Nutrition and Weight Loss.

Nutrition and Weight Loss. 03/18/2010

I tend to look to lifestyle, especially diet, when health issues occur as well as seeking expert advice. Repeatedly I have found that diet is the key to managing and then preventing, many conditions. Recently Reg was able to clear up the eczema that had bothered him for years, by removing artificial sweeteners from his diet.

This morning there has been a post in the 12WBT forums about people developing bruises while losing weight and as I have had this same problem in the past, and ‘fixed it’, through diet, I wanted to share, what had worked for me.

I overcame a tendency to bruise while losing weight by increasing my intake of
zinc ~ shellfish and other seafood as well as with whole grains and lean meats
vitamin C ~ plenty, of oranges and other citrus fruits
Vitamin K ~ green, leafy vegetables, fruits, seeds and dairy products
Bioflavonoids—chemical compounds related to vitamin C and found in fruits and vegetables

When I eat oranges I eat some of the white pith as well as it is rich in the bioflavoids including rutin which strengthens capillaries and minimizes bruising.
These do not assist bruising you already have. Icing a bruise for 24 hours after you get it, and warm compresses after the 24 hours is something you can do for existing bruises. I used to use a product Rexona cream, on the bruise but I am going back decades, I would ask for current advice and if you are currently getting bruises, then, yes I agree, seek medical advice, maybe have a blood test.

I have the opposite problem to those with anaemia, now I have to work hard in my diet to stop the absorption of iron so I have to cut back on Vitamin C as it helps you absorb iron, because I am in iron overload.
Mentioning that reminds me that drinking tea, coffee with your iron rich foods or within 30 minutes of eating them will hinder your absorption of iron, having your vitamin C rich foods at that time, however will increase the absorption of iron.

Actually, Michelle, Bridges food and eating and drinking recommendations in her 12WBT and in her Crunch Time, cook book, are ‘spot on’, in my opinion for good nutrition, so there should not be too many deficiency symptoms occurring for those following her great advice and following a healthy eating plan for life, rather than 'dieting'. She does make the snack optional, if I was bruising I would add the snack and make it rich in those nutrients I mentioned, if you are skipping it.

I have been thinking, I might be eating too much fruit, as I’m having two a day as snacks as well as my berries with breakfast, but after reading, that many people are developing bruises while slimming, and knowing, that at 63, I am losing weight and not bruising, (you bruise more easily as you age), I’ll not be cutting out my fruit snacks, because my body is telling me I am ‘getting it right’, this time, losing weight, without a bruise.

Best wishes and congratulations, if you are releasing, unwanted weight.

I might know a bit on nutrition but I do not know your bodies, seek an expert’s advice, someone who can assess, you.

I have illustrated this post with some of my favourite breakfasts. I love my 30 gram of untoasted, unsweetened muesli, topped with 100 gram of unsweetened, low fat, live culture, yogurt and fruit or berries in season. I sometimes add skim milk to this, or three or five almonds, walnuts or seeds, if I don't mind working a little harder at exercise that day or eating lighter in the evening to compensate for increasing the calorie value.