Today’s Theme: Nutrition

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Read about today’s theme and then answer the question to enter the daily contest. Remember to tag as many people as you’d like in the comments on Instagram and Facebook because each tag is a new entry!

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Are you getting all the nutrients you require from your diet?

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The most common nutrient deficiencies in Canada are Vitamin D3, Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin A, and Folate. The percentage of Canadians with inadequate intake of these nutrients ranged from 26% to over 90% depending on age group and sex. The Standard American Diet (SAD for short) is just not delivering the nutrients we require (1).

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You can test these nutrients through advanced testing with naturopathic doctors. One such accredited lab, Genova, offers an advanced Nutreval test that looks into the body’s need for vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, aminos, and digestive support. Their nutritional profiles help identify root causes of dysfunction to promote health. Several of these nutrients such as Vitamin D3 and Folate can simply be tested with your annual bloodwork checkup.

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Increasing foods high in these nutrients is the best route to achieving healthy levels as you’ll also be getting other important nutritional support from a whole food diet!

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Some favourite sources of these nutrients are listed below:

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• Vitamin D3: fish, eggs, liver, and sunshine
• Calcium: chia seeds, figs, tahini, and molasses
• Magnesium: pumpkin seeds, avocado, dark chocolate, and leafy greens
• Vitamin A: liver, eggs, carrots, and sweet potatoes
• Folate: lentils, asparagus, broccoli, and beets

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If you are particularly concerned about your nutrient intake, tracking your diet with a free app such as “My Fitness Pal” can estimate your daily intake.

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If you’re consistently low, are symptomatic, or have tests confirming deficiency, you may be advised to supplement with targeted nutritional supplements. The form and dose of your supplements are very important. You want to maximize absorption and assimilation with bioactive forms. And remember, more is not always better as some of these nutrients in excess can become toxic.

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Make sure to discuss this with your naturopathic doctor!

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