Be Healthy & Fit Online Coaching (2025)

20/07/2023

Build Your Foundation for Health with USANA® CellSentials™
Nourish, protect, and renew the health of your cells so you can be at your best every day with the USANA CellSentials. This cellular nutrition system includes two advanced nutritional supplements: Core Minerals and Vita Antioxidant. Together, they deliver a broad spectrum of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and additional nutrients for comprehensive support for your long-term health.
The CellSentials are so much more than your average multivitamin. Each daily dose provides essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, plus additional key nutrients. The exclusive InCelligence Complex, made using USANA’s patented USANA InCelligence Technology®, goes beyond nourishing the body. It also helps activate your body’s natural ability to respond to stress and keep your cells healthy.*
The CellSentials are formulated to meet the needs of generally healthy adults of any age who eat a balanced diet. They offer excellent nutritional support for the entire body:*
✅Immune system
✅Cardiovascular system
✅Skin and nails
✅Brain
✅Eyes
✅Cell health and integrity
✅Nervous system
✅Bones and joints
✅Muscle and tissue
✅Thyroid
✅Liver
✅Metabolism and energy
The combination of Vita Antioxidant and Core Minerals delivers results you can feel. After one month of taking the CellSentials, an in-house USANA study found that participants self-reported perceived benefits in their mental and physical health, as well as vitality.*
Each tablet has readily bioavailable forms of each nutrient. This is important because your body can’t use what it can’t absorb.
And every USANA product is made to the highest standards. So, you can trust the CellSentials will have excellent completeness, potency, purity, and safety. For easy swallowing, the Core Minerals and Vita Antioxidant tablets have a sunflower-based coating.
Support your overall health with the CellSentials—a strong nutritional foundation you can build on.

01/06/2023

Take a Deep Dive on the Body and Brain Benefits of USANA® BiOmega™

Get the beneficial fats your body and brain need to be at their best with USANA® BiOmega™. No healthy nutritional program is complete without a high-quality source of omega-3s. These fatty acids work to keep you healthy from before birth through your senior years. And your body can’t make many omega-3s on its own. So, eating fatty fish a couple times a week is one way to boost your intake. But adding USANA BiOmega every day makes it easy to get plenty of omega-3s in your diet.*

BiOmega is made with a concentrated dose of premium quality, purified fish oil to deliver a multitude of benefits for your daily wellness. Thousands of studies have shown omega-3s help support several aspects of health:*

Cellular function
Balanced immune response
Cardiovascular health
Brain and nerve activity
Eye health
Healthy pregnancies
Joint and exercise recovery
Plus, research continues to reveal benefits for omega-3 supplementation, including liver and breast health. And that’s not all. This multitasking supplement is fortified with vitamin D for even more support for your cells—where great health starts.*

Beyond the added vitamin D, the key to BiOmega’s effectiveness is the amount of long-chain EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) it contains. Both EPA and DHA have been extensively studied and found to provide different, important actions in the body. And the long-chain forms of omega-3s are more potent than other, short-chain fatty acids. This means you don’t have to consume as much to get all the great health benefits.*

https://askthescientists.com/qa/usana-biomega/

31/05/2023

Smartphones and Health: How Your Cell Phone Affects You😍😊

In the not-so-distant past, cell phones were a new and exciting technology. Now it seems you can’t go anywhere without seeing a smartphone in nearly every hand. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing—they are awfully practical. If you’re trying to call a friend, find the nearest coffee shop, or simply keep up with the news, your cell phone can help you do just that. And you can do it from just about anywhere.

If smartphones are an inextricable part of day-to-day life—which they seem to be—it’s worth looking into the ties between them and your health. So, whether you’re an occasional user or stay tied to your phone, read on for a breakdown of how your cell phone affects you.

Smartphones and Physical Health: The Effects of Cell Phones on Your Body
When it comes to cell phones and health, many people immediately jump to the radio frequency energy these devices emit. While it is technically true that cell phones expose users to a type of radiation, it’s important to note it’s a low level of non-ionizing radiation—a type that has not been linked to any health problems.

With the insidious threat of radiation out of the way, let’s look at the ways your smartphone actually can impact your physical well-being:

Disrupted sleep: One of the most reported effects of smartphone use is disrupted sleep patterns. This is especially true when you are on your phone in bed before falling asleep. Excessive exposure to screens throughout the day can also lead to difficulty falling asleep and insomnia. To avoid screen-related sleeping woes, some experts recommend cutting out your cell phone, laptop, and TV usage 30 minutes before bed.
Increased eye fatigue and headaches: It’s probably not too surprising that staring at a screen isn’t great for your eyes. This is partially due to the blue light your smartphone screen emits, as well as how close many people view their phones. Eye fatigue can present several symptoms ranging from double vision and difficulty focusing to headaches and dry eyes.
Neck, back, and shoulder pain: In a 2022 study, researchers observed higher reported neck, back, and shoulder pain in college undergraduates and graduate students who used their smartphones excessively (more than five hours a day per this study). These physical symptoms are likely the result of posture and head positioning during cell phone use.
Hand and wrist pain: The musculoskeletal effects your smartphone can have on your body aren’t limited to the head and neck. You do, after all, hold your phone in your hand. Excessive cell phone use—especially texting or typing—can lead to trigger thumb (tissue thickening in your thumb), thumb arthritis, wrist pain, and more. If you feel your thumbs or wrists getting achy and sore, it might be time to take a break from the phone for a bit.
In many studies conducted, researchers found it difficult to tie cell phone usage to weight and physical activity. Many theorized that higher levels of smartphone use would directly correlate to weight gain and obesity, as it seems plausible that time spent on a phone might replace time spent exercising.

However, many individuals use their smartphones to track workouts, map runs, and perform other fitness-related activities. In these cases, researchers found smartphone usage was promoting physical activity, not replacing it. So, the way you use your phone could make a difference in how it impacts your health.

30/05/2023

“Sitting is the new smoking”—this is the latest catch phrase surrounding health. Yes, perhaps it’s a bit alarmist, but the notion holds true. Sitting for extended periods can be detrimental to your health. And alas, many of us spend most of the day sitting.

One study reveals more than a quarter of American adults sit for over eight hours a day. This sitting epidemic has one major culprit: the desk job. If you work a nine-to-five in the office, that’s eight hours in a chair right there. Not to mention time spent relaxing at home.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Learn the health risks of sitting at a desk all day and what you can do to stay healthy while working your desk job.

Desk Stress and Your Body: Health Effects of a Sedentary Lifestyle
Let’s get one thing out of the way: sitting in moderation isn’t inherently bad for you. But grabbing a chair for excessive periods of time does come with side effects. The science is pretty straightforward—when you sit for prolonged intervals your body feels it:

Blood flow: While you’re sitting, your blood circulates at a slower rate than when you’re standing. As blood flow slows, it can be easier for fatty acids to build up in your arteries—a common precursor to heart disease.
Fat usage: Your body breaks down fats in your diet one of two ways—by processing it or storing it. Sitting has been shown to slow the body’s production of lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme that helps break down fats. This means less fat is processed and it’s instead being stored in your body.
Insulin resistance: When you’re sitting, your body experiences “muscle passivity.” Basically, you’re not actively using most of your muscles. This state could lead to increased insulin resistance, which may cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Scientists are still exploring the full impact these bodily changes can have on your health, but some of the repercussions are clear. Excessive sitting has the potential to increase your risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, blood clots, and obesity.

But there is good news! If you spend a lot of your day sitting, there’s plenty you can do to combat these health woes.

Staying Active at the Desk: Stretching Your In-Office Exercise Options

As more and more points to the detrimental effects of sitting, office norms are changing. For those with desk jobs, this means sitting for eight hours straight isn’t your only option. So what can you do instead? Let’s get into it:

Stand up to work: It seems too good to be true, but one of the best ways to avoid the health impacts of sitting is, well, to not sit. Enter the standing desk. Though they come in a variety of forms, each is designed to elevate the surface of your desk to let you stand instead of sit. While standing only burns marginally more calories than sitting, it can help you avoid the other health risks above. And what’s more, some studies suggest that standing desks can help boost productivity.
Break away: If possible, take a break at least once every hour. It doesn’t have to—and probably shouldn’t—be a long break. Just enjoy three to five minutes away from your desk to use the restroom, make a cup of coffee, grab a snack, etc. Time spent standing or, even better, walking can work wonders for your health and productivity.
Try a new desk accessory: Get creative with your at-work exercise by placing a small stationary bike, or even a treadmill, under your desk. Both are great options to stay active while working, helping you keep the blood flowing throughout the day. And the best part? You don’t even need to break a sweat to see the benefits.
Suggest a walk-and-talk: The business week can be chock full of meetings—most taken sitting down. A walking meeting is a great alternative to the traditional conference room meetup. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a meeting while trekking through the office, around the block, anywhere but sitting at a table. Of course, not every meeting can be held this way, but it is a terrific option for team brainstorming sessions and one-on-one conversations.
Step it up: If you’ve gotten in the habit of using the elevator, it’s time to mix it up. Stairs are a simple and easy way to get your blood pumping at work. Climbing the stairs is also a heart-healthy way to spend one of your mini breaks throughout the day.
Stretch your possibilities: Stop what you’re doing. Stand up, place one hand on your elbow, and pull your arm across your chest. Hold for 30 seconds. Reverse this stretch on the other side. Ahhh…doesn’t that feel good? Now turn around, place one foot on the seat of your chair, and engage your core as you slowly lean forward to stretch the back of your supporting leg. Switch sides. Fitting a quick stretch into your workday is as easy as that.

22/03/2023

Short-Chain Fatty Acids—and Where to Find Them.

at gets a bad rap in the world of nutrition. Somewhere along the line society decided fat is bad—and by extension, that fatty foods are bad. For instance, when you read the term “short-chain fatty acids,” your knee-jerk reaction is probably something negative. But as any nutritionist worth their salt can tell you, this isn’t the case.

So set your preconceived notions aside and read on to learn what short-chain fatty acids are and why they’re crucial to your gut health.

What are Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)?
A lot of misconceptions about fat are out there. So before getting into anything else, let’s clear a few of those up. The first thing to remember is that fats aren’t inherently bad. In fact, fats play a crucial role in your body’s nutrition. Dietary fats—or fats you get from food—give your body energy, store and absorb nutrients, and help your cells function properly.

When you ingest dietary fats, your body breaks them down into fatty acids. Think of these as the base building blocks of fats. Fatty acids are molecules with a chain of carbon atoms bonded with hydrogen atoms.

The term “short-chain” refers to the string of carbon atoms. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are simply fatty acids that have a small carbon backbone. (Fatty acids with more than six carbon atoms are categorized as medium-chain, long-chain, or very long-chain.)

Unlike most fatty acids, the majority of SCFAs are not actually found in foods. Instead, they’re a byproduct created in your colon as your body digests fiber. So the more fiber you have in your diet, the more short-chain fatty acids your body will produce.

If this doesn’t seem like a big deal, don’t worry—the next section explains why.

Short-chain Fatty Acids and Health
Short-chain fatty acids are produced from fiber digested primarily in the large intestine—specifically the colon. To see the role SCFAs play in your body, you don’t have to look far.

As the good bacteria in your intestines—aka your microbiome—break down fiber to create SCFAs, these fatty acids go on to provide energy to the cells and support healthy inflammation in your colon. Basically, SCFAs help keep your large intestine running smoothly—and that’s never a bad thing.

If weight management is one of your health goals, short-chain fatty acids will play a part in your success. Acetate, one of the three most common SCFAs in the body, has been tied to increased metabolism (your body’s ability to digest food) as well as decreased appetite. Together, these two factors can help you maintain a healthy weight.

The Gut-Brain Axis: Short-Chain Fatty Acids and the Central Nervous System
Whether you’re aware of it or not, your gut is home to trillions of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms. This lively community, known as your gut biome, is responsible for several vital bodily functions (like producing SCFAs from fiber).

For your microbiome to do its job effectively, it has to communicate with your body—more specifically, with your brain. Here’s the problem: these microorganisms are residents of your body, not a part of it. So how can you communicate with them?

The answer is simple: trust your gut. Studies have pinpointed the intestines as the main line of communication between your central nervous system (the brain) and your resident microbiome. This connection, known as the gut-brain axis, is crucial for maintaining balance in your gut and your body as a whole.

So where do short-chain fatty acids come in?

SCFAs help promote colon and intestinal health, which indirectly helps keep communication flowing along the gut-brain axis. Your gut is the mediator between your microbiome and your brain after all, so a healthy gut is perhaps the most important part of the axis.

As it turns out, the effects of short-chain fatty acids on the gut-brain axis might not end there. Recent studies have shown that SCFAs can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This means SCFAs are able to move from the colon where they’re produced to the brain. The exact impact of this movement has yet to be fully explored, but it’s speculated SCFAs actually help maintain the health of the BBB, which in turn helps promote balance in the central nervous system.

Although there’s a lot of information out there about the microbiome, researchers have only scratched the surface of the gut-brain axis. The more we learn about the communication between our body’s microorganisms and our brain, the more we will learn about our health..

Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Your Diet
As mentioned above, you don’t get many short-chain fatty acids from food—at least not directly. If you want to increase the level of SCFAs in your body, look to increase your fiber intake.

Fiber-rich foods linked to the production of SCFAs include fruits, vegetables, and legumes. These are some pretty broad categories, so you’ve got lots of options. Whether you’re eating artichokes, apples, or just about anything in between, you’re giving your body a fiber boost. When it comes to SCFAs, an apple a day keeps the colon happy.

Ref: https://askthescientists.com/short-chain-fatty-acids/

28/02/2023

Healthy Looking Skin is Happy Skin: How to Start a Skincare Routine.

Skincare is often approached from an aesthetic standpoint. After all, most people want to feel good about the way they look. And healthy-looking skin is a great place to start.

But skin does so much more than simply dictate the way we look. Skin is the largest organ in—or on—your body. It protects you from bacteria, environmental factors, and the sun’s UV rays. It gets cut and scraped and stands up to the wear-and-tear of daily life. Needless to say, skin plays a pretty important role in your day-to-day health.

Here’s the good news: there are countless skincare products on the market. For those of us new to the skincare world, however, this can be a little intimidating. If you’re looking to start caring for your skin but don’t know where to start, look no further. This crash course in skincare will have you crafting a personalized skincare routine in no time.

The 4 Basic Skin Types
Before selecting products to improve your skin’s appearance, it’s important to know what you’re working with. Everyone’s skin is a little bit different, but it usually falls into one of four general categories: normal, oily, dry, or combination.

Normal Skin Type: As the name suggests, the normal skin type is, well, pretty normal. It’s not too dry, not too oily, and doesn’t have many noticeable imperfections. Additionally, normal type skin doesn’t have any particular sensitivities.
Oily Skin Type: If your skin is shiny or has a dull sheen to it, there’s a good chance you’ve got oily skin. Other hallmark features of the oily skin type are enlarged pores and blackheads. There’s also a good chance your face will feel slightly oily to the touch.
Dry Skin Type: As opposed to oily skin, dry skin has small pores and almost no shine to it. It may feel rough to the touch, have more wrinkles and creases in it, or be slightly less elastic than other skin types.
Combination Skin Type: As you read through the skin types above, did more than one seem like it described your skin? If so, you’ve probably got combination skin. This skin type refers to any combination of the skin types listed above. It’s very common to have an oily T-zone (the forehead, nose, and chin), for example, while the rest of your face is normal or even dry.
Once you’ve identified your skin type, it’s time to start thinking about your skincare goals. But more on that in the next section.

Identifying Your Skincare Goals
You wouldn’t take cough syrup to treat a broken foot—it’s not the right tool for the job. Similarly, your skincare products should align with both your skin’s needs and your personal skincare goals. Are you trying to clear reduce the appearance of wrinkles? Or simply keep your skin clean and hydrated? Whatever your end goal is, it will determine how you build your skincare routine.

How to Build a Skincare Routine: A Step-By-Step Guide
You’ve got the basics down, now let’s put it all together. How do you take all of this information—your skin type, your skincare goals, etc.—and create a personalized skincare routine? Just like anything else in life, take it one step at a time.

Step 1: Cleanse
Cleansing is the process of removing dirt, grime, and other impurities from your skin. Some cleansers are gentler than others, meaning they dry out the skin less and are less likely to cause skin irritation. If you have sensitive or dry skin, you will probably want to stick to a gentle cleanser, such as the Celvive Gentle Milk Cleanser.

A quick rule of thumb for cleansers: if you have dry and sensitive skin, use a cleanser that comes as a lotion or cream; if you have oily skin, use a foaming cleanser. As mentioned above, the active ingredients in cleansers vary from product to product, so be sure to review the active ingredients before purchasing cleanser.

Step 2: Tone
Toning is a loosely defined step in skincare routines. It is sometimes described as the process of “balancing” the skin—that is, giving your skin any nutrients it is missing. Some toners include active ingredients that act as additional cleansers, helping to remove debris and unclog pores. Because the cleansing process can be a bit abrasive for your skin, many toners include botanical ingredients that help soothe the skin.

Step 3: Moisturize
Just like staying hydrated is an important part of staying healthy, keeping your skin hydrated is an important aspect of skin care. And the best way to keep your skin hydrated is by including a good moisturizer in your daily skincare routine.

The most effective skin moisturizers tend to use plant-based oils to hydrate the skin. Different skin types do best with different types of moisturizers. If your skin is oily, you should use gel moisturizer. These tend to be mostly water-based, as opposed to oil-based. If you have dry or combination skin, opt for a moisturizer that comes as a lotion or cream.

Step 4: Protect
When it comes to skin damage, one culprit is usually responsible: the sun’s UV rays. Even on cloudy days, your skin is exposed to UV rays that can dry it out and damage it. Fortunately, there’s an easy solution: sunscreen or other SPF rated products.

Most experts recommend wearing a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF daily. This will help keep your skin protected throughout the day, reduce visible wrinkling, and help keep in moisture. (For your nightly skincare routine, you can skip the SPF.)

Consistency is Key
Like most health-related processes, skin care requires consistency. You can’t slap some cleanser and lotion on your face one night and expect to see immediate results—it takes time. As you build your skincare routine, be sure to implement it daily. If you aren’t seeing the results you want, give it a couple of weeks. (There is an exception: if a product irritates your skin, don’t hesitate to swap it for something else.)

Once you have practiced your skincare routine consistently for two to three weeks, evaluate the results. If you aren’t seeing progress towards your goals, it might be time to re-evaluate the products you are using. And remember, be gentle with yourself. If you miss a day, there is always tomorrow to start again!

https://askthescientists.com/start-skincare-routine/

23/02/2023

Your Best Health Starts with a Better Supplement.

Vibrant health starts with well-nourished cells. And there’s a reason an estimated eight out of 10 people take supplements: it’s not always easy to eat right. Statistics continue to show that most people need to supplement. Their daily diet simply doesn’t supply even the minimum recommended amounts of many vitamins and minerals. And even if you could design a nutritionally perfect set of meals and snacks, would you eat that same food every day?

Like a nutritional “insurance plan,” a good daily supplement can help fill in the gaps. So, the question becomes, what is a good daily supplement?

Take a trip down the aisles of your local market. The choices for daily supplements can be daunting. You could choose a gummy that’s tasty (and probably laced with sugar) or a one-a-day multi. Either choice might provide enough of a basic set of micronutrients to avoid a deficiency. But you likely won’t get the range or levels of nutrients you need to achieve optimal health.

Woman checking supplement label
You see, there’s a difference.

Nutritional authorities often establish the recommended nutrient levels on supplement labels based on what it takes to avoid deficiency. (This is referenced as %DV—Percent of Daily Value—on labels in the United States.) The amounts aren’t at levels research shows can help make a difference in your long-term health.

To illustrate the differences, here’s a couple examples:

The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institutes of Medicine set a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin D of 600 IU/day or 15 mcg. However, research has shown you often need higher levels to achieve the blood levels needed for good health. In fact, a 2011 in-house study conducted at USANA found that supplementation of up to 5,000 IU was necessary to reach optimal levels (40-60ng/mL). (Labels in the United States now list vitamin D amounts in micrograms. 5000 IU equates to about 125 mcg per day.)
The current RDA for vitamin B12 is 2.4 mcg/day. However, some research has shown that up to 500 mcg had positive effects on homocysteine levels in the body—when combined with .5-5 mg of folic acid. Homocysteine is an amino acid that is measured as a marker of heart health.
That’s not all. Another consideration in your supplement selection is the ratio of nutrients used together. It can be tempting to pick and choose your nutrients. But those nutrients might be affected by others. For instance, iron and copper work better together. You need enough of one for the other to be used correctly in the body. Calcium, too, requires adequate levels of magnesium, vitamin K, and vitamin D to maintain healthy bones. The relationships between nutrients can be complex.

A well-designed multivitamin and mineral supplement is made with an understanding of the complexities. It provides you with the right amounts and the right balance of nutrients. And those nutrients are delivered in forms that can be used by the body. That’s where the USANA CellSentials come in.

https://askthescientists.com/qa/cellsentials/

22/02/2023

What Are Micronutrients?
The nutrients your body needs are classified as either macronutrients or micronutrients. Macronutrients are the proteins, fats, and carbohydrates that give you energy and make up the building blocks of many of your body’s structures. Micronutrients include all the essential vitamins and minerals you eat that play a vital role in your health—everything from bone development to immune system function.

Needless to say, it’s important to have sufficient quantities of various micronutrients in your diet. If your body isn’t getting enough of a particular micronutrient, you have a dietary deficiency. Too little iron, for instance, causes an iron deficiency. Micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) can have devastating effects on your health when left unaddressed. And unfortunately, they are incredibly common around the world. This article breaks down some of the most common micronutrient deficiencies in various regions around the globe, explores the causes of these MNDs, and offers some strategies to address micronutrient deficiencies in your own diet.

Common Micronutrient Deficiencies Around the Globe
Although micronutrient deficiencies can—and do—affect anyone, they pose the biggest threat to infants, children, and pregnant women. And much of the data gathered from various global studies focuses on these three areas. Most of the time, however, it’s safe to assume the dietary trends presented in these groups also reflect the trends of the region’s general population.

Let’s look at some of the most common MNDs around the world:

Iron: Roughly two billion people do not have enough iron in their diet, making iron deficiency the most common micronutrient deficiency across the globe. This can lead to anemia and may affect the regular function of the immune and endocrine systems.

Iron deficiency is most common in Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, and the Middle East. Globally, the rates of anemia—an indicator of iron deficiency—have been dropping amongst pregnant women and children for the last 20 years.

Iodine: When it comes to growth and development, there’s nothing as important as the thyroid. And for your thyroid to function properly, your body needs iodine—a mineral that does not naturally occur in many foods. To combat iodine deficiency, many countries have iodine fortified table salt. But more on that later!

Although most countries have taken steps to combat iodine deficiency, it remains a pressing global issue. Almost a third of all school-aged children don’t get enough iodine. This deficiency is most common in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Though the global rate for iodine deficiency has been on a downward trend for the last 30 years thanks to fortification efforts.

Vitamin A: A jack-of-all-trades, this vital vitamin plays a role in vision, bone development, and immune function. Vitamin A deficiency, sometimes called VAD, is linked to visual impairments (especially night blindness) and increased susceptibility to infection.

Vitamin A deficiency data shows VAD is most common among children in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hundreds of millions of children are blind as a result of vitamin A deficiency—and half will die within a year of the onset of their blindness.

Zinc: As with most micronutrients, zinc’s role in the body is multifaceted. It aids immune function, DNA synthesis, childhood and adolescent growth and development, and more.

Zinc deficiency is thought to be one of the leading causes of nutrition-related deaths around the world. In developing nations, improper zinc intake has been tied to higher mortality rates from diarrhea, malaria, and respiratory infections. Additionally, zinc deficiency is associated with increased maternal and newborn mortality rates. It’s common in impoverished areas and is most prevalent in parts of Indonesia, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.

Folate: Vitamin B9 comes in many forms—collectively known as folate. While folate does occur naturally, more than 75 countries have started fortifying foods with a synthetic form known as folic acid. Functionally, folate and folic acid are identical.

Folate’s main role in the body is to help produce new cells, but it also plays an important part in fetal and newborn health in pregnant women. Folate deficiency in pregnant women increases the chances of premature birth, low birthweight, and neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

Causes of Micronutrient Deficiencies
The causes of MNDs vary, but there’s almost always a common denominator: poverty. Across the board, rates of micronutrient deficiencies are highest in low-income and developing nations. And within wealthier countries, micronutrient deficiencies are most common in impoverished communities.

This raises one big question: why is poverty tied to micronutrient intake? The answer is simple. Money affords people the ability to eat varied diets. Micronutrients occur naturally in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, animal products, and more. To obtain all the micronutrients you need, you should be eating a well-balanced, varied diet. In poorer areas, people often eat energy-dense foods with little nutritional variety. Over time, this leads to micronutrient deficiencies.

Some micronutrient deficiencies are caused by specific dietary choices. Anemia, as mentioned above, stems from an iron deficiency. Iron comes in two forms, heme and nonheme. The former is found in meats and fish, whereas the latter is found in plants. Heme is far easier for the body to process than nonheme—and a diet supplemented with meat and fish tends to give the body more iron than, say, a plant-based diet. This doesn’t mean vegetarians and vegans inherently have iron deficiency, but followers of these diets should consider taking an iron supplement.

Addressing Micronutrient Deficiencies: Individual and Collective Strategies
Micronutrient deficiencies exist on two levels: individual and global. The former focuses on your personal diet. How can you ensure you’re getting the micronutrients you need? The latter deals with global dietary trends. How can governments and other organizations implement changes to help address micronutrient deficiencies on a global scale? Naturally, the strategies associated with each level are very different.

MNDs on the Collective Level
For the past several decades, nearly every micronutrient deficiency discussed in this article has been on the decline globally. This is thanks largely to food fortification programs. Fortification is the process of adding a nutrient to a food that otherwise would not contain it. One common example is adding iodine to table salt, but many countries have started fortifying cereals and other staple foods with zinc, folate, and iron as well.

Because poverty is one of the driving factors behind malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, global efforts to combat MNDs are inevitably tied to poverty-reducing measures. Other strategies include increasing access to fresh produce and implementing nutrition education programs within at-risk communities.

https://askthescientists.com/micronutrient-deficiencies/

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