How does the food we eat give us energy? From the anti-inflammatory benefits of a garlic-rich diet to the digestive impact of oatmeal and berries, understanding nutrient synergy is the foundation of an effective detox diet.
Each macronutrient in your diet breaks down into a smaller component. For example, proteins are broken down into amino acids, while carbohydrates break down into glucose molecules. The single unit for a glucose molecule is called a monosaccharide.
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Inflammation is a silent contributor to some of the world's most common chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes and depression, according to a 2008 issue of "Scientific American." Cytokines -- the architects of your body's inflammation response -- are heavily influenced by the food in your diet.
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If you've got bronchitis or another respiratory infection, such as the cold or flu, what you eat and drink may help to at least temporarily improve your symptoms as you're undergoing treatment. Fluids are particularly important, with hot liquids, such as soup, having a slight advantage over cold.
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Caring for your voice takes a well-rounded approach. In addition to vocal warm-ups and attention to environmental factors, such as cold or smoke, you need to eat conscientiously. Most foods that you should avoid do not trigger disease in the vocal cords.
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A growing baby places increased nutritional demands on the mother, and consuming quality nutrition is vital. Though nutritional shakes can supply many essential nutrients during pregnancy, shakes should be a complement to a balanced meal plan during pregnancy, not a replacement for a healthy diet.
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A variety of substances can cause allergic reactions, including food, pollen, dust, latex and animal dander. Symptoms vary, but among the most common are swollen and inflamed mucus membranes, including membranes in the throat.
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You've likely heard that garlic has health benefits, including the ability to lower cholesterol and reduce high blood pressure. What you may not know is that how garlic is prepared matters. Raw garlic is the best source of the antioxidants responsible for the vegetable's health benefits.
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Expiration dates are stamped on food packages as a way to keep consumers safe. You can become ill if you consume some foods, such as meat or dairy products, past their expiration dates, so it's important to pay close attention to the dates stamped on the foods.
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Your children's nails can tell you a lot about their health. A change in shape or color may indicate a fungal or yeast infection, while pitting may be a sign of psoriasis. Even what your child eats, or doesn't eat, can affect nail health.
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Refined sugar can be made from sugarcane or sugar beets -- nutritionally they are identical -- but the refining process is different. Added sugars, whether from cane or beets, should be limited in your diet.
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Thyroid-stimulating hormone is a marker of your metabolism, which refers to the rate at which you burn calories. A lower TSH indicates your metabolism is optimal, while a higher TSH represents a sluggish metabolism, according to "The Fast Metabolism Diet" by nutritionist Haylie Pomroy.
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As our skin ages, it changes – not always for the better. Age spots, also called melasma or hyperpigmentation, are areas of dark skin pigment, or melanin, that has gathered on the skin over time. Hyperpigmentation is typically found in people older than 40 years but can be seen in people as young as their mid-20s.
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If you’ve ever tried to complete a task on an empty stomach, you understand the critical connection between nutrition and concentration.
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If your eyebrow is twitching and you aren't sure why, magnesium deficiency is one possible explanation. This deficiency is rare, however, even if your diet is low in this important nutrient, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. If the twitching persists, see your doctor for a diagnosis.
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Kimchi jjigae is a traditional Korean stew made with kimchi -- spicy, fermented cabbage -- and pork broth. Often included in the stew are pieces of pork, green onions and spicy Korean red pepper chili, also known as gochugaru. The stew is generally served spicy, but the heat can be adjusted to suit individual tastes.
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It's always better to get your antioxidants from food rather than a pill, and superoxide dismutase, or SOD, is found in a variety of different foods. However, your body is unable to metabolize and absorb the SOD from the food you eat, according to 2006 article published in The Austin Chronicle.
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Some alternative health proponents claim that drinking vinegar water can change the pH of your body, making it more alkaline. They say an alkaline pH is better and promotes health and balance, whereas acidity leads to metabolic imbalance and illness. **However, medical science shows there is little truth to this idea.
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Artificial preservatives can help your food last longer without becoming contaminated with food-borne illnesses, which is the reason they're found in so many different processed foods. Although all artificial preservatives used in the United States have been deemed "generally recognized as safe" by the U.S.
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Having high blood pressure puts you at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. Smoking, being overweight, not exercising and being stressed can all increase your blood pressure.
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Steve Jobs was a famous fruitarian, someone who eats primarily raw fruit. Some fruitarians will also eat nuts and seeds, but all dieters of this type eschew vegetables, grains and animal products.
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