wellness
FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 21, 2017 • WELLNESS • THE QUEENS COURIER 31
Top 4 nutrition predictions in the New Year
Several food and nutrition trends were
in the spotlight this year, including the
continued rise of plant-based diets, nondairy
ice creams and superfoods that are
blasts from the past - legumes, apples
and cabbage. It can be easy to experience
nutrition whiplash in the New Year, but
don’t be a victim. Get a jump-start on
understanding the top nutrition trends
that will impact quality of life and make
it easier to add important vitamins and
nutrients to the body.
“Th e start of a fresh year always ushers
in new opportunities to make one’s health
better,” said Elizabeth Somer, MA, RD
and author of “Eat Your Way to Sexy.”
“Study aft er study consistently fi nds that
most Americans don’t meet even minimum
standards of a balanced diet, so
it’s important to be aware of advances
in nutrition, so you can optimize your
health all year long.”
Th ere are four key nutrition predictions
that will top 2018.
No. 1 - Personalized nutrition
A one-size-fi ts-all approach that can be
applied to vitamins, minerals, omega-3s
and other essential nutrients doesn’t align
with what research reveals about individual
nutrient needs. Many factors tweak
the basic recommendations, including
age, gender, health status, medication use,
stress level, sleep habits, exercise routines
and more.
For example, when the body is exposed
to ultra violet (UV) light, it manufactures
vitamin D; however, as we age, the body
becomes less and less effi cient at making
vitamin D. Th is is when dietary and
supplement sources become increasingly
more important while the needs for the
vitamin increase.
It is no wonder there will be a growing
trend and demand for personalized nutrition
recommendations in 2018. Nutrition
innovators - like www.vitaminpacks.com
- are already responding by developing
comprehensive nutritional assessments to
curate unique combinations of vitamins
and nutrients designed specifi cally to the
individual consumer.
No. 2 - Awareness of drug
nutrient interactions
According to a recent paper published
in the European Journal of Nutrition,
vitamins and other nutrients play a crucial
role in metabolism - the process in
the body that supports overall health.
How vitamins and phytonutrients interact
with prescription medications can
impact metabolism.
In one example, antacid medications
can interfere with vitamin B12 and calcium
absorption, so requirements for these
and other nutrients may increase, yet people
don’t make the adjustment in their
supplement plans. Th erefore, it is important
to consult a health care practitioner
before adding a dietary supplement, so
prescription medications and vitamin
supplements can live in harmony.
No. 3 - Go with your gut
Probiotics are live bacteria that are good
for health, especially the digestive system.
It may be easy to think of bacteria as something
that causes diseases, but the body
is full of bacteria, both good and bad.
Probiotics are the “good” or “helpful” bacteria
because they have been known for
years to help keep the gut healthy. What’s
more, research has shown that the benefi ts
of probiotics may span more than the gut,
including the circulatory, hormonal and
nervous systems. Probiotics are naturally
found in the body to varying degrees, and
there are high levels of probiotics in some
foods and supplements.
Encouraging the growth of probiotic
bacteria is important in maintaining
an eff ective intestinal barrier, enhancing
nutrient absorption and blocking toxins
and pathogens. A focus on gut health
and spotlighting food and dietary supplements
that support a healthy belly will top
2018 nutrition trends.
No. 4 - Vitamin K2
Don’t confuse this K2 with the mountain
in the Himalayas. Vitamin K2 is an
overlooked vitamin that helps control calcium
movement in the body and supports
healthy arteries and bone health. It is found
at sub-optimal levels in the traditional diet,
but can be found at high levels in fermented
foods, like sauerkraut and the Korean dish
kimchi. Vitamin K2 will no longer be overlooked
in 2018. Ask a health care practitioner
about adding this important vitamin
to the diet, especially if fermented foods
aren’t served regularly for dinner.
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to predict
what will be the hottest nutrition trends
in 2018; it only requires a look at the
latest nutrition research and connecting
with a health care provider or registered
dietitian.
Courtesy BPT
