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NUTRITION

Whole Food, Low-Carbohydrate Diets; Are They Feasible?

Childhood obesity is considered the greatest public health challenge to date, according to Zinn et al.1 Furthermore, obesity in said age group has increased to more than double over a 30-year period, worldwide, and continues to escalate.1(1) Such unsettling truths have placed children at a higher risk of developing metabolic disorders as adults, behooving nutritionists […]

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Processed Food: Definition and Health Consequences

In Canada, the fifth highest ranking country for obesity, 1 in 4 adults are now obese; a ratio that constitutes 25% of the population, and one that has doubled since 1978.1,2Such an epidemic and condition is also a known risk factor for some cancers, cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, and diabetes.2(331)Thus, considering causes of obesity is […]

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Exploring the Value of Whole Foods

A whole foods paradigm might be thought of as a conscientious distinction and way of eating from that of processed food purchases and consumption. Whole foods can be defined as plant and animal foods that are raised and nourished from their natural environments, while remaining in their original forms, and consumed unaltered.1 Conversely, processed foods […]

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Exploring Hyperpalatability

Ultra-processed foods and drinks (UPFDs) contains a combination of substances not found in the natural environment.1,2 It has been hypothesized that such foods tend to make consumers overeat, which is likely contributing to obesity and metabolic syndrome.2(518)As a means of appreciating UPFDs, hyperpalatability, and overconsumption of food, the following will explore the same in greater […]

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Potassium Deficiency: Causes and Methods of Repletion

Potassium (K) is a micronutrient that is a constituent of a larger body of electrolytes which includes sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), phosphorus (P), and calcium (Ca).1Such electrolytes work as an aggregate to facilitate movement of nutrients in a cell, pH balance, nerve conduction, and fluid balance.1 Although K deficiencies can emanate from sweating, imbalances with […]

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Organic Food: Is It Better for Your Health?

Organic agriculture can be defined as a means of production that promotes agro-ecosystem health, to include biological activity, biological cycles, and biodiversity.1 Promotion of said goals is achieved by implementing off-farm inputs, and mechanical/biological methods instead of synthetic materials.1(704) Furthermore, evidence has suggested that such practices are correlated to improved health. As such, the following […]

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Can Corporate Values Influence Food Quality and Safety?

Value can be defined as a means of rating usefulness, importance, or general worth of a thing.1 Science, or the scientific method, can be thought of as s state or a means of knowing that is distinguished from misunderstanding or ignorance.2 Though value is a paradigm that is qualitative and subjective in nature, and the apparent […]

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Food Production and Food-Borne Illnesses

Food production and distribution has evolved dramatically from the early 1900s to present day; decentralized family-owned and operated farms have been slowly replaced and dominated by large-scale industrialized farming systems with corporate vertical integration.1 American meat consumption per capita (to include beef, pork, lamb, fish, chicken, and turkey) is currently 90.5 kg/year placing a large […]

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Antioxidants and Tracking Oxidative Stress

Free radicals (FRs) are generated during normal metabolic processes in addition to exposure to pathophysiological states.1 Such species are unstable and induce unfavorable cellular changes, if left unchecked, to include DNA damage; a destructive process associated with the genesis of cancer.1(317) Antioxidants are substances that can control the effects and propagation of FRs thereby down-regulating […]

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Heavy Metals and Water Filtration

Heavy metals are ubiquitous in the air, soil, and water. Such levels came into existence from extraction of metals, industrial sewages, agricultural fertilizers, batteries, and electronic industries.1 Since water and hydration are essential to maintaining human health, it is equally critical to ensure drinking water quality. The following will explore water filtration as a means […]

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