomfort of nausea all in one product, we’re proud to hear that re:iimmune is helping folks on the road to recovery!
It’s a wise idea for new gardeners to familiarize themselves with companion planting for best success in the home garden. Certain plants offer protection to other plants against pests and disease. Today we’ve picked three very easy to grow plants that offer protection to each other. At the end, we’ll give you a few more ideas of what to plant and what not to plant next to each other for a successful garden!
