Don’t Let Your Deficiencies Control You

Life often makes it hard to prioritize your health. Many people let fatigue, stress, and unpleasant symptoms interfere with their daily lives, affecting how they perform even the most basic tasks. Many ignore such symptoms in their everyday lives, increasing their vulnerability to more serious health problems down the line. To mitigate these risks effectively, it is important to take a proactive approach and discover the underlying reason for any unexplained symptoms.

When it comes to maintaining a healthy body, it is crucial to take an inside-out approach, fueling it with the necessary nutrients and keeping a balanced diet. But what even defines “healthy”? What if healthy for one person may be unhealthy for someone else? What are the vitamins and minerals that your body needs, and what deficiencies might it have? Through micronutrient testing services, you can gain insight into these vital questions.

Understanding Micronutrients: The Building Blocks of Health

Referred to as the vitamins and minerals the body needs, the functions of micronutrients are a wide range, each holding important roles in overall wellbeing. To ensure your body is healthy, it is necessary to take the necessary steps in ensuring that we are nourishing the body with sufficient amounts of each of the following most essential micronutrients:

Despite being an essential dietary component in everyone’s daily lives, many have been shown to not meet the necessary micronutrient intake levels, which can have negative impacts in the future. Potentially leading to serious health issues down the line including, but not limited to, physical and mental exhaustion, delay of development among children, and anemia, it is crucial that we fight to lower the risk of such health outcomes in ourselves and in others. This includes maintaining a balanced diet, considering nutritional supplements when needed, and both understanding and raising awareness of the importance of various micronutrients for overall health and wellbeing.

Common Micronutrient Deficiencies: What You Need to Know

With some of the most common micronutrient deficiencies around the world including iron, vitamin A, zinc, iodine, and folate, each vitamin and mineral plays different key roles in overall health and wellbeing.

• • • Iron: This mineral is important for immune functionality and resistance of infections, motor development, and brain development. A deficiency in iron can lead to issues such as anemia or physical unproductivity.
    • Vitamin A: Playing a vital role in vision and immune functionality, a Vitamin A deficiency can result in increased risk of blindness (night or irreversible) and infections that could lead to death.
    • Zinc: Essential for both immune functionality and resistance of infections, its deficiency can prevent these functions and risk susceptibility to illnesses and infections.
    • Iodine: Iodine has shown to be especially important for pregnant women, as it aids the cognitive development of fetuses. With most foods having low iodine levels, many around the world do not get the necessary amount. This increases the risk of delayed development and intellectual disabilities in children.
    • Folate: Being necessary for the healthy development of brains and spines for fetuses, folate deficiency is a common issue among pregnant women and can lead to neural tube defects in infants.

Who is Most Susceptible to Micronutrient Deficiencies

Despite the many benefits micronutrient testing services can bring to all, research has shown micronutrient deficiencies being prevalent in certain groups of people, with some having higher needs of certain vitamins and minerals. When a part of any of the following groups – pregnant women, children, highly active individuals, vegetarians or vegans, and those in lower-income populations – it is important not to disregard any symptoms relating to nutrient deficiencies. This is especially due to the higher vulnerability of negative health outcomes with nutrient imbalances with these particular groups.

• • • Pregnant Women: With pregnant women needing to care both for their own maternal health as well as their child’s, the nutritional requirements are relatively higher. Micronutrient needs for pregnant women include iron, calcium, vitamin D, and folic acid, all being necessary in maintaining overall wellbeing and allowing for healthy development of the baby, even throughout childhood.
    • Children: In continuing to grow and develop healthily, individuals continue to have higher needs of micronutrients throughout childhood. To properly compensate for their rapid growth, sufficient levels of vitamins and minerals, including calcium and omega-3 fatty acids, allow for timely cognitive and physical development in early years.
    • Active Individuals: Due to the challenging lifestyles for those who are highly active, or are athletes, they also become at higher risks of micronutrient deficiencies and imbalances. With elevated levels of calories being burned, not all practice balance when it comes to what they consume. It becomes essential to eat enough to compensate for what is lost and learn to replenish vital nutrients.
    • Vegetarians and Vegans: With many of these individuals not consuming enough protein, there become inadequate levels of certain vitamins, such as with iron levels. However, it is also important to recognize that this does not mean that those practicing such lifestyles are deemed unhealthy. Rather, when becoming a vegetarian or vegan, it is crucial to balance the lack of certain food groups in your diet with the necessary foods that address the potential issues that arise with dietary restrictions.
    • Low-Income Populations: Due to limited access to diverse and nutritional foods, many individuals in low-income populations experience imbalances and deficiencies in their micronutrient levels. A lower intake of foods of essential food groups makes them more vulnerable to negative health outcomes if these deficiencies are not addressed promptly.

Disregarding any of the micronutrient needs can risk many negative health issues such as delayed fetal and child development, infections, and amenia. In ensuring to meet these needs, it is crucial to maintain a balanced diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals.

Common Symptoms of Nutrient Deficiency or Imbalance

Knowing what to look for is key. Though not all individuals experience each symptom, one must take charge and take the beginning steps towards a healthy recovery when possible.

Symptoms of Vitamin or Nutrient Deficiencies:

If you experience any of the above symptoms, or if you are just concerned about your nutritional health, it is important to investigate if micronutrient testing is for you.

Role of Lifestyle Factors in Micronutrient Levels

Though it is crucial to recognize the importance of micronutrients and how their deficiencies play a large role in the way it effects overall health and wellbeing, it is equally essential to understand what different factors can even affect their micronutrient status in the first place. Some of these lifestyle factors include diet, exercise, stress, and sleep patterns.

• • • Diet: Poor diet is one of the largest driving factors towards micronutrient deficiencies and imbalances. When individuals consume inadequate levels of several food groups and the essential vitamins and minerals, their body may not receive sufficient nutrient levels for proper functioning.
    • Exercise: Those who are highly active, as mentioned before, have more demands when it comes to what their body needs to properly function. To compensate for the higher demands of micronutrients such as zinc and iron, individuals may need to change or add to their diet accordingly to support their nutritional needs.
    • Stress: When an individual experiences high levels of stress and cortisol levels are elevated, their body may excrete certain nutrients at a more rapid rate. This can make it more challenging for the body to compensate for the nutrient loss and absorb those vitamins and minerals effectively.
    • Sleep Patterns: Amount of sleep has a significant impact on one’s micronutrient status. Research indicates that individuals with poor sleep patterns, specifically those who consistently sleep less than 7 hours per night, are more likely to have lower levels of necessary vitamins and minerals. Without the proper absorption of nutrients such as vitamin D and calcium, it highlights the importance of prioritizing adequate sleep for micronutrient balance.
    • Individual Sensitivities and Genetic Factors: The human body is so complex and unique, and many people digest and absorb various micronutrients differently. Also, deficiencies in one micronutrient may affect how your body absorbs others, creating a domino effect and increasing symptoms, where micronutrient testing can be helpful.

Understanding how different lifestyle and personal factors can influence micronutrient levels is essential for maintaining overall health and wellbeing. By understanding the impact of diet, exercise, stress, and sleep patterns on micronutrient levels, individuals can make informed decisions on their health. Though not all factors can be controlled to prevent deficiencies and imbalances, taking a proactive approach when possible can allow individuals to incorporate certain principles to protect their micronutrient status and support long-term wellness.

Micronutrient Testing with ARCpoint Labs

At ARCpoint Labs, healthcare professionals strive to take the necessary steps to achieve optimal health. With a focus on client convenience and affordability, we prioritize our clients above all else.

When testing micronutrients at ARCpoint Labs, we offer two types of services: Complete Antioxidant and Micronutrient Tests and a Cellular Micronutrient Assay (CMA). Through both, individuals are given valuable information on factors that may be affecting their overall well-being, enabling them to formulate a plan to revive their health.

Complete Antioxidant and Micronutrient Tests

• • • By undergoing a comprehensive blood test, you can discover the cause of symptoms relating to fatigue, low energy levels, and digestive issues. This medical evaluation examines both micronutrients and antioxidant levels in the body, providing crucial insights into your health. To further prevent health issues, and address any unexplained symptoms, it is important to stay informed about your body’s needs and this test can guide you in making informed decisions about your health.

Cellular Micronutrient Assay (CMA)

• • • Like the Complete Antioxidant and Micronutrient Tests, CMAs aim to aid individuals in lowering negative symptoms caused by nutritional deficiencies. However, unlike the comprehensiveness that test brings, this service puts more focus on micronutrients at a cellular level. As opposed to a wide view on overall nutrition and health, CMAs are crucial in identifying specific imbalances and deficiencies, to further help create a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

Despite the slight differences between the two testing services, both play key roles in helping individuals get their health back on track. In creating a way to alleviate your concerns about your health, while also upholding ARCpoint Labs’ value of client convenience, we are dedicated to supporting you in your healthcare journey.

Micronutrient Testing: How it Works

The micronutrient testing process varies between clinics. With ARCpoint Labs, we make it simple! With these straightforward steps, ARCpoint Labs is your go-to solution.

Supplements vs. Food Sources: Getting Your Micronutrients Right

Following your micronutrient test and discovering what vitamins you have deficiencies in, the next step is creating a nutritional plan of taking the right amounts of the necessary nutrients. There are two ways to go about this: through dietary changes, or nutritional supplements. With both having their considerations and advantages, it is important to evaluate each of the options and decide which is more beneficial in optimizing your health and what best suits your lifestyle.

For many individuals, especially those with busy schedules or diets high in processed foods and added sugars, it may be more convenient for them to take supplements to simply add vitamins into their diet without any drastic changes to their current diet. Proving a quick way to address deficiencies and imbalances, taking supplements tends to be many people’s first choice.

Another critical factor to keep in mind when taking dietary supplements is approaching them in the correct manner. There is a false belief that taking supplements requires no further consideration. However, ignoring the correct usage guidelines can lead to many adverse effects on one’s overall health and well-being. It is essential to research the proper methods for taking your supplements, with both timing, quality, and interaction with other supplements and medications. With some interfering with the benefits of others or interacting unfavorably with certain medications, it is necessary to make informed decisions on how to best address nutritional deficiencies effectively.

Despite the plausible risks of supplements, choosing between dietary changes and supplements depends on the individual’s circumstances and preferences. Not all can prepare healthy meals regularly or access fresh, nutrient-rich foods, while for others, it is more feasible to make dietary adjustments to achieve balanced nutrition. When possible, the best approach to optimizing your nutrient intake is often a combination of both dietary improvements and nutritional supplements, personalized to your own health needs. Consulting with a healthcare professional can guide the necessary steps to take towards optimized health. By taking a proactive approach to addressing your nutritional deficiencies, you can effectively enhance your health and well-being both now and in the long term.

Take Charge of Your Health Today

Contact one of our locations to learn more about what you can do to ensure you are taking all the necessary steps that can benefit your health and reduce your concerns about your overall wellbeing. We assure you that our team is committed to providing you with the best possible care.