Balanced Eating: Brain Energy, Weight Tips & Meal Plans

What are the most important energy sources for the brain? From naturopathic diets to marathon runner meal plans, prioritizing a balanced diet food list is key to gaining weight healthily or relieving postpartum complications naturally.

Four bananas

What Happens If You Eat Too Many Bananas?

Although bananas make a healthy snack, you can have too much of a good thing. Binging on any food can lead to weight gain and poor nutrition, so moderation is important. Although no official consensus exists as to how many bananas are "too many,"

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Chef sifting flour over a ball of dough

Why Is Flour Fattening?

While eating foods made with flour won't necessarily make you fat, overindulging in this or any other food will lead to weight gain. The type of flour you eat also matters, so choose wisely to help you stay lean and slim.

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Cashew nuts

Can Cashews Make You Have High Cholesterol?

Cholesterol concerns are no reason to put down that bag of cashews. On the contrary, you should keep on snacking because cashews and other nuts have been shown to improve cholesterol levels. That's good news because high levels of low-density lipoprotein, the "bad"

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Buying Organic Food

What Does the Brain Need to Function Nutritionally?

Like the rest of your body, your brain depends on food to run at peak performance. That's why you may feel sharp as a tack after a healthy lunch and mentally sluggish on a junk-food diet. For peak mental function, include a wide variety of foods in your diet, as no one nutrient can provide everything your brain needs.

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Organic Raw Flax Seeds

The Best Foods to Eat to Clean Out Your Colon

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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A broken pod of garlic

Garlic as Cause of Diarrhea

Garlic is generally considered a healthy herb, but high doses may result in diarrhea, according to NYU Langone Medical Center. Too much garlic can also cause other digestive woes such as gas, heartburn and upset stomach.

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Pork And Vegetables TV Dinner

The Disadvantages of Frozen Foods

Although frozen meals can be convenient, many offer poor nutrition and are best reserved for rare occasions. Frozen foods are not all evil, however; freezing fruits and vegetables can help prevent nutrient loss, and because frozen foods are portion-controlled, they sometimes help with weight management.

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Dried Date

Dates and Cholesterol

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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Red Hot Chili Peppers

What Are the Benefits of Drinking Cayenne Pepper Water?

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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Olive oil and olives

Does Olive Oil Make You Fat?

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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Does Excess Protein Get Stored as Fat?

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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Group of Avocados

Do Avocados Have Side Effects?

Avocados are packed with nutrients, providing fiber, healthy fats and vitamins C and B-6. They're generally safe to eat; in rare cases, however, they may cause allergies. Symptoms include rash, upset stomach, facial swelling and trouble breathing.

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Udon Japanese Noodles

Are Udon Noodles Healthy?

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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Cuban Cuisine: Plantain Salty Chips

Are Plantain Chips Healthy?

While plantain chips may seem like a healthy alternative to potato chips or other greasy snacks, the truth is that they're high in fat and calories and provide few essential nutrients. On the plus side, however, they do contain fiber and are typically low in sodium.

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Pumpkin seeds

Fiber in Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are a good source of fiber, provided you eat them shell and all. Whole pumpkin seeds contain about 5.2 grams fiber per ounce; however, 1 ounce of pumpkin seed kernels only contains about 1.8 grams of fiber.

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The person who serves tea

The Benefits of Peppermint Green Tea

Peppermint and green tea each pack a wallop in terms of health perks. Considering this tasty tea combination also has zero calories, it's worthy of prominent placement in a healthy diet.

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Casual pretty blonde lying on couch sleeping

What Happens if You Don't Eat Enough Carbohydrates?

While some fad-diet gurus may denounce carbohydrates as the root of all edible evil, the truth is that your body needs these nutrients to function properly. If your diet lacks carbs, you could feel rundown and face a variety of health woes.

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