Nutritional planning involves balancing macronutrients, understanding calorie formulas, and identifying the functional properties of whole foods to manage weight and chronic conditions effectively.
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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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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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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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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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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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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Humans have evolved to eat meat, including beef, so the human body comes equipped with specialized enzymes that break down the tough proteins and fats in beef. But beef is harder for the body to digest than plant foods, because it's entirely protein and fat.
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Zinc and iron are essential for good health. Zinc is essential for a healthy immune system, growth, wound healing, reproduction, fertility and sense of taste and smell. Your body needs iron for the formation of red blood cells that carry oxygen around the body.
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Krill oil is made from krill, small shrimp-like crustaceans that inhabit cold oceans, such as the Antarctic and northern Pacific oceans. It is a dietary supplement, primarily used for the omega 3 fatty acids it contains.
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Although the green banana is simply an unripened yellow banana, it has different uses. While you can eat the yellow banana immediately after peeling, the green banana is best eaten cooked, either boiled or fried.
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You need vitamin C for healing wounds, forming collagen and acting as an antioxidant to keep free radicals from damaging your cells. Both vitamin C powders and vitamin C pills have their benefits, and which you should choose will depend at least in part on your own personal preferences and needs.
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Telomeres are protective caps at the end of human chromosomes. As we age, telomeres can often shorten due to many factors, including life stress, infection and chronic disease. This attrition can often lead to unwanted genetic changes, including chromosomal rearrangements.
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Sodium and potassium are two electrolytes that are required for human survival. Electrolytes are positively and negatively charged particles that control the distribution of fluids throughout the body.
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A plant-derived sweetener, stevia is used as a no-calorie sugar substitute in foods and drinks. Made from the Stevia rebaudiana plant, it is originally from South America, although it is now widely available in grocery stores and health food stores.
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Although protein is an essential nutrient your body needs daily to function properly, getting too much protein can lead to unpleasant -- and dangerous -- side effects. Nutrient deficiencies may occur if you’re eating protein in place of other essential nutrients.
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Monosodium glutamate, also known as MSG or sodium glutamate, is a sodium salt of the non-essential amino acid glutamic acid. MSG occurs naturally in many foods and scientists originally extracted this sodium salt from seaweed.
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Just a few changes in your diet can make a big difference in the balance of sodium and potassium in your body, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.
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