5 common nutritional deficiencies among Indians

India is a diverse country and with this comes a population who has varying food habits, each more different than the other. In such cases, nutritional deficiencies are a fairly common occurrence as most people are unaware of the micronutrients they need to incorporate into their daily diet. There are vitamins that our body does not produce naturally and awareness regarding the same is the need of the hour, and supplements help you cater to your body’s needs adequately.

Here are five common nutritional deficiencies that Indians go through and ways to fix them:

1.Iron:
Unfortunately, in a country where a large chunk of the population is vegetarian, Iron deficiency is unfortunately a common occurrence. According to a National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) data showed that 53 per cent among adult women, and 23 per cent among adult men were anaemic. Iron deficiency can lead to a decreased learning capacity and productivity. Consume meat, fish and poultry products to fuel your body with good sources of iron. Foods like legumes, green leafy vegetables and dry fruits also contain iron. You can also replenish your iron requirements with GNC Mega Men One Daily Multivitamin or GNC Women’s One Daily Multivitamin. GNC customizes the multivitamins according to gender, lifestyle and age as the body requirements for Iron change based on these factors. Make sure to consume enough water when you are taking iron supplements to ensure regular bowel movements.

2. Vitamin B12:
Vitamin B12 is crucial for the development of red blood cells, energy production, metabolising carbohydrates and fats and a healthy nervous system. Vitamin B12 is naturally found in naturally present in fish, meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. As the population of vegetarians is higher in India, at least 47 per cent of Indians are B12 deficient and only 26 per cent can be considered as sufficient in B12. For vegetarians, a primary nutritional deficiency is of Vitamin B12. Unfortunately, there are no plant sources for Vitamin B12 so you can try the GNC Vitamin B-12 1000 mcg that consist of 90 vegetarian caplets. Alternatively, you can always include multivitamins in your diet that contain Vitamin B12.

3. Protein:
A 2017 survey shows that nearly 73 per cent of Indians are deficient in protein. A protein deficiency is incredibly common in the population as tracking protein consumption is not followed religiously by people unless they are on a health kick. Proteins are the building blocks of the body and 25 to 35 per cent of our daily caloric intake should be in the form of protein. A protein deficiency causes fatigue leading to less productivity. It is difficult to reach the daily recommended protein limit with food alone in the advised ratio of 0.8 to 1 gram of protein per kilo of body weight. Incorporate the GNC Pro Performance 100% Whey Protein in your diet to fulfil your daily requirements. It’s a fast-digesting protein that’s made to suit your needs. It is safe to consume by common consumers without fear of protein toxicity.

4. Vitamin D:
The pandemic has pushed us all inside our houses leading to less sunlight exposure causing a Vitamin D deficiency. According to a study, about 70-90 per cent of Indians including 88 per cent urban youth and 84 per cent pregnant women are Vitamin D deficient. The body needs Vitamin D to absorb calcium in the body and maintain healthy bones and teeth. There are very few food products that contain Vitamin D namely dairy products, egg yolks, fatty fishes etc. It is advisable to take the GNC Vitamin D-3 5000 IU to fulfil the daily requirement in your body. Vitamin D3 is the most bioavailable form of Vitamin D and supports immune health as well.

5. Folate:
Folate along with iron and Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in the formation of red blood cells, DNA, RNA and is the building block of the cells. Although Folate deficiency is not as high as a B12 deficiency, a survey suggests that nearly 40 to 60 per cent of children and adolescents have a Folate deficiency. Folate is found in abundance in green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, kidney beans, eggs and legumes. Pregnant women are also advised to include more Folate in their diet to prevent diseases like spina bifida in newborns.

Make sure to keep an adequate track of your micronutrients in your daily diets along with your macronutrients to function at your physical best. With 85 years of legacy and high-quality vitamins backed by research, GNC can be an answer to all your vitamin deficiencies.