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.

Man and woman shopping in drugstore

Folic Acid Recommendations for 50-Year-Old Women

Folic acid is the synthetic form of the B-vitamin folate. Folate naturally occurs in a variety of foods but your body absorbs folic acid better, reports the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

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Produce Aisle

List of Vegetables That Are Genetically Modified

Genetically modified foods, commonly referred to as GMOs, are foods that have been implanted with genetic material from other species of plants or animals. While several major U.S. crops have been genetically modified, the number of genetically modified vegetables is limited.

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Boiled taro in the market

How to Cook Taro Root

Taro root is present in many Indian and South East Asian dishes. High in starchy carbohydrates, taro roots look similar to small, brown knobbly potatoes. The root works in both savory and sweet dishes, though it's best in main dishes. According to Frederic Couton in "The Cannery Seafood House Cookbook,"

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Donut

Side Effects of Bad Nutrition

Side effects of bad nutrition don't happen overnight. They develop over time from eating a diet lacking in vital nutrients and making poor lifestyle choices. The good news is you can make changes before it's too late.

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palm oil tree

Is Palm Oil One of the Healthy Oils to Consume?

Expressed from the fruit of a palm tree, palm oil, like most other oils, contains about 120 calories and 13.6 grams of fat per tablespoon. The breakdown of saturated and unsaturated fats plays an important role in the comparison of palm oil to other vegetable oils.

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Young potatoes pile

Do Potatoes Improve Cholesterol Levels?

Two important dietary changes can help lower your cholesterol. You can boost the amount of soluble fiber in your diet and restrict the amount of saturated and trans fats you consume. Potatoes can help you meet both goals. They're good sources of fiber, including the soluble type, and they're a fat-free food.

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Chocolate.

Does Chocolate Alleviate a Headache?

Chocolate is derived from cocoa beans and has been consumed in a variety of forms for countless generations by indigenous peoples, particularly natives of South American countries.

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Bagel

Are Bagels Better for Losing Weight Than Wheat Bread?

Comparing bagels to bread provides the perfect example of two of the most important aspects of weight control -- portions and calories. When bagels and wheat bread are part of a balanced diet that stays within your calorie goals, both carbs can help you lose weight.

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How to Slow Cook Beef Top Round Roasts

Full-flavored and lean, beef top round roasts lack fat and marbling. This makes these roasts moderately tough, especially when cooked too quickly in a dry heat. Cooking them for hours in a slow cooker causes the collagen in the meat to break down, tenderizing the roast.

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What Time of Day Should I Take 5 HTP?

If you're looking for a dietary supplement that might help treat depression, you may have come across 5-HTP, or 5-hydroxytryptophan. In his book "The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth," Clinical Nutrition specialist Dr.

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How to Cook Canned Collard Greens

Collard greens are packed with dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, manganese, calcium and iron. A staple in Southern cooking, collard greens can be used in place of other leafy green vegetables like spinach, Swiss chard, kale or mustard greens.

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Chickbeans

How to Cook Chick Peas

Chickpeas, a highly popular pulse used in Indian and North African cuisine, come dried or in cans. Canned chickpeas don't take long to prepare and cook. Dried chickpeas require soaking before use. Cooked chickpeas add bulk and protein to many tomato-based or curry-style dishes.

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Portion of tasty lasagna on a plate

How to Reheat Lasagna in the Oven

Most lasagna recipes are for a pan serving 8 to 10 people. Lasagna is a bit tricky because of the many layers to warm and the outer cheese might get burnt or coagulate if you aren't careful.

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Woman lying on the sofa with upset stomach

What Makes the Body Not Absorb Nutrients?

In some cases, foods can trigger inflammation or cause problems with digestion, leading to poor nutrient absorption. Other times, severe chronic illnesses may be the cause.

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Glazed Carrots

How to Cook Raw Carrots in the Microwave

Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, in the form of beta-carotene, an antioxidant important for the health of your eyesight and skin. Beta-carotene may also provide protection against heart disease and some cancers, according to the University of Illinois Extension.

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How to Grill a Ham Steak

Adding a ham steak to a summer barbecue or winter "cook-in" is a tasty way to add variety to your meals. Grilling ham is quick and easy, but you can dry out a beautiful piece of meat if you do it incorrectly. Prepping your meat and grill are keys to making sure your ham stays moist and delicious.

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How to Boil and Cook Yams

A baked yams dish is a familiar item on menus for special occasions, especially holiday meals. Some cooks add toppings or spices, such as cinnamon or nutmeg, or sugar to achieve a candied yam dish. Some prefer a firm yam, while others cook the yams until they have the consistency of mashed potatoes.

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How to Bake Foil-Wrapped Potatoes

The baked potato is a quick, healthy side dish for lunch or dinner. Baked potatoes are nutrient rich, especially when eaten with skin. You can certainly bake potatoes uncovered in the oven. But cooking potatoes in foil steams them in their own juices.

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How to Cook a 3-lb. Roast of Beef in a Slow Cooker

A slow cooker is a convenient way to cook a beef roast. You put all the ingredients in the cooker and the roast cooks all day while you do other things. The long, slow cooking time tenderizes tougher cuts of meat, allowing you to enjoy leaner, less-expensive roasts such as the chuck or shoulder.

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How to Cook a Cottage Roll in a Crock-Pot

Shoulder cuts of pork are used for a number of preparations, from fork-tender pulled pork to ham-like smoked shoulders. One unusual form of pork shoulder is the so-called "cottage roll," common in Canada and Britain but seldom seen in American meat cases.

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