Nutrition FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered

Short Answer: Pistachio nuts are bad for CKD. Because they have high amounts of potassium, phosphorus, and protein, and they can worsen your kidney function and cause complications. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition that affects your kidneys, which are the organs that filter waste and excess fluid from your blood. In CKD, your kidneys gradually lose their ability to do their job. 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 levels of potassium, phosphorus, sodium, and protein, which can impact your CKD symptoms and overall health. To effectively manage CKD, you should consume low-potassium, low-phosphorus, low-sodium, and moderate-protein foods like rice, bread, apples, grapes, and lean meats, and avoid high-potassium, high-phosphorus, high-sodium, and high-protein foods like bananas, nuts, cheese, and processed meats. Now, pistachio nuts are the edible seeds of the pistachio tree. They are rich in protein, fiber, healthy fats, antioxidants, and minerals. People usually eat them as a snack or add them to salads, desserts, and other dishes. Pistachio nuts are bad for CKD because they contain high amounts of potassium and phosphorus, which can worsen your kidney function and cause complications. They are also high in protein, which can increase the workload of your kidneys and the waste products in your blood. A 1/4 cup of pistachio nuts can give you 150 mg of phosphorus (15% of your

Short Answer: Gingerbread cookies are bad for anemia. Because they have molasses, sugar, flour, butter, and spices that can lower your iron, vitamin B12, and folate levels. 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, and irregular heartbeat. One of the key factors in managing anemia is diet. What you consume can affect your iron, vitamin B12, and folate 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, and leafy green vegetables; vitamin B12-rich foods like eggs, dairy products, and fortified cereals; and folate-rich foods like citrus fruits, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. You should avoid foods that can interfere with iron absorption, such as tea, coffee, grapes, wine, sorghum, corn, and chocolate. Now, gingerbread cookies are baked goods made with flour, butter, sugar, molasses, eggs, and spices like ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. People usually eat them as a snack or dessert, especially during the holiday season. Gingerbread cookies are bad for anemia because they contain ingredients that can lower your iron, vitamin B12, and folate levels. One gingerbread cookie can give you about 24 grams of carbohydrates, 12 grams of sugar, 3.3 grams of fat, and only 1.9 grams

Short Answer: Carbs are good for muscle building. Because they have glucose and they can provide energy, replenish glycogen, and stimulate insulin. Muscle building is a process that affects your skeletal muscles, which are the muscles that you can voluntarily control. In muscle building, your body creates new muscle fibers by repairing the micro-tears that occur when you lift weights or do other forms of resistance training. This can lead to various health benefits, such as increased strength, endurance, metabolism, and bone density. One of the key factors in muscle building is diet. What you consume can affect your protein synthesis, which is the rate at which your body creates new muscle tissue, as well as your energy levels, which can impact your workout performance and recovery. To effectively build muscle, you should consume protein-rich foods like chicken, eggs, and whey protein, and avoid protein-poor foods like candy, chips, and soda. Now, carbs are the main source of energy for your body. People usually eat carbs in the form of grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. Carbs are good for muscle building because they contain glucose, which is the preferred fuel for your muscles and brain. One cup of cooked rice can give you about 45 grams of carbs, which is 15% of your daily needs based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Glucose can enhance muscle building by providing energy for your workouts, replenishing your glycogen stores after exercise, and stimulating insulin release, which is a hormone that promotes muscle growth.

Short Answer: Carbs are bad for weight gain. Because they have calories and sugars and they can increase your calorie intake and decrease your fat burning. Weight gain is a condition that affects your body weight and composition. In weight gain, your body stores more fat than it burns, resulting in an increase in body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage. 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 calorie intake and expenditure, which can impact your weight gain and loss. To effectively manage weight gain, you should consume protein-rich foods like lean meat, eggs, and dairy products and avoid carb-rich foods like bread, pasta, and sweets. Now, carbs are one of the three macronutrients that provide energy for the body. Carbs are composed of sugar molecules that are broken down into glucose, which is used as fuel by the cells. People usually eat carbs from various sources, such as grains, fruits, vegetables, and processed foods. Carbs are bad for weight gain because they contain calories that can exceed your energy needs. One gram of carbs provides 4 calories, so eating too many carbs can lead to a positive energy balance and fat storage. Carbs can also spike your blood sugar and insulin levels, which can promote hunger and fat accumulation. Carbs are especially bad for weight gain if you have diabetes or insulin

Short Answer: Peach tea is good for weight loss. Because it has catechins and caffeine and they can boost your metabolism and suppress your appetite. Weight loss is a condition that affects your body fat and metabolism. In weight loss, your body burns more calories than you consume, resulting in a reduction of body fat. This can lead to various health benefits, such as lower blood pressure, improved blood sugar levels, and reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes. One of the key factors in managing weight loss is diet. What you consume can affect your calorie intake, appetite, and metabolic rate, which can impact your weight loss goals and overall health. To effectively manage weight loss, you should consume protein-rich foods like eggs, chicken, and beans and avoid sugar-rich foods like candy, soda, and pastries. Now, peach tea is a beverage made by infusing black or green tea with the flavor and aroma of fresh or dried peaches. People usually drink peach tea as a refreshing and delicious drink, especially in summer. Peach tea is good for weight loss because it contains catechins and caffeine. Catechins are antioxidants that can boost your metabolism and fat burning. Caffeine is a stimulant that can increase your energy and suppress your appetite. One cup of peach tea can give you about 25 mg of caffeine and 50 mg of catechins. Caffeine can positively affect weight loss by enhancing your physical and mental performance and reducing your hunger. However, too much caffeine can

Short Answer: Beer is bad for arthritis. Because it has alcohol, gluten, and purines and they can increase inflammation, worsen pain, and cause complications. 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 the tissues that line and cushion your joints, causing inflammation, pain, and stiffness. This can lead to various health problems, such as reduced mobility, joint damage, and disability. One of the key factors in managing arthritis is diet. What you consume can affect your inflammation levels, which can impact your arthritis symptoms and overall health. To effectively manage arthritis, you should consume anti-inflammatory foods like fruits, vegetables, fish, and nuts, and avoid pro-inflammatory foods like red meat, processed foods, sugar, and alcohol. Now, beer is an alcoholic drink produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches from cereal grains, such as barley, wheat, or corn. People usually drink beer for its taste, effects, or social reasons. Beer is bad for arthritis because it contains alcohol, gluten, and purines. One 12-ounce (355-milliliter) can of regular beer can give you about 13 grams of alcohol, 13 grams of carbohydrates, and 1 gram of protein. Alcohol can increase inflammation, worsen pain, and interfere with medication. Gluten can trigger an immune response in some people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, which can aggravate arthritis. Purines are compounds that are broken down into uric acid, which can cause gout, a type of inflammatory arthritis that

Short Answer: Grape juice is good for gout. Because it has vitamin C and antioxidants and they can lower your uric acid levels and prevent inflammation. Gout is a condition that affects your joints, especially the big toe. In gout, your body produces too much uric acid, a waste product that forms crystals in the joints. This can lead to various health problems, such as inflammation, pain, swelling, and reduced mobility. One of the key factors in managing gout is diet. What you consume can affect your uric acid levels, which can impact your gout symptoms and overall health. To effectively manage gout, you should consume vitamin C rich foods like oranges, strawberries, and bell peppers, and low-fat dairy products like skim milk and yogurt. You should also drink plenty of water to help flush out the excess uric acid. You should avoid purine rich foods like red meat, organ meat, shellfish, and beer, as they can increase your uric acid production. Now, grape juice is a beverage made from crushed and blended grapes. People usually drink it as a refreshing drink or use it as a sweetener. Grape juice is good for gout because it contains vitamin C and antioxidants. Vitamin C can help lower your uric acid levels by increasing its excretion through urine. Antioxidants can help protect your cells from oxidative stress and inflammation caused by uric acid crystals. One cup (237 mL) of unsweetened purple grape juice can give you 70% of your daily vitamin C

Short Answer: Raisins are good for hypothyroidism. Because they have iron, potassium, copper, manganese, and antioxidants, and they can help support thyroid health, prevent anemia, lower blood pressure, protect against oxidative stress, and improve cognitive function. Hypothyroidism is a condition that affects your thyroid gland, which is located in the front of your neck. In hypothyroidism, your body does not produce enough thyroid hormones, which regulate your metabolism, growth, and development. This can lead to various health problems, such as fatigue, weight gain, depression, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, and increased risk of heart disease. One of the key factors in managing hypothyroidism is diet. What you consume can affect your thyroid function, which can impact your hypothyroidism symptoms and overall health. To effectively manage hypothyroidism, you should consume iodine-rich foods like seafood, dairy, eggs, and iodized salt, and selenium-rich foods like Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, and mushrooms. You should avoid goitrogenic foods like cruciferous vegetables, soy, and millet, which can interfere with thyroid hormone production. Now, raisins are dried grapes. They are small, sweet, and have a wrinkled texture, which is a result of the drying process. Raisins can be made from various grape varieties, but Thompson Seedless grapes are among the most commonly used for raisin production. People usually eat raisins as a snack, or add them to baked goods, cereals, salads, and yogurt. Raisins are good for hypothyroidism because they contain iron, potassium, copper, manganese, and antioxidants. These nutrients can help support thyroid health, prevent anemia, lower

Short Answer: Corn is bad for hyperthyroidism because it has goitrogens and is a high-glycemic food. They can interfere with thyroid hormone production and increase inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance. Hyperthyroidism is a condition that affects your thyroid gland, which is located at the front of your neck. In hyperthyroidism, your thyroid gland produces and releases too much thyroid hormone, which regulates your metabolism, heart rate, and body temperature. This can lead to various health problems, such as weight loss, anxiety, insomnia, tremors, irregular heartbeat, and eye problems. One of the key factors in managing hyperthyroidism is diet. What you consume can affect your thyroid function, which can impact your hyperthyroidism symptoms and overall health. To effectively manage hyperthyroidism, you should consume foods rich in antioxidants, such as berries, cruciferous vegetables, and nuts, and avoid foods high in iodine, such as seaweed, dairy products, and iodized salt. Now, corn is a starchy vegetable and grain that contains fiber, vitamins, and minerals. People usually eat corn as a side dish, in salads, soups, or popcorn. Corn is bad for hyperthyroidism because it contains goitrogens, which are substances that interfere with thyroid hormone production. Goitrogens can worsen hyperthyroidism symptoms and make it harder to treat. Corn is especially bad for people with Graves’ disease, which is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. One medium ear of corn can give you 19 grams of carbs, 2.4 grams of fiber, 6.4 grams of sugar, and 0.16 milligrams of thiamin. Goitrogens can inhibit the

Short Answer: Cranberry juice is bad for acid reflux. Because it has citric acid and vitamin C and they can lower the esophageal pH and trigger acid reflux symptoms. Acid reflux is a condition that affects your esophagus, the tube that connects your mouth and stomach. In acid reflux, your body produces too much stomach acid or the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a muscle that prevents the backflow of stomach acid, does not close properly. This causes the stomach acid to flow back into your esophagus, irritating its lining and causing symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation, and chest pain. This can lead to various health problems, such as esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal cancer. One of the key factors in managing acid reflux is diet. What you consume can affect your esophageal pH, which can impact your acid reflux symptoms and overall health. To effectively manage acid reflux, you should consume alkaline foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds and avoid acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits, chocolate, garlic, onion, and spicy foods. Now, cranberry juice is a beverage made from cranberries, water, and sugar. People usually drink cranberry juice for its health benefits, such as preventing urinary tract infections, improving heart health, and boosting immune system. Cranberry juice is bad for acid reflux because it contains citric acid and ascorbic acid. Citric acid is a natural acid found in citrus fruits, and ascorbic acid is another name for vitamin C. Both of these acids can lower the esophageal pH