Nutrition in a world of confusion

Low nutrition or an absolute nutritional deficiency occurs when nutrient intake is not sufficient to meet the normal needs of the body. This type of deficiency is usually known by the individual as it results in a disease process e.g. Vitamin C deficiency resulting in scurvy (weakness, tired and progressing into  bleeding gums, poor wound healing etc)
 
A relative nutritional deficiency exists when nutrient intake and systemic levels of nutrients are within normal, but stress on the body results in nutrient intake requirement not being sufficient from diet alone.  When the intensity of stress on the body increases, the brain or body runs out of these nutrients to maintain optimum function[1].
 
One of the factors that can lead to possible relative nutritional deficiency is from lack of sufficient nutrients in the foods we eat.  Also, let’s consider the “Recommended Daily Allowance” (RDA) established by the U.S. National Institutes of Medicine. Like current recommendations for vitamins C and D, the “allowance” was established years ago to avoid the most serious consequences of deficiency. The RDA for vitamin C, for example, was created for the prevention of scurvy.
 
Recent studies from the University of Texas[2] compared U.S. Department of Agriculture nutritional data from both 1950 and 1999 for 43 different vegetables and fruits.  Reliable declines in the amount of protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, riboflavin (vitamin B2) and vitamin C were found in the fruits and vegetables analysed.  The main culprit in this nutritional trend is soil depletion as a results of modern intensive agricultural methods which have stripped nutrients from the soil in the food we eat.   
 
If you find yourself experiencing different symptoms in times of stress and think you might have possible nutrient deficiencies, please get in touch with one of our Doctors so we can help point you in the right direction to help manage your nutrition levels.
 
References
 

1. Hinz, M., Stein, A., & Uncini, T. (2012). Relative nutritional deficiencies associated with centrally acting monoamines. International journal of general medicine, 5, 413.
2. Davis, D. R., Epp, M. D., & Riordan, H. D. (2004). Changes in USDA food composition data for 43 garden crops, 1950 to 1999. Journal of the American College of nutrition, 23(6), 669-682.