Sunday, January 22, 2012

The ABCs of life

We are what we eat - indeed to a great extent. There is plenty of debate around the subject of inherited genes and the deficiencies that come with it. Well, that is something that is not under our control - but there are things that we CAN control!! For example, what we eat. Cooking is not all about taste and presentation - it a fine balance between taste and health benefits.


Over the past few months, I have benefited from understanding the good (and bad) of what we eat and I thought I would share my findings/learning with you. It makes me a better cook – one who cooks a good blend of health and taste.

This is not a comprehensive list and in no way a recommendation for any health issues - please consult your health provider for any health related diet. This is my learning from my own reading which I want to share.

Vitamins are organic compounds which are needed in small quantities to sustain life. It can be fat soluble or water soluble.

The fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K — dissolve in fat and can be stored in your body.

The water-soluble vitamins — C and the B-complex vitamins (such as vitamins B6, B12, niacin, riboflavin, and folate) — need to dissolve in water before your body can absorb them. The body can't store these.  Your body  need a fresh supply of these vitamins every day.

Minerals minerals are inorganic elements that come from the soil and water and are absorbed by plants or eaten by animals. Like calcium.

VITAMIN A Vitamin A prevents eye problems, promotes a healthy immune system, is essential for the growth and development of cells, and keeps skin healthy.

Found in : milk, eggs, liver, fortified cereals, darkly colored orange or green vegetables (such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and kale), and orange fruits such as cantaloupe, apricots, peaches, papayas, and mangos.

VITAMIN D strengthens bones because it helps the body absorb bone-building calcium.

Found In sunlight on your skin! You can also get vitamin D from egg yolks, fish oils, and fortified foods like milk

VITAMIN E antioxidant and helps protect cells from damage. Promotes healthy red blood cells. Not to mention it is great for your skin.

Found in vegetable oils, nuts, and green leafy vegetables, avocados, wheat germ, and whole grains.

VITAMIN K helps blood clot.


Found in beef liver, green tea, turnip greens, broccoli, kale, spinach, cabbage, asparagus, and dark green lettuce.

VITAMIN B 12, B6, Thiamin (B1), Niacin ( B3) Riboflavin (B2) and Folate :

Vitamin B12 helps to make red blood cells and helps nerve cell function.

Vitamin B6 is important for brain and nerve function. It helps the body break down proteins and make red blood cells.

Thiamin helps the body convert carbohydrates into energy and is necessary for the heart, muscles, and nervous system to function effectively.

Niacin helps the body turn food into energy. It helps maintain healthy skin :):)

Riboflavin is essential for turning carbohydrates into energy and producing red blood cells and great for your eyes.

Folate help make rbc and dna. great for your joints.

Found in potatoes, bananas, beans, seeds, nuts, red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, spinach, and fortified cereals, dried beans, soy food, peas, whole grains like wheat germ, peanuts, legumes (like peas and lentils), dairy products, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, asparagus and rice.

VITAMIN C needed to form collagen, a tissue that helps to hold cells together. Helps promote healthy bones, teeth, gums, and blood vessels. It helps the body absorb iron and calcium, aids in wound healing, and contributes to brain function.


Found in : red berries, tomatoes, kiwi, red and green bell peppers, broccoli, spinach, and juices made from guava, grapefruit, and orange.

Sources : http://www.umm.edu , http://kidshealth.org, http://www.nlm.nih.gov, http://www.webmd.com

Print Friendly and PDF

6 comments:

  1. Thanks a lot for posting such an informative post. Really appreciate it.

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

    ReplyDelete
  2. very useful post

    Aarthi
    http://yummytummy-aarthi.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a fantastic and informative post!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks a lot for aggregating all the good food that we can eat, to benefit.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to browse. I appreciate all your comments, feedback and input. Hope you enjoy your stay :))

hugs!
simi

Related Posts with Thumbnails
 
SITE DESIGN BY DESIGNER BLOGS