Introduction
Food deficiency occurs when there is a lack of nutrition in a person's diet for an extended period of time and is not taken care of immediately. Starvation, malnutrition, and overnutrition are some of the main food supply-related problems our world faces today. This is due to many factors, such as the increasing population, unequal distribution of food, and the growing of cash crops instead of food. Starvation occurs when a human or any other mammal does not receive enough energy in its diet. Therefore, to meet metabolic needs, the body starts to use stored fats and glycogen. When these are gone, the body starts to use available protein, and so, our muscles are utilized. Our heart is also a muscle, and thus, this may seriously weaken our heart. Malnutrition is a little different from starvation because malnutrition results from dietary imbalance. It may be due to an excess intake of nutrients over some time or deficiency.
Deficiency diseases occur due to the absence of vitamins and minerals in our bodies. We now also know that a lack of dietary fibre results in constipation. Overnutrition occurs when a person consumes more energy than he/she can use up, so he/she becomes fat. Such a person is said to be obese and that is one of the most common problems in developed countries. One of the main problems is the overconsumption of saturated fats and cholesterol, which increases coronary heart disease. This is dangerous because it has been estimated that on average, every 500 grams of fatty tissue requires a kilometer-long supply of blood vessels to cover all the extra fat cells. To conclude, dietary imbalance may be due to economic constraints, poor eating habits, and unwillingness to follow nutritional guidelines.
Nutritional Deficiency Disorders
Deficiency in various nutrients causes respective nutritional deficiencies, for example, carbohydrate deficiency diseases include ketosis, which causes the excessive breakdown of protein, leading to fatigue, decreased energy level, and reduced fibre intake by the body. This deficiency of carbohydrates leads to symptoms like a dry mouth, headache, and fruity-smelling breath.
Similarly, a disease caused by deficiency of protein is Kwashiorkor, which is a severe form of malnutrition; this disease caused by lack of protein causes an osmotic imbalance in the gastrointestinal system that causes swelling of the gut and retention of water, called edema.
Fat deficiency diseases are related to essential fatty acid deficiency and it occurs rarely and is seen in infants' diets. Its signs include alopecia, dermatitis, intellectual disability, and thrombocytopenia.
We will further list down all nutritional deficiencies in a chart with the respective nutrient and also know about the sources of food that help in preventing food deficiency.
FAQs on Food Deficiency
1. List 10 Nutritional Deficiency Diseases.
Following are the ten dietary deficiency caused due to lack of major nutrients, vitamins and minerals in the food.
Osteoporosis (Due to deficiency of Calcium)
Goiter (Deficiency of Iodine)
Anemia (Deficiency of Iron)
Pellagra (Deficiency of Vitamin B3- Niacin)
Scurvy (Deficiency of Vitamin C)
Beriberi (Deficiency of Vitamin B1)
Hemorrhage (Deficiency of Vitamin K)
Hyperkeratosis (Deficiency of Vitamin A)
Hypoglycemia (Deficiency of Carbohydrates)
Marasmus/Kwashiorkor (Deficiency of proteins)
2. Which are the Diseases Caused by Vitamins Deficiency?
Scurvy, Pellagra, Beriberi and Rickets are some of the diseases caused by the deficiency of vitamins. These nutritional deficiency diseases are caused due to no availability of enough nutrients in the food to absorb for the body and perform essential functions related to the respective body parts or processes.
3. What Should be Done to Prevent Deficiency Diseases?
Deficiency diseases can be prevented if we consume a balanced diet consisting of all nutrients in the right amount. Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals should all be present in the daily routine diet we consume. If we find symptoms of any deficiency disease, we should right away go to the doctor and take advice for the right diet or supplements we should take in order to treat the disease. Depending upon the age, height, sex and weight, a nutritionist will provide a diet chart for your wellness that helps you treat the deficiencies in the body.
4. What causes food deficiency?
Lack of nutrients and minerals present in the body causes food deficiency disease. Malnutrition and overnutrition are the two most known and problematic diseases in the human body during deficiency, which are caused by an imbalance in the intake of nutrients and an overestimation of nutrients. One must prevent food deficiency with the help of lacking nutrients and consume it with the consultation of a wise nutritionist who plans the perfect ideal balanced diet that consists of all required nutrients.
5. Which is the most common deficiency?
Iron deficiency is the most common deficiency in the world. Humans’ overall number of ages fall under iron deficiency in any place of the world. Over 25% of humans worldwide have iron food deficiency. Iron is the most common food deficiency because of obligatory menstrual periods girls undergo from teenagers to old age. Some healthy girls bleed unnecessarily excess to which they become iron lacking. This is not only a feminine problem but a masculine problem as well, men who are weak and who often feel lazy and fall sick frequently are likely to have iron deficiency.
6. How to prevent food deficiency?
In some parts, there are not many solutions or preventions for diseases, but food deficiency has a huge number of preventing techniques that lead to complete finishing of the disease and give an overall complete healthy touch to your body as an after effect. Some of the most common and useful food items come under food deficiency preventing food items and they are largely known for quick effect throughout your lifetime and certified assurance of recovery. Some very affordable and effective foods are as follows:
Green, leafy vegetables
Citrus produce
Whole grains
Fatty fish
Egg yolks
Nuts and seeds
7. What happens when there is a lack of nutrients in the food?
Food deficiency occurs when nutrients are lacking in the diet. So, today, you will learn about specific deficiencies and their prevention and their properties of nutrients and the symptoms.
The deficiency of vitamin C leads to disease scurvy, its symptoms are bleeding gums. The prevention tip is to consume citrus liquids, milk, broccoli, and cheese. Deficiency of vitamin b1 leads to disease beriberi, its symptoms are lack of muscle energy and very
8. What is food deficiency in short?
Disease that occurs when there is a lack of nutrients present in the body of an individual over a really long period of time is called food deficiency. Some of the known deficiency diseases are anaemia, scurvy, goitre, night blindness, rickets, beriberi, etc. Severe deficiency of proteins leads to high skin problems and discoloration of hair and skin and can highly affect strength and growth. Deficiency of fats and carbohydrates leads to abnormal size and shape of the body. The deficiency of vitamins and calcium leads to the disease rickets. The deficiency of iodine leads to disease goitre. Deficiency of nutrients and vitamin A leads to loss of vision.
