National Nutrition Month Update: Week 1

If you forgot to fill out our National Nutrition Month quiz this week, don't forget you have 3 more weeks to enter the drawing for a prize!! The display is in or near the waiting room of all 4 VMG centers this whole month.

Our theme this year is Health Benefits of Fruits and Veggies. Nutrition is about a lot more than calories and weight loss.

Here were some of the highlights of this week's quiz:

Resveratrol:

Resveratrol is an antioxidant found in red wine. It is a type of phytochemical called a polyphenol. Some people attribute the health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet to this compound. In studies, resveratrol has been shown to be anti-inflammatory, and may help lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, and asthma!

Food sources: red wine, peanuts, grape skin and grape juice



Quercetin: 

Quercetin is the main flavonoid in most of our diets - it lowers the risk of asthma, heart disease, and lung cancer!

Food sources: onions, apples, broccoli, cranberries, and grapes



Anthocyanidins:

Anthocyanidins are antioxidants found in blue/purple and red fruits and vegetables that improve blood vessel health!

Food sources: blueberries, blackberries, plums, cranberries, raspberries, red onions, red potatoes, radishes, strawberries

Of course, it's not important that you remember these names and categories. The point is that a wide variety of compounds are found in fruits and vegetables that have wide-ranging benefits on health and longevity! And there are different types in all the different colors of produce, so when you are planning your meals, see how many different colors you can include! That will go a long way toward improving and protecting your health.


This info is thanks to: www.pbhfoundation.org. For more information, check out their website!