When you consume the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables, you get the variety of nutrients and phytochemicals needed to help lower your risk of heart disease, prevent cancer and other illnesses and maintain optimal health, reports the Harvard School of Public Health.
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Any successful weight-loss routine means watching your calorie intake and getting regular exercise, but a protein-rich diet is also beneficial. Protein makes you feel full longer, keeps levels of blood sugar steady and temporarily boosts your metabolism more than carbs or fats.
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If you’re over 300 pounds, you can approach weight loss the same way as someone who has less to lose, but it’s critical to consult your physician first. Being overweight puts a significant amount of stress on your heart, muscles and joints, so protect your health and get a complete checkup before you start.
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White kidney bean extract may help you lose weight by blocking the absorption of carbohydrates, which is why it’s often called a carb blocker or starch blocker. While the extract can cause gastrointestinal side effects, they should go away after your body adjusts to the supplement.
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Celery seed tea contains a variety of beneficial oils and active ingredients, including essential omega-6 fatty acids and polyunsaturated fats that help lower cholesterol.
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The natural sugars you get from eating an orange are the same type as granulated sugar, but you don't have to worry as much about their impact on your health.
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Garlic’s characteristic odor -- and its health benefits -- come from sulfur-containing compounds naturally produced in the plant. These potent compounds are credited with preventing or treating a range of medical problems.
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Red leaf lettuce naturally qualifies as a calorie-free food, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations. It’s also fat-free and consists primarily of water. These nutritional qualities create low-energy density, which makes red leaf lettuce valuable for weight management.
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Chances are, you don’t need an excuse to enjoy a filling peanut butter and honey sandwich, but it’s still good to know that this favorite is packed with nutritional benefits.
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It turns out that all saturated fats are not equal. Each saturated fat has its own structure, and their individual differences influence the way they work in your body, reports an article in the January 2014 issue of the “Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
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When blood glucose gets low, your energy plummets and you may find it hard to concentrate. Your body can temporarily fill the gap by drawing on glucose stored in your liver, but those supplies are limited. When they run out, your body can produce glucose from fats and proteins.
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The primary ingredient in ginger beer -- ginger root -- contains active compounds that can help relieve nausea and possibly fight inflammation and prevent the growth of cancer.
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Most amino acids fall into one of two categories: essential or nonessential. L-arginine, or arginine, is different. While it's essential for children, arginine is only conditionally essential for adults.
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Your body thrives on glucose, which is the sugar it uses to synthesize energy. Carbohydrates supply glucose and other sugars that are converted into glucose. But it's such a vital source of energy that the body has a back-up system called gluconeogenesis.
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In the search for good sources of lean protein, don’t overlook kidney beans. They’re an excellent source of protein, and they’re naturally low in fat. The U.S.
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Mention metabolism, and most people think about burning calories, but that’s not all it's about. Metabolism includes everything that happens inside your body to keep you healthy and alive.
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Tough cuts of meat are budget-friendly and packed with flavor, but they require special treatment to make them tender. You can pound them with a mallet to mechanically break the tough muscle fibers or use salt and acids such as tomato juice, which soften the meat.
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Bananas contain fiber and resistant starch, which support weight loss. They’re also a nutritious, low-energy-density food, which is good for dropping pounds. And they don't live up to their once bad reputation of being a diet-wrecking fruit to avoid. But whether they’re good for weight loss comes down to calories.
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Portobello mushrooms stand out from all the other mushrooms in the produce section, with their large, tan to brown cap, dark underside and thick white stem. They’re related to the common button mushroom, yet have a taste and texture all their own, which makes them more versatile in the kitchen.
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Corn’s natural sweetness makes corn taste like it's high in calories, but you can easily fit an ear of corn into your daily diet. For maximum sweetness, buy the freshest corn possible. The natural sugars begin to turn into starch as soon as the corn is picked, which affects the taste but not the calories.
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