hidden hunger

 More than 2 billion individuals worldwide suffer from nutritional deficiencies. This results in chronic diseases and a weakened immune system. This is not a hunger that makes your stomach growl or makes you hangry. This is when you are eating food as usual, but your body is not getting the proper micronutrients it needs to serve as the good fuel it craves. As practitioners who see patients daily, we see the effects hidden hunger has on people. We live in a world of processed foods, meal kits and microwaves. It is important to identify the symptoms that are often associated with hidden hunger to know if it is something that could possibly be affecting us.

Symptoms of hidden hunger include:

• Bodies that do not grow well or properly
• You have a tendency to get sick more often
• Bones aches
• Poor skin health
• Anemia
• Brain fog and decreased mental acuity
• Slow healing
• Mood changes
• Vitamin specific deficiencies

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar?  Well, if they do, you are one of over 33 million Americans suffering from the effects of hidden hunger. Population groups at risk include school-age kids and pregnant women and their babies. Sometimes the culprit to this problem is just a not so great diet. For other people, gut problems lead to malabsorption. Also, there are times in our lives when we are working out more or under stress that we have extra energy demands and just need more nutrients. 

Many people are already aware of their nutrient deficiencies and resort to taking supplements to bridge the gap. Sadly, the supplement industry is not regulated by the Food & Drug Administration. Anyone can create and sell supplements online regardless of knowledge, cleanliness or purity. Since 2020 there has been over 400 major recalls on supplements in the U.S. alone. That number does not sound too risky until you put it into perspective. In 2020 ABH Nature's products were put under recall notice. That recall affected over 800 brands of products that they sell. It set off a chain reaction that affected a mountain of food items. 

  The nutraceutical is a large market with suppliers poised to line their pockets with high-end gains. While I do believe there is a great market out there that has the best of intentions and creates products that enhance our lives, I also believe that there are far too many back yard brewers who are doing more harm than good due to the lack of regulation and safety demands.  Approximately 23,000 emergency room visits occur each year due to adverse effects from dietary supplements. These are due to issues such as contamination, poor hygiene, mislabeling, interactions and adding illegal overseas medications to supplements. 

It is imperative that you know who is building your supplements and the processes they are taking to ensure purity and potency. Do not blindly trust that because it is on a shelf that it is safe. Nutraceuticals are medicine and can have damaging effects if not taken appropriately or if they are taken in combination with other medications.  When addressing the issue of Hidden Hunger, it is imperative that you advocate for yourself and your family to ensure you are getting a quality product that is created with your best interest in mind.

It is for this very reason that Twisted Roots Nutrition was created. We deserve better and our families deserve better. We exist to sound an alarm and raise a standard in the Nutraceutical industry. Every product is tested and treated like a prescription. When your package arrives, you will know about any potential adverse reactions and every medication that cannot be taken with it. We hold a high bar when it comes to our family, and it is our suspicion that there are many others who want more and want better for their families too.