Nutritional health is achieved through the therapeutic use of whole foods, safe culinary preparation, and understanding the metabolic impacts of specific dietary frameworks and ingredients.
While your immune system works hard to keep harmful bacteria out, many species of "friendly" bacteria live in harmony within your digestive system. Known as probiotics, these helpful microorganisms contribute to the health of the "host." Some strains of probiotics are found in fermented foods like yogurt and miso.
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In the early years of the 20th century, as dairy and other food industries became larger and more concentrated, it became standard practice in America to pasteurize milk.
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Vitamins, which are essential to the body, can come in various forms including tablets and soft gel capsules. The differences between soft gel caps and tablets range from size to rate of absorption. In addition, some people prefer soft gel caps because they are easily swallowed due to their slick exterior.
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Sugar cookies are among the simplest varieties of baked goods, but their simplicity carries with it a degree of elegance. The same basic recipe can be used with equal success at a children's birthday party or a more formal occasion, depending how the cookies are cut and decorated.
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Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps you metabolize the mineral calcium to build strong bones and teeth. Your body can manufacture vitamin D if you are exposed to sunlight, so food sources aren’t necessarily a big issue unless you live in a far-northern climate with long winters or spend all your time indoors.
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Whether from a lack of sleep, a hectic schedule or stress, everyone feels exhausted on occasion. In addition to aiming for sufficient rest, eating at regular time intervals and addressing any underlying medical condition, a healthy diet can help ensure positive, lasting energy levels.
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Wine can be a delicious addition to many recipes, but you must choose the right wine for your dish. Although you may be tempted to use up the bottle in the back of the fridge, the one you don't remember opening, a fresh and appropriate wine will do much more to enhance your food.
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Sugar and bread may taste good, but they can raise insulin levels, causing an inflammatory response in your body. The result? Weight gain, reduced energy and premature aging. The Department of Agriculture reports that Americans' consumption of refined sugar and grains has increased significantly over the past 50 years.
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While beans are packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals and protein, they also have one unpleasant side effect -- they’re famous for leaving you bloated. If you know you’re planning to have a bean dish tomorrow, plan ahead and prepare your beans the night before. You’ll be less likely to pass any gas after eating.
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Whether it's a simple dish of sliced apple or an exotic tropical fruit salad, the vibrant colors of fresh fruit can be a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach.
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Limes aren't just the tart fruits of the Citrus aurantifolia tree -- they're also tiny powerhouses of vitamins and nutrients. The benefits of limes aren't limited to culinary delights, either.
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When food enters the lungs instead of the esophagus, it affects breathing and can cause choking and other problems. The structures inside the mouth and neck each have a distinct role in breathing, speaking and swallowing.
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Elegant and simple to prepare, hams are the ultimate special-occasion fare. Although they're most often baked, your Crock-Pot can easily tackle the job, leaving your oven free for other dishes such as roasted vegetables or baked potatoes.
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Keeping your diet free of gluten and dairy might seem an impossible task. However, more companies are creating gluten-free and dairy-free products to match the needs of consumers. Also, many common snacks contain neither gluten nor dairy.
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Body builders need more protein than the average adult to build and maintain muscle mass. To help them meet these needs, a wide variety of supplements are available, including protein shakes.
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Too much vinegar can ruin a dish, making it unpleasant or nearly impossible to eat. Whether it was bad recipe or simply measured incorrectly, there are a few simple fixes to reduce the vinegar flavor in a variety of different foods.
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You may need to follow certain dietary guidelines before or after digestive surgery, or during treatment for digestive disorders such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. One of these guidelines is to limit your intake of high-fiber foods that may be difficult to digest and that may increase your stool bulk.
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Walking before or after meals promotes healthy metabolic activity, but walking before the body has ingested food enacts different chemical reactions than walking after the body has begun digesting the food.
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A typical cookie recipe calls for a mere spoonful of baking soda or baking powder, so it's tempting to underestimate their value. Don't make this mistake. Baking soda and baking powder are powerful chemical agents. Without them, the entire character of a batch of cookies changes -- usually not for the better.
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A teaspoon of sugar contains 16 calories, which doesn't seem like much. It can really add up, however, if you eat a lot of sugary foods or drink large amounts of soda and other sweetened beverages. Cutting sugar from your diet, though, can help you consume fewer calories -- and that can translate to weight loss.
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