This Webber Wednesday, We're Talking About Antioxidants!

Fight free radicals with the antioxidant power of healthy eating!

Anything that can help prevent cancer and help us age gracefully is a good thing. Guess what?! That's what antioxidants can do for us! Research shows that antioxidants can help inhibit the production of free radicals, which when interacting with DNA can cause our bodies harm.

Fortunately, we have multiple and delicious ways to get some antioxidant power working in our systems! Check out this chart of antioxidant-rich and healthy foods!

If these foods are not regular parts of your diet or on your list of favourite foods, check out our list of Webber Naturals' Antioxidant Support Products!

Resident webber naturals expert Kristin Metvedt reveals the keys to keeping your kids active and healthy.

Get to know the nutrition your growing brood needs for healthy living...

We recently got a question from a webber naturals fan:

Do you think kids 4 to 15 should be taking any supplements for their joints, etc.? We have just started a soccer school and we want to make sure our players stay injury free. - Jon Johnson

Great question Jon! Most joint health supplements (i.e. glucosamine chondroitin) have not been formulated for young, growing bodies and it's unknown how such a supplement may or may not affect bone development. It's best to consult with a doctor before starting any sort of injury prevention program that involves such supplements.

Young people and teenagers should get all the nutrition they need for an active lifestyle from eating a balanced diet.  We all know kids can be picky eaters. So here are some key points to emphasize to the parents of children in sport.

Good Quality Sources of Protein

Protein provides the body with amino acids, key building blocks required to build lean muscle tissue. You don’t need to go overboard with protein, but make sure that your kids are eating natural protein rich foods regularly: lean meats, such as chicken and turkey with skin removed, beans (burritos!), eggs, whole grains, like brown rice and quinoa. Try Webber Naturals ChiaNutra! Chia is an excellent source of vegetarian protein that is high in dietary fibre and a source of essential fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. You can add it to foods like smoothies, homemade baking or even soups.

Omega 3's

A smart choice for active and school-aged kids alike would be Omega-3 fatty acids.  Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, EPA and DHA, are associated with these health benefits in childhood: supports the nervous system including a healthy brain, eye development, learning and behavior, immune health, helps to reduce inflammation conditions such as asthma, and supports a healthy weight and metabolism. Webber Naturals makes a product called Omega-3 KIDS , which provides 100 mg of EPA and 50 mg of DHA per soft gel capsule and would be a good choice.

Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamin D would be another wise consideration come autumn through springtime. As daytime sunlight diminished and cooler weather sets in, we get less sunshine on our skin and therefore less of an opportunity to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, and phosphorus, minerals needed to build and maintain bone health. This is especially important for children's growing bones. Without vitamin D, even a diet adequate in calcium will not help if the body is deficient in vitamin D. It has also been shown to support immune system function. Try Vitamin D Kids Liquid or Chewable 400 IU (berry flavor).

With the back-to-school season often comes the cough and cold season! Children can supplement with a vitamin C chewable (250 mg) in addition to eating foods rich in vitamin C (fruits and dark leafy greens). Another important nutrient is zinc. Zinc is a mineral that is important for a strong immune system. It can be found in children’s multivitamin and mineral supplements, and food sources such as roasted pumpkin seeds, sesame seed (tahini spreads), peanuts, lean beef, lamb, and dark cocoa. You only need a small amount of zinc: children’s RDA for children 4-8 years is 0.4-12 mg/day and the RDA for children aged 8-13 is 0.4-23 mg/day.

I like Ester-C 250mg chewable tablets for young people. Ester-C is calcium ascorbate, a pH neutral product that is gentler on the stomach than regular vitamin C products.

Water

Lastly, keeping hydrated with pure water is the best choice for maintaining healthy joints and sustained energy levels. We need to be diligent about advising kids to keep away from drinking sport beverages that contain excess calories, artificial sweeteners or stimulants. Choose to bring healthy snacks to replenish their energy after exercise.

Thanks for your question!

Image sources: eBaum's World and Moms To Bee

Essential Health Tips for Men on the Go: Part 1

Webber Naturals expert Dr. Stephanie Rubino talks healthy changes for the busy man.

Are you a juggler: work, deadlines, family, errands constantly a whirring blur? It's easy to drop the ball when it comes to your health. Sounds stressful, doesn't it? A chaotic life can result in serious health issues such as high blood pressure, poor immune function, anxiety and panic, digestive problems and difficulty sleeping.

Sorry men, you are not invincible! Statistics show that men die at higher rates from the top ten causes of death, such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. Compared to women, men are also less likely to visit health care practitioners, resulting in a lack of health care that screens for major health problems they may be at risk for. Through sensible diet and lifestyle choices, men faced with demanding schedules CAN engage in preventive health care. Here are some essential tips to follow:

EAT WELL!

Consume a diet high in fruits and vegetables, cold-water fish, legumes, whole grains, and raw nuts and seeds. Of course, organic whenever possible!

Cut down on refined carbohydrates such as sugar and white flour. These contribute to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can cause impaired mental function, including depression and feelings of stress.

Eat several small meals, along with snacks, throughout the day.

Bring healthy snacks to your office for an entire week… Perhaps apples, bananas, a canister of raw almonds, a box of protein bars, and homemade trail mix?

Most importantly, stay hydrated! Pack the water bottle and give your portable coffee mug a break.

SUPPLEMENT WELL!

Supplement with vital nutrients to support your body while on the go! Vitamin C, a B-complex, zinc, magnesium, potassium, and omega-3 fatty acids all help to keep your engine running.

MultiSure® Multivitamin with Minerals for Men and MultiSure® Multivitamin with Minerals for Men50+ are complete multiple vitamin and mineral formulas with meaningful amounts of nutrients such as natural source vitamin E, selenium, and zinc. The formulas also contain Saw Palmetto berry extract, for improved function of the prostate gland; alfalfa juice concentrate, a nutrient rich plant; and lutein, a yellow-orange carotene that helps preserve and enhance eye function!

Stay tuned for Part II. Got questions? Send them to our experts at  wneducation@wnpharmaceuticals.com

Image courtesy of The Kitty Packard Pictorial.