What's YOUR body trying to tell you?

 

1. Gaining weigh around the waist

Have you gone shopping for a new pair of jeans and realise that your waist size has gone up? 

It can put you at risk of developing diabetes and a condition called the metabolic syndrome if it is higher than 31 inches (80cm) as a woman or 37 inches (94cm) as a man.

The risk is substantially higher if the waist is bigger than 34 inches (88cm) as a woman or 40 inches (102cm) as a man.

2. Yellow spots around your eyes and or your elbows 

This is a condition known as xanthelasma and is due to fatty deposits just under your skin. It can be sign that your cholesterol level is raised.

A blood test, usually done on a empty stomach, can tell if that is the case. Depending on the cause of this, dietary interventions and exercise can help to reduce this.

3. You have darker circles around your eyes

Though not getting enough sleep can contribute to this, dark circles could also be due to allergies and frequently itching the eyes or rubbing the nose. 

Working out what they could be, for example, house dust mites, and limiting your exposure may help. If the itching is frequent, anti-allergy medications may help. 

Research suggests probiotics may help to alleviate some allergies.

4. Itchy feet

Spending time in sweaty trainers at the gym or swimming often? The damp environment can increase fungal infections, causing the feet to itch. 

You may notice a white scaly or damp rash in between your toes or under the feet. 

An anti-fungal cream, usually available over the counter can help to treat this. Good hygiene and airing the feet out as often as possible helps with healing and preventing a recurrence

5. Cracks at corners of your mouth

This is usually your body telling you to increase your intake of foods rich in B vitamins and iron such as leafy green vegetables, lean meat and eggs. 

Once dry and cracked, this can become infected. Topical treatment and moisturising usually clears it up. 

6. Very itchy rash

Especially if it doesn't improving despite using creams available over the counter, this can be a sign of coeliac disease.

This is a gluten-sensitivity condition whereby the body reacts to the gluten protein in food. 

This affects the lining of the gut, making it difficult to absorb nutrients. The skin can therefore be affected.

In the long run and depending on the severity, it can cause chronic damage to the bowels. 

7. Thinning hair

Your iron levels may be low or on the lower side of normal. This can be problematic for women especially as we may be health conscious and refrain from animal products rich in iron. 

Furthermore we lose iron monthly and therefore can become anaemic. 

Having a thyroid problem can also affect the hair. 

A blood test can tell if its due to these problems. Increasing iron rich foods or taking a supplement if its low can help

8. Brittle nails

This usually happens if we over-expose the nails to wet, damp conditions or frequently use nail polish. 

Moisturising the nails regularly can help and using a supplement with biotin (vitamin b7) may be effective. 

It can sometimes be a sign of a fungal infection, psoriasis, thyroid problems, or arthritis. 

If due to these conditions, one would usually have other symptoms such as a rash, fatigue, painful joints respectively. Do seek advice from your doctor. 

9. Constipation

This is your body telling you to increase the fibre and water in your diet. 

Most people don’t get close to the recommended intake of fibre in their daily diet. The type of fibre is also important to prevent constipation and excess wind or bloating. 

We need both insoluble (such as wheatbran, whole-grains) and soluble fibres (including oatbran and pulses) to prevent constipation and help decrease cholesterol levels respectively.

Soluble fibres are more likely to cause wind and bloating, however gradually building up your intake of both types can prevent this from being problematic. 

If it does happen, the body gradually adapts and it should settle with time.