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The micronutrients are the keys to our car; without them, we don’t function. - Bernadette Abraham
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Micronutrients and Digestive Function
A micronutrient is a term used to describe the various vitamins and minerals that our body needs. They play a role in virtually every function of our body.
There are 4 different categories:
All of these are crucial to the function of our overall body function and health. However, there are two common reasons for impaired absorption that Bernadette mentions.
Common micronutrients insufficiencies due to Gutsy issues are iron, magnesium, B12, and vitamin A.
For more information on stomach acid, check out this article.
Micronutrients In Depth
While all micronutrients play a vital role in overall health, here are a few that are critical to maintaining good gut health as well as the best ways to incorporate them into your diet.
As you can see from the list above, Bernadette prefers incorporating micronutrients in the form of food rather than supplementation. She recommends eating a “whole food diet” of minimally processed food to increase the amount of micronutrient absorption in your diet.
More on Vitamin D and Sun Exposure
Since Vitamin D is critical for the maintenance of the intestinal lining, it is important to be getting enough everyday. One of the easiest ways to get vitamin D is from direct sunlight
which worries many people. The dangerous part of sun exposure is actually not the sun itself but the UV rays that causes damage to our cells.
Bernadette recommends consuming more foods high in antioxidants, which can help our body minimize the negative effects of the UV rays. Foods that contain a high level of antioxidants, such as fish and salmon, are helpful in protecting your skin and cells from damage.
Another helpful tip is to slowly work yourself up to more sun exposure a day. The goal is to eventually have at least 15 minutes a day, but allow your body time to slowly adjust. Bernadette recommended an app called D-minder, which helps to track your vitamin D intake based on individual factors and needs.
Symptoms of Micronutrient Deficiencies
There are many different symptoms associated with micronutrient deficiencies, and many of them build off one another.
Symptoms are our body’s way of communicating with us”
Bernadette Abraham
Here are some common symptoms found with individual micronutrient deficiencies. As always, do NOT supplement without the guidance of a professional or concrete bloodwork. Taking a single micronutrient in excess can be more harmful than good if not needed.
Remember to get guidance from a health profession if any of these symptoms resinate with you BEFORE supplementing. Here are some of the tests that Bernadette recommends and uses in her own practice.
Want to learn even more about the gut and ways to heal it?
Learn all the secrets via my signature book, A Gutsy Girl’s Bible: a 21-day approach to healing the gut. Grab your copy on Amazon HERE.
Wrap Up
Time to wrap this up. As always, a huge goal for this show is to connect with even more people. Feel free to send an email to our team at podcast@agutsygirl.com. We want to hear questions, comments, show ideas, etc.
Did you enjoy this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Bio: Bernadette Abraham
Bernadette Abraham is a highly engaging and sought-after health expert with over 25 years of experience in physical wellbeing in Canada, US, and the United Arab Emirates.
A busy mother of four, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Master’s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion and continues to accumulate credentials as a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and AFMC-certified Functional Medicine Coach.
She tackles root causes of ill health that mystify traditional medicine and unlocks the truth about the natural recovery of the body.
Bernadette’s mission is to lead people on a life-changing journey that brings them closer to healing through awareness and prevention.
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