Effects of Poor Nutrition on Appearance
The key to living a long healthy life is getting the right foods and in the right amounts. Poor eating habits such as under-or over-eating, consuming too many types of food and drink, which are high in fats or low on fiber salt or sugar, and not having enough of the healthy foods we need every day can affect our nutrient intake. Many people do not pay heed to the food they eat every day. As a result, the lack of essential nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D in the body will manifest itself in changes in our health and appearance.
Nutrients such as vitamin C, iron, and folate are essential for the growth of healthy hair. Losing a few strands of hair per day is considered normal. However, thinning and losing colossal amounts of hair every day could indicate the deficiency of a nutrient (Pathak, 2019). Protein plays a crucial role in the building of strong and healthy hair, and a lack of proper intake of these nutrients through diet could lead to one having brittle and dry hair. Premature graying, or any unusual changes in hair color could indicate a deficiency in the nutrients that process melatonin, which gives hair its color.
Poor nutrition can also lead to certain changes in the appearance of nails (Pathak, 2019). Just like hair, nails can become weak, thin, and brittle. Nails are made up of Biotin, which is responsible for nourishing the nail plates, and poor nutrition will eventually lead to a drop in Biotin levels. As a result, nails, especially on the third and index finger, will curve like a spoon, constantly chip, peel, and brake. The effects of poor nutrition on appearance, especially a deficiency of vitamins A, B6, and D, can result to pale, white and rigid nails. Other changes in color and texture may also be an indication of other nutritional deficiencies in the body.
The mouth is one of the first places where signs of poor nutrition will show up. A severe lack of vitamin C may be an invitation to gum diseases such as gingivitis and bleeding. The presence of a little blood while brushing teeth or flossing is often normal for many people. However, the presence of high amounts of blood is always an indication of an underlying nutritional deficiency (Whitney & Rolfes, 2011). Dark, leafy green vegetables contain certain nutrients that act as clotting agents, and not having enough of these vegetables may cause minor cuts and scrapes on the body to bleed more than usual.
The body requires different nutrients, which are essential for living a long and healthy life. These nutrients are found in the food we eat every day and having a balanced diet every day will ensure a balance in the nutrients in our bodies. The effects of poor nutrition can manifest itself in our physical appearances or the behavior of our bodies. A deficiency of important vitamins can be manifest itself through the hair, which will appear thin and pale. The weakening and breaking and unusual changes in the shape of nails are a result of poor nutrition. Constant bleeding of gums and other gum related problems such as gingivitis also indicate a deficiency in essential nutrients.
References
Pathak, N. (2019). 8 Signs of Poor Nutrition. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/over-50-nutrition-17/poor-nutrition-signs
Whitney, E., & Rolfes, S. (2011). Understanding nutrition. Australia: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.