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.
Vegetables make up an important part of a healthy diet, with a recommended intake of 2 to 3 cups per day for all adults. One of the primary health benefits of vegetables is their high, natural dietary fiber content.
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Pickled ginger, sometimes called Japanese pickled ginger or Gari, is white-beige to pale pink. Made from thinly shaved pieces of young ginger -- before ginger develops its papery skin -- pickled ginger is commonly served alongside sushi.
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Crunchy, crisp and refreshing, celery is a low-fat, low-calorie vegetable that can be eaten raw or cooked. While celery has a number of health benefits, it is also high in fiber and sodium, which means if it is eaten in high quantities, it can cause trouble.
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Blackberries are quite nutritious, so there are few disadvantages to eating the fruit. In some cases, however, these plump, velvety berries can cause side effects such as changes to urine color.
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Getting enough of the recommended daily amount of essential minerals and vitamins is key for optimal health and body function. While some vitamins dissolve in water, your body will retain the nutrients it needs.
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With its nutty taste and chewy texture, brown rice has become a staple in many American kitchens; it's not just for health-food aficionados anymore. Also known as whole-grain rice, brown rice is not milled, so the bran and the germ of the grain are retained.
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Kimchi jjigae is a traditional Korean stew made with kimchi -- spicy, fermented cabbage -- and pork broth. Often included in the stew are pieces of pork, green onions and spicy Korean red pepper chili, also known as gochugaru. The stew is generally served spicy, but the heat can be adjusted to suit individual tastes.
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Rapadura sugar is an unrefined cane sugar that preserves the natural caramel taste of the sugar. It has a fine-grained texture and can be used in place of white sugar. However, unlike white sugar, it has a grainy texture rather than a crystallized one because it is not as heavily processed.
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The exotic lanzone provides nutrients that make it a healthy treat. It is the fruit of a tree that grows throughout Southeast Asia and southern India. The fruit grows in clusters, is oval-shaped and has a gray-yellow to pale brown skin.
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While tomatoes are generally safe to eat, they can cause dietary complications for some people. Tomatoes are naturally high in acid, which can cause heartburn for those with gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD.
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Sodas are often high in added sugar and some even contain caffeine. Because they have little nutritive value, sodas have few health benefits, although they can help with hydration. While it may seem refreshing and a welcome treat on a hot or humid day, soda can significantly increase your calorie intake.
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Made from grapes, balsamic vinegar is known for its rich flavor and velvety black color. It's fermented in wooden barrels, much like wine, and the taste of balsamic vinegar intensifies the longer it is aged. The thicker and more intense the flavor becomes, the less you need to use to provide a taste boost.
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Strong in flavor, garlic-stuffed olives are green olives that have been pitted and then stuffed with whole cloves of garlic before being preserved.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends eating 2 to 3 cups of vegetables a day, but it's your choice whether you eat them raw or cooked. Eating raw vegetables means that heat-sensitive and water-soluble nutrients are not lost, as they would be during cooking.
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While cayenne is familiar to many as a seasoning for foods, this long, red pepper is also known for its medicinal properties. Used either fresh or dried, the spicy-tasting vegetable adds heat to foods and has been used traditionally to help with digestive and circulatory problems.
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Diet sodas, including low- and no-calorie soft drinks, are sweetened with artificial sweeteners. The most commonly sweeteners are aspartame, sucralose or acesulfame potassium, all of which have diarrhea as a possible side effect. All three sweeteners are approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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Beans with brown rice is a healthy, nutritious dish eaten around the world -- a staple in many Central American and Latin American countries, as well as in the Southeastern United States. The popular combination is a source of protein and provides part of your daily vegetable and grain requirement.
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Coconut oil is made from extracting the natural oils present in mature coconut meat. Commonly used in Latin America and Southeast Asia, coconut oil can be either refined or unrefined, and it can be used for everyday cooking, including frying.
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Ghee, also known as desi ghee, clarified butter or anhydrous butter oil, is a common ingredient in traditional Indian cooking. It is used to sauté spices, coat rice before cooking, and brown and sear meats.
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As hair ages, it naturally falls out, while new hair is constantly produced. While increased hair loss can be a result of disease, genetics or aging, your diet also places a role in maintaining healthy hair.
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