Vitamins are substances that the body needs in small quantities so that specialized proteins, known as enzymes, can work properly. Enzymes speed up the chemical reactions needed for the body to work properly. Taking vitamin supplements can help you avoid vitamin deficiencies and can be taken with milk.
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Potassium is a mineral that plays an important role in the body, which carefully regulates potassium levels due to the importance of this mineral for the function of all cells, including muscle cells within the heart. Having too much potassium in your blood can disrupt the heart's ability to pump properly.
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Probiotics are microorganisms that can improve your health when you take them in the right amounts, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine explains. Most probiotics are bacteria, because the body naturally contains bacteria in the intestines.
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If you have diabetes, you need to be careful about what you eat to keep your blood glucose levels under control and to reduce your risk of diabetes-related complications. Soy milk, particularly unsweetened soy milk, can be a healthy part of a diabetic's diet. As with all foods, moderation is key.
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Diarrhea is defined as loose or watery stools that occur more than three times per day. The main risk from diarrhea is the loss of fluids and electrolytes. This can be treated using rehydration solutions, which contain water, minerals and frequently contain some sugar.
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Adolescence is a time of growth for children, for both physical and mental development. A healthy diet is essential for teenagers because of their heightened nutritional needs, but also because the foods they eat as teenagers can impact their health when they reach adulthood.
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The pancreas and the liver both have important roles in the digestion of food. When you eat, signals from your digestive tract activate both of these organs to secrete the substances needed to digest food.
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Flaxseed oil and fish oil are two different supplements that contain a type of unsaturated fat known as omega-3 fatty acids. These supplements are often used to reduce patients' risk of developing cardiovascular problems, but they may also be used to reduce inflammation.
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Sodium is an important mineral for the body because it is an electrolyte, which means that it has an electrical charge when dissolved in water. Unusually high levels of sodium in your body can raise your blood pressure and result in a condition known as hypernatremia, resulting in cellular dysfunction.
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Fiber is a kind of carbohydrate that is not absorbed by the body. Although fiber is an important part of the diet, some people feel ill or develop discomfort when they consume foods that are high in fiber. If you feel sick after eating fiber, there are ways you can help your system adjust to high fiber foods.
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Eating foods with a low glycemic index can help prevent swings in blood sugar levels. This is especially important for people with diabetes. Because many fruits are sweet, they can be packed with sugar that increase their glycemic index.
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Fiber consists of the carbohydrates that are not broken down or absorbed by your digestive tract. Because increasing your dietary fiber can benefit your body in many ways, many manufacturers have begun to add fiber sources, such as inulin, to their products to boost the fiber content.
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When you are pregnant you have to be careful about what kinds of medications and herbal supplements you take. Even compounds that are normally safe can potentially be dangerous for your baby and increase the risk of pregnancy complications or birth defects.
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Fiber is an important part of the diet. Some foods, such as Fiber One bars, contain extra fiber as a way of helping you get all of the fiber you need to maintain the health of your digestive tract. However, some people may develop gas as a consequence of the fiber in these bars.
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Gout is a type of arthritis caused by the formation of small crystals in the joints, which result in intense inflammation, swelling and pain. Fish oil capsules contain omega-3 fatty acids; these fats can help relieve some of the symptoms of gout and do not usually make gout worse.
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Although antibiotics are an effective way to treat bacterial infections, they can disturb the ecological balance within the human body, leading to unintended side effects and an increased risk of certain infections.
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If you're taking psyllium, you may notice gastrointestinal side effects. Psyllium husk, a type of soluble fiber, can cause bloating, flatulence or increased belching. Sypmtoms are generally not severe and can be minimized by taking smaller doses until you adjust to the fiber.
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Your intestines are sensitive to inflammation, which can cause pain, diarrhea and bleeding. One thing that can affect the health of your intestines is what foods you eat. Sugar alcohols are a type of carbohydrate in the diet that can cause intestinal problems, though they do not directly cause inflammation.
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Minerals such as magnesium play an important role in the human body, even though you only need a relatively small amount of them for optimum health -- less than half a gram per day. If you drink coffee, you may not absorb magnesium efficiently, possibly leading to a magnesium deficiency.
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When you take antibiotics, you may need to make other changes to your lifestyle to maximize their effectiveness and minimize side effects. Although there do not appear to be major adverse effects caused by drinking wine while taking clindamycin, talk to your doctor before drinking alcohol while taking antibiotics.
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