Balanced Eating: Brain Energy, Weight Tips & Meal Plans

What are the most important energy sources for the brain? From naturopathic diets to marathon runner meal plans, prioritizing a balanced diet food list is key to gaining weight healthily or relieving postpartum complications naturally.

Hands kneading dough

What Are the Benefits of Eating Spelt Flour?

Spelt, an ancient cereal grain, is a distant cousin to wheat. It has a nutty, slightly sweet flavor. Use spelt flour as a substitute for wheat or white flour when baking bread. Because spelt flour contains gluten, you are less likely to compromise the texture of baked goods.

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Tagliatelle on plate with fork

Foods That Are Difficult to Digest

The natural composition or preparation of some foods makes them difficult to digest and can cause embarrassing flatulence, bloating, cramps and diarrhea.

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chicken

Meal Plans for a 6 Week Body Makeover

If you want to lose weight fast, the 6 Week Body Makeover Diet is one option that aims to peel off pounds and sculpt the body within six weeks. The diet and exercise plan was created by Michael Thurmond, fitness expert from the television show "Extreme Makeover."

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Fresh bunch of grapes with leaves isolated on white background

Low Sodium & Low Sugar Foods

Americans love food sweet and salty, but a diet high in sodium and sugar is a health risk. The American Heart Association recommends limiting sodium intake to no more than 1,500 milligrams each day and capping daily added sugar consumption at 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men.

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Fresh RedFish at Market

Top 10 Healthy Fish to Eat

Fish can provide an excellent low-calorie protein source without the fat and cholesterol of red meats. However, some varieties such as shark and mackerel are very high in mercury.

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Woman weighing herself on scales in health club

Bowel Movement & Weight Loss

Hopping on the bathroom scale to weigh yourself before and after you have a bowel movement might be tempting, but unless your scale is highly accurate, you won't likely notice a difference in your body weight. Even if you did, emptying your bowels doesn't count as true weight loss.

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Pumpkin pieces on the cutting board

Can You Eat Raw Pumpkin?

Pumpkins aren’t just for Halloween carvings or for making a Thanksgiving Day pie. This hearty vegetable is chock-full of nutrients you can enjoy any time of year. In fact, it is among the top “fall produce picks” from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

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Close-up of a carton of mashed potato and spare ribs

Nutrition Information for the Rib Crib

Many health-conscious people dread dining out. Restaurant food is meant to please your palate, so it commonly contains excess sodium, fat, sugar or all three. The good news is that eating out doesn't have to cause anxiety.

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Nacho Plate in Kitchen of Mexican Restaurant

Nutritional Information for El Chico Restaurant

Dining out provides an opportunity to socialize with friends and family and enjoy the food of your choosing. Being health-conscious doesn't mean you have to avoid restaurants altogether.

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grilled salmon with asparagus  on white plate

Low-Sodium, High-Protein Foods

Getting enough protein can help you control your weight and maintain your muscle mass, and keeping your sodium levels under control can benefit your blood pressure and heart health. The U.S.

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Bowl of various flakes porridge

Meals You Can Eat With a Broken Jaw

A broken jaw is a break in the jawbone. To promote healing, you need to limit movement of your jawbone. These limitations require you to follow a soft, liquid diet. Meeting your nutrient needs can be a challenge with a broken jaw.

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Real People: Mixed Race Teenage Boy in Sunlight Closeup Headshot

Meal Plans for Teenage Boys

Teenage boys experience rapid growth and change, requiring them to get proper nutrients from their daily diets. Teenage boys who are active in after-school activities such as sports may need additional amounts of nutrients, such as protein, to support growing muscles.

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Mustard

Mustard and Weight Loss

When you attempt to lose weight, it's often important to familiarize yourself with the calories you burn versus those you consume through your diet. Increasing your physical activity while cutting down on your caloric intake is the key to weight loss.

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Smoothies pink in a glass

How Many Calories Does It Take to Gain 1 Pound?

Whether you're trying to gain muscle or you're underweight and need to add a few pounds to boost your health, the principle of weight gain remains the same: You'll need to eat more calories each day than you burn.

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Detox.

Health Benefits of Spirulina Powder Compared to Tablets

Spirulina is a type of sea vegetable, a microscopic saltwater plant harvested for its health benefits and sold dried as a health supplement in powder or tablet form. Rich in vitamins and protein, spirulina powder contains less filler than tablets do and can be added to smoothies, juices and other foods.

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Wheat field

Substitutes for Vital Wheat Gluten

Vital wheat gluten -- the natural protein found in wheat -- boosts dietary protein and fills an essential role in baking. Most people can consume wheat gluten without thinking twice, but if you have celiac disease, a wheat allergy or you're sensitive to gluten, you'll need to keep vital wheat gluten out of your diet.

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Oysters & Cholesterol

Although you need cholesterol to produce hormones and the bile acids needed for digestion, high cholesterol significantly increases your risk of heart disease. More than 30 percent of Americans have high levels of LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Colorful and tasty donuts

What Happens When You Don't Eat Healthfully?

When you don't give your body the proper nutrients, it's unable to function at its best. An unhealthy diet not only deprives you of the nutrients required for energy and vitality, it also introduces unhealthy substances such as trans fat, as well as high levels of saturated fat and sugar.

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Senior women having coffee break

Quick Nutritious Meals for the Elderly

Eating well is important for all ages, but especially for older individuals who need to maintain their strength and energy, while often managing chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure.

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Papaya in the market

Can You Eat Papaya Skin?

When you're shopping for a papaya at the supermarket, pay special attention to the skin. In general, a papaya with smooth, yellow skin that isn't too soft is ready to eat. When you're set to enjoy the fruit, however, it's time to discard the skin.

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