Thick, hearty beef stew doesn't happen by itself. You must take care to thicken the broth or you will have a beef soup instead of a savory beef stew in a thick gravy. Deciding how to thicken the beef stew takes thought because the thickening agent that you use might change the flavor of the stew.

Powdered dextrose, also known as icing dextrose, is a fine powder made from dextrose anhydrous, dextrose monohydrate or both. In most cases, manufacturers of powdered dextrose also add an anti-caking agent to the powder such as starch, silicates of calcium or magnesium.

Creatine is a popular supplement for weight lifters and athletes because it may enhance strength and endurance. Creatine is naturally produced from amino acids in the body and delivered by blood to the muscles; the supplements provide additional creatine.

Bitter melon, also called bitter apple, bitter gourd or bitter cucumber, is a vine-grown vegetable that can range in color from dark green to white and can grow between three to twelve inches tall.

Despite the fact that eating a jelly doughnut seems to deposit fat directly on your hips, converting sugar to fat is actually a relatively complex chemical process. Sugar conversion to fat storage depends not only upon the type of foods you eat, but how much energy your body needs at the time you eat it.

Diabetes--too much sugar, or glucose, in the blood--is caused by your body's inability to regulate insulin.

If your doctor recently diagnosed you with Type 2 diabetes, it's normal to have questions about your food options. Carbohydrates raise blood sugar more than other food components, so in addition to making healthy food choices, you must control your carbohydrate intake.

Many diabetics assume they should avoid fruit due to its high sugar content, but the American Diabetes Association recommends eating fruits because they’re loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Low uric acid levels affect only 0.5 percent of the normal population each year, according to UpToDate. Uric acid is a chemical naturally produced and excreted by your body.

Insulin-dependent diabetics take insulin injections because their pancreas no longer produces insulin. Insulin helps cells absorb glucose, the body’s main energy source, from the blood.

Your nervous system consists of two main divisions. Your central nervous system includes your brain and spinal cord, while your peripheral nervous system is comprised of long, filamentous nerve bundles outside of your skull and spinal column.

Keeping your blood sugar within target range remains a cornerstone of diabetes treatment. This involves monitoring and managing your carbohydrate intake. The American Diabetes Association encourages fruits, vegetables, beans and whole-grain foods as healthful sources of dietary carbohydrates.