Healing

Vitamins and minerals are the building blocks of good health. But the heavily processed foods that are so common in today’s modern diet are stripped of these nutrients, leaving many people nutrient deficient despite meeting (or exceeding) their daily calorie needs. The accepted solution is to take supplements created in a lab, but the dosage and interactions can be confusing, and supplements are loosely regulated and not always foolproof, especially since our bodies are designed to receive nutrients from natural, whole foods.

Eat Your Vitamins features fifty key vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients essential to your health. You will find clear definitions of each nutrient along with the role it plays in the body, how it is best consumed and absorbed, recommended daily doses, and detailed lists of foods and natural sources that contain the vitamin along with a recipe for a nutrient-rich meal. Ditch the synthetic supplements and make the right choice about how to properly feed and fuel your body.

Over 80 superfood entries updated with the latest health research discoveries.

Since this comprehensive reference was first published, major studies have reinforced the importance and potential value of obtaining nutrients from foods rather than supplements. Many of the studies have discovered previously unknown health benefits of great significance, such as a reduced risk for dementia with the consumption of blueberries.

In all, over 80 entries in this new edition have had their “Healthy Evidence” section updated to reflect the outcome of major reputable medical studies, including:

Garlic supplements are beneficial for cirrhosis patients
Cherries will lessen the frequency of gout attacks
Soybean consumption is effective in lowering cholesterol
Kale inhibits the growth of human colon cancer cells
Studies have also confirmed that Chia seed is a superfood for its protective effects against heart disease.

Superfoods is organized in broad categories: Vegetables; Mushrooms; Legumes; Fruits; Nuts and Oils; Herbs and Spices; Grains; Meat, Seafood, and Dairy; Beverages and Treats; and Nutritional Supplements. Each entry notes the food’s origin, its seasonal availability and nutritional values, tips on how to add it to an eating plan and how to optimize its nutrients and phytochemicals.

Nutrient breakdowns are derived from the USDA’s Nutrient Database, and “The Healthy Evidence” refers to published peer-reviewed studies available from the US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health database. The book closes with Nutritional Tables, a quick-reference guide to the nutritional content of the “superfoods” listed in the book. Star ratings indicate the most notable nutrients in each superfood. With Superfoods, readers will get the most nutritional bang for their buck.