Numbered Publications: FCS3
FCS3-540: Managing Diabetes
Ingrid Adams | Jan. 30, 2025 (Reviewed)
Diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot properly use glucose for energy. This causes glucose to build up in the blood. High levels of blood glucose can result in health conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, and more. There are several known benefits of managing diabetes appropriately.
FCS3-539: Understanding Diabetes
Ingrid Adams, Anna Cason | Jan. 24, 2025 (Major Revision)
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body changes food into energy. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, a simple sugar, which is released into our blood. The pancreas makes a hormone called insulin in response to rising blood-sugar levels to help glucose get into the cells of the body. Think of insulin as a key to cells: When insulin is around, the glucose can enter. These cells use this glucose as energy. With diabetes, the body either doesn’t make enough insulin or the cells can’t effectively use the insulin that is made. When there is insufficient insulin, glucose builds up in the blood rather than entering cells, which leads to high blood sugar. Chronically elevated levels of blood sugar have an impact on health. Medication and lifestyle changes are ways to manage blood-glucose levels.
FCS3-571: Fiber: Are You Bulking Up on the Benefits?
Ingrid Adams | Nov. 12, 2024 (Major Revision)
You may have heard you should eat more fiber, but do you know why? Fiber, in adequate amounts, decreases the risk for heart disease, supports blood sugar management, improves digestive health, and contributes to weight management.
FCS3-104: Lactose Intolerance
Sandra Bastin | Nov. 12, 2024 (Major Revision)
Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose, the natural sugar found in most dairy products. Lactase, an enzyme our bodies produce, breaks down lactose into simpler units during digestion. Some people do not produce enough lactase or do not produce lactase at all. In this case, the lactose does not get broken down into smaller units. Instead, the lactose is fermented in the colon. This fermentation process often produces common symptoms of lactose intolerance, including bloating, abdominal gas or pain, diarrhea, and nausea.
FCS3-574: Cholesterol 101
Ingrid Adams, Anna Cason | Oct. 15, 2024 (Major Revision)
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in all cells of the body. Our bodies naturally make cholesterol. Foods we eat can also impact the levels in our blood. Cholesterol is needed for the body to function properly, but too much cholesterol in our blood can have an impact on our health.
FCS3-555: Probiotics: Friendly Bacteria
Ingrid Adams, Anna Cason | Oct. 14, 2024 (Major Revision)
Probiotics are live microorganisms, mainly bacteria and some yeasts, that may provide some health benefits. They also help to digest the foods we eat. “Probiotic” is a broad term for many different living organisms that can be found in foods, drinks, and supplements. The type and number of bacteria in our guts can change depending on our consumption of these items, in addition to other factors including health status, antibiotic and medication use, where we live, and even stress levels. Many of these probiotics found in food sources and supplements are like the bacteria found naturally in our bodies.
FCS3-644: Vitamin E for Everyone
Heather Norman-Burgdolf | Aug. 16, 2024 (New)
We are exposed to harmful chemicals in our environment each day that can cause free radicals. These could be from cigarette smoke, pollution, or even too much sun. Our body processes can even create free radicals. This matters because free radicals can cause damage to our cells. There are several nutrients found in abundance in foods that can help minimize free radicals in our body. One of those nutrients is vitamin E.
FCS3-645: Vitamin K All the Way
Heather Norman-Burgdolf | Aug. 16, 2024 (New)
Have you ever wondered what happens when you get a paper cut? Why do you stop bleeding after a certain amount of time? You can thank the vitamin-K-rich foods you eat for that. Vitamin K plays an important role in blood clotting when an injury happens and supports bone health and strength.
FCS3-643: Adding Up Vitamin A in the Diet
Heather Norman-Burgdolf | Aug. 16, 2024 (New)
What do sweet potatoes and beef liver have in common? They are both excellent sources of vitamin A. We need this vitamin for vision, immunity, growth, development, and helping our heart and lungs to work well.
FCS3-590: Seafood: Are You Reeling in the Benefits?
Ingrid Adams, Nellie Buchannan, Brenda Cockerham, Janet Tietyen-Mullins | Aug. 6, 2024 (Minor Revision)
Seafood includes a large group of marine animals that live in the sea, fresh water, lakes, and rivers. Fish such as salmon, tuna, trout, and tilapia, along with shellfish such as shrimp, crab, and oysters, are included in this group.
Seafood is an important part of a balanced diet because it contains high-quality protein, good fats called omega-3 fatty acids, and other nutrients. However, many of us do not include enough seafood in our diets to get the full range of benefits.
