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Instead of focusing on weight loss, make changes to your family's lifestyle to help find a healthy weight. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages Adolescents become aware of their own body and how their peers view them around age 12. During adolescence, girls start to develop larger breasts and wider hips, while boys gain weight as they start to grow taller, according to the KidsHealth website. Weight loss occurs when you burn more calories daily than you consume....

Woman picking up a gluten free bread from a wooden bin. Image Credit: chameleonseye/iStock/Getty Images Guar gum is a stabilizer and thickener derived from the guar or clusterbean plant, which is native to India. Guar gum is often used as a gluten substitute in gluten-free baked goods, and it is found in foods such as ice cream, pudding and gravy. The website Practically Edible says it has more thickening power than cornstarch....

Losing belly fat is a challenge. Image Credit: Goodshoot/Goodshoot/Getty Images Some people struggle to lose belly fat more than others. Unfortunately, carrying weight around your midsection is partially a genetic factor. Too much weight can be dangerous to your health and can lead to heart disease and diabetes. If you’ve hit a weight loss plateau, there are a few diet and exercise tricks you can try to help you lose stubborn belly fat....

With cheese, moderation is the name of the game. Image Credit: istetiana/Moment/GettyImages Pizza, grilled cheese, macaroni, fondue — there are countless ways to enjoy delicious cheese. Perhaps that’s why the amount of cheese Americans eat each year has more than tripled since the 1970s, from an average of 11 pounds to a whopping 35 pounds each year, per Harvard Health Publishing. Advertisement Most of that increase is due to the popularity of convenience foods like frozen pizza or macaroni and cheese, plus cheese-rich cuisines like Italian and Tex-Mex....

People who are pregnant need to take certain precautions at the beach. Image Credit: cdwheatley/E+/GettyImages Part of leading a healthful life while pregnant is staying active, according to Womenshealth.gov. Going to the beach while pregnant to swim is a good, low-impact exercise option because it works out the whole body, keeping you fit and preparing your body for giving birth. Advertisement Pregnant people should get at least 2 1/2 hours of moderate aerobic activity each week....

For most people, the saturated fat in lamb meat makes it too unhealthy to include in their diets on a regular basis. Image Credit: Lisovskaya/iStock/GettyImages Lamb meat is the ultimate special occasion food, whether you indulge in a holiday standing rib roast or a romantic dinner featuring lamb chops. Even ground lamb can elevate a meatloaf or casserole. But should lamb form part of your regular diet? Probably not. Advertisement Tip For most people, the saturated fat in lamb meat makes it too unhealthy to include in their diets on a regular basis....

Doctor examining a woman's stomach. Image Credit: JackF/iStock/Getty Images Digestive diseases can interfere with the daily lives of people. Some people may put up with the often painful and uncomfortable symptoms, but treatment is available to get treat digestive disorders or to provide relief so people can live relatively normal lives. Some of the diseases may lead to serious damage to the digestive tract if left untreated. Advertisement Ulcers Ulcers damage the lining of the stomach because of bacterial infections or adverse side effects of medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen or naporoxen, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse....

Most multivitamins actually contain minerals as well as vitamins. Image Credit: seedviva/iStock/Getty Images Minerals play diverse roles throughout your body, from the metabolism of energy to supporting your immune system. Along with their other functions, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and potassium impact your muscle contractions, which is related to muscle tightness. If you have muscle tightness, a multivitamin with additional minerals may help your muscles function better, relieving pain and tightness....

Woman drinking an energy drink Image Credit: MichaelJay/iStock/Getty Images Taurine, an amino acid, is used by the body for liver and brain functions. Your body produces taurine from metabolizing vitamin B-6, methionine and cysteine. Doctors may recommend taurine supplements for congestive heart failure, angina, cystic fibrosis and other respiratory and heart conditions. Many energy and sports drinks contain taurine. Advertisement Negative Nitrogen Balance The main negative side effect associated with taurine supplementation is negative nitrogen balance....

Drying liquid whey makes a potent protein powder rich in amino acids. Image Credit: vadimgouida/iStock/Getty Images Manufacturers create liquid whey by curdling and straining milk. Whey nutrition facts include having a broad spectrum of macronutrients and micronutrients. The nutrients in whey offer you many benefits. Learning about them will help you improve your health and fight disease. Advertisement Read more: Is Whey Protein Good or Bad? Video of the Day Whey Nutrition Information The raw, liquid form of whey features the natural macronutrients of carbohydrate (4....

Oranges supply more than 100 percent of your Daily Value of vitamin C, which can help shorten colds. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative When eaten as part of a healthy diet, oranges can benefit your skin, heart and digestive health. The refreshing citrus fruit is famously known for its high levels of vitamin C, an antioxidant that may help shorten the duration of colds and is linked to a lower risk of cancer....

A woman is measuring her waist. Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia/iStock/Getty Images Many people begin diet and exercise programs with the desire of losing 10 pounds or some other amount of weight. Ten pounds is a considerable amount of weight to lose and will allow you to see considerable changes in the mirror. The perception of your own physique may be hard to quantify; however, a numerical analysis of what a 10 pound change means will help you see that your work has paid off....

Iron and folic acid supplements may cause side effects. Image Credit: sasimoto/iStock/GettyImages If you’re experiencing Nutrilite cherry iron side effects, you might be wondering if they are consistent with other brands of iron. While each brand may vary in the ingredients and fillers they include, comparing the amount of iron in various supplements is a good place to start. Advertisement Tip Iron and folic acid supplements both come with potential side effects such as nausea or headache....

A bowl of yogurt topped with fruit, nuts and cereal on the cushion of a chair. Image Credit: saquizeta/iStock/Getty Images Whether you are diagnosed with diabetes and your doctor has suggested eating frequent meals, or you are on a restricted-calorie diet and want to prevent hunger throughout the day, eating six small, balanced meals a day is a healthy alternative to the standard three. By eating six small meals, you can curb your hunger and keep your blood sugar at a stable level, provided the food you are eating is nutritious....

Spam is particularly popular in Hawaii. Image Credit: bhofack2/iStock/GettyImages Spam is well known for providing a convenient source of meat in a can, yet it’s rarely considered a healthy food choice. Spam offers a variety of meats, some of which have a better nutrition profile than others. Advertisement By examining the specific nutritional information of Spam's lineup of products, you can choose the Spam product that comes closest to meeting your individual nutritional needs....

Sweet potatoes are a great source of beta carotene, which helps support healthy vision. Image Credit: ALLEKO/iStock/GettyImages Did you know that healthy vision starts with a healthy diet? In fact, one of the best things you can do for your eyes is to eat a clean, well-balanced diet rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Healthy whole foods are your first line of defense against vision problems down the line. Advertisement So, ready to protect your precious peepers?...

The most efficient way to lose weight is to spread your meals and snacks evenly throughout the day and to get the proper balance of protein, carbohydrates and fats in your diet. Eating mini-meals will keep your metabolism revved up and prevent you from feeling hungry. Unless you’re asleep, don’t let more than four hours go between meals and snacks. Failing to eat frequently will slow down your metabolism and if you wait too long, you are more likely to overeat and not take the time to make the healthiest choice....

Mushrooms for sale at a market. Image Credit: Manuel Faba Ortega/iStock/Getty Images Vitamin K fills such an important role in blood clotting and maintaining strong bones that you shouldn’t limit the amount you eat unless it’s under the advice of your physician. If you’re at risk for blood clots or you take blood-thinning medications, it’s vital to monitor your consumption of vitamin K, but chances are you won’t need to worry about eating only the very few vegetables that contain no vitamin K....

Sliced hardboiled eggs on a wooden countertop. Image Credit: bhofack2/iStock/Getty Images You’ll find both niacin and niacinamide as supplements, and both are forms of vitamin B-3. These can be used interchangeably for some purposes, but some therapies require different forms of the vitamin. Always consult a doctor before trying either of these supplements to ensure you are taking the correct form, to check for drug interactions and to evaluate the risks of any side effects....

Ask your doctor if it’s OK to take methotrexate and folic acid on the same day, because there's no one-size-fits-all guideline. Image Credit: Nipitphon Na Chiangmai / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages When you take methotrexate to treat cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis, this may lead to a folic acid deficiency. In order to correct this, your doctor may suggest you take supplemental folic acid, also called folate. Advertisement Tip Ask your doctor if it’s OK to take methotrexate and folic acid on the same day, because there's no one-size-fits-all guideline....