Health And Wellness Fun Tips And Facts - Part 2

The Ancient Romans had a saying, “As quick as cooking asparagus,” for something done rapidly... but did you know this giant veggie that is believed to have originated 2,000 years ago is one of the most nutritionally well-balanced vegetables -- high in folic acid and a good source of potassium, fiber, thiamin, and vitamins A, B6, and C. A 5-ounce serving provides 60% of the RDA for folic acid and is low in calories. Look for more about asparagus in our Whole Food Sources of Vitamins and Minerals section.

The average adult endures two to four colds a year, and, in a survey of 1,000 people, 30% report having missed a day of school or work because of a cold.

Of the 119.2 million visits to Emergency Departments in the USA during the year of 2006, the most commonly diagnosed condition was: injury and poisoning. [source]

In the first ever Joint Canada/U.S. Survey of Health, conducted by Statistics Canada and CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics in 2004, 85 percent of Americans and 88 percent of Canadians reported that they were in good, very good or excellent health. Among low-income respondents, 31 percent of Americans said they were in fair or poor health, compared with 23 percent of low income Canadians.

Two key risk factors – smoking and obesity – were examined. Canadians were more likely than Americans to be current daily smokers (19 percent compared to 17 percent) and this difference was more pronounced among older women. However, a significantly higher proportion of Americans than Canadians are obese, primarily because among U.S. women the rate of obesity is nearly twice that of Canadian women. In both countries, those with the lowest incomes report poorer health and higher rates of severe mobility limitations as well as higher levels of smoking and obesity. [source]

According to the CDC, 17 percent of children 6-11 years of age in the USA from 2003-2006 were overweight. [source]

Children's Nutritional Needs Are Different A child's nutritional needs differ dramatically from those of a full-grown adult. Beginning at the moment of birth, the internal environment of a child’s body is in a constant state of growth and change. Vitamins are assisting to convert food into energy. Minerals are forming strong bones and teeth. Enzymes are working to break down protein, fat and carbohydrate into amino acids, essential fatty acids and simple sugars. Friendly flora are beginning to establish a healthy intestinal environment. These unique demands require a special profile of nutrients -- nutrients that a low-potency version of an adult multi-vitamin simply cannot deliver.

Glutamine is the most abundant single amino acid in the blood and in muscle tissue. Glutamine is an amino acid which is a key factor in detoxification, immune and digestive support. It also aids in the biosynthesis of vital DNA and proteins.

Did you know that according to the 2005 statistical data collected by the CDC...

• Life expectancy at birth for females in the USA is 80.4 years
• Life expectancy at birth for males in the USA is 75.2 years

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