Common Nutritional Problems in India

The human body needs nourishment in a balanced manner to carry out all its biological processes optimally. The micro and macronutrients which one needs are not synthesised naturally inside the human body. Hence, your diet plays a significant role in this scenario. The nutritional problems in India mainly arise when there is a lack of essential nutrients within the human body.

If you are worried about the common nutritional problems, fret not. Keep reading to know all you need.

A nutritional problem or deficiency refers to a condition when an individual's body experiences a shortage of essential nutrients or some specific nutrient. Such problems can give rise to several health issues such as anaemia. At the same time, it must be noted that these problems can be prevented by consuming a balanced diet.

Nutritional problems or deficiencies occur when an individual's nutrient intake drops down consistently below the recommended level. Now, depending on the cause, the nutritional problems in India can be categorised into two classes. These are illustrated below:

Primary Nutritional Deficiency

This deficiency majorly occurs when an individual is facing a lack of some specific essential nutrients. This condition can get resolved through the intake of proper foods or supplements for providing the nutrients.

Secondary Nutritional Deficiency

Secondary deficiencies take place because of limited nutrient absorption due to the presence of a medical illness.

Some of the medical issues for this include cystic fibrosis, lactose intolerance, celiac disease, pernicious anaemia and pancreatic insufficiency.

Malnutrition arising because of this kind of deficiency can prove to be more challenging to treat as compared to the primary deficiency.

The symptoms associated with nutritional problems in India are dependent on the type of nutrient which the body is lacking. Listed below are the general symptoms which an individual facing nutritional deficiency can experience:

• Issues related to menstruation like very heavy cycles, or missed periods
• Poor levels of concentration
• Loss of hair 
• Heart palpitations
• Periods of lightheadedness
• Sleepiness
• Fainting
• Depression
• Pallor or pale skin
• Difficulty in breathing
• Abnormal food cravings
• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Weakness
• Numbness and tingling of the joints

Vitamin D-related Nutritional Problems

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for maintaining bone health. It is also known to be responsible for the prevention of certain types of cancers. The symptoms of the deficiency of this vitamin include pain in the bones, fatigue, muscle aches and besides these, the individual might also experience weakness.

Long-term deficiencies of this nutrient would result in the softening of bones, autoimmune disorders and cancers.

Protein-related Nutritional Problems

Proteins are considered the body’s building blocks. These nutrients are essential when it comes to maintaining muscle mass. Protein-energy undernutrition (formerly known as protein-energy malnutrition) is found in children with seriously low nutrient intake in their growing years. It is also found in older individuals who suffer from anorexia, prolonged periods of starvation or fasting, depression, and limited intake of proper nutritious food.

When it comes to children, there are two commonly found types of protein-energy malnutrition, namely marasmus and kwashiorkor.

Kwashiorkor results in the loss of weight because of having a diet that is predominant in carbohydrates but deficient in proteins.

Marasmus, on the other hand, leads to loss of weight due to a drop in muscle and fat mass in the body.

Iron-related Nutritional Problems

Iron is a vital micronutrient essential for several body functions like cognitive function, oxygen transport, immune function, differentiation and growth of cells, physical and mental growth. Deficiency in iron because of either pathological or physiological reasons causes anaemia.

As per the World Health Organisation, anaemia is still one of the major health conditions occurring because of a shortage in the intake of minerals and vitamins. This condition is characterised by a low concentration of haemoglobin.

Vitamin B12-related Nutritional Problems

This vitamin is essential when it comes to the generation of energy during the metabolism of fat, carbohydrate, and protein, maintaining a healthy nervous system, and producing red blood cells.

Several studies have shown that the deficiency of this vitamin in Indian individuals exists around 70% to 100%. The deficiency of this nutrient might result in Crohn's disease, celiac disease, parasite infestation, and atrophic gastritis, which involves the thinning of the abdominal lining, pernicious anaemia where a lowered absorption of this vitamin occurs, and megaloblastic anaemia.

Iodine-related Nutritional Problems

Iodine is essential for the synthesis of thyroid hormone, which is vital for growth, repair and the regulation of metabolic changes. The deficiency of this nutrient can result in mental retardation and growth abnormalities in children.

Vitamin A-related Nutritional Problems

This fat-soluble vitamin is important for healthy eyesight and immune function. The deficiency of this nutrient can lead to blindness and immunity suppression, making one vulnerable to infections.

Folate-related Nutritional Problems

Folate, which is a naturally existing form of vitamin B9, is a building block of cells and is vital when it comes to the formation of RNA and DNA. It is an important nutrient for pregnant women because of its role in preventing congenital disabilities such as spina bifida in newborn babies.

On the other hand, the deficiency of this nutrient is also a common nutritional problem for adolescents. Mouth sores, greying of hair, swelling of tongue and fatigue are some of the issues which can arise because of folate deficiency.

Vitamin C-related Nutritional Problems

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient responsible for healthy skin and strong immunity. Damaged and dry skin, wounds healing slowly and easy bruising are some of the problems which can arise because of the deficiency of this vitamin.

A majority of the health issues occurring because of nutritional problems in India stop after the deficiency is resolved. But in some of the cases, there might be lasting damage. This generally takes place only when the deficiency has been extreme and is going for an extended period of time.

For instance, a prolonged deficiency of the nutrient thiamine can be linked with depression or stunted growth.

The deficiencies of micronutrients have continued to be a highly significant matter concerning public health in India. Therefore, in order to combat malnutrition and hence nutritional problems in India, the Indian Government has taken initiatives in the form of policy measures, missions, plans and programmes.

Some of them are listed below:

• Special Nutrition Programme, 1970-71
• Nutritional Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme, 1970
• National Plan of Action on Nutrition, 1995
• National Nutrition Mission, 2003

However, several major nutritional problems in India exist even today, and the Government is making continuous efforts to deal with them.

On an individual level, for overcoming nutritional problems in India, one needs to have a well-balanced diet containing nutrients in recommended proportions. If someone is deficient in a particular nutrient, he or she must consume foods rich in that specific nutrient. 

Listed below are some nutrients along with their sources:

• Proteins: Chicken, milk, eggs, pulses
• Vitamin D: Exposure to sunlight, egg yolk, fortified foods, fish
• Vitamin B12: Shellfish, salmon, liver, trout
• Folate: Citrus fruits, peas, tomato juice
• Vitamin A: Grapefruit, cantaloupe, pumpkins
• Iron: Organ meat, shellfish, red meat, kidney beans
• Iodine: Egg dairy, fish, seaweed

Now that you are aware of the various nutritional problems in India, go ahead and plan out a balanced diet schedule so as to prevent them.