The human body undergoes complex, intricate processes on a daily basis. It functions with the help of macronutrients - protein, carbohydrates and fat as well as, sometimes the lesser known, micronutrients. Let's dive in below.
what are micronutrients?
Micronutrients, also known as vitamins and minerals, are essential dietary elements that are required for physiological functions in human beings for overall health. Besides Vitamin D, micronutrients are not made by the body and appropriate dietary or supplement ingestion is necessary.
You can normally maintain appropriate micronutrient levels by consuming a wide variety of foods, from different food groups and a good amount of color in your diet (from various fruits and vegetables).
Vitamins are organic compounds made by plants and animals which can be broken down by heat, acid or air. On the other hand, minerals are inorganic, exist in soil or water and cannot be broken down.
why are micronutrients important?
Micronutrients are a part of nearly every process in the body. Vitamins are necessary for energy production, immune function, blood clotting and other functions. Meanwhile, minerals play an important role in growth, bone health, fluid balance and several other processes. Certain vitamins and minerals can also act as antioxidants.
Each micronutrient is a vital part of a complex, intricate system. Without appropriate amounts of micronutrients in the body, many systems could be impacted - even if you are taking in enough energy throughout the day.
A potential lack, or deficiency of, a micronutrient could present as:
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Diminished eye site
- Poor immunity
- Impaired absorption or metabolism of macronutrients
how can I know my micronutrient levels?
Unless you are noticing some of the above signs or symptoms, many people do not think about micronutrient levels in their bodies.
And, well, this makes sense. The fact that there are internal processes going on inside of us can be a difficult concept to fully comprehend.
For our clients in eating disorder recovery, understanding how behaviors are impacting them in a more tangible way can be important in their recovery. So much of the time when clients present without symptoms that are impacting their lives or day to day function it makes behavior change or moving away from the eating disorder that much more challenging. Being able to provide tangible evidence that inadequate nutrition is impacting your body can be very powerful.
So.... we're talking up micronutrient testing and I bet you are wondering how the heck you can get your hands on one!? The good news is that there are tests available to identify individual micronutrient levels and provide recommendations for foods or supplementation that is necessary.
Insert: Rupa Health through NourishRX!
what is rupa health?
Rupa Health is a powerful platform that allows your dietitian at NourishRX to order micronutrient testing that can get sent straight to your door! The steps are provided below:
- Your dietitian will put an order through Rupa for you.
- You will fill out some brief questions with your address and billing information.
- The test kit will get delivered straight to your door!
- You get the choice to have a traveling phlebotomist visit your house or bring your test kit into a lab.
- Your blood is drawn and sent to the lab.
- You get micronutrient information with breakdowns of each vitamin and mineral deficiency with supplement and food recommendations.
- You can bring this information to your dietitian to discuss potential dietary changes.
With such a streamlined process it makes accessing a micronutrient test that much simpler. With Rupa Health you are able to have a much more comprehensive and tailored nutrition plan and education. Not to mention some insight into how your body is functioning.
We couldn’t recommend it more! Interested in seeing what your levels are right now? Give us a call to see how you can get set up today.
interested in working with nourishrx?
Here are NourishRX we have many different services to offer! From 1:1 non-diet Medical Nutrition Counseling, Eating Disorder Recovery PATH, Parent and Caregiver Course, Intuitive Eating Course, Movement PATH, Flexible Meal Planning and more! See how we can best serve your nutrition needs today.
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