{"id":16992,"date":"2024-01-19T16:26:04","date_gmt":"2024-01-19T21:26:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rachelscheer.com\/?p=16992"},"modified":"2024-01-19T16:26:04","modified_gmt":"2024-01-19T21:26:04","slug":"exploring-the-impact-of-micronutrients-on-well-being","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rachelscheer.com\/exploring-the-impact-of-micronutrients-on-well-being\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring the Impact of Micronutrients on Well-Being"},"content":{"rendered":"

Micronutrients, or the vitamins and minerals your body needs, typically work like a team. To illustrate this point, let\u2019s look at some collaborative examples you see in everyday life.<\/p>\n

Have you ever been part of a group or community where everyone works together while carrying out their specific roles? Maybe you have been on an athletic team or part of a community organization. Or, perhaps you’ve participated in a group project at work.<\/p>\n

When everyone executes their role consistently, things move smoothly. Your team wins the game. You are surrounded by a community that makes you feel safe and welcome. Or, you and your co-workers get the well-deserved promotion.<\/p>\n

However, you\u2019ve probably also been on a team where things didn\u2019t<\/em> go as planned. Maybe the roles were not explained well enough. Or, someone didn’t show up to do their part. Depending on the degree of disorganization, the task at hand may be able to still be recovered. Unfortunately, if the disorganization is severe enough, the task at hand may suffer irreversible damage and have negative consequences.<\/p>\n

How Micronutrients Work in the Human Body<\/h2>\n

Micronutrients work in a similar fashion. Vitamins and minerals play many important roles in our body\u2019s overall health and function. When they’re each present in their unique optimal levels, the body is in a prime position for longevity, health, and wellness.<\/p>\n

However, when a deficiency of one or more of these vitamins and minerals is present, negative health outcomes can occur. These might range from acute symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and declining cognitive function, all the way to increasing chronic disease risk over a longer period of deficiency.<\/p>\n

Micronutrient Testing Identifies Vitamin and Mineral Imbalances<\/h2>\n

At my functional medicine practice<\/a>, we test for several key micronutrients that have been identified as common micronutrient deficiencies. What many people don\u2019t realize is that many of the symptoms they experience daily can oftentimes be linked to an imbalanced micronutrient level. Whether it be constipation, fatigue, brain fog, or decreased mood, these symptoms can often be traced to having too little or too much of a certain vitamin or mineral.<\/p>\n

Many of the micronutrients we will discuss can be obtained in adequate amounts through food. However, for those with chronically low levels of a certain vitamin or mineral, supplementation may be necessary. Also, for certain health conditions or diseases, supplements may be necessary in order to optimize health.<\/p>\n

Regardless of the recommended need for supplementation, always talk to a licensed healthcare provider before beginning or changing a supplement. In addition, having lab data on a micronutrient can help determine if supplementation is even necessary.<\/p>\n

Key Micronutrients That Are Essential For Human Health<\/h2>\n

1. Vitamin B12: The \u201cEnergy Vitamin\u201d<\/h3>\n

Many people in our world today are familiar with B12 (scientific name: cobalamin). Vitamin B12 has many more functions than simply managing energy. It plays a key role in synthesizing DNA. In addition, this water-soluble vitamin helps to make red blood cells.<\/p>\n

Signs of Vitamin B12 Deficiency<\/h4>\n

Common symptoms experienced by people with Vitamin B12 deficiency include:<\/p>\n