Foods Better Than a Multivitamin
By Sara Butler
Multivitamins may seem like a good idea. After all, you can get an entire day’s worth of vitamins and minerals in one pill. But if something is too good to be true, it usually is. Research published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine found that multivitamins don’t really help to lower your risk of heart disease, age-related cognitive decline, or cancer. Plus, getting too much of some nutrients can actually be bad for you. So the right thing to do is to eat a balanced diet that provides the vitamins and minerals you need naturally. Here are some foods that can help you get what you need in a day.
Almonds
Almonds contain Vitamin E, essential fatty acids, and magnesium – enough to get the daily recommended amount you need. Children and adults can have just two ounces of almonds a day to get the good stuff they need to be healthy. Plus, snacking on these nuts is a great way to keep from snacking on unhealthy things, such as chips.
Shellfish
If you can tolerate shellfish, then load up on mussels, oysters, clams, and scallops for vitamins and minerals. They’re also low in calories and fat while managing to be high in protein. A handful of raw oysters provides you with 10 times your daily requirement of Vitamin B12 and zinc, and five times your daily recommended amount of copper. You’ll also get a day’s worth of manganese, selenium, and iron. Shellfish are also high in omega-3 fatty acids and low in omega-6 – a combination that happens to be incredibly good for your heart and your brain. Try to get shellfish in your diet at least once a week for maximum benefit!
Quinoa
Quinoa is a great source of fiber, protein, and essential amino acids. It also packs in a decent dose of heart-healthy nutrients such as manganese, folate, magnesium, copper, zinc, iron, and phosphorus. It can help your body to deal with chronic inflammation, too, since it’s packed with antioxidants. There’s a reason the Incas called it the grain of the gods!
Fermented Vegetables
Do you eat fermented foods such as kimchi or sauerkraut? Well, you should be! These vegetables are fermented with bacteria that increase the vitamins in the foods. One serving of fermented vegetables will provide a full daily dose of B Vitamins, Vitamin C, and amino acids such as methionine and lysine. The bacteria also happens to be good for the bacteria that live in your gut – so it’s like natural probiotics for gut health, too!
Food is medicine, so forget the pills and just eat a diet that is rich in the things your body craves and needs!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Pasadena, Tex.