Diet + Nutrition

There is a growing concern among parents that negative behaviors displayed by children may be a result of a poor diet. Food dyes, additives, chemicals and insufficient nutrients may be partly to blame for the overwhelming amount of behavior issues that arise in both the school and home environments. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a review of two dozen scientific studies confirms that certain foods and food additives can have an adverse effect on behavior in children.

Calcium oxalate is a compound that sometimes forms in the kidneys or urine as a result of certain dietary and chemical factors. It is a key component in the formation of kidney stones.

Learning how to measure without utensils is essential for diabetics and individuals trying to lose weight. While portion control in the kitchen may be straightforward, with scales and measuring cups and spoons at the ready, dining away from home may present a challenge when it comes to estimating measurements. Comparing various measured amounts with other familiar items may make the guesswork simpler.

Oxalic acid occurs naturally in many fruits, vegetables and other foods. High levels of oxalic acid in the body can cause calcium oxalate kidney stones, calcium deficiency or gout. People prone to these conditions should limit their oxalic acid consumption.

Oxalates are an ester of oxalic acid found in many common foods such as dark leafy greens, broccoli, coffee, tea, peanuts and oranges. While they are not harmful to most people, sometimes doctors recommend that patients who have vulvodynia or problems with calcium-oxalate kidney stones adhere to a low oxalate diet in order to help alleviate symptoms of their disorders. Neutralizing oxalates in the diet mostly involves eliminating sources of oxalate and in the case of vulvodynia, taking calcium supplements.

The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Numbers lower than 7 signify acidic pH levels. Higher numbers represent alkaline levels. The pH of our blood should be slightly alkaline, right around 7.4. If the blood pH becomes overly acidic, a number of health problems can possibly be triggered. Extremely high blood acidity is known as acidosis. Test your body’s pH with saliva test strips and take steps to prevent acidic pH levels.

Having high levels of glucose in the blood is a condition known as hyperglycemia. This is a common symptom of metabolic disorders like diabetes, which is caused by insufficient insulin or a resistance to its effects. Diabetics must typically make changes in their lifestyles to manage their blood glucose levels.

In the high blood sugar condition of diabetes, glucose from digested food cannot be moved into cells due to insulin deficiency of the body. This increases the sugar level in the bloodstream, which can be lowered by various methods, depending upon the gravity of the condition.

Young, wrinkle-free, smooth-looking skin is something that a significant number of people desire to have and wish to continue to have as they get older. What many don’t realize is exactly how the foods that they eat influence their skin. For people who eat a large amount of sugar on a regular basis, the effects their diet may have on them over a course of a lifetime may not be ones they enjoy.

Ranch dressing is frequently used as a salad topping, condiment and flavor enhancer in a variety of foods. It is one of the most common salad dressings available on restaurant menus along with caesar, thousand island and Italian. Its ingredients commonly include buttermilk, sour cream, mayonnaise, green onion, parsley and garlic and onion powder. Variations on ranch dressing include bacon, honey mustard, cucumber, dill, and southwest, just to name a few.