A woman waters a rosemary plant that she just repotted in her home. Image Credit: -lvinst-/iStock/Getty Images Although you cannot see it, water–in the form of a gas called vapor–is all around you in the air. The amount of water vapor in the air is called the humidity, and you can control the humidity of your home with a dehumidifier. If you turn on a dehumidifiers in a damp space, it collects excess water vapor to protect furniture and health....
Vegetable pizza is lower in calories than meat pizza. Image Credit: Tatiana Volgutova/iStock/GettyImages Don’t be so quick to think of pizza as junk food. As with so many other dishes, it all comes down to how it’s prepared. If you choose healthy pizza toppings, like vegetables, you could give this ever-popular crowd pleaser a boost in nutritional value. Advertisement Choosing Healthy Pizza Toppings Here’s a hypothetical situation that many people can relate to: It’s the end of a long day and you don’t feel like cooking....
Skin pigmentation comes from the presence of melanin, a black-brown protein also found in your hair, and in specific cells in your intestines and brain. Image Credit: PeopleImages/iStock/GettyImages Skin pigmentation comes from the presence of melanin, a black-brown protein also found in your hair, and in specific cells in your intestines and brain. The greater the level of melanin in your skin, the darker it appears. Advertisement Your skin tone and pigmentation levels are determined by a number of factors: Genetics typically determine your general skin color, while environmental factors such as level of sunlight exposure can contribute to your skin pigmentation....
Vegan diets don't provide enough vitamin B-12. Image Credit: monticelllo/iStock/Getty Images Vitamin B-12 is vital for normal red blood cells, metabolizing food into energy and keeping your nerves working properly. It may also help prevent cardiovascular disease. In short, you need the right amount of vitamin B-12 to stay healthy. While it’s best to get it from the foods you eat, some people can’t manage to fill their daily requirement that way....
Drinking diet coke can harm your kidneys. Image Credit: rez-art/iStock/GettyImages Are there any side effects of drinking Coca-Cola every day? You’re asking for a friend, right? Here’s what you need to know about the long-term effects of Coca-Cola and the health risks it poses to your kidneys. Advertisement Tip Replacing water with Diet Coke is not a good idea since excess consumption of Diet Coke can cause severe harm to your kidneys....
Some emerging research suggests that eating more carbs earlier in the day might be better, but quality over quantity still matters more. Image Credit: Milko/E+/GettyImages In This Article When to Eat Carbs Sleep and Metabolism Spacing Out Carbs The Bottom Line You might've heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you just laughed at this seemingly old piece of advice, it might be time to rethink your nutrient timing — especially when it comes to carbs....
Pomegranates contain tannins. Image Credit: nagehanozsezer/iStock/Getty Images If you have ever eaten a piece of fruit that makes your mouth pucker, you’ve experienced tannins at work. Tannins, a type of plant polyphenol, are natural chemicals found in fruits that produce an astringent or bitter taste when you eat them. These chemicals also affect the nutritional value of foods by binding to and precipitating proteins. Advertisement Cranberries Medical research indicates that the tannins in cranberries have several medicinal properties....
Pain between your third and fourth toe is often Morton's neuroma. Image Credit: Staras/iStock/Getty Images When each step is painful, like you’ve got a rock or marble in your shoe — but you’ve emptied them and know they’re clear — you may have Morton’s neuroma. This benign condition happens when the tissue leading to your toes’ nerves thickens, impeding sensation and causing burning pain and numbness in the ball of the foot that radiates into the third and fourth toes....
Lose 30 pounds in 12 weeks. Image Credit: sjhuls/iStock/Getty Images Losing 30 pounds in 12 weeks is a difficult and yet realistic goal. A healthy weight-loss rate is 1 to 2 pounds per week. By incorporating vigorous and consistent workouts into your daily routine and making specific eating adjustments, you can at least come close to losing 30 pounds in 12 weeks. To lose weight, every day you must create a calorie deficit, burning more calories throughout the day than you consume....
An ear of corn and corn flour. Image Credit: Rasica/iStock/Getty Images In the Southwestern United States, corn flour is known as “masa,” or “dough” in Spanish. Masa is made from corn that has been soaked in lime water overnight, dried and then ground. This flour is useful for making corn tortillas, tamales, empanadas and other items in Latin cooking. Masa is readily available in the baking aisle of your grocery store; however, you can make your own masa at home if you have the correct ingredients and a little patience....
To prepare bok choy, boil it, steam it or stir-fry it in your favorite seasoning. Image Credit: Tom Baker / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages In This Article Prepare Boil Steam Stir-Fry Nutrition and Benefits Bok choy is a leafy green vegetable that also goes by the name pak choi. It is commonly used in Asian cuisine and recipes like stir-fries. To prepare bok choy, you can boil, saute or steam it with other veggies, and flavor it with a variety of spices and sauces....
When you work with variety meats such as chicken gizzards, you have a lot of fibrous, tough tissue to contend with. Image Credit: OlyaSolodenko/iStock/GettyImages When you work with variety meats such as chicken gizzards, you have a lot of fibrous, tough tissue to contend with. You have to break down that tissue before using a dry-heat cooking method like frying to prepare them. A better alternative is making chicken gizzards recipes in a pressure cooker....
Sun-dried tomatoes add a savory taste and chewy texture to a variety of meals. Image Credit: Ivannag82/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Storing Oil-Packed Tomatoes Storing Dry Tomatoes Freezing Recipe Ideas A sun-dried tomato or two can change the entire flavor of a meal. A tomato that's dehydrated in the sun develops an intense flavor and chewy texture without losing the nutrients — including vitamins A and C and the antioxidant lycopene — that make tomatoes a valuable part of your diet....
How to Stretch Leg Tendons Image Credit: Youngoldman/iStock/GettyImages Your tendons are under a lot of tension when you exercise, especially when you do explosive activities like sprinting and jumping. If these thick bands of tissue, which connect muscles to bones, are too stiff, they won’t be able to properly handle all of the force from those activities. Advertisement Ideally, your tendons should be very elastic, meaning they stretch like a brand-new rubber band....
Two large plastice black jars of whey protein sit on a white counter. Image Credit: farakos/iStock/Getty Images Whey protein is often included in supplements marketed for weight loss and muscle gain. A 2001 study published in “International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism” found that men who consumed whey protein combined with creatine, another popular supplement, experienced increased strength and muscle growth. For some people trying to either lose weight or gain muscle, however, whey protein may cause gastrointestinal discomfort....
There are several good low fat substitutes for heavy cream in alfredo sauce. Image Credit: yulka3ice/iStock/GettyImages Fettuccine Alfredo may seem like an indulgence, with its silky smooth sauce coating ribbons of pasta. It can be a popular, if high calorie, dish. But there are ways to make Alfredo sauce without heavy cream. Advertisement Tip Use good quality Parmesan cheese. It packs a lot of flavor, and has about half the calories of cream cheese....
Mineral oil and baby oil are petroleum distillation byproducts. Imagine rubbing petroleum byproducts on your baby's skin. That is exactly what you do every time you use baby oil. Baby oil and mineral oil are mixtures of petroleum distillation byproducts. Although refined to meet specifications for use in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and even food, mineral oil and baby oil are hydrocarbon compounds derived from petrochemicals. Advertisement Differences Mineral oil is a hydrocarbon compound also known as paraffin oil, liquid petrolatum, white mineral oil and Nujol....
bowl of oatmeal Image Credit: oksix/iStock/Getty Images Foods containing soluble fiber, such as oatmeal, are important in your diet to help maintain the health of your digestive tract. This is especially the case if you experience acute or chronic gastritis, a condition characterized by the irritation or inflammation of the stomach wall lining. Before making dietary changes, however, consult your physician for accurate diagnosis and at home care recommendations. Advertisement About Gastritis The stomach produces acidic digestive juices that help in the process of breaking down the foods you eat into smaller nutrients....
This Series of Five 10-minute Pilates ab workout trains your deep core muscles while also building more visible abs. Image Credit: fizkes/iStock/GettyImages Pilates is a verified ab-builder, this we know. But what might come as a surprise is just how little time it takes to strengthen and sculpt your core with Pilates. All you really need is about 10 minutes a day, thanks to this Series of Five 10-minute Pilates ab workout....
Processed meats often contain potassium phosphate as a food additive, so consume in moderation. Image Credit: AzmanJaka/iStock/GettyImages You’ve probably eaten some potassium phosphate within the past few days — likely without even realizing it. This chemical is a common additive found in processed foods and nutritional supplements alike, but its scientific-sounding has some of us thinking it’s a cause for concern. Advertisement Potassium phosphate consists of the dietary minerals potassium and phosphorus in the form of phosphate....
