Protein supplements add a boost of high-quality protein to your diet, whether your goal is to build muscle, lose weight or recover from illness. When including a supplement in your nutrition plan, however, you may want to avoid ingredients that can detract from your health.
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Soup is a comfort food for many people. Soup is soothing and may remind you of the food that Grandma fed you when you were sick as a child. Soup may be good for you when you have a fever or other illness, but it depends on the type of soup. In some cases, certain soups may make your symptoms worse.
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Cranberry pills and cranberry juice are often touted as a good home remedy for preventing urinary tract infections, which can cause frequent urination. Cranberry pills do not cause excessive or frequent urination. Do not take any supplements without the advice and supervision of your doctor.
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Vitamin B-12, or cobamamin, is a B-complex vitamin that has been recommended for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Chemotherapy involves the use of heavy drugs in an effort to destroy cancer cells and prevent cancer from spreading.
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Bilberries and blueberries are often confused in everyday life. Both have a dark bluish, smooth skin and are similar in size, the bilberry being slightly smaller. Bilberries have been popular in Europe for centuries, and blueberries were first widely grown in the U.S. in the 1920s.
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Your body uses sunlight to produce vitamin D. A few foods also provide the nutrient, including some products, such as milk and breakfast cereal, that are enriched with the vitamin. Vitamin D is also available as a dietary supplement.
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For optimal health, Americans should try to increase their fruit intake to comply with the recommendations of ChooseMyPlate.gov. Pears and apples are two fruit options available year-round in the United States and are easy to include in your diet.
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Although Americans are eating more chicken, 58 percent of the meat eaten in the U.S. is red meat according to a 2011 study published in Public Health Nutrition. However, when it comes to health, some cuts of beef may not make the best choices because of their fat content.
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Iodoral is an over-the-counter nutritional supplement that comes in tablets containing either 12.5 or 50 mg of iodine and potassium iodide per tablet. Tablets are scored, so you can divide them in half if you prefer to take dosages other than full tablets. People take Iodoral to boost the body’s iodine levels.
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The level of vitamins and minerals an individual needs on a daily basis depends to a large degree on his body, lifestyle, gender and age. For instance, individuals who are older need to take in larger amounts of the minerals calcium and magnesium to maintain good health.
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Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, is a hormone that your body converts upon demand into other hormones. Both sexes naturally produce this hormone, and DHEA levels in your body typically decline in linear fashion.
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Levothyroxine is a synthetic thyroid hormone used to treat people with hypothyroidism. The way this medication and similar drugs work in your body may be affected when you eat certain foods -- and soy is one of them. Mayo Clinic endocrinologist Todd B.
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Yogurt has gained in popularity over the past few years, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, with sales increasing by 2,500 percent. Dannon, the maker of Activia -- a yogurt marketed as beneficial to digestion -- recommends that you eat at least one container every day to get the benefits.
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Oysters are a type of mollusk classified as bivalve marine creatures due to their characteristic, two-halved shells. Oysters can often be found close to the shore, so they are a popular type of seafood in many coastal regions.
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L-arginine and L-citrulline are amino acids that have a wide range of effects on your body. Both of these protein building blocks can be found naturally in foods and synthesized in your body from other sources. In fact, citrulline can be produced in your body from arginine.
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L-arginine is classified as an essential amino acid, meaning your body cannot produce it on its own. L-arginine and arginine are interchangeable terms. Your body uses this amino acid for a variety of purposes, including boosting immune system function and improving blood flow.
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Infants are typically born with enough iron to last four to six months, but then they require it from their diet. While iron deficiency is more common in infancy, it is possible for an infant to get too much iron, particularly if receiving supplementation or if there is a known genetic issue in the family.
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When it comes to exercise performance, many athletes take sports supplements because they believe the supplements will give them an edge. Arginine and creatine are natural substances found in both the body and food that athletes commonly supplement.
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Carbohydrate-rich foods are the main source of fuel for your body and your brain. They can help power you through athletic events or keep your concentration levels high, and they’re also some of the most vitamin- and mineral-rich foods available.
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Niacin, or vitamin B3, is essential to healthy nervous system function. It also helps keep your skin and hair healthy. In large doses, it's used to treat high cholesterol and its effects are currently being studied in the treatment of diabetes and other chronic medical conditions.
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