High blood pressure, or hypertension, is linked to high sodium intake and excess body weight, and it can go undetected -- often for years. Most sodium in the average American diet comes from packaged, processed foods, which are high in sodium and often loaded with saturated fat.
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Good blood flow is essential for proper brain function and oxygen transport to vital organs in the body. Because your heart is the pump that keeps your blood circulating, it's important to maintain a strong heart.
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Spirulina is blue-green algae that thrives in warm climates in warm alkaline water. Many cultures around the world include spirulina as part of their daily diets because of its powerful nutrient benefits. It's available dried and freeze-dried, in powder, pills or as flakes.
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Side effects of bad nutrition don't happen overnight. They develop over time from eating a diet lacking in vital nutrients and making poor lifestyle choices. The good news is you can make changes before it's too late.
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White cabbage is your standard variety of green cabbage that's been cut by the grower and buried in trenches to protect the heads from freezing. This technique, which is used in colder regions, is known as blanching and allows the grower to provide cabbage all winter long.
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Eating foods that are easy to digest and absorb can provide relief if you suffer from heartburn, ulcers or nausea; have gastroenteritis or dyspepsia; or are recovering from stomach or intestinal surgery.
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Although their name may not tempt your taste buds, don't let that fool you. Smelt are known for their fine flavor. These small, silvery-green fish, also known as rainbow smelt, are similar in appearance to sardines and anchovies. Most adult fish are 7 to 9 inches long and weigh up to 6 ounces.
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Whether you grill or broil your sirloin steak, marinating it prior to cooking makes the meat more tender and flavorful. Marinades are mixtures of oil, spices and acidic ingredients like vinegar, wine or lemon juice. The acids in the marinade break down the meat tissue, resulting in meat that is tender.
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The fruit of the prickly pear cactus, known by the name cactus pear and prickly pear, is oval with a reddish-purple color. Also known as "tuna," the fruit ripens in late summer and early fall and has a granular consistency with a flavor reminiscent of watermelon.
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Vitamin P is a rarely used collective term for a plant classification known as flavonoids, or bioflavonoids -- the terms more commonly used. Flavonoids are pigments that produce yellow or red-blue coloring in plants. Along with color, they provide plants with protection from attacks from insects, fungi and microbes.
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Dulse, also known as Palmaria palmata, is red seaweed that grows attached to rocks. It's not only rich in health benefits. This salty sea vegetable is eaten fresh and dried in foods including soups, chowders and fish dishes. Dried, dulse is used as seasoning.
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Sweet almond oil, made from pressed almonds, is an odorless, pale-yellow liquid with a nutty taste. It's similar to olive oil in composition and can be used as a substitute. It's not, however, to be confused with bitter almond oil, which has a pungent flavor and is typically used as a flavoring agent.
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Burdock root, scientifically referred to as arctium lappa, has been used for centuries in Europe, North America and Asia as a digestive treatment and a diuretic. More recently it's been used to treat chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and AIDS.
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Wheatgrass is a nutrient-packed member of the cereal grass family, which includes rye, barley and oats. Wheatgrass powder is made by freeze-drying, oven-drying or air-drying fresh wheatgrass.
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Limes may be small, but their juice is packed with flavor and nutritional benefits. They're even credited with saving English sailors from scurvy at sea, hence the nickname "limeys." Lime juice even has more acid and natural sugar content than its close cousin lemon juice.
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Curcumin, the substance that imparts a golden color to the spice turmeric, plays a starring role in several global cuisines. It's also known for its therapeutic properties.
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After hiking all day, a hearty meal cooked over a campfire is comforting and satisfying. Preparing the meal, however, is often time-consuming and inconvenient, especially when you're tired after a long day.
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Although dandelions grow wild, and gardeners consider the plant to be a nuisance, dandelion is one of the most nutrient-rich herbs in the plant kingdom. Because of dandelion's versatility, many cultures have used its roots and leaves for centuries to treat medical conditions and for culinary purposes.
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A type of black tea, orange pekoe refers to the tea's high quality, not its flavor. Leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant are harvested and fermented, which results in black tea's color. The three grades of black tea are orange pekoe, pekoe and souchong.
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If you're a fan of garlic, there's good news for you -- and your brain. Garlic, also known as Allium sativum, is full of healthful benefits. This pungent herb has been used in cooking and for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.
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