What causes mold to develop?
Mold requires nutrients, water, oxygen and favorable temperatures to grow. Florida has the ideal conditions for the devlopment of mold. Nutrients for mold are present in organic material such as wood, paper or fabrics; mold can also derive nutrients from some synthetic products such as paints an ...
- If mold is present in my home, what’s the best way to get rid of it?
The answer depends on how much mold is present and where it is located. If the mold is on furnishings or boxes simply discard the materials. Moldy materials are not considered hazardous waste; they can be sent to a regular landfill. However, it is smart to seal the mold material in heavy plasti ...
- How much mold exposure is harmful?
No one knows the answer to this question for several reasons. Individuals are very different with respect to the amount of mold exposure they can tolerate. Children under the age of one year may be more susceptible to the effects of some molds than older individuals. Measuring or estimating &ld ...
- What’s the latest information on caffeine? One day I hear it’s good for me, the next day I hear it’s not.
Caffeine is the only drug that is widely added to the food supply. Caffeine improves alertness and reaction time in people, whether they're habitual drinkers or not. Up to 3-4 cups of coffee of caffeinated soft drinks are unlikely to cause health problems. Caffeine has been shown to improve ment ...
- Will food eaten at night turn to fat?
It is the total calories that count, not the time of day you eat them. There is no “witching hour” that makes food more likely to adhere to your hips. That said, avoid late night eating. People who skip meals will tend to devour a feast later and will probably overeat more calories ...
- How can I know which restaurants in our area offer "healthy" meals?
Want to know which restaurants in our area list “healthy” meals on their menu? Click on the link below for Pinellas County Health Department recommendations for healthy meals at local restaurants. For your information, a new study, led by Susan Roberts, a professor of nutrition at T ...
- Do sports drinks really help my body during exercise?
When you’re sweating through an intense workout, you probably reach for a sports drink to quench your thirst. Millions of hardcore athletes and casual fitness fans chug sports beverages to replace the water, sodium and glucose (sugar) the body needs to increase muscle function and speed u ...
- Does eating carbohydrates make you fat?
Carbohydrates (“carbs”) do not make you fat. Excess calories make you fat. Carbohydrates contain calories, as do protein and fat, the 3 nutrients that contain calories. Most people tend to overeat carbs more than protein or fat. Often it is the sugar and fat contained in carbohydrate ...
- Can you inherit obesity from your parents?
Scientists have been working hard to identify genes that have the potential to make us fat. A study published in the International Journal of Obesity in December of 2008 found that certain genes are associated with obesity but not with the intake of excess calories. (International Journal of Ob ...
- Are dietary supplements necessary for everyone?
If you eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, along with moderate amounts of a variety of low-fat dairy and protein foods you don't need supplements. Most Americans do not eat right, so a multi-vitamin mineral might be a good insurance policy. Special supplements, recommended by ...
- Are there any benefits to drinking wine?
Research studies on the heart-health benefits of red wine have reported mixed results. Some studies show that red wine seems to have even more heart-health benefits than other types of alcohol, while other studies show that red wine isn't any better than beer, white wine or liquor for heart hea ...
- Are calories eaten at night more fattening?
It is the total calories that count, not the time of day you eat them.There is no "witching hour" that makes food more likely to adhere to your hips.The fact of the matter is if you eat more calories than your body burns in a day, the extra calories will be stored as fat. Whether you consume the ...
- Are high-protein / low-carbohydrate diets a healthy way to lose weight?
The long-term health effects of a high-protein/low-carbohydrate diet are unknown. But getting most of your daily calories from high-protein foods like meat, eggs, and cheese is not a balanced eating plan. You may be eating too much fat and cholesterol, which may raise your risk of heart disease ...
- Does “low-fat” mean low in calories?
Whenever you see the word “low” on the label, that should be your clue to keep looking a little further. One important number that people forget to look at is the serving size and total calories on the Nutrition Facts label. Low-fat foods (especially fat-free foods) may have the same ...
- How much protein do I need each day?
Protein is a vital nutrient that plays several roles in the body. It transports nutrients in the bloodstream, assists in promoting blood clotting and wound healing and aids in fluid, electrolyte and pH balance. Protein also supports the growth and maintenance of lean muscles, bones, nails and t ...
- I have just been told by my doctor that I am lactose intolerant. Can I still have dairy products?
People with lactose intolerance are able to have dairy foods. Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest significant amounts of lactose, the major sugar found in milk. Lactose intolerance is caused by a shortage of the enzyme lactase, which is produced by the cells that line the small intest ...
- I have seen some brands of white bread labeled whole wheat bread. How can white bread be labeled whole wheat?
There is a type of wheat called white wheat that is used to make those breads. It is a different type of wheat that has no major genes for bran color unlike traditional “red” wheat. An easy way to think of it is as a sort of albino wheat. The bread is simply made with whole white whe ...
- Is red meat bad for my health?
It is true that some studies have linked red meat to an increased risk of heart disease partly due to the saturated fat content. In fact, even chicken can contain as much saturated fat as lean cuts of beef or pork. For instance, a serving of sirloin beef or pork tenderloin has less saturated fat ...
- How much water do I need each day?
Most healthy people need 2 to 2½ liters of fluid per day. Many people don’t get enough. Some surveys suggest a portion of the population may be frequently dehydrated. Factors that increase likelihood of dehydration include dissatisfaction with the taste of water, over consumption of ...
- Will vitamin and mineral supplements give me more energy?
None of the 14 known vitamins supply calories so they will not give you more energy. Some vitamins do help the body use energy. However, these vitamins are easily supplied by a normal diet. Large doses of vitamins won't give you more energy. In fact, if you consume more of the vitamins like vita ...
Fats (11)
