Nutritional planning involves balancing macronutrients, understanding calorie formulas, and identifying the functional properties of whole foods to manage weight and chronic conditions effectively.
Weight Watchers is a popular weight loss plan that works on a points system. All foods are assigned a point value based on their fat, calorie, fiber, protein and carbohydrate content. Members are assigned an allowed number of daily points based on current weight, age, gender and level of physical activity.
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You must consume several servings of vegetables daily to meet the nutritional recommendations for a healthy diet. One way to prepare and serve fresh vegetables is through roasting, a method of dry-heat cooking that allows you to cook the vegetables without added fat.
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During pregnancy, your intake of certain vitamins and minerals should increase. Getting adequate folic acid during pregnancy can help you prevent neural tube defects in your growing baby.
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Gluten, found in rye, barley, wheat and certain cross-breeds of these grains, is a type of protein that the average healthy person can digest without a hitch. But if you’re sensitive to gluten or have celiac disease, it’s something you’ll have to avoid.
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Missing your morning coffee may not seem like a big deal until you develop a headache that feels like a beating drum in your temples. Even worse, your caffeine-withdrawal headache may be accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms like fatigue, difficulty concentrating, mood changes and feeling like you have the flu.
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You may have heard new reports about the dangers of processed foods made with sodium nitrate or with a similar chemical known as sodium nitrite. While some of the claims you have heard may be exaggerated, there is legitimate concern about the negative health effects of both sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite.
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Chicken can be a healthier option than red meat, especially if you choose the chicken breast meat. However, many people prefer the taste of chicken thighs. They are easier to cook, and often less expensive as well. Either option can be healthy if you prepare your chicken meat the right way.
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When talking about building muscle, many people place all their focus on protein. This results in a diet full of chicken, beef, fish and eggs. While protein does play a vital role in muscle recovery and growth, carbs are crucial too.
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Sunflower seeds are native to North America, and since the Native Americans discovered that sunflower seeds make a nutritious and portable food, they have been a popular snack.
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Green apples — sometimes referred to as Granny Smith apples — are firmer-textured and more tart than their rosy or golden-colored cousins. While they can be eaten raw, their firmer texture lends itself to baking and cooking -- and they make an excellent juice.
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, director of New York Presbyterian Hospital's Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine Program and award-winning host of "The Dr. Oz Show" says becoming a vegan -- eliminating all animal products from your diet -- will lower your risk of heart attack, obesity and diabetes.
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Although the risks of being underweight don't get the same press attention that's attached to being overweight or obese, a low body weight can negatively affect your immunity and fertility, and may slow your rate of recovery after illness.
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Chicken, in general, can be considered a healthy protein that is relatively low in fat when compared to many other proteins. However, certain parts of the chicken contain substantially higher quantities of fat than others. The dark meat of a chicken is usually much higher in fat than the white meat.
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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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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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Lychee is a sweet and tasty strawberry-red fruit that is a symbol of love and romance in China. As the University of Purdue horticulture website explains, lychee grow in clusters on trees and usually have a round or oval shape. Lychee fruit is roughly one 1 inch long and 1 inch wide.
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Butternut squash has many health-promoting features and a long storage life. It is an excellent source of vitamin A in the form of beta carotene. Its seeds are rich in protein, healthy fats and zinc, making a satisfying snack. Butternut squash is a nutrient-dense food, providing much nutrition in few calories.
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Originating in northern and western Europe, cabbage has become a culinary staple from America to China. The many varieties of cabbage lend themselves to different applications, and the resulting dishes can be as different from each other as kimchee and coleslaw.
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Iron is a mineral that helps transport oxygen throughout the body via the bloodstream, provides energy and is an antioxidant that can protect cells against damage. Sometimes medications can interfere with the body's absorption of iron or how the body utilizes this mineral.
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Malabsorption is the term physicians use to describe the inability to digest and absorb nutrients -- sugars, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals -- from your food. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that numerous factors may cause malabsorption, including parasites and certain autoimmune conditions.
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