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.
Saw palmetto is a palm-like plant indigenous to the southeastern United States from South Carolina to Florida. Also known as shrub palmetto, this small, bushy tree produces purplish-black berries that are used in herbal medicine to treat enlarged prostate in men triggered by low testosterone.
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Ginger, a spice obtained from the root of Zingiber officinale, is native to southeastern Asia but now grows throughout the tropical regions of the Unites States, West Indies, China and India.
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Cayenne pepper is a chili pepper that belongs to the nightshade family of plants, which includes paprika, tomato and eggplant. The peppers are dried and powdered and used to make hot sauces and add spicy heat to foods, such as Buffalo-style chicken wings.
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Despite the name, the strawberry is not a true berry but a pseudocarp, which means some of the fruit’s flesh sprouted from nearby accessory tissue of the plant instead of an ovary. Nevertheless, the fruit provides sustenance for a variety of wildlife and a good reason for people to make jam.
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Noni seed oil is extracted from the seed of a small evergreen tree that grows in the tropical areas of Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and the Polynesian islands. The plant has a long history of use as a dye in these regions.
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Learning how to cook pasta is likely the first lesson most away-from-home college students learn as a matter of survival. Sometimes, culinary experimentation is pursued, owing to enthusiasm or sheer boredom. The discovery that pasta can be cooked in liquids other than water is liberating to both chef and palate.
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Eczema is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by dryness and scaly patches of skin. It occurs most frequently in infants, although many people tend to “grow out of it” by their early twenties. Eczema also runs in families, indicating that genetics may play a role.
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Diuretics are a class of medicines used to treat kidney disorders, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, glaucoma and edema, or water retention.
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Licorice is an herb that lends flavor to many foods and beverages. The plant’s roots are used in traditional medicine to treat a wide variety of disorders, including gastrointestinal complaints, bronchitis, tuberculosis, malaria, osteoarthritis, liver disease, systemic lupus erythematosus and chronic fatigue syndrome.
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According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans eat an average of about 56 pounds of beef each year. In terms of preparation, there are four primary cuts of beef, each of which indicate the best method of cooking: chuck, loin, rib and round.
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Beef shoulder, also called beef clod and beef chuck, refers to the shoulder and neck region of the cow. Because this area contains a significant amount of muscle, fat and gristle, it renders some of the most inexpensive yet flavorful cuts of meat.
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Papaya and pineapple enzymes are both classified as proteolytic enzymes, meaning that they digest proteins. Papaya enzymes are extracted from the leaves and fruit of the papaya plant and are collectively known as papain.
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Boneless butt tenderloin is the thickest end of the tenderloin, which is a long fillet cut from a loin of beef. It is so-named because the meat is very tender, making it suitable as cuts of beef roast or steak.
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Black seed oil refers to the volatile oil of Nigella sativa, a flowering plant native to southwestern Asia and cultivated elsewhere. Black seed oil has a long history of use in medicine dating to ancient Egypt. Traditionally, the oil is used to treat respiratory and inflammatory disorders.
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Jiaogulan is a climbing vine native to China, Japan and Korea. As a member of the Cucurbitaceae family of plants, it is related to the watermelon, cucumber, pumpkin and other melons and gourds. There are several health benefits attributed to drinking jiaogulan tea, with no documented toxicity or drug interactions.
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Acetyl L-carnitine HCL is an amino acid naturally manufactured in the body through the conversion of L-carnitine and used by cells to produce fuel for energy. It is also involved in a variety of processes that regulate muscle movement and heart and brain function.
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Dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, is a by-product of testosterone manufactured in the adrenal glands, hair follicles, testicles and prostate gland. Like testosterone, DHT is an androgen hormone, which means it plays a role in the development of male and female characteristics.
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Mulberry has been used in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for centuries. In recent years, extracts of the leaf and roots have gained attention for their potential in regulating carbohydrate and glucose metabolism. Some components of the plant may even have anti-cancer benefits.
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Chia seeds are the fruit of Salvia hispanica, a plant native to Central and South America. In addition to serving as food and medicine, the ancient Aztecs valued the seeds so much that they were used as currency. Today, the seeds are reputed to promote weight loss and reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
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Bitter melon is a tropical vine found extensively throughout the Caribbean, Africa, China, India and Southeast Asia. The leaves are dried and encapsulated, or steeped in hot water to prepare a tea, which is a traditional treatment for malaria, hypertension, asthma, gastrointestinal disorders and diabetes.
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