We hear lots of talk about our macronutrients: fats, proteins and carbohydrates. But if our bodies are lacking in micronutrients, then it doesn't matter how much you sleep, practice yoga, exercise, or even take chinese herbal medicine, the fundamental minerals of the body need to be in balance. Especially when it comes to things like thyroid function, energy levels, temperature control, fertility and mood. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I have enormous respect for the power of chinese herbs, but more often than not, I ask my patients to see an integrative GP to get blood tests done so I can see if there are certain mineral deficiencies that can explain some of their signs and symptoms. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Some common deficiencies are iron, zinc, B vitamins, Vitamin D (big one), selenium, and iodine to name a few. And while it is great to see so many people trying hard to eat a varied and rich diversity of plants, many plants simply dont have the nutient profile that they once had. Therefore, for many people, some kind of supplementing is required to help boost up their micronutrients. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So eat all the plants for sure. And take good care of your mind and body with your movement practices. But if certain signs and symptoms are not going away, regardless of how well you manage your nutriton, please stay open to some blood work investigation in order to top up any vitamins and minerals that your diet has not been able to rebalance.