Imagine spending hours every day for several months lifting weights, running miles, and consuming salads and protein shakes to prepare for the feat of a lifetime: running a marathon.
Do you see it?
There you are, turning the corner of the blocked-off street to complete your tenth mile, which you had completed several times before. You put one foot in front of the other, but you start to tire, and although your grit and grind have pushed you before, it seems like today, it is not enough.
You can’t take another step; your breathing is labored; you stop dead in your tracks and sit on the sidewalk exasperated, unable to complete the race, unable to win the ultimate prize. What did you do wrong? You trained hard, pushing your body to the limits. You ate well, always being careful to watch your macros and include plenty of leafy greens and protein. You even took an oral supplement every day. Why couldn’t you finish? What else did you need?
Approximately 2 billion people around the world and 92% of Americans are not absorbing enough micronutrients. Are you? In this guide, we’ll discuss the potential problems associated with micronutrient intracellular insufficiencies and the benefits of micronutrient testing. Let’s dig deeper.
Micronutrients Vs. Macronutrients
The difference between the two is all in the name. We need macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fat) in large amounts, while we need micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) in smaller amounts. The mistake most people make is that they assume that because micronutrients are needed in smaller amounts, they are not important. Not only are micronutrients just as important as macronutrients, but often proper micronutrient levels can be a big difference between a healthy and unhealthy individual.
Micronutrient Examples
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
- Folate
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Zinc
The Dangers of Micronutrient Deficiency
There are many obvious and hidden dangers associated with micronutrient deficiency. If the deficiencies are not spotted in enough time, you risk the chance of developing chronic inflammation, frequent colds and flu, and even leaky gut syndrome. Other conditions caused by micronutrient deficiency include:
- Anemia
- Hypothyroidism
- Rickets
- Osteoporosis
- Cardiovascular disease
What is Micronutrient Testing?
Micronutrient testing includes many cellular evaluations performed by a medical professional to assess the levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in the body necessary for the proper function of life. The tests reveal which of the vital micronutrients you are lacking and how much you need for optimal health.
Let’s now discuss three reasons why micronutrient testing is not only beneficial for the big race but could also save your life.
- Micronutrient Testing Allows Medical Professionals to Customize Your Healthcare.
There is a reason why every time you go to the doctor, she wants to perform tests. Unfortunately, unless you ask, the doctor will only perform routine tests that check for basic information about your vitals. Rarely will she conduct a micronutrient test that looks for key, under-the-radar deficiencies that can reveal your medical conditions, allowing the doctor to put you on the path to recovery and great health.
Taking a less expensive micronutrient test conducted by certified medical professionals and presenting it to your doctor is the best course of action to ensure she can prescribe you quality direction that is customized to your unique healthcare needs.
- Micronutrient Testing Will Highlight Deficiencies That May be Impeding Your Physical Performance.
Vitamin B complex, vitamin B12, and vitamin C are all micronutrients that increase energy, boost metabolism, and reduce stress and anxiety. Low levels can cause extreme fatigue and mental fog that no workout routine can save. Micronutrient testing can pinpoint these specific deficiencies so that a trusted healthcare professional can provide services such as vitamin injections that will raise your micronutrient levels and elevate your physical performance.
- Micronutrient Testing Can Save Your Life.
It’s one thing to be low on micronutrients so that you can’t complete a marathon; it’s another thing to be so low on micronutrients that you end up with debilitating conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. With rising inflation and the epidemic of food deserts and the like that keep people from consuming necessary nutrients in food, micronutrient testing is crucial to overall health and wellness.
It can help you discover that you were lacking selenium and L-tyrosine, which provide energy and healing for training and recovery, or it can reveal that you need more omega-3 fatty acids to decrease inflammation associated with chronic exercise. When you can determine which micronutrients are missing from your body and how much, you can put yourself on pace for better health and a more fulfilling life.
Test for Micronutrient Deficiency Today
Remember that marathon you wanted to run? Well, now you can prepare your body for the challenge by optimizing your micronutrients and micronutrient absorption.
Contact a local ARCpoint Labs facility to schedule your micronutrient test and to gain valuable information about your unique healthcare needs and how ARCpoint can help you reach your goals. We can’t guarantee you’ll win the race, but you will win improved health and wellness, the ultimate prize.