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What would water do for me if I were to drink 100 ounces a day?
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Where can I find information on the amount of calories and other nutrients in foods?
What causes muscle cramps when people exercise?
Exercise causes your body to produce a substance called lactic acid from the breakdown of glucose. When lactic acid builds up in the muscles, the muscles cannot function properly. This leads to the temporary cramping that many people experience. In some cases, there may be other underlying causes, such as dehydration, low serum potassium, poor circulation, etc.
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What vitamins can I take to give me more energy?
Although the B-vitamins are not energy foods (they do not supply energy), they are important in the conversion of glucose to energy. If you think that your diet might be short on these nutrients, a basic B-complex, or even a basic multivitamin/mineral supplement might do the trick. It is important for you to talk to your doctor to rule out other possible underlying factors. A dietitian can help you determine if your diet is adequate. Also, make sure that you are getting enough rest, as well as the exercise you need.
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Is bread fattening?
Bread, in and of itself, is not fattening. But if you eat an excessive amount of bread, you may find that your calorie intake exceeds your needs. The real problem is in the number of calories consumed when you put butter or mayonnaise on the bread. Coupled with sandwich meats, cheese, or other spreads and fillers, you could easily double, triple, or quadruple the total number of calories you take in. Then, the bread gets the bum rap.
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How many calories do people need each day?
Calorie requirements are based on basal metabolic rate, exercise, health conditions that affect metabolic rate. Age, height, weight, body composition, and even the specific dynamic action of foods come into play in determining calorie needs. Because each person is different, their calorie needs are also different. On the average, women need between 1200 and 2000 calories per day. Men may need between 1800 and and 3200 calories per day. A good rule of thumb is to aim for 10 to 15 calories per pound of body weight. Use the lower figure if you are trying to lose weight; more if you need to gain, or if you are very active.
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What is the best way to lose weight fast?
In simple terms, the best way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories and burn more. In dietary terms, that means cut back on how much you are eating, pay attention to the types of foods you eat, and try to get the most nutrition with the least concentration of calories. You should increase your level of exercise in order to burn more calories than you take in. If scheduled exercise is not your bag of tea, try goal oriented or what I like to call "functional" or "purposeful" exercise. That is, do more physical work around the house, walk to the store, take the stairs, run around with the kids, etc.
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Why do pregnant women need folic acid?
Folic acid is a B-vitamin that plays an important role in the development of nerve tissue and red blood cells. During the early stages of pregnancy, when the spinal column is developing, a folic acid deficiency could impair proper formation of the spinal column and brain stem. The untoward result is a birth defect called spina bifida. This birth defect can be prevented in most cases by ensuring an adequate intake of folic acid in pregnancy. In fact, it is recommended that all women of childbearing age consume a diet rich in folic acid.
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How many calories are in a cup of popcorn?
Popcorn itself has very few calories. For example, Orville Reddenbacher microwave popcorn has 20 calories per cup. A whole bag would equal 120 calories. That is about the number of calories in a cup of apple juice. On the other hand, if you add butter, you can double, triple, or even quadruple the number of calories you get. That's where the worry is.
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Do pancakes make people fat?
In one word, no. Pancakes are not fattening unless you eat an excessive amount, resulting in a calorie overload. Watch the amount of butter, syrup, or jelly that you use, however. An excess of these could certainly increase your total energy intake significantly. In other words, what you put on your pancake counts as much as how many you eat.
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What would water do for me if I were to drink 100 ounces a day?
Let us assume that you are replacing calorie loaded sodas and juices with water. That means you are cutting your calorie intake down markedly. This could have a beneficial effect if you are trying to lose weight. Assuming you cut 500 calories this way, you could lose a pound of body weight a week just by that small action. On the other hand, if you are not trying to lose weight, you can make up the calories by consuming fresh fruits and other wholesome foods. Another cool benefit of water is that it will help to keep your skin clear and your complexion radiant.
Of course, if you have kidney disease, or swelling (edema), it is important to follow your doctor's orders with regards to how much water you consume.
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What is lycopene?
Lycopene is a red pigment that gives tomatoes their red color. This plant chemical is a powerful anti-oxidant that has been shown to protect against certain types of prostate cancer. In addition to tomatoes, watermelons, red peppers and other foods that contain red pigments are also good sources of lycopene.
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Are high protein diets safe?
The question of high protein diets have been vexing nutritionists and other health professionals for a long time. The problem with protein is that the kidney must work harder to get rid of excess nitrogen that is produced when protein is used for energy. For people with poor kidney function, or impending loss of renal function, there could be serious health complications. Ketosis is another potential problem that could result from extremely high protein diets coupled with very low carbohydrate intake. Before you drastically alter your diet, you should get a health checkup to rule out any potential problems. For most people, a few days on a high protein diet may do little or no lasting harm, but long-term use could lead to problems. My suggestion is, short of seeing a nutrition expert about your diet, use common sense.
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Rice is the staple for people all over the world. Like other grains, you should try to use brown rice rather than polished rice, since the brown rice is more likely to have most of the natural nutrients intact. Much of the fiber, natural oils, vitamins and minerals are lost when rice is milled. Although some nutrients, such as iron and the B-vitamins are restored, by federal law, the end product, although nutritious, is not the same.
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Where can I find information about the amount of calories and other nutrients in foods?
The USDA has a very good database of over 6,000 foods. Here is the link.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/SR16-1/reports/sr16-1pg.htm
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The
first thing I would ask is, are you eating less than you did before?
Even though you might not think you have changed your eating habit,
you very well might have.
Here are a few suggestions that might help:
1. Make sure that you are getting three or four cups of fruits and vegetables
daily.
2. Try drinking some milk, juice or warm water first thing in the morning.
This will help to get your bowels moving.
3. Try not to delay going to the bathroom when you have the urge. Stress
and concern about getting to work (or not using the bathroom at work)
can interfere with the ability to be regular.
4. Exercise also plays a key role, so you might want to get up early
enough to do a few pushups or sit-ups before heading out to work.
If none of those suggestions work, you might want to get a medical evaluation.
Ask
a question
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I
am trying to begin a nutri-habit of eating more vegetables and less
starches. Is it possible to eat too much veggies?
There is little chance
of eating too much vegetable, unless you have a problem, such as the
build up of potassium due to kidney disease.
My caution would be to make sure that you are getting enough protein.
Otherwise, you are likely to do very well on a diet of mostly vegetables.