A Calendar of Nutritional Tidbits & Nourishing Plants

The book A Calendar of Nutritional Tidbits & Nourishing Plants incorporates important days that we may celebrate and be aware of internationally. From World Water Day to Family Day to Halloween Day, with each day having various foods linked to it. We celebrate with food and beverages and wherever we live we share in that. A section on Family Day emphasises the value of breakfast for all families.

A snippet of nutritional information is imparted and the nourishing plants include herbs and spices. We can all do with some simple practical advice. The cost of healthy living is often moaned about, here follows an extract on April Fools Day from the book to dispel misconceptions.

Try not letting marketing lead you up the golden aisle and to be announced a fool, as we are targeted by so much in the marching health promotion. We are left without much direction when the supplement manufacturer, store assistant or owner says confidently, “Buy this supplement.” Or “You need this.” You may end up departing from a health store or online store spending far more than intended. Believing you are doing yourself a favour, you listen, read, abide and buy. Later you realise that those grains and pastas are not that great. All those health pills are not doing what you had hoped for and still you want you and your family to be healthy. Why of course you may moan being healthy is expensive, you end up buying what you probably do not even need. What do you need to be healthy? Not much money at all! You can race around the block in your neighbourhood (last time checked that was free) or pay for a gym membership.

You may know you want to be healthy. From then it may be easy for you to fool yourself into becoming an overly zealous supplement taker. It’s easy to be a pill popper. Many of us can just chunk down the capsules or tablets with a gulp of liquid to follow and swallow. Quick and effective, without a second’s thought. We have to think before we even have the little packs of compressed substances in our mouths. While others can’t stand the thought of swallowing tablets or capsules, there’s a fear the thing may get stuck in the throat! It’s an irrational fear as pills and capsules aren’t lumps of mass. However, at least you may think twice before you swallow anything.

Be informed when purchasing supplements. Select vitamin C supplements with bioflavonoids for the fuller vitamin C effect. Bioflavonoids are specific ‘brick layers’ of our smallest blood vessels, the capillaries. Some vitamin C deficiency symptoms stem from weak, inadequate capillary structure.

As you can see, each awareness date includes practical advice mixed with a sprinkling of nutritional ingredients for information. The following was taken from the final section on Pregnancy Awareness Week.


Here are some myths that have been doing the rounds and travelling around the grapevine.

# Sun gives us Vitamin D – no it only triggers the ‘on’ switch to begin the process of manufacturing Vitamin D. The sun converts cholesterol in the skin to a substance that is transformed further by the liver and then by the kidney into active Vitamin D.

# Fish oils are healthy and that is final – when supplementing fish oils try to include a source of antioxidants such as Vitamin E and C. Plant antioxidants of various types are beneficial companions to fish fats, a common one is carotene found in well known carrots. Anyone one should perhaps have fish and carrots, rather than fish and chips (French fries).

# Avocado pears are healthy during pregnancy due to high folic acid – not at all, they are only moderate folic acid suppliers relative to other plant foods. Folic acid is needed and protects against foetal abnormalities. For high folic acid eat various plant foods, especially leafy vegetables. Avocadoes are high and major sources of glutathione, a pivotal antioxidant. This protects against disease, ageing and keeps us healthy.

# Calcium is self reliant – no that mineral needs partners. When supplementing calcium try incorporate Vitamin D, to increase absorption and use, and magnesium. Magnesium along with calcium can ward away constipation that can be caused by calcium supplementation. Magnesium supports calcium metabolism, as do other minerals support calcium.

# Supplementation is as easy as buying a meal of your choice – what ever you place into your body is affecting you. From a pill, tablet, capsule to solid foods and do not forget the liquids.

# Pregnancy is natural – yes it is but we need to appreciate that our needs alter. At times of pregnancy needs for protein do rise. Supplementation of minerals and vitamins helps as our needs rise for nutrients.

There are pages on this website that do appear in similar format in the book, the book however includes various other healthy living suggestions for the reader’s well-being. Beverages are emphasised and on the pages of World Water Day and Old Year’s Eve these are two main sections delving into that! Have a healthy life with a toss of laughter and simple ingredients to assist you in healthy living by reading this book. Healthy living need not be expensive! Healthy living does require having knowledge and taking responsibility for your lifestyle where you are able to,

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