Diet + Nutrition

Sodium nitrite is an antioxidant used as a preservative in fish, meats such as ham, bacon and hot dogs, and other foods to prolong shelf life and prevent spoiling. It is also used as a color fixative and to manufacture certain dyes.

Lactose is a type of sugar found in milk products. Some people are unable to break down these sugars. These people are diagnosed with lactose intolerance. However, following a lactose-free diet will prevent the unpleasant symptoms that occur when a lactose-intolerant person consumes a milk product. You can find lactose-free foods in many grocery stores. Following a few simple steps will show you how to find these lactose-free foods.

Candida is a type of yeast that can live in the gastrointestinal system of the body. If there is an overgrowth, then the infestation can cause digestive problems, body aches, headaches and a general feeling of malaise. Mineral water has the potential to treat candida overgrowth when used with other foods as part of a special diet targeting the removal of the yeast.

Though many people joke that years of college drinking impacted their liver, in actuality, it is years of poor diet and exercise that really impede the liver’s ability to function. According to “Nutritional Healing,” the liver is responsible for metabolizing fat, thyroid function and removing toxic substances from the body. Author Phyllis Balch explains that overeating, a poor diet, toxins and drugs can wreak havoc on the liver. Cleansing this vital organ is possible, however, with a good detox diet.

If you are a winemaker, and you want to produce a wine that has the right level of acidity—so it has a longer shelf life—you need to know how to test for tartaric acid. Knowing this important procedure will help you to add just the right amount of sodium hydroxide during your wine-making process.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the new name for the food stamp program. SNAP benefits are used to buy food and increase the purchasing power in grocery stores for individual recipients of the program, thus improving the nutrition in their diets.

In the South, black-eyed peas are traditionally eaten for good luck on New Year’s Day, according to the blog Countrypolitan Cooking. Black-eyed peas are high in protein and low in fat, making them a good choice for any occasion.

Seaweed has been examined for centuries about its power to help a slew of degenerative and serious diseases. Today, seaweed therapy is popular with people living with arthritis, eczema and psoriasis. Seaweed therapy is also being examined for its impact on cancer. Seaweed therapy is being researched in Japan because of its anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties, and some scientists have already reported promising results. Seaweed therapy can be used externally where the patient is wrapped in pure seaweed for a cleansing effect, or can be taken internally in food or pill form.

Phytoestrogen is dietary estrogen found in plant sources. Phytoestrogen shows benefits for relieving menopausal symptoms, as indicated by Mayo Clinic research. Other potential benefits which continue to be researched include prevention of prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Phytoestrogens also are antioxidants and immune system boosters.

Potassium citrate and potassium chloride are salts. Both can be sources of potassium in the diet.