Enzymes are crucial to your health as they enable your body to break down food components into usable nutrients. Your intestines and pancreas produce a wide variety of enzymes, and certain foods contain these beneficial constituents or contain bacteria that produce them.
Read more →
Fast food may seem like a convenient, inexpensive meal option, but it often contains excess calories, fat, salt, refined carbohydrates and cholesterol. Interest has grown in determining the health implications of fast-food consumption.
Read more →
Food, supplements and medications are all capable of causing side effects. In the case of cream of tartar, a common item used in cooking, you don't have to worry much about food sources. Side effects are unlikely when consumed in typical amounts found in food.
Read more →
While constipation is rarely dangerous, it can cause discomfort and concern when it occurs. Bowel movements vary from person to person, but the University of Maryland Medical Center describes constipation as when you have fewer than three bowel movements weekly.
Read more →
A variety of methods exist for achieving weight loss, and some methods can help when you've been unsuccessful in the past. The Ideal Protein diet is a medically prescribed weight loss program meant for individuals who either have a lot of weight to lose or failed to lose weight from diet and exercise alone.
Read more →
Uric acid is the result of your body breaking down purines, substances found in various foods. Your kidneys filter uric acid from the blood, where it is then excreted in urine. When uric acid remains high, you can develop gout or kidney stones.
Read more →
Osmanthus tea is made from the osmanthus fragrans flowering plant native to China. Widely consumed in Asia, osmanthus tea is less common in the United States. It's readily available at Chinese health food stores and online in loose leaf and tea bag form, however.
Read more →
Balancing your calories plays a central role in maintaining a healthy weight. Becoming familiar with the amount of calories in common foods you eat regularly enables you to monitor your daily intake.
Read more →
Tea contains caffeine unless it's been decaffeinated. The caffeine content varies depending on the plant variety and how long the leaves age. Oolong is grown primarily in Taiwan and China. A semi-fermented tea, oolong possesses an earthy flavor.
Read more →
Shingles is a rash caused by a type of herpes virus that also causes chicken pox. If you've had chicken pox, you're at risk of getting shingles at some point during your lifetime.
Read more →
Your body needs a small amount of sodium to function properly, but too much of it may put your health at risk. In addition, people with kidney disease must restrict sodium intake to help manage their condition.
Read more →
Acacia and psyllium are two dietary fiber supplements marketed for various purposes. Psyllium is most commonly used to relieve constipation, and acacia -- though less common -- appears effective for this purpose as well.
Read more →
Carbohydrates play a dominant role in your diet and health, but some carbs provide more health benefits than others. For example, whole-grain bread is a better choice than refined white bread. Nutritious carbohydrate foods provide a rich source of fiber, since fiber itself is a form of carbohydrate.
Read more →
Sorbic acid is a natural compound that is also made synthetically. First isolated from berries in the 1800s, it became commercially available for use as a food preservative in the 1940s and 1950s.. Due to its antimicrobial properties, it's added to a variety of foods to preserve freshness.
Read more →
Both expeller-pressed and cold-pressed coconut oil are good options for your health, but the one that's best for you depends on what you're using it for.
Read more →
The latte is a coffeehouse classic, traditionally made using espresso and steamed whole milk with a light topping of foam. If for any reason, you don't want it with whole milk, you can typically substitute 2 percent, fat-free or soy milk.
Read more →
The quantity of fat in the diet is a serious health issue for most Americans. While the Institute of Medicine recommends you limit fat to 20 percent to 35 percent of your daily calorie intake, the average American consumes more than this. On the upside, the right types of fat in the proper amount benefit your health.
Read more →
Most people need not concern themselves with foods containing latex -- a substance naturally present in some plants. However, latex-sensitive individuals might have an allergic reaction to certain foods. This is known as a cross reaction.
Read more →
A food allergy occurs when your immune system responds abnormally to proteins in certain foods. When you think of food allergies, foods such as nuts, eggs and shellfish most likely come to mind. While a lettuce allergy is uncommon, it does exist.
Read more →
Sambucol is a brand of standardized black elderberry extract marketed for cold and flu relief. It's available in the form of syrup and tablets. Traditionally, elderberry has been used topically to treat wounds, as well as taken orally for cold and flu symptoms.
Read more →