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Homemade meal replacement shakes can be a part of a diet plan. Image Credit: iprogressman/iStock/GettyImages Whether you’re trying to lose weight or think of menu ideas for the elderly, homemade meal replacement shakes can have their place in an eating plan. To be considered a meal replacement shake, the beverage must be consumed as a substitute for a meal or part of a meal, according to Mather Hospital. Advertisement It's worth noting, though, that there's no officially regulated definition of a meal replacement shake....

According to the Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety, hydrogen peroxide is commonly used as an industrial bleaching agent and a household germ killer. Most of the bottles you buy in stores contain a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution, but special bottles labeled “food grade” may contain up to a 35 percent hydrogen peroxide solution. The higher the percentage, the more cautious you need to be, since hydrogen peroxide both degrades quickly and can be fatal if ingested in high quantities....

With home canning, be sure to cook your food to the proper temperature to kill the bacteria. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages Botulism is a rare but serious foodborne illness most commonly caused by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Spores of this bacteria are naturally found in dirt and dust but are usually dormant. When given the right conditions, however, these spores can transform into an active bacteria and produce a deadly toxin....

The key to keeping carbs in your diet is to first quit demonizing the macro as a whole. Image Credit: anouchka/E+/GettyImages You either embrace them as part of every meal or wish or you could cut them out entirely. But while you should be mindful of how many grams of carbs you’re packing on your plate, quality is just as important as quantity when it comes to your health. Advertisement Surprisingly enough, Americans are eating fewer total carbs and fewer refined carbs than they did in the 90s....

Activated charcoal can reduce drug absorption. Image Credit: Trexdigital/iStock/GettyImages Beyond being eye-catching, is eating charcoal actually healthy for you? You may have seen black ice cream, cocktails, juices, lattes and more listed on menus and hitting your Instagram feeds. Advertisement These dark foods aren't just a result of a food coloring trick; their black color comes from activated charcoal, which is an ingredient that's claimed to have detoxifying effects. Video of the Day What Is Activated Charcoal?...

There is so much good to this tiny, pitted fruit. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages In This Article Effects on Bowels Cherry Allergy Nutrition Facts Health Benefits For such a little fruit, cherries are full of antioxidants and other key nutrients. Advertisement Cherries boast vitamins B, C and K as well as potassium, manganese, magnesium, copper and iron, according to the USDA. They're low in calories, high in fiber, and they may even help you get a better night's sleep....

Garlic can be a useful component of any heart-healthy diet. Image Credit: tka4ko/iStock/GettyImages Garlic can be a useful component of any heart-healthy diet, especially as a flavor-enhancer that renders a low-sodium diet more palatable. And fresh garlic has other benefits, too. But is garlic good for hypertension? Advertisement Garlic’s Unique Properties Garlic has long been a subject of research interest due to its antioxidant properties and its allicin content — allicin being a sulfur component that promotes the dilation of blood vessels and also inhibits angiotensin II, a protein that constricts blood vessels, according to research published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Cardiology in April 2016....

If buying organic produce isn't in your budget, know that you're not alone. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative How Bad Is It Really? sets the record straight on all the habits and behaviors you’ve heard might be unhealthy. Organic fruits and vegetables are often touted as being better for our bodies. That’s all well and good — until purchasing the pricey produce feels totally alienating for those of us who don’t have the budget for it....

Ground chuck contains about 15 to 20 percent fat. Image Credit: istetiana/Moment/GettyImages In This Article Ground Beef Ground Chuck Lean Beef vs. Chuck How to Choose Ground Beef Recipes Ground Chuck Recipes The difference between ground chuck and 80 percent lean ground beef is minimal. Advertisement Ground chuck contains about 15 to 20 percent fat, meaning it's 80 to 85 percent lean. In other words, a ground chuck cut is often equivalent to lean ground beef....

Image Credit: KatarzynaBialasiewicz/iStock/Getty Images Choline is an essential nutrient, considered a vitamin, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Your body is able to synthesize some choline, but not enough to maintain health. Supplementing your diet with choline is necessary for memory, muscle functioning and fat metabolism. High doses of choline may produce fishy body odor, especially in a rare disorder called trimethylaminuria, or TMAU. This syndrome may cause social isolation and depression, making low choline content foods a must....

Stretching too aggressively can actually increase back pain. Image Credit: PeopleImages/iStock/GettyImages If you have back pain or a feeling of a tight back, your first reaction might be to stretch the area that feels tight. While stretching the back is often prescribed to help alleviate your back pain and tightness, sometimes stretching the back leads to more pain and discomfort. If your back hurts after stretching, you could have too much mobility or tightness in other areas....

As far back as medieval times, stinging nettle root has been used medicinally. Image Credit: KathyKafka/iStock/GettyImages As far back as medieval times, stinging nettle root has been used medicinally. These days, Urtica dioica is considered an alternative supplement, but nettle root benefits include helping with conditions such as allergies, high blood pressure and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Advertisement Stinging nettles are probably best known for the itchy, painful rash they leave on your skin when you come into contact with their leaves and stems....

Subway sauces may add flavor to your sandwich, but some are high in calories, fat and sugar. Image Credit: VeselovaElena/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Nutrition Info Calories and Fat Sugar Sodium Healthiest Choices Most people know Subway for their submarine-style sandwiches, which are custom made to order with a variety of bread options, meats, cheeses and other toppings. Advertisement You can top your sub (or salad) with a number of Subway sauces for more flavor or juiciness....

It doesn't matter when you take vitamin E. Image Credit: Ake Ngiamsanguan/iStock/GettyImages The best time of day to take vitamins depends mostly on personal preference. Taking them at the same time every day helps create a habit, so you don’t forget. It doesn’t matter if you take vitamin E in the morning or evening, but take it with a meal or snack containing fat to aid absorption. Advertisement Tip You can take vitamin E capsules any time of day as long as you take them with a source of fat....

Some people are more prone to sneeze attacks than others. Image Credit: agrobacter/E+/GettyImages Sneezing is one of those bodily functions that happens so often we rarely give it much thought. But when one ​achoo​ turns into a full-on sneeze attack, you might start to wonder what’s going on (and whether there’s anything you can do to stop it). Advertisement Sneezes — those sudden, forceful bursts of air expelled through your nose and mouth — are the body's automatic method for getting irritants like dust, pollen, or germs out of the nose or throat....

Eating breakfast may trigger symptoms of a digestive condition. If you only develop stomach pain after eating breakfast, assess what you're eating on a daily basis that could potentially cause irritation to the stomach. Pain in the stomach is caused by a food-induced condition, most likely food intolerance, food allergy or irritable bowel syndrome. Talk with your doctor about what foods you currently eat for breakfast, the type of symptoms you have and the longevity of the symptoms....

You may occasionally experience stomach pain after eating salads. Image Credit: evrim ertik/iStock/GettyImages It’s hard to believe that something as innocuous as lettuce could cause stomach pain. However, many people find that they have stomach cramps and diarrhea after eating salad, and sometimes it’s pretty severe. Advertisement It's not likely it's the lettuce that's causing your pain. Lettuce is generally easy on the stomach and not gas-producing, according to University Hospitals in Ohio....

A glass of diet soda. Image Credit: Pixygirlly/iStock/Getty Images Concerns over the potential cancer-causing effects of artificial sweeteners have prompted ongoing research regarding their safety for human consumption. Sucralose is one type of widely used artificial sweetener that has a number of advantages over real sugar, which include a lack of calories and a greater sweetening power. While the safety of sucralose has been called into question by some, the majority of scientific evidence shows sucralose to be a safe substance that does not cause cancer....

references ConsumerLab: "Protein Powders and Shakes Review" Journal of the American College of Nutrition: "Whey Protein Supplementation Improves Body Composition and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Overweight and Obese Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis" Mayo Clinic: "Whey protein" American Dairy Products Institute: "Whey" Kaiser Permanente: "Egg Protein" Cleveland Clinic: "Everything You Should Know About Pea Protein" Get the 411 on the best protein powders before investing in a tub. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG....

references Journal of Caring Sciences: "Effect of White Noise on Sleep in Patients Admitted to a Coronary Care" Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911. A white noise machine can help you fall asleep faster and get better quality shuteye. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative...