Combinations for Nutrient Absorption

Here's something you may not know: just because you consume certain nutrients does not mean that your body has absorbed them. Some need a transporter, a carrier of sorts.

Vitamin C and Iron:

Iron can not be absorbed unless Vitamin C is present. These 2 nutrients need near simultaneous consumption. Vegetarian foods heavy in iron include spinach, arugula, Kale, and other dark leafy greens. One suggestion for getting your iron is to squeeze lemon or lime over a salad of dark leafy greens. But Iron is not so critical since we do not pass it out through urine or sweat. The only way to loose iron once absorbed is by bleeding. This is why in American culture, many men have iron overdose issues due to over-consumption of animal flesh, while women have periods that naturally release some iron. Iron overdose can show itself in abdominal cramping, nausea, and/or vomiting after eating a meal which is due to the irritation and ulceration of the stomach lining. The Kidneys, liver, heart, Lungs, blood vessels and Brain also suffer from Iron overdose.

Vitamin D and Calcium:

Calcium can only be absorbed in the presence of Vitamin D. This is why the Dairy companies manufacture milk (that naturally has calcium) and "enrich" it with Vitamin D. The problem is that this Vitamin D is synthetic and is not absorbed properly or fully by our bodies. Additionally, processing milk in our bodies require certain minerals, including calcium, and if calcium is not found, our body will release it from our teeth and bones; this is why the countries with the highest dairy consumption also have the highest osteoporosis rates.

Foods high in calcium include almost anything dark green; Broccoli has more calcium by weight than milk. The BEST way by far to attain Vitamin D is through the Sun. This is also why the highest 'risk factors' for contracting osteoporosis is being of Asian and/or Caucasian/European descent: those with fairer skin tend to stay indoors more and use sunblock more readily which impedes the Suns Vitamin D absorption. If we all bask in the sun's blissful energy for 20 minutes at a time everyday we will have enough Vitamin D for all our Body's needs.

Fun Fact: Cholesterol is absorbed in the body through the presence of Saturated fat; ergo !!! if you are diagnosed with high cholesterol, but LOOOVEE shellfish...YOU CAN HAVE IT! just without butter :P

Overall, if you reduce your saturated fat intake, your cholesterol will fall naturally.

Be well, Eat well,

~ Turmeric

I'm not a Vegetarian...I just Play one on TV

Good Greetings to you all. Today I'm talking to about "boxes". Yes, not boxes, but "boxes".

Depending on where you are from, depending on how you were raised, depending on your experiences of life we all live in some variant degree in "boxes". We can wear labels that say 'Middle-class', 'Buddhist', 'Rhodes Scholar', 'Short', 'Smart' etc. And each label has a societal set of adjectives that are tact on to it; this my friends is the titular "Box".

I'm here to remind myself and all of us that no matter what titles we call ourselves, we do not need to adhere to rules and stipulations that are the societal definitions of said title.

To be specific, I have had this experience multiple times:

Person A: So are you a vegetarian?
Me: I don't eat meat or buy or cook it, but I'm not a vegetarian.
Person A: But if you don't eat meat, then you are a vegetarian.
Me: I'm not a vegetarian because if someone cooks a vegetarian-kept, free-range, no anti-biotic chicken, I may to eat it.
Person A: So then what are you?

It seems that people are not satisfied until they can tag you with a label, a word, that then has definition, four walls, a ceiling and a floor.

I'm here to tell you, none of us need a "box"! You may call yourself a hippie, a fashionista, a hipster, an earthy-type, but these labels are not you in its ENTIRETY and there are no set of rules you have to fall into because of said labels. You like things, you dislike things, but 1 word can never completely define a human life. So, for my alternative eaters out there who deal with a slew of dense individuals on a regular basis, remind them: I eat what I eat, I eat what I want, and sometimes that includes 'x' and sometimes it doesn't.

Let them agonize over not having a "box" to put you in.