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The soluble fiber found foods like beans and peas helps in lowering both blood sugar and cholesterol. Image Credit: Liudmila Zavialova/iStock/GettyImages If ever there was a magic word when it comes to your diet, “fiber” would be the one — and not just so you can poop better. Fiber is shown to help lower and stabilize blood sugar and cholesterol. Here are the diet tips and fiber-rich foods that can help lower blood sugar and lower cholesterol....

Two jars of honey, flowers and honeycomb. Image Credit: serezniy/iStock/Getty Images Natural bee honey has been suggested as an alternative treatment for hay fever and other allergies. Not all honey is the same, however, since bees make honey by gathering nectar from the flowers common in their vicinity. The composition and medicinal properties of honey vary depending upon the mix of flowers the bees visit. Manuka honey is a plant-specific honey purported to have healing properties....

Someone is standing on a bathroom scale. Image Credit: amickman/iStock/Getty Images Nortriptyline hydrochloride is a medication approved for treating depression in adults. A type of tricyclic antidepressant, nortriptyline is available in generic form and as the brands Aventyl and Pamelor. In addition to treating depression, doctors prescribe nortriptyline for several off-label uses as well, including relieving chronic pain, preventing migraine headaches and helping people quit smoking, according to eMedTV. Nortriptyline is associated with many side effects, including both weight loss and weight gain....

Bad form can exacerbate back pain during your runs. Image Credit: martin-dm/E+/GettyImages You’ve been waiting to log your miles all day. But instead of finishing with a sense of accomplishment, you feel a twinge in your lower back. Surprised? Don’t be. Back pain, which the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says 80 percent of American adults will experience, is common among runners. Advertisement "Our back is the center of our body, and its role includes providing a strong base for our limbs to work more effectively and efficiently," says Martin Ridley, a physical therapist at Tru Whole Care in New York City....

Probiotics are good for the health of your digestive system, specifically your gut microbiome. Image Credit: jenifoto/iStock/GettyImages Regardless of whether you’re sick or healthy, there are bacteria inside you. In fact, there may be as many as 100 trillion bacteria in your digestive system alone. The foods you eat impact these bacteria, which makes eating probiotic-rich foods, like Greek Yogurt, an important part of everyone’s diet. Advertisement ​Read more:​ Which Type of Yogurt Is Best?...

The butterfly stretch can be very beneficial for your hips, but it can also be painful if you lack mobility or flexibility. Image Credit: Prostock-Studio/iStock/GettyImages Whether you lead a mostly sedentary lifestyle or you’re an active athlete, the butterfly stretch — which opens up the hips, inner thighs and groin — is fundamental for functional flexibility. Advertisement "Open hips are key to a healthy lower back," Gillian Walker, yoga instructor and founder of The Hot Yoga Dome, tells LIVESTRONG....

The Virgin Diet shake is perfect for those mornings you don't have time for breakfast but want something nutritional and delicious. Image Credit: FabrikaCr/iStock/GettyImages You leisurely sip a second cup of green tea as you await the gluten-free veggie breakfast casserole warming in your oven when you suddenly realize you have a whole hour to read the paper before you head off to work. Advertisement And then you wake up. Video of the Day A blaring 6 a....

references NCA releases Atlas of American Coffee Benefits of Coffee The best coffee makers are hassle-free and easy to clean, plus makes a tasty brew. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative Best Drip Best Single-Serve Best Cold Brew Best Pour-Over Best French Press Best Programmable Best Espresso + Coffee Best Percolator Best With a Grinder Best Moka Pot How to Choose We spoke to six registered dietitians for their top recommendations, so you can rest assured that all of our top picks below are tested and come recommended by the experts....

The best men's athletic underwear are made of breathable, sweat-wicking materials and have a slight compression fit. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Manufacturers typically market athletic underwear according to gender, so we have listed men’s picks below. In some cases, men’s workout underwear is built to support greater weights and tend to be longer in length or roomier in the front than women’s versions due to anatomical differences. So people with bigger bodies may want to opt for men’s versions....

Drinking a cup of coffee, which is full of antioxidants, could help fight inflammation. Image Credit: agrobacter/iStock/GettyImages Inflammation in the body is a natural process that can actually help you stay healthy. However, problems can arise when we have chronic high levels of inflammation, which is associated with a number of health conditions. Advertisement But if you're trying to eat an inflammation-fighting diet, the foods you eat aren't the only thing you should be paying attention to....

The Benefits of Glucose When Working Out Image Credit: Drazen_/E+/GettyImages Glucose gets broken down from the carbohydrates in foods and drinks to provide all your muscles and organs with fast-acting fuel. When you work out, your body uses glucose for muscle function, and after you work out, it also requires glucose to rebuild your muscles with protein. The higher the intensity of your exercise, the more glucose you need for fuel....

Woman holding a capsule Image Credit: psphotograph/iStock/Getty Images The majority of the body is made of water, which is contained in blood as well as fluid found inside and outside of cells. Consequently, much of the body’s weight comes from water. It is possible to lose weight by eliminating some of the water from the body through the use of “water pills,” but there are significant risks as well. Advertisement Diuretic Mechanism and Uses Water pills, also known as diuretics, work by affecting the way the kidneys filter the blood....

A woman is riding a stationary bike. Image Credit: dolgachov/iStock/Getty Images Indoor studio biking is an intense training regimen that helps you burn a substantial number of calories per workout. A typical 40 minute workout can burn 400 to 500 calories, depending upon your body weight and intensity. At the heart of an indoor cycling bike is the flywheel, which helps provide a smooth resistance to your workout. Advertisement Design of Stationary Bikes Indoor cycling bikes are basically modified upright stationary bikes designed for high-intensity training that traditional stationary bikes are just not meant to handle....

Water is important for your overall health. Image Credit: Yagi Studio/DigitalVision/Getty Images Water is important for regulating body temperature, cushioning your joints, strengthening your muscles, providing moisture for your skin and other tissues, and for carrying nutrients to your cells. The human body is more than 50 percent water, although the exact percentage varies, based on a number of factors, including gender, age and body composition. Advertisement Average Water Weight in Women's Bodies Women tend to have a lower percentage of water weight than men, with an average of 52 to 55 percent, compared to an average of 60 percent for men....

Before you lift those weights, do this one exercise first! Image Credit: Adobe Stock/UBER IMAGES Even if you’re consistent in the gym, chances are you spend a big chunk of your day hunched over a computer at work. The result of that sedentary lifestyle is shortened and flexed hips, rounded back, inwardly rotated shoulders and limited action from your glutes and core. All of this can increase your injury risk when you step into the weight room and lessen the effectiveness of your workout....

Elbow hyperextension occurs when your elbow is forced to bend backward in a way that involves enough force to place a strain on the connective tissues in the joint. This injury can result in pain, tenderness and the inability to fully move the joint. Treatment for this exercise generally involves resting the joint long enough to allow your connective tissues the time to begin healing, followed by exercises designed to strengthen and stretch your elbow joint....

references Nutrients: “Short- and Long-Term Effects of Wholegrain Oat Intake on Weight Management and Glucolipid Metabolism in Overweight Type-2 Diabetics: A Randomized Control Trial” Public Library of Science Medicine: “Whole Grain, Bran, and Germ Intake and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study and Systematic Review” Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition: “Health Benefits of Legumes and Pulses with a Focus on Australian Sweet Lupins” Journal of Food Science and Technology: “Peanuts as Functional Food: A Review” USDA: "Egg" USDA: "Uncooked Oats" USDA: "Dried Spirulina Seaweed" USDA: "Firm Tofu" USDA: "Lupini Beans (Cooked)" USDA: "Hemp Seeds" USDA: "Toasted Wheat Germ" USDA: "Pumpkin Seeds (pepitas)" USDA: "Peanut Butter" BMJ: "Dietary intake of total, animal, and plant proteins and risk of all cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies" Tofu is a great source of plant-based protein and provides other vital nutrients such as fiber....

A fit, young woman is squatting with a barbell at the gym. Image Credit: Ibrakovic/iStock/Getty Images For some people, gaining weight in a specific part of the body – such as the hips – can be a challenge. Incorporating certain types of resistance-training exercises can be an effective way to increase muscle mass in your hips and can lead to the appearance of weight gain. If you eat more calories than your body needs to function, you may also notice increases in fat deposits in your hips – though weight gain across your entire body may also occur....

A woman is doing an Olympic barbell to perform a snatch. Image Credit: Ammentorp Photography/iStock/Getty Images The overhead snatch exercise is considered an Olympic lift, along with the clean and jerk. Completing the overhead snatch offers a variety of benefits, some of which are especially important to athletes. Using dumbbells instead of an Olympic barbell as your weighted implement in the exercise adds additional elements and benefits. Advertisement Snatch According to Peter Melanson of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the overhead snatch exercise is effective at preventing injury, increasing performance, building core stability, improving balance and increasing explosive power and speed of movements....

Too much sucrose can lead to weight gain, fluctuating blood sugar levels, addictive eating behavior and heart health risks. Image Credit: Suwannar Kawila / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Sucrose, or table sugar, may add sweetness to your favorite treats, but when it comes to your health, it’s not so sweet. Weight gain, poor blood sugar control and heart disease are just a few of the dangers of regularly including sucrose in your diet....