Nutrition 101: Vitamins & Minerals [Infographic]

When you pick up a new food in the grocery store and look at a nutrition label, where do your eyes first land? Do you instantly look at the calories or grams of carbs, protein and fat per serving? You’re not alone. We often choose foods based solely on their macronutrient content (carbs, protein and fat) without thinking much about what micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) they provide.

Micronutrients are often overshadowed because they make up a much smaller part of our diet than the macronutrients. Micronutrients get less of our mindshare, too, because they don’t impact our weight the way the macros do.

Though they may seem less significant, vitamins and minerals are actually just as critical as the calories we eat. They play critical roles in the structure of our bodies. For example, calcium mineralizes our bones, and Vitamin C makes our collagen strong. Micronutrients also impact how well our bodies function:

• Sodium, potassium and calcium work together to moderate hydration and muscle contractions.
• Vitamin K allows blood to clot if we get a cut.
• Vitamin E, an antioxidant, protects healthy cells from being damaged.

The list goes on and on. The takeaway point is this: Even though we need less of them in our diet than macronutrients, vitamins and minerals are no less important to our health.

It’s not necessary to know every function of every vitamin and mineral to understand their importance. There is a dizzying number of details and the scientific research changes almost daily. The idea behind this infographic is to show you just some of the major functions of these micronutrients, and some of the foods you’ll find them in. Instead of putting together an exhaustive list, we thought it’d be more beneficial to share some tips on how to get the most micronutrients from the foods you eat.

HOW TO MAXIMIZE THOSE MICROS

EAT FROM EVERY FOOD GROUP

Protein foods, dairy, grains, fruits and veggies can all be great sources of vitamins and minerals. But no single food, or food group, is a great source of everything. At mealtime, fill your plate with 3-4 food groups, and try to incorporate the ones you miss into snacks throughout the day. For example, if you have a bowl of cereal with milk and a hard-boiled egg for breakfast, grab a piece of fruit to snack on later in the day.

INCORPORATE LOTS OF COLOR

Micronutrients contribute color to foods. These colors are often associated with certain vitamins and minerals. Eating a rainbow of colorful fruits and vegetables is an easy way to make sure you’re getting a great variety of micronutrients.

EAT FRESH OR FROZEN WHEN YOU CAN

Food processing, as well as exposure to light and air, can degrade important vitamins and minerals. Keep these tips in mind:

• Minimize the amount of processed and fast food you eat. These foods typically have low nutritional value when it comes to vitamins and minerals, and can be high in saturated fat, sodium, added sugar and calories.
• Don’t let your farmer’s market finds sit around too long before you eat them  — even when those fruits and veggies are tucked away in the crisper section of the refrigerator.
• Stock up on frozen produce. Frozen fruits and vegetables are commonly picked at peak freshness and quickly processed, which preserves their nutrient value.

KNOW A FEW KITCHEN BASICS

Certain vitamins and minerals can be lost or broken down in cooking, while others can be better digested and absorbed when paired with certain foods. Here are a few rules of thumb:

• Eat some produce raw and avoid overcooking the rest.
• When cooking: steaming, roasting or sautéing will generally preserve more vitamins and minerals, compared to boiling.
• Eat iron-rich plant foods like lentils, spinach, tofu and beans with a squeeze of lemon juice or citrus dressing. The Vitamin C increases iron absorption.
• For better absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, pair with a healthy fat, like oil & vinegar dressing. This is a great reason to choose low-fat milk instead of fat-free.

REACH FOR WHOLE FOODS BEFORE SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin and mineral supplements can be beneficial when treating nutrient deficiencies or certain medical conditions, but for most of us, they’re not necessary. It’s possible to get a wide variety of micronutrients, and plenty of them, from a healthy, well-balanced diet.

As you make decisions about what foods to eat, keep in mind it’s not all about calories, carbs, protein and fat. It’s entirely possible to be malnourished from a lack of micronutrients even if you’re eating plenty of calories and macronutrients! A vitamin and mineral-rich diet is essential for good health. And the best way to get enough of these is by eating a healthy variety of colorful foods from the different food groups.

To read up on our previous Nutrition 101 posts, check out: Calories | Carbohydrates | Proteins | Fats

Written by Elle Penner, a nutrition and wellness writer, recipe developer, blogger and nutrition consultant whose favorite things include her camera, carbs and quality time with her toddler. For more from this busy mama, check out Elle’s lifestyle blog or connect with her on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

The post Nutrition 101: Vitamins & Minerals [Infographic] appeared first on Under Armour.

from Under Armour http://ift.tt/1tGp3tR
via IFTTT