As we grow older, osteoporosis becomes a major concern. Having brittle and fragile bones mean that even a simple fall can potentially be fatal or lead to other complications. Sufficient calcium in your daily diet is important, as it helps prevent bones from becoming weaker and brittle later in life. Unless you are consciously including enough milk, which means three glasses or more, or other dairy products daily, you can never be sure that you have fulfilled your ideal daily calcium intake requirement. In fact, studies have pointed out that, generally, there is a lack of calcium intake among Malaysians' diet. One Way of fulfilling your daily calcium intake is through calcium supplements. When it comes to the question of whether tablet or liquid is better absorbed by the body, bear in mind that the human body needs to absorb and utilize the calcium that you ingest, either from food or supplements. In this case, liquid calcium supplements dissolve well, as these are broken down before reaching the stomach. This means that the calcium is more readily available when it reaches the small intestine for absorption. On the other hand, a hard solid tablet that does not disintegrate properly might possible pass the absorption site of the small intestine. This limits the absorption of the calcium. Calcium plays an important role in our health, particularly as we grow older. Therefore, it is prudent to start ensuring that you get enough calcium at a young age to avoid complications associated with weak and brittle bones.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Calcium For Health
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
How to Choose Healthy Food
Choosing healthy food is simple if you just remember a few guidelines. First, select fresh, unprocessed whole foods. This includes fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains and legumes, raw nuts and seeds, and fresh sprouts. Raw, unprocessed foods are live foods. They contain the greatest amount of vitamins, minerals and enzymes and provide the body with the greatest amount of nutrition. Select animal foods-eggs, poultry and meat-that are free range, grass fed and hormone and antibiotic free. Choose fish with the lowest amount of mercury contamination.
Choose organic foods over commercially produced food if possible. Organic foods are the purest and healthiest foods. They are not contaminated with pesticides. They generally have a higher nutritional content. What's more, they are not irradiated or genetically engineered.
Organic foods are often referred to as natural foods, but "natural" does not mean it is organic. There is no official definition for "natural" food, so food producers and manufacturers may call anything natural, even if there is nothing natural about it.
When you buy packaged food, it is important to always read the label. Even though the package may say "healthy," "all natural," "low fat" or any other statements implying that the product is healthy, it may still be unhealthy and contain harmful ingredients. The only way you will know for sure is if you read the list of ingredients. The Nutrition Facts on the label tells you how much protein, carbohydrate, sugars, fats and calories are in the product. It doesn't tell you anything about the chemical additives in the product that cause serious illness or adverse reactions, such as aspartame, BHA, BHT, FD&C colors, MSG, BVO, nitrites and nitrates, Olean or Olestra, and sulfites to name just a few.


