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FOOD
& NUTRITION
Food
is the fuel that keeps our bodies running properly.
What we eat supplies us with the  nutrients
we need to maintain good health. Learn how vitamins
affect your health and what foods supply the ones
you need. Fruits and vegetables, grains, meat and
fish. All the good foods we eat are chock full of
vitamins -- organic compounds that the body needs
to function normally. With few exceptions, vitamins
cannot be produced by the body, so to maintain good
health children and adults must eat a well balanced
diet. Why not simply pop a vitamin pill? According
to the Health and Human Services branch of the U.S.
Department of  Agriculture,
your primary source of vitamins should be a variety
of foods -- not supplements. This is due to the fact
that food supplies many other nutrients that we may
not yet know are vital to our health. Yet eating the
right foods, including the recommended five to six
servings of fruits and vegetables daily, is not easy
for many people. A national health survey found that
on any given day, 79 percent of the population ate
no fruits or vegetables high in vitamin A; 72 percent
ate no fruits or vegetables rich in vitamin C; and
84 percent ate no high-fiber bread or cereal. To help
you improve your eating habits, here is a list of
the vitamins we need daily, their dietary sources,
and problems that may result if deficiencies develop
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Balanced
Diet :
Helpings of first class proteins
2 helpings of vitamin C foods 4 helpings of calcium-rich
foods 3 helpings of green, leafy and yellow vegetables
or fruits ½ serving of other fruits and vegetables
4-5 helpings of whole grain and complex carbohydrates
2 helpings of iron-rich foods 8-10 glasses of water
Vitamin and Folic Acid supplements based on your doctor's
recommendation
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Vitamins
:
Vitamin A is necessary for normal
eyesight, body tissues, growth and bone formation,
and resistance to infection.
Vitamin C is necessary for the formation of collagen,
a protein that gives structure to bones, cartilage,
muscles and blood vessels, and contributes to the
proper maintenance of capillaries, bones and teeth. |
Food
Portion Guide :
Use these easy tricks to help eyeball hard-to-measure
foods, determine portions and prevent overeating |
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Calory
Chart :
Confused about carbohydrates? Tired of figuring out
which fat is good and which is bad? Before you hit
the fridge, get all your basic nutrition |
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| Note*The
material on this web site is provided for educational purposes
only and is not intended to replace the medical advice of
your doctor or other healthcare providers. Only medical
professionals who examine you can give you medical advice
or diagnose your medical problem. We do not intend to create
a physician-patient relationship. Your reliance on the information
you get from FreeMediInfo.com is solely at your own risk. If
you have a specific health question, contact your physician.
Also note that while FreeMediInfo.com frequently updates its
content, medical information changes rapidly. Therefore,
some information may be out of date. |
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