Search Results for: Proper nutrition
What Is Normal Body Fat Percentage for Women?
Adipose tissue, or fat, is essential for the body to function properly. According to the American Council on Exercise, women need a body fat percentage of 10 to 12 percent for the tissue to adequately protect the body, regulate temperature, provide insulation, produce sex hormones and supply enough fuel to carry out activities. Dangers arise when the body stores too much fat. The American Heart Association states that a higher body fat percentage can lead to greater risks for developing diabetes, strokes, gallstones, high blood pressure, cholesterol and heart disease, even among women categorized in the “normal” range for weight and body mass index (BMI). A study released in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that levels of inflammation, which indicates a future risk for obesity, heart disease and metabolic disorders, correlated with a woman’s percentage of body fat and not with body weight or BMI.
About the Benefits of Prenatal Vitamins
When a doctor diagnoses a pregnancy, one of the first things she will do is prescribe a prenatal vitamin. While most vitamins and minerals are best received through good nutrition, it is not always possible to get everything a growing baby needs from food alone. However, some women dislike taking prenatal vitamins for various reasons. Whether considering taking a prenatal vitamin or discontinuing use, it is important to fully understand the benefits of prenatal vitamins for both you and your baby.
Foods High in Iron for Pregnant Women
Getting sufficient iron in your diet when you’re pregnant helps prevent iron-deficiency anemia. Pregnant women use up all the nutrients from the foods that they eat very efficiently to provide nutrition to their babies, and iron is no exception. Iron helps carry oxygen throughout your body and to your baby. If you are taking a prenatal vitamin, it probably contains at least 27 mg of iron, which is the daily amount recommended by the National Institutes of Health for pregnant women. It’s also important to eat foods high in iron, since the mineral is more easily absorbed from food. Eat your iron-rich foods with a food source of vitamin C, such as citrus juices, broccoli, bell peppers and cabbage. Several studies, including “The Role of Vitamin C in Iron Absorption” by Hallberg et al. in the “Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research,” have shown that ascorbic acid (vitamin C) helps you absorb iron. And when you eat foods high in iron, avoid eating coffee, tea, dairy or soy products at the same time, as these foods are high in minerals and other substances that block the absorption of iron. Also talk to your doctor about the upper and lower limits of iron intake from food and supplement sources that are best for you.
Low-Fat Diet for Children
Helping your child eat properly can be a daunting task. But with obesity rates for children off the charts, it is one parent “to-do” you cannot ignore. The early onset of obesity-related disease like diabetes and high blood pressure are enough to scare any parent. Here are the Top 10 Tips for creating a low-fat diet for your children.
Foods That Increase Your Sex Drive
Since the time of the ancient Greeks people have believed that certain foods possess a unique quality to induce arousal. While most traditional aphrodisiacs are stimulating in appearance alone, it turns out that many foods have chemical properties that increase your sex drive. While some of these foods elevate the romantic mood for the night, others are capable of offering a long-term sexual boost.