Corn flour can be the main ingredient in corn muffins or corn bread or a thickener in gravies or chowders; it's also a variation on the wheat flour in regular recipes. The nutritional values for white and yellow corn flour are similar, and either one can be part of a balanced diet.
Read more →
The physical effects of alcohol consumption can vary drastically between individuals. Factors such as body weight, gender, age and physical condition all influence your body's ability to metabolize alcoholic drinks.
Read more →
Your pancreas is a gland that lies at the beginning of your intestine and produces pancreatic enzymes that help you digest food. When this gland becomes painfully inflamed, the condition is known as pancreatitis.
Read more →
If you suffer from headaches and have a low intake of vitamin D, you may actually have a vitamin D deficiency. Some types of headaches are linked to vitamin D deficiencies although the exact relationship is unclear.
Read more →
A mainstay of Asian cuisine, ginger has long been celebrated for its healing effects. It has been used to treat colds, flus, headaches and menstrual symptoms, and has the potential to prevent cancer, according to a review published in "International Journal of Preventive Medicine" in April 2013.
Read more →
It's not uncommon to notice spots on your fingernails. They are called leukonychia, and they appear as small white spots or streaks on your nails. If you've been sick or haven't been eating well and you develop spots on your fingernails, you might wonder if they're caused by a vitamin deficiency.
Read more →
The cholesterol content of eggs gives this protein source a bad reputation. However, eggs contain several important nutrients that may actually lower heart disease risk, suggests the Harvard School of Public Health. Consume eggs in moderation to balance their advantages and disadvantages.
Read more →
Iron is a mineral that plays various important roles in the body, most notably the production of hemoglobin -- the molecule in your blood that delivers oxygen. Iron deficiency is a common occurrence that can result in a condition known as anemia.
Read more →
Type 2 diabetics are typically given metformin to help manage their blood sugar levels. Metformin is typically taken with a meal unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Adverse effects include muscle pain, numbness of your extremities, difficulty breathing and stomach upset.
Read more →
Chemically similar to amphetamine, phenylethylamine is a mild alkaloid stimulant produced naturally in your body as a byproduct of the amino acid phenylalanine. A handful of foods made from cocoa beans contain phenylethylamine, or PEA.
Read more →
If you feel nauseous at breakfast, it could be because of the food, the time or a related condition. Feeling nauseous every morning for a prolonged period may also be an early sign of pregnancy. You can often prevent nausea at breakfast with a few changes to your morning meal and your routine.
Read more →
The French baguette is a thin, long loaf of crusty bread with a soft interior traditionally made from white flour and is named after the French word for "wand." The French baguette originated in Paris but can be found in bakeries all over the world.
Read more →
A cow's rib cage is about 3 feet in length, and the short ribs come from the lower half of the rib cage, closer to the loin. Short ribs are a tough meat but highly marbled in fat and full of flavor. Braising, a process that cooks the ribs slowly in liquid, tenderizes the meat while adding even more flavor.
Read more →
An egg is a common way to start your morning, and it is a high-protein and nutrient-dense meal. Chicken eggs are the most common components of an egg breakfast, but goose eggs can also be consumed. Goose eggs are about three times bigger than a large chicken egg, so they contain higher amounts of certain nutrients.
Read more →
Glutamine is one of 20 amino acids that help form all internal proteins and perform various other jobs inside your body. Gamma aminobutyric acid, or GABA, is a type of chemical called a neurotransmitter that plays a prominent role in information transfer between the cells of your nervous system.
Read more →
Cactus pears are actually large berries growing on the prickly pear cactus. They are filled with edible seeds – which is one reason for their high-fiber content – and brightly-colored, antioxidant-rich juice. You can eat the fruit raw or cook it for jams, preserves, pies and other desserts.
Read more →
Prawns are a shrimp-like shellfish in the biological group of marine animals known as the decapods. Despite some anatomical differences between true shrimp and prawns, these closely related creatures are nearly identical from a nutritional perspective, due to similar feeding habits and body composition.
Read more →
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, increase the brain’s levels of the mood-enhancing neurotransmitter serotonin. L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid that forms the starting point for serotonin synthesis.
Read more →
Cultivated for more than 4,000 years, the dried fruit of the jujube tree, known scientifically as Ziziphus jujuba, is a pectoral fruit similar to dates and figs. In China, where jujube originated, practitioners of traditional medicine have long prized the jujube for its medicinal properties.
Read more →
Blanching is the brief boiling or steaming of whole foods like fruits and vegetables to kill the enzymes that would otherwise cause unwanted changes to the food during preservation and storage. These changes include loss of color, flavor, texture and nutrient density.
Read more →