Vitamins and Minerals

Are you so busy keeping track of vitamins, minerals, and herbs, that you are forgetting the OTHER important nutrient?  With much to analyze, are you also paying attention to the AMINO ACIDS in your diet?   Why should you care?  Amino acids, the precious building blocks of protein, are amazing compounds that play a wide range of critical roles in activating your body’s processes, including building essential proteins, healthy hormones, and brain-friendly neurotransmitters. They are not just helpful  . . . they are critical! 

Whether you hit the gym daily or simply enjoy a leisurely walk after work every day, your muscular health is YOUR key foundation to ensure your overall health and wellness. If your muscle mass starts to decrease, then your body’s overall function may take a dive also.   Unfortunately, as you get older, your muscle mass can decrease at alarming rates. However, the good news is that researchers have found that people over age 50 are able to maintain their muscle mass and even increase it by lifting weights and other activities.  

Do you remember your parents hounding you to eat your greens as a child? Turns out – they were right! We named these greens (found in leafy vegetables) “super greens” because they provide a rich abundance of naturally occurring vitamins and nutrients with a high fiber matrix. But are you getting enough every day? We hope we inspire you to increase your uptake of these mighty greens! 

Do you ever feel fatigued for long periods of time or even years? It might be time to take a hard look at your daily intake of iron. Low iron levels can lead to feeling tired. Did you know that foods rich in natural vitamin C can contribute to how well your body absorbs iron? Maybe Popeye was onto something with all that spinach he ate?  

Is folic acid on your radar? Did you know this essential B vitamin is involved in your overall health in many different ways? During folic acid awareness week (January 4th - January 10th) we will dive into some surprising facts about folic acid, including what this vitamin is good for, why you will want to take it, and how it upgrades your body.  

Over half of all American adults, including 70% of those age 65 and older, take a daily multivitamin. Because of poor growth practices and pesticide use on foods, the typical American diet is sadly lacking in sufficient amounts of vital nutrients. Without a doubt, the wise choice is to supplement your diet with a robust multivitamin/multimineral product. But how do you pick the right one?  

Plant-based eating has a whole host of almost unbelievable health benefits, including promoting healthy weight, reducing the risk of heart disease, managing healthy cholesterol levels, lowering the risks of certain types of cancer, and managing diabetes – on top of being generally better for the planet.

OK, we’re just kidding . . . it’s really omega-3’s that you need, not omega-4’s. Now that we’ve got your attention, we’d like to point out that your body is made up of approximately 37 trillion cells and EVERY single one of these cells needs enough omega-3 fatty acids to stay healthy and operate efficiently. Did you know how important omega-3's are?

Consuming excessive sugar in the form of fructose is known to have harmful side effects such as helping to cause insulin resistance.  Since many fruits have higher sugar levels (such as fructose) than most vegetables and many other foods – you might wonder, are fruits really healthy after all? What makes fresh fruit (with its fructose) different from eating fructose as HFCS (high fructose corn syrup). 

You already know that fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins and nutrients to support your body, but did you know that pineapple may be one of the most beneficial?  Here are some fun ways to spice up your afternoon snack and sneak in some healthy goodness!