BODY ALERT! READ THE SIGNS

WARNING SIGN: Tingling fingers
COULD BE Vitamin B5 deficiency
Ever felt a weird burning sensation running through your fingertips? Well it could be down to low levels of vitamin B5, which the body uses to produce energy from its fat stores - essential in the fight to burn calories! If you don't have enough of this vitamin, you won't properly convert the energy in your hands and feet, causing pins and needles or a burning sensation. Other symptoms include depression, fatigue and loss of appetite.
WHAT TO DO Fill up on vitamin B5-rich foods such as liver, egg yolk, broccoli, fish, chicken, milk, yoghurt, lentils, mushrooms, avocado and sweet potato. This vitamin also helps your body produce the hormones it needs to fight stress - so there's extra benefit to topping up your levels!

WARNING SIGN: Yellow skin patches around the eyes, nose or mouth
COULD BE High cholesterol
Bacon sarnie, anyone? We all know they taste good, but they're also high in saturated fat, which can cause raised cholesterol levels that may put you at increased risk of developing heart disease. Need another reason to say no? "Excess cholesterol deposits itself under the skin as small yellow waxy plaques," says dermatological surgeon Dr Manu Mehra. Yuck.
WHAT TO DO See your GP for a cholesterol test. If you do have high cholesterol, your GP may recommend a low-fat diet, or prescribe medication to help you lower your cholesterol. "Unfortunately, the patches on your face won't disappear once the cholesterol is treated," says Dr Mehra. "You should get a referral to a dermatologist who can remove them using surgical techniques like radio frequency, a one-off treatment performed under local anaesthetic."

WARNING SIGN: Under-eye bags
COULD BE Dehydration or fluid retention
A few too many drinks the night before, and you can wake up feeling dehydrated and showing the signs of excess on your face, too. When your body gets dehydrated, it will work to retain fluid wherever it can find it, most commonly causing it to pool under the eyes. This especially happens while we sleep, leading to puffiness and bags when we wake up, explains Joan Liebmann-Smith, co-author of Body Signs: How To Be Your Own Diagnostic Detective (Michael Joseph, £12.99). Other causes of under-eye bags include having your period, pregnancy, too much salt in your diet, antidepressants and the Pill.
WHAT TO DO Limit the pretzels and salty snacks. And when you're drinking alcohol, always have a glass of water for every glass of alcohol you drink to help keep you dehydrated. Think damage limitation!

WARNING SIGNS: Smooth, glassy-looking teeth
COULD BE Osteoporosis
If your teeth (especially those at the back) feel as smooth as glass, it could be a warning sign of bone loss or osteoporosis (a condition that causes weak and fragile bones). Other symptoms include joint pain and difficulty standing up straight.
WHAT TO DO See your GP for a bone-density test to ensure you're not experiencing bone loss. Having enough calcium in your diet when you are young is important in minimising your risk in later life. "A well-balanced, calcium-rich diet with plenty of fruit and veg will give your bones all the goodness they need," says Sarah Leyland from the National Osteoporosis Society. For more info, vist Nos.org.uk.

WARNING SIGN: Leg cramps - especially at night
COULD BE Magnesium deficiency
Painful cramp in your calves can be caused by a lack of magnesium, which the body needs to maintain healthy bones and muscles, and balance blood-sugar levels. Other symptoms to look out for include muscle twitching, severe PMT, weight loss or tiredness.
WHAT TO DO Low levels of this mineral can be caused by alcohol and even the Pill. "I'd recommend eating more magnesium-rich foods such as green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and fish," says nutritionist Charlotte Watts, founder of Positivelyslim.com. If you're showing the symptoms described here, you may also benefit from a supplement such as Lamberts Magasorb, £6.36 for 60 tablets (from Nutricentre.com).

WARNING SIGN: Thinning hair
COULD BE An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
Is your hair suddenly losing body and looking lacklustre? "You may have an underactive thyroid," says Dr Rajendra Sharma, who runs Harley Street's Diagnostic Clinic in London. This is when the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone, causing hair growth to slow down, as well as other body functions such as energy regulation. Other symptoms to look out for are tiredness, sleeping too much, irregular or heavy periods, weight gain and sensitivity to cold.
WHAT TO DO Ask your GP for a blood test to test your full thyroid function, says nutritionist Naomi Beinart. "If the results are negative, but you still have symptoms, you might want to see a trichologist [a specialist in hair health], who can investigate what else might be causing the problem." Visit Trichologist.org.uk for more information. You can also kick-start your thyroid function by making simple diet changes, says nutritionist Charlotte Watts. "Eat more oily fish to help the body use the thyroid hormone. Also, meat, dairy, wheat, fish and oats provide essential thyroid nutrients. And shellfish, seaweed and iodised salt help the body make thyroxine, the hormone essential for thyroid health. Try Solgar Kelp, £5.75, from all major health-food stores.

WARNING SIGN: Red, itchy, inflamed (or shiny and smooth) tongue
COULD BE Vitamin B12 deficiency
There's a reason that doctors get you to stick out your tongue - it can tell you a lot about your health! A red or inflamed tongue is most likely caused by a lack of vitamin B12. As it's mainly found in foods like liver, eggs and red meat, vegetarians, vegans and occasional meat eaters are particularly at risk. If it's left untreated, it can turn into pernicious anaemia - a serious condition where the body produces large, abnormal red blood cells - which can cause jaundice and severe fatigue. Another symptom of B12 deficiency to look out for is blurred vision.
WHAT TO DO See your GP for a blood test to check your B12 level. If you're vegetarian or vegan, look for foods fortified with vitamin B12 (see Vegsoc.org for advice). Your GP may also suggest a supplement.

If you're worried about a health condition, always see your GP to rule out any serious problems.

*ACCORDING TO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH **ACCORDING TO THE GUARDIAN ***ACCORDING TO MICROSOFT PHOTOGRAPHY: LANCTON HAIR & MAKE-UP: ALICE THEOBALD AT JOY GOODMAN MAKE-UP: CAROLINE PIASECKI MODEL: EMMA MILLER AT NEVS INFORMATION IN THIS FEATURE IS INTENDED AS A GUIDE ONLY. SEE YOUR DOCTOR FOR A PROFESSIONAL DIAGNOSIS

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