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Are you in good nutritional shape?

To use the interactive questionnaires:
Read the question in the left column.
Click on the appropriate answer button.
When you have finished the questionnaire click on the "Work out my score!" button.
This will allow you to view your score in the text box (located underneath the "Work out my score!" button).

Fatigue
Significance - Anaemia, mixed vitamin B or magnesium deficiencies, also under-active thyroid and other problems 
Action - See your doctor for blood tests including vitamin B12 if vegan or vegetarian, and consider a strong multivitamin and mineral supplement 
Pale appearance
Significance - Anaemia - iron, folate or vitamin B12 deficiencies 
Action - See your doctor for tests including serum ferritin. Take supplements of iron or iron and multivitamins
Heavy periods with flooding or clots
Significance - Iron deficiency 
Action - See your doctor for tests including serum ferritin. Take supplements of iron or iron and multivitamins. 
Painful periods needing painkillers
Significance - Possible magnesium deficiency 
Action - Consider taking magnesium supplements 150 - 300 mg per day and evening primrose oil and fish oil. 
Irregular periods
Significance - Underweight, low protein diet and excess alcohol 
Action - Better diet and strong multivitamin preparation 
Recurrent mouth ulcers or sore smooth tongue
Significance - Iron, folate and vitamin B12 
Action - See your doctor for the appropriate tests. Consider taking multivitamin and iron supplement. 
Sore bleeding gums
Significance - Vitamin C 
Action - Take 1000mg Vitamin C with bioflavanoids per day and visit your dental hygienist 
Excessive cracking and peeling of the lips
Significance - Vitamin B2 - riboflavin 
Action - Consider taking a strong vitamin B preparation 
Cracking at the corners of the eyes
Significance - Vitamin B2 and vitamin B6 
Action - Consider taking a strong multivitamin and mineral preparation 
Cracking at the corners of the mouth
Significance - Iron, and/or mixed vitamin B deficiency. thrush and eczema also possible 
Action - Multivitamin with iron, see your doctor if it persists 
Red greasy skin at the sides of the nose
Significance - Vitamin B2 - Riboflavin and/or vitamin B6 deficiency and/or zinc 
Action - Strong B complex supplement, and 15mg of zinc per day 
Combination skin
Significance - Mixed vitamin B and/or zinc 
Action - Strong B complex supplement, and 15mg of zinc per day 
Persistent dandruff
Significance - Biotin and essential fatty acid deficiency 
Action - Multivitamins, biotin 500mcgs and high -strength fish oils. Also, antifungal, tea-tree or tar-based shampoos 
Eczema
Significance - Possible Omega 6 essential fatty acid deficiency if excessive dryness 
Action - Evening primrose oil 3,000mg per day. See doctor for allergy assessment and infection inspection 
Red scaly skin in sun exposed areas
Significance - Vitamin B3 - nicotinamide deficiency 
Action - Strong vitamin B with 100mg of Nicotinamide 
Acne
Significance - Possible zinc deficiency 
Action - Zinc supplement 15mg per day (30mg if supervised) 
Psoriasis
Significance - Possible mixed vitamin B, zinc and essential fatty acid deficiencies 
Action - Strong multivitamin, zinc 15mg and high-strength fish oil supplements. Combine with conventional treatment 
Excessively dry skin 
Significance - Possible mixed deficiency of essential fatty acids, vitamin A and vitamin E 
Action - Multivitamin and mineral supplement with evening primrose oil 2,000g and high-strength fish oil, plus 400iu of vitamin E
Rough red pimply skin on the upper arms and/or thighs 
Significance - None if mild. If severe, mixed vitamin and essential fatty acid deficiency 
Action - Multivitamin and mineral supplement with evening primrose oil 2,000g and high-strength fish oil and better diet 
Depression, anxiety and premenstrual syndrome
Significance - Possible mixed vitamin B, and/or magnesium deficiencies 
Action - Magnesium-rich strong multivitamin and mineral supplement with additional magnesium 150-300mg per day 
Split, brittle or flattening or upturned nails
Significance - Iron deficiency 
Action - Iron supplement. See your doctor if persistent 
Ridged nails and white spots on nails
Significance - Uncertain significance, possibly iron and zinc 
Action - Better diet, and multivitamin and mineral supplement
Poor hair growth or generalised thinning and loss of hair
Significance - Mild iron deficiency and vitamin C 
Action -See your doctor for tests for anaemia including Serum Ferritin and thyroid function. Take iron and multivitamin supplements and 1000mg of vitamin C 
Loss of sense of taste
Significance - Possible zinc deficiency 
Action - Zinc 15mg per day (30mg if under supervision). See doctor if it persists
Poor vision at night or in the dark
Significance - Possible vitamin A (Retinol) and/or zinc deficiency 
Action - Multivitamin and zinc supplement 15mg per day (30mg if under supervision). You must see your doctor 
Poor appetite
Significance - Zinc, iron and/or mixed vitamin B deficiencies 
Action - Multivitamin and multimineral supplement. See your doctor if you have lost weight 
Wrinkles 
Significance Possible lack of antioxidants - Vitamins A,C,E, and the minerals selenium and zinc 
Action - consider taking a good strong multivitamin and mineral preparation 

Your score

  • If you ticked no in 25 or more categories, you are a star.  The chances are you are in pretty good nutritional shape, and there will be no real need for you to take nutritional supplements, unless you particularly want to take a multivitamin and mineral supplement to protect yourself against the potentially harmful effects of the environment.
  • A score of 20-24 negatives means that you are not doing too badly, but there are some issues that need addressing.  Improving your diet and making it more nutrient-dense is the first action to take, and then consider taking the supplements recommended for your particular problems.
  • If you ticked fewer than 20 no's , you will obviously need to take some supplement as well as making some fairly major changes to your diet.  Follow the healthy Eating Plan on page 158 of 'The Model Plan', and take the supplements recommended for your particular problems.

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