Staying healthy requires conscious effort. That involves leading a healthy lifestyle, which in turn includes following a healthy diet. A balanced diet that provides the body with all the necessary macro and micronutrients is what is required for regular consumption.
Macronutrients are those substances that are required by the body in greater quantities. That includes protein, carbohydrates and fats. As the name suggests, micronutrients, including vitamins and minerals, are required in smaller amounts, but it is essential that the body receives the amounts it needs.
Each micronutrient has its function in the complex machinery of the human body. The lack of any in the diet can result in deficiency disorders. Taking to Instagram on February 18, Dr Saurabh Sethi, California-based gastroenterologist trained in AIIMS, Harvard, and Stanford Universities, listed the first symptoms of deficiency of seven important micronutrients, so that we can recognise them early and make necessary adjustments in our diet if required.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is necessary for normal vision, the immune system, reproduction, and growth and development, as per the NIH website. They are found in fish, organ meats (such as liver), dairy products, and eggs. Some fruits and vegetables are yellow, orange or red in colour because of the presence of carotenoids. The body can convert some of them to Vitamin A.
According to Dr Sethi, the first sign of Vitamin A deficiency is having difficulty with night vision.
Vitamin K is a group of vitamins that helps in blood clotting and healing wounds. It has also been linked with healthy bones, as per the NHS website. Foods that are rich in Vitamin K are green, leafy vegetables such as broccoli and spinach, vegetable oils, and cereal grains. Small amounts can also be found in meat and dairy foods.
The first sign of Vitamin K deficiency in the body is easy bruising, shared Dr Sethi.
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and makes up much of the structure of bones and teeth. According to the NIH, calcium allows normal bodily movement by keeping tissue rigid, strong, and flexible. Dairy foods such as milk, yoghurt and cheese are rich in calcium, while non-dairy foods such as kale, broccoli, and salmon with bones also include the micronutrient.
According to Dr Sethi, the first sign of calcium deficiency is tingling around the mouth.
Folate is a water-soluble compound also known as Vitamin B9 that helps in making DNA and genetic material, and aids in cell division. According to the NIH website, foods that are rich sources of folate include dark green leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, peas, seafood, eggs, dairy products, meat, poultry, and grains.
The first symptom of folate deficiency in the regular diet is mouth ulcers, according to Dr Sethi.
Iodine is a trace element that is naturally present in some foods and is also added to some types of salt. It is an essential component of the thyroid hormones, and therefore is a necessary part of the human diet, as per the NIH. Apart from iodised salt, other foods that provide iodine include seafood, seaweed, and eggs.
Swelling of the neck is the first sign of iodine deficiency, shared Dr Sethi.
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, has several important functions within the human body, including protecting cells and keeping them healthy, maintaining healthy skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage, and healing wounds. According to the NHS, foods rich in vitamin C are fruits and vegetables like citrus fruits, peppers, strawberries, and blackcurrants.
The first sign of vitamin C deficiency is bleeding gums, as per Dr Sethi.
Also known as pyridoxine, vitamin B6 helps the body to utilise and store energy from protein and carbohydrates in foods, and to form haemoglobin, as per the NHS. Foods rich in vitamin B6 include pork, poultry, fish, peanuts, soya beans, oats, beans, bananas and more.
According to Dr Sethi, the first sign of vitamin B6 deficiency in the human body is cracked corners of the mouth.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.
Almost two years after his last Indian Premier League (IPL) stint, where he mentored Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the 2024 title before taking over as head coach of the senior men’s Indian team, Gautam Gambhir has reportedly been offered a route back to the IPL.
According to a report in Dainik Jagran, Gambhir has been proposed not one, but a sweeping triple role by one of the new owners of the Rajasthan Royals.
The report states that one of the three new stakeholders in the Rajasthan franchise sent Gambhir a proposal offering him the role of “partner, mentor and CEO.”
“A majority of Rajasthan Royals shareholders are selling their stake to the new owners. The deal is currently in a transferable state. One of the owners in RR’s new management has offered Gambhir a two-to-three per cent stake, in addition to the roles of CEO and mentor,” the report said.
However, Gambhir cannot accept the offer as long as he remains head coach of the Indian team. A Supreme Court ruling, based on the Lodha Committee’s recommendations, bars an individual from simultaneously holding a position with an IPL franchise and the Indian team, citing conflict of interest.
If Gambhir were to accept Rajasthan’s proposal, he would have to step down as India head coach. Sources close to the former India batter declined to comment but indicated that he remains committed to his current role. His contract, however, as the India head coach will end after the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.
Since retiring as a player, Gambhir has been associated with two IPL franchises. He served as mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants from 2022 to 2023, guiding them to the playoffs in both seasons. He then joined KKR in a similar role for the 2024 campaign before replacing Rahul Dravid as India head coach in July 2024.
Gambhir is currently overseeing India’s T20 World Cup campaign at home. The defending champions have won all three of their group-stage matches, against the USA, Namibia and Pakistan, to qualify for the Super 8s. They still have one group game remaining, against the Netherlands later this week.
Days after a 22-year-old student from Karnataka went missing in the United States, the Consulate General of India in San Francisco confirmed that local law enforcement had recovered Saketh Sreenivasaiah’s body.
However, Saketh’s parents, who are in Bengaluru, are struggling to come to terms with the news. They assert that they will only accept their son’s death once they have seen his body with their own eyes.
“We will only accept that he is dead if she (Saketh’s mother) sees his dead body. Till then, we believe he is alive,” stated Saketh’s father, Srinivasaiah Thammannagowda, during a visit from Karnataka MLC Arathi Krishna to their residence on Sunday, reported The Indian Express.
Despite the Indian Consulate’s assurance that arrangements will be made to repatriate Saketh’s body to India, his parents have expressed a desire to travel to the US. They wish to personally visit and see their son’s remains.
The family declined to engage with the media and requested that government officials who came to their residence depart. Only MLC Arathi Krishna, who also serves as the deputy chairman of the NRI Forum of Karnataka, was permitted to meet with them.
“The family is in disbelief. They say their son was an extremely strong-willed person. They are not asking to bring the body to India but want to go to the US themselves,” Krishna said, as per The Indian Express.
The family has now sought assistance from the Indian government in obtaining emergency visas, as they hold the belief that Saketh may still be alive.
Saketh had successfully completed his BTech in Chemical Engineering at IIT Madras before relocating to the US on September 4 in 2025. He was engaged in post-graduate studies in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California.
As per Krishna, Saketh last reached out to his family on February 8, the day preceding his disappearance. He called his mother, but she was unable to answer as she was at work, he said. “Later, he called his younger brother and spoke to him. After that, no calls were made,” she stated.
When Saketh failed to respond to calls after February 9, the family presumed he was occupied with his studies or work commitments. On February 12, his housemate, Baneet Singh, notified the parents that Saketh was missing.
Saketh is survived by his parents and a younger brother. His father operates a small business, whereas his mother is employed by the state government.
