Nutritional Supplements Are Important For Optimal Health

It’s estimated we are receiving only 40 percent of the nutritional value of food nowadays. Some reports suggest this is untrue while many reports go even farther by saying this figure is actually lower. In any case, unless you are fortunate enough to have a garden close by with organic fresh food you can harvest and eat on a daily basis, I believe the food available in the supermarket does indeed lack in nutrition.

Many fresh foods travel great distances and many foods are processed to increase shelf life. To obtain the highest possible yield, producers are forced to rely on chemical fertilizers and pesticides for their crops, while other producers use growth hormones, antibiotics, and inhumane confinement for animal production. (By the way, from what I understand about antibiotics given to animals destined for the dinner table…they are not necessary if the animals are kept in clean, un-crowded environments where they are able to stretch their legs and get fresh air and sunshine daily. Another reason to shop organic.)

The Real Secrets To Long-Term Weight Control

Now that the holiday season is over, many people may be noticing their clothes have gotten a little tighter around the waist and perhaps gained a few extra pounds from over-indulging. Some will have made New Year’s resolutions to lose weight and some will have made the resolution to get more exercise. These are both great resolutions and easy to keep, as long as they are included as part of an on-going health routine.

We are constantly inundated with all the ads on television, radio, and in magazines and newspapers, about how ‘this plan’ or ‘this product’ or ‘this new exercise routine’ is the ideal way to lose weight. And what about all the reality shows of heavy people parading themselves in front of the cameras hoping this will be the way to loose those extra pounds. Let’s face it. North Americans are preoccupied with their weight. Even though tens of billions of dollars are spent on weight loss products and services annually, North Americans are gaining weight faster than they’re losing it, and the incidence of obesity is on the rise.

Have Yourself A Merry Green Chistmas

The human body is very complex, therefore it’s important to nourish it with the proper nutrition it needs to perform optimally and maintain good health. To quote Dr. H. E. Kirschner, MD, “There is absolutely no substitute for greens in the diet! If you refuse to eat these ‘sunlight energy’ foods you are depriving yourself, to a large degree, of the very essence of Life.”

Green leafy and cruciferous vegetables are packed with a powerhouse of nutrition for whole body health. They are rich in vitamins (including vitamins C, E, K and many of the B vitamins), minerals (iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium), protein, unsaturated fats, phytonutrients (including beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, which protect our cells from damage), chlorophyll and antioxidants. Consuming green leafy and cruciferous vegetables can help build our immune system and can dramatically prevent disease such as cancer and heart disease. Some of the more popular leafy green and cruciferous vegetables include: broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kohlrabi, turnip, rutabaga, kale, radishes, watercress, spinach, parsley, collards, and sprouts such as alfalfa sprouts. Calorie for calorie, they are one of the best sources of nutrition available.