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.
Approach weight loss supplements that make unsupported claims with caution. Certain amino acids, particularly phenylalanine and branched-chain amino acids, are widely marketed for losing weight. However, upon closer look, it appears the evidence to support these claims is very limited and outdated.
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The Miracle Berry, Synsepalum dulcificum, is a fruit that possesses a strikingly unusual property: when the pulp from the red berries coat a person's tongue, everything they subsequently consume tastes sweet.
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More commonly known as holy basil, tulsi has been used medicinally for thousands of years. Holy basil, or Ocimum sanctum and O. tenuiflorum, is closely related to the common basil herb used in cooking.
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Physicians prescribe iron supplements for the prevention and treatment of iron-deficiency anemia. There are three types of over-the-counter iron supplements in tablet form: Fergon (ferruous gluconate), Ferro-Sequels (ferrous fumarate) and Feosol (ferrous sulfate). Each contains different amounts of iron.
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Simple sugars and starches are part of a large group of compounds known as carbohydrates. Sugars are monosaccharides, or single units of specific molecules such as glucose, fructose, and mannose. Starches, on the other hand, are polysaccharides, long chains of chains of single sugar molecule subunits linked together.
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Gluten is a protein naturally found in wheat, rye, barley and malt. People who suffer from celiac disease or gluten sensitivity need to be careful about the dishes they choose when eating Chinese food, as gluten is commonly added to processed foods as a binding agent.
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Naturally potassium-rich foods, such as potatoes and bananas, typically contain potassium in the form of potassium citrate. Some supplements and processed foods, however, contain potassium chloride. Both types of potassium may help lower blood pressure, according to a study published in Hypertension in April 2005.
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Benzoic acid is found both naturally, in foods such as berries and milk products, and as an added preservative in processed foods such as baked goods, candy, chewing ice cream, jams, pickles and soft drinks. It is also found as a preservative in cosmetics and personal care items, such as mouthwash.
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Lemon-ginger tea is an infusion of lemon juice and ginger root rather than a true tea. True teas are made by steeping leaves of various herbs in hot water, usually in a steel tea strainer or cloth-like bag.
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Starflower oil, also known as borage seed oil, is a good source of gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA. In fact, it has even more than the popular evening primrose oil.
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Acerola is a shrub in the Malpighia family of plants and is also known as Barbados cherry, West Indian cherry and wild crapemyrtle.
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A high level of cortisol in the body is a condition called hypercortisolism, or Cushing’s syndrome. Excessive use of cortisol or corticosteroid medication or the body’s overproduction of cortisol causes hypercortisolism. Symptoms occur when the cortisol levels are abnormally high for an extended period of time.
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The apple is one of the healthiest fruits available and it is the main ingredient in Bragg apple cider vinegar. The vinegar is rich in potassium and supports a healthy immune system. Claims say this product helps control weight, eases digestion and muscle pain, keeps skin healthy, and soothes sore throats.
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Papaya and pineapple enzymes are both classified as proteolytic enzymes, meaning that they digest proteins. Papaya enzymes are extracted from the leaves and fruit of the papaya plant and are collectively known as papain.
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Caffeine is a widely used psychoactive drug found in many drinks, such as coffee, tea and cola. Caffeine is naturally present in the leaves and seeds of a variety of plants. Consuming caffeine has significant physiological effects on your body--one being its direct effect on your heart rate.
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Heading to the movie theater can provide fun and entertainment, but some of the food choices can add a significant amount of calories to your diet. Some of the most popular food choices served at movie theaters include soft drinks, buttered popcorn, nachos and candy.
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Oranges are well known for their high concentration of vitamin C, but the citrus fruit also contains many other vitamins and nutrients. Oranges also contain vitamin A, many of the B vitamins, and vitamin E, making them a regular part of a healthy and balanced diet.
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Despite its name, ringworm is not a worm. It's a condition caused by a fungal infection under the surface of the skin, and it's highly treatable with antiseptics such as topical iodine. Iodine applied to a ringworm site kills the fungus through skin absorption.
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Zinc oxide is a mineral used in many creams and ointments to prevent or treat sunburn and other skin irritations like diaper rash. It’s also available in oral formulations to promote wound healing.
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Your body is able to manufacture glucosamine on its own, which means it's not an essential nutrient. The chemical is the precursor to a substance called glycosaminoglycans, or GAG, which makes the cushion between your bones and joints.
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