Nutritional planning involves balancing macronutrients, understanding calorie formulas, and identifying the functional properties of whole foods to manage weight and chronic conditions effectively.
When someone claims that a certain food "goes straight to your thighs," don't take them literally because no food is shown to specifically promote thigh fat. Your thighs grow larger when you gain weight, causing your body to store fat throughout your frame.
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Green tea comes with a host of health benefits and is a smarter sipping choice than soda or other sugary beverages. Twinings sells a number of green tea varieties including gunpowder, jasmine and fruit-flavored options. Some of its teas are organic and fair-trade, and the company also offers a decaffeinated green tea.
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Green tea is packed with healthy antioxidants and may help reduce heart-disease risk, manage blood sugar and boost weight-loss, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Despite the potential health rewards, however, drinking too much green tea can cause unpleasant -- or even dangerous -- side effects.
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Although nuts contain some protein, they only help build brawn when paired with exercises that tax your muscles, such as weightlifting or pushups.
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You probably won't find Special K shakes at the health food store; however, substituting them for higher-calorie foods could help you achieve a healthy weight, possibly reducing your risk of obesity-related illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.
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Hailing from Japan, udon noodles typically contain just wheat flour, water and salt. These thick noodles are light on calories, but traditional refined versions are also short on nutrients. For better nutrition, choose whole-wheat noodles instead -- these come packed with vitamins and fiber.
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With its healthy fats and disease-fighting antioxidants, olive oil is a wholesome addition to your diet. While no official dosing instructions exist, 1 tablespoon per day will increase your intake of some important nutrients.
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Just because your food is full of vitamins and minerals doesn't necessarily mean you're getting the nutrition you need. Some nutrients have poor bioavailability, meaning they can be hard for your body to absorb.
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Green tea is touted for its health benefits, and for good reason. The brewed beverage contains micronutrients called catechins, which may help stave off colds and flues while protecting your cardiovascular health.
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Although food doesn't really clean your colon -- your body generally does a fine job of that on its own -- choosing the right foods can help keep digestion running smoothly, possibly preventing constipation. High-fiber foods may be particularly helpful in this department, as can those with live bacteria cultures.
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Filling up on protein to build muscle or slim your waistline may cause adverse effects, including increased body fat. As with all calories -- whether they come from carbohydrates, protein or fats -- your body converts what you don't need for energy into stored fat, which will remain until you burn it off.
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Olive oil may be high in calories, but that doesn't mean eating it will lead to weight gain. What's more, olive oil is rich in cholesterol-lowering monounsaturated fats, making it a healthy addition to your diet. The key is to eat this and other calorie-rich foods in moderation as part of a balanced meal plan.
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You may have seen advertisements claiming that eating a specific cereal will make the pounds melt away, but the reality isn't quite so simple. Neither cereal nor any other food will magically burn fat, and sticking to a cereal-only diet will not guarantee weight loss.
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If you can handle the heat, drinking water with added cayenne pepper may provide a healthy boost. While this beverage won't perform any cleansing or weight-loss miracles, cayenne is high in nutrients yet low in calories and may even perk up your metabolism slightly.
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At 55 milligrams of sodium per large egg, egg whites have a healthy place in a well-planned low-sodium diet. They're also low in calories and contain almost no fat while providing high-quality protein.
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Green tea is rich in healthy compounds, and Lipton's versions are no exception. For the greatest health benefits, however, stick to brewed teabags instead of iced tea from a bottle.
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When you're watching your weight, whole-wheat bread is a smart choice. It helps you stay satisfied as you reduce calories and supplies a greater assortment of nutrients than its refined counterpart, white bread.
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In early civilizations, skipping the bison meat at dinner may have led to poor nutrition. These days, however, humans have access to an array of healthful food options and don't need to eat animal flesh to thrive.
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Dates are a type of fruit and, like all plant products, are cholesterol-free. You'll only find cholesterol in animal foods such as meat, butter and cheese, so replacing animal-based snacks with dates in your diet may help keep your arteries clear.
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If you tend to carry more weight around the midsection than in the hips and thighs, you're considered an apple shape rather than a pear. Having an apple shape could make you more prone to metabolic syndrome, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
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