Nutritional planning involves balancing macronutrients, understanding calorie formulas, and identifying the functional properties of whole foods to manage weight and chronic conditions effectively.
Unless it’s one of the few that behaves neutrally, every food is either acid- or alkaline-forming in the body. In general, fruits and vegetables are alkalizing, while meat, most dairy and all sugary foods are acidifying.
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Vitamins are nutrients found in foods. Even in tiny doses, they are essential to the body’s vital functions and overall good health. Vitamins are either fat-soluble or water-soluble. Biotin and vitamin C are both water-soluble vitamins that the body does not produce on its own.
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Following a healthful diet provides essential nutrients for long-term health, but even the healthiest diet has room for a treat now and then. Eating your favorite foods in moderation can prevent you from feeling deprived and keep you on track with your healthful lifestyle.
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The apple is one of the world's most common fruits and a portable and nutritious snack. Most people throw away the apple seeds, but some believe there are hidden nutritional benefits. The seeds contain a controversial compound called vitamin B17 that some researchers believe have many beneficial effects on the body.
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Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance that is found in 60 plants, including coffee beans, tea leaves and cacao pods, which are used to make chocolate. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies caffeine as a food additive and drug. Concerta is the commercial name for methylphenidate.
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Hummus makes a healthy addition to a low-carb diet because it’s packed with fiber and vitamins that contribute to your overall well-being. It's a moderate source of carbohydrates, so you may struggle to fit hummus into a very low-carb diet. But, if you follow a more relaxed low-carb diet, you can likely make it work.
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Apple cider vinegar is produced from cider or old, crushed apples to create a vinegar that is yellow-brownish in color. Unlike clear vinegar, apple cider vinegar contains living nutrients and bacteria that are visible as sediment when settled at the bottom of a bottle.
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Most fad diets that promise fast weight loss violate the basic principle of healthy eating -- eating a variety of nutritious foods. The Marine commando diet, also known as the Royal Marine commando diet, is a fad diet. It limits your intake to specific foods and promises a 1- to 2-pound daily weight loss.
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You may eliminate fat when you’re trying to lose weight, but the fact is the human body needs fat for overall maintenance, including brain health. Furthermore, fat helps you better absorb fat-soluble vitamins. The key is to find healthy fats, in lieu of saturated and trans fats that harm your heart.
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After dinner, it's easy to turn your attention to dessert and, later in the evening, dig into a bowl of chips as you lounge on the couch. Doing so might be tasty, but these diet habits can quickly lead to weight gain.
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Although it's sometimes called vitamin H, biotin is actually part of the B-complex family of nutrients, which also include thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, and vitamins B-5, B-6 and B-12. These vitamins work together to benefit health.
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The length of time it takes to correct a potassium deficiency varies from person to person, so it’s difficult to give a definitive answer that applies to everyone. First, the cause of the deficiency must be diagnosed and corrected if you hope to maintain an optimal level of potassium in the body.
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Vitamin E is an essential nutrient that provides a measure of protection to your cells so they're less susceptible to damage that can interfere with good health. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that vitamin E might help protect you from heart disease and cancer, for example.
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Calcium fructoborate is a compound of boron, fructose and calcium found naturally in plant foods. It is also made synthetically and sold as a nutritional supplement.
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Bacitracin, also known as polysporin, is an antibiotic found in a number of ointments for application to the skin, either alone or with other antibiotics. Widely regarded as safe when used as directed, bacitracin zinc ointment has a number of benefits.
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Whether you need 50 grams of protein per day or 50 grams per meal, choose nutrient-rich sources like lean meats, low-fat dairy, fruits, veggies, beans and nuts.
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Endometriosis is a condition characterized by the displacement of endometrial cells that normally line the inside of the uterus. These tissue cells are regularly shed each month during menstruation.
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Sodium propionate is a common food additive that is industrially manufactured but also occurs in nature. Since it is toxic to mold and some species of bacteria, it is an especially effective additive in baked goods or other products that are susceptible to spoilage.
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Rice water is used as an electrolyte-replacing beverage during bouts of acute diarrhea. A study published in July 1981 in the “Lancet” reported that rice water was more effective than an electrolyte solution in reducing the number of bowel movements in babies with acute diarrhea.
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Vitamin C and calcium are two essential nutrients for a variety of reasons, but your body needs each for different processes. While vitamin C is a vitamin that supports tissue growth and repair, calcium is a mineral needed for strong teeth and bones.
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