Nutritional Problems in India: Causes, Deficiencies & Solutions

• Nutritional Problems in India are caused due to lack of proper nutrients in your body.
• It can be caused due to bad food habits or underlying physical health conditions.
• Nutritional deficiencies cause multiple disorders in your body.
• Eat healthy foods containing a proper mix of nutrients to stay fit and active throughout.

Nutrition, is a term familiar to everyone but, ignored blissfully by most. Nutrition is a combination of essential nutrients such as calcium, vitamins and proteins needed by your body to function effectively. Improper intake of essential nutrients leads to nutritional deficiency causing multiple illnesses and disorders.While some suffer from nutritional deficiency due to financial constraints, some suffer from it due to poor choice of diet. Lack of nutrition is a major issue faced by Indians in the present age and must be addressed diligently to avoid major health issues. Let's understand some of the common nutritional problems in India .

Nutritional deficiency is caused by a lack of proper nutrient intake required by your body to function properly. Consuming the right amount of nutrients in the right combination is very essential to stay fit and active. But, as easy as it may sound, it is not always possible to maintain a healthy diet, because of the following reasons:

Financial Constraints

People with limited or no means find it very difficult to arrange for a square meal a day, let alone a proper nutrient-rich balanced diet. Hence, poverty plays a major hindrance when it comes to maintaining a proper healthy diet.

Poor Diet Choice

The influence of western eating habits and poor food choices also lead to an increased nutritional deficiency. Over-consumption of junk foods is bad as they contain processed sugar and refined carbohydrates and are high in calories. This causes nutritional deficiency and also leads to ailments. Also Read - Check out the health benefits of Ragi

Nutritional deficiencies in India have been classified into two major heads which are as follows:

Primary Nutritional Deficiency

Primary nutritional deficiency occurs as a result of poor diet and food choices. When you fail to consume food containing an essential mix of nutrients, you suffer from primary nutritional deficiency.However, this can be cured, by eating a nutritious and balanced diet. Just add a proper nutrient mix to your diet and gift yourself a healthy and active life.

Secondary Nutritional Deficiency

Secondary nutritional deficiency occurs as a result of an underlying medical illness or health condition. In this case, the body fails to absorb the required nutrients from your food, leading to nutritional deficiency.This condition cannot be completely cured but can be controlled up to a certain extent by eating healthy food as prescribed by your physician. Some diseases causing nutritional deficiencies are pernicious anaemia, cystic fibrosis, thyroid and others.

It is very easy to identify whether you are suffering from any kind of nutritional deficiency. Just look for the under-mentioned symptoms, and go straight to a doctor/physician if you are facing of the given issues:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Light-headedness
• Loss/reducing appetite
• Hair fall
• Poor concentrations
• Palpations
• Depression
• Fainting
• Pale skin
• Constipation
• Numbness/tingling of joints
• Unexplained weight loss

To understand the various nutritional problems in India , you must first know the nutrients needed by you, their impact and how to maintain them daily to avoid health issues. Let’s have a glance through the various essential nutrients and their usage.

Vitamin D

Essential for maintaining bone growth and preventing cancers, Vitamin D is one of the most essential nutrients required by your body to function.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is very important for healthy eyesight, strong immunity and cell development.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C plays a vital role in boosting the body’s immunity and maintaining healthy skin.

Vitamin B12

Responsible for the production of red blood cells in your body, Vitamin B-12 also helps you maintain a healthy nervous system. Protein Known as the body’s building blocks, proteins help you build strong and healthy bones and muscles.

Iron

Iron is an important mineral responsible for haemoglobin formation in your blood.

Iodine

Another essential mineral, Iodine is responsible for the regulation of metabolic changes in our body and the production of hormones, which induce brain development and overall growth.

Folate

Folate is essential for the formation of RNA and DNA. It is a must for pregnant women. Also Read - Check out food options that can increase haemoglobin

Now let us slide through the various deficiencies and diseases that are caused by to lack of the above-mentioned nutrients and how to cure them:

Nobody wants to stay unhealthy and unfit in today’s world. However, factors such as financial constraints and improper food choices lead to multiple nutritional deficiencies in them. Nutritional deficiencies not only make you unhealthy but might also cause ailments and diseases. Staying healthy is not an option anymore, but is a must.Just by adjusting your food habits a little and keeping a check on the quality and quantity of the food you eat, you can save yourself from multiple illnesses and health disorders and be ready to face daily challenges. So what are you waiting for? Switch to a nutrient-rich diet today and take a positive step towards good health, a good mood and a good life.Also, buy a health insurance plan to cover the medical expenses of unforeseen health emergencies. Explore the leading health plans and choose one that matches your needs. Also Read: The Cost of Raising a Child in India – How Much Money is Required?