These 8 signs and symptoms are hints that you aren’t eating well

Are you on a diet? If yes, are you especially avoiding calories and fats? Well, your diet has a lot to do with your overall health. If you do not eat well or enough, it can hamper your health in many ways. For instance, it can make you feel tired all day, or you could get ill more often, or face hair loss and skin problems. 

Most people would find it hard to believe that many of the health problems they experience when they do not get sufficient calories and macronutrients, but it is indeed true. You are what you eat, after all! Whether you overeat or you undereat, both of these can cause different health problems. People who diet and follow a workout routine usually follow a strict set of dos and don’ts when it comes to what they consume. In that process, they miss out on even those basic nutrients which their body actually needs.

Here are the signs and symptoms that you are not eating well or enough:

1. Fatigue

If you’re low in energy for a while now, it might indicate that you’re not eating well. That happens when you inhibit yourself from getting essential nutrients, healthy fats, and protein. Not only will you miss out on essential nutrients, but it may also lead to tiredness, dizziness, low blood pressure, decreased blood flow to the brain, and might make you feel off-balance round the clock.

Also, take this quiz: Tell us your eating habits with this quiz, and we’ll tell you if you’re eating well-balanced meals

2. Hair loss

Losing hair can be distressing, but you may experience this when you do not eat your food well. According to a 2013 review published in National Center for Biotechnology Information, deficiencies in proteins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and vitamins can cause hair loss or other abnormalities, such as changes in hair color or structure. 

3. Constant hunger

Constant hunger can be related to several factors like lack of sleep, medication, thyroid problem, pregnancy, etc. But one of the major causes of it is not eating enough. Studies confirm that appetite and food cravings increase in response to drastic calorie restriction due to changes in levels of hormones that control hunger and fullness. 

4. Sleeping issues

Finding it difficult to sleep at night can mess up your next day’s plans, which we guess, you definitely don’t want! In fact, sleep deprivation is linked with mental health problems, weight gain, and other health issues. Also, not only overeating and strict dieting but eating close to bedtime can also disrupt your sleep. All in all, your eating habits have a big impact on your sleeping cycle. 

5. Irritability

Do you get annoyed quickly on even small things? Have you heard the word ‘hangry’ before?  Well, hangry is a real emotion! If you’re dealing with a busy schedule and skipping breakfast or lunch, your blood sugar and your mood can take a dip. The University of Guelph researchers have revealed that the sudden drop in glucose we experience when we are hungry can impact our mood.

6. Difficulty in getting pregnant

Calorie restriction is one of the biggest diet mistakes. Generally, people on dieting restrict their calorie consumption, which can lead to health issues like the inability to get pregnant. Researchers of the National Center for Biotechnology Information found that insufficient calorie intake in your diet can have an adverse impact on reproductive functioning. This can prevent pregnancies from occurring.

7. Constipation

Again, it comes to calories! Eating too few calories or under-eating can lead to constipation. This isn’t surprising, since consuming very little food will result in less waste in your digestive tract. Try eating enough food and include fiber-rich foods because fiber helps to relieve constipation

8. Poor mental concentration

What we eat doesn’t only affect our physical health but even our mental health. The relationship between diet and mental health is complex. Studies have even found that healthy diets can help with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Unhealthy diets have been linked to an increased risk of mental health problems.