View on Turmeric Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a plant that is grown in India, Asia and Africa. Its trademark golden color makes it a popular fabric dye, and its mild but distinctive taste makes it a common ingredient in many Indian and Asian dishes, such as curry powders and flavored rices. Similar to its relative, the ginger plant, the part of the turmeric plant used in spices and supplements is the underground stem (rhizome). Turmeric is available as a powder, capsule, tea or extract. In some cases, it’s made into a paste to apply to the skin. Traditional uses of…

Obesity increases the risk of several diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, breast and colon cancers, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, and joint disorders. How obesity changes the body’s metabolism in a way that increases the risk of these diseases will be described in this “Focus On” obesity, metabolism, and disease risk. Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes The link between obesity and type 2 diabetes is well known. Type 2 diabetes becomes more common in people as their BMI increases. More than 75% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. Having diabetes, in turn, increases the…

Because of the availability and variety of foods in developed countries, protein deficiency is uncommon. However, in developing nations, concerns about inadequate protein are very real. Diets deficient in protein are most often deficient in energy as well, but a pure protein deficiency can occur when food choices are extremely limited and the staple food of a population is very low in protein. The term protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is used to refer to the continuum of protein-deficiency conditions ranging from pure protein deficiency, called kwashiorkor, to overall energy deficiency, called marasmus. Most protein-energy malnutrition is a combination of the two.…

First Stop: The Digestive Tract It’s estimated that one-third to one-half of individuals who abuse alcohol have gastrointestinal (GI) problems. Alcohol undermines the normal functioning of the digestive system in several ways: In the mouth, chronic alcohol abuse damages salivary glands and interferes with salivary secretion. It also increases the incidence of gum disease and tooth decay. Drinking too much can lead to inflammation of the esophagus, as well as acid reflux and heartburn. Damage to the lining of the esophagus also increases the risk of esophageal cancer. In the stomach, alcohol interferes with the secretion of gastric acid needed…

The Problem: Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States. Did you know that most of the risk factors for heart disease are completely preventable? Unfortunately people often make two wrong choices: They choose unhealthy foods, and they skimp on exercise—or skip it entirely. Fast food, most prepared foods, fatty and processed meats, butter, cream, ice cream, fried foods, biscuits, cookies, candies, and cakes are all a double whammy on the heart. These foods are high in saturated and trans fat, sodium, and sugar and low in fiber and nutrients. These poor food choices contribute to the…

The human body relies on safe water as an essential component of healthy living. With so many popular beverage options available, plain water is still the ideal fluid to consume daily. Water is free of sugar. It doesn’t contain caffeine, calories, food dyes, or artificial ingredients, and it’s refreshingly good for you. With a growing number of bottled drinks on the market, the type of drink one choose can influence health and performance more than one think. There is a time and place for sports drinks, and even the occasional soda or glass of wine, but water will always reign…

A high-protein diet does not increase the rate of weight loss or the likelihood of maintaining weight loss. However, for people on calorie-restricted diets, keeping protein intake at least at 15% of calories can prevent or minimize the drop in energy expenditure typically seen when calories are reduced, because protein is thermic (it generates heat). More important, the type of dietary protein consumed can influence health. Plant-Based Diets and Risk of Chronic Disease Adopting a vegetarian or modified vegetarian diet can have beneficial effects on both weight and health. Plant-based diets increase fiber, decrease saturated fat and cholesterol, and help…

The medical definition of nutrient is “a constituent of food necessary for normal physiologic function.” There are six main classes of nutrients required to consume: water, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. WATER Yes, water is a nutrient, and it’s an important one. Our adult bodies are composed of about 65 percent water. Water is required for nearly every physiologic function. One can derive a good amount of water from your foods, particularly if consuming fresh, raw fruits and vegetables. Otherwise, drink water in the form of pure filtered water stored in glass (with no added sugars or artificial sweeteners).…

Despite dietary recommendations that people should eat generous servings of starch and fiber-rich carbohydrate foods for their health, many people still believe that carbohydrate is the “fattening” component of foods. Gram for gram, carbohydrates contribute fewer calories to the body than do dietary fats, so a moderate diet based on starch- and fiber-rich carbohydrate foods is likely to be lower in calories than a diet based on high-fat foods. For health’s sake, most people should increase their intakes of carbohydrate-rich foods such as whole grains, vegetables, legumes, and fruits—foods noted for their starch, fiber, and naturally occurring sugars. In addition,…

Coenzyme Q10 is a molecule used by the human body during aerobic cellular respiration. CoQ10 does much of its work in the mitochondria, parts of the cell where energy is produced. It is a critical link in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. CoQ10 is also an antioxidant, and like other antioxidants, can help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals and other reactive chemicals. CoQ10 is the most fat-soluble antioxidant, so that it protects areas with fats (like the linings of blood vessels) against oxidative damage. There is CoQ10 everywhere in the body. The highest amounts are in the…

Macaroni is pasta with narrow tube shape. Basically, it is made with durum wheat and is commonly cut in short lengths. Curved macaroni is also known as elbow macaroni. Machines are also available for making macaroni shapes and common to other pasta, macaroni is made commercially by large scale extrusion. The curve shape is formed by various speeds of extrusion on opposite sides of pasta tube as it comes out of machine. In North America, the term macaroni is used precisely with elbow shaped macaroni being the variety most often used in macaroni and cheese recipes. In Italy, noun maccheroni…

Linguine is a pasta alike to fettuccine and trenette but elliptical in section than flat. It is 4 millimeters (0.16 inch) in width i.e. wider than spaghetti but not as wide as fettuccine. The term linguine refers little tongues in Italian and plural of feminine linguina. Linguine is also known as bavette or trenette. Linguettine is a thinner version of linguine. Linguine is the well-known and popular types of long dried pasta. It is usually made from durum wheat, semolina and water. It is originated from Genova in Liguria where most popular sauces for this pasta type are either seafood…

Chinese olive cultivars are best known for eating fresh and used for processing. Fruits are oval with pointed to rounded ends and pits or internal stones. It may be green to red and golden yellow in color. The skins of fruit are thin to thick and crisp or tender. The fruit has astringent and tart to fruity and sweet flavor. Chinese olives are inherent to subtropical Asia and Africa. It is cultivated throughout greater China, Japan, Vietnam and Malaysia. It prefers warm summer, consistent rainfall and is sensitive cold and does not withstand sub-zero temperature. It could tolerate various growing…

Cheerios is an American cereal brand made by General Mills that consists of pulverized oats in solid torus shape. In countries such as United Kingdom, Cheerios is merchandise by Cereal Partners under the brand of Nestle in New Zealand and Australia. Firstly, Cheerios was manufactured in 1941 and known as CheeriOats. General Mills have narrated Cheerios as the healthy breakfast or snack item that offers goodness of low sugar, wholesome oats and essential vitamins or minerals into their diet. History In May 1, 1941 Cheerios was acquainted as CheeriOats. In 1945, the name was modified to Cheerios. Cinnamon Nut Cheerios…

Spaghetti is long, thin and cylindrical pasta. Capellini is thin spaghetti whereas Spaghettoni is a thicker form of spaghetti. It is predominant in traditional Italian cuisine. Spaghetti is made up of water and wheat enriched with minerals and vitamins. Italian spaghetti is formed from durum wheat semolina but also could be prepared with other flour types. Usually pasta is white in color which is because of refined flour being used. Initially spaghetti was long but with shorter lengths it gained much popularity during latter half of 20th century. It is available in length of 25 to 30 cm (10 to…

Fettuccine is a type of pasta which is prominent in Roman and Tuscan cuisine. The pasta is flat, thick pasta which is made up of egg and flour which is wider but similar to tagliatelle type of Bologna. Fettuccine is ribbon style pasta about ¼ inches in width. It could be either fresh or dried. Fettuccine is served with heavier, meat based sauces, creamy sauces or tomato sauces. It is often consumed with sugo d’umido and ragu di pollo. Dried fettuccine could be found in stores but could be made fresh in home. Spinach fettuccine is prepared from flour, spinach…

Sodium People have held salt (sodium chloride) in high regard throughout recorded history. People who are being admired are marked as “the salt of the earth” and people who are not productive as “not worth their salt.” The word salary comes from the Latin word for salt, a valued commodity. Cultures vary in their use of salt, but most people find its taste innately appealing. Salt brings its own tangy taste and enhances other flavors, most likely by suppressing the bitter flavors. Functions of Sodium Sodium is the principal cation of the extracellular fluid and the primary regulator of its…

If there is a single area of sports nutrition that is constantly changing (in terms of the products being marketed) and which athletes are always interested in its dietary supplements. Supplementation is considered to be the third tier of the pyramid (after overall daily nutrition and around workout nutrition) in terms of what athletes should concern them with. Dietary supplements are divided into several categories: Esoterica Performance supplements General use supplements Supplements are categorized into three categories in terms of their relative importance. The first is simply general supplements, actis as nutritional insurance or essential nutrients (such as fish oils)…

Chemical analysis shows that the human body is made up of specific chemical elements. Four of these elements—oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen— make up 96% of body weight. All the remaining elements are minerals, which represent only 4% of body weight. Nevertheless, these minerals are essential for good health. A mineral is an inorganic element necessary for the body to build tissues, regulate body fluids, or assist in various body functions. Minerals are found in all body tissues. Any abnormal concentration of minerals in the blood can help diagnose different disorders. Minerals cannot provide energy by themselves, but in their…

Glycemic index has become an important concept in general nutrition. Simply put, glycemic response refers to the degree and duration to which blood glucose level is elevated after consuming a portion of food that would provide 50 grams of digestible (available) carbohydrates and measured (the area under the curve [AUC]) for the next 2 hours following the meal. The glycemic index of a food is simply the comparison of its glycemic response to a food standard based on studies of healthy people. Glucose and white bread are used as the standards. For instance, if a food raises blood glucose level…

Food Protein All organisms contain protein but the protein content of organisms varies. In general, foods of animal origin have a greater protein content than plants and plant-derived foods. This is largely due to the skeletal muscle of animals or protein requirements before (e.g., egg) or after birth (e.g., milk). The protein content of skeletal muscle or animal flesh is approximately 22%. Water-packed tuna derives more than 80% of its energy from protein. Approximately 65% of the protein that Americans eat is derived from animal sources. In comparison, many African and Asian societies derive only about 20% of their protein…

Losing weight requires tipping the energy balance scale by eating less, exercising more or some combination of the two. A pound of adipose tissue provides about 3500 Calories according to a Gilbert tummy tuck specialist.. Therefore, to lose a pound of fat, you need to reduce intake and increase expenditure by this amount. To lose a pound in a week, energy balance is required to maintain about 500 Calories/day. The medical goal for weight loss in an overweight person is to reduce the health risks associated with being overweight. For most people, a loss of 5% to 15% of body…

Basic foods: Milk and milk products; meats and similar foods such as fish and poultry; vegetables which includes dried beans, peas, fruits and grains. These foods are forms the basis of a nutritious diet. Also called whole foods. Enriched foods and fortified foods: Foods to which nutrients have been added. If the starting material is a whole, basic food such as milk or whole grain, the result may be highly nutritious. If the starting material is a concentrated form of sugar or fat, the result may be less nutritious. Fast foods: Restaurant foods that are available within minutes after customers…

The digestive system is adaptable and able to handle a wide variety of foods. However, minor problems related to the digestive tract are common and almost everyone experiences some type of GI distress at one time or another. The type of foods that can be consumed and the function of the digestive tract are also affected by certain stages of life. If gastrointestinal problems limit the ability to obtain adequate energy and nutrients, alternative methods must be employed to provide the nutrients necessary for life. Minor digestive problems, such as heartburn, constipation, and diarrhea, are common and, in most cases,…

Fiber-rich carbohydrate foods such as vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and fruits should predominate in people’s diets; the naturally occurring sugars in these foods and in milk are acceptable because they are accompanied by many nutrients. In contrast, concentrated sweets such as candy, cola beverages and other soft drinks, cookies, pies, cakes, and other foods with added sugars add calories, but few other nutrients or fiber if any. The Dietary Guidelines offer clear advice to lower intake of added sugars. People who want to limit their use of sugar may choose from two sets of alternative sweeteners: sugar alcohols and nonnutritive…

Lack of exercise, stressed life and other unhealthy habits is the major caused for common diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure. So increase in medical awareness has increased the demand for health care equipments at home. Use of medical equipment has become much easier to use with proper instructions being followed. Some essential ones to be displayed at home: Thermometer Thermometer measures the temperature of the body. Normal body temperature ranges to 37 degrees Celsius (°C) or 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (°F). Use of thermometer helps to manage the illness. Rise in temperature indicates infection. Thus, use thermometer with proper instructions…

Zoysia grass is a species of mat- forming and perennial grass, inherent to temperate coastal southeastern Asia and northern Australasia from Southern Japan, Southern China and Taiwan through Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Philippines to northern Australia and west to Cocos Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean. Z. matrella is a warm season grass planted widely as a turf grass in tropical as well as subtropical regions around the world. Zoysia grass is stoloniferous rhizomous forming low mats which is 3 to 5 cm high when crowded to 10 to 20 cm. Stolons are wiry which is 1 to 1.5 mm…

Wild Clary with scientific name as Salvia verbenaca, is also known as wild sage. It is endemic to the British Isles, the Mediterranean region in Southern Europe, Near East, North Africa, and in the Caucasus. It is regarded as an introduced species which have got naturalized in the Eastern United States. Wild Clary is a tall perennial herb having hairy stems and branches which erectly sprawl out. Leaves are toothed, basal varying from 3 to 10 cm (1.2 to 3.9 in) long. Flowers are soft purple to violet in mid-summer. The flower blooms from June to September and seeds ripen…

Yellow Archangel is scientifically known as golden dead nettle or yellow archangel, is a stoloniferous spreading perennial of mint family having opposite leaves and square stems which grows to 9 to 15 inches tall but spread by stem fragments, rooting at nodes and spread to 18 inches wide. It is inherent to shaded woodlands, thickets, copses throughout much of Europe and Western Asia. It is introduced to parts of U.S. escaping to wild where it persists and spread as a weed. It forms a loose mat of foliage spreading indefinitely. Flowers are small, two lipped, tubular and asymmetrical in 2…

Lamium album is a flowering plant commonly known as white dead nettle or white nettle belonging to family Lamiaceae. It is inherent throughout Asia and Europe found in various habitats from open grassland to woodland generally on moist and fertile soils. It is a perennial growing flowering herb with stems growing to the height of 2 feet. Leaves are jagged, oval with long stalks and are arranged in pairs opposite to each other. Leaves have triangular smoothed base growing 3 to 8 cm long and 2 to 5 cm wide. Leaves are softly bristled with intended border and petiole measuring…