52 THE QUEENS COURIER • WELLNESS • SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
wellness
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. This
is especially true as we age.
However, very few people actually
feel as if they have the energy they
need. The 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.
There 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 efforts,”
Teitelbaum explains, “it is very difficult
for us to get all of the nutrients
we need from food alone. Sometimes
nutritional supplements may be needed
to fill 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 QÃoeELL 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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