What are Micronutrients and Why You Need Them?

Micronutrients are the vitamins and minerals your body requires to stay healthy. Common micronutrients we need include vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K, as well as iodine, sodium, fluoride, selenium, and zinc. The good thing about micronutrients is that unlike macronutrients like fat, protein, and carbohydrates, we only need tiny, trace amounts for good health. Although we need these vitamins and minerals for optimal health, unfortunately, almost 75 percent of people living in Western civilizations do not consume enough micronutrients each day to maintain their maximum health. Fortunately, due to the abundance of affordable food and the addition of these vitamins and minerals in many common foods we eat, the rate is much, much lower in the U.S.

Why You Need Micronutrients

Micronutrients are important for health and wellness, as they play significant roles and do many jobs. Many micronutrients assist with a variety of bodily functions, while others perform a specific role in maintaining good health. Micronutrients help your body in these ways:

• Assists with the production of hormones, proteins, enzymes
• Helps to maintain a healthy brain
• Assures your immune system is functioning properly to protect your body
• Assists with proper blood circulation
• Helps with the proper functioning of muscles and nerves
• Keeps your skin healthy

Ensuring you get all of the micronutrients you need is crucial to staying healthy. When your body does not receive the proper amount of micronutrients, it leaves you open to disease and illness and can cause serious health issues in adults and children.

How to Ensure You Are Getting Enough Micronutrients

Our bodies do not produce all the micronutrients we need for optimal health, so we must get them from the food we eat. Maintaining a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean protein is the best way to ensure you and your family are getting the essential nutrients you need. If you are not getting the proper micronutrients needed, vitamin and mineral supplements are available to ensure your needs are being met.  

Micronutrient deficiency is a serious concern. Some common symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Pale or yellowish skin
• Irregular heartbeats
• Weight loss
• Numbness or tingling in your hands and feet
• Muscle weakness

Healthy Living Help from BackFit Health + Spine in AZ

Conventional medicine focuses on attempting to treat disease once it occurs, but at BackFit Health + Spine, we believe in a proactive approach to healthy living. Our team of medical professionals works together for your optimal health, which includes ensuring you and your family are getting the micronutrients you need. In addition, we offer food sensitivity intolerance testing services that can help determine what foods you may be intolerant to and set you on the road to better health in no time. Contact BackFit Health + Spine today for an assessment or nutritional deficiency testing.