Nutritional planning involves balancing macronutrients, understanding calorie formulas, and identifying the functional properties of whole foods to manage weight and chronic conditions effectively.
Besan flour, made from chickpeas, is a wheat-free product rich in fiber and nutrients. Found primarily at health food stores in the United States, besan flour can stand in for wheat flour in many recipes, adding a nutty taste to breads, sauces and other foods.
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Keppra is one of the anti-seizure drugs that may be prescribed to the 2.3 million Americans who have epilepsy. Like many medications, Keppra can interact with other drugs and nutritional supplements and may cause deficiencies of the B-complex vitamins.
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Testosterone is a vital sex hormone that boosts muscle formation, facial hair and genital development. In an effort to avoid substances that may decrease testosterone, some athletes and bodybuilders shun caffeine, but it appears that caffeine may actually increase testosterone.
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Although you only need it in small amounts, selenium plays a key role in your health. Sodium selenite, a form of selenium, is present in plant foods, in some meat and seafood, and in supplements.
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Job’s Tears, also known as adlay and coix, is a member of the grass family and popular in Asian cultures as a food source and for making jewelry. But the plant has also been used for centuries in folk medicine to treat dozens of conditions from arthritis to smallpox.
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Raisins are a popular snack in the United States, with over 317,000 tons produced in 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. After studies touted the health benefits of the resveratrol found in red grapes, there was hope that dried raisins would also contain levels of this beneficial antioxidant.
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Nopal cactus, also known as Opuntia ficus-indica or more commonly, prickly pear, is found along U.S. roadsides in the desert southwest and throughout its native Mexico.
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Zinc oxide is a mineral used in many creams and ointments to prevent or treat sunburn and other skin irritations like diaper rash. It’s also available in oral formulations to promote wound healing.
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Acerola is a shrub in the Malpighia family of plants and is also known as Barbados cherry, West Indian cherry and wild crapemyrtle.
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Glycerin, also called glycerol, is a thick, colorless and odorless liquid derived from fats and oils used in making soap. It’s used in various industries and products, such as antifreeze, sweeteners, dynamite, cosmetics, inks and lubricants.
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Astronauts in space and soldiers in combat use freeze-dried foods because they don’t spoil, they weigh less and they’re more convenient. But freeze-dried foods aren’t necessarily quite as healthful as regular foods, with the levels of some nutrients reduced during processing.
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Jintropin is a supplement containing human growth hormone that many athletes take in hopes of enhancing strength, agility and exercise performance. Other people take Jintropin believing it can turn back the clock and forestall the aging process.
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Athletes looking for increased muscle size and a boost in exercise performance often turn to dietary supplements like L-arginine.
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Vigorous exercise helps promote heart health, weight loss and overall fitness, but it can also make you sweat one to three quarts of fluid during intense workouts. Although sweating is your body’s way to help keep its core temperature cool, it can lead to the loss of important minerals, dehydration and heat stroke.
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Creatine is an amino acid supplement often marketed to bodybuilders and dieters to help build lean muscle and reduce body fat. Creatine has become so popular for these uses that sales reached $220 million in 2005, according to the “Nutrition Business Journal.
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