Vitamin B5 is one of the essential nutrients and has a very important function in forming red blood cells, converting food into energy and creating stress and sex hormones. However, it doesn’t get the attention it should considering its significance. This means that if we don’t know much about vitamin B5, how will we know if we are experiencing signs and symptoms of deficiency?

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) has an important role in the production of glutathione. It can be taken as a supplement (NAC) or it can be obtained from foods (amino acid L-cysteine). The importance of glutathione as an antioxidant is due to the effects it has on metabolic pathways for mental and physical health, such as anti-cancer, cardiac, immunity, renal, and oxidative stress properties.

Fats are an essential part of the diet, and were one of the main energy sources in our early ancestors when carbohydrates from tubers and fruits were only seasonally available. However, with food processing and modern technology, we started consuming large amounts of saturated and trans fats which seem to be harmful to our health. To make informed decisions on our food, we need to understand the health risks of consuming ‘bad’ fats.

Vitamin B3, also called niacin, is one of the water-soluble vitamins, belonging to the vitamin B complex. It can be obtained from many food sources and fortified food products, and can be taken as a dietary supplement. However, important to note is that only 30% of niacin is absorbed, and with niacin’s role in cellular metabolism, having poor nutrition can cause potential health issues.

Vitamin B2 is a water-soluble vitamin that helps our body to metabolize macronutrients and create energy. Riboflavin can be obtained from foods, but even with consumption of (processed) fortified food products, vitamin B2 deficiency can still occur. A better understanding of vitamin B2 might be helpful to improve our health.

Calcium is an essential mineral, important for bone, teeth, nerve and muscle health. It is especially important in adolescence in order to support bone structure, function and growth. As there are particular groups of people that have a higher calcium requirement, we need to know if we are getting enough calcium from our diet or if there is a need for extra supplementation.

Protein is an essential building block for our muscles, hormones, neurotransmitters and many other tissues in the body. Given that nearly 10% of our brain is made of protein, it’s important to understand how protein impacts our brain and affects our cognition, mood, energy levels and other functions.

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient, vital for our physical and mental health, and more research is now coming out on complex interactions between vitamin D and different body functions and processes. In children, deficiency in vitamin D can have a significant impact on their health and development.

For a very long time, fats have been labelled as bad, and diets high in carbohydrates and low in fat have been advocated. Today we know that fats are important for daily functioning of our body. Understanding fat, different types of fats and their importance, can lead to eating a balanced and healthy diet.

Do not be confused with the word “Flexiterian”. Or, think that this is just another diet or fad. What we today call a flexitarian diet, is what our ancestors thrived on and evolved over thousands of years. Perhaps, it just might be time to get back to our roots regarding our nutrition and food.

Food is not inherently bad or good, it is just that we as individuals reacted differently to it. Since we all have unique genetics, the same nutrients can affect us in different ways. That means that we should know which foods protect and nurture our body and health, and from which foods we should stay away from based on our unique genetics.

Cancer is on the rise, and though our cancer mortality rates are decreasing due to advancements in medicine, people are still going through the traumatic experience of cancer treatments. Perhaps, it’s time to focus on prevention instead of treatment, which is where nature comes to the rescue.