Silent signs that you are not taking good care of yourself

1. You are having major brain fog

After what you considered a good night’s rest, you wake up feeling spacey, and you walk out the door without your wallet.

Don’t just chalk up forgetfulness to aging. Brain fog can be linked to things such as poor sleep and stress, but it can also be indicative of something more serious, such as a hormone imbalance that impacts cognitive issues, for example.

For women especially, mind lapses may indicate a dysfunctional thyroid. It is recommended that you do a comprehensive blood test that measures all of your hormones and biomarkers, and a complete thyroid test that not only measures your thyroid hormones, but also possible thyroid antibodies, to determine the root causes of your brain fog.

Because your intestinal microbiome can impact the rest of your body, healthy eating may bring greater clarity and ability to concentrate. Eating more probiotic foods could help balance your microbiome. 

You have lost your mojo

The demands of work or parenting can drive down desire; so can decades of partnership, for some couples. While your libido will ebb and flow, if you never have the urge, your hormones may be out of whack.

Talk to your doctor about lab testing to analyse your hormones, such as testosterone, estradiol, estriol, progesterone, and more. Hormone imbalances may be associated with more serious conditions such as fatigue, depression, weight gain, and even heart troubles. 

You are stressed out

Whether it’s work, family, relationship, or general concern with the world we live in, constant stress can affect your health.

When stress hormone, cortisol levels are unbalanced or spiked, this can cause one to feel moody, anxious, depressed, or suffer from poor cognitive function–all equating to lower libido and self-worth. High cortisol can also cause an increase of body fat and inflammation, which can lead to less self-confidence, frustration, and reduced energy and overall well-being. 

You feel sleepy all the time

Apart from carving out time to exercise and taking care to follow a good diet, your nightly slumber is a key component to your health.

So, when you are struggling to fall and stay asleep or you just feel like you can never get enough snooze-time, talk to your doctor. You might be fighting sleep apnea—a sleep disorder in which your airway collapses and disrupt your sleep cycle throughout the night.

The condition is linked to high blood pressure, weight gain, and heart disease. Sleep is also crucial for resetting your internal clock. In a perfect scenario, your body will have an amazing regenerative sleeping pattern.

As we age, some internal hormone levels become unbalanced, and this can cause a domino effect of imbalances and deficiencies, thus causing poor sleep. 

Your hands and feet tingle

The occasional buzz or goosebumps episode is fine, but if your hands and your feet tingle regularly, you might have a vitamin B12 deficiency. Left untreated, this lack of an essential nutrient can lead to anaemia.

To ensure you’re well balanced, consume foods such as eggs, meat, and dairy (only animal products typically contain vitamin B12.) If you lead a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, a B12 supplement can help with adequate intake.

You have muscle twitches in your legs

If you spend the majority of the day sitting at a computer or in front of a television, you may not think twice about the occasional muscle twitch or cramp in the leg. However, frequent spasms in your muscles can indicate low magnesium levels.

Over time, it can pose health issues. It carries a risk of cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats). To help alleviate the random flinch, it is recommended increasing your consumption of magnesium-rich foods such as almonds, pumpkin seeds, and bananas.

Or, if your doctor suggests you require an even higher amount of this essential vitamin, consider a supplement.

Your skin is super dry

Dry skin is, especially a concern during cold weather. And although dry skin is much more likely to be weather-related, you should still always keep an eye on hot spots: Itchy flaky spots could be a clue that your low-fat diet is behind a fatty-acid deficiency.

In addition to adding a daily moisturiser that’s compatible with your skin type, add more good-for-your-fats to your daily menu. These could be avocados, walnuts, olives, and more healthy fats.

You are breaking out

Though acne is largely a genetic and/or hormonal condition, there are several factors that could be enticing an unfortunate zit to erupt more frequently. Previous studies have shown that stress in the workplace or in school during testing periods is associated with worsening of acne.

When you sleep, cortisol levels naturally go down. Other culprits could be consuming too many sugary and starchy foods, which lead to high blood sugar levels, encouraging inflammation. Cow’s milk, especially, skim milk, is also associated with flare-ups, too.

You are always tired in the afternoon

After sitting through more than a handful of meetings you didn’t actually need to attend, you might find yourself counting down the minutes until it’s time for a snack or coffee break.

But if you consistently feel like an afternoon pick-me-up, , you might be reaching for the wrong foods at lunch time, causing you to lose your stamina long before you head home for dinner. Carbohydrate-rich foods such as pizza, sandwiches, or other bread-based meals, can cause your blood sugar to spike and then crash a few hours later.

Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia, can cause the sleepiness and fatigue that people get in the afternoon. To save you from searching out something sweet or caffeinated, focus on mid-day meals that are balanced with protein, fat, and fibre-rich vegetables to maintain your blood sugar levels.

10. Sudden weight loss or gain

A rapid, unexplained change in weight poses significant health risks in most cases. It could show that your body is not getting enough nutrients, or it could indicate a number of serious illnesses, including: diabetes, thyroid issues, and heart failure.

Severe weight loss is also a symptom of most cancers. However, this symptom is usually coupled with several others in cancer patients. In general, consult with a doctor if you experience a sudden change in weight