Nutritional planning involves balancing macronutrients, understanding calorie formulas, and identifying the functional properties of whole foods to manage weight and chronic conditions effectively.
Most people are familiar with the five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy. Another way to categorize food is by the type of nutrient it contains and its role in the body. A nutrient is a compound your body needs for energy, growth, basic physiological processes and overall health.
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The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that wraps around the trachea at the front of the throat. Although small in size, its role in the human body is enormous. The thyroid secretes hormones that control the rate of metabolism or energy utilization in every cell in the body.
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Having a healthy diet and good nutrition is an important concern for many pregnant women. A maternal diet that is rich in vitamins and nutrients will aid in the prevention of birth defects and will provide the developing offspring with the resources he needs to grow.
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Slimfast offers a simple diet program called the 3-2-1 plan. You are allowed three 100-calorie snacks, such as fruits and vegetables or a Slimfast snack bar; two shakes or meal bars; and one 500-calorie balanced meal, for a total of 1,200 calories per day.
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It's 1 p.m. when the mental fog descends. You stare aimlessly at your computer and daydream of countries that value the afternoon siesta. Unfortunately, fantasizing about a catnap won't make it a reality. It's time to snap out of it and plan for an energized tomorrow.
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Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a bit of a medical mystery. It produces a variety of unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain and bloating without actually damaging the digestive tract. IBS has no known cause or cure, but changing your diet can ameliorate the symptoms.
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Pull back fibrous green husks and sink your teeth into the rows of plump, sweet kernels: Corn on the cob is a taste of summer. You can enjoy the sweet grain guilt-free. It's low-calorie, low-fat, free of sodium and cholesterol and a good source of vitamin C.
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Unlike diets, which are often restrictive and intended for short-term weight loss, a balanced diet is diverse and adequate for activity level. In other words, you simply need to eat from all the food groups and treat food as fuel for a fit, active lifestyle.
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Peruse the health food aisle of any grocery store or pharmacy: Your senses will be assaulted with brightly packaged, attractively named "energy bars." Among the competitors is a company called Clif Bar, Inc. -- a family-owned business that was founded to produce nutritious bars for athletes and active individuals.
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Women often dread "that time of the month," with its cramps, bloating and mood swings. But a regular menstrual cycle is a sign of good health. The loss or absence of a regular period is called amenorrhea. Amenorrhea is not a disease itself but a symptom of some other problem.
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Your high school reunion is just around the corner, and you want to look your best. You don't have enough time for old-fashioned healthy eating and exercise, so you toy with the idea of stepping out of the kitchen for a while.
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Tropical oils, such as palm and coconut oils, come from plants but have a very different nutritional profile from other plant-based fats. Palm oil is pressed from the flesh and kernel of the palm oil tree fruit and is produced at a rate of 47 million tons per year.
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A glass rimmed with salt is the carrier for a margarita -- a sweet and creamy beverage made from tequila, sour mix, triple sec, lime juice and sugar. Though the drink seems light and refreshing, its taste is deceptive. Frozen margaritas -- blended with crushed ice or served "on the rocks"
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If you want a healthy replacement for greasy, salty potato chips, popcorn is a good option. A quarter cup of kernels pops into a large bowl of popcorn with just over 200 calories. Skip the drizzle of melted butter though, or you'll negate the health benefits of air-popped popcorn.
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Americans love food sweet and salty, but a diet high in sodium and sugar is a health risk. The American Heart Association recommends limiting sodium intake to no more than 1,500 milligrams each day and capping daily added sugar consumption at 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men.
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Nothing rivals the snap of a bar of chocolate and the rich, milky taste on your tongue. Unfortunately, some medical conditions may make it difficult to enjoy the sweet treat. Eating too much of anything -- including chocolate -- will give you a stomachache, so exercise moderation in your indulgence.
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Although more than 90 percent of coconut oil is from bad-for-the-heart saturated fat, the oil has a strange effect of boosting levels of "good" HDL cholesterol in the bloodstream and can be enjoyed in moderation, according to Harvard Health Publications.
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Milk, yogurt and other dairy products are an excellent source of calcium and protein, but they make some portions of the population sick. A milk allergy is an immune reaction to one or more of the many proteins found in dairy products.
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Magnesium is a mineral essential for blood pressure and blood sugar regulation, muscle and nerve function, and the construction of protein, bone and DNA. Magnesium aspartate is one of the better supplemental forms of magnesium, but it does interact with a number of drugs, including HIV medication dolutegravir.
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