KTK-Nutrition

Watch commercials on TV and you will see one advertisement after another for supplements.   Supplements for brain health, to alleviate pain, to promote better memory, better sleep.   People take supplements for heart health, strong muscles, strong bones, and many other reasons.   But what supplements work and what supplements not only do not work but may even be harmful?   Are there really supplements that can support healthy aging?   Consumer Reports has a great article , “7 Anti-Aging Supplements to Try” in their September 2024 magazine.   The article notes as we age, our bodies change and some of us may be on restrictive diets. *Certain health conditions may prevent or reduce some nutrients from being absorbed, like vitamin B12. *As we age, we may eat less, taking in less nutrients than we may need. *Ability to make new bones slows but we still need calcium and vitamin D. Food is the best way to get the nutrients we need.   The article not...

Collagen seems to be very popular right now.   Turn on the TV and you are bound to see some ad for a collagen supplement.   But do you need a supplement or can you get collagen from food?   Why do you need collagen?   Are there nutrients that promote the formation of collagen?   The March 2024 edition of Environmental Nutrition has a great article, “Health Benefits of Supplemental Collagen” by Registered Dietitian, Caroline Thomason.    Other helpful articles include Health Benefits of Collagen ,   WebMD.  What is collagen and why do we need it?   Collagen is a protein that plays a vital role in the health of your skin, bones, joints, and other body parts. Collagen protein makes up about “30% of your body’s protein”.   Collagen has several important functions including: Improving skin elasticity and hydration Boosting muscle mass Strengthening hair and nails Building block of skin, muscles, and your bones, also tendons and lig...

Are you getting your daily vitamin C?   Growing up everyone had juice glasses in their homes and almost everyone drank some real, 100% juice for breakfast.   This could be orange juice, tomato juice or grapefruit juice.   Now, juice glasses are a rarity in people’s home.   And, rather than real, 100% juice, the people that do drink “juice” often choose a fake juice or a fruit drink that contains little or no juice.   But you do not have to drink juice to get enough vitamin C.   Many fruits and vegetables are rich in C. What is vitamin C?   Vitamin C is an essential vitamin that is also known as ascorbic acid.   What does “essential” mean?   It means your body does not make vitamin C and you need to “eat it to get it”. Since it is water-soluble vitamin, your body does not store it and you should eat some vitamin C rich foods every day.   How does vitamin C help keep you healthy? Some people hear “vitamin C” and they think of colds...

As we age, we get wrinkles.   An who wants a lot of wrinkles?   Are there foods you can eat that would help prevent wrinkles?   What are some foods that dermatologists and dietitians recommend?   My sister sent me a great article, 10 Best Foods to Prevent Wrinkles, According to Dermatologists .   There are a lot of good articles written by nutritionists about foods you can add to your day to help prevent wrinkles.   As we age our skin loses collagen and elasticity.   There are foods that can help fight cell damage and even foods that help prevent wrinkles when going out in the sun.   I call them “sunscreen” foods.   As Mayo Clinic notes:   There is some evidence that certain vitamins in our diet help protect your skin.   More study is needed on the role of nutrition, but it’s good to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.    In addition to foods, remember to use sunscreen and wear a hat.     I use sunscreen on ...

Enjoy some vitamin C rich foods every day. Most people know we need vitamin C daily.   Are you getting the vitamin C you need each day?   Just because a fruit drink is labelled rich in vitamin C, it doesn’t mean it is a healthy choice.   What foods and beverages have vitamin C and why do our bodies need vitamin C? What is vitamin C? You may see “vitamin C” on a label or you may see its scientific name, ascorbic acid, on a label.   Our bodies don’t make vitamin C so we must get this important vitamin from the foods we eat or the juices we drink.   Why do our bodies need vitamin C? Healthy Skin : Vitamin C is important to our bodies in so many ways.   Want healthy skin?   Then eat foods rich in vitamin C as vitamin C helps our bodies boost collagen production.   To make collagen, your body needs vitamin C.   Vitamin C not only supports collagen production, it helps stimulate collagen production .   Vitamin C also protects your ...