Some Facts about Nutrition - HealthyLife

How much we know about nutrition and nutrients? Sometimes we think we know everything about foods that consume and at one point we all will realize that it is not true. Simple food facts are very important to know for the benefit of our health.

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Vitamin D from Sun?

Our skin is able to synthesize vitamin D with exposure to ultraviolet-B rays from the sun. The form of vitamin D produced by the sun is not biologically available until it undergoes two changes. The first, which takes place in the liver, converts vitamin D to 25-hydroxyvitamin D or calcidiol. The second, which takes place in the kidney, converts calcidiol to 1,2,5-dihydroxyvitamin D or calcitriol, which is the biologically active form.  several factors such as sunscreen with a sun protection factor above 8, age, darker skin pigmentation, northern latitude greater than 40 degrees and the winter season reduce the production of vitamin D in the skin. Most vulnerable to low vitamin D status are breast fed infants, elderly and institutionalized individuals, obese individuals and African Americans of all ages.

Why we do add lemon to tea?

Adding lemon juice or vitamin C to green tea increases the amount of antioxidants available for the body to absorb by more than five times. According to studies, antioxidants in green tea may help combat atherosclerosis and heart disease and lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Several studies have shown that both green and black teas help protect against many forms of cancer. And animal studies suggest that green tea may help prevent or slow the development of type 1 diabetes. And, Purdue University researchers found that adding lemon juice, other citrus juice, or vitamin C helped the body absorb as much as 13 times the healthy catechins that is present in green tea. The addition of lemon juice caused 80 percent of the catechins to remain.

 Is Coconut good fat?

Despite its saturated fat content, coconut oil considered as a healthy fat that enhances the healthy heart and weight loss. It contains 50% of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) in the form of lauric acid that boosts immunity, sparks metabolism and burns in the body fast. Did you know that Indian curry leaves boiled in coconut oil applied to hair reduces hair loss and give healthy hair?

Ginger as anti-inflammatory agent?

Did you know? Research conducted by Journal of pain from Science direct in 2010 found that ginger can reduce exercise induced pain by up to 25%.  Ginger is in use medicinally for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine in India as a natural anti-inflammatory food. So how you use ginger? Take 5 grams of fresh ginger or 1 tsp of dried ginger, in divided doses throughout the day. Fresh or dried ginger can be added to vegetable fries, curries, soups or made into tea.

 Is there a perfect diet?

We are all unique… and subtle differences in genetics, body type, culture and environment can affect which type of diet we should eat. Some people do best on a low-carb diet while others may do fine on a vegetarian high-carb diet. The fact is, what works for one person may not work for the next. To figure out what you should do, a little self experimentation may be needed. Try a few different things until you find something that you enjoy and that you think you can stick to. Different strokes for different folks!

Bottom Line: The best diet for YOU is the one you get results with and that you can stick to in the long term http://authoritynutrition.com

Soda and osteoporosis linked?

Did you know? Drinking soda leaches calcium from bones. This result in a condition called osteoporosis that is nothing but lower mineral density in the bones. In addition similar to cigarettes they discolor the teeth and destroy tooth enamel.