163 articles
List of diets
List of diets: an inventory of named eating patterns, from Mediterranean and DASH to Atkins, keto, and paleo, classified by emphasis and restriction, with guideline endorsement and comparative trial evidence.
List of instant noodle brands
The list of instant noodle brands covers the category created by Nissin in Japan in 1958, led today by Indomie, Nongshim, Maggi, and Mama in their home markets.
Lomilomi massage
Lomilomi (Lomi Lomi), traditional Hawaiian massage rooted in oral family healing traditions; defined in HRS §452-1 as kneading, stroking, and pressing of the body; certified historically by Hawaii's Board of Massage, with scant lomilomi-specific clinical research.
Low sodium diet
Low sodium diet: eating pattern limiting sodium to WHO's <2,000 mg/day or US 2,300 mg/day. Lowers blood pressure (systolic 3.39 mm Hg in trials), reduces stroke risk; mostly from processed foods.
Low-alcohol beer
Low-alcohol beer is beer with reduced ethanol, made by limiting fermentation (arrested fermentation, special yeasts) or by dealcoholization (vacuum distillation, membranes). Labels: ≤0.5% ABV alcohol-free in Germany/Brazil; 0.5–1.2% low-alcohol in the UK.
Low-carbohydrate diet
Low-carbohydrate diet: eating pattern under 130 g carbohydrate/day (ketogenic under 20–50 g), used for weight loss and type 2 diabetes; modest short-term advantages over low-fat diets, debated long-term cardiovascular safety.
Low-fiber/low-residue diet
Low-fiber/low-residue diet: a therapeutic diet limiting indigestible food residue, often defined as under 10 g fiber/day, used for colonoscopy bowel preparation and acute flares of diverticulitis, Crohn disease, and ulcerative colitis.
Low-FODMAP diet
Low-FODMAP diet, a Monash University-developed three-phase dietary therapy for irritable bowel syndrome restricting fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols; reduces IBS symptom severity and improves quality of life.
Macrobiotic diet
Macrobiotic diet: plant-based, high whole-grain, low-fat diet from George Ohsawa's philosophy, popularized by Michio Kushi. No scientific evidence supports its use against cancer; strict forms risk malnutrition.
Massage
Massage, also called massage therapy or body massage, is the hands-on manipulation of the body's soft tissues, practiced for thousands of years to ease pain and enhance wellness.
Master Cleanse
Master Cleanse, or Lemonade Diet: a 10-plus-day liquid fast of lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and water, created by Stanley Burroughs in the 1940s; no scientific evidence supports its detox claims.
Meditation
Meditation is a mind-body practice of focusing attention on the breath, a word, or an object to calm the mind, with moderate evidence for reducing anxiety, depression, and pain.
Mediterranean diet
Mediterranean diet: plant-forward eating pattern from olive-growing southern Europe, built on olive oil, fish, legumes, and whole grains; UNESCO heritage since 2010, studied in the PREDIMED trial.
MIND diet
MIND diet (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay): a brain-health hybrid diet with 15 components. Observational studies link it to slower decline and lower dementia risk, but the 2023 randomized trial found no cognitive benefit over control.
Mushroom edible
Edible mushrooms: fungal fruiting bodies safe for food, wild or cultivated. About two dozen species commercially accepted; China leads production (43.34 million tons, 2023); rich in protein, B vitamins; wild types need expert identification.
Nasal irrigation
Nasal irrigation (nasal lavage, saline nasal wash, neti pot rinsing) flushes the nasal cavity with saline to clear mucus and mediators; used for rhinosinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and colds; requires sterile or boiled water.
Naturopathy
Naturopathy, also called naturopathic medicine, is a medical system from traditional practices and 19th-century European health approaches that aims to treat disease by addressing root causes through diet, exercise, and stress management.
Negative-calorie food
Negative-calorie food: claimed foods like celery, lettuce, and grapefruit that supposedly burn more calories in digestion than they provide. No evidence supports the claim; digestion costs 5–30% of food energy, and low energy density is the real benefit.
Obeldicks study
Obeldicks: German one-year outpatient lifestyle intervention for obese children and adolescents (Datteln, Witten/Herdecke), combining nutrition, exercise, and behavior therapy; 79% success, sustained 4-year weight loss, with Obeldicks Light and Mini variants.
Oxygen bar
Oxygen bar, or recreational oxygen station: a wellness venue serving scented concentrated oxygen via nasal cannula. Began in Tokyo 1988; O2 Spa Bar Toronto 1996; health claims lack evidence.
Pain suisse
Pain suisse (brioche suisse, pépito) is a rectangular French viennoiserie of leavened flaky pastry filled with vanilla crème pâtissière and chocolate chips; despite the name it is not Swiss and is a variant of pain au chocolat or pain aux raisins.
Paleolithic diet
The Paleolithic diet, also called the paleo or Stone-Age diet, permits foods advocates say humans ate before agriculture, such as meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables, while excluding grains, legumes, dairy, and added sugar.
Panettone
Panettone, from Milan (pan de ton), is Italy's domed sourdough Christmas bread with raisins and candied fruit; modernized by Angelo Motta around 1923 and defined by Italy's 2005 decree (butter ≥16%, fruit ≥20%).
Pedicure
Pedicure: cosmetic foot and toenail treatment (soaking, nail trimming, cuticle care, massage, polish), from Latin pes + curare. Covers salon procedure, infection risks from foot spas and tools, safety steps, diabetes precautions, and medical pedicures.
Penis as food
Penis as food: eating animal penises (bull, goat, dog, yak, seal; 牛鞭) as offal or virility dishes, e.g. Malaysian sup torpedo, Bolivian caldo de Cardan, Beijing's Guo Lizhuang restaurants.
Pescetarianism
Pescetarianism, also spelled pescatarianism or pesco-vegetarianism, is a diet excluding land-animal meat while including fish, seafood, dairy, and eggs; noted for omega-3 intake, high Healthy Eating Index scores, and moderate carbon footprint.
Plant-based diet
Plant-based diet: an eating pattern centered on plant foods with animal products reduced or excluded; term coined by T. Colin Campbell in the 1980s; linked to metabolic benefits but requires B12 supplementation.
Poor personal hygiene
Poor personal hygiene is a failure or refusal to keep oneself clean, such as not washing, classified by the WHO in ICD-11 as a behavioral sign, code MB23.J.
PROMISE trial (NCT06416215)
PROMISE (NCT06416215, PROMISE_BO_2024) is a University of Bologna randomized pilot trial testing a Well-Being Therapy-based group intervention plus nutrition education versus basic nutritional intervention for weight loss in adults with obesity; 50 participants, completed December 2024.
Qigong (气功)
Qigong (气功), also known as chi kung, is a traditional Chinese mind-body practice developed in China that combines gentle movement, controlled breathing, and mental focus to improve and maintain health and well-being.