The Naked Calories Mini-Micronutrient Sufficiency Challenge
The Naked Calories Quiz
Harvard and Yale Medical School trained Nutritionist Jayson Calton, PhD, FAAIM, CISSN, CMS and licensed nutritionist, fitness chef and integrative health expert Mira Calton, CN bring to you The Naked Calories Quiz
The Naked Calories Mini Micronutrient Sufficiency Challenge below considers many aspects of your life, including eating patterns, food shopping and preparation preferences, and supplementation habits in order to gauge the likelihood that you are sufficient in life-enhancing essential vitamins and minerals. Answer the following statements as honestly as you can. Don’t worry, there is no passing or failing grade—just the knowledge you will obtain about yourself. The more you learn about your micronutrient level, the better equipped you’ll be to improve your micronutrient intake, your lifestyle, and your ability to prevent or reverse disease.
1. When it comes to exotic fruits and vegetables:
A. I occasionally splurge, but generally just buy what the grocery store is selling at reasonable prices.
B. I love to taste tantalizing, well-traveled treats and buy them often.
C. I prefer to purchase locally grown fruit.
2. Which best describes the cheese in your refrigerator?
A. Raw, unpasteurized and artesian.
B. Bright orange from a spray can or processed cheese block.
C. Standard, pasteurized cheese. When I have guests I may splurge on gourmet cheeses as well.
3. When I think about my eating pattern, you might say that:
A. I crave therefore I eat.
B. I am usually watching what I eat and eat less than I might like.
C. I eat randomly. I know what I like, and how much I can eat.
4. My carnivorous appetite sends me:
A. Most often to the grocer/butcher to buy conventionally raised beef, pork or chicken.
B. I am not a carnivore. I don’t eat meat.
C. To try and find only grass-fed meats, and pastured chickens whenever possible.
5. When choosing how to take a multivitamin with vitamins and minerals:
A. I don’t take anything. I don’t feel it is necessary.
B. I take a once-a-day multivitamin pill or liquid.
C. I take a single- serving, powdered multivitamin delivered in liquid form that provides beneficial quantities of essential micronutrients and is formulated to include both Anti-Competition Technology and synergy.
ANSWER KEY
#1- Answer key: A: 2 Purchasing more local varieties will reduce the amount of depletion due to the travel time of the fruits and vegetables you choose to buy. B: 1 While these may be tantalizing treats, the amount of micronutrients in them in substantially harmed by the vast distance they have traveled. C: 3 Great Job! Choosing to purchase locally grown produce ensures that you will bring home the largest supply of vitamins and minerals (micronutrients).
#2- Answer key: A: 3 Raw dairy is filled with healthy micronutrients and is a great choice. B: 1 These highly processed foods deliver little to no micronutrient value and are filled with chemical substances and ingredients. This is a POOR food choice. C: 2 Next time you are at the market try and locate a raw cheese. This will eliminate the micronutrient loss due to pasteurization.
#3- Answer key: A: 1 Food cravings are often your body’s cry for micronutrients. B: 1 Limiting food intake also limits your micronutrient intake increasing your chances of being deficient in essential vitamins and minerals. C: 1 Studies show that random eating is likely to leave an individual deficient in essential micronutrients.
#4- Answer key: A: 2 You may want to consider purchasing grass-fed beef and pastured chickens. The increase in micronutrient value will astound you. Plus—they taste incredible! B: 1 Congratulations. You have made an important decision for yourself. However, it is important for vegans and vegetarians to realize that studies show that following these diet profiles can often leave them deficient in certain micronutrients. C: 3 Good going! You know the added micronutrient benefits of traditionally raised grass-fed cattle and pastured chickens. Keep up the good work.
#5- Answer key: A: 1 I would re-think that decision. Taking a supplement helps to increase the likelihood of reaching sufficiency of the essential micronutrients. B: 2 These forms of multivitamins all have limitations. C: 3 You have made the wisest choice concerning your supplementation. You realize how important micronutrient sufficiency is to your health. BRAVO! To find out how your multivitamin stacks up take the ABCs of Optimal Supplementation Stack Up Quiz at www.CaltonNutrition.com
If you scored between 11 – 13: You are making smart choices that are creating a high likelihood of micronutrient sufficiency. This means that you are getting a good supply of your vitamins and minerals in the foods you eat and that you do not take part in too many micronutrient depleting habits. However, it is important for you to learn what you are doing right, so that you can keep up the good work—Read Naked Calories to learn more.
If you scored between 6 – 10: It is time you start to pay a bit more attention to your micronutrient sufficiency level. While you may not have yet noticed the effect that the depletion of these essential vitamins and minerals is having on your body, studies show that long-term deficiencies can lead to devastating chronic lifestyle conditions and diseases. You would do well to learn more about this important topic by reading Naked Calories.
If you scored between 0 – 5: It is imperative that you start to make some changes today. There is a very high likelihood that you are micronutrient deficient. Micronutrient deficiency is the most widespread and dangerous health condition of the 21st century. Your future health depends on your making some changes today to increase your levels of vitamins and minerals. Reading Naked Calories is a great first step toward improving your health.
About the Authors
THE CALTONS are among the world’s leading experts on the topics of weight management, lifestyle medicine, food quality, and micronutrient deficiency. In 2005, after reversing Mira’s advanced osteoporosis, the couple set sail on a 100-country, 7 continent, 6-year global expedition exploring the dietary and lifestyle habits of people around the world. Their research has led them to conclude that micronutrient deficiency is the most widespread and dangerous health condition of the 21st century. Together they reside in Florida, where they operate Calton Nutrition and the Calton Institute of Lifestyle Medicine, offering extensive training to other health professionals through their Certified Micronutrient Specialist (CMS) program, and assisting individual clients with their groundbreaking wellness and supplementation program. The Caltons also counsel restauranteurs, food manufacturers, owners of small farms, and communities in developing countries about how to improve dietary micronutrient content. Mira and Jayson Calton are columnists for First For Women magazine and Livestrong.com, and contribute regularly to media sources such as Fox and Friends, Happening Now, Headline News, NBC, ABC, AOL Travel, Prevention, and Shape magazine. Their blog at CaltonNutrition.com covers diet supplementation, weight loss, fitness, and wellness travel.
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JAYSON CALTON, PHD, FAAIM, CISSN, CMS, holds a doctorate in Nutrition and has completed postdoctoral continuing medical education at Harvard and Yale Medical Schools. For over twenty years, Jayson has treated thousands of international clients with his unique and holistic approach to nutritional well-being.
MIRA CALTON, CN, FAAIM, CMS, is a licensed nutritionist, fitness chef, and integrative health expert specializing in a sensible, drug-free, micronutrient-based approach to weigh loss and disease prevention.
