Diet and Nutrition

Tea tree essential oil, a common home remedy for getting rid of head lice, is reported to have antiseptic and insect repellent properties. Obtained through steam distillation of the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, tea tree oil is used externally to…
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Overview Banana bread may be any type of bread that contains bananas. You can make it from many recipes, although it typically uses baking soda as a leavening agent. This gives the banana bread a more cake-like texture, and you’ll…
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Probiotics are a healthy type of bacteria, naturally present in the human gut. They work to keep the body healthy and accomplish many functions in the body every day. Yet from time to time the amount of probiotics in the…
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The B-50 term noted on many B vitamin nutritional supplements does not refer to an actual B vitamin, but rather marks a product containing 50mg of all eight essential B vitamins. Combined, all B vitamins play a critical role in…
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1. Rapid Results Versus Lifestyle Change One of the most notable differences in the Body for Life and Best Life diets is the overall goal of each program. The Body for Life program aims to motivate dieters by promoting dramatic…
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Chasteberry, also known as chaste-tree berry, vitex and monk’s pepper, comes from the chaste tree, a small tree that grows in the Mediterranean region and Central Asia, according to the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative…
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The underground portions of the black cohosh plant has been used for centuries as a folk remedy for various health conditions, including muscle pain and menopause, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Though it’s all-natural, cohosh…
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1. Summer Meals Mean Fresh Produce Summer time means fresh berries, garden produce and many other delightfully fresh foods. The macrobiotic diet teaches us to enjoy these foods when they are in season. Foods grown locally are fresh and nutritious….
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1. Add Winter Produce In the winter time, you can find balance in macrobiotic diets by preparing warm hearty soups and baked goods. Pickled cabbage is a common ingredient in winter soups. Grains that have been harvested in late fall…
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Triglycerides are a form of fat that is found in the body and in some foods. The body needs some fat to function properly. However, if triglyceride levels get too high, the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke…
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About 50 percent of Americans have too much belly fat, reports Rachel Whitmer, a researcher at Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, in a 2008 article from “USA Today.” Belly fat is a particularly insidious type of fat that…
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The Special K diet, or Special K Challenge as it is called by Kellogg’s, is a diet plan that involves substituting Special K cereal, bars and drinks for meals and snacks throughout the day. As with any diet, there may…
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Taking herbs such as maca, muira puama, gingko biloba and tribulus terrestris may help improve a women’s libido. Maca was used by the ancient Incans to increase libido and improve stamina. Muira puama is used in traditional South American medicine…
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Only the green shoots of horsetail, dry or fresh, are used in folk medicine to make teas, infusions, tinctures and compresses for the skin. It is a member of the Equistaceae family, which dates back 300 million years to the…
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Turmeric is a spice that has been used for centuries as an alternative treatment for many medical conditions. Turmeric is widely used in India and other parts of Asia as a spice and food coloring, according to the University of…
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Turmeric is an herb that is in the same family as ginger, and is indigenous to Asia and Africa. The root of the turmeric plant has been used medicinally for thousands of years, and is a notable part of Indian,…
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Rebounding is a form of exercise that involves regularly bouncing up and down on a mini trampoline. Rebounding offers several health benefits and can be an effective and enjoyable way to improve health levels and become physically fit. Ease of…
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Salads typically play a significant role in helping people lose weight because vegetables are filling, low in calories and high in fiber. To avoid feeling deprived or bored, find recipes that excite and satisfy, as well as meet your nutritional…
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The liver is an important organ located in the right upper portion of the abdomen. It is also the largest gland in the body. It is a gland because it secretes bile. The liver detoxifies the body of ingested drugs,…
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The essential equation for weight loss is calories in minus calories out. If it were only that simple, though, weight loss would be a lot easier because everyone would lose weight the exact same way. But your metabolism–the rate at…
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If you are significantly overweight when you start a pregnancy, it can increase the chance of complications such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, according to the March of Dimes. Shedding pounds while caring for a baby or young…
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Overview Your lungs play a vital role during exercise because they deliver oxygen to your blood and remove the carbon dioxide released as waste from your working muscles. Oxygen is critical during exercise because muscles need it to burn the…
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Overview A pineapple is the fruit of a tropical plant that originates from South America, particularly Paraguay and Brazil. Commercial pineapple plantations are now common in tropical parts of the world such as Southeast Asia, Brazil, Hawaii and Costa Rica….
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If you are part of the two-thirds of the American population that struggles with being overweight, you don’t have to be. Although some people resort to expensive surgical procedures and harmful weight-loss pills, there are other—safer—ways of losing weight. A…
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Backcountry camping allows you to see places most people would never experience. You can explore protected wilderness areas, study wildlife, climb some of the country’s tallest peaks and pit your own stamina against Mother Nature. Backcountry is usually accessible only…
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Overview Fish oil is recommended for adding beneficial omega-3 fatty acids to the diet, but not everyone can tolerate fish oil. If you’re allergic to fish, you cannot take fish oil supplements safely, and some people can’t tolerate the fishy…
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Overview The thyroid is a tiny gland with the important function of regulating metabolism and energy levels. According to Dr. James Norman, as many as 10 million Americans may suffer from a condition called hypothyroidism, characterized by sluggish thyroid activity….
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1. Dinner Table Cure Research confirms the inflammation response and doctors are aware that diet affects this process that increases arthritis pain. Arthritis and your inflammation flare-ups may respond well to changes and adjustments to your diet. Several diet changes…
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Overview A squash is the common term for any plant in the Cucurbita genus and doesn’t refer to a particular species. A winter squash is a squash that you eat during the winter when the fruit is fully ripe. A…
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Overview Kidney beans, named because their shape resembles a kidney, can be purchased dry or canned. They are dark red in color and are a member of the species Phaseolus vulgaris. Kidney beans are considered a nutritious food appropriate for…
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