Imagine if you will, the surprise you might experience if you have been feeling run down with a malaise that will not go away to hear from your doctor that not only are you now morbidly obese, but you are also suffering from malnutrition despite the fact you eat all day, every day. Despite your excessive consumption of food, you learn that you are no different than many other obese individuals who have high rates of micronutrient deficiencies. That diet of fast food, pizza, soda pop and sweet treats has left you with a deficiency of specific vitamins and minerals that play important roles in glucose metabolism and insulin. All of which may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome sometime in your future if you do not already have one of these conditions.

You can’t fix your hunger by just nutritionally empty calories. You’ve got to nourish yourself with healthy, nutrient-dense foods, in order to maintain good health and to not become obese. You are doing yourself no favors if you are the type who lives on fast foods or any other type of foods of poor nutritional quality. When you consume a nutritionally poor diet, you are dooming yourself to a life of obesity and health problems. You are responsible for your health, no one else. Your first line of defense is to change your dietary habits to one of whole nutritional foods. If you believe eating healthy is too expensive, you should consider the cost of good food is nothing when compared to unnecessary medical bills. It is a shame, but poor diets are now linked to more deaths than smoking.

 Besides getting fat, do our bodies have any way to tell us when we are hurting it with our poor nutritional habits? If so, what are the prominent signs?

Damaged Hair

Some people have naturally lush, beautiful hair. Others aren’t so lucky. But having great hair isn’t just about your genes. It can also have a lot to do with what you are, or are not feeding yourself. One of the first things to suffer from a poor diet is the hair follicles. Protein deficiency can be seen in stringy, straw-like hair. This can also be the result of a diet low in essential fatty acids, vitamin C, zinc, and iron.

Wrinkles

We all get wrinkles, like death, they’re fairly inevitable. But we can control how early our skin starts to show signs of age by eating well and avoiding bad habits, like smoking or drinking alcohol on a regular basis. The best way to keep your skin looking healthy is to eat foods that are high in vitamins A, C, and D and antioxidants like flavonoids and carotenoids. It’s also a good idea to consume at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables in a day.

Bad Teeth and Gums

If you’ve developed a case of bleeding gums or painful teeth, there’s a good chance you’re doing something rather terrible to your body. Smoking, eating the wrong foods, and drinking too much alcohol can all have an adverse effect on oral health.

While smoking can present major problems for the teeth, sugar is still the primary culprit. Consuming too much sugar, which is often caused by imbibing large amounts of soda, can wear away the enamel on the teeth, exposing them to decay and pain. You can help yourself by avoiding these beverages and increase your intake of vitamin C, which can help heal swollen and bleeding gums.

Weight Gain