Food & Nutrition: Culinary Techniques, Diets & Metabolic Health

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.

Multi-ethnic female friends cutting fruit

Should I Take Vitamin C in Powder or Pill Form?

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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Model of DNA double helix

Can Certain Foods Boost Telomeres & Telomerase?

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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Banana

The Relationship Between Potassium and Sodium

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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White tablets of stevia

Does Stevia Affect Blood Sugar?

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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woman complaining  to doctor about stitch in side

What Happens if You Have Too Much Protein Intake?

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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sea salt in a cup on white background

What Is MSG Made Of?

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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A child's hands holding a glass of milk

What Is the Fortification of Milk?

Fortification is the process by which manufacturers add micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals to food. The purpose is to reduce the rate of common deficiencies and diseases that would otherwise occur in the absence of these nutrients.

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Doctor checking blood pressure of male patient, elevated view

Low Potassium & Vitamin D Deficiency

Generally, potassium imbalance is not associated with disturbances in vitamin D metabolism, but when both are present, they can compromise effective circulation of blood. According to the book "Health Issues in the Black Community,"

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"Milk droplet splashing, close-up"

What Is Calcium Caseinate?

Calcium caseinate is a protein derived from the casein in milk. The food industry commonly uses calcium caseinate in powders that require a rapid dispersion in water, such as instant cream soups and coffee creamers.

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empty plastic container of yogurt

What Is the Activia 14-Day Challenge?

In the early 2000s, Dannon developed Activia, a line of yogurt and smoothie products that contain a probiotic, or beneficial bacteria, created by the company and named Bifidus regularis. Eating Activia regularly promotes digestive system health, claims Dannon.

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Heart-Shaped Box of Candy

Chocolate and Estrogen Levels

Eating chocolate causes most people to feel great, "Psychology Today" notes. This is because chocolate contains anandamide, a neurotransmitter that elevates your mood. What is interesting is that women feel the strongest desire to eat chocolate prior to and during their menstrual cycle.

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Stack of different pills

Will Taking Too Much Magnesium Cause a Zinc Deficiency?

Once they enter your body, vitamins and minerals in the foods and supplements you consume can interact with each other, and these interactions can alter the absorption of these nutrients in your digestive tract. One such interaction occurs between magnesium and zinc. Too much magnesium does not cause a zinc deficiency.

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Skin Rashes and Apple Cider Vinegar

Skin rashes are uncomfortable, itch, and look red and irritated. This isn't a good combination. While topical creams and treatments exist and work well, some people have seen improvements in their skin rashes by using apple cider vinegar.

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Dry Ginseng Slices, capsules and roots

What Is the Daily Recommended Intake of Korean Red Ginseng?

Korean red ginseng, also called Chinese ginseng or Asian ginseng, is used for treating health ailments, improving your endurance and minimizing stress, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. However, the correct dosage depends on what you’re aiming to treat.

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Idly served in a plate with chutney

What Is Tamarind Concentrate?

A tamarind is the brown, pod-shaped fruit of the native African tamarind tree. Also known as a tamarindo or an Indian date, tamarinds can be used fresh or dried, but are most often available in the United States as a canned concentrated pulp or processed into tamarind concentrate.

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Red cherries

The Side Effects of Tart Cherry Juice

Tart cherry juice gets its bitter taste from the antioxidants that are responsible for its anti-inflammatory effects, reports Oregon Health and Science University. The juice has been shown to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with exercise as well as the chronic inflammation of arthritis.

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