DO YOU SWALLOW?
I am talking about VITAMINS!!!!
Your body needs a minimum amount of vitamins and minerals each day to remain healthy and function properly.
Do you think that taking vitamins on a daily basis will automatically make you healthy?
Many
people rely solely on supplements as the magic bullet for optimal
health. However, simply taking vitamins does not cancel out bad health
habits. Vitamins alone cannot undo the risks involved with smoking,
excess alcohol, obesity and/or lack of physical exercise. If someone
believes that taking a supplement will shield them from the harm of
these bad behaviors, they are sorely mistaken.
However,
supplements can address the lack of vitamins and minerals in the body.
But, beware. Don't overdo it. Taking megadoses of vitamins are useless
and possibly harmful. For example, taking too much calcium can cause
kidney stones and may increase your risk for heart attacks.
Additionally, some vitamins and minerals rely on the same mechanisms for
absorption. So, if you flood your body with one compound, you may
interfere with the absorption of other nutrients.
A
report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that
more than 90% of Americans have the recommended levels of several
essential nutrients in their bodies (such as vitamins A, D and folate).
Many of the foods that we eat are fortified with a variety of vitamins
including folic acid, calcium, vitamin D and niacin.
Supplements
are not a substitute for the nutrients found in whole foods. If you eat
a varied diet, it's difficult to OD on the good vitamins and minerals
that you get from foods. For example, spinach is filled with iron as
well as other nutrients. But, an iron supplement is only iron.
I
am not saying that taking vitamins is bad for you. In some instances,
vitamins can help fill nutritional gaps. Furthermore, it can be a good
idea to take a supplement if you no longer eat certain food groups
because of certain dietary regimens. I would definitely suggest you
consult with your primary care doctor for testing if you are questioning
your levels of nutrients.
Try
a making yourself a great salad that has lots of vitamins and minerals.
Enjoy it as a side dish for dinner and then have the leftovers for
lunch the next day!
Wheat Berry Salad:
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups hard wheat berries
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
1/2 cup tart dried cherries, chopped
1 scallion, white and green parts, chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley leaves
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
In a large pot combine the wheat berries and enough water to come 2
inches over the wheat berries. Bring to a boil and cook uncovered for 1
hour, or until tender. Drain and let cool. Toast the walnuts in a
medium dry skillet over medium-high heat until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine the wheat berries, walnuts, celery, dried
cherries, scallions, parsley, olive oil and lemon juice. Season, to
taste, with salt and pepper.
Calories 360; Total Fat 17 g; (Sat Fat 2 g, Mono Fat 6 g, Poly Fat 8
g; Protein 9 g; Carb 46 g; Fiber 8 g; Cholesterol 0 mg; Sodium 15 mg
Excellent source of: Fiber, Vitamin K, Manganese
Good source of: Protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Copper, Iron
