44 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • DECEMBER 5, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
Four simple ways to tune up your
nutrition and live healthier longer
Just about everyone feels like they could
use a little extra pep in their day, that
surge of energy to get things done and
enjoy their favorite activities. Th is is especially
true as we age.
However, very few people actually feel
as if they have the energy they need. Th e
stress of modern life, poor sleep habits,
consuming processed foods and less than
optimal digestion are triggering a perfect
storm for a human energy crisis.
Th ere are several simple ways to tune up
your nutrition and lifestyle habits so you
can feel better than ever. A great place to
start is with your diet.
“A healthy diet that is rich in plant
foods, whole grains and lean proteins is
always the starting point in reaching optimal
health,” says Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, an
author and internist. “At the same time,
as we get older, it’s important to understand
how our bodies change, and what
we need to do to help our bodies get
what they need to keep our systems running
well.
“However, despite our best eff orts,”
Teitelbaum explains, “it is very diffi cult
for us to get all of the nutrients we need
from food alone. Sometimes nutritional
supplements may be needed to fi ll nutrient
gaps.”
In addition to movement and a healthy
diet, Teitelbaum shares things people in
their 50s and 60s need to know to optimize
their health and feel good.
1. Your digestive system
changes as you age, so make
sure it’s getting support.
A healthy digestive tract is crucial for
overall health. As we age, our digestive
systems oft en need more support in order
to properly break down food and absorb
the nutrients our bodies need to function
optimally, according to a study published
in Oncotarget.
To get the most nutrition from the
food you eat, Dr. Teitelbaum recommends
talking to your doctor about adding a
plant-based enzyme supplement to your
regimen to support your digestive health.
GI Digest, for example, is a comprehensive
digestive enzyme formula designed to
assist in the proper digestion of proteins,
fats, starch, dairy and gluten.‡
2. Small things can make a big
diff erence for heart health.
Getting an adequate supply of omega-
3 fatty acids along with vitamin D, also
known as the sunshine vitamin, may support
cardiovascular health.‡ Because vitamin
D is best absorbed in the body when
taken with a fat source, Dr. Teitelbaum
suggests talking to your doctor about a
supplement that has a combination of
omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, like
QÜELL Fish Oil EPA/DHA Plus D.‡ Also,
be sure to talk to your doctor about other
heart-healthy habits you can incorporate
into your life, because things like daily
walks, reducing stress and increasing your
fruit and vegetable intake can all support
heart health.
3. Is your energy lagging? It
may be a simple defi ciency.
As we age, we tend to accept at face
value that having less energy just comes
with the territory. Sometimes the solution
is a simple matter of meeting our bodies’
nutritional needs. For example, one mineral
that helps the body convert nutrients
into energy is magnesium. When levels
get low, it can interfere with your body’s
ability to access its energy stores, causing
the body to work harder, as shown
in a study published in the Journal of
Nutrition.
To support your body’s metabolic
function, a supplement like Magnesium
Glycinate contains 100 mg of magnesium
in an easy-to-swallow tablet.
In addition, vitamin B12 is a nutrient
that helps your body convert food into
energy; however, as we age, our bodies
can begin to have trouble absorbing
enough B12. To support your body’s energy
needs, ask your doctor about taking
Methyl B12 Plus, a great-tasting lozenge
that rapidly dissolves in the mouth.
If your energy levels are lagging, Dr.
Teitelbaum says, it’s important to talk to
your doctor, so together, you can uncover
the root causes, and he or she can make
recommendations.‡
4. Feed your body with
real, whole foods.
Food processing destroys most of the
vitamins, minerals and other key nutrients
the body needs to function optimally.
Dr. Teitelbaum says the best thing you
can do is cut the sugar from your diet and
slowly add whole foods. Th ough most
adults should be eating at least 1.5 cups of
fruit and two cups of vegetables per day,
a mere 9 percent actually meet that target,
according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
It may sound like a tall order to work
all those fruit and veggie servings into
your diet, but break down the daily goal
into smaller parts and it may feel more
attainable. For example, just take the simple
step of adding one extra serving of
fruits and veggies to each meal. Slice
some banana on your morning cereal,
opt for the steamed veggies with your
entree, snack on veggies and hummus,
and close the meal with fresh berries.
Supplementing with a high-quality multivitamin
can also help fi ll the gaps in your
diet. Dr. Teitelbaum recommends Ultra
Preventive X as a daily multivitamin that
can help provide the nutrients you need
in their most usable forms for the body.
To address your needs and support your
health, always talk to your healthcare
practitioner about adding nutritional supplements
to your daily routine. To discover
new ways to use nutrition to tune up
your health, visit the Douglas Labs website
and watch the videos at www.douglaslabs.
com/tune-up-teitelbaum/.
— Courtesy BPT
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