Although the idea of overhauling your diet and incorporating more vitamins and minerals can seem a little daunting, there are plenty of options for everyone (even those who hate vegetables!). Read this article for some great tips and tricks to make your diet more balanced and healthful for a happier body!
For men over 50, a different set of vitamins and minerals are required for optimum health. Vitamins like zinc, pantothenic acid and niacin all decrease as men age. Look for supplements that are specifically targeted towards men who are over 50 years of age for the best blend for optimum health.
If you are lacking in the vitamin department, you should consider changing your diet. While many people take this as a sign that they need to run to the store and buy a supplement, most of the nutrients you need can be found in food. Do a little research in order to figure out what changes need to be made.
The best source of vitamins and minerals are fresh fruit and vegetables. Making sure that you eat at least five servings of vegetables and fruit every day can help ensure you get all of the vitamins and minerals you need to be healthy. For the best results, eat them raw or very lightly cooked by steaming or poaching.
Vitamin A deficiencies can cause hyperkaratosis, keratomalacia and night-blindness. Forms of vitamin A, include retinol, beta carotene and retinal. This fat soluble vitamin can be found in orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, spinach, fish, liver, soy and milk. Vitamin A supplements can also provide you with the nutrients your body needs.
You can get vitamin D from both sunlight and the milk you drink. If you do not drink milk or spend time outdoors, you need a vitamin D supplement. This vitamin helps protect bones from becoming brittle.
From popcorn to dairy products, getting your riboflavin, or vitamin B2, is a snap. Symptoms of a B2 deficiency can come about in the way of scaly skin and a demonstrable decrease in red blood cells. This nutrient also stops cancer, carpal tunnel, and anemia.
To boost the resiliency of your body, try taking flax seed oil and turmeric. Both of these can help reduce inflammation in the body. They can also protect you from illness. There are oil blends of the two that are known to help the joints, along with bettering brain and heart health.
Magnesium is necessary for over 300 chemical reactions in the body. Foods high in fiber contain magnesium, including legumes, vegetables, nuts and whole grains. This mineral is used to treat high cholesterol, ADHD, fatigue, migraines, PMS and multiple sclerosis. Magnesium can also be applied topically to speed up healing.
Do you already have some nutrient deficiencies? If you aren’t sure, you need to visit your doctor for a blood test to find out. Whether it is B12 or calcium, knowing what nutrients you need to bulk up on will help you to quickly feel better than ever before.
When you are considering taking a dietary supplement, you should consider your total dietary intake and not try to use them as a substitute for healthy eating. Healthy eating is the best way to take in vitamins and minerals. If you feel that you are not eating right, try to change your eating habits before taking a supplement.
After you go shopping, make sure to store your fresh fruits and vegetables in the fridge. Keeping your produce cold helps the food retain important vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Purchase fresh produce often and eat it daily to get the most from these foods. The more nutrients you get from your food, the less you need from supplements.
Did you know that diets low in magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D can lead to depression and depressive thoughts? Omega-3’s can help enhance your mood dramatically. It helps to support healthy brain bodily functions. Magnesium is one supplement that helps keep you calm.
When preparing your meals, avoid recipes that call for baking soda and include fresh produce. Baking soda destroys essential vitamins and minerals found in vegetables, such as B vitamins and vitamin D. Cooking vegetables with baking soda makes them less effective at nourishing your body, so avoid dishes that call for it.
Children are highly energetic and in need of far more vitamins and minerals than they receive in their food. Maybe you notice they crash after a long day of playing or they simply have difficulties focusing or remembering what they recently did. Try supplementing their diet with essential vitamins and minerals to offer food for the brain to remain clear and fuel that allows their little bodies to recover form physical activity much sooner.
When you take care of your body, it shows. You feel more energetic, alert, and ready to take on the day. A very necessary part of feeling healthier is to take in more vitamins and minerals. This article should have given you a great place to start when it comes to balancing your diet!
