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.
Starches are complex carbohydrates that produce vital energy when your body converts them to glucose during digestion. The starches in peas, corn, whole grains and potatoes provide fuel for your muscles, brain and other vital organs.
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The nutritional profiles of frozen and fresh vegetables are essentially the same, but the freezing process may cause slight changes in their vitamin content. The way you prepare vegetables at home can also affect the nutrients in these foods.
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If you're looking for non-dairy sources of calcium due to lactose intolerance, dietary restrictions or personal preferences, you can find this essential mineral in many plant-based foods.
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Although side effects from low doses of supplemental copper are uncommon, copper can cause serious health complications when it accumulates at high levels in your liver and other vital organs.
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Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, can turn eating hot or spicy foods into a potentially painful experiment. Ginger, a root herb that may be used as a seasoning or as an herbal remedy for nausea or indigestion, lends warmth and zest to foods and beverages.
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Agave nectar is a natural alternative to refined sugars and artificial sweeteners. This honey-like sap comes from the leaves of the blue agave, a succulent plant widely grown in Mexico. With its thin, light consistency, agave nectar can serve as a topping for fruit salads, pancakes or ice cream.
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Dried beans are a versatile, affordable source of protein, fiber, starches, iron, B vitamins, potassium, magnesium and other essential nutrients. When you prepare dried beans from scratch, you can avoid the sodium and other additives that canned beans contain.
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Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori, bacteria are one of the most common causes of gastritis, an erosive inflammation of the stomach lining. H. pylori infection may lead to stomach ulcers, abdominal pain, indigestion, heartburn, nausea and vomiting.
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Although lycopene may offer numerous health benefits, a recommended intake for this plant pigment has not been established. According to MayoClinic.com, most clinical studies have focused on the amount of lycopene-containing foods that participants ate rather than on the specific quantities of lycopene they consumed.
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Molybdenum is an essential trace element that contributes to the functions of your nervous system and kidneys. Molybdenum also plays a role in energy production on a cellular level.
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Iceberg lettuce can be a crisp, refreshing addition to salads or sandwiches, though its nutritional content pales next to its dark-green relatives. Darker lettuces like romaine and red leaf are richer in vitamin A, beta-carotene and other nutrients than iceberg.
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As you age you begin to lose the structural fibers that strengthen skin, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. You may notice that your skin bruises easily and that cuts or scrapes take a long time to heal.
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Steaming softens vegetables while maintaining most of their nutrients, especially water-soluble compounds that are easily damaged by heat.
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Chickpeas, olive oil and sesame paste, or tahini, are the main ingredients in hummus, a nutritious Middle-Eastern dip. Seasoned with garlic, lemon juice, cumin and black pepper, a healthy recipe for hummus is low in sodium and high in protein.
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Substituting ground turkey for ground beef in burgers, tacos, spaghetti sauce, meatloaf and other recipes can reduce the saturated fat and cholesterol in your meals. Low in calories and high in protein, ground turkey contributes to your daily requirements for B-complex vitamins and selenium.
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Although dietary changes may not resolve the causes of chronic diarrhea, avoiding certain foods may relieve symptoms. With chronic diarrhea, you may have frequent, loose stools for one month or more.
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Refried beans can be a healthy food or an unhealthy food -- preparation makes all the difference. Refried beans prepared with animal fat can be high in cholesterol and saturated fat, while beans fried with a small amount of olive or canola oil can be relatively low in fat and cholesterol free.
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Rich in protein, fiber and low-fat carbohydrates, pinto beans and other dried legumes deserve to feature more prominently in the American diet. Because they contain soluble fiber, a type of fiber that prolongs digestion, pinto beans cause only small fluctuations in your blood sugar.
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Low in calories, high in protein, sea scallops lend themselves to a variety of cooking methods that won't add fat to this seafood delicacy. You can steam, sear or grill these tender mollusks and enjoy their mild flavor along with their health benefits.
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Rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene, the sweet potato offers complex carbohydrates along with antioxidant nutrients. If you're watching the glycemic index of your foods you may be surprised by the sweet potato's rating.
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