Salt, Sodium and Your Health
People often think that salt and sodium are the same things when they read a food label. To be accurate, however, those tiny white crystals in your shaker are about 40% sodium and 60% chloride. Sodium itself is one of the fundamental elements found in nature. However,...
Overview of Vitamin D
Dubbed the "Sunshine Vitamin," vitamin D comes naturally from exposure to the sun. It's also found in a few foods or can be taken directly as a supplement. There are many benefits to this incredible vitamin, and it can help prevent certain illnesses and diseases. A...
Symptoms of a Vitamin D Deficiency
Perhaps you’re getting enough sleep, and yet you seem unusually fatigued during much of the day. Even taking a nap doesn’t help. The cause of the problem may be a lack of vitamin D. Fatigue is a well-identified symptom for those who run low on this essential nutrient...
Important Macrominerals
There are all sorts of minerals that the body needs to function. Most of these essential minerals cannot be made directly by the body, so it is important to eat foods that contain them regularly. When planning a diet rich in minerals, people need to consider both...
What is Vitamin E?
Vitamin E is the name for a collection of fat-soluble nutrients that are found naturally in certain foods, added to some foods, or taken as a dietary supplement. The vitamin is known for having antioxidant properties that play an important role throughout the body,...
How to Talk to Kids About Vitamins
Teaching children about nutrition at an early age can set them up for a future of healthy eating. In addition to talking about things like caloric needs, parents should also bring up vitamins. When discussing vitamins and minerals with children, here are a few tips...
What Are Fat-Soluble Vitamins?
People require vitamins and nutrients in their diets to live their best, healthiest lives. Some of these vitamins that people need are fat-soluble vitamins, or vitamins A, D, E, and K. They're called fat-soluble vitamins because they are soluble in organic solvents....
Important Vitamins and Nutrients During Pregnancy
As a parent, you want your child to succeed from the very beginning. One way to do this is to start when you're pregnant! The proper diet will provide both you and your growing child with the vitamins and nutrients you need to stay in good health. Some mothers may...
Understanding Nutrition Labels
Nutrition labels are standardized in the United States. They contain lots of good information. Understanding how to properly interpret them makes it possible for people to make better and more informed decisions about what they eat. Knowing how to read a nutrition...
The Benefits of Vitamin A
Vitamin A is an essential vitamin found naturally in several staple foods such as dairy products, vegetables, fruits, and liver. The body needs the vitamin for immune functioning, reproduction, vision, growth, and body and organ development as well as cell...