Nutritional planning involves balancing macronutrients, understanding calorie formulas, and identifying the functional properties of whole foods to manage weight and chronic conditions effectively.
Vitamins can't help boost your energy, but they can help your body use the energy it gets from food. You should be able to get all the vitamins you need from food to get that energy, but if you're worried about missing out on nutrients, a supplement can help.
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Reading a food ingredient list may make you think twice before buying certain items, especially with so many unfamiliar words and ingredients. While you may worry about how some food additives affect your health, there's no need to worry about cellulose gum.
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Beans are full of so much nutritious goodness that the U.S. Department of Agriculture considers them both a protein and a vegetable. Kala chana, also known as the dark chickpea, is a savory bean popular in India and very similar to the yellow chickpeas at your grocery store.
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It may have been discovered accidentally, but people have been eating yogurt since 6,000 B.C., according to the Dairy Farmers of Canada. Today, there are a wide variety of different types of yogurts and brands available at the grocery store, from low-fat to nonfat to Greek to yogurts with added fiber.
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Carrying that spare tire around your midsection not only makes it hard for you to buckle your belt, but it's also bad for your health. Abdominal fat, also known as visceral fat, raises your risk of heart disease and diabetes, and men have a greater tendency of accumulating belly fat than women.
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You may provide healthy and balanced meals and snacks, but that doesn't mean your 2-year-old is going to eat them. You may worry that between the finickiness, food jags and meal skipping, your toddler is not getting all the nutrients needed to grow.
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When it comes to food and behavior, there are no clear cut answers. Meat consumption may have either positive or negative affects on behavior, or none. If you're concerned about how your food choices affect your mood and behavior, consult your doctor to discuss your diet and health.
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When made with fresh fruits and vegetables in controlled amounts, smoothies are a healthy addition to your diet. But, if you drink too many or you're not used to eating so many fruits and vegetables at one time, smoothies may cause abdominal discomfort and bloating.
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Your body converts creatine, a chemical your muscles use for energy, into creatinine, a waste product that is excreted through your kidneys. High creatinine levels may be a sign that your kidneys are not functioning properly.
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If you happen to be near a Hispanic market and are looking for a new food to add to your repertoire, you might want to consider giving malanga a try. A tropical root vegetable from South America, malanga is good baked, mashed or roasted.
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The pain you feel in your chest after eating a high-fat meal may not be your heart telling you to eat better, but may be your lower esophageal sphincter losing pressure. Your esophagus has two sphincters, upper and lower.
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If you're plagued with heartburn, you may notice that drinking orange or grapefruit juice makes it worse. That's because the acidity in the juice may irritate the soft tissue that lines your esophagus. Drinking nonacidic juices may help ease your discomfort while satisfying your need for a sweetened beverage.
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There are a number of reasons why your eyes may be puffy and red. But if you suspect the problem is food-related, it may be an allergy, which means any food may be the cause of the eye problem. Consult your doctor to help you identify the specific cause of your puffy, red eyes and how best to treat it.
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The B complex is a group of eight vitamins your body needs in small amounts. While they help metabolize the macronutrients, which include carbs, protein and fat, into energy, they also help regulate your appetite, support eye health, assist in making red blood cells and keep your skin healthy.
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While there's no special diet for someone with swollen fingers, what you eat may help reduce the swelling, depending on the cause. Anti-inflammatory foods may help finger inflammation, while limiting sodium may help lessen fluid retention.
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If you want to get the most out of every workout, you need to drink water to stay adequately hydrated. As a water that's free of minerals, including sodium, distilled water helps prevent fluid retention. However, you may not want to drink it all the time.
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Getting enough protein in your diet is essential when trying to build muscle, and protein powders can help you meet your needs. Whey protein is considered fast-acting and easily absorbed. You can choose either whey protein concentrate or whey protein isolate, with the latter being a slightly better source of protein.
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A little sweet and a little salty, coconut water is a native drink to the Pacific islands. Not to be confused with coconut milk, which is made from coconut meat, coconut water is the juice from a young green coconut.
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The tamarind is a fruit native to tropical Africa, but grows throughout Asia, the Middle East, East Indies and Pacific Islands. Cooks use the fruit in a number of different ways, including as a seasoning for rice, fish and meat, and as chutneys, curries and sauces.
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When it comes to alcohol, whether it's beer or liquor, the line between healthy and not healthy is very thin. To garner any benefits from either beverage, you need to drink them in moderation.
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