What, Why, and How About Your Food?
March 27, 2007 by admin
Filed under Diets and Dieting, How To
Photo: m.a.r.c.
According to Chicago dietician Janet Helm, Americans may over eat, but that doesn’t mean we get all of the nutrients that we need. For instance, 70% of adults ages 19-50 in America don’t get enough calcium, while 44% lack Vitamin A, 31 % Vitamin C and 93% Vitamin E. Popping vitamins and supplements helps, but you won’t get all of the benefits that come with eating the good stuff.
Here’s the what, why and the how for improving your diet:
- What: Calcium – 1,000 miligrams daily
- Why: Calcium helps retain normal blood pressure and promotes bone growth
- How: Make your latte light with 8 oz. of skim milk, snack on a cup of yogurt, AND top your dinner with 1.5 ounces grated cheese
- What: Vitamin A – Men need 900 micrograms, women 700 micrograms
- Why: Vitamin A makes your skin glow, promotes good eyesight and boosts your immune system
- How: Add 1 C sliced carrots to your stir fry OR eat a medium-size sweet potato
- What: Vitamin C – Men need 90 miligrams, women 75 miligrams
- Why: Vitamin C boosts the immune system, helps heal boo-boos, and promotes that antioxidant effect
- How: This one’s easy: add a small sweet red pepper to your salad OR enjoy 1 C strawberries for dessert OR be boring and drink 8 ounces of real orange juice (not fruit drink)
- What: Vitamin E – 15 miligrams daily
- Why: Vitamin E is an antioxidant, may lower risk of heart disease and cancer, and it boosts that immune system
- How: Slice half of an avocado on your salad and top with dressing that contains 1 Tbsp safflower oil AND enjoy 1 ounce almonds or sunflower seeds for snacks
I wonder if you ever heard of drinks from bolthouse farms? They are really good, all natural and have lots vitamins and stuff (except for the coffee)