Nutritional planning involves balancing macronutrients, understanding calorie formulas, and identifying the functional properties of whole foods to manage weight and chronic conditions effectively.
As a breastfeeding mother, you probably think about everything you consume in terms of the effect it will have on your breastfed baby. If you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C or take supplements with this nutrient, you might wonder whether high doses could affect you or your infant.
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When your 2-month-old seems to spend more of the day sleeping instead of awake and learning about the world, you might worry about whether her sleep needs are excessive. Understanding your baby's sleep needs can help you ensure that she gets just the right amount of sleep and not too much extra.
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People who enjoy a vegetarian lifestyle are often healthier than those who eat meat. The foods that ideally make up a vegetarian diet are full of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that affect the body in many different ways.
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Fish is promoted for its beneficial effects on the heart, joints and brain, but the amount in a single serving can sometimes be confusing.
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Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are generally found in plants and are touted as healthy fats, unlike trans fats, saturated fats and cholesterol.
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Antioxidants usually get good press for their beneficial effects helping to prevent disease, but these powerful compounds may also have a dark side. Consuming too many antioxidants in the form of supplements could lead to an increased risk of death and disease instead of having a positive effect.
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If you are on a gluten-free diet, determining which foods are acceptable or unacceptable can sometimes be difficult. Hidden sources of gluten abound in many foods, including breads, cereals, luncheon meats, desserts, sauces and soups.
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Metamucil is a fiber supplement that offers numerous health benefits. The main ingredient in all Metamucil products is psyllium, a bulk-forming laxative.
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Vitamin D and calcium deficiencies often cause similar symptoms in toddlers, so it can be difficult to tell if your child needs more of one or both of these nutrients.
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Missing your morning coffee may not seem like a big deal until you develop a headache that feels like a beating drum in your temples. Even worse, your caffeine-withdrawal headache may be accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms like fatigue, difficulty concentrating, mood changes and feeling like you have the flu.
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Nutrisystem provides home-delivered diet meals designed to help you lose weight, but Nutrisystem is not the only available diet delivery system. Some plans are similar to Nutrisystem in that you are required to purchase supplemental foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, to go along with the delivered meals.
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Consumers frequently spot vegetables at the supermarket labeled as hydroponically grown, but confusion still exists over how these healthy looking vegetables stack up against conventionally grown produce.
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Flaxseed oil provides vital fats that a developing baby needs, but it can also pose a danger to a pregnancy in progress. Understanding the risks and benefits of flaxseed oil can help you make a decision about whether to include this oil in your pregnancy diet.
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Despite the claims of diets that promote cutting back on carbohydrates, these macronutrients are among the most important components of the foods you eat. Carbohydrates typically come in three varieties: sugars, starches and fiber.
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Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule in red blood cells. Deficiencies can lead to fatigue, weakness, pale skin and irritability. If you have low iron levels, your doctor might recommend increasing the iron in your diet.
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Serotonin, sometimes referred to as the happiness hormone, is an important regulator of many bodily functions, including mood, gastrointestinal activity, heart rate and breathing. In depressed individuals, serotonin is typically too low, necessitating medication to raise serotonin to normal levels.
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Water is the healthiest beverage for use as your everyday go-to drink, but it can get boring to drink only water all the time. Fortunately plenty of other healthy drinks are out there to have on occasion, so you needn't resort to unhealthy sodas or overpriced energy drinks to quench your thirst.
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While you can probably meet all of your recommended nutrient levels through diet alone while nursing, taking vitamin supplements can add to your peace of mind.
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Most doctors recommend that their pregnant patients take prenatal vitamins, but many prenatals are difficult to tolerate and are expensive. You might be wondering if taking over-the-counter children's vitamins, such as Flinstones vitamins, can help you get the nutrients you need.
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For most people with diabetes, the main health concern is to keep blood sugar levels under control and avoid wild fluctuations that could cause health complications. Diabetic individuals may want to try psyllium husk as a way to lower blood glucose levels naturally.
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