Most Common Nutritional Deficiencies

Pyridoxine, commonly known as vitamin B6, is crucial for brain development among unborn babies as well as infants and toddlers, and is important for the immune system. Some foods that are rich in this important nutrient include chicken, fish, potatoes, chickpeas, and bananas. Vitamin B6 also gets added to breakfast foods, power bars, and powders. The body does not store vitamin B6, so it’s important to eat foods that contain it every day in order to not develop a deficiency. People with kidney disease or those who have a condition that hinders food absorption by the small intestine are at risk of lacking the vitamin.

Iron is a crucial mineral that is found in every cell of the body. The body needs it to make the oxygen-carrying proteins hemoglobin, which is found in red blood cells, and myoglobin, which is found in muscles. Iron deficiency is most prevalent among young children and women of childbearing age and pregnant women, according to the CDC, and can cause developmental delays in children and preterm delivery in pregnant women. Iron deficiency results in anemia, a condition in which blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells. Mild anemia often goes undiagnosed for a long time, but as it becomes more severe symptoms include fatigue, pale skin or brittle nails, and headaches. Treatment varies depending on the severity and often involves taking iron supplements. Some foods that are rich in iron include liver, oysters, red meat, sardines, spinach, broccoli, and some fortified foods.