While eating a colorful, diverse diet is a great starting place for individuals looking to improve their health, it is not guaranteed that you will be getting sufficient amounts of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Even for individuals eating what is generally considered a healthy diet, there are two key factors that can prevent you from achieving optimal nutrient status.

1. Poor absorption

Gut health has been the focus of the health community for the past few years and rightfully so. The health status of your gut is largely indicative of your overall health status. The old adage “you are what you eat” should likely be updated to “you are what you eat, digest, and absorb”. While you may be getting sufficient amounts of micronutrients in your diet, that does not mean that you are absorbing these nutrients efficiently. 

Gut issues such as leaky gut, IBS, and diverticulitis can all contribute to poor nutrient status. Unfortunately, these issues are increasingly common. Statistics show that nearly 65% of Americans experience digestive issues annually. These issues leave individuals more vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies and further health complications such as increased susceptibility to viral infections, increased risk of heart disease, and an increased risk of cancer.

2. Depleted soil

The majority of the focus in the agricultural industry is on producing the greatest number of crops for the least amount of money. A side effect of that model is that the crops that are grown typically contain less nutrients than they should. Due to demand for rapid crop cultivation for profit, the health of the soil is neglected which results in poor nutrient status of the plant. Plants get a large amount of their minerals thru the soil, which, if depleted, will contain less minerals. The minerals get absorbed from the soil into the roots of the plant and then distributed throughout the plant, aiding in the growth and proper nutrient status of the plant. When the soil is not properly cared for, the plants will absorb less minerals and not be as healthful for those who consume it. 

Addressing micronutrient status

The best way to determine whether you are deficient in valuable vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants is by getting a micronutrient test. Micronutrient testing assesses intracellular and extracellular levels of over 35 different nutrients including vitamin C, magnesium, vitamin D and zinc. The extracellular test determines the amounts of micronutrients that are circulating in your blood while the intracellular test discovers how much of these minerals is actually being absorbed into our cells and is able to be utilized efficiently. 

Having both the intracellular and the extracellular test results help determine whether one is simply are not getting enough nutrients through diet or if there is  difficulty absorbing the nutrients into the cells or if there are longer-term deficiencies. 

Joseph Condora is a nutrition and health coach at Valley Integrative Pharmacy.

Micronutrient testing is offered at Valley Integrative Pharmacy, To schedule a test, call 908-658-4900 and ask for Joe. A practitioner will review the test results and provide feedback on how to overcome any potential deficiencies. The pharmacy is located at 75 Washington Valley Road in Bedminster. ValleyPharmacyRX.com. 

Valley Integrative Pharmacy - 75 Washington Valley Rd, Bedminster, NJ

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