Lifestyle Choices

1. Iron helps form haemoglobin, the oxygen carrying red pigment in your blood. It also aids protein metabolism and is essential for brain development and growth. It is found in meat, seafood, poultry, whole grains, beans, peas and dark-green leafy vegetables like spinach.

Ninety per cent of all iron used is recycled because it is so well conserved in the body. This means that you don’t have to keep replacing it all the time. This, of course, calls into question the widespread use of iron supplementation. Iron overload (hemochromatosis) is the most common inherited disease. When excess iron is present, the body’s immune system becomes severely compromised. Vitamin E helps protect against iron-generated free radical damage. So a high-quality antioxidant would be beneficial for balance if you have excess iron levels. (more…)

A. Supplements — Who needs them?

You have now read about some of the benefits and characteristics of the nutrients considered essential to maintaining optimum health. So the question arises: do you need to supplement? Do you need to take vitamin and mineral pills, or a separate antioxidant supplement? There are some who say you get all you need from a healthy diet, and supplements are just expensive urine. Others see supplements as essential. So what should you do?

Ideally, a healthy and varied diet would provide your body with all the nutrients it needs. In some cases, however, food is grown in depleted soils or artificially under lights in hothouses. For example, selenium content in soils is varied and regional. New Zealand soils are quite low in selenium, as are parts of Australia, South Africa and North America, but it is important as an antioxidant and in supporting Vitamin E in your body.

Different circumstances and lifestyles can all take a toll on your health. In times of high emotional or physical stress, your body may need some extra support. While supplementation is not a substitute for a quality diet, it can certainly offer those with nutritional concerns some peace of mind. (more…)

How do you get the essential nutrients into your diet? Here are some super foods to eat that help maintain great health, increase immunity and make you feel good. They are packed with essential nutrients and powerful natural antioxidants, they taste delicious and add variety to your diet. They are some of our favourite foods, and we buy them regularly.

Fruits and vegetables

The best way to eat fruits and vegetables is straight from the tree or garden, when they haven’t lost any of their vitamins and minerals. This means that the produce is in season and you are obtaining the best nutrient value. Growers’ outlets or markets also supply good seasonal produce

There are endless ways to serve up your veges. We love leaving them raw and cutting them into small pieces to dip in hummus. Kids love this, too! Try different or unusual vegetables once in a while to add variety. When cooking vegetables, steaming is usually better than boiling, as it preserves more nutrients. For sauteing, use a little butter or olive oil. (more…)

1. Calcium is important for building healthy bones and teeth, and also plays an essential role in nerve and muscle function and blood clotting. It keeps muscles moving smoothly and prevents cramping. Approximately 99 per cent of the calcium in your body is present in the bones, teeth and skeleton; the other 1 per cent is found in and around cells. You will find calcium in milk and milk products; calcium-fortified foods; the bones of fish like sardines and salmon; tofu, spinach and oatmeal.

To build healthy bones and avoid osteoporosis, get plenty of calcium in your diet and also include regular weight- bearing exercise in your lifestyle - especially while you are young. If supplements are needed, drink with a glass of milk, as it will help increase the uptake of calcium. (more…)

It is worth mentioning cholesterol here, while we are talking about fats. Often people think that if something is cholesterol free, it is fat free, but this is not the case. Cholesterol is a complex fatty substance that your body manufactures on a daily basis. It is used to manufacture cell membranes and provide a base for the synthesis of hormones (sex and adrenal), Vitamin D and bile acids. Your body produces about three-quarters of the cholesterol it has in the blood on its own in the liver; the rest comes from your food. Cholesterol from your food does not instantly become cholesterol in your blood. When you eat food high in cholesterol, such as egg yolks, liver, kidneys and shellfish, your body makes less from its own resources or gets rid of more. (more…)