Nutrition FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered

Short Answer: Tofu is good for PCOS. Because it has soy isoflavones and they can help regulate your hormones, lower your androgen levels, and improve your ovulation and menstrual cycles. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects your ovaries, the female reproductive organs that make eggs. In PCOS, your body produces too much of a hormone called androgen, which can interfere with the normal development and release of eggs. This can lead to various health problems, such as irregular periods, infertility, acne, excess hair growth, and cysts in the ovaries. One of the key factors in managing PCOS is diet. What you consume can affect your insulin levels, which can impact your PCOS symptoms and overall health. To effectively manage PCOS, you should consume fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and avoid refined carbohydrates and added sugars like white bread, pastries, and sodas. Now, tofu is a food made from condensed soy milk that is pressed into solid white blocks of varying softness. People usually eat tofu as a source of protein, especially in vegetarian and vegan diets. Tofu is good for PCOS because it contains soy isoflavones, which are plant compounds that can have estrogen-like effects. Soy isoflavones may help regulate your hormones, lower your androgen levels, and improve your ovulation and menstrual cycles. A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of firm, calcium-set tofu can give you 17 grams of protein, 9 grams of fat, 3 grams of carbs, 2 grams of fiber, and 53% of the

Short Answer: Almond milk is good for IBS. Because it has vitamin E, calcium, and magnesium and they can reduce inflammation, regulate muscle contractions, and relax the intestinal muscles. IBS is a condition that affects your digestive system. In IBS, your body has abnormal contractions and nerve signals in your intestines. This can lead to various health problems, such as abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation. One of the key factors in managing IBS is diet. What you consume can affect your gut bacteria, inflammation, and bowel movements, which can impact your IBS symptoms and overall health. To effectively manage IBS, you should consume fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and avoid fat-rich foods like fried foods, cheese, and butter. Now, almond milk is a plant-based beverage made from filtered almonds and water. People usually drink it as an alternative to dairy milk or use it in recipes like smoothies, coffee, or baked goods. Almond milk is good for IBS because it contains vitamin E, calcium, and magnesium. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that can protect your cells from damage and inflammation. Calcium and magnesium are minerals that can help regulate muscle contractions and nerve signals in your intestines. One cup (240 ml) of almond milk can give you 110% of your daily vitamin E needs, 24% of your daily calcium needs, and 5% of your daily magnesium needs. Vitamin E can positively affect IBS by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in your gut. Calcium can positively

Short Answer: Almond nuts are good for fatty liver disease. Because they have vitamin E, magnesium, and unsaturated fats and they can protect your liver cells, improve your blood flow, and prevent fat accumulation. Fatty liver disease is a condition that affects your liver. In fatty liver disease, your body stores too much fat in your liver cells. This can lead to various health problems, such as inflammation, scarring, cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. One of the key factors in managing fatty liver disease is diet. What you consume can affect your liver function, which can impact your fatty liver disease symptoms and overall health. To effectively manage fatty liver disease, you should consume fiber-rich foods like oatmeal, broccoli, and spinach and avoid saturated fat-rich foods like french fries, burgers, and cheese. Now, almond nuts are the edible seeds of the almond tree. People usually eat them raw, roasted, or as almond butter, milk, or flour. Almond nuts are good for fatty liver disease because they contain vitamin E, magnesium, and unsaturated fats. A handful of almond nuts (about 28 grams) can give you 37% of your daily vitamin E, 20% of your daily magnesium, and 14 grams of unsaturated fats. Vitamin E can help protect your liver cells from oxidative stress and inflammation, which are common in fatty liver disease. Magnesium can help relax your blood vessels and improve your blood flow to your liver, which is essential for liver health. Unsaturated fats can help prevent fat accumulation

Short Answer: Beets are good for constipation. Because they have fiber and nitrates, and they can soften stools and stimulate bowel movements. Constipation is a condition that affects your digestive system. In constipation, your body has difficulty passing stools or has infrequent bowel movements. This can lead to various health problems, such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, fecal impaction, and diverticulitis. One of the key factors in managing constipation is diet. What you consume can affect your stool consistency, frequency, and ease of passage, which can impact your constipation symptoms and overall health. To effectively manage constipation, you should consume fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, and avoid low-fiber foods like processed meats, cheese, white bread, and pastries. Now, beets are a type of root vegetable that have a deep red or purple color and a sweet, earthy flavor. People usually eat them raw, cooked, pickled, or juiced. Beets are good for constipation because they contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and forms a gel-like substance that softens stools and helps them move smoothly through the intestines. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to stools and stimulates bowel contractions. One cup (136 grams) of boiled beets can give you 3.4 grams of fiber, which is 14% of your daily needs. Of this, 1.7 grams are soluble fiber and 1.7 grams are insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber can improve constipation by increasing stool moisture and reducing straining. Insoluble fiber can improve constipation by increasing stool frequency and

Short Answer: Butter is bad for CKD. Because it has saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and phosphorus, and they can worsen your CKD and increase your risk of complications. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition that affects your kidneys, which are the organs that filter your blood and remove waste and excess fluid from your body. In CKD, your kidneys gradually lose their function over time, which means they cannot filter your blood as well as they should. This can lead to various health problems, such as high blood pressure, anemia, bone disease, and cardiovascular disease. One of the key factors in managing CKD is diet. What you consume can affect your blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and electrolyte levels, which can impact your CKD symptoms and overall health. To effectively manage CKD, you should consume protein, potassium, phosphorus, and sodium in moderation, and get enough calories, vitamins, and minerals from your diet. You should consume protein-rich foods like lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products, but limit them to the amount recommended by your doctor or dietitian. You should also avoid potassium-rich foods like bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, oranges, and dried fruits, unless otherwise advised. Phosphorus-rich foods like dairy products, nuts, seeds, beans, and whole grains should also be limited, as they can cause your bones to lose calcium and weaken. Sodium-rich foods like salt, processed foods, canned foods, and sauces should be reduced, as they can raise your blood pressure and make you retain fluid. Now, butter is

Short Answer: Black tea is bad for anemia. Because it has tannins and caffeine, and they can reduce iron absorption and cause dehydration. Anemia is a condition that affects your blood. In anemia, your body does not have enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen to your tissues. This can lead to various health problems, such as fatigue, weakness, pale skin, cold hands and feet, dizziness, reduced immunity, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, and headaches. One of the key factors in managing anemia is diet. What you consume can affect your iron levels, which can impact your anemia symptoms and overall health. To effectively manage anemia, you should consume iron-rich foods like red meat, poultry, seafood, beans, lentils, and green leafy vegetables, and avoid calcium-rich foods like dairy products, tofu, and spinach. Now, black tea is a type of tea that is more oxidized than other teas. People usually drink it hot or cold, with or without milk, sugar, or lemon. Black tea is bad for anemia because it contains tannins. Tannins are compounds that can interfere with the absorption of iron from food or supplements. This can worsen your anemia and make you more prone to infections. One cup of black tea can reduce your iron absorption by up to 50%1 Black tea also contains caffeine, which can cause dehydration, insomnia, anxiety, and heart palpitations if consumed in excess. Tannins can negatively affect anemia by binding to iron in your digestive tract and preventing

Short Answer: White potatoes are good for muscle building. Because they have high-quality carbohydrates, potassium, vitamin C, and resistant starch, and they can enhance your energy, recovery, performance, and muscle growth. Muscle building is a process that involves increasing the size and strength of your skeletal muscles. In muscle building, your body breaks down and rebuilds muscle fibers through a process called protein synthesis. This requires adequate protein intake, as well as carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. One of the key factors in muscle building is diet. What you consume can affect your energy levels, recovery, performance, and muscle growth. To effectively build muscle, you should consume protein-rich foods like eggs, chicken, tofu, and beans, and complex carbohydrate-rich foods like oats, brown rice, and quinoa. You should avoid simple carbohydrate-rich foods like white bread, candy, and soda, as they can spike your blood sugar and insulin levels, and interfere with muscle growth. Now, white potatoes are a type of starchy vegetable that are widely consumed around the world. People usually boil, bake, mash, or fry them, and eat them as a side dish or a snack. White potatoes are good for muscle building because they contain high-quality carbohydrates, potassium, vitamin C, and resistant starch. One medium white potato (173 grams) can give you 33 grams of carbohydrates (11% of your daily needs), 4 grams of protein (8% of your daily needs), 926 mg of potassium (20% of your daily needs), 28 mg of vitamin C (31% of your daily

Short Answer: Almond milk is good for weight gain because it has healthy fats, protein, and calories. However, dairy milk is better for weight gain because it has more calories and protein. Weight gain is a condition that affects your body weight and composition. It occurs when you consume more calories than you burn over a period of time. This can lead to various health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. One of the key factors in managing weight gain is diet. What you consume can affect your metabolism, hormones, and appetite, which can impact your weight and health. To effectively manage weight gain, you should consume protein-rich foods like eggs, chicken, fish, and beans, and avoid sugar-rich foods like soda, candy, and pastries. Protein can help you build muscle, increase your metabolic rate, and reduce your hunger. Sugar can spike your blood sugar, increase your fat storage, and stimulate your appetite. Now, almond milk is a plant-based milk alternative made from almonds and water. People usually drink it as a substitute for dairy milk or use it in smoothies, cereals, or coffee. Almond milk is good for weight gain because it contains healthy fats, protein, and calories. One cup (240 mL) of unsweetened almond milk provides about 40 calories, 3 g of fat, and 1 g of protein. Almond milk also contains calcium, vitamin E, and vitamin D, which are beneficial for your bones, skin, and immune system. However, almond milk is not as high

Short Answer: Potato salad is bad for obesity. Because it has high amounts of fat, calories, and sodium, and it can spike your blood sugar levels and trigger your hunger hormones. Obesity is a condition that affects your body weight and health. In obesity, your body stores excess fat, especially around your waist, which can increase your risk of various health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. One of the key factors in managing obesity is diet. What you consume can affect your calorie intake and expenditure, which can impact your weight and health. To effectively manage obesity, you should consume high-fiber and low-calorie foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, and avoid high-fat and high-sugar foods like fried foods, sweets, pastries, and sugary drinks. Now, potato salad is a dish made of boiled potatoes, mayonnaise, mustard, eggs, and other ingredients. People usually eat it as a side dish or a snack. Potato salad is bad for obesity because it contains high amounts of fat, calories, and sodium. One cup of potato salad has about 358 calories, 20.5 grams of fat, and 1322 milligrams of sodium. One cup of potato salad can give you 10% of your daily carbohydrate needs, 26% of your daily fat needs, 18% of your daily saturated fat needs, 57% of your daily cholesterol needs, and 58% of your daily sodium needs12. Fat can increase your calorie intake and contribute to weight gain. Saturated fat and cholesterol can raise your

Short Answer: Cherries are good for arthritis. Because they have anthocyanins, flavonoids, and vitamin C, and they can reduce inflammation, lower uric acid, and protect your joints. Arthritis is a condition that affects your joints, which are the places where your bones meet and move. In arthritis, your body’s immune system attacks your own joint tissues, causing inflammation, pain, stiffness, and damage. This can lead to various health problems, such as reduced mobility, disability, and increased risk of infections and cardiovascular diseases. One of the key factors in managing arthritis is diet. What you consume can affect your levels of inflammation, which can impact your arthritis symptoms and overall health. To effectively manage arthritis, you should consume anti-inflammatory foods like berries, leafy greens, and fatty fish, and avoid pro-inflammatory foods like red meat, processed foods, and added sugars. Now, cherries are small, round fruits that come in different colors and varieties. People usually eat them fresh, dried, frozen, or juiced. Cherries are good for arthritis because they contain anthocyanins, flavonoids, and vitamin C, which are all anti-inflammatory compounds. One cup of cherries can give you 16% of your daily vitamin C, 10% of your daily potassium, and 3 grams of fiber. Anthocyanins can reduce inflammation by suppressing the enzymes that cause it, and also lower the levels of uric acid, which can trigger gout, a type of arthritis that affects the big toe. Flavonoids can also lower inflammation and protect your cells from oxidative stress, which can damage your joint