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Close-up of vitamin C supplements on a table. Image Credit: Heike Rau/iStock/Getty Images Choosing the vitamin C supplements that fits your needs can be challenging considering the vitamin is available in several different forms and a range of dosages. Sodium ascorbate is one type of supplemental vitamin C you’ll find on the shelf. If you can’t tolerate the natural acidity of vitamin C, sodium ascorbate may be a good choice. Just be aware that it contains enough sodium that it may not be suitable if you must limit your sodium intake....

If you have lung damage or a condition like COPD, consider forgoing carbonated beverages. Image Credit: Slawek Tomas/iStock/GettyImages You might not realize it, but if you have lung damage or conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), your health can be impacted by the effects of carbonated drinks on your lungs. Before you open your next soda, here’s why you might want to skip carbonated beverages. Advertisement ​Read more:​ Are There Health Benefits of Soda and Carbonated Water?...

You can add a number of products to foods to make them sweeter. Honey, stevia and table sugar are three such products, each with different properties. Although each of these products can be deemed “natural,” they affect your body in different ways, so you need to look at several factors to determine which one to use. Calories One way to evaluate different sweeteners is to check their caloric contents. One of the biggest problems with consuming sweet foods is that they can be high in calories due to added carbohydrates....

Almonds are considered low-mold nuts, but some candida diets also include pecans and walnuts. Image Credit: TanyaSid/iStock/GettyImages Almonds are considered low-mold nuts, but some candida diets also include pecans and walnuts. Still other candida eating plans permit all varieties of nuts. Advertisement Tip The kinds of nuts allowed on candida diets vary. Nuts and Mold For those wondering which nut varieties are low-mold nuts, this is something of a gray area, says Lisa Richards, CNC, creator of the Candida diet....

If you experience any side effects from caffeine, it may be time to switch to decaf drinks. Image Credit: Cata N / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that gives people an extra boost of energy when they need it most. If you’re sensitive to it, consider switching to caffeine-free soda. It tastes just like the real thing, but it doesn’t give you the jitters. Advertisement Tip If you experience any side effects from caffeine, it may be time to switch to decaf drinks....

Contact your doctor right away if you notice yellowing of your skin or eyes. Image Credit: Alona Siniehina/iStock/GettyImages If you suddenly have yellow hands, chances are that this has been caused by one of two conditions that can cause your skin, including the skin on your hands, to turn yellow — jaundice, which can be dangerous, or carotenaemia, which usually isn’t. Advertisement ​Read more:​ The Best Diet for Liver Disease and Diabetes Video of the Day All About Jaundice Jaundice is a condition characterized by yellow skin, eyes and mucous membranes, according to the Cleveland Clinic....

Avoid fiber-rich foods, such as sweet potatoes, before a colonoscopy. Image Credit: Boyrcr420/iStock/GettyImages A colonoscopy is something no one looks forward to but everyone has to endure at some point. Before your procedure, your doctor will give you colonoscopy prep instructions to follow, and these will make the colonoscopy easier and the results more accurate. Prep instructions include limiting your fiber intake a few days prior in order to empty your colon....

If your stomach's making funky noises, don't worry. There could be several harmless causes. Image Credit: PredragImages/iStock/GettyImages A poorly timed gurgle from your stomach at a meeting with your boss or on a first date may be embarrassing, but many times, your body just can’t help it. It’s totally normal to hear gurgling, growling and rumbling noises coming from your stomach and gastrointestinal (GI) system. Advertisement Why Your Tummy Sounds Off “There’s a medical word for these bowel sounds: It’s called borborygmus,” says Joseph Fiorito, MD, chair of gastroenterology at Danbury Hospital in Danbury, Connecticut....

Sugar can aggravate diarrhea. Image Credit: AnnaPustynnikova/iStock/GettyImages Almost everyone enjoys eating something sweet, but few people know that too much sugar can cause a bad case of diarrhea. If you’re wondering why your stomach is upset, consider whether you’ve been chowing down on too many of the wrong sugary foods. Advertisement Tip Harvard Health Publishing explains that the over-consumption of high-sugar foods in general can cause diarrhea. Excess sugars draw water and electrolytes into the gut, making stools loose and unformed....

Try starting your day with a two-egg omelet loaded up with tons of veggies. Image Credit: Lilechka75/iStock/Getty Images A four-month timeline might feel generous – and more than you’d prefer to wait for weight loss results – but it’s a relatively short time frame to change your body. Losing 50 pounds in four months requires losing about 3 pounds a week, which is about 50 percent more than the maximum recommended weight loss rate of 2 pounds weekly....

Three women walking on a nature path. Image Credit: Erik Snyder/Photodisc/Getty Images According to MayoClinic.com, your daily calorie needs decrease steadily as you get older. Many people find that as they reach the age of 50, extra weight has accrued. Often, this is because you may not adjust your daily food intake downward as you age – if this is the case, the excess calories over and above your daily needs may be stored as body fat....

Arm exercises for women over 60 can include using free weights or body weight. Image Credit: Halfpoint/iStock/GettyImages For women over 60, toning the body with a well-rounded fitness program will lead to improved health and well-being. When you get toned and strong, you’ll find daily activities — from carrying groceries to playing with the grandkids — easier and more enjoyable. If you have concerns about your physical health and ability to perform exercises, consult your doctor to identify activities for 60-year-olds that are best for you....

Add zinc-rich foods like salmon to your diet to support healthy blood pressure levels. Image Credit: piotr_malczyk/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Foods With Zinc Deficiency Excess Other Minerals Zinc Recommendations Your body needs zinc to perform its best. Zinc aids in growth and development, immune function and more, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. But people with hypertension need to watch their levels — too much or too little zinc can affect your blood pressure....

Grab a dumbbell or two and get ready to activate your clavicular heads. Image Credit: kitzcorner/iStock/Getty Images When people say “pecs,” they’re saying it because it’s a whole lot easier to say than “the sternal head of the pectoralis major.” But that’s what they’re actually talking about, whether they know it or not. Advertisement While the sternal head makes up the meat of the chest, spanning from about the mid-shoulder down to the upper abs, the clavicular head of the pecs — which occupy the space between the top of the sternal heads and the collarbone — make up the "upper" or "inner" pecs....

An assortment of black licorice candies. Image Credit: funkymama/iStock/Getty Images Much of what’s called “licorice” actually contains little to no licorice. Licorice, produced from the roots of the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra, contains the active ingredient glycyrrhizin, which has properties similar to aldosterone, a hormone released by the adrenal glands to regulate blood pressure. Black licorice candy may contain some licorice, but many black licorice products contain anise, which has a similar taste, rather than actual licorice....

You don't need equipment to work out. Image Credit: Comstock/Stockbyte/Getty Images The Total Gym is a serious fitness investment. Depending on the model, it can cost anywhere from $1,295 to $4,895 at the time of publication. The Total Gym products are sold to physical therapy clinics, gyms, hospitals, athletic training facilities and many other large corporations. However, it is not necessarily the best investment for getting fit. Advertisement Workout DVDs If you are looking for a cost-effective way to work out at home, look into buying a workout DVD such as the P90X or Insanity....

For the first few days after gallbladder surgery, drink a variety of clear broths and other clear liquids. Image Credit: kazoka30/iStock/GettyImages If you’ve been experiencing the pain of repeated gallbladder attacks, typically a reaction to one or more gallstones blocking the bile duct that leads to the small intestine, the likely conclusion is to have your gallbladder removed. But will that mean your diet has to change too? Advertisement Read more: Post-Surgery Gallbladder Diet Video of the Day The Gallbladder's Role in Digestion The gallbladder is a small organ located beneath your liver that functions as a storage unit for bile — a fluid produced and released by the liver that aids in the digestion of fat, says Johns Hopkins Medicine....

There is a difference between size and body composition between males and female. Image Credit: wundervisuals/E+/GettyImages With the increasing popularity of women’s sports — Nielsen reports that 84 percent of sports fans are interested in women’s sports, a figure that is 51 percent male, as of 2018 — it’d be lovely to believe that widespread acceptance of equal gender strength is the norm. But despite promising progress, issues like the controversy over transgender athletes at the 2016 Olympic Games still rear their heads....

Consuming too many refined carbs, like those found in white pasta, may increase your risk of chronic illness. Image Credit: Michael Barrow Photography/Moment/GettyImages Pasta, donuts, cake, pastries and pizza are some of the most beloved foods worldwide. They’re widely available, have a low price tag and taste amazing. After all, who could say no to a warm slice of pizza after a long day? Unfortunately, these goodies are loaded with refined sugar, trans fats and potentially harmful chemicals that may harm your health in the long run....

Planks work your core without putting a lot of strain on the injured leg. Image Credit: mel-nik/iStock/GettyImages Getting a quality ab and butt workout after an injury to your knee may seem like an impossible task, but it isn’t. Many low impact exercises target these muscle groups while placing little to no strain on the knee joint itself. Advertisement Using a few simple modifications, these knee-friendly exercises strengthen the butt and stomach muscle groups without the risk of further knee injury....