Weight Loss and Kiwi Fruit

Here's the last bit on Kiwi fruit. Arginine, which I have spoken about for the past few days, is found in kiwi fruit. This amino acid plays a key role in muscle health by helping the body to process creatine. Creatine is a substance which helps us build muscle mass. Arginine also helps the body process nitrogen, which is needed for muscle metabolism. Through this process, arginine actually helps reduce body fat by increasing muscle mass and speeds up weight loss.

Athletes as well as those with arthritis, may find arginine helpful in repairing damaged tissues to heal more quickly.

Did you have any idea this little kiwi fruit could do so much? Oh, and one more thing, kiwi fruit is ranked as the 4th highest antioxidant potential. One of these antioxidants is lutein which we know helps to decrease the progression of macular degeneration and may actually prevent it if we have the right levels.

Popeye Had It Right, Spinach Is Good for You

Yes, spinach is a super food. It contains powerful antioxidants which can help our bodies be healthy in many ways, not the least of which is to prevent many medical problems. Some of the nutrients in spinach are choline and inositol. These substances help prevent thickening of the arterial walls (atherosclerosis), thereby helping to control or decrease heart disease.

Spinach also contains lutein which is a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent cataracts and age related macular degeneration (the leading cause of blindness in people over age 65). And while we're speaking of those over 65, spinach is also an excellent source of fiber. Much better than taking metamucil every day, try spinach either cooked or raw. Not only will you get the benefits of the fiber, but also all of the vitamins and minerals spinach contains.

While it is a good source of calcium, most of the calcium is not available for our bodies to absorb. The oxalic acid in spinach combines with the calcium rendering it unavailable for absorption by our body.

Vitamin A

Did you ever wonder why milk is fortified with Vitamin A? The reason is to control vitamin A deficiency. In third world countries, vitamin A deficiency is still very prevalent. The reason is that many children and adults in these countries do not consume adequate amounts of Vitamin A in their diets. Secondarily, individuals may become Vitamin A deficient by not absorbing Vitamin A.

Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin that is found in dark green and yellow vegetables, orange and yellow fruits, egg yolks, and liver. Some of the better sources are yams, sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, cantaloupe and dried apricots.

So why is vitamin A important. Vitamin A is retinol or retinal, this form is found in animal sources such as liver. The plant form of Vitamin A is Beta carotene. You might guess from the animal form that this particular vitamin is important for the retina or vision. Deficiency can lead to blindness, specifically night blindness. So remember when you were told or you heard that carrots were good for you because they helped you see better. Well they don't necessarily help you see better, but they do help prevent night blindness.

More tomorrow on Vitamin A