Are We Really What We Eat?

According to a 2001-2006 government health survey of approximately 3,000 children who'd been given blood tests, at least 20% of children aged 1 to 11 don't get enough vitamin D. That puts them at risk for weak bones, infections, diabetes and some cancers. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children have 400 units of vitamin D daily. Because many children don't drink 4 cups of fortified milk a day or eat lots of fish or spend enough time outside to get vitamin d from the sun, vitamin D supplementation is recommended. It's the D parents will want their children to get.

According to both nutritionists and scientists, Americans have a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids. They are called essential fatty acids because they have to come from our diet - our bodies don't make them. Omega-3 is necessary for the development of a healthy brain. It also lowers the risk of heart disease, arthritis and cancer. It even fights wrinkles. Fish like salmon, tuna and halibut are rich in omega-3 fatty acids because they eat microscopic, ocean plants and seaweed. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in the green leaves of plants. That they originate in fish is a fish story.

Again, according to both nutritionists and scientists,  Americans consume too much omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-6 is also an essential fatty acid. It also originates in plants - but in plant seeds. Human tissue needs the right mix of Omega-3 and Omega-6 because too much Omega-6 blocks Omega-3 from entering cells, causing blood clots and inflammation. Omega-6 is in vegetable seed oils. It's also put in processed foods to prevent rancidity. As Americans' intake of Omega-6 has increased, so have heart disease, arthritis and cancer. Obesity has also increased. Omega-6 fatty acids are in belly fat - the fat associated with "fat-ality".

According to a study by physiologists at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, more protein doesn't mean more muscle. Healthy adults in their 30's and late 60's were randomly assigned to eat 4 ounces or 12 ounces of lean beef in one sitting. Blood tests and muscle biopsies showed that eating 12 ounces didn't build more muscle. Only the first 4 ounces of lean beef, chicken, soy or dairy products turns into muscle. To gain muscle mass protein foods should be spread throughout the day. An increased number of smaller portions is the meat of the matter.