Food is the body's fuel. So whether a person's reason for not eating is related to poverty, religious fasting or a weight-loss effort, his body will suffer from long-term deprivation of nutrients. Although the human body can temporarily adapt to a...
If you just eat to live, but not to live well, you may eventually suffer the effects of a poor diet. Short-term problems include weight gain, fatigue and indigestion. Potential long-term problems such as heart disease, insulin resistance and low...
When you were told as a child to eat your vegetables, it wasn't only to keep from wasting food. Vegetables are an essential part of a nutritious diet due to their vitamin and mineral content. Failure to consume vegetables on a regular basis may...
What you put into your body affects how it works. If you eat a diet rich in unnecessary and unhealthy nutrients, you can make it harder for your body to continue working effectively, which can lead to health problems. Poor diets lacking in the...
If you want to lose weight or get in shape, following a nutritious eating plan and a regular exercise program are the most effective ways to achieve your goals. Although it may be tempting to severely restrict your calories to help you lose weight...
The wise saying, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day" has been spoken by countless moms throughout the ages. It has been whispered in the ears of school children on early-to-rise mornings for centuries, yet the depth of understanding...
You might enjoy foods that aren't good for you, but your body doesn't. Even if you don't develop weight problems, a poor diet can affect your arteries, blood count, immune system and bone health. If you do tend to put on the pounds, you might be...
Eating a balanced diet is essential for good health. A balanced diet is defined as eating a variety of foods from the main food groups: whole grains, vegetables and fruits, protein and low-fat dairy. The bulk of your food intake should come from...
Consuming calories is essential for the human body to function. Consuming too many calories can cause health problems, as can eating too few calories. Eating disorders, extreme diets and some medical conditions may cause a person not to consume...
In the hectic world of taking care of the kids, working at your job and getting a number of other number of things done, it's easy to see why most most Americans don't get enough vegetables in their daily diet. But feeling guilty isn't the only...
You've heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, no matter what your age. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that 20 to 30 percent of adolescents skip breakfast. A healthy morning meal offers several health benefits as...
Your body relies on food for fuel and sustenance. Not eating is analogous to not putting gas in the tank of your car -- after a while, the machine will stop working properly. The same happens with your body, which requires a healthy diet to work...
Your body uses the simple sugar glucose as fuel for energy. You obtain glucose from the carbohydrates you eat. If you do not eat regularly, your body does not have access to glucose, and as a result, your blood sugar will lower, a medical...
Fasting is a term used to describe not eating for set periods of time. Fasting is done for several reasons, including religious purposes, to remove toxins from the body and quick weight loss. Fasting does drastically cut your calorie intake which...
Breakfast might be the most important meal of the day, but it's only one of several that everyone needs to function at peak levels. Skipping most of the day's nutrition can and will have myriad adverse effects, not just on your health, but also on...
While losing weight does mean restricting caloric intake, it is important to eat enough calories so the body gets the nutrients it needs to function correctly. There can be several side effects from not eating enough and some can be serious. For...
When trying to lose weight it is important to not restrict calorie intake too much. Eating too few calories can actually inhibit weight loss, and there are are serious side effects of not eating enough. A safer approach to weight loss is to...
Along with oxygen and water, food is life sustaining. Food provides macronutrients including fats, proteins and carbohydrates, which are used as sources of energy, as well as building blocks for everything from healing injured muscles to producing...
Whether you are lactose intolerant or looking to transition to a vegan diet, you may be interested in learning more about soy milk and how it compares nutritionally to cow's milk. Both soy and cow's milk, which come in numerous varieties, can both...
Your body is much like the gas tank in your car -- you need to provide it with fuel, in this case food, to keep it functioning properly. However, when you are exercising to lose weight, working on an empty stomach can cause your body to focus less...
Digestion is essential to overall health. Every piece of food that you eat must be broken down and the nutrients absorbed for your body to make new cells and provide energy for the daily functions of life. Many people have difficulty with...
While not eating enough calories in one day can make your stomach hurt, not eating enough over a long period of time -- weeks or months -- can have harmful effects on your body. Your body requires certain nutrients to stay healthy and keep your...
Your body uses sunlight to produce vitamin D. A few foods also provide the nutrient, including some products, such as milk and breakfast cereal, that are enriched with the vitamin. Vitamin D is also available as a dietary supplement. Although the...
Your body needs food for energy and strength. When you don't eat, your body relies on stored fat for energy and the nutrients it needs. This might sound like a good thing if you are trying to lose weight. But if you go too long without food or do...
Oranges can have many positive effects on your skin. Not only does eating them give you a great boost of vitamin A and C, which your skin needs to be healthy, but the citric acid found in an orange’s juices can be used in rejuvenating skin...
Peppers are vegetables rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals but low in calories, making them a good addition to any weight-loss diet. The fiery burn of hot peppers, from jalepenos to habeneros, provide an even better weight-loss boost, containing...
Eggplant is a versatile purple vegetable that can be used in many recipes. You can grill it, bake it or saute it and use it in place of red meat for vegetarian entrees. While eggplant can be purchased year round, the peak growing season in the...
Sinuses are hollow, connected cavities in your nose, cheekbones and forehead. While healthy sinuses allow for normal breathing, inflammation caused by infections and allergies can cause pain, congestion, fever, fatigue and breathing difficulties....
When your teenager has been through a breakup, you may notice that she exhibits certain personality changes, some that you should be concerned about, and some that you needn't be. A breakup can be a traumatic event for a teenager. It can leave her...
