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Aging and Micronutrient Deficiency

Jessica Forbes MS, CCN — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:10:30 +0000

As a nutritionist, I am continually aware of the latest and greatest supplements out there to help combat the aging process. I do agree that many of these supplements—especially those containing antioxidants—are important, but I am sometimes concerned that all the media hype around anti-aging formulas makes people forget that the basic micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) found in food and in multivitamin formulas are part of the foundation for healthy aging. Here are a few things to consider:

Our modern food supply is lower in micronutrients than it was 50 or 100 years ago because crops nowadays tend to be grown in soil that has been stripped of nutrients through over-farming or use of chemical fertilizers. To make sure you are getting the most nutritious food available, buy food as fresh as possible from local sources such as farmers markets and/or start your own backyard garden using compost as fertilizer.
All of the bodily processes that are intimately involved in healthy aging such as cell division and producing correct copies of DNA rely on a vast assortment of essential vitamins and minerals that should be found in a healthy diet. When our diets are deficient in these nutrients due to food processing or eating the wrong types of foods, it sets us up for the signs of accelerated aging caused by unhealthy cell division and damage to DNA.
A simple multivitamin formula may provide “extra insurance” to help supply your daily needs for micronutrients. Just be sure that it contains absorbable forms of nutrients and does not contain a lot of fillers. One way to quickly check the quality of your multivitamin is to look on the label for what form of calcium it contains. The “calcium carbonate” form of calcium is the cheapest form out there and is one of the least absorbable. If a multivitamin contains this form as its sole source of calcium, I usually take it as a sign that the overall formula is not as absorbable as others out there. This is not a hard and fast rule, and there are times when calcium carbonate is helpful (such as in antacids) but I personally don’t think it belongs in a quality multivitamin.

For an interesting read on micronutrients and aging, please see the article by Bruce Ames printed in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America titled “Low micronutrient intake may accelerate the degenerative diseases of aging through allocation of scarce micronutrients by triage”. The full text article is available online.

Edible Flowers and Health

Jessica Forbes MS, CCN — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:50:05 +0000

Summer is just around the corner and gardens are in full bloom! I wanted to share with you an article I found that lists different flowers that can be eaten. Edible flowers make a beautiful addition to any dish but especially salads and desserts. As an added bonus, edible flowers are not just visually pleasing – they also supply the nutritional benefit of phytonutrients similar to those found in colorful fruits and vegetables.
Here is the chart – enjoy!
http://homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/blflowers.htm

Almost Garden Time!

Jessica Forbes MS, CCN — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:00:47 +0000

The weather has been so gorgeous here in Iowa the past few days that my thoughts keep wandering to gardening…and more importantly (at least in my food obsessed opinion), to the delicious produce that comes out of gardens! Here is a link to a great website that gives tips on how to garden no matter where you live or how much space you have, and it even provides resources for where to find locally grown produce to supplement what you grow in your own garden. Enjoy!

http://coolfoodscampaign.org/your-tools/garden-guide/

“Healthy on a Budget”

Jessica Forbes MS, CCN — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:35:17 +0000

With all this talk about the economy, I thought it would be fitting to give you ideas for living healthy on a budget. This is an easy and healthy way to live, even in times of plenty!

Shop at farmer’s markets.
Buy meat, eggs, and dairy directly from a local farm if possible. Go to http://www.westonaprice.org/localchapters/index.html to find a Weston Price chapter leader in your area who should be able to refer you to sources of local food.
Learn how to make your own household cleaning and personal care products. Many websites have info, and now we have our own expert here at the farm – look for articles by Annie on our website in the near future.
Buy groceries in bulk through buying clubs. Your local health food store or a Weston Price chapter leader may be able to refer you to an existing club or help you find out how to start your own.
Plant a garden, even if it is only a small pot of herbs grown on the kitchen counter.
Make your own meals at home and limit eating out. If needed, spend a little bit of money on quality storage containers to motivate you to pack food from home instead of going out. For example, a nice thermal mug that you use for coffee each morning might keep you from stopping at the local coffee shop on your way in to work.