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.
Garcinia kola or bitter kola is a tree that grows in the rain forests of west Africa. The fruit, seeds, nuts and bark of the plant have been used for centuries in folk medicine to treat ailments from coughs to fever.
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Yucca root, also sometimes spelled "yuca," is known by the names manioc and cassava. Native to South America, this starchy tuber is eaten throughout Latin America, South Asia, the Caribbean and Africa. Used to make tapioca flour, yucca has a texture a little chewier than the potato and a milder taste.
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Health threats may be lurking even in the cookware you use to prepare your family's meals. Teflon coated pans pose dangers to users. They include ingesting minuscule bits of the toxic coating and inhaling the toxic gas given off during cooking.
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After hiking all day, a hearty meal cooked over a campfire is comforting and satisfying. Preparing the meal, however, is often time-consuming and inconvenient, especially when you're tired after a long day.
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When you want to build muscle, consuming supplemental protein after a workout can help. While protein alone won't create big guns and a taut frame, combining it with a focused workout routine, hydration and proper sleep will give you an edge on muscle development.
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Neurotransmitters, brain chemicals that influence your mood and thoughts, facilitate communication between neurons in your brain. Your body uses the nutrients in the foods you eat, primarily amino acids, to manufacture neurotransmitters.
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The Coca-Cola Company manufactures several variations of its Coca-Cola beverage, usually shortened to "Coke" by the general public. One of its most widespread versions is Coke Classic, but it also makes flavored variations and a no-calorie version, Coke Zero.
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The ocean contains every mineral needed for good health. Plants such as seaweed absorb these minerals from the sea; they are then turned into a bio-available form during photosynthesis. Coastal Asian countries such as Korea and Japan have relied on seaweed as a diet staple for centuries.
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Also known as the prickly pear cactus, nopal cactus is a type of fruit common in North American deserts and throughout Mexico. Nopal can be eaten fresh, canned or dried, and its light, slightly sour flavor lends the fruit well to sweet and savory preparations.
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Low-calorie frozen meals offer an easy diet solution for busy people. Two of the most common brands, Lean Cuisine and Healthy Choice, are available in most grocery stores. Several factors might affect your choice of frozen diet dinners, including taste, variety, calories, fat, and sodium levels.
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Whether at the movies, a ballgame or in front of the TV, people in the United States consume 16 billion quarts of popcorn per year--about 54 quarts for every man, woman and child. Not all popcorn is created equal.
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Mega T Green Tea supplements are promoted as antioxidants, energy-boosters and weight loss products. The Mega T company advertises that their products can burn belly fat and enable users to lose as much as twenty pounds.
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Turkey rhubarb has been used in China for over 2,000 years. Today, in the United States, the supplement is used most commonly as a laxative. Modern research shows that turkey rhubarb root may have potential as a treatment for a number of conditions.
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Plants such as coffee, tea and cacao contain caffeine. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system promoting wakefulness by competing for adenosine receptors. Adenosine is produced by the body to promote sleep and constrict blood vessels to allow more oxygen into the brain during sleep.
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Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid. However, unlike other amino acids, taurine is not a constituent of any protein. Instead, it exists free in intracellular fluids.
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Kukui nut oil has been used for many years throughout the islands of Hawaii. More recently it has become more mainstream in the rest of the world. Kukui nut oil is used to moisturize and protect the skin from sun, salt, wind and other environmental elements.
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Mercury, also known as methylmercury, is typically unavoidable when you eat most types of fish, including tuna. The substance forms in water as it reacts with specific types of bacteria. As the tuna fish swim along, their bodies absorb the mercury from the water.
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Seal oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have an array of benefits for human beings. A deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet can lead to heart and cardiovascular disease and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
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The effervescent nature of sparkling water makes for a refreshing beverage and a healthier alternative to sugary soda. In fact, it's so reminiscent of soda, due to the carbonation, that you might wonder if there are any detrimental side effects.
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Eggs are composed of a yellow yolk and translucent white fluid called albumen. They can be eaten raw, scrambled, poached, boiled, fried or as an ingredient in innumerable dishes. They help in coagulation, foaming, emulsification and browning. However, eggs—and in particular egg whites—can cause adverse side effects.
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