Three steps to beat afternoon sugar cravings
You know the drill. It’s 3.30 pm in the afternoon. You’re staring at your computer…
It’s no secret that a healthy diet results in a stronger immune system. But what vitamins and food do we specifically need to defend our bodies against colds and flu this winter?
Research shows that adequate intake of vitamin C can build a healthy immune system and defend your body against disease.
It probably won’t stop you from catching a cold, but you’ll be more likely to recover from it quicker and experience milder symptoms.
Vitamin C helps fight infection by:
Vitamin C is one of the most bountiful vitamins found in fruit and vegetables and as such it’s really easy to meet your body’s requirements. Vitamin C is best eaten through whole foods and the fresher the food is the higher the vitamin C content. The longer the fruit and vegetables are in storage or at room temperature the less vitamin C they contain.
The RDI (recommended dietary intake) for adults is 45mg of vitamin C per day. One medium-sized orange has approximately 69mg of vitamin C so one orange a day will definitely help keep the doctor away!
Other meal and snack ideas to ensure sufficient vitamin C intake are:
Other recipes to try:
Other sources of vitamin C to eat regularly:
Oranges, mandarins, lemons, limes, rockmelon, honeydew melon, cherries, kiwi fruit, mangoes, papaya, strawberries, tangelo, tomatoes, watermelon, cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, bean sprouts, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, red and green capsicums, peas and potatoes.
Beta carotene is known as pro-vitamin A. This means that when you eat beta-carotene it gets converted into vitamin A by your liver.
Research shows that adequate intake of vitamin A can actually help prevent colds and flu from even taking hold. This is because vitamin A protects our mucous membranes.
Sound a bit technical? Mucous membranes line our mouth, nose, throat and breathing passages and thus strong mucous membranes are more resistant to viruses and bacteria that can cause infection there. It is also involved in the production of tears, saliva and sweat which also contain antiviral and antibacterial properties.
Beta carotene is generally found in yellow or orange vegetables. It’s so abundant in these vegetables that you’ll have no problems in meeting your body’s vitamin A requirements.
The RDI for adults is 900ug of vitamin A per day for men and 700ug of vitmain A per day for women. One large carrot has approximately 1200ug so one carrot a day will also help keep the doctor away!
Other meal and snack ideas to ensure sufficient vitamin A are:
Other recipes to try:
Other sources of Beta-carotene to regularly eat:
Carrots, sweet potato, spinach, grapefruit, brussels sprouts and broccoli.
A final defender against colds and flus is lycopene.
This a phytochemical found fruits and vegetables with a number of health benefits including the building of a healthy immune system.
Other sources of lycopene to regularly eat:
Tomatoes, cherries, red capsicums, watermelon, kale and strawberries.
You know the drill. It’s 3.30 pm in the afternoon. You’re staring at your computer…
Canberra’s school canteens just earned themselves the label of the most unhealthy in the country….
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