Yay! It’s a brand new year. A chance to begin anew.
I’m especially excited about getting this weak body back in shape after recovering from foot surgery.
Whatever your goals this year, here are some new ideas that can help us get going in the right direction:
Yes, this is controversial as many studies have shown that multivitamins do not reduce one’s risk for heart disease, cancer or mental decline.
In this age of Covid-19, however, a daily multivitamin supplement may give a needed boost to our immune system, according to researchers at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, United States.
They found that older adults who took a multivitamin/mineral supplement for three months had higher levels of vitamin C and zinc in their blood – two of many nutrients needed for strong immunity.
And while these volunteers still reported the same amount of illness during this study, the participants who took the multivitamin/mineral supplement reported fewer symptoms, which also went away three days faster, than the group that did not take the supplement.
As easy as it may sound to pop a few pills to “melt off the fat”, many over-the-counter supplements for weight loss can be downright dangerous, according to a new warning by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This agency found that nearly 50 products sold on websites like Amazon and Ebay, contain ingredients that pose a health risk.
As boring as it sounds, leaving that extra portion on the plate and moving the body more is still the best formula for losing pounds and inches.
Yes, they are high in fat.
But these creamy tree fruits are rich in healthful monounsaturated fat, as well as numerous vitamins and minerals.
They are also rich in dietary fibre, which enhances the growth of healthful bacteria in our guts.
A recent study at the University of Illinois found that the number and diversity of good microbes increased in overweight volunteers who added avocado to one meal a day.
These “good bugs” also produced changes that may have improved their ability to lose weight.
A reasonable serving is about a third of a medium-sized avocado in place of other fat in your diet.
Products formerly called potassium chloride can now be called “potassium salt” on food labels.
This, say experts, may help us understand that potassium chloride is a good substitute for sodium chloride or salt.
Potassium can help decrease blood pressure while sodium increases it.
And while we get too much sodium in our diets, we often don’t get enough potassium.
Potassium salt is therefore a pretty good substitute.
Caution: People with kidney disease who must follow a low potassium diet are not advised to use potassium salts. – By Barbara Quinn/Monterey Herald/Tribune News Service
Barbara Quinn is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator in the US.
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