Archive Year 2012 month 11

Are you doing everything you can do to keep your immune system up to par?  Check out these top nutrition tips to stay healthy this cold and flu season:

Vitamin C

Vitamin C tops the list of immune boosters.  There has been more research about the immune boosting effects of Vitamin C than perhaps any other nutrient.  Vitamin C is available naturally in many fruits and vegetables.  Unlike most animals that produce their own Vitamin C, the human body does not synthesize any.  Vitamin C has substantial antiviral and antibacterial benefits though it's known for its protective aspects in creating host resistance.  The most abundant vitamin C foods are guava, papaya, strawberries, kiwi, cantaloupe,'

We know there’s a correlation between what you eat and how it helps your body, but what about eats for your eyes?   Eye health and loss of vision as we age are of great concern, leading many to seek preventive measures by obtaining essential nutrients through diet and/or supplementation.

Other than Bugs Bunny telling us to eat carrots, we don't always associate nutrition with eye health, but there are two little nutrients our eyes can't do without...lutein and zeaxanthin.  Here’s the skinny:

What?

 Lutein and

New findings from the University of California, Davis suggests women who consume the recommended daily dosage of folic acid during the first month of pregnancy may have a reduced risk of having a child with autism.

The study’s researchers previously found that women who took prenatal vitamins around the time of conception had a reduced risk of having a child with autism.  These findings are consistent with findings of other studies suggesting that improved neurodevelopmental outcomes are associated with folic acid intake in early pregnancy.  The current study sought to determine whether the folic acid consumed in those supplements was the actual source of the protective effect.

The study found women who consumed 600 micrograms

What have you heard about probiotics?  Have you heard of healthy bacteria or good bacteria?  Probiotics are live microorganisms (bacteria or yeast) and, when consumed in adequate amounts, they offer a health benefit within your digestive tract.  This is especially important because nearly three-quarters of your immune system is located in your digestive tract, so without enough healthy bacteria, your health may suffer as a result.  Probiotics provide an additional tool to help your body protect itself and enhance immune function.

Ideally, there should be a balance of approximately 80% healthy bacteria and 20% harmful bacteria in your intestines.

Even children can benefit from probiotics’ immune

Plenty of research exists as to why essential fatty acids are important, so why doesn’t everyone eat fish or find another method for consuming essential fatty acids?  Is it because of cost, availability, convenience, lack of awareness, vegetarian/vegan lifestyle, or some other reason?

Let’s look at the two most beneficial omega 3’s backed by extensive research---EPA and DHA.  Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are omega-3 essential fatty acids very difficult to pronounce, so good thing they have simple acronyms we can refer to instead!  They are found in fish and fish oil and although they work together in the body, each fatty acid has very unique benefits.  Let’s take a look at each of them. 

Research shows