Food is fuel for your body and some foods provide a great nutritional boost when paired together!
Food is fuel for your body and the type of nutrients you consume determines how well your body performs. Some meals can turn your body into a sputtering, clunker that barely makes it a mile down the road before shutting off. Alternatively, other meals can turn your body into a supercar hugging every turn and zipping down the highway with ease.
A healthy diet consisting of fruits, vegetables and lean protein is a great start to achieving a sports car body, but strategically eating the right nutrients together will ensure Formula One performance.
Iron is an essential mineral that performs many duties and is a part of all cells in our bodies. For example, iron carries oxygen from our lungs throughout our bodies and helps our muscles store and use oxygen. Also, iron is a fundamental part of many enzyme functions such as digestion. When our bodies do not have enough iron, many parts of our bodies are affected.
Besides regularly eating iron-rich foods, you can also consume foods that help your body absorb iron better. Vitamin C is one nutrient proven to increase iron absorption when consumed at the same time as iron. Most animal protein contains heme iron, a type of iron that your body easily absorbs. Iron from plant sources is called non-heme iron and its absorption is greatly increased when combined with vitamin C.
Sources of non-heme iron:
Sources of vitamin C:
Suggestions for meals to increase your iron intake:
Vitamins come in two different varieties: water- and fat-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water and are not stored in the body. Examples of water-soluble vitamins include B-complex and vitamin C. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in your body for long periods of time and include vitamins A, D, E, and K.
While fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies are rare in the United States, it is important to ensure you consume a proper amount of these necessary nutrients. Vitamin D deficiency is quickly becoming an issue as people stay inside more often and use sunscreen when outdoors.
Dietary fat is essential for fat-soluble vitamin absorption. To increase absorption, combine healthy fats with foods that contain vitamins such as A, D, E, and K.
Sources of fat-soluble vitamins:
Sources of healthy fats:
Suggestions for meals that incorporate healthy fats and fat-soluble vitamins:
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