How does the food we eat give us energy? From the anti-inflammatory benefits of a garlic-rich diet to the digestive impact of oatmeal and berries, understanding nutrient synergy is the foundation of an effective detox diet.
People with certain conditions must limit their oxalate intake. Oxalate is a substance found in many plants. In the body, it can combine with calcium and form crystals that can contribute to kidney stones and gout. It also promotes inflammation, which aggravates inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
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Thyroid-stimulating hormone is a marker of your metabolism, which refers to the rate at which you burn calories. A lower TSH indicates your metabolism is optimal, while a higher TSH represents a sluggish metabolism, according to "The Fast Metabolism Diet" by nutritionist Haylie Pomroy.
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If you experience heartburn as a result of eating gluten, it may be an indication of gluten intolerance. Gluten is a protein found not only in wheat but also rye, barley and any foods made from these particular grains. Contact your doctor and work with him to rule out other potential causes.
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Gastritis occurs when the lining of your stomach becomes inflamed. This includes sudden inflammation or chronic inflammation that lasts for a long time and can cause stomach pain and discomfort after eating.
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When your digestive system is healthy, it effectively processes the nutrients from the foods you eat and produces consistent bowel movements that are soft, bulky and easy to pass. If your digestive system becomes sluggish, first see your doctor to rule out more serious causes such as inflammatory bowel disease.
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When it's working properly your gallbladder -- a small organ below your liver -- releases bile into your small intestine to help digest fat from the foods you eat.
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If you're like most people, your gallbladder goes unnoticed until problems arise. It's a small sac situated beneath your liver that collects bile, or juice necessary to digest fat from your diet. Bile contains a mixture of cholesterol, salt and other substances.
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Your body needs glucose, which you get from carbohydrates in your diet. However, eating foods high in refined carbohydrate, such as cookies and white bread or rice, can trigger a large release of the glucose-regulating hormone insulin. This leads to abrupt rises in blood sugar followed by steep declines.
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Nerve pain can be challenging to manage. The current medications used to treat conditions characterized by nerve pain often provide only partial relief. Because of this, combination therapy is sometimes recommended in the hope of providing better relief.
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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.
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Your gallbladder is an often overlooked organ, unless something goes wrong. It plays a major role in helping your body digest dietary fat by storing and releasing a digestive juice known as bile.
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Recombinant bovine growth hormone, or rBGH, is a synthetic hormone commonly injected into cows in the commercial dairy industry to increase milk production.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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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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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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If your health care provider has informed you that your insulin is high, you have every right to feel concerned. Insulin is a crucial hormone secreted from your pancreas, and it plays a major role in energy production.
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Normally, the body produces the enzyme lactase, which is required for digesting the milk sugar lactose. Some people produce little to no lactase, resulting in lactose intolerance. If this is your situation, you can experience digestive discomfort when eating lactose-containing foods, including heavy cream.
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