Malnutrition and Nutrient Deficiency - Knowing more about "Hidden Hunger"

Table of Contents Introduction Hidden Hunger Explained The Importance of Micronutrients Iodine deficiency Vitamin A Deficiency Choosing the Best Diet Fortified Foods Preventing Micronutrient Deficiency Conclusion Author Bio Publisher Introduction You consider yourself to be a very health conscious person, eating the right foodstuffs, at the right time. However, you have been noticing of late that you get tired easily. You are pale, and feel that subject. You do not feel hungry, very often. You may also suffer from giddiness. By evening, you're so tired that you have absolutely no patience and inclination to be nice to the rest of the family and you snap at them at the slightest procreation! Naturally the family is at a loss to understand your unusual behavior. On the other hand, let's take the example of your once happy go lucky teenager. One evening, while playing basketball, she felt dizzy and fell down. Also, her grades which were quite good, in the past have started falling down because according to her she cannot concentrate. Her attention span has shortened considerably. She is very easily distracted, much more than what is normally in a normal teenager! Both of these examples may be unrelated, but the underlying reason for both of them is the same. You as well as your teenager are suffering from what is normally called "hidden hunger." This is not an eating disorder, which is self-inflicted, like bulimia or anorexia. This is micronutrient deficiency. This is one of the most important and worrisome of all the public health problems all over the world today. Did you know that 47% of the people, even in well-developed nations are suffering from this micronutrient deficiency? You may tell yourself, how can that be, you have been eating well and you have been eating often. But what have you been eating? Processed foods? Foods which have been treated in such a manner that all the micronutrients have been removed beforehand, and other supporting additives being placed in those foods instead? Many of the foods which we eat today are lacking in the essential minerals and vitamins, which are necessary to keep the body functioning properly. These micronutrients include iodine, zinc, iron, and vitamin A.