March marks National Nutrition Month, an annual focus on the importance of making informed nutritional choices and developing smart eating and physically active habits. The body needs a balanced and diverse diet to absorb the necessary nutrients to function properly. A healthy and well-
balanced diet helps absorb six essential nutrients: water, protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals.
Eating healthier and developing a healthy lifestyle doesn’t mean that you have to change your entire lifestyle overnight. Adopting healthy habits will take time and every small change adds up. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests following these simple steps to help you get started:
1. Create an eating style that includes a list of your favorite healthy foods
2. Cook more meals at home and practice using healthier ingredients
3. Portion control – eat and drink the right amount for you
4. Find activities that you can enjoy and be active for several days of the week
5. Manage your weight or lower your health risks by consulting a registered dietitian, doctor or pharmacist
In addition to maintaining a healthy and stable diet, it is important to consider taking a supplemental vitamin as part of your daily health regimen to assist the body in obtaining necessary nutrients. It can be difficult to absorb the appropriate amounts of nutrients from food alone, therefore vitamins play an active role in helping the body function and ensuring good health. A great multivitamin will provide support to your nervous system, heart and circulation health, memory, immune system, metabolic rate, bone density, energy, and provide antioxidants.
Our registered pharmacists can help you decide which vitamins will accommodate your lifestyle. With the Cypress Pharmacy Wellness Program, CP Wellness, our pharmacists provide personalized consultation services and recommendations to create a customized supplement program that takes into consideration the patient’s current medical conditions and medications.
Cypress Pharmacy offers a free vitamin club, a cost-
effective program providing children and adults ages 50 and up with the nutrients needed to promote healthier living. Once a month, customers can pick up one 30-count bottle of Leader Children’s Multivitamins or Leader Adult 50+ Multivitamins for free.
To join the program, participants must simply complete an enrollment form, and will receive their Club Card at Cypress Pharmacy.