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.

Sea salt

Low Sodium Side Effects

Sodium, or salt, makes up an essential part of your diet. Found in a number of food products, salt can act as a preservative to help extend a food's shelf life, or act as a seasoning and flavor enhancer in dishes.

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Fresh cabbage cross section with water drops

The Best Vegetables for Constipation

Constipation is an unpleasant but common affliction that can affect anyone, at any age. If you aren’t experiencing regular bowel movements, or if you’re not able to entirely empty your bowel, you may suffer from constipation.

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Wholemeal Spaghetti

Why Do We Need Carbohydrates in Our Diet?

Carbohydrates provide energy in the form of glucose, or blood sugar. Glucose is necessary to support your body's everyday needs and performance. But not just any old carb will do; choosing wisely among starches, sugars and fibers helps you maintain your energy levels, avoid weight gain and combat sugar crashes.

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peanuts or groundnuts in shells

Vitamin B6 Overdose Amount

Vitamin B-6 is found in three related forms in food -- pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine -- all of which are attached to a phosphate group when they get into your tissues. Nutritionist Dr. Elson Haas reports that pyridoxal phosphate is the most biologically active form of vitamin B-6.

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Man working out at the gym

Pros & Cons to Muscle Mass Supplements

Muscle mass supplements can be beneficial for helping you reach your physical fitness goals quickly, but they are not without disadvantages. Even basic supplements such as protein powder can have potential drawbacks that may outweigh their effectiveness, depending upon your goals.

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How to Cook Sirloin Steak in an Oven

You may prefer to prepare premium steaks, such as sirloin steaks, by grilling them. However, if the weather does not cooperate, you can still cook delicious sirloin steaks in the oven. All you need is an oven-safe skillet and a few minutes.

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Miso soup of the corbicula

Fermented Food & B-12

Vitamin B-12 is essential for good health. There are a lot of ways for people to get enough vitamin B-12, including taking supplements, getting injections or eating foods that are rich in the vitamin. The most common food sources of B-12 are meat, seafood and dairy products, and it can also be found in fermented foods.

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Germany, Berlin, Senior man cutting carrots

Can Eating Carrots Help You Lose Weight?

The diet stereotype of noshing on carrot and celery sticks all day is a cliche for a good reason -- carrots are a great diet food. They're naturally low in calories and full of nutrients that can help your weight loss efforts.

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bowl of sauerkraut

Does Sauerkraut Have All the Probiotics I Need?

For generations, different cultures have been able to preserve vegetables for long periods even without freezers or canning machines by using lacto-fermentation. Sauerkraut, or "sour cabbage," is an example of such fermented vegetable.

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Fresh produce

The Side Effects of Cherries

Unless you’re allergic to cherries, these fruits are unlikely to cause serious side effects. However, eating cherries in excess or as part of a very high-fiber diet may lead to unpleasant effects.

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Variety And Women In Film Emmy Nominee Celebration Powered By Samsung Galaxy - Crystal Light

What Are the Ingredients of Crystal Light?

Crystal Light is a low calorie, powered drink mix. It comes in a variety of forms and offerings including on-the-go powders and caffeinated varieties in more than 35 different flavors. Most flavors have 5 calories per serving although the Pure and caffeinated lines have 15 calories per serving.

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Vitamin and Iron Supplements for Pre-term Infants

Premature infants -- babies born before 37 weeks -- have unique nutritional needs. Babies born early may have lower vitamin and mineral stores than babies born after a full-term pregnancy. Preterm infants may also have higher nutritional needs for not only calories, but also for vitamins and minerals for some time.

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Boy (3-5) eating ice cream, close-up, other children in background

The Disadvantages of Ice Cream

I scream, you scream we all scream for... coronary heart disease? Brian Gould, professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Wisconsin, reports that the average U.S. citizen consumes over 14 lb. of ice cream in 2006. It's clear that most people enjoy the frozen treat on a regular basis.

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Sliced seaweed salad dressed with garlic

Kelp Overdose Symptoms

Kelp is an iodine-rich sea plant that is used as both a food and medicinal supplement. Taking more than 2,000 mcg of kelp per day may lead to the development of overdose signs and symptoms.

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Fresh Pizza

A Healthy Alternative to Pepperoni Pizza

You might eat pepperoni pizza at parties, casual lunches and relaxed family dinners, but frequent consumption can be unhealthy. Pizza is the fifth greatest source of calories in the typical American diet, as well as a top source of sodium and saturated fat, according to the publication "

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Green tomatoes

What Are the Benefits of Green Tomatoes?

Fried green tomatoes is a traditional Southern dish that uses not-quite-ripe tomatoes to create a flavorful side dish. While not as nutritious as vine-ripened red tomatoes, green tomatoes do have many nutritional benefits.

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Egg and bacon sandwiches with béarnaise sauce

Can People Have a Reaction to Sodium Nitrite?

Sodium nitrite is a food preservative that also gives cured and processed meats, such as ham and hot dogs, their characteristic pinkish color. Many vegetables, including spinach, celery, beets and cabbage, naturally contain large amounts of nitrite.

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Fresh plums

Plums and Diet

Plums originated in Asia and were brought to the United States in the 1870s. Plums are a member of the plant genus Prunus, which also includes cherries, apricots and almonds. You can't go wrong adding plums to your diet. Plums are low in calories and can help you meet your daily fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C needs.

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