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.
Your body needs fuel in the form of food every day, but the wrong kind of fuel can lead to health problems. A balanced diet consists of fruits, vegetables, low-fat or fat-free dairy, whole grains, protein and fats, but it limits cholesterol, saturated fats, trans fats and sodium.
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Oatmeal is a great way to start your day. But a bowl of hot porridge isn't the only way to enjoy this highly nutritious grain for breakfast. It also makes a fine addition to a morning smoothie. You don't have to cook oatmeal before adding it to a smoothie, but you can.
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Sesame oil, also known as gingelly or til oil, is obtained from sesame seeds. It plays a prominent role in Asian cuisine and also alternative medicine. Oil is expressed from sesame seeds either by simply crushing or toasting over heat. The first method provides cold-pressed sesame oil.
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Salt, or sodium chloride, is the primary dietary source of sodium, an essential electrolyte mineral needed to maintain fluid balance within the body. Salt is 40 percent sodium by weight. As too much sodium in your diet can have negative health consequences, doctors advise against consuming more than about 1 tsp.
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Folic acid, also called folate or vitamin B-9, is part of the B-complex of vitamins and plays many different roles in your body. Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that helps synthesize DNA and aids in normal growth of cells, especially in infants and children.
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Cider vinegar, which is also known as apple cider vinegar, is made through fermenting apple juice. Throughout the distillation process microoraganisms convert sugar, or carbohydrates, into acetic acid.
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Synthroid is a brand name for levothyroxine -- a thyroid replacement hormone prescribed by your doctor for low thyroid function. Hypothyroidism can slow your metabolism, leading to weight gain, and affect body temperature, making you more sensitive to cold.
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Vitamin K2 is the most biologically active member of the vitamin K family. Although the structurally similar K1 and K3 are not very usable inside the body, there is an exception. Your liver uses the vitamin K1 you take in with your food to make its very own K2.
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Not only is tea one of the nation's favorite beverages, but research suggests regular consumption helps fight diabetes. In 2012, 29 million Americans had diabetes, according to the National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2014.
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The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that wraps around the trachea at the front of the throat. Although small in size, its role in the human body is enormous. The thyroid secretes hormones that control the rate of metabolism or energy utilization in every cell in the body.
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The macronutrients -- carbohydrates, protein and fat -- are sources of calories for your body. But carbohydrates should make up the biggest percentage of the calories you get, since they’re broken down into glucose, your body’s main source of energy.
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Most full-term infants obtain enough vitamin D from breast or bottle-feeding or through exposure to the sun.
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Viruses -- microscopic infective agents consisting of protein-encased genetic materials -- are responsible for a vast repertory of diseases, from Ebola and AIDS to influenza and the common cold.
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Racing thoughts are associated with several psychological conditions, particularly generalized anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder. Although these conditions often are treated with prescription medications, vitamin deficiencies can either cause or exacerbate anxiety and bipolar disorders.
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Almost every home cook has experienced this scenario: you make your favorite chicken wings and the sauce just seems to slide off the meat. You are left with a bowl of sauce and a plate of chicken with a very light glaze of sauce that you can barely taste.
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Vitamin D, known as the sunshine vitamin because of its relationship to direct sunlight, is an essential, fat-soluble vitamin responsible for a variety of bodily functions. Vitamin D’s most popular purpose is to allow the body to absorb bone-building calcium. It’s also involved in immune-system health.
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Some scientific research indicates that consuming vinegar before a meal may yield a variety of benefits, though more studies are needed.
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Vitamin C is a vital part of your daily diet since it is water-soluble and your body uses what it needs and excretes the rest. While you should get enough vitamin C from fruits, vegetables and juice, in some cases you may need to take a vitamin C supplement.
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Protein deficiency is pretty rare in healthy adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. In fact, it states most Americans consume more protein than their body needs. It can be unhealthy to consume too much or too little protein.
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If you see a change in your urine color, and you're taking B vitamins, don't panic. Depending on the amounts and combinations of B vitamins you take, you may experience changes in urine color. Your urine could turn orange or green.
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