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.

broccoli

What Is Calcium Phosphate?

Your bones need more than plain calcium. They’re actually made from calcium phosphate. When it comes to this combination of nutrients, your diet has a better chance of lacking the calcium, but you probably don't need to worry about phosphate.

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Fresh mandarin

Are Clementines Healthy for You?

Whether you’re looking for a sweet yet healthy snack option or you need to add a boost of vitamin C to your diet, clementines do the job. For just 35 fat-free calories, one clementine delivers more than half of your daily value for vitamin C.

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woman holds a spoon and strews sugar to mug

Cane Sugar vs. High-Fructose Corn Syrup

The major difference between cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup is that the first is commonly used in the form of table sugar, while the other is primarily available to food producers. Otherwise, the differences between the two are subtle; both have the potential to harm your health.

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Beef steak

The Best Way to Absorb B12

Vitamin B-12 distinguishes itself from other vitamins with several unique characteristics. For example, it's the only water-soluble vitamin stored in your body. It's also produced by bacteria, so it's primarily found in animal foods, such as fish, meat, poultry and dairy products.

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Woman cutting banana. Closeup

What Is the Daily Recommended Serving Size of Fruits & Vegetables?

When you consume the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables, you get the variety of nutrients and phytochemicals needed to help lower your risk of heart disease, prevent cancer and other illnesses and maintain optimal health, reports the Harvard School of Public Health.

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Young Couple Jogging Together

Do Fat and Protein Turn into Glucose?

When blood glucose gets low, your energy plummets and you may find it hard to concentrate. Your body can temporarily fill the gap by drawing on glucose stored in your liver, but those supplies are limited. When they run out, your body can produce glucose from fats and proteins.

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Fruit watermelon pineapple banana papaya

Meat Tenderizers & Enzymes

Tough cuts of meat are budget-friendly and packed with flavor, but they require special treatment to make them tender. You can pound them with a mallet to mechanically break the tough muscle fibers or use salt and acids such as tomato juice, which soften the meat.

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Wheat field

Substitutes for Vital Wheat Gluten

Vital wheat gluten -- the natural protein found in wheat -- boosts dietary protein and fills an essential role in baking. Most people can consume wheat gluten without thinking twice, but if you have celiac disease, a wheat allergy or you're sensitive to gluten, you'll need to keep vital wheat gluten out of your diet.

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dried apricots background

Is Dried Fruit Good for You?

Eating dried fruit is associated with lower body weight and consuming a more nutritious diet, according to a study in the June 2011 issue of “Nutrition Research.” Dried fruit is recommended as one healthy choice for filling your daily fruit requirement.

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Woman Grocery Shopping

List of Safe Fish to Eat While Pregnant

Don’t stop eating fish entirely during pregnancy due to concerns over contamination. The omega-3 fatty acids you’ll get from the fish in your diet are vital for the normal development of your baby’s eyes and nervous system.

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Signs & Symptoms of Too Much Salt in the Diet

It’s easy to consume more salt than you realize. Most of the salt in your diet -- about 90 percent -- is already in the foods you purchase at grocery stores and restaurants, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Sauerkraut

What Are the Health Benefits of Sauerkraut?

Sauerkraut delivers some solid health benefits, including providing fiber and a significant amount of vitamins C and K. It also boosts your energy and immune system with iron. In spite of the positives, you should limit the amount you eat. Since it’s fermented with salt, sauerkraut is high in sodium.

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Twists of citrus peel.

Grapefruit Peel Benefits

Grapefruit peel may never play a prominent role in your diet, but it is edible, and when you trash the peel, you’re also throwing away beneficial nutrients. The peel has significantly more fiber than the pulp. It also contains essential oils, phytochemicals and vitamin C, all of which provide antioxidant protection.

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Pile of fresh green avocados

Foods That Strengthen Blood Vessels

A heart-healthy diet that focuses on lowering cholesterol can also help strengthen blood vessels, reports a 1998 article in "American Family Physician."

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Baked Beans

Are Pinto Beans Healthy?

A fair description of pinto beans could begin with labels such as nutrient-rich, low-fat and an excellent source of protein and fiber. While these terms accurately imply that pinto beans are healthy, the details about their nutrients seal the deal.

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Tin can of sprats, sardines

Are Canned Sardines Good for You?

Sardines contain a variety of vital nutrients. They’re packed with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, and they’re a natural source of vitamin D, which is typically obtained from enriched foods. In spite of the benefits, whether canned sardines are good for you depends on one deciding factor: portion control.

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Young potatoes pile

Do Potatoes Improve Cholesterol Levels?

Two important dietary changes can help lower your cholesterol. You can boost the amount of soluble fiber in your diet and restrict the amount of saturated and trans fats you consume. Potatoes can help you meet both goals. They're good sources of fiber, including the soluble type, and they're a fat-free food.

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Top Blade Roast

Why Is Red Meat Bad for You?

Red meat offers solid nutritional benefits: It’s high in quality protein and a good source of vitamin B-12, iron and zinc. On the other hand, it’s high in saturated fat and cholesterol. You can limit unhealthy fats by choosing lean cuts of meat, but that doesn’t help other health concerns.

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Nachos corn chips with fresh salsa

Are Tortilla Chips Healthy?

Whether tortilla chips fall into the healthy category depends on a few factors. The amount you eat matters because the calories only fit in your daily diet if you limit the portion. To keep your snack low in sodium, you’ll need to avoid the flavored-varieties.

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Girl drinking milk

Is Cow Milk Healthy for Humans?

The health benefits you'll get from cow's milk come from its wide array of nutrients, such as protein, calcium and vitamin B-12. You don't have to worry about fat if you opt for skim milk.

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