Poor nutrition, also known as malnutrition, is a condition where the person is either undernourished or over-nourished. When a person is suffering from poor nutrition, there are various adverse effects on the body and mind of the person. To maintain a good nutritional level, it is crucial to consume a variety of foods that give wholesome nourishment to the body. Fine Fettle has various healthy nutrition tips to help you maintain a good nutrition level.
Some of the effects of poor nutrition include
Damage to brain function
For our brain to function at its optimal level, it needs to be provided with all types of macro-nutrients and minerals like,
- omega-3 fatty acid
- magnesium
- calcium
- fiber and
- vitamins
Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids help in facilitating smooth communication in the cells of the brain.
A person might start experiencing memory issues, delayed cognition, and concentration problem due to poor nutrition levels in the body.
Pregnant women who do not consume enough iron might damage the development of the brain of the baby.
Lag in the healing process
The healing process requires vitamins and protein to form collagen that encourages the body to heal. Without these components, healing becomes a tedious task for the body. In extreme cases, healing might not even take place, leading to more serious conditions.
Obesity and cholesterol
When a person does not consume an adequate level of nutrients like fiber, there is a risk of obesity. This is because fiber is responsible for cleaning out the digestive system and removing excess fat from the body.
A common belief is that all fat-rich foods are bad, and are the cause of obesity.
Good fats such as polyunsaturated fats are good for maintaining the right level of cholesterol in the body.
Therefore including fiber-rich foods and good fats at the required level is essential for the smooth functioning of the body.
Sudden fatigue
There might be symptoms where the person might feel tired and sluggish even after a good night’s sleep. It might be due to exhaustion from working too much and other such reasons.
But if it prolongs over a while, it could be an indication from your body that it needs better nourishment and care.
If the body lacks vitamins like B-1 (Thiamine), the body might not be able to break down energy, leading to sudden exhaustion and fatigue. Consuming vitamin C has been proved to reduce this feeling of fatigue.
Hair fall and hair damage
Hair fall and damage might be caused by external factors like harsh weather, etc.
But one of the other common causes could be poor nutrition.
Our hair depends on iron and protein to grow and thrive. If these things lack in the body, they will be used for other developmental needs of the body. This, in turn, can affect the health of the hair follicles.
Early aging of the skin
Our skin, to retain its youthful glow and texture needs the help of antioxidants and components like flavonoids.
Without the necessary nutrients, the skin will start becoming dry and dull. It will also start developing signs of aging like wrinkles, etc.
Thus, conscious effort needs to be made to include these essential nutrients into your daily diet to keep the skin healthy and glowy
Loss of appetite
Loss of appetite could be due to many reasons. But poor nutrition affects the digestive system, and this could lead to loss of appetite. It also causes the immune system to decline to lead to various illnesses that can cause loss of appetite.
Due to this, the person further eats lower quantities and increases poor nutrition in the body.
Depression
It could be easier to detect poor nourishment of the body if a person shows signs through the body. However, poor nutrition also shows signs through mental conditions like depression.
Our body operates by the balance of various components and nutrients. This is the key to good mental health.
When there is an imbalance in the body, it consequently affects the stability of the mind causing effects like depression.
Consuming food high in the following components can reduce the risk and also help improve mental health.
- healthy fats
- magnesium
- antioxidants
- vitamin B
- vitamin D
Although providing the body with a whole variety of nutrients is crucial, it should also be noted that you should never overeat or eat too much of one food. That can again cause an accumulation of a specific nutrient and lead to related damages to the body. If you know how to balance all nutrients and keep eating the nutrition-rich foods at the right amount, you can keep your body at its maximum well-being.
