Magnesium: The forgotten mineral
Filed under: Diet, Prevention, Research
If I were to ask you to list five essential minerals, I'd put money on the fact that you wouldn't mention magnesium. This is because you, just like me and everyone else, seem to only remember this mineral from the periodic table, not from the label on our vitamins. Iron, Zinc -- those we remember. But, magnesium, not so much. That being said, it may not be a bad idea for us to keep this unpopular mineral fresh on our minds, as its consumption may be linked to our cardiovascular health.
In an 18-year study, French researchers found that men who had the highest levels of magnesium in their blood were 40 percent less likely to die young than those men with the lowest levels. The researchers suspect that this could be due to the fact that low magnesium levels are related to greater inflammation -- which is known to cause heart disease and cancer.
The bigger problem is that an estimated 56 percent of the population doesn't consume a sufficient amount of magnesium -- probably because they forget about it in the first place. To make sure that you're not part of that population, be sure to get around 300mg of the mineral per day. Fortunately, you can get half of that by just eating a small portion of pumpkin seeds.
Great taste has its benefits
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Diet, Products
Did you know there are 6 different ways to enjoy Diet Coke with added nutritional benefits? Diet Coke is building up its brand to include essential vitamins and minerals for the health-conscious Diet Coke lovers. Allow me to introduce you to Diet Coke Plus!
Diet Coke Plus offers automatic health benefits with the great taste Diet Coke drinkers have come to expect. Each serving provides 15% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of niacin, and vitamins B6 and B12 and 10% of the RDI for zinc and magnesium. After a little investigating - the vitamins and minerals in Diet Coke Plus might truly payoff. Low magnesium is tied to increased diabetes risk and zinc plays a key role in glucose metabolism. Vitamins B6 and B12 assist in protecting the body from nerve damage from diabetes. In fact, vitamins B6 and B12 showed a positive influence on vibration perception and nerve conduction speed (NCV) in people with diabetic neuropathy.
Coca Cola realized that Diet Coke drinkers are increasingly looking for more beverage options. Coke decided to remove the guilt from the pleasure. With benefits including: increased glucose metabolism, reduction of diabetes risk, and enhanced nerve perception -- move over Verizon. Diet Coke Plus is asking - can you feel me now??
Apricots: good for your heart
Filed under: Diet, Prevention, Nutrition
It's hard to believe such a sweet, tiny little fruit is such a nutritional powerhouse, but when it comes to protecting the heart through nutrition, the apricot is a powerful weapon. Apricots contain potassium, beta carotene, magnesium, and copper which are important to controlling blood pressure. Not only that, they're also are fiber-rich, which means they help keep cholesterol levels in check as well. And while fresh produce is always a good choice, eating dried apricots means you're getting a more concentrated dose of all that nutrient-rich goodness. So pack some apricots (dried or fresh) for an afternoon snack or keep some in your car to tide you over on your morning commute and know that you're doing your heart a favor while you enjoy their summery sweetness.