Protein is one of six essential nutrients that your body needs on a daily basis. It helps your body build and repair itself. In order to digest proteins, your body must break them down into amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein....
Ringworm, also called Tinea corporis, is a fungal disorder of the skin characterized by the red or pink circular rash that appears. Despite the name, ringworm is not associated to a parasite or worm infestation. Ringworm is commonly linked with...
No single food guarantees weight loss. The best way to shed unwanted pounds, according to the National Institutes of Health, is to eat a nutritionally balanced, low-calorie diet and increase physical activity. When you burn more calories than you...
Papaya, or papain, is a sweet fruit that grows native to the American tropics. A 2010 study published in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" found papaya leaf to be potentially beneficial in the treatment of various diseases ranging from allergic...
Most Jamaican cakes are infused with fresh tropical flavors including coconut, vanilla, papaya and mango. Planter’s cake, a peanut and lime flavored creation topped with mocha icing, is a customary birthday cake in Jamaica. Hummingbird cake,...
Papaya is a valuable part of a balanced diet supplying nutrients, fiber and other elements for the maintenance of a healthy body. Widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of digestive disorders and disease, by the 1800s papaya was grown in...
Papaya has long been known for its health benefits. In 1875, British physician, T. P. Lucas, started a hospital in Brisbane, Australia, that treated patients solely with papaya for its medicinal properties. The flesh of the papaya is not the only...
Foods that contain lycopene provide a concentrated form of disease prevention. The antioxidant is more effective per milligram than both beta-carotene and vitamin C, according to lycopene researcher Rui Hai Liu, an associate professor of food...
Papayas as a flavorful addition to any fruit salad and have a slightly "exotic" taste that many people find delicious. Papayas also contain an enzyme that is extremely useful for staying healthy, according to MedicinalHerbInfo.org. Papaya fruits...
Starchy foods have a high carbohydrate content, and most Americans eat them on a daily basis. For example, starch is found in breakfast cereals, oatmeal, croissants, toasts and muffins at breakfast; your sub sandwich, panini, pizza dough, french...
Heartburn is characterized by pain and a burning sensation in the stomach or chest. It may be accompanied by a sour taste in the throat, bloating, gas and nausea. A backwash of digestive juices that a sphincter muscle normally keeps in the stomach...
People in tropical and subtropical regions of the world grow the Carica papaya plant for its fruit. Papaya fruit is fiberless and sweet, and might be compared to apricot and melon, as noted by Floridata. Papaya is also used in traditional medicine...
Hypertension is a chronic disease which can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, according to Columbia University. The Go Ask Alice health answering service run through Columbia University explains that a diet high in sodium and added...
Enzymes are found everywhere in the human body. One of the areas they are most abundant is in the digestive tract. They help to break down every food we put into our bodies, including fats, starches and proteins. Enzymes naturally occur in foods...
A parasitic infection occurs when you eat, drink or come into contact with food, water or soil that is contaminated with feces. Parasites can cause an array of negative symptoms, including abdominal pain, vomiting, gas, bloating, diarrhea, bloody...
Papaya is the fruit of Carica papaya, a small tropical tree with a hollow trunk that is indigenous to Mexico and Central and South America. Also called pawpaw or papaw, papaya is a melon-like fruit shaped like an avocado, but orange in color. The...
Plenty of high-calorie foods can help you gain weight, but many of them are high in unhealthy components such as added sugars or saturated or trans fats. Instead, choose foods that are nutrient-dense, which means they contain nutrients that may...
You might think that dieting is all about eating less food, but the key to successful weight loss is substituting foods rather than eliminating them, according to dietitian Kathleen Goodwin in a 2006 article she wrote for DietChannel.com. She...
Papaya is a meaty, tropical fruit that is typically consumed in smoothies or added to different recipes. Many people do not know that papaya can also be applied to the skin to provide healing nutrients and vitamins. Using papaya can be a natural...
The sudden painful feeling of heartburn requires quick relief. Heartburn occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus and causes pain in the chest and throat. Acidic contents may result in a sour taste in the back of the mouth. Avoiding...
Folic acid is the synthetic form of the B-vitamin folate. It provides the coat of armor for expecting mothers due to its essential work in creating DNA and RNA, the building blocks of cells in the body. While folate and folic acid are synonymous...
Tyramine is a natural amino acid found in some foods and beverages. Although it is not harmful for most healthy adults, you may want to limit your tyramine intake if you suffer from frequent migraines or if you are on monoamine oxidase inhibitors,...
Dried fruits are a convenient way to get fruits in your diet when you're not near a fridge and you don't have any utensils. Dried fruits need no preparation or special storage; they are as easy as fruit comes. Raisins are not the only dried fruit...
The balance of acids and alkaline chemicals in the body, also known as the pH, is important for the way that proteins and cells work. According to the acid alkaline balance diet theory, most people eat too much acid-producing food, which puts...
The National Library of Medicine reports that potassium is essential for the proper functioning of the heart, kidney, muscles, nerves and digestive system. An adult needs about 2,000 mg of potassium per day. There are lots of fruits and vegetables...
Most people these days are familiar with the tropical fruit, papaya. But did you know that it isn't just for adding flavor to a fruit salad? It's also a very potent medicinal plant. According to Medicinal Herb Info, papaya originated in the...
Dried fruits are sweet enough to taste indulgent yet nutritive enough to constitute a welcome addition to a healthy diet plan. Dried fruits have a rich history of incorporation in diets dating back to ancient Egypt and the Middle East nearly...
Most of us have experienced that uncomfortable burning sensation in the stomach when we've eaten too many acid foods that haven't agreed with our bodies. Acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is when acids flow back into your...
Healthy snacks are particularly important for teen swimmers, who need fuel for growing muscles and bones as well as sports performance. A good recovery snack provides calories, protein and carbohydrates, as well as calcium, iron and essential...
