Spring is just around the corner and while we hate to put a damper on your enjoyment of much-needed sunshine and fresh air, it’s important to keep a few tips in mind to enjoy a worry-free spring. The best way to do this is to remember the ABC’s of vitamins:
• Protect your skin with vitamin A. It’s essential to ensure your skin is healthy year-round. So just because you’ve gotten through the dry winter air doesn’t mean that you can stop taking care of your skin. One way to keep your skin looking and feeling great is to make sure you’re getting enough vitamin A. Did you know that vitamin A is a vital nutrient which promotes skin repair and maintenance? In fact, people with vitamin A deficiencies are more prone to dry, flaky skin. Make sure you’re getting enough vitamin A in your diet from foods such as sweet potatoes, spinach and fish oils.
• Stay active with vitamin B. Spring is the time for adventures and exploring nature. But this means you’ll need enough energy to keep up. “B vitamins” is a term that actually includes eight different vitamins, some of which you may recognize, such as riboflavin and folic acid. They help your body convert the carbohydrates you eat into glucose, fuel for your body. They can be found in a variety of foods, such as almonds, pork, poultry and whole cereals.
• Keep allergy symptoms at bay with vitamin C. Vitamin C should stand for vitamin “Classic” because every season, vitamin C proves to be a jack-of-all-trades nutrient. You’ve probably been taking it the past few months to lessen the severity of your cold symptoms, but vitamin C is also a natural antihistamine. Histamines are what our body creates when something triggers our allergies, an unfortunate side effect of spring. Vitamin C can decrease your allergy symptoms by minimizing the formation of histamines. Try adding some vitamin C-enriched foods to your picnic basket, such as citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, and leafy greens.
When making changes to your diet, remember to keep track of your intake of calories, fats, sodium and other vitamins.
