Nutritional planning involves balancing macronutrients, understanding calorie formulas, and identifying the functional properties of whole foods to manage weight and chronic conditions effectively.
If you are iron deficient, prune juice is a viable source of iron. But prune juice is a non-heme source of iron. Fruits and vegetables are non-heme iron sources. Meat and fish are heme sources of iron. According to the National Institutes of Health, your body absorbs heme sources of iron at a rate of 15 to 35 percent.
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Vitamin B-12 injections are often given to those who ingest alcohol on a consistent basis, because chronic alcohol exposure is a precursor for significant deficiency. B-12 is necessary for many biological functions, including the maintenance of blood and neural cells.
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Hormone-releasing glands that are spread throughout the body make up the endocrine system. These glands include the pineal gland, hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, adrenal glands, pancreas, ovaries, and testicles.
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Probiotics are living microorganisms found naturally in your digestive system. These microorganisms live primarily in your gut and work synergistically to help your body function properly. Probiotics are also available in some foods and as commercial supplements for digestive health.
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Glycerol is a carbohydrate that can be made in the body from glucose and obtained through the diet as a food additive. It also exists naturally in triglycerides (TGs) and phospholipids (PLs). Glycerol has applications in food manufacturing as a sweetener, thickener, solvent and preservative.
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You need at least a small amount of fat in your diet to provide the essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids your body can't make and to help with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
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Despite the name, the strawberry is not a true berry but a pseudocarp, which means some of the fruit’s flesh sprouted from nearby accessory tissue of the plant instead of an ovary. Nevertheless, the fruit provides sustenance for a variety of wildlife and a good reason for people to make jam.
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Zinc keeps your immune system healthy, regulates the synthesis of protein, ensures normal growth and supports the senses of smell and taste. If you don’t get enough zinc through your diet, you can boost your intake with supplements such as zinc gluconate and chelated zinc.
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Vitamins C and E make up essential parts of your diet and promote tissue function -- for example, vitamin C aids in brain communication, while vitamin E helps control blood vessel constriction.
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If you take statins to improve your blood cholesterol levels, some supplements may interfere with the effectiveness of statins or increase your risk of side effects, some potentially life-threatening. Supplements to avoid when taking statins include antioxidants, red yeast rice and grapefruit seed extract.
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While supplements and meal-replacement shakes aren't required for weight-loss success, you may find them helpful if you're not an experienced dieter. Two meal replacement shake options are GNC's Lean Shake and Medifast's diet shakes.
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L-carnitine helps reduce oxidative stress and is used by your body as it turns fat into energy. It’s found naturally in your body, in dairy products and in red meat as well as in supplement form.
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Costochondritis — also known as costosternal syndrome — is the sharp pain you feel along the costosternal joint, which connects the ribs to the sternum. It’s caused by irritation and inflammation of the cartilage.
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The hormone vitamin D aids in the maintenance of several tissues: it maintains strong bones, helps maintain your body's electrolyte balance and aids in nerve function. Abnormally high or low levels of vitamin D can affect your health, leading to a number of side effects.
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LYRICA, the brand name for pregabalin, is a prescription anticonvulsant medication used to treat several disorders, including seizures, fibromyalgia and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage. Like other medications, LYRICA might cause side effects.
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The human liver is classified as a gland, and it is the largest gland in your body. This vital organ is responsible for a wide variety of tasks, which include controlling the use of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids as well as monitoring the secretion of bile.
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Black tea is better known for its benefits than for any type of side effects. But it contains two natural substances -- caffeine and tannins -- that have the potential to cause digestive problems, such as an upset stomach or nausea. The key is to enjoy black tea but don't go overboard.
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Hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid, occurs when the thyroid gland makes more than the needed amounts of thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Too much of the hormones can lead to fatigue, goiter, heat intolerance, sweating, increased appetite, restlessness and weight loss.
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While normal bowel movements differ from person to person, if you are not having at least three bowel movements per week then you are constipated. Constipation is characterized as having dry, hard stool that is difficult to pass and irregular bowel movements.
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Vinegar has been used by natural health care advocates for generations to treat health conditions such as high blood pressure, weight gain and blood sugar control. Diuretics likewise have several uses, including as a treatment for swelling of the limbs not due to injury, high blood pressure and kidney disorders.
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