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.
Adding protein to your fruit smoothie makes it into a muscle-building post-workout snack or a hunger-busting mini-meal. Blending fruit smoothies at home also allows you to control the ingredients, so you escape the added sugar and calories often found in juice-bar versions.
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A soda every now and then isn't going to make or break your athletic career; a regular soda habit, however, can push out healthy calories and cause unwanted weight gain, which can negatively affect play. During most workouts, carbonated beverages are not ideal as they may cause stomach upset.
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Lithium is a naturally occurring alkali metal found in numerous foods and drinking water, especially that which comes from river basins and other fresh sources. Doctors prescribe high doses of lithium in drug form to stabilize the mood of patients with psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder.
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Digestive enzymes can help provide relief from heartburn, acid reflux, sluggish bowels and diarrhea. A body in balance doesn't need supplemental enzymes because it produces them on its own.
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You might take protein shakes after exercise to boost muscle building. If you are underweight, protein shakes can also help you gain healthy weight. Homemade shakes usually contain protein powder, fruit or nut butter and milk. The type of milk you use depends on your goals and health needs.
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What you eat prior to hitting the field, ice, track or court can make or break your performance. A quality breakfast before a sporting event ensures you have the energy to do your best, but consuming the wrong types of food could lead to bloating, cramping and sluggishness.
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Because meat is on the menu for your low-carb diet, you may assume sauces and gravies are, too. But traditional thickeners for rich, creamy gravy are flour, cornstarch or arrowroot flour, which have 6 to 7 grams of carbs per tablespoon.
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Food labels often offer up a sea of unpronouncable words. Maltodextrin and dextrose are two that may give you pause, but both are ingredients derived from natural sources, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration categorizes them as "generally recognized as safe," or GRAS.
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Stanley Burroughs introduced the Master Cleanse in the 1940s, but it took off in 1976 when he published the pamphlet "The Master Cleanser."
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Brisket is a common cut of beef used for corned beef or barbecue, but is not considered a favored cut in terms of nutrition. The cut comes from the breast section, below the cow’s first five ribs. Even the leanest cuts of brisket contain more calories than other proteins lower in saturated fat.
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Protein shakes often appear in ads with muscular, toned athletes, implying that by simply consuming the drink you can achieve the same physique.
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Although not scientifically demonstrated to reduce gas, bloating and heartburn, anecdotal evidence has caused many holistic health practitioners to recommend apple cider vinegar as treatment for digestive distress. For gas and bloating, drink a glass of vinegar in water before each meal.
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Whitefish can refer to any of almost 30 different types of fish, mainly freshwater varieties. These fish are usually mild in flavor and make for a quick, no-fuss preparation.
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You might drink a protein shake to support lean muscle mass growth and weight gain. Protein shakes usually contain a combination of milk, protein powder and flavorings, such as fruit, nut butter or chocolate.
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Cookies are a microcosm of cooking chemistry and a few fixes can turn them into the puffed, mounds of goodness you crave. Chocolate chip cookies that have a high butter content and too much liquid tend to spread as they bake.
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Low levels of potassium can cause feelings of weakness, muscle spasms or irregular heartbeat. Your doctor will tell you if you have clinically low levels after running a simple blood test. Potassium levels may also temporarily become lower after a sweaty workout or after a bout of diarrhea and vomiting.
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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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A drink with electrolytes replaces essential minerals after a heavy-duty sweat session. An intense workout is one reason you might need an electrolyte drink, but you may also need one after losing a lot of fluids during an illness or on a particularly hot and humid day.
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Carbohydrates serve as a great source of fuel, so they can power your active lifestyle. Eating too many carbs though, especially in refined foods such as sugar and white bread, can cause wild shifts in your blood sugar levels.
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Most people get all the protein they need from whole foods. A protein powder supplement may be warranted if you're an avid athlete or have trouble eating a balanced diet.
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