Nutrition facts for superfoods like acerola cherry and ginger juice reveal hidden health benefits. Learn about the three types of lipids, the difference between cider and distilled vinegar, and the best vitamins for vibrant skin.
L-arginine and L-ornithine, or simply arginine and ornithine, are two amino acids that share a lot in common in spite of one significant difference. Like most amino acids, arginine helps build proteins. Ornithine, on the other hand, doesn’t participate in protein synthesis.
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Sesame oil and olive oil each have about the same number of calories -- 120 per tablespoon -- and they are both loaded with healthy fats. But they do have different flavor profiles, which can change the outcome of your entree. Sesame oil has an earthy, nutty flavor, while olive oil is somewhat buttery.
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Unless it’s one of the few that behaves neutrally, every food is either acid- or alkaline-forming in the body. In general, fruits and vegetables are alkalizing, while meat, most dairy and all sugary foods are acidifying.
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Amino acids obtained through your diet are usually safe, but following a very high-protein diet for a long time might cause a problem. Side effects aren’t common when taking amino acid supplements, but several individual amino acids carry a higher risk.
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Taro root is a root vegetable that resembles a potato and originated in Asia. You can find taro root in some grocery stores year-round, or in specialty Asian stores. Taro root is starchy like a potato, and you can prepare it similarly to potatoes in many dishes.
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Tarragon isn't as common in the United States as black pepper, basil or oregano, but perhaps it should be. The herb is slightly peppery and has a taste that's somewhat similar to fennel, anise and licorice, according to Michael T. Murray and Joseph E. Pizzorno, authors of "The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods."
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Your body needs nitrogen to make proteins in your muscles, skin, blood, hair, nails and DNA. You obtain nitrogen from protein-containing foods in your diet, according to the Royal Society of Chemistry. These foods include meat, fish, legumes, nuts, eggs, milk and other dairy products.
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Sometimes you wake up and know you had a dream worth recounting to loved ones or friends -- but the details escape you. Or perhaps that dream offered answers for a problem on which you've been puzzling, but the crux -- the epiphany -- slips away the moment you open your eyes.
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Wheat dextrin is a versatile product that is primarily used in the textile, adhesive and food industries, and as a dietary fiber to improve digestion. Wheat starch is chemically processed to make wheat dextrin. It is used globally and has many commercial uses, along with various health benefits.
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Salt, or sodium chloride, is the primary dietary source of sodium, an essential electrolyte mineral needed to maintain fluid balance within the body. Salt is 40 percent sodium by weight. As too much sodium in your diet can have negative health consequences, doctors advise against consuming more than about 1 tsp.
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The nagging feeling of a constant hunger can be frustrating when you are trying to manage a healthy weight. While that feeling of always being hungry and the inability to stop eating does not necessarily point to something chronic, this increase in appetite may point to a number of diseases.
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Maintaining healthy lipid levels is crucial for overall well-being. Low lipid risks include fatty acid deficiency, low cholesterol, and hypolipidemia. Learn about the importance of dietary fat and cholesterol, and how to prevent abnormal LDL and HDL cholesterol levels.
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Spinach packs a powerful nutrient punch, whether you eat it fresh or cooked. While it may seem that cooked spinach contains more nutrients if you measure it cup for cup, this isn't really a fair comparison since it takes about 6 cups of fresh spinach to get 1 cup of cooked spinach.
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Diatomaceous earth is the fossilized remains of a kind of algae, called diatoms. It contains many of the essential minerals your body needs to function, including calcium, sodium, iron and magnesium. However, diatomaceous earth is mostly made of silica, a mineral that is integral to the formation of collagen.
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A good night sleep is very important to help you feel energized and allow you to accomplish all of your daily activities. Waking up in the middle of the night can compromise your sleep and prevent you from going to all the different stages of sleep that are required for your body to fully recover from the previous day.
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Gout, a type of arthritis, predominately affects men and very few women after the onset of menopause. Nearly 3.4 million men suffer from gout in the United States. With a strong association found between diet and gout flare-ups, many gout sufferers turn to their diet to offer a solution for painful joint swelling.
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If your first thought when you wake up in the morning is that you need some sugar, you might have trouble maintaining stable blood sugar levels.
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Pregnancy can be a confusing time because you must rethink all of your old habits. From your workout routine to your diet, everything is changing. You can keep enjoying that healthy salad for lunch or with your dinner, but you may have to change some of your choices for salad dressings.
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Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae widely available in health-food stores as a dietary supplement. With a mineral-rich content, spirulina is high in calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. It contains varying levels of iodine also.
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When trying to improve the quality of your diet, you can't go wrong eating fruits. They are rich in essential nutrients, and making them a regular part of your diet may help lower your risk of heart disease and cancer. Figs and dates are no exception.
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