Breast-fed Babies and Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D has been a popular topic in nutrition this past year because people who have low levels of vitamin D also tend to have a greater risk of diseases such as multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease - mostly found in older adults. But a recent study also shows that breast-fed babies are very likely to be deficient because human milk to normally low in vitamin D, which is crucial for healthy bone development so babies who do not get enough may have weaker bones. The human body makes vitamin D when it is exposed to sunlight. How much sunlight do you need? A few minutes of sun exposure two or three times per week is probably sufficient for most of us. People who avoid sunlight, always use sunscreen, or have darker skin can take vitamin D supplements or consume foods such as milk and cereals that are fortified with vitamin D.
Just keep in mind that when you take vitamin D supplements, more is not necessarily better. Vitamin D is toxic is massive amounts because your body can store it fairly well. Just take the amount stated on the bottle, or talk to a healthcare provider first.
Photo © Sam Hatch
What Makes a Healthy Protein So Healthy?
You might have read about good carbs vs. bad carbs and good fats vs. bad fats, but what about protein? Not so many articles talk about good proteins vs. bad proteins. That's probably because the proteins that are found in the foods you eat are all pretty similar. Your body will happily break most of the the proteins down into their tiniest components, which are then used to make new proteins in your body.
So what makes a protein source healthy? The fats that naturally accompany the protein and the cooking methods you use to prepare your them. So, baked salmon is a terrific protein source, but a fish stick isn't.
Not all of the best protein sources come from animals. Nuts, seeds and legumes, such a soybeans and dry beans are good protein sources too. Learn more about what makes a protein source healthy.
Related Articles
Daily Nutrition TipPhoto © Mitch Hrdlicka / Getty Images
FDA OKs Irradiation of Spinach and Lettuce
The US government will now allow food producers to use radiation on lettuce and spinach to kill E. coli and other germs that cause food-borne illness in humans. Irradiation can be an effective means of reducing food-borne bacteria by briefly exposing foods to a radiant energy source like gamma rays or electron beams. Irradiation has been safely used on meat such as beef and poultry for awhile, but food producers have thought that irradiation might leave greens a little wilted.
The FDA, the AMA, WHO and other organizations support irradiation of foods, stating that it is both safe and effective. Since spinach has been linked to several E. coli outbreaks, it makes sense to step up food safety to prevent any more outbreaks. Some consumers don't trust the use of radiation on food, though, seeing it as another scary modification of a healthy food. What do you think -- safe or scary?
Poll:Do you think irradiation of foods is safe?
Photo © Florin Bleiceanu
Fast Food Ban in Los Angeles
In the last couple of years we have had bans on sodas in schools and a ban on trans fats in New York City. Last month the city council of Los Angeles decided to prevent new fast food restaurants from opening in one of the poorer neighborhoods, South Los Angeles. City council members believe this will help keep the number of fast food restaurants from overtaking the neighborhood and allow residents to have more healthy restaurant options. Critics say it is unfair to dictate what people can or cannot eat and some believe it is wrong to assume that people who live in poorer neighborhoods may be intellectually incapable of making good decisions about food and health.
Personally, I support the bans on sodas in schools in the US and trans fats in New York City, but this one makes me a little uneasy. While it wouldn't break my heart to see fast food restaurants banned everywhere, the idea of only choosing specific neighborhoods worries me a bit.
Tell me what you think.
Poll:Do you support the fast food ban in South Los Angeles?
Photo © David McNew/Staff/Getty Images
Picnics, Barbecues and Food Safety
Don't you just love outdoor barbecues and picnics? Maybe a big holiday party with friends and family, a romantic picnic for two, or even a fun family outing with the kids. There are still a few weeks of summer left, so enjoy eating outside, but don't forget about food safety. Keep everything clean and remember that potato salad was never meant to sit out in the sun for three hours.
Have a safe and healthy picnic with these tips for picnic and barbecue food safety.
Poll: Do you like picnics and barbecues?
Photo © Stockbyte/Getty Images
High Fiber Foods
Choosing foods that are high in fiber is a great way to maintain your weight and keep your digestive system healthy. High-fiber foods essentially include whole vegetables, whole fruits and whole-grain products. Dietary fiber helps to fill you up and keeps you satisfied longer after each meal, so losing weight is much easier - plus many high-fiber foods are also low in calories. Sounds great, right? Read more about high-fiber foods...
Photo © Andre Lubbe
Can Beer Be Good for You?
Beer is a very popular beverage all around the world. There are dark beers, light beers and beers with fruit flavors.
People have been brewing and drinking beer for thousands of years. Beer is actually brewed from some pretty healthy ingredients, so can drinking beer be good for you? Maybe, as long as you don't overdo it.
Poll:What is your favorite style of beer?
Photo © Greek Golangco
Fish For Preventing Heart Disease
A study just published by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows that Japanese men are much less likely to have clogged arteries than American men (or even Japanese men living in the United States) even though all of the groups studied had similar cholesterol levels and rates of smoking. What was the difference? The men in Japan ate fish every day while the men in the United States ate fish one or two times per week. Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are considered to be the key nutrients in fish that keeps your heart and arteries healthy.
Poll:How do you get your omega-3s?
- Mostly from fish and seafood
- Mostly from plants like flax
- Mostly from fish oil capsules
- I don't pay attention to how much omega-3 I get
- View Results
Photo © Lotus Head
High Fructose Corn Syrup or Table Sugar?
High fructose corn syrup is used in soft drinks and many processed foods because it is cheaper than regular sugar.
Since it is high in fructose, some people claim that high fructose corn syrup is largely responsible for our bigger waistlines. So is regular white sugar better? Some higher-end soda companies use "real cane sugar" in their products. But is there really much difference between high fructose corn syrup and regular white table sugar? Learn more about table sugar and high fructose corn syrup.
Poll:Do you go out of your way to avoid high fructose corn syrup or regular table sugar?
- I avoid both
- I avoid high fructose corn syrup, but not regular sugar
- I avoid table sugar, but not high fructose corn syrup
- I don't avoid either one
- View Results
Photo © Gina Lee
What Is One Serving of a Fruit or Vegetable?
You probably know that you need to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day, but do you know how big each of those servings are? A reader asks about the size of a serving of fruits or vegetables.
Photo © Stasys Eidiejus