Food & Nutrition: Culinary Techniques, Diets & Metabolic Health

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.

Doctor using laptop with woman in doctor's office

Can Losing Weight Reverse PCOS?

Weight loss is a mainstay in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS. While the cause of this complex female endocrine disorder remains unknown, scientists do know that even modest weight loss improves symptoms of PCOS.

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Creatine isolated on black

Creatine and Glutamine Side Effects

Creatine and glutamine are two amino acids -- building blocks of protein -- commonly taken as supplements alone or together for purported sports performance benefits such as increasing lean mass and endurance. As with all supplements, taking creatine and or glutamine may cause unwanted side effects.

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close-up of an array of capsules

What Depletes Vitamin B-12 & Folic Acid?

Vitamin B-12 and Folic acid are B complex vitamins that your body uses to create new cells. They work together with six other B vitamins to aid in growth and repair of your tissues and benefit your overall health and well-being. They are also co-factors in the production and absorption of other vitamins and nutrients.

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Bread

Can You Eat Bread If You Have Gout?

Gout occurs when excess uric acid in your blood forms crystals that accumulate around a joint, causing a painful arthritic condition. Because uric acid is formed from the breakdown of purines, people with gout commonly follow a low-purine diet.

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Which Is Better Vitamin B6 or B12?

Vitamin and nutrients work synergistically to promote health. Vitamin B-6, or pyridoxine and B-12, or cobalamin, are two equally important B vitamins necessary for proper body function. They are part of eight B vitamins known as B complex that work together to help your body perform a variety of functions.

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Doctors in surgery

Diet After Colon Resection Surgery

It's common to have questions about what you can eat after surgery, especially gastrointestinal surgery. Physicians recommend a colectomy, or colon resection, to treat a variety of diseases, including colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.

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Colon anatomy of digestive system

Diet to Prevent Colon Polyps

Many individuals fail to give colon health a second thought until problems occurs. You can take steps to maintain or improve colon health before things go awry. For example, you can help prevent colon polyps, which are growths that form inside the lining of the colon.

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Studio shot of a variety of tropical fruit.

The Consistent Carbohydrate Diet for Diabetics

If you have diabetes, you're not alone. More than 25 million Americans 20 and older have the chronic condition, according to American Diabetes Association statistics. Because carbohydrates raise blood sugar more than other food components, diabetes management typically involves monitoring your carb intake.

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Rolled oats (oatmeal, oat flakes), milk and apple

Constipation in Dialysis Patients

Dialysis patients must take special care to control their intake of fluids, potassium, phosphorous and sodium. This helps keep your fluids and electrolytes balanced when you have kidney disease and plays a crucial role in managing your condition.

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Fresh venison with red wine on forester lodge

What Is a Natural Source of Creatine?

Amino acids provide the building blocks for protein, and creatine is one such amino acid. It's found in meat, fish and endogenously in the human body. Your body converts creatine to creatine phosphate or phosphocreatine and stores it in muscle tissues, where it serves as a fuel.

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What Do Horsetail & Silica Do?

Horsetail is a perennial plant used as an herbal remedy. There are over 20 species of horsetail. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), horsetail is primarily used to stop bleeding, heal ulcers and treat kidney issues.

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doctor injecting a patient

What Helps B-12 Absorption?

Vitamin B-12 is one of eight B vitamins that make up the B complex. It plays a crucial role in helping your body produce new cells, including red blood cells, which carry oxygen and nutrients throughout your body. B-12 exists in several forms collectively known as cobalamins, which contain the mineral element cobalt.

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Saddle of Lamb with Vegetables

Low Hemoglobin Due to Folic Acid

Hemoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen. Folate, or folic acid -- also known as vitamin B-9 -- is needed to produce red blood cells, which house homoglobin. Your hemoglobin will become low if you do not get enough folic acid. This is called anemia.

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Tofo with parsley

Foods That Boost Aromatase

Health care providers and patients are recognizing the role diet may play in treating certain conditions. While men and cancer patients seek to lower aromatase -- an enzyme that helps the body produce estrogen -- women with menopausal symptoms or other hormone imbalances may benefit from increasing aromatase.

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Gluten Free Bread

Gluten & Hypertension

Having hypertension raises your risk of heart disease and stroke. In many cases, lifestyle changes can prevent or control it. The dietary factor most commonly cited as contributing to high blood pressure is sodium intake.

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Cottage cheese

Can a Diabetic Eat Cottage Cheese?

If you have diabetes, planning your meals around nutrient-dense foods that promote healthy glucose levels is a top priority. Your physician will likely recommend you see a dietitian to help create a meal plan that is right for you. Watching your carbohydrate intake at each meal is crucial.

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Closeup shot from the pull ring on a beverage can

Glycemic Index & Diet Drinks

Some people mistakenly think that because diet drinks usually contain sugar alternatives, they are low-glycemic -- have a low impact on blood sugar and don't cause rapid blood glucose increases like high-glycemic foods.

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Delicious fresh seaweed salad. Close up

Algae as a Food Source for Humans

Edible algae, more commonly known as seaweed and collectively called sea vegetables, comes in a range of shapes, tastes and textures, and it’s not just for wrapping sushi rolls.

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Dry Lima beans spilled on a countertop

Are Beans Good Carbs?

Whether kidney, lima, pinto or black, beans deserve a place in your healthy diet. They're naturally low in fat, high in fiber, rich in antioxidants and dense in minerals such as iron, zinc, calcium and selenium as well as the B vitamin folate.

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