Nutrition Zone

  Vitamin B12 is essential for the health of the brain and nervous system. It is also important for the production of DNA and red blood cells. If you don't have enough vitamin B12 in your diet, your body will start to produce an abnormal form of the nutrient called homocysteine. Elevated levels of homocysteine are linked with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and various other health problems. A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause numerous unpleasant symptoms and lead to serious health problems if it’s not treated in time. But what are the signs of this common deficiency? And how do you get enough of this important vitamin? Read on to learn everything you need to know about vitamin B12 deficiency and its underlying causes, as well as how to prevent and treat it naturally with vitamin B12 supplements or through diet changes. The things you can get from food Vitamin b12 food, such as  meat and seafood, eggs, leafy greens  ( vegetables with vitamin b12) , and so...

There are many ways to tackle malnutrition, but by far the most effective method is to take an all-encompassing life-cycle approach. With this approach, every aspect of food production and consumption is addressed at every stage of life, including pregnancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Malnutrition can be tackled by getting everyone involved in all aspects of life to benefit from a healthy diet. A life-cycle approach targets all age groups ensuring that nutrition interventions are tailored to specific age groups, you can best address malnourishment. Most malnourished children are 2–5 years old, but some areas also have malnourished older people, especially in rural and urban slums where food security problems may be more acute due to poverty. A life-cycle approach ensures that all ages are reached with appropriate interventions. For example, supplementary feeding programs for under 5s should be complemented by school feeding programs for primary school children or c...

A micronutrient is a nutrient that is too small to see with the naked eye but is essential for human health. Micronutrient deficiencies can cause serious health problems, and can even lead to death. Poor dietary habits, smoking, and heavy drinking can also increase your risk of developing a micronutrient deficiency. When it comes to planning your diet, most people think of calories and their macronutrient breakdowns. But there are other types of nutrients that you need to pay attention to micronutrients, also known as vitamins and minerals. Deficiencies in these can lead to all sorts of health problems, which can be hard to spot because they’re often caused by low levels over long periods of time. What are the consequences of micronutrient deficiency? Micronutrient deficiencies can have serious consequences on both mental and physical health. Mental health consequences of micronutrient deficiencies include anxiety, depression, impaired cognitive function, and decreased brainpower. Phys...

As the number of people who are on a high-carb diet increases, there are more and more people who are looking at its disadvantages. Many people have found that they have felt better when they lower their carbohydrate intake. If you are on a high-carb diet and considering lowering your carb intake, here are some of the disadvantages to this type of diet.  Get Your Free Keto Cookbook (Physical Print Version)! There is increasing evidence that excess carbohydrates can be stored as fat. When you consume too many carbohydrates, your body converts the extra into simple sugars which are then stored in your liver. With the overabundance of sugar in your liver, the sugar is turned into fat and builds up in the liver. This will eventually lead to fatty liver disease and weight gain. If you have type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes, a high-carb diet can lead to complications from eating too many carbohydrates. A high-carbohydrate diet can cause high blood sugar levels because certain carbohydrates...

  The Health Benefits of a High Fiber Diet W hy does dietary fiber matter? Dietary fiber, also known as roughage, is the indigestible part of plant foods that moves food through your digestive system, helping it work properly. Fiber consists mainly of the parts of plant foods your body can’t break down or absorb. A high-fiber diet is good for you in many ways. It can help prevent heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, lower cholesterol levels, and can also help people who are overweight lose weight. In addition to helping with weight loss, a high fiber diet helps prevent colon cancer and other digestive problems. Eating more fiber may also reduce your risk of developing kidney stones and possibly even breast cancer. Fiber is the part of plant foods that your body cannot digest. There are two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibers dissolve in water, while insoluble fibers do not dissolve in water but absorb water as they move through the digestive tract. Soluble f...

The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes  The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes was first agreed upon in 1981 and was updated in 2001 and 2008, most recently at the 34th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. At its heart, the International Code is an important statement on ethics and values that holds far-reaching implications not only for the health of infants and young children across the globe but also as a matter of civil rights. Here’s what you need to know about this ground-breaking convention and why it matters so much.    How the code helps mothers?  The marketing code that governs breast-milk substitutes was developed to ensure that mothers are supported in their choice to breastfeed. For example, as a result of a consumer campaign led by Nestlé and UNICEF more than 40 years ago, companies agreed not to market infant formula in health facilities where mothers would be relying on free supplies. This simp...

The Power of Maternal Nutrition Why does What You Eat Matter to Your Baby? Did you know that how you eat during pregnancy can directly affect the baby growing inside of you? That’s right your diet, even before you are pregnant, has a huge impact on what your child will look like and how he or she will be in the future. While many people know that nutritional deficiencies can result in birth defects, there is also plenty of research to suggest that an overabundance of certain nutrients especially during the first trimester can also have dramatic effects on your unborn child’s development as well as his or her risk of developing certain diseases later in life. Pregnancy requires more calories If you’re carrying a baby, your body has to provide nutrition to two people instead of one. A safe target is 300 calories per day more than your pre-pregnancy weight. A healthy pregnancy weight gain also depends on what trimester you’re in, you should be gaining around 1 to 4 pounds per month during...