From IFLMyLife
Our bodies are basically organic machines and, just as your car will start making odd noises and flashing warning lights when something is wrong, your body sends you signals when all is not well internally. The trick is knowing not just the signs you need to look for, but what they are connected to. Since these are early warning signs, they tend not to be too concerning and so it’s easy to just push them aside and not worry about them. However, if you value your health, it’s important not to ignore these little bodily quirks because, while they may seem innocent, they are your early warning signs that something is starting to go wrong for your body.
Catch them at the early phase and you’ve done yourself a massive favor. Let them go unexamined and untreated and future you could be in for some frustrating health problems. With that in mind, let’s take a tour through 8 early health warning signs your body gives you and the problems they’re potentially linked to. If any of these seem familiar, be sure to make an appointment with a trusted health practitioner to discuss it (while the internet is great for research, it is certainly not a tool for self-diagnosis).
1
Sour food cravings
While the odd craving for a favorite food is nothing to worry about, if you find yourself constantly plagued with an overwhelming desire for sour foods, this could be a sign of problems with the gallbladder or the liver. As we mentioned earlier, the internet is no place for diagnosis. That task should most certainly be carried out in a suitably qualified doctor’s office.So, if you’ve been experiencing strong cravings for sour foods, don’t stress out as it may be that you’re just a fan of the tingly delight of these treats. However, it also might be worth getting a check-up with your doctor, just to be on the safe side.
2
Bleeding gums
While bleeding gums are never good, they’re often nothing more than a sign of lax oral hygiene. If you don’t brush your teeth as regularly as you should, or if you tend to skip flossing, these could be the culprits behind that bit of blood you found on your toothbrush. We can’t stress enough the importance of oral hygiene. Your eyes may be the windows to your soul but your mouth is the gateway to your digestive system and your digestive system is what keeps your body functioning, so keeping it in tip top shape is vital for your health.If you’ve got your dental routine sorted and are flossing and brushing your teeth twice daily, yet you’re still experiencing bleeding gums, then this could be a sign of a vitamin C deficiency. The best way to combat this is with natural sources of the vitamin found in fruits and vegetables like like guavas, bell peppers, dark leafy greens, cruciferous veggies and oranges. A doctor can also order tests to see whether you have any deficiencies. Just don’t let it go untreated as a simple vitamin deficiency can have a flow on effect, leading to serious illnesses (like Scurvy in the case of vitamin C).
3
Restless sleep and muscle cramps in the night
There are many potential causes for restless sleep, some more innocent than others. Caffeine and stress are two of the biggest culprits. However, if your restlessness is combined with middle of the night cramps (particularly in the feet and calves), then your symptoms could be the sign of a magnesium deficiency.As with vitamin C, a simple magnesium deficiency can blow up into serious health problems if not caught early and rectified. An essential mineral for everything from brain function to heart and muscle health, magnesium is not something you want to be missing out on. If these symptoms sound familiar, head to your doctor for some bloodwork and, in the meantime, make sure you’re getting plenty of bananas, leafy greens, nuts and magnesium-rich fruits.
4
Seafood cravings
As you may have noticed by now, your body often uses cravings as a warning sign that it’s lacking in certain nutrients, vitamins or minerals. Learn to interpret these cravings and you’re well on your way to having a healthy relationship with your body. Though that’s easier said than done! Cravings can also be a sign of hormonal changes (as in pregnancy), or simple psychological desire.As far as seafood cravings go, if you find no amount of fish is satisfying you, the cravings could be a sign of vitamin D deficiency. If you’re vegan or vegetarian and find yourself craving fish (or meat in general), your body could be crying out for more protein. One great way to monitor whether you’re getting enough macro and micro nutrients is to track your daily food intake for a while with one of the many nutritional tracking apps on the market. These are designed to help you balance your diet and, hopefully, get your cravings under control by satisfying their underlying causes.
5
Sugar cravings
The most common cause for sugar cravings is simple: you’ve been eating too much sugar. The sweet stuff acts on your brain in a remarkably similar way to addictive drugs, even causing you to develop a tolerance to its effects. Hence the cravings and need for more and more sugar just to get the same fix.Since it doesn’t contain any nutrients and has been linked to premature aging, heart disease, cancer and type II diabetes, the seemingly innocuous “sweet tooth” is a recipe for disaster. The good news is, you can still enjoy sweet treats in the form of fruit (which packs its sugar with fiber and so doesn’t spike your blood sugar as badly as the processed stuff). Your cravings will abate after you’ve booted refined sugar and stayed off it for a few weeks. We’re not going to lie, it will be hard at first. However, if you fill up on healthy, unprocessed food, you will speed the transition process and will soon find yourself free of those annoying, mind-hijacking cravings.
6
Craving salty foods
Sodium is a mineral that is essential for many bodily processes. It is certainly not the devil it has been made out to be in the past. As with most things though, excess sodium can be problematic. If you find yourself constantly lusting after salty foods, you should be careful about giving in to your cravings.Persistent cravings for salt may indicate that you have an infection or some inflammation going on somewhere in your body. Once again, this is something to get checked out with your doctor before jumping to any conclusions. In the meantime, be sure to choose a healthy, mineral-rich option like Himalayan pink salt or pure sea salt as a garnish for your healthy, home-cooked meals.
7
Hair and nails that break easily
It makes sense really that if your body is short on vitamins and minerals it would sacrifice less essential body parts, like your hair and nails, while using the scanty resources it has for your vital organs. Frayed, brittle hair and nails that break easily are a big indicator that you’re lacking in potentially a few vitamins and minerals.Vitamin B7 (aka biotin), vitamin E, zinc and calcium all work towards keeping your skin, hair and nails healthy. If you’re lacking in any or all of these, brittle hair and nails are likely to result. Before self-medicating, it’s worth getting tests done by your chosen health practitioner who will then be able to tell you precisely what you’re lacking and suggest ways to remedy it.
8
Dry skin that persists despite using moisturizer
If you find yourself regularly plagued by dry, itchy, scaly, flaky and/or cracked skin, your body is definitely trying to tell you something. While these symptoms can occur during seasonal changes, when you travel to different climates, or from spending excessive amounts of time in air conditioned or heated spaces, if they are caused by any of these issues, then they should resolve with the use of moisturizer.If you find your skin problems are persistent, despite applying a good quality, unfragranced moisturizer, you may well be deficient in vitamin E. Essential for the health of your skin (and heart), vitamin E can be found in nuts, seeds, avocados and other healthy oils. A rich source can be found in oily fish like salmon and trout. However, it’s important to be careful of the source of such fish to prevent overloading your body with heavy metals like mercury. The world we live in hey?
See more at: IFLMyLife
