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1 of 12 Overview Fruits, vegetables, seeds and all the nutrient-dense plant-based foods that spring from the earth give our body a gentle nudge to do its best work. Our organs are working around the clock to fight free radicals, and our cells are constantly rejuvenating themselves to keep our bodies in tip-top shape. Among the plant-based superheroes, there are a few with a little extra cleansing power. Here are 10 foods you should incorporate into your diet to support your body's natural cleansing cycle....

Avoid making these mistakes to have your best race. Image Credit: martin-dm/E+/GettyImages No matter how many weeks or months you put into training for a race, you can probably expect some pre-run jitters on the big day. And while your emotions may be hard to manage, there are definitely a few things within your control on race day. Advertisement To perform your best and get the most of your weeks of training, avoid these five race day mistakes....

A man is warming up on a running track. Image Credit: Naataali/iStock/Getty Images Working out for two hours at a time is extremely demanding. It can be useful to push yourself through a plateau or to prepare for a particular event but should only be undertaken by people with plenty of training experience. It’s important to have a clear purpose for training at this intensity and to prepare carefully for it....

Eggs are a good source of B vitamins. Image Credit: Comstock Images/Stockbyte/Getty Images They’re needed in small amounts, but the B vitamins play a vital role in your health. They help convert the food you eat into energy and assist with making red blood cells. Vitamin B-12 is one of the eight B vitamins, while B-100, also referred to as B-complex, is a multivitamin supplement that contains high amounts of all the B vitamins....

Dry toast is a good breakfast option if you have the stomach flu. Image Credit: SasaJo/iStock/Getty Images Stomach flu, known medically as viral gastroenteritis, occurs when specific viruses attack your gastrointestinal tract. This type of viral infection inflames the lining of your stomach and intestines, resulting in bouts of vomiting and diarrhea. During this assault on your digestive system, you might not only miss out on consuming vital nutrients but also lose essential electrolytes your body needs for survival....

It's important that you talk with your doctor if you notice blood in your urine or stool. Image Credit: Mintra Kwthijak/iStock/GettyImages Few things are more alarming than spotting blood in your stool or urine. Though some causes are more easily remedied than others, it’s always important to contact your doctor and find out the source so it can be treated. Advertisement Causes of Blood in Urine The technical name for blood in urine is hematuria, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)....

A woman is about to perform a barbell squat. Image Credit: starush/iStock/Getty Images The squat is a multi-joint exercise that recruits multiple muscles in the lower body, making it one of the most frequently used exercises for strength and conditioning. Understanding the complex biomechanics and coordinated muscle actions involved in squatting can help you maximize your training benefits and minimize your risk of injury. Advertisement Concentric and Eccentric Muscle Actions When squatting, your muscle actions occur in two phases....

The ketogenic diet is extremely low in carbohydrates. Choose shakes with ingredients low in carbs. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages Shakes are among the most convenient forms of food. Simply blend up a few ingredients, and you can have breakfast or a snack on the go. While on the ketogenic diet, it can be hard to find convenient foods. Most on-the-go snack foods contain carbs in one form or another. To take control over what you’re consuming on your keto diet, try blending up your own shakes....

Normal blood pressure is lower than 120/80. Image Credit: Terry Vine/DigitalVision/GettyImages Blood pressure is usually the first test done when you visit a doctor — and with good reason. This one simple measure is a critical window into your health. Advertisement Maintaining a normal blood pressure level over time can protect you from potentially fatal health complications. Video of the Day A sudden drop in blood pressure, on the other hand, can be a sign of serious dehydration, a severe infection or significant blood loss, according to the American Heart Association (AHA)....

Your health, lifestyle and age can all contribute to your sodium levels. Image Credit: Brothers91/E+/GettyImages In This Article Normal Sodium Levels Symptoms of Low Sodium Causes of Low Sodium Symptoms of High Sodium Causes of High Sodium Salt often gets a bad rap when it comes to your health. But you need it to function, which is why having normal sodium levels can help your body work at its best. Advertisement Maintaining a normal sodium level in the blood has less to do with the amount of salt you eat and more to do with your hydration....

Healthy foods help boost your brain power when studying for exams. Studying for final exams can be stressful and keep you up nights. But don't comfort yourself with high-fat, high-sugar foods like pizza or candy the night before a test. Instead, choose foods that can help increase your brain circulation, enhance your memory and improve your concentration on the day of your test. Advertisement Whole Grains The night before your final exam, plan to enjoy a wholesome dinner that fills you up and strengthens your brain power....

All types of sweet potatoes offer nutrient-dense benefits to your health. Image Credit: asab974/iStock/GettyImages Everyone loves the sweet, caramelized flavor of a sweet potato, and its health benefits make this spud a spectacular addition to your diet. Behind their colorful interior, all sweet potatoes are chock-full of nutrients, but they differ in their antioxidant content, depending on the type. Advertisement Tip All types of sweet potatoes offer nutrient-dense benefits to your health....

Where you lose weight is partly determined by genetics. Image Credit: bernardbodo/iStock/GettyImages Some people tend to lose weight almost immediately from their hips and thighs, while others see their belly fat just disappear. But the love handles prove to be problematic for almost everyone. This subcutaneous fat at the sides and back of your waist is aesthetically displeasing, but doesn’t pose a significant health risk. Advertisement Stubborn love handles may be a result of a poor draw in the genetic lottery, but they may also stick around because of the WAY you've chosen to lose weight....

If you consume plenty of oranges and tomatoes, you won't need supplements. Image Credit: Laboko/iStock/Getty Images Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that has several physiological effects on the body. Found naturally in citrus fruits, green vegetables and tomatoes, vitamin C helps form cartilage, bone and collagen. Vitamin C also has antioxidant properties, protecting cells from free radicals. Vitamin C is dispersed in the body’s fluids when consumed through food or supplement form....

MMA training includes kickboxing and ground fighting. Image Credit: Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images People have different reasons for getting involved in martial arts training. Some come for the personal challenge. Others attend because they want to learn a skill. Still others are in it for the social interaction or the physical fitness. Weight loss is another common motivation. Mixed martial arts training may help you meet your weight loss goals. However, as with most weight loss programs, this comes with a few caveats....

If you don't have a blank wall for support, elevate your legs and breathe for five to 10 breaths. Image Credit: xalanx/iStock/Getty Images Swelling in your tissues, or edema, usually occurs in your lower limbs, but it can really appear anywhere. It may result from a high-salt diet, pregnancy, hot weather, certain prescription drugs, compromised lymph nodes or serious heart or liver conditions. Advertisement The pressure of excess fluid is uncomfortable and fatiguing....

Using care when choosing, washing and storing bell peppers can keep your produce fresh and protect you from getting sick. Image Credit: Aleksander Rubtsov/Tetra images/GettyImages Fresh produce can pick up harmful bacteria from many places, like dirty soil or dirty cutting boards, says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Because of this, using care when choosing, washing and storing bell peppers can help keep your produce fresh and protect you from illness....

A healthy diet is important if you are looking to lose weight. Image Credit: Enrique Díaz / 7cero/Moment/GettyImages Aiming to lose weight is a great goal, but going too hard too fast could set you up for failure in the long term. Instead, moderate weight loss by adopting a healthy lifestyle is the method most health experts recommend. If you want to set a realistic goal, why not aim to lose 7 pounds in a month?...

A stack of pancakes topped with fresh berries and honey. Image Credit: marrakeshh/iStock/Getty Images Fruit offers a wide variety of flavors for a simple and healthy pancake sauce to use in place of syrup. Ripe fruits are naturally sweet, eliminating the need for added sugar in your pancake topping. Apples, bananas, peaches, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and oranges are just a few of the fruits that make excellent pancake toppers. Use any fruit or combination of fruits that you can dream up....

You can give ribs a smoky flavor even when cooking in a oven. Image Credit: AlexPro9500/iStock/Getty Images It’s possible to cook ribs in your oven to give them the type of smoky flavor usually only associated with outdoor grills or smokers. But you’ll need to use a different method than what typical oven-baked rib recipes call for, says “New York Times” food writer and cookbook author Mark Bittman. Advertisement You can oven-smoke baby back ribs or spare ribs; baby back ribs are more tender, but spare ribs have more flavorful meat....