Getting to know the basics...

Today's post will be by Alina's best friend, Adrienne, who hails from Texas but currently resides in California.

Hello! To give you a little background info about me, I'm a certified yoga instructor with a masters in American Art and Literature now working as a supplement counselor in southern California.  While this isn't my first time working with natural health, I continually learn new things everyday, especially as trends come and go (Atkins anyone?).  Vitamins and supplements can be tricky and overwhelming as we start self-diagnosing all the things we'd like to improve, but there are three basics I recommend to everyone for foundational health: a good probiotic, your omegas, and a multivitamin.
 

Working in the natural food industry has always been an interesting place full of interesting people- the jocks, the old women with flaming red hair that want to live forever, mothers who want their children to be perfect, and then the rest of the normals who just want to take care of themselves day to day.  For those of us in that last category, there are some basics that everyone can benefit from.  

 
We'd like to think we can eat healthily enough to get our vitamins and minerals, but with the stresses of everyday life and overproduction of foods, we actually miss out on a lot of those vitamins and minerals our body craves.  This is where a good multivitamin comes in. 

Then there are the omegas: your fish oils, primrose oils, borage oils, and flaxseed oils.  Generally, go for fish oils (the best are derived from smaller fish: anchovies, sardines, etc., but salmon's always a good choice as well.  Less chance of mercury poison in these.).  But if you're a vegetarian or vegan go for flaxseed oils.  When you look for a good omega, look at the back and look at the amount of DHA's and EPA's.  DHA is for your neural tissue; builds up your brain, etc.  Then EPA is for your heart, skin, and hair health. 

Lastly, your probiotic: the good bacteria in your digestive system.  With all of the antibiotics that we take and the overprocessed foods, the good bacteria that helps us digest our food gets wiped out and we get left with all sorts of digestive problems.  With a good probiotic, the flora in your system gets replaced and your system gets a boost in the right direction. 

Of course, all of these will vary according to quality and cost, but just know that most of the time you get what you pay for.  All in all, though, it's better to have something than nothing.  

What do you take to keep you healthy?

To "D" or not to "D", that is the question....

Do you love the sun as much as I do? Because I live in DC, I don’t get to the beach as often as I would like (growing up in Miami has ruined me).

I am sure that you are aware that the sun provides our bodies with Vitamin D. But are you aware that most people are Vitamin D deficient? While being out in the sun is a great way to get Vitamin D, it is not the only way (you can supplement by taking it in pill form or by the foods you eat). And with reports of skin cancer and sun damage on the rise, we are not getting the adequate sun exposure needed to benefit us (well, those of us who live in the southeastern States usually do a little better).

Vitamin D is actually one of the more important vitamins that we don’t get enough of in our systems. But what does it do exactly?

• The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus.
• Vitamin D is absolutely necessary for the growth and development of bones and teeth.
• It is essential for the proper absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorus in the body; both are important to the health of the skeleton.
• Vitamin D promotes bone mineralization with a number of other vitamins, minerals, and hormones.

(Reference)

Vitamin D also helps control glucose levels, which are directly tied to diabetes. Diabetics found with low Vitamin D levels also had little control of their diabetes. More and more doctors are recommending that their diabetic patients use a Vitamin D supplement to help their diabetes.

I can’t tell you how much Vitamin D you need (only your doctor can do that), but I can recommend that you go see your doctor and get tested if you need a Vitamin D supplement. Its a simple blood test that should be done at least one a year, during your yearly checkup (ask your doctor to specifically look at your Vitamin D levels).

Good luck!

For more information:

What is Vitamin D?

The Sun!

Vitamin D and Diabetes

Are You Deficient?