Nutrition Trends Mom Should Know About

There are a lot of buzzwords flying around when it comes to nutrition lately. For instance take a look at antioxidants. Have you ever wondered just what they are.

Antioxidants are powerful substances that protect us against free radicals, which are harmful molecules in our bodies. Don’t panic. Free radicals come from pesticides, toxins and smoking, but they also are a part of aging that is not easily reversed.

Free radicals can also damage your body’s cells and can lead to early aging, diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Antioxidants from the vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals in food help stop free radicals from attacking and damaging cells. They are found in colorful veggies and fruits, black and red beans and fruit. The best source is leafy green vegetables.

Nutritionists have also been talking a lot about Vitamin D lately. Studies show that getting enough vitamin D may help decrease your risk of heart disease, multiple sclerosis, cancer and flu. This vitamin is also vital for promoting normal bone growth, reducing inflammation and helping your immune system stay in top shape. However, up to 66 per cent of us don’t get enough vitamin D for disease prevention.

Vitamin D is found in only a few foods, such as milk, margarine, fish and eggs. That’s why supplements are a good option to discuss with your doctor.

These recommendations from Health Canada. Children should get 200 international units (IU) a day; adults, 400 to 600 IU a day. The Canadian Cancer Society encourages adults to take 1,000 IU a day in the fall and winter to reduce the risk of colorectal, breast and prostate cancers.

Another buzz word is prebiotics. Prebiotics are a type of not digestible fiber that helps probiotics grow and thrive in your gut. An extract of chicory called inulin is a popular prebiotic fibre that’s added to packaged foods such as cheese, yogurt, pasta and beverages. Look for it on the ingredient panel of foods; it’s listed 
as “inulin” or “chicory root extract.” It is good for you and your kids.

Most of us consume one to four grams of prebiotics per day from the foods we eat. To up your intake, choose these foods more often: chicory, onions, garlic, soy, dandelion greens, Jerusalem artichokes, whole grain wheat, barley, and foods enriched with inulin, such as cheese, pasta, yogurt and bread.

I will get into more nutrition buzz words in my next blog.

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Friendliest Dog Breeds for Children

Welcoming a pet into your home can be an exciting Endeavour and, much like the arrival of a new child can bring you a lot of joy. However you should make sure that the breed of dog that you choose for your family is going to be appropriate.

First of all you need to decide whether or not you are looking for a guard dog, a hunter or a dog for the kids to play with. You also need to decide how high maintenance of a dog you are going to put up with.

Yet another thing to consider is that some dogs need nearly constant grooming while others require next to done. Each breed also has a unique set of behavioral and personality traits that also should come into consideration before you buy a dog.

You should also keep in mind that the larger the dog is the more it will cost to feed it!

The top friendliest two dog breeds are rather large. These are the Golden retriever and the Labrador retriever. They are great for any family because they are very tolerant, loving and loyal by nature. They love to swim and are playful like a puppy all of the time. Just make sure you walk them a lot or they get restless. They adapt well to both the city and the country.

You might also check into getting a Collie which is smaller than a Labrador. Good-natured and energetic, the collie has been a popular pet since the first time Lassie appeared on TV. They are beautiful, great with children and easy to train.

However you do need to brush this type of dog's coat quite a bit. Your collie’s working nature may require you to be creative. Keep him stimulated by asking him to fetch, herd or climb over or under something. Your collie will adapt well to city life but needs space to run around in frequently.

Yet another good choice is a boxer. They love to clown around and are very loyal. They are good city dogs because they are great guardians. They have short fur that requires very little care.

The Yorkshire Terrier is between three and seven pounds. They are great for a family because they are very loyal although they are known to be quite yappy. They are smaller lap dogs and cannot be treated that roughly by children. They are perfect for city life because they get all the exercise they need running around indoors. The challenge is to get one that is not going to bark too much!

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