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.

Green pears on a white plate

What Are Fermentable Carbohydrates?

Fermentable carbohydrates are the sugars that are easily fermented in your digestive system, which include oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols. They are composed of short chains of sugar molecules, making them easy to break down.

Read more →
Apple cider vinegar and baking soda combination for acid reflux

How to Get Rid of Tongue Sores Caused by Eating Too Much Citrus

The high acid content of citrus fruits such as lemons, limes and grapefruits may cause ulcers known as canker sores on your tongue, at the base of your gums, or inside your cheeks and lips. These sores are often painful and may make eating difficult, but the good news is that you don't have to give up citrus fruits.

Read more →
spirulina powder

Spirulina and Iodine

Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae widely available in health-food stores as a dietary supplement. With a mineral-rich content, spirulina is high in calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. It contains varying levels of iodine also.

Read more →
Hot Black coffee in a white cup.

Can I Drink Coffee on Medifast?

If you recently started Medifast, a low-glycemic, calorie-controlled diet, you likely have questions regarding what foods and beverages you must avoid or limit. Medifast offers support documents such as a quick-start guide to help you understand the system.

Read more →
Meditation with Tea and singing bowl

Teas That Lower Blood Sugar

Not only is tea one of the nation's favorite beverages, but research suggests regular consumption helps fight diabetes. In 2012, 29 million Americans had diabetes, according to the National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2014.

Read more →
Bowl of clear chicken broth

3-Day Liquid Diet

A liquid diet is prescribed to help you prepare for or recover from digestive procedures. Depending on your situation your doctor may advise you to follow either a clear liquid diet or a full liquid diet. This type of diet is temporary and usually lasts only a few days.

Read more →
Indian Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream

Is High Maltose Corn Syrup Bad for You?

You're likely familiar with industrial sweeteners such as high-fructose corn syrup, which is found in a wide variety of foods. Another food additive you may find as you peruse food labels is high-maltose corn syrup.

Read more →
Bell Peppers And Zucchini

The Best Fiber Supplements for a Low-Carb Diet

On most low-carb diet plans, your meals consist of meats and poultry, eggs, cheese and limited amounts of nonstarchy veggies, such as leafy greens. The initial phase -- which usually lasts two or three weeks -- is often the strictest, making it challenging to get the recommended daily amount of fiber.

Read more →
sliced lime on yellow

What Are the Results of Eating Too Many Acidic Foods?

You may have heard claims that consuming too many acidic foods causes a host of health problems and even increases your risk for cancer. The American Institute for Cancer Research busted this myth and concluded that this claim is false.

Read more →
baby milk powder with dispenser

Side Effects of the D-Ribose Supplement

In the world of dietary supplements, D-ribose is a less well-known energy booster consisting of a type of carbohydrate. In your body, D-ribose plays a crucial role in increasing cellular energy by helping your body produce a high-energy molecule called adenosine triphosphate.

Read more →
i think i ate too much

Can Vitamins Cause Stomach Ulcers?

For years experts believed lifestyle factors like stress or eating spicy foods caused ulcers. Today, scientists assert that a bacterial infection called H. pylori causes 80 percent of stomach ulcers, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. While vitamins are not the cause, taking vitamin supplements may trigger symptoms.

Read more →
Potato chips

What Can You Eat to Help Blood Pressure Rise?

The various causes and types of low blood pressure are mostly unrelated to diet and therefore won't respond to food. However, postprandial hypotension is blood pressure that drops lower than normal after a meal and is more common in older adults.

Read more →
Heart attack in workplace

Can Spearmint Gum Cause Acid Reflux?

Gastroesophageal reflux, commonly called acid reflux, occurs when acid from your stomach flows in the wrong direction -- back up into the esophagus. This can cause a burning sensation in your chest and throat. Heartburn is a hallmark symptom of acid reflux.

Read more →
Cherry pie slice with ice cream

Herbal Remedies for Sugar Cravings

Sugar cravings not only derail weight-loss efforts but put your health at risk if you find yourself eating too many sweets. Added sugar is found in lots of foods, particularly in processed foods lacking vital nutrients. Gymnema sylvestre is an herb with a reputation for curbing sugar cravings.

Read more →
Fresh guacomole

Foods That Cause High Potassium Levels

Hyperkalemia is the medical term used when you have high levels of potassium in your blood. Under normal circumstances, a single food is not enough to cause high potassium. Your kidneys have the job of removing excess potassium from your bloodstream.

Read more →
Delicious bran cereal breakfast

Healthy Meals for Athletes

The meals athletes choose to eat influence how they perform in their chosen sports. It's crucial to pay close attention to nutrition when you want to perform your best. The types of meals you should eat depend on timing and performance goals.

Read more →