Research

I wasn't in the mood to run this morning (I also woke up at 11:30 ((hard to get solid sleep when the phone is ringing off the hook from telemarketers all morning)) so I think I'll go later, if the weather stays cool) so I've been doing yoga and crunches and other random sorts of things in front of the TV watching the World Cup. I had some organic granola for breakfast with a banana (more like lunch, considering when I rolled out of bed), and hopefully that will keep me from snacking too much. I want to make up for the past two days of limited activity.

As I've done planks and glute exercises, I've been looking up random health info online, something a newbie to nutrition could understand. A list of necessary vitamins came up, and it's very informative.

"Vitamins are essential for every human being to survive. They help your bodies grow and make them strong so they can fight diseases. Vitamins are also essential for healthy skin, hair, and nails. Many foods, especially fruits and vegetables, are filled with vitamins. The vitamins found in food have been proven to prevent diseases. If you eat below 1500 calories a day, a vitamin and mineral supplement may be necessary.

Vitamin A – is needed for new cell growth, healthy skin, hair, and tissues, and vision in dim light. Good sources include dark green and yellow vegetables and yellow fruits, such as broccoli spinach, turnip greens, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, cantaloupe, and apricots, and in animal sources such as liver, milk, butter, cheese, and whole eggs.

Vitamin B1 – is needed for energy metabolism and the proper function of the nervous system.
Good sources include whole grains, soybeans, peas, liver, kidney, lean cuts of pork, legumes, seeds, and nuts.

Vitamin B2 – is needed for energy metabolism, building tissue, and helps maintain good vision.
Good sources include dairy products, lean meats, poultry, fish, grains, broccoli, turnip greens, asparagus, spinach, and enriched food products.

Vitamin B6 - is needed for cell growth.
Good sources include chicken, fish, pork, liver, kidney, whole grains, nuts, and legumes.

Vitamin B12 - is needed for building proteins in the body, red blood cells, and normal function of nervous tissue.
Good sources include liver, kidney, yogurt, dairy products, fish, clams, oysters, nonfat dry milk, salmon and sardines.

Vitamin C – is an antioxidant vitamin needed for the formation of collagen to hold the cells together and for healthy teeth, gums and blood vessels; improves iron absorption and resistance to infection.
Good sources include many fresh vegetables and fruits, such as broccoli, green and red peppers, collard greens, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, lemon, cabbage, pineapples, strawberries, citrus fruits.

Vitamin D – promotes absorption and use of calcium and phosphate for healthy bones and teeth.
Good sources include milk (fortified), cheese, whole eggs, liver, salmon, and fortified margarine. The skin can synthesize vitamin D if exposed to enough sunlight on a regular basis.

Vitamin E – protects red blood cells and helps prevent destruction of vitamin A and C.
Good sources include margarine and vegetable oil (soybean, corn, safflower, and cottonseed), wheat germ, green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin K – is necessary for normal blood clotting and synthesis of proteins found in plasma, bone, and kidneys.
Good sources include spinach, lettuce, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, wheat bran, organ meats, cereals, some fruits, meats, dairy products, eggs."

This info, sadly, comes from pro-ana-nation.com, a website made by a young woman battling her anorexia and documenting how it has destroyed her life. I am extremely fortunate never to have fallen into an eating disorder, and I hope that my newfound fervor for health and shaping my body does not reach an unhealthy level.