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.
Whether you love mouth-puckering sourness or prefer a slightly sour sensation, the intense flavor of sour candy comes from organic acids. While there are at least eight different acids used in sour candy, the four most common are citric, malic, tartaric and fumaric acids.
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Plant sterols provide one primary benefit: They help lower cholesterol. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute reports that adding 2 grams of plant sterols to your daily diet may lower cholesterol by 5 to 15 percent. The challenge is getting enough sterols in your diet to have an impact.
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A diet designed to keep your heart healthy should include a regular supply of fish oil. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil provide numerous cardiovascular benefits, including lowering the levels of triglycerides in your bloodstream.
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The banana and milk diet dates back to 1934, when a doctor at Johns Hopkins University developed it for patients with diabetes. Today it has become more of a fad diet touted for its potential to help you lose weight quickly.
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As an amino acid, L-tryptophan -- or more simply, tryptophan -- comes from the protein-containing foods you eat. Your body uses it to build the new proteins it needs. Beyond this vital job, tryptophan has other roles. After it gains entry to your brain, it's converted into the neurotransmitter serotonin.
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Limiting your consumption of high- and moderate-oxalate foods may lower your risk of developing kidney stones. Most people with kidney stones can safely consume low-oxalate foods, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
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Learning the percentage of water in fruits and vegetables may be more important than satisfying mere curiosity. It turns out that water from the food you eat is more than a minor consideration. Food actually provides 20 percent of your recommended daily intake of water, according to the Institute of Medicine.
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Skin acts like a sentinel, protecting you from invading bacteria and environmental stressors such as sunlight and cigarette smoke. Your skin is such a complex organ that it demands many nutrients to stay healthy, from proteins and fats to a range of minerals and vitamins.
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Probiotics and yogurt independently offer more health benefits than any potential side effects, so you can expect good things when the two are combined. Yogurt delivers nutritional value in the form of protein and calcium. Probiotics help keep your digestive tract healthy and support your immune system.
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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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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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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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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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Alpha-lipoic acid and conjugated linoleic acid share a few things in common, most notably the fact that they're both fatty acids. They both impact blood sugar control in people with diabetes, but only one of them -- conjugated linoleic acid -- may make it difficult to keep blood sugar balanced.
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