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If you take a diuretic pill, be aware that there are some herbal tea diuretics that might enhance the diuretic effect of your medication. Image Credit: katleho Seisa/E+/GettyImages In This Article Stinging Nettle Horsetail Parsley Dandelion Black and Green Teas If you take diuretics for health reasons, it's important to avoid other medications, as well as herbal supplements and vitamins, that could lead to an interaction. That includes some teas that act as diuretics....

Avoid overstretching to protect your muscles. Image Credit: da-kuk/E+/GettyImages Stretching increases your range of motion and ensures that you can function normally both during exercise and during everyday activities. Different types of stretches exist, and while some may be more beneficial than others, incorporating stretching into your exercise routine helps to improve overall flexibility. Advertisement However, you may be experiencing pain while stretching, which can be a sign that you're not stretching properly or be symptomatic of an underlying health condition....

Add calories to a fruit smoothie with nut butter, seeds or tofu. Image Credit: annick vanderschelden photography/Moment Open/Getty Images Weight gain can pose as much of a challenge as weight loss, especially if you’re naturally very thin or recovering from an illness. And while weight loss and gain plans yield different results, they share some major similarities. Like losing, you want to go slowly for lasting results, and you need to make a change in how and what you eat....

A red pot with beef stew. Image Credit: travellinglight/iStock/Getty Images Loosely defined, a stew is a dish of meat and vegetables slow cooked in a closed pot at a simmering temperature. The most-common stewing meats are tougher, less-expensive cuts of beef that require careful braising to achieve the best results – usually the brisket, chuck, flank, round and rump. Advertisement These cuts of beef come from the well-exercised muscles of the cattle, which though tough, tend to carry a lot of flavor....

Losing water weight can mean the difference between success and failure. In competitive bodybuilding, contestants are judged on their muscle symmetry, size and definition. Superior muscular definition is the result of extremely low body fat levels. Sometimes, however, despite the absence of body fat, muscular definition can be obscured by water retention under the skin. To show up at your next competition with flawless definition, use a safe approach to losing unwanted water weight....

Shredded beef served ona white plate in a Cuban style known as vioja ropa. Image Credit: littleny/iStock/Getty Images Marinating beef allows flavor to evenly coat the surface, and cooking it in a Crock-Pot makes the meat tender and juicy. Together, these methods allow for the use of inexpensive cuts of meat with delicious results. Contrary to popular belief, marinades do not make meat more tender, but they do add flavor, according to Andreas Viestad of the “Washington Post....

The main function of your quadriceps muscles is to extend the leg at the knee, a fairly ordinary event. But you also use them when you need to make a short stop or pick up speed in activities like football and soccer, and if you’re a runner, you use them a lot, particularly when you run downhill. As such, they are prone to strains, which occur when muscles are overstretched or subjected to excessive force....

Choose the type of trunks that you like best. Image Credit: Erik Isakson/Blend Images/Getty Images The type of swimming trunks you wear are a matter of preference. While some people prefer sportier attire while at the beach with tighter fits and less fabric, others might prefer the modesty of a pair of board shorts. Whichever you choose, getting the right fit and size can mean the difference between confidently enjoying the beach or awkwardly adjusting your trunks while you attempt to swim....

A cup of coffee can help keep you awake. Image Credit: Alexander Spatari/Moment/GettyImages Whether you’re at the tail end of a long road trip, cramming for an exam or up late doing laundry when you’d rather be in bed, coffee can be a quick fix to get the job done. Although coffee can have its benefits, consuming caffeine in high amounts can have serious consequences too. Advertisement Tip A cup of coffee can help keep you awake for several hours, but the caffeine will likely have its biggest impact within one hour of consumption....

Seek help if you have sustained unintentional weight loss. Image Credit: shironosov/iStock/Getty Images Losing weight without trying may be a welcome development for some, and if temporary, usually isn’t not a cause for concern. However, if you continue to lose weight over an extended period of time due to a decrease in your appetite, you can lose too much weight. Additionally, unintended weight loss over time is usually the result of an underlying disorder....

references Whole Grains Council: "Buckwheat — December Grain of the Month" Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: "Fiber" USDA: "Buckwheat, Groats, Roasted, Cooked" USDA: "Buckwheat Flour" USDA: "Wheat Flour" Buckwheat is a great gluten-free alternative for wheat-based cereals and muesli. Image Credit: minadezhda/iStock/GettyImages Image Credit: minadezhda/iStock/GettyImages Anthony's Organic Buckwheat Groats are a single-ingredient option. Image Credit: Anthony’s Image Credit: Anthony’s Bob's Red Mill is a popular brand with its own gluten-free buckwheat cereal....

Sprouted garlic is perfectly fine to eat. Image Credit: Denis_Zai/iStock/GettyImages With most produce, it’s best to use it or lose it — but that’s not the case for garlic. When your garlic sprouts, don’t toss it. It may have a more bitter flavor, but it’s higher in antioxidant phytochemicals that can improve your health. Advertisement Tip Sprouted garlic is perfectly fine to eat. It may even offer added health benefits. What Are Garlic Sprouts?...

Oatmeal is a nutritious breakfast. Image Credit: Arx0nt/iStock/GettyImages Low in fat and abundant in vitamins and minerals, grains are an essential part of a healthy diet. The most beneficial grains are the whole grains, such as whole grain oatmeal, which should make up at least half of the grains you eat, recommends the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Advertisement Sorting through different types of grains can be confusing. You might know, for example, that barley, wheat and rice are grains, but wonder if there's whole grain oatmeal....

Side planks is a great exercise to correct lateral pelvic tilt. Image Credit: Bojan89/iStock/GettyImages Pelvic tilt can occur as posterior, anterior or lateral pelvic tilt. Lateral pelvic tilt occurs when your pelvis shifts to one side, raising one of your hips so that they sit unevenly. Correcting this issue is important; lateral pelvic tilt can lead to more serious health issues if left untreated. Advertisement Causes of Lateral Pelvic Tilt Lateral pelvic tilt essentially causes one side of your pelvis to be higher than the other....

Hormones are substances produced by the body that have chemical effects on other parts of the body. Women produce hormones, such as estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and progesterone. Certain hormones rise at various times of the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. Hormone levels also change at menopause. Advertisement Estradiol Estrogen is the predominant female hormone; estradiol is the predominant form of estrogen produced in the ovaries....

Legumes are a low-GI protein option for vegetarians. Image Credit: Heather Down/iStock/Getty Images A low glycemic diet can be compatible with your vegetarian eating plan if you emphasize complex carbohydrates that keep your blood sugar stable. Many vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes have a low to moderate value on the glycemic index, or GI, a scale that ranks the effects of carbohydrate-containing foods on your blood sugar. By focusing on these foods, along with low-fat proteins, you can plan healthy vegetarian meals with an overall low glycemic value....

Side plank works your lower back and waist in one exercise. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages The muscles of your lower back and waist are pretty important. They connect your upper and lower body, helping them work together for easy movement in your daily activities and athletic endeavors. Advertisement Your core muscles also help keep you erect and support your spine for good posture, which enables you to move better and can help prevent back pain....

Meat, eggs and cheese can be included in your diet. Image Credit: rez-art/iStock/Getty Images Americans are aware that diet plays a significant role in the development of certain diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and obesity. Nutritionists and doctors have recommended cutting fat from the diet and replacing it with complex carbohydrates, and Americans have reduced their intake of meat, eggs and cheese in favor of carbohydrates. Unfortunately, this approach has not helped reduce the number of weight-related ailments....

Tendonitis can cause pain as you squat. Image Credit: fizkes/iStock/Getty Images You have numerous foot tendons, but the one that most commonly causes pain is the Achilles tendon. Your Achilles tendon attaches your calf muscle to your heel bone. If the back of your heel hurts when you squat, Achilles tendonitis is the likely culprit. You are more apt to feel this pain if you are not warmed up or if you squat down first thing in the morning....

Pad Thai is a popular street food in Thailand. When it comes to healthy Thai food, pad Thai nutrition shows that it can be a good option. Image Credit: Dokmaihaeng/iStock/GettyImages Pad Thai is a popular street food in Thailand. When it comes to healthy Thai food, pad Thai nutrition shows that it can be a good option. Though it can be made in a variety of ways, many variations are high in calories, fat and sodium....