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.
You don’t have to be a meat eater to get ample protein in your meals and snacks. Nuts and seeds provide good amounts of protein in modestly sized servings, making them a smart choice for protein when you’re running between meetings or heading to the gym.
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Hot peppers, or chilis, get their heat from an oily chemical compound called capsaicin, found primarily in the membrane surrounding the seeds. Capsaicin boosts thermogenesis -- the process by which the body turns calories into heat to use for fuel -- in studies on humans and animals.
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Sugar is ubiquitous, cropping up in most of the processed foods and beverages on the market. Too much added sugar in your diet can depress your immune system and increase your risk of obesity, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. It can also promote depression, anxiety and cognitive problems.
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Juicing raw vegetables and fruits can be a valuable addition to an already healthy diet. As with all foods, however, natural juices aren’t miracle cures for any medical condition, and the American Cancer Society reports there’s no scientific evidence that natural juices are any healthier for you than whole foods.
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Cumin, a spice that originated in Egypt, has been a part of the cuisines of the Middle East and India for thousands of years. This little seed, a standard flavor in curries, may also have medicinal properties, although to date most research has been on animals, not humans.
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Tiny seeds with a nutty flavor, flaxseeds pack a nutritional punch. Just 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds delivers almost 2 grams of dietary fiber, which promotes digestive regularity.
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An occasional twitch in the eyelid or a spasm in your hand or calf is nothing to worry about and will probably go away on its own. Muscle twitches that last for more than a few days may signal nutrient deficiencies or other dietary issues, or they may be a symptom of a medical condition.
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Although fruits supply vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, they sometimes get a bad rap for being high in a natural sugar called fructose. This type of sugar is also found in many sweet treats and can lead to spikes and crashes in blood sugar.
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If your pants feel uncomfortably tight from a bloated abdomen, actual belly fat probably isn't the cause. The unpleasant feeling -- like a balloon is expanding in your midsection -- most likely has more to do with something you ate or how you ate the food.
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You may be thinking about following a vegetarian diet to reap certain health benefits. In fact, meat-free diets are low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in fiber, antioxidants and phytonutrients, which can help prevent digestive conditions, heart disease, high blood pressure and even certain cancers.
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When you carve your pumpkin in October, rather than just tossing the seeds, roast them in the oven for a nutritious snack. Pumpkin seeds, also called pepitas, are a natural source of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. Pumpkin seeds can be boiled, baked or eaten raw.
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In the late 1960s, dermatologists began to dismiss the link between diet and acne as lacking in scientific proof, no better than a myth. New studies emerged after 2005, however, that shored up the evidence that acne eruptions may stem from eating specific foods, such as certain carbohydrates and dairy products.
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Your skin is capable of regenerating every 27 days, according to the Cleveland Clinic. In most cases, proper cleansing along with a well-balanced diet and plenty of water will help your skin rejuvenate naturally.
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If you’ve decided to shun added sugar and flour for health reasons or to lose weight, don't despair. You can still eat most food; the only off-limits products are those that are processed and refined and typically come in a box or bag at the supermarket.
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After menopause, many women put on extra pounds. In addition, their nutritional needs shift, and they may be at higher risk for certain health conditions, like heart disease and osteoporosis.
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Like their close cousin, black tea, both white tea and green tea come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The colors of the leaves reflect the amount of wilting and oxidation they have undergone.
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The glycemic index is a tool that ranks carbohydrate-containing foods by how quickly they raise your blood sugar.
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Low-carb diets restrict the amount of carbohydrates you consume each day, allowing you more as you progress through the diet. You might decide to follow this diet for weight or fat loss, or a dietitian might suggest it to you because you are diabetic or pre-diabetic.
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On the Atkins diet, you take in a limited amount of carbohydrates a day so you have to count them scrupulously to make sure you don’t exceed your daily quota. Although you’re allowed to drink some alcohol on both variations of this low-carb plan, doing so may hinder your weight-loss efforts.
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The coriander plant is one of the oldest in the world, dating back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, "Life Extension" magazine reports. The plant’s leaves, known as cilantro, are loaded with nutrients and have been studied by laboratory scientists for their potential health properties.
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