You've heard the saying, you missed the forest for the trees. In the case of a healthy diet, there may be too much focus on the risk of being deficient of one vitamin, when an overall balanced diet should be the concern. With those who use Medifast, they may find that their nutritional needs are covered much more than their current diet. When you consider the lack of nutrition with most types of fast foods and processed foods, following a Medifast diet plan (Take Shape for Life) is exponentially better, relatively speaking. However, it's hard to say you should worry about a possible Vitamin D deficiency when there are probably numerous deficiencies going on at the same time. While research as to the effects, benefits, risks, and so forth related to specific vitamins is nice to know, there is a bigger problem than a lack of vitamin D in a typical diet. That problem is a lack of overall nutrition. Here's more on the research on the importance of Vitmain D to your health (from ScienceDaily.com) --
Researchers at Johns Hopkins are reporting what is believed to be the most conclusive evidence to date that inadequate levels of vitamin D, obtained from milk, fortified cereals and exposure to sunlight, lead to substantially increased risk of death.
Medifast
Get medifast for weight loss, health, a healthy diet, and a diet plan.
Medifast is a product that helps you lose weight. There are benefits to using Medifast in your diet, and can be used for weight loss. Phase 1 - 5 & 1 Program for
Weight Loss 5 Medifast Meals per Day Over 50 meals to choose from - shakes, bars, drinks, oatmeals, chili, soups, pudding and more. 1 "Lean and Green" Meal per Day Lean Meat: 7 ounces of chicken, turkey of fish, or 5 ounces of lean beef, pork or lamb. Grill, bake or poach meats using non-stick spray. Salt, pepper, herbs and spices may be added if desired. You may also use 1 - 2 teaspoons of condiments such as ketchup, mustard or barbecue sauce. Salad or Vegetables: Either 2 cups of salad greens (any kind) and up to ½ cups raw vegetables, or up to 1 ½ cups cooked vegetables.
Medifast Diet
You may also use 1 - 2 tablespoons of Media low-fat or non-fat dressing.Phase 2 - BeSlim™ Philosophy of Lifelong
Weight Control Once you have reached your healthy weight, your Health Advisor will help transition you to the BeSlim™ philosophy of lifelong weight control. The BeSlim™ philosophy is a part of the
Take Shape for Life program that incorporates key behaviors mastered by those who lost significant amounts of weight and kept their weight off for years. These key behaviors include: Breakfast (eating Breakfast every day) - High quality fuel, such as our delicious Medifast oatmeal, cappuccino, or chai latte, is essential to start your day the right way. Exercise - Continued exercise increases metabolism, provides strength, flexibility, and mental clarity.
In a study set to appear in the Archives of Internal Medicine online Aug. 11, the Johns Hopkins team analyzed a diverse sample of 13,000 initially healthy men and women participating in an ongoing national health survey and compared the risk of death between those with the lowest blood levels of vitamin D to those with higher amounts. An unhealthy deficiency, experts say, is considered blood levels of 17.8 nanograms per milliliter or lower.
Medifast Nutrition
Support - Your
Health Advisor is here to help you reach and maintain your goals, providing the coaching, tools, education, and caring support you will need along the way. Low-fat meals 5-6 times a day - Eating frequently, controlling portion and total calories, especially those from fat, are critical for success. Individual Plan - Create an individual plan to help you achieve an optimal
healthy lifestyle and build the skills and strategies you need to cope with modern life. Monitor your weight - Weigh yourself on a regular basis to maintain optimal
weight. Catch it before it becomes a challenge! Join the BeSlim™ Club today and set your life in motion! Introducing the New BeSlim Club & Rewards Program! Optimal
Health is its own reward, but how about earning a bonus or two along the way? You’re on a journey to Optimal Health. You’ve made a commitment to lose weight and keep it off! You’ve earned the right to celebrate your success! The new Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is your ticket there. The BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is Take Shape For Life's progressive savings program, offering clients and
Health Coaches an easy way to obtain their Medifast Meals at a savings, with exciting rewards you can earn along the way! The longer you are member of the BeSlim™ Club, the more significant your savings are and the more rewards points you’ll earn. When you join the Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program, you: Enjoy your favorite
Medifast Meals all month long, with orders conveniently shipped right to your door Save on your meal purchases and enjoy increased savings the longer you’re on the program Earn points towards exclusive rewards that promote healthy living Receive coupons for special savings. Enrich your life as you achieve Optimal
Health.
Of the 1,800 study participants known to have died by Dec. 31, 2000, nearly 700 died from some form of heart disease, with 400 of these being deficient in vitamin D. This translates overall to an estimated 26 percent increased risk of any death, though the number of deaths from heart disease alone was not large enough to meet scientific criteria to resolve that it was due to low vitamin D levels. Read more...
This goes hand in hand with the fact that many health problems could be solved or even prevented by diet changes - one of the reasons that The Health & Wellness Institute recommends Medifast for those trying to get their weight under control. Most of the foods consumed today have many additives and chemicals and things used in them that can't even be pronounced, all of which may just be adding to or even causing problems. No matter what the diet, plenty of fruits and vegetables are needed to provide a plethora of nutrients important to the health and wellness of the body. When you can keep things as simple as "eat 7 servings of fruits and vegetables each day, avoiding processed foods, drinking plenty of water, eathing lean protein sources including fish, and getting exercise almost everyday" then you can rest assured that you are supporting good health. After developing good dietary and exercise habits, then you can get more detailed and start nitpicking - analyzing your vitamin balance and intake, count calories, keep track of protein grams, and so on. But to worry that you're not getting vitamin D in your diet when you're eating fast foods 5 days a week may be equivalent to worrying about a small cut on your finger when you've got a concussion.
Available to all, the BeSlim™ Club is a great way for individuals learning and practicing the BeSlim™ philosophy. Every time you order, you earn points towards healthful rewards. Here’s how: There’s no minimum purchase required. Redeem your reward points* for exclusive Take Shape For Life merchandise, including: Apparel, Exercise Equipment, Spa Trips, And more! Join the BeSlim Club today! Simplify Your Life -- — Receive automatic monthly shipments of your favorite Medifast Meals; Save Your Money — Enjoy savings that increase the longer you are a club member; Earn Just Rewards— Select from an array of rewards that promote healthy living and a healthy lifestyle.
Other links: Medifast Blog
Meal Plan from Medifast
Medifast Ordering and Info
Medifast Blog
Medifast Success Stories
Official Medifast Site
Medifast Diet
Bottom line: worry about the big picture of your health before addressing the details.
The Health & Wellness Institute
If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.