Why Nutrient Deficiencies Persist Despite Eating Healthy

What you eat affects how you feel, both physically and mentally. In an ideal situation, the food you consume provides the nutrients your body needs to function at its best. In reality, though, many American adults live with nutrient deficiencies.

By some estimates, 100% of Americans don’t get enough potassium. Other key nutrient deficiencies include vitamins A, C, E, and K and magnesium. Experts at Harvard say that we should all be watching for deficiencies of vitamins B12 and D, calcium, and iron, too. 

In other words, nutrient deficiencies are pervasive across the country. To make matters even more complicated, these deficiencies even affect people who eat a healthy diet. 

That’s a big part of why Dr. Jonathan Singer and Dr. Gina Dattoli offer intravenous (IV) nutrient infusions at our HealthFirst offices in Greenwood Village, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Before we look at why this IV treatment can be so impactful, though, let’s explain some reasons why nutrient deficiencies might persist even when you eat a healthy diet. 

The nutrient deficiency problem

With grocery stores across the country stocked from aisle to aisle, it might seem surprising that Americans have difficulty getting the nutrients they need. The problem is that even when you choose healthy options, the foods you’re picking up might not be as helpful for your health goals as you may think. 

As agriculture has become more industrialized across the globe, soil quality has deteriorated and the use of chemicals has increased. This has culminated in foods that are less nutrient dense than in the past. 

Even if you consume a lot of fresh produce — a key source of nutrients — you might not get enough from them. In the last 50–70 years, experts estimate that many types of fruits and vegetables have lost as much as 20–50% of their nutritional density. 

Additionally, even when you eat foods that are rich in nutrients, your body can introduce problems. Depending on the food, its source, and how your body responds to it, you might absorb only 10–90% of the nutrients in it. 

All told, then, it’s fairly common to only get a percentage of the nutrients you might expect from any given food. That means you might face a deficiency even if you regularly choose seemingly nutritious options. 

How to get the nutrients you need

Since food sources might not deliver sufficient nutrients and your digestive processes can compromise the ones you do eat, we offer an alternative. With IV nutrient infusions, Dr. Dattoli and Dr. Singer can bypass your digestive tract and introduce nutrients directly into your bloodstream.

What’s more, we tailor this treatment to you. Some people benefit from a Myers’ cocktail infusion, for example, which includes nutrients like calcium and B vitamins.

That’s not the only form of IV nutrient therapy we offer, either. If you’re short on a specific nutrient, we can often tailor your infusion to provide your body with precisely what it needs. 

If you’ve been dealing with the signs of a deficiency like fatigue or hair and nail changes, don’t hesitate to talk with our team to see how we can help. To explore if IV nutrient infusions could be right for you, contact the HealthFirst office nearest you to schedule an appointment with our team.