Donalyn Adams writes, "I have a two-year-old and I am worried that he's drinking too much juice. He probably drinks about 8oz of juice a day. Is this too much for my son?"
Fruit juice supplies important nutrients such as vitamins A and C, folate, potassium and magnesium. One food guide serving counts one-half cup (125 ml) serving as one of the four servings of fruit and vegetables that children aged two to three should be eating every day. In very young children, drinking too much fruit juice can contribute to being overweight or having cavities, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal problems.
For this reason, it's recommended that children aged one to six years should only have four to six ounces of fruit juice per day. (Older children should be limited to eight to 12 ounces of juice a day.) And of course, when you give your child juice, choose 100% pure, unsweetened fruit juice, not fruit drinks that contain refined sugar. Instead of juice, children should be encouraged to eat whole fruits.
Janet Smith writes, "Are baby carrots as good for you as regular carrots? I would like to know if they really are nutritious?"
Baby carrots are actually not miniature-sized carrots. Instead, they are full-sized carrots with imperfections, which, instead of being thrown away as waste, are cut into small segments and peeled, and packaged into bags. When it comes to nutrition, baby carrots and large carrots are similar in calories and fibre - about 30 calories and 2.5 grams of fibre per � cup serving.
However, baby carrots have about 25 percent less beta carotene than regular sized carrots. Beta carotene is an antioxidant that's linked to protection from heart disease and lung cancer. But, baby carrots are still an excellent source of beta carotene - one serving has 5.4 milligrams. Experts contend that consuming three to six milligrams of beta-carotene daily is associated with a lower risk of chronic diseases.
Carol asks us, "How much calcium is too much calcium? My husband and I both take a calcium pill each morning and I also take one at dinner time."
Adults aged 19 to 50 need 1000 milligrams of calcium per day, an amount that's found in three cups of milk or yogurt. If you're over 50, you need 1500 milligrams or five cups of milk worth.
Yes, there are health risks from consuming too much calcium. The safe upper limit for calcium intake is 2500 milligrams per day. There is some evidence that high intakes of calcium and dairy products are linked with a greater risk of prostate cancer. For this reason it's recommended that men meet, but don't exceed, their daily calcium requirements.
High calcium intakes can cause elevated levels of calcium in the blood, impaired kidney function and decreased absorption of other minerals. To avoid consuming calcium near or above the safe upper limit of 2500 milligrams, add up your intake of calcium from all foods including fortified beverages before adding supplements to your diet
Susan Burke wants to know, "Are there foods, vitamins etc. that will reduce cholesterol? I eat well but have genetic good 'good cholesterol' and higher 'bad cholesterol'. Drugs do not agree with me."
For starters, cutting back on trans fats and saturated fats found in fatty meats, cheese, cream and butter will help reduce high LDL cholesterol in the blood. But adding certain foods to your diet can give you additional cholesterol lowering power. Soluble fibre found in oats, oat bran and pysllium enriched breakfast cereal can help to lower blood cholesterol. Adding nuts, like almonds and walnuts, to your daily diet also lowers cholesterol. And including foods rich in soy protein, like soy beverages and tofu can help reduce LDL cholesterol.
Adding just one of these foods to your diet is expected to lower cholesterol by about five percent. But adding all of them to a diet that's low in saturated and trans fat has an additive effect and can substantially lower cholesterol.
Sophie Esau from Nova Scotia asks, "Are there foods to avoid osteoarthritis? If so, what?"
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, and it is the most common type of arthritis. It is associated with a breakdown of cartilage in joints and most commonly occurs in the weight bearing joints of the hips, knees and spine.
Studies have not found certain foods to cause or worsen osteoarthritis, but certain foods may help prevent the condition from progressing. Research has shown that people who consume the most vitamin C in their diet, had a threefold reduced risk for the disease progressing, compared to people who consumed the least. The best food sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi fruit, cantaloupe, broccoli, bell peppers, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and tomatoes.
To help protect your joints from further damage, it is also very important to lose weight if you're overweight. Studies have found that higher body weights are significantly related to osteoarthritis pain.
