Essential Vitamins and Substitutes You Probably Can’t Live Without
We have far too many amateur dietitians and far too few real ones speaking out on what is best for us to eat. On the one hand, we take in too much salt, sugar, and fat. On the other hand, our food is deficient in essential vitamins such as vitamin C, D, and all the other alphabets that apparently don’t come standard in the typical bowl of alphabet soup.
We are told that the problem is convenience foods. That is any food that takes less than an hour and five pans to prepare. At the same time, we are inundated with meal kit subscription plans that are supposed to be better versions of convenience food. Some of those kits are just heat and serve, little more than glorified TV dinners. Mix it in a blender and away you go.
Sometimes we buy all the right food and still don’t get the nutritional value from them because we don’t cook it in an optimal way. Sometimes, the problem is our modern methods of growing food. Whatever the reason, we are eating better than ever, and getting less benefit from what we eat. Here are some tips for getting back what nature intended:
Vitamin C
The most direct approach to getting essential vitamins is also the most obvious and effective way to do it: Take supplements. In the case of vitamin C, take vitamin C tablets. Not all vitamin tablets are created equally. Some are very large and hard to swallow for some people. Some are chalky and rough and unpleasant to take. Some are inexplicably expensive. Once you find the brand that works for you, stick with it. Good products that keep you healthy are worth paying for.
There are numerous science-based benefits to vitamin C. One of the most useful benefits is that it improves your immune system and can help you fight off sickness. Less known is the fact that the body does not naturally produce vitamin C. We have to bring it in with supplements, or with vitamin C superfoods such as bell peppers, strawberries, oranges, and spinach. Vitamin C is not harmful. So feel free to add even more to your diet and supplement regimen.
Besides vitamin C your body will also need a lot of iron, zinc, and other vitamins. For this reason, you can add some extra vitamins to your lifestyle by taking vitamin capsules or intravenous therapies. You can easily choose what is best for your body or just contact a doctor to get the right treatment and composition. With the help of IV therapies, your body will be able to absorb a higher percentage of the nutrients, which can lead to improved overall health. Depending on your location you can try treatment wherever you want. For example, Scottsdale IV therapy can help the people who live in Texas to get quick and safe treatment right in their homes, so they will not have to miss work or travel long distances to get the treatment.
Good Bread Without the Gluten
One thing your body doesn’t need is gluten. If you are one of the unfortunate souls with celiac disease, gluten is definitely off the menu. Gluten does have benefits that mostly have to do with flavor and texture. You can tell the benefit immediately after having a piece of gluten-free bread that wasn’t done well.
Fortunately, there are plenty of recipes for gluten-free foods that will make you forget why we ever needed them in the first place. Obviously, gluten-free banana bread tops the list. If it doesn’t, you should modify your list. Just be sure your pantry is stocked with gluten-free ingredients. They are a lot easier to come by than they once were. You no longer have to give the side-eye to your mate’s lunch. Your lunch does not have to suffer, and neither do you.
More Flavor, Less Sugar and Salt
We would all eat a lot healthier if healthy foods tasted like our favorite ice cream. If brussels sprouts tasted like tacos, you couldn’t stop your kids from eating them. The key is to add flavors you like that don’t raise your blood pressure and glucose levels. Try adding umami instead of salt. You can also experiment with fresh herbs like basil, cilantro, and tarragon.
You can use vegetables to add natural sweetness to food. You would be surprised at how much sugar you don’t need to use just by grating some carrots into your muffins and cakes. Beats and sweet potatoes are obvious candidates for sweeteners. And don’t forget about the onions. They have a surprising amount of sugar. You need precious little effort to coax out the sweetness.
It is almost certain that no matter how conscientiously you eat, you are not getting enough of the vitamins and minerals that will keep you at your best. Find the best supplements that are right for you, especially those not produced naturally in the body. Eliminate the things that do you harm like gluten. No one actually needs it. And make healthy food choices more appealing by seasoning and sweetening them with healthy substitutions you will never have to regret.
