The Nutrition Network

Importance of Fruits and Vegetables

Countless number of people are afflicted with all kinds of diseases and conditions. Such diseases include cancer, cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, diabetes and cerebrovascular accidents commonly known as stroke. However, scientists are letting us know that we can also influence the outbreak of these diseases by controlling or modifying what we consume. In other words, we need to eat more of fruits and vegetables.

For thousands of years, man has planted and consumed fruits and vegetables and now modern science is showing us that we need to take more of the agricultural commodities mentioned above. Apart from the fact that fruits and vegetables are delicious to eat, they can also be described as the ultimate medicines and drugs. For example, it has been shown that tomato contains lycopene which gives it the red color. Apart from giving tomato the bright color, lycopene is also very good as it prevents against certain forms of cancers especially those that affect the prostate glands in males.

To get the fruits and vegetables may be the main reason why some people are discouraged from consuming them. However, fruits and vegetables are quite easy to get. There are grocery stores and fruit stalls where you can purchase these products. If you want to make it more interesting, you can decide to grow your own fruits and vegetables. This will entail you having a garden in your backyard. Being a gardener is always a good thing and a nice way to exercise at the same time. As a matter of fact, if you are industrious, you can even sell your harvest and make some extra bucks. This will be in addition to the nutrients that you derive from consuming them as well.

Filed Under: Organic Food Tagged With: Fruit, Lycopene, Vegetable

Nutrition and Wellness

Talking of living well, having vitality and free of illness, various factors and components must be considered. One of the most important of these has to do with nutrition. There is no way you can feel well by not feeding properly. The body will always give you back what you have put into it and that is why it is important that you do not fill your stomach with junk or trash. You have to feed well for various reasons.

One of the most pertinent reasons in favor of good nutrition has to do with the implications it has on one’s health. When you eat what you are supposed to eat, the body grows normally and is able to fight off diseases better than with poor nutrition. In addition to this, when you eat adequate meals, you will not fall a victim of the many diseases caused by deficiency of nutrients.

Having talked about some of the benefits of feeding properly, it is also important to point out an erroneous but widespread assumption or belief. Many individuals believe that for you to feed properly, you need to be stupendously wealthy. However, the reality on ground is quite far from that. In fact, to get a balanced diet, you do not have to burn a hole in your pocket, especially when you know where to go to. For an average individual, you can purchase foods, fruits and vegetables at a local store or grocery near you at affordable prices. The important thing is to choose different food products. If you still feel this measure is just too expensive, then the next step that you may have to take is to have a garden of your own.

Filed Under: Nutrition Tagged With: Eating, Food, Health, Nutrition

Introducing Solid Foods Into a Babies Diet

Many new parents wonder when it is safe to give their baby his or her first taste of solid foods. This should always be discussed with the babies pediatrician first, but there are some general rules of thumb that most physicians go by to know if the baby is ready to try solid foods. Up until about the age of four months, a baby usually only needs breast milk or formula. This of course, can vary with each infant. If an infant is underweight or advanced for its age, the pediatrician may advise the parents that it is okay to try solid foods slightly earlier. Again, this decision should be thoroughly discussed with the infants doctor before making any changes in the child’s diet.

At about four to six months of age, a baby may begin to have more control over its reflexes, which allows it to be able to swallow easier. This in turn makes introducing solid foods safer. Up until then, choking can be a hazard with foods that are thick in consistency. Giving a baby solids before it is ready can be dangerous. Not only is choking a hazard, but allergies to foods can develop if they are introduced at too young of an age. Thirdly, a babies digestive system is sensitive, so the right foods have to be given at the appropriate times, in order to ward off negative tummy issues.

What solid foods should be given first? The general rule of thumb is to start only one solid at a time, waiting at least a week before adding another, to make sure the baby isn’t showing any signs of a food allergy. Very bland foods should be given first, such as infant cereals. Rice cereal is usually the first type recommended by pediatricians, because it is the easiest to digest. Keep in mind that the first spoon of a new solid food may cause the baby to make a face like it is being fed the most horrible tasting concoction ever! This is just because it is a brand new experience for the babies taste buds.

Filed Under: Diets Tagged With: Food, Infant, Solid

Children and Food Allergies

Food allergies in children can occur at any age. Some may develop suddenly and cause serious health concerns that require immediate medical attention, while others may only cause slight symptoms. Children can be allergic to a wide variety of foods, but there are a few that tend to cause more allergic reactions then others.

Eggs and milk are two food items that children are often allergic to, but luckily most will outgrow these allergies. Eggs tend to cause allergic reactions in children that are sensitive to the protein that the egg naturally contains. Although children that show allergies to eggs normally outgrow the condition, research has shown that these children may be more prone to developing asthma as they get older. The protein in milk is also often times the culprit when a child displays allergic reactions to the dairy product. Milk also contains whey, which can cause an allergic reaction in some children.

One of the more severe types of food allergies in children comes from a peanut allergy. This allergy can be quite serious and needs to be monitored closely. The protein in peanuts can cause the body’s immune system to backfire. The allergic child may have severe symptoms such as being very short of breath due to swelling of the throat or tongue. Peanut allergies are not usually outgrown. A child with a severe peanut allergy must be closely monitored to be sure they don’t consume not only whole peanuts, but any products that contain peanuts or peanut oil. Many foods use ground peanuts as an ingredient, so labels will need to be read in their entirety before giving the child a new food.

Another serious food allergy in children is one to seafood. This allergy can cause very dangerous symptoms, similar to those of peanut allergies. Most children that have a seafood allergy are allergic to all types of seafood, including shellfish and other salt water fish, but some may be able to tolerate one or the other with no negative side effects.

Filed Under: Nutrition Tagged With: Allergy, Child, Food

Your Child and Allergies

Perhaps you go out with your friend on a stroll down the park and he gets stung by a bee. In a matter of seconds, hives appear all over his body and you are confused as to what to do next. What you have just witnessed is known in medical parlance as an allergic reaction. Our bodies behave in ways that are awesome and intricate at the same time. All over the world, millions of people suffer from one allergy or the other.

The interesting thing with allergy is that you may not know that are even allergic to something until you are exposed to the substance. A substance that can trigger an allergic reaction is known as an allergen. Allergens are numerous and diverse in nature, they range from pollen grain to animal droppings.

Some other forms of allergies are more bizarre, like being allergic to common substances like water. Luckily, such types of allergies are exceedingly rare. As a parent, you have to watch out for clear-cut signs of an allergic reaction in your child. The signs may include wheezing, sweating and redness. Allergic reactions are easy to detect as they are triggered almost immediately after exposure to the allergen or irritating substance. It is also possible that your child can be allergic to certain kinds of food. Thus, instead of brushing off the child as being too picky and selective about food, you may do well by finding out if there is any link with an allergic reaction.

What can be regarded as the good thing about allergies is that once they are known and the allergen has been identified, allergic reactions can be completely prevented as long as the person in question is not exposed to the allergen at any point in time. As a parent, the issue of allergic reactions must not be treated lightly as it can cause anaphylaxis.

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Allergen, Allergy, Bee sting

Motherhood: Its Challenges

One of the most honorable roles that one can assume is that of a mother. Being a mother can be very fulfilling. When a mother sees her child grow up to become very successful, the joy and satisfaction cannot be compared. However, as interesting as it sounds, being a mother has its own challenges and very few occupations can be as stressful.

The stress of motherhood starts even before a mother gives birth to the child. The pregnancy is another matter in its entirety. On the average, women carry pregnancy for a period of nine months and each mother has her own story to tell concerning her own pregnancy. The nine months is usually harrowing, if you want to have an idea of how it feels, all you need to do is to strap a few kilos to your belly and walk with it for almost a year. After giving birth to the child, the real challenges then surface.

Taking care of and nursing a baby is a hectic chore but one that mothers do not shy away from. Even though it can be very annoying and stressing some of the time, mothers lovingly carry out the duties without grudge or complaining. They find it comfortable to clean the smeared clothes and pretty dresses.

It is also the mother that ensure that the child is fed properly and clean at all times. She also makes sure that the infant gets all the shots of vaccine necessary to protect the child from all sorts of killer childhood diseases. The job of a mother is one that has no retirement, it continues even after the child has married or is married out to someone else. It is always a thing of awe and wonder to think of what keeps mother going in spite of every hardship, stress and challenges, it is like they have been wonderfully made!

Filed Under: Good Mental Health Tagged With: Child, Family, Mother, Pregnancy

When your Child is Obese

In our world today, one of the most serious public health concerns is obesity. Without any iota of doubt, obesity has reached disturbing proportions in some various nations of the world and this includes the United States of America. And even more disturbing is the fact that the trend keeps rising on a daily basis. So what do you do in a situation where you child is obese?

The first thing that you have to do is to let your child accept the shape and appearance. This is to enable him or her cope with the many jeers from peers at school and in other places. Then the next step will be you visiting a doctor for medical advice. This is very important as not all forms of obesity can be attributed to eating. Some forms of obesity can be a sign of an underlying disease or condition. Thus, it is important to get an informed opinion on the case.

If a medical condition is ruled out and the cause of the obese condition is traced to consumption, then half of the problem has been solved. What you need to do at this point is to explain the whole scenario to your child and let him or her see reason why the condition of obesity is bad.

Apart from explaining to the child, you must refrain from abusing or criticizing the child for being too big or fat as this will only add to the psychological torture and this will not help a bit in reducing the child’s weight. What you have to do is to keep encouraging the child and infusing a positive perspective about the whole issue so that progress can be made.

Filed Under: Exercise Tagged With: Child, DNA, Obesity, United States

Knowing What To Feed Your Child

Upon closer observation, one will see that even though it may sound very simple, knowing what to feed your child may not be that easy and straightforward. This is particularly true if you are the kind of parent that pays attention to every detail. This is a good idea and it all boils down to the welfare of your child.

One feature of the world that we are in today is an overflow of information. For a parent who is interested in knowing a lot about how to feed your child, there are tons and tons of information and ideas out there but the important thing for you is to be able to select a method that will work perfectly for your child. To do this, there are various steps that you can take.

The first is for you to pay a visit to your personal dietician and nutritionist. It is important that you take the child along with you when you are going. Since the dietician is a professional with the needed experience and expertise, he or she will be able to work out a feasible plan on how to feed your child.

However, it must be stressed that in a situation where you cannot see a dietician or you may not even afford the fees, there is another step that you can take. This is with can be termed healthy feeding. You will ensure that you feed your child with a meal that can be classified as a balanced diet. It is also good to avoid feeding your child with junk foods. Such foods are neither nutritious nor healthy. Instead, they contribute to a poor health status. Fruits and vegetables are also important.

Filed Under: Nutrition Tagged With: Child, Health, Junk food

Your Child’s Nutrition and the Four Basic Food Groups

Most parents of toddlers state that they have a hard time getting their children to try a variety of foods from the four basic food groups. Because eating a balanced diet helps the body stay healthy and also aides in proper growth development, it’s important for children to eat a well balanced diet.

The first food group, which consists of dairy foods, are usually accepted by children more readily then foods from other groups. Because children will usually drink at least some milk, the dairy group is one of the easiest to maintain in a child’s diet. Even if the child doesn’t like milk, they will often times be willing to eat cheese. Researchers state that children should eat three to four servings of dairy each day.

Secondly is the fruit and vegetable group, in which children should eat approximately four servings of per day. This can include pure fruit juices, which most children love. Finger fruits such as grapes are usually well liked too. Fruits are naturally sweet, so children take to them more readily. Although some children will refuse to try vegetables that are served alone, many are willing to try them if a small amount of cheese is sprinkled on top. Vegetables can also be cooked into foods like spaghetti, and most children will not even realize they are eating a veggie.

Grains in the form of cereals are a great way to get children to eat at least six servings a day. This can also be accomplished by using sandwiches as a double serving. Cereals are one of the best ways to get children interested in eating enough foods from this group, as long as they don’t contain massive amounts of sugar.

Meats and/or protein should be offered to a child at least three times a day. This can be any type of food that contains protein, such as peanut butter or fish, and does not necessarily have to be a red meat.

Filed Under: Diets Tagged With: Child, Nutrition

Adding Probiotics to Your Diet for Better Health

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Probiotics are stated to be very healthy for nearly everyone. This natural bacteria helps with digestive issues and can keep the flora in the intestines at a good level, which is especially important if you are taking antibiotics. Antibiotics not only kill off the bad bacteria that is causing the illness, but also the good, which is why many patients complain of stomach problems while taking certain medications.

Although probiotics are available in a pill form, the best way to utilize them is to eat foods that contain live active cultures. The most popular food that contains this ingredient is yogurt. Read the label carefully to make sure the yogurt states that it contains live active probiotic cultures.

Other foods that contain this natural antibiotic are foods that have been fermented, such as sauerkraut or pickles. With pickles, you need to buy the kind that state that they are naturally fermented in order to get the benefits of the probiotics.This is also true for sauerkraut. Being fermented in a natural way keeps the probiotics alive and active in the foods.

If you like cheese, then you will be happy to know that probiotics are found in many types of cheeses also. Aged cheese and Gouda are excellent sources, along with some other dairy products such as soy milk and sometimes cottage cheese.

Other food sources that naturally contain probiotics are found in many Oriental style foods such as the popular soup called Miso. Kimchi, which is a Korean style of cabbage dish contains a healthy supply of probiotics also.

Introducing foods that naturally contain probiotics can be fun, tasty and healthy. Many of the foods are types that are well liked by most, while some may take a while to get accustomed to. All in all, most everyone can benefit from eating this great, natural antibiotic, but be sure to always check with your physician before radically changing your diet.

Filed Under: Diets Tagged With: Food, Probiotic