Weight Loss – 7 Essential Nutrients

There are several essential nutrients missing from the diets
most people eat. Replacing them with vitamin supplements doesn’t
make up for the synergistic effects of nutrients found in food.

Fiber

Fiber is the indigestible part of vegetables, fruits, and whole
grains. Whole grains and cereal fiber can lower your heart
disease risk by 30%. To increase the fiber in your diet to the
recommended 14g for every 1,000 calories eaten, have a 1/2 cup
serving of Fiber One cereal and add more beans to your diet with
lentil soup. Use whole grain bread and add some fruit and
vegetables to your meals.

Magnesium and Potassium

Magnesium and potassium are linked to blood pressure control,
protection from osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes and
stroke. To add magnesium, have a half-cup of bran and cooked
spinach daily. For potassium, eat sweet potatoes, white
potatoes, white beans and bananas.

Calcium

Calcium provides the raw material for building your teeth and
bones. It prevents bone-thinning osteoporosis, contributes to
healthy blood pressure, and can reduce the risk of colon cancer.
To have the right amount in your diet, drink three glasses of
low-fat or fat-free milk every day, or have eight ounces of
fat-free yoghurt and 2-3 ounces of low-fat cheese each day.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A cares for and maintains our eyes, the linings of the
respiratory, intestinal and urinary tracts, and the quality of
our skin. To add more vitamin A to your diet, add
darkly-pigmented foods to your daily diet. These include
carrots, spinach, kale, winter squash, and a medium baked sweet
potato. They do not include lettuce and french fries.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is necessary for our body to create collagen, a glue
that holds our skin, bones, blood vessels and skin together. It
also helps to make brain chemicals, neutralize damaging free
radicals, and metabolize cholesterol. Vitamin C may also help
the heart and reduce arthritis and diabetes. To add vitamin C to
your diet, simply add a glass of orange juice or an orange every
day. Other helpful foods with vitamin C are kiwifruit,
cantaloupe, Brussels sprouts, strawberries, red or green bell
peppers, and broccoli.

Vitamin E

Sufficient vitamin E also neutralizes free radicals to protect
cells from damage, plays a role in the immune system, can help
prevent the common cold, and can lower the risk of Parkinson’s
disease. Foods healthy in vitamin E include almonds, sunflower
kernels, and sunflower oil in salad dressings, which helps you
gain the nutrients from the vegetables and carry the vitamin E
into the bloodstream.

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