Variety and Quantity Important When It Comes to Bone Health

Most people who aren’t eating enough fruits and vegetables in their daily diet, are also not getting enough bone-building nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. Along with vitamins, minerals and fiber – phytonutrients – the natural plant-based compounds that give fruits and vegetables their vibrant colors  – provide us with potential health benefits, including those associated with bone health.  From green leafy vegetables, to soy products to tomatoes and oranges – all these fruits and vegetables contain bone-healthy phytonutrients such as isoflavones, lycopene, quercetin, beta-carotene, hesperitin and beta-cryptoxanthin.

I’ve teamed up with Nutrilite nutritional supplements to help promote better bone health. Here are a few things you can do to ensure you’re making bone-friendly lifestyle choices:

• ·Warmer weather begs something cool and refreshing. Make a smoothie that combines fruit, veggies and ice. Good options include; bananas, kiwi, frozen berries, kale, spinach, celery and carrots.  Get creative in the kitchen while sipping a phytonutrient-packed beverage that will help you cool down from the heat.
• Try a new fruit or vegetable each week. Spinach and soybeans (edamame) are excellent sources of the bone-building phytonutrients EGCG, lutein/zeaxanthin, and isoflavones; onions provide quercetin, and tomatoes are bursting with bone-lovin’ lycopene.  Experiment with new foods…you might just find your next favorite!
• With grilling season in full swing – add some flavor and phytonutrients to your meat or fish. Grill vegetables in aluminum foil or skewers of pineapple, zucchini, eggplant or cherry tomatoes.
• Eat dried fruit instead of candy. Or, keep fruits and vegetables easily accessible by pre-cutting and keeping them ready to go in the fridge. It’s a great snack option and helps boost your phytonutrient intake. 
• If you’re having trouble getting the recommended 10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, a natural, plant-based dietary supplement can help fill the gap.

For more information check out Nutrilite.com/color.