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.
Unless you have a weak immune system, fungal infections rarely cause serious health problems. These infections usually go away on their own, as your body has its own defense system. Certain vitamins exhibit potent anti-fungal activity and may help prevent and treat fungal infections.
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Drinking too much water can cause an imbalance in your electrolyte levels, but not usually because it washes them away. Rather, the problem is having too much water in your body. The resulting imbalance, commonly referred to as "water intoxication," is potentially fatal.
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Alpha lipoic acid, or ALA, is a naturally occurring anti-oxidant that is created by your body and can also be found as a nutritional supplement for its potential benefits concerning diabetes, liver disease and brain function.
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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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Frequent urination can be an embarrassing condition to contend with. Urgency, and sometimes pain, may accompany an increased urination frequency. It may be the result of a serious condition or a temporary one that can be treated with prescription medication.
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Cottage cheese is a unique dairy product, in that it is low in carbohydrates and rich in protein. Like other types of dairy, cottage cheese is rich in fat, but reduced-fat versions are available.
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If you have diverticulosis, small pouches lining your colon bulge through weak spots. Each of these pouches is called a diverticulum. This is a common condition – about 10 percent of U.S. adults over 40 have it. Your chances of developing diverticulosis go up as you age.
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High blood pressure may affect as much as 30 percent of the world's population, according to World Health Statistics 2012. Hypertension is treatable through medication, diet and lifestyle changes. Chronic elevation of blood pressure is a risk factor for many diseases and can lead to a decreased life expectancy.
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Pregnancy requires caution when it comes to certain foods that increase the risk of harm to your baby and could compromise your pregnancy. Chocolate is safe to eat while you are pregnant and may even offer health benefits in moderate amounts.
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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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