Smart Nutrition for Immune Support

Smart Nutrition for Immune Support

September 16th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Food does more than keep us healthy; it also provides our bodies with the necessary tools to do the same. Good nutrition supports the body’s ability to fight off illness, balance good and bad bacteria, and prevent infection. While simply eating a healthy, balanced baby food diet comprised of all four food groups will definitely keep your baby’s body strong, there are certain foods that provide a special boost of defensive nutrients. These foods will help your baby to have a stronger and more effective immune system.

Immunity Boosting Vitamins

Most people know that vitamin C is a powerful fighter against illness. It increases the number of white blood cells, which are vital to fighting off infections and also helps your body create important antibodies. Making sure your baby is getting enough vitamin C can help prevent illness and also shorten those that can’t be avoided. Citrus fruits are great sources of vitamin C, but the acidity might be hard on your baby’s stomach. Choose other options that are also full of vitamin C such as papaya, kiwi, cantaloupe and strawberries.

Although it isn’t as well known as vitamin C, Vitamin E is also an important immunity booster that can keep your baby healthy. Vitamin E helps your body to create the cells that fight germs and even cancer. Vitamin E is found in grains, nuts and vegetable oils. Almonds are a great sources, so consider trading your peanut butter for almond butter – although peanut butter provides a good dose of vitamin E too. Another excellent source that is perfect for babies is avocado.

Other Antioxidants

In addition to vitamins E and C, which are both antioxidants, there is another powerful antioxidant that can provide an incredible boost to your baby’s natural defenses against illness. A group of phytonutrients known as caretenoids, specifically beta-carotene, are incredible immunity boosters. Beta-carotene helps the production of those important illness-fighting cells, as well as destroying free radicals, which can lead to all kinds of problems including cancer.

The body also uses beta-carotene to create vitamin A, another great immune boosting vitamin. All of the caretenoids in this family of nutrients have similar protective effects on the body and are thought to be one of the best cancer fighters around. Look to foods like carrots, mangoes, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes.

Omega-3 fatty Acids

There has been a great deal of buzz around these essential fatty acids in recent years for good reason. Not only are they great for your heart, they also have immune boosting powers as well. Kids who get enough omega-3’s generally get fewer respiratory infections than those who don’t. Get these healthy fats in foods like fish and nuts. Almonds are on the best nut sources of omega-3’s, which makes another argument for almond butter as a peanut butter substitute. When choosing fish, look to choices like salmon, which is high in omega-3’s while low in mercury, which can be a danger in some fish sources.

The right baby foods really can make a difference in how often your child gets sick as well as the duration of illness. And it’s not just minor illnesses you will be helping your baby to avoid, but also far more serious problems both now and later in life. Supporting the body’s natural defenses against infection with these incredible immune boosters will keep your baby healthy and happy for a long time.

Food Aversions in Pregnancy

Food Aversions in Pregnancy

July 30th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Many pregnant women will experience some sort of food aversion. Sometimes the aversion is so strong that the woman can not even stand the sight or smell of the food in question. Just like cravings, aversions generally occur in the first trimester, although the dislike of the food in question may continue well into the pregnancy, the response should become milder.

Aversions are normal, and generally can be blamed on the hormones that are running wild in a pregnant woman’s body, especially in that first trimester. While they are nothing to worry about, they do often cause pregnant women to miss out on foods that provide much-needed nutrition. If you are experiencing an aversion to a healthy food, or even an entire food group, you don’t have to choke it down. Just make sure you fill the nutritional gap in your diet with other healthy foods that supply the same nutrients.

Some of the most common food aversions are to foods like dairy, eggs, meat, and green vegetables. These are all important to a healthy and balanced pregnancy diet. Fortunately, with a little effort you can replace the nutrients found in these foods with other choices.

Skipping the Dairy Case

If it’s just milk you can’t stand, you have a number of other dairy choices to fill the void, such as cheese and yogurt. But if your aversion extends to all things made with milk, you will have to turn to some other foods to make up the difference. Hopefully you aren’t also turned off by leafy green vegetables such as spinach, as they are a great source of calcium. You can also choose calcium-fortified orange juice, and add a supplement just to be safe.

Temporarily Vegetarian

Meat is a very common culprit in food aversions, but it’s also an important source of protein and iron. If it’s just red meat, turn to poultry and fish. If you can’t bear those either, you can meet your needs by adding legumes, beans, and soy products to your diet. Again, an iron supplement might be a good idea, since it is such a vital nutrient during pregnancy. You might also find an aversion to eggs accompanies your dislike of meat, but if not, they are a great source of protein as well.

Turning Green

When those healthy green vegetables are the last thing you want to think about putting into your mouth, you are unfortunately missing out on a great source of nutrition. Make up for them by eating a wide variety of the fruits and veggies you can stomach. You can also try hiding the greens in other foods. Add finely chopped greens to pasta sauces or soups, and you probably won’t even realize they are there. If you can’t trick yourself, ask someone else to do it for you. If you don’t know where the offensive food is hidden, you might not be so bothered by it.

Food aversions can be annoying, especially when they involve foods you may have really enjoyed prior to your pregnancy. The good news is they will likely fade as the pregnancy progresses. As long as you make smart changes to your diet to replace the nutrients from the foods you can’t stand, your food aversions will remain just an annoyance and not a problem for your baby.

Healthy Snacks to Beat Afternoon Hunger

Healthy Snacks to Beat Afternoon Hunger

July 29th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

When afternoon hunger strikes and you are stuck at work, it can be all too easy to turn to a vending machine full of junk food. When you are pregnant, however, it becomes even more vital that you avoid the urge and turn to a healthy snack instead. If you plan ahead and have a convenient, delicious and nutrient-packed snack handy, you will find it much easier to skip the junk.

When you are planning for your afternoon snack at work, try to choose a snack that will keep you full until dinner. Include protein and fiber, and avoid snacks that provide only simple carbs. A snack high in sugar will not keep you feeling full for long, and may cause a crash that will contribute to that afternoon feeling of fatigue. So skip that tempting chocolate bar and go for one of these snack options instead. They will give you sustained energy that lasts for the rest of your work day, and won’t have you looking for another snack.

Fresh Fruits and Veggies

Snacks that include fruits and veggies are a great option. They are portable, healthy, and when combined with the right foods can provide the fiber and protein combination that will prevent you from being hungry again in an hour.

Try apple or pear slices with a cup of low fat vanilla yogurt for dipping. The yogurt will provide the protein, while apples and pears are high in fiber and lower in sugar than some other fruits. Many grocery stores sell pre-sliced apples which can be very convenient if you are short on time.

Pair celery sticks with peanut butter for a tasty, crunchy snack. The peanut butter provides both fiber and protein, a double benefit. You can also enjoy other fresh veggies such as carrots and broccoli along with your celery for more nutrition and more filling fiber.

Go Nuts

Instead of cheese and crackers, pair a few slices of cheese with a handful of nuts like almonds for a satisfying snack that will keep you going until dinner. A trail mix that combines dried fruits with nuts is another perfect afternoon snack. Make up a batch at home and then divide it into small plastic bags. They will be easy to grab on the go, and also make sure that you don’t overeat – this type of snack makes it all too easy to keep eating!

Use some caution when choosing nuts however, as some that have been salted may contain high levels of sodium.

Choose Whole Grains

A whole grain bagel, English muffin, or even toast topped with peanut or almond butter is another great afternoon snack choice. These foods aren’t just good for breakfast! Any of them will provide lots of fiber, and once again peanut butter comes to the rescue to add flavor and protein.

Another great snack mix idea: mix together a whole grain cereal like Cheerios with some raisins and low-salt pretzels for a delicious combination of flavors that will kill your afternoon hunger quickly.

Keep some of these snack options ready at your desk at all times. Those that don’t require refrigeration are easy to keep handy so you can reach for one even if hunger hits when you are too busy to leave your desk. Smart snacking will keep your body fueled throughout the day and avoid empty calories.

The Role of Protein

The Role of Protein

July 3rd, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

The body needs many things to survive and to function at peak performance. One of the most important of these is protein. Protein is a macronutrient; this means that our bodies need quite a bit of it, as opposed to micronutrients like vitamins, which are not needed in large quantities.

Protein is a part of every cell in the body, and is used to perform many vital tasks, such as the creation of enzymes and hormones, and the building of tissue. Our bones, muscles, skin, and blood are all created using protein. Proteins are made up of amino acids, some of which our bodies are incapable of producing; we must provide these to our bodies through our diet. Unlike fat or carbohydrates, the body does not retain stores of protein, so we much continually replace it.

How Much Protein Do We Need?

The amount of protein recommended daily ranges from 10-35%, depending on age and gender. While high protein, low carbohydrate diets have been popular in recent years, the truth is that our bodies do not need to be overloaded with protein. A child between 1-3 years old requires on 13 grams of protein a day, while even an adult male needs only 56 grams. This isn’t really a lot, when you consider that one cup of milk contains 8 grams of protein. A child who has several glass of milk a day will easily meet and even exceed protein requirements.

What Foods Provide Protein?

The average person gets more than enough protein through their diet. Foods high in protein include eggs, meat, poultry and fish, dairy products, beans and nuts. As long as your diet contains some of these foods on a regular basis, you are likely getting enough protein.

A vegetarian or vegan diet can present some difficulties in getting enough protein, but it is certainly possible to do so. It simply requires a good understanding of nutrition and what non-animal sources of protein are available. In addition to the options above, tofu, some fruits and vegetables, and many grains contain protein as well.

Are All Proteins Equal?

There are two types of protein sources. They are incomplete, and complete proteins. A complete protein contains all of the amino acids our bodies require to survive. Complete protein sources are generally animal proteins such as meats, eggs, and dairy products.

It is possible to obtain all of the amino acids through a variety of other protein sources by mixing and matching these foods into your diet to ensure you are getting everything you need. Those who do not consume animal products will need to make sure various sources of proteins are incorporated into their diet to ensure the amino acids are all represented.

Some sources, while listed as complete proteins, may not be the best choice because they can be high in fat. A steak is a complete protein, but is also high in saturated fat. Dairy products too can be sources of excess fat. In moderation, these are excellent sources of protein and can be incorporated into a healthy diet. Leaner sources of protein, such as chicken, are a better choice for daily consumption, however.

Although the diet industry has pushed protein supplements in the form of bars and shakes for years, for most people the better choice is a healthy diet incorporating high quality, low fat protein sources. Synthetic sources may contain other ingredients that are neither necessary nor healthy.