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.
Spanish rice, sometimes called Mexican rice, is a dish made with long grain white rice, onions, green peppers and a form of tomatoes, such as tomato sauce, tomato paste or canned tomatoes. Some recipes call for garlic and celery; saffron, chili powder or cumin is often added as seasoning.
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Ground flaxseeds supply essential omega-3 fatty acids and substances that act like estrogen called lignans. They also have the potential to cause diarrhea, but if you’re careful about the amount you consume, you can gain the benefits and minimize the risks.
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Any food -- including apples -- can make you gain weight if you eat more than you burn each day. In fact, apples contribute healthy calories if your goal is weight gain. But if you watch total caloric intake, apples are more likely to help you lose weight than they are to be responsible for extra pounds.
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Slow carbs are absorbed at a gradual pace, which keeps your blood sugar at a steady level. The more rapidly digested fast carbs cause an unhealthy spike in blood sugar. But cream of wheat does not fit into one neat category.
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The nutrients you’ll gain from peanuts are more likely to help you lose weight than to cause weight gain. In fact, people who regularly consume peanuts tend to weigh less than those who don’t eat nuts, according to a review in the September 2008 issue of the “Journal of Nutrition.
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Vitamin K fills such an important role in blood clotting and maintaining strong bones that you shouldn't limit the amount you eat unless it's under the advice of your physician.
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Baby bella mushrooms, also known as criminis, are a type of fungus commonly used while cooking, says Bon Appetit. In addition to its appealing taste, baby bella mushrooms provide a number of important health benefits.
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The chance of suffering any type of side effect from eating cherries is slim, as long as you're not allergic. But overconsumption raises some red flags. On the positive side, cherries provide iron, potassium, vitamin C and antioxidant phytochemicals.
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The natural fiber and phytochemicals in celery make important contributions to the health of your digestive system. One stalk of celery supplies 4 percent of the daily value for fiber, based on eating 2,000 calories daily.
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You can prepare and use quinoa just like other grains, whether you cook it like rice or use ground quinoa flour for baking. It’s not a true grain, though -- quinoa is actually a seed. Still, it's easy to digest and contains several nutrients that support your digestive tract, including fiber and B vitamins.
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Maltodextrin comes from natural plant starches that are processed to produce either regular maltodextrin or resistant maltodextrin. Knowing the difference between the two types is important because each one has a different effect in your body.
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If you feel tired after eating bread, chances are you're responding to changes in blood sugar or brain chemistry caused by higher levels of insulin. Gluten intolerance is another possible culprit in bread-induced lethargy.
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Chewing most vitamins won’t cause any harm, but it may affect the absorption of nutrients. Some types of vitamins, such as enteric-coated brands, should never be chewed. The biggest downside is likely to be the unpleasant taste experience of chomping on a vitamin that wasn’t meant to be chewable.
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The primary safety concern with cutting a vitamin comes from the challenge of using a knife to chop an unwieldy pill. You can cut vitamins to make them easier to swallow, as long as the directions or your doctor don't specifically say to take them whole.
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For the most part, you don’t need to worry about vitamins making you dizzy, but there are a few exceptions. High doses of vitamin A, niacin and choline can cause dizziness, as can a folate deficiency.
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Artichokes have been used as a digestive aid since ancient Egyptian times. Today, we know they contain nutrients that deliver several health benefits. However, full safety testing of artichoke supplements has not been conducted, so consult your health care provider before using it to treat any health condition.
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Amaranth and quinoa share many similarities, beginning with a common history. These ancient crops are native to South America and serve as staples in many parts of the world.
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When you need a fiber supplement or a laxative, Metamucil and Benefiber are two good choices. They’re made from different ingredients, but both products consist of natural soluble fiber, which prevents or relieves constipation and may help lower cholesterol.
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More than 80 percent of all tea consumed in the United States is black tea. Black tea is packed with nutrients that are slightly different from those in green and white teas but -- like green tea -- black tea is linked to weight loss. You’ll get the same benefits from caffeine in both types of tea.
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Cellulose is one reason vegetables are good for your health. It’s a natural dietary fiber that keeps your digestive tract in good working condition and may help prevent some intestinal diseases.
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