Nutrition Food & Recipes Health Center

What are essential amino acids? Learn the best foods for essential amino acids.

Essential minerals are a class of nutrients that are vital for maintaining the body’s health. They are inorganic components that play a multitude of functional roles in human cells both physiologically and biochemically. The 13 essential minerals include calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorous, iodine, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, sulfur and selenium.

Although there’s no single cause for vitamin D deficiency, your overall risk may be higher as a result of certain underlying conditions or lifestyle factors.

More and more people are discovering the multipurpose health benefits of apple cider vinegar (ACV) and using it as a one-stop-shop for daily needs. Here are 20 uses for apple cider vinegar that will inspire you to incorporate it into your daily routine too.

Polyphenols are a type of plant compound with several health benefits when consumed regularly. It is a micronutrient obtained by consuming plant-based foods. Polyphenols are found in several foods, herbs, and spices. Foods that are highest in polyphenols include tea, dark chocolate, red wine, and berries.

Bananas are one of the widely available fruits in the world. These nutrient-rich fruits are easy to have on the go and provide instant energy. Because of their sweet taste and creamy texture, they are one of the favorite ingredients in several dishes, such as cakes, breads, and puddings. They have various antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients.

Bean sprouts are generally good for most people. They are an excellent option if you are looking for a low-calorie, low-fat, high-protein, low-carb, nutritional food.

Cacao nibs are crunchy cacao bean pieces. The beans undergo commercial processing that turns them into nibs. This involves cleaning, roasting, and shelling the beans.

Carrots are healthy for everyone, including babies. They are one of the richest sources of beta-carotene. Beta-carotene gets converted to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is good for the eye, skin, and immune system. Carrots, being rich in fiber, helps prevent the baby from getting constipated. They also contain vitamin K, which helps in blood clotting.

Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins found in humans and animals. It includes various structural proteins found in the skin, muscles, and bones. Collagen is essential for maintaining the health of skin, muscles, joints, and tendons.

Eggs are one of the most popular breakfast foods. They have been rightly considered a powerhouse of nutrients. If you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), eggs may worsen your cramps and bloating.

Shirataki noodles are usually considered good. These noodles are low in calories and carbohydrates and high in glucomannan (fiber). Glucomannan is a water-soluble dietary fiber with multiple health benefits and is often used for promoting weight loss. However, shirataki noodles have very little micronutrients.

Strawberries are one of the most popular berries in America. They are rich in antioxidants and fibers that can help keep your tummy healthy. From the animal experiments conducted so far, strawberries seem to be good for your stomach.

Although not a major cause, nuts, such as cashews, can trigger heartburn in some individuals. Nuts, including cashews, are high in fats, which slow down the emptying stomach.

Root beer is a typically (although not exclusively) nonalcoholic, caffeine-free, sweet, and carbonated drink.

Yucca can be cooked and eaten. However, yucca flowers may be eaten raw because they have a mild sweet taste. Most people prefer boiling yucca flowers and adding them to soups and stews.

This is not recommended. Though mayonnaise, also referred to as mayo, contains egg yolk, it does not provide as much protein as present in a single egg. A hundred gram of eggs provides 13 grams (26% of daily recommended intake) of proteins while the same quantity of mayo gives only 1 gram (2% of daily recommended intake) of proteins.

The body has a natural detoxification system that eliminates toxins and harmful compounds. Hence, detoxing tea is ineffective and unnecessary for weight loss and detoxification. There hasn’t been any evidence regarding detox teas that these would flush toxins out of the body.

As per World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, natural sugar does not count toward the daily intake because fruits and vegetables are high in fiber and there are no reported negative health effects associated with natural sugar in produce.

In the water-versus-tea battle, water still wins. Because water doesn't contain caffeine, sugar, or other additives, it's the purest form of hydration.

Turkey is a good source of tryptophan, and tryptophan does play a role in helping you sleep. But the connection between eating turkey and a good night's sleep isn't as straightforward as you might have heard.

The glycemic index (GI) is a numeric value assigned to foods based on how slowly or quickly they can increase your blood glucose levels. It is a rating system for carbohydrate-containing foods. Foods having a low GI are the ones that tend to release glucose slowly and steadily. By contrast, foods that fall high on the GI scale release glucose rapidly.

The importance of a healthy lifestyle in disease prevention is widely understood and most people know that lifestyle changes and choices can be critical to good health. Learn about healthy behaviors that constitute healthy living.

Bacon is a type of processed meat. Americans eat a tremendous amount of bacon every year despite warnings that bacon is associated with numerous diseases and health problems.

Four emergency treatments to lower potassium quickly start working in minutes by shifting potassium out of the blood and into cells.

Low hemoglobin levels can be caused by anemia and low iron intake. Here are 9 ways to increase your hemoglobin through diet and supplements.

A serving of raw kale contains 33 calories. To break it down, it has 6 g of carbohydrates, 3 g of protein, and 2 g of fiber.

The best way to store fresh fish is on ice. Ice may need to be placed on top of the fish as well as underneath. The ice isn’t just cold; it’s also dry and allows the meltwater and liquid to run off the fish.

Apricot seeds contain amygdalin, which is converted into cyanide in the body. Studies have shown that eating no more than 1-2 raw apricot seeds is safe; anything more than that is not recommended due to the risk of cyanide poisoning. Check out the center below for more medical references on food and health, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related diseases, treatment, diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Consuming two to three Brazil nuts per day is unlikely to pose a health risk; however, eating 50 or more nuts a day may cause radiation toxicity.

Chia seeds may provide several benefits as part of a healthy diet. Chia seeds can be safely eaten in amounts of 50 grams daily, which is about five tablespoons.

The American Heart Association recommends a quarter cup of daily intake of pumpkin seeds as part of an overall healthy diet, which is approximately 30 g. This amount will provide you with a good amount of protein, healthy fats, fiber, zinc, selenium, magnesium, and other effective nutrients.

What is scurvy, and how do you know if you have it? Learn the signs and treatments of scurvy.

Almond milk is ideal for people who prefer a vegan diet and want fewer calories, but regular milk is more effective at strengthening bones during youth.

The seeds (grains) of the amaranth plant have been used for thousands of years, particularly in Central America and Mexico. It is currently cultivated and consumed in many parts of the world.

Buckwheat is a type of seed that belongs to a food group called pseudocereal, which are seeds consumed as cereal grains, but they don’t grow on grasses. Quinoa is another example of pseudocereals. Buckwheat kernels are pale tan-to-green (roasted buckwheat kernels are also known as kasha, a staple food in Eastern Europe).

Potassium is an essential micronutrient required for cellular function. It is highly reactive in water and produces positively charged potassium ions.

The positive and negative effects of dextrose depend on individual’s overall health and their medical conditions. People with certain health conditions should be particularly careful with dextrose consumption.

About 60 percent of the body is made up of water. It forms a major part of the blood. The cells and the body cannot function right if the water levels go down. Drinking cold water often causes “cold stress” in the body.

Distilled water is considered the purest form of water. There are both potential risks and benefits of drinking distilled water.

Wheat is a grain that can be turned into flour, making wheat the main ingredient of many foods, such as bread, biscuits, cookies, pancakes, wafers, cakes, pasta, pastries, and packaged breakfast cereals. Grains are the seeds of grass-like plants called cereals, such as corn, rice, and wheat.

Both black tea and green tea have similar benefits. Green tea contains less caffeine than green tea, so it may be a better choice if you’re sensitive to caffeine.

The effects of drinking both room temperature and cold water vary by person, specifically by health, age, and the amount being consumed.

Carrots belong to the group of root vegetables that are loaded with several nutrients. Eating carrots in moderation is good for your health. Eating carrots in excess, however, can cause a condition called carotenemia.

A study by Harvard Public School of Health stated that eating a bowl of quinoa daily may reduce the chances of early death risk from cancer, heart disease, respiratory ailments, diabetes, and other chronic diseases by 17%.

If you follow your microwave’s instructions, it is in good working order with no damaged or broken parts, and it automatically shuts off when you open the door, it is safe and won’t harm you or your food.

Niacin flush is a harmless and temporary side effect of taking large doses of niacin supplements. The flushing usually subsides within 1-2 hours.

If you are a vegetarian, nutritional yeast is a good source of vitamin B12 and complete protein. Even nonvegetarians can eat or make use of this yeast in their food as a health supplement. Nutritional yeast is a low-salt, low-fat food product with a high concentration of proteins and vitamins (vitamin B12, folic acid and biotin).

Saturated fatty acids like palmitic acid are often thought of as harmful. But your body needs moderate amounts of saturated fatty acids to carry out several cognitive, metabolic, and hormonal functions.

In general, pea and soy proteins are very similar products. They’re both derived from plants and contain plant-based amino acids.

Prickly pear cactus is known by several other names, such as cactus fruit, nopal, and opuntia. The plant is not just known for its ornamental beauty; it is popular for various health benefits as well. The plant is a flat-stemmed spiny cactus with edible fruits. It mainly grows in warm areas of tropical and sub-tropical regions.

Rice is the most commonly consumed grain on Earth for a long time and enjoyed due to its texture and taste. Quinoa also takes on a similar texture to the rice once it is cooked, but the nutritional value of quinoa is much higher than rice.

Tea is generally safe, even in large amounts. While coffee is also safe to drink, high amounts can cause some problems.

Zumba workout is where you groove to the beats of salsa music. It feels more like a dance party than a workout. Zumba is a high-energy dance workout that involves moves on Latin and international beats instead of counting repetitions. It is one of the most popular workouts in the world because it is fun and joyous.

Glycemic index (GI) is a numeric value assigned to foods based on how slowly or quickly they can increase your blood glucose levels. It is a rating system for carbohydrate-containing foods. Foods having a low GI are the ones that tend to release glucose slowly and steadily. By contrast, foods that fall high on the GI scale release glucose rapidly.

The US government (U.S. Department of Agriculture – USDA) developed a helpful guide for adults and children for optimal health.

Nutritional yeast is deactivated yeast, meaning the yeast cells are killed while being processed and the inactive yeast is the final product. Nutritional yeast may cause digestive problems, migraines and facial flushing.

Tapioca is a versatile cooking product derived from the root of a plant called cassava. Tapioca is safe to eat — it’s even gluten-free. But remember that it isn’t very nutritious.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a supplement that is transformed in the body into cysteine, which is an amino acid. Check out the center below for more medical references on supplements, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked with rickets, cancer, cardiovascular disease, severe asthma in children and cognitive impairment in older adults. Causes include not ingesting enough of the vitamin over time, having limited exposure to sunlight, having dark skin, and obesity. Symptoms include bone pain and muscle weakness. Treatment for vitamin D deficiency involves obtaining more vitamin D through supplements, diet, or exposure to sunlight.

Because vitamin K1 and vitamin K2 absorb in the body differently and transport to body tissues differently, they may have different effects on your health.

Vitamins are organic substances that are essential for the proper growth and functioning of the body. Calcium is a mineral essential for healthy bones and is also important for muscle contraction, heart action, and normal blood clotting. Check out the center below for more medical references on vitamins and calcium supplements, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Immunity shots go by many names: wellness shots, functional beverages, and immunity support drinks. Immunity shots contain prebiotics, probiotics, vitamins and other ingredients and these shots may or may not make you feel differently.

Nightshade vegetables are a group of vegetables that belong to the family “Solanaceae.” Tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and peppers are nightshade vegetables. Nightshades reportedly worsen arthritis and other health conditions, although there is no solid scientific evidence to validate the claim.

Amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins and help our bodies to grow, repair body tissue, maintain immunity and produce hormones that maintain body functions. Out of the 21 amino acids, only 9 are categorized as essential.

The key to eating well is to enjoy a variety of nutritious foods from each of the Five Food Groups.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, fiber, and water are among the five main types of macronutrients.

There are seven essential factors for a balanced diet. They are carbohydrates, protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, minerals and water.

Learn whether taking amino acids is of a greater benefit or risk to your overall health. Amino acids are building blocks of protein. The amino acids come together to form proteins.

African mango (Irvingia gabonensis) is a tree native to West Africa. The benefits of African mango may include its proposed uses as a weight loss supplement and an aid to help with diabetes and high cholesterol.

Creatine is a popular supplement in the fitness industry for improving lean muscle mass, building stamina, and boosting exercise ability. Check out the center below for more medical references on building muscle, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related diseases, treatment, diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Cranberries, also called American cranberries or bearberries, are the fruits of the evergreen cranberry shrub. The cranberry plant (scientific name: Vaccinium macrocarpon) is a small creeping or trailing plant that belongs to the Ericaceae family.

Barley is one of the world’s earliest cultivated grains and forms a crucial part of traditional diets across the globe. Apart from use as food products and animal fodder, it is also used for making beers.

Cantaloupe is a delicious summer fruit. It supplies many health benefits including improved vision, better electrolyte levels, diabetes and blood pressure management, improved immunity, skin nourishment and other benefits.

Celery provides many health benefits and nutrients that promote overall health in numerous ways. The benefits of eating celery include that it is rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It helps lower cholesterol, reduces inflammation, treats constipation, promotes liver health, reduces stress hormones and has many other health benefits.

Radish is an edible vegetable root with a pungent, sweet taste. Because of the presence of a wide variety of nutrients, radish makes an ideal dish for raw and cooked consumption.

Raspberries are edible fruits of a plant species in the genus Rubus. They are related to the rose family. They are one of the most popular berries in the world with their sweet-tart flavor and velvety texture. There are many types of raspberries, including black, purple and golden, but the red raspberry, or Rubus idaeus, is the most common.

Magnesium is a crucial element that we should be getting from a well-balanced diet. Unfortunately, many people don't get enough magnesium in their diets. Before you reach out for supplements, you should know that a few servings of magnesium-rich foods a day meet your daily requirement of magnesium.

Tinctures are herbal extracts that are extremely popular in folk remedies, Ayurveda, and homeopathy. They are produced by soaking the bark, dried or fresh leaves, berries, rhizomes, or roots of one or more plants in alcohol or vinegar for a specific time. It is believed that the alcohol (or vinegar) pulls out active substances from the parts of a plant, and the resulting filtered extract can be used for treating various conditions.

Fasting is defined as a period of partial or total restriction from all foods or selected foods. The health benefits of fasting include a decreased resting heart rate, decreased blood pressure, improved pumping action of the heart, increased insulin sensitivity and reduced LDL cholesterol, fasting insulin and inflammation.

Turmeric is a root closely related to ginger, sometimes referred to as Indian saffron. Health benefits of turmeric may include improvements in type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, certain cancers, digestive disorders, respiratory infections, allergies, liver disease and depression.

Honey is a natural substance that has been used for several medicinal purposes for thousands of years. The medicinal uses of honey include that it boosts immunity, serotonin and antioxidants; it is antibacterial; it reduces stress and anxiety and it has many other uses.

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the US. People drink coffee several times a day citing the reason that it makes them stay alert and focused. And yes! It does. The effect is due to the stimulant, caffeine.

Some negatives of a plant-based diet include giving up foods you enjoy, finding restaurant meals, finding affordable plant-based foods, and getting enough protein.

What are amino acids? Learn which amino acids are essential to the human body and how you can make sure you're getting enough.

Antioxidants, fiber, vitamin A, and Vitamin C are just a few of the beneficial nutrients found in tart cherry juice.

Signs of potassium deficiency include muscle weakness, fatigue, numbness or tingling, nausea, vomiting, constipation, bloating, cramps, dizziness, and more.

Magnesium deficiency is often overlooked because symptoms often appear until your levels are dangerously low. Here are the 4 signs to look out for.

Phosphorus is an essential mineral that the body needs, to perform a wide range of essential functions. Phosphorus is a mineral that combines with other substances to form phosphate compounds. Besides calcium, phosphorus is the most abundantly present mineral in the body.

What is vitamin D deficiency? Learn the signs of vitamin D deficiency and what foods you can eat to help prevent vitamin D deficiency.

The 4 types of alcohol are isopropyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, undistilled ethanol, and distilled ethanol.

For most smokers and tobacco users, tobacco cravings are overpowering, making quitting difficult. Certain foods and drinks can help when trying to quit smoking, but this alone may not help you quit completely. Fresh juices and ginseng tea may help reduce tobacco cravings.

Cayenne has been in use for medicinal purposes for centuries. It has been used both as a culinary spice and a food preservative and has added health benefits.

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and play an important role in body functions. They are needed for vital processes like the cell building and synthesis of hormones and neurotransmitters (brain chemicals). They may also be taken as supplements.

Star fruit, also known as carambola or Averrhoa Starfruit, is widely distributed around the world but is more popular in tropical areas, such as India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Boron is a trace mineral found in many foods and in the environment. It is also available as a dietary supplement. Boron has an effect on brain function, hormone and enzyme function, bone formation, energy metabolism, immune function and other systems in the body.

Typical jackfruit meat consists of the unripe jackfruit pod. It is tasteless and it has a fibrous texture. Jackfruit meat takes on the flavor of the spices that it is cooked with.

Your body needs potassium to help your nerves, heart, and muscles function correctly. But high potassium levels can lead to health problems.

Urinary retention is a condition in which you cannot empty your bladder completely. While no direct connection exists between diet and urinary retention, certain foods may aggravate urinary retention including acidic and spicy foods, artificial sweetener and caffeinated foods.

After surgery, it is crucial to eat nutritious foods in order to speed up recovery and rebuild your strength. Here are 6 foods that are good to eat after a hysterectomy.