Listen to Your Body: 7 signs you might have nutrient deficiencies

Chapped lips can often be a sign of dehydration or a lack of certain nutrients. A deficiency in B vitamins, especially B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), and B6 (pyridoxine), can contribute to dry, cracked lips.
What to Eat: Include dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese), lean meats, eggs, green leafy vegetables, and fortified cereals in your diet. Consume lean meats, fish, and peanuts.

Brittle hair and nails that keep breaking might point to biotin or zinc deficiency. Check your grooming tools, not just your hair care routine.
What to Eat: Incorporate biotin-rich foods like eggs, nuts, seeds, and sweet potatoes. For zinc, include lean meats, dairy products, whole grains, and legumes.

Your skin can be a nutritional billboard. Pale or yellowish skin might indicate a lack of iron, while dry, flaky skin could be due to vitamin A or essential fatty acid shortages.
What to Eat: Boost iron levels with red meat, beans, spinach, and fortified cereals. For vitamin A and fatty acids, go for sweet potatoes, carrots, fatty fish (like salmon), and nuts.

Constant cravings, especially for weird stuff like ice or clay, could be an iron deficiency. Your body's shouting, "Feed me iron!"
What to Eat: Increase iron intake through red meat, poultry, fish, beans, and fortified cereals. Pair these with vitamin C-rich foods like citrus fruits to enhance iron absorption.

If you're experiencing regular cramps, particularly muscle cramps, it could be a sign of magnesium and potassium nutrient deficiencies. Consider increasing these foods in your diet, such as nuts, seeds, leafy greens, whole grains, and legumes.
What to Eat: Boost magnesium with foods like nuts, seeds, whole grains, and dark leafy greens. Potassium-rich options include bananas, oranges, potatoes, spinach, and yogurt.

If night driving becomes a challenge or you notice changes in your vision, it could be a lack of vitamin A or other antioxidants impacting your eye health.
What to Eat: For vitamin A, indulge in orange and yellow fruits, dark leafy greens, and dairy products. Antioxidants for eye health can be found in berries, nuts, seeds, and colorful vegetables.