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Oatmeal is a great protein food after your morning workout. Image Credit: OksanaKiian/iStock/GettyImages A morning workout routine of running, swimming, strength-building or yoga can provide you with the ability to lose weight, as well as become a far happier and more energetic person. But in order to really glean those benefits, you also need a solid post-morning workout meal. Advertisement Tip After an aerobic or strength-building morning workout, your body needs healthy, nutritious and protein-packed fuel in order for your muscles to rebuild and your energy to stay level throughout the day....

There are multiple dietary factors to consider after an appendectomy, so ask your doctor what to eat to help promote healing. Image Credit: YelenaYemchuk/iStock/Getty Images Eating may be the furthest thing from your mind after having your appendix removed. But once your appetite starts to return, you may be wondering what to eat after appendix surgery. Advertisement First things first, appendix surgery — also known as an appendectomy — is usually performed because your appendix has become infected or burst open, according to the U....

It is common to occasionally experience lightheadedness during rigorous exercise. If left untreated, this dizzy feeling can lead to fainting, which may result in serious injury. If you begin to get lightheaded, stop exercising immediately. Before resuming your workout regimen, try to identify the cause of the lightheadedness and a reasonable solution. Although the exact reason can be difficult to pinpoint, there are a few common causes to consider. Low Blood Sugar Many people tend to eat less prior to a workout to prevent the discomfort of a full stomach....

Fruit kabobs will keep overnight. Image Credit: Ian O’Leary/Dorling Kindersley RF/Getty Images Fruit kabobs are a fun way to serve cut fruit without the mess. It can take a long time to construct fruit kabobs, mainly because you have to prep the fruit before you skewer it. To save time, you can make fruit kabobs the night before you plan to serve them. To keep fruit kabobs fresh overnight, coat them in a layer of citric acid to prevent them from browning and losing their texture and consistency....

Forgo a pie-crust top if you want a more rustic galette-style pie. Image Credit: anamaria63/iStock/Getty Images Start to Finish: 50 minutes Servings: 8 Difficulty: Easy Advertisement Canned peaches cut the cooking time of peach pie by about half. Home-canned peaches typically produce better results than store-bought canned peaches, partly because you control the amount of sugar used for preservation. You gain a little more control of the sugar content of store-bought peaches by draining them well before using them....

A man is swinging a golf club. Image Credit: Purestock/Purestock/Getty Images Many golfers face a challenge when they hit their long and medium irons from the fairway or light rough. Traditional irons have a small sweet spot and that means that if you don’t center the ball on the blade of the club when you swing, you are likely to have a poor result. That knowledge adds to the tension that many golfers feel when they are playing competitively....

A plate of steamed tomatoes next to a bunch of raw tomatoes. Image Credit: xuanhuongho/iStock/Getty Images Steaming tomatoes allows you to easily remove the skins for use in sauces, soups, stews and other recipes. You can also steam the tomatoes as a prelude to canning and other forms of preservation. The easiest way to steam your tomatoes is in an electric food steamer, which will also have specific directions for steaming different types of vegetables....

Medicine balls are just one of many tools that kick up your abs workout. Image Credit: Ashley Lauretta/LIVESTRONG.COM The traditional sit-up gets an upgrade when you use a medicine ball to add extra resistance. You’ll feel more challenged as you build stronger muscles. The shape of these weighted balls makes them perfect for tossing or hugging as you raise and lower your torso. Advertisement Medicine balls come in varying weights and sizes; those appropriate for ab workouts are usually between two and 25 pounds and are shaped like a basketball....

Watermelon is mostly water, making it a powerhouse when it comes to hydration. Image Credit: Vitalina Rybakova/iStock/Getty Images Getting in the recommended amount of water each day can be difficult. Maybe you get too busy, or you’re one of those people who just dislikes the taste of H2O. Well, here’s some good news: You can eat your water too. Advertisement Opting for hydrating foods like watermelon, hummus and even hard-boiled eggs can boost your daily water intake and help prevent dehydration, which, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, can cause a host of problems, from unclear thinking to constipation and kidney stones....

People with hypothyroidism might need more folic acid. Image Credit: Siraphol/iStock/Getty Images Folate, or folic acid, is an essential B vitamin that is needed for the proper formation of red blood cells and their division and DNA synthesis. This vitamin shares an important, but somewhat indirect relationship with a condition known as hypothryoidism. If you have this condition and are not getting adequate folate in your diet, you could be at increased risk for heart disease....

For a healthy tuna sandwich, choose whole grain bread, a low-fat mayo substitute and other nutritious ingredients. Image Credit: istetiana/Moment/GettyImages Busy people are always on the hunt for meals that are both quick and healthy. Many tuna sandwiches are loaded with mayonnaise and served on highly processed bread. This is not a healthy choice. Advertisement Your tuna sandwich is only as healthy as the ingredients you use to make it, so choose whole grain bread, fresh veggies and other nutritious ingredients to combine with your tuna....

Dark chocolate is a better source of antioxidants than milk chocolate. Image Credit: undefined undefined/iStock/GettyImages A bit of chocolate can add richness to desserts and even elevate your mood — but that’s not all it can do. Chocolate also contains antioxidants, caffeine and nutrients that can fight fatigue. In moderation, it’s not a bad idea to reach for chocolate to combat the afternoon slump. Advertisement Read more: 4 Unexpected Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate Video of the Day Components of Chocolate When you feel the need for a pick-me-up, your first choice may be coffee....

Cream of Wheat is a good source of carbs, fiber, iron, calcium and some B vitamins. Image Credit: samael334/iStock/GettyImages Made by cooking ground wheat grains in water until they form a porridge, cream of wheat makes for a healthful breakfast that’s both adaptable and affordable. It’s a great source of fuel if you’ve been feeling under the weather — the Cream of wheat is a bland food diet, designed to help you transition to solid food after stomach upset....

It isn't always safe to take flaxseed oil with other medicines. Image Credit: al62/iStock/Getty Images Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseed oil is gaining ground as a functional food with many potential health benefits. However, if you’re taking prescription medication, talk to your pharmacist or primary care provider about potential flaxseed oil drug interactions first. Advertisement Tip No, it's not always safe to take flaxseed oil with other medications. Talk to your primary care provider or pharmacist to discuss flaxseed oil drug interactions....

Is Running in Place a Good Cardio Exercise? Image Credit: g-stockstudio/iStock/GettyImages Running in place can be a simple solution when the weather outside is frightful or you just don’t have access to a safe route. Put some effort into it and you’ll definitely burn some calories and increase your heart rate, too. This energy output can be used to boost heart health and help you lose weight. While you can run in place in your living room, you’ll get a bigger boost for your effort by using a treadmill....

references National Institutes of Health: "How Mucus Tames Microbes" Mayo Clinic: "Food Allergy" Mayo Clinic: "Cold symptoms: Does drinking milk increase phlegm?" U.S. National Library of Medicine: "Histamine: The Stuff Allergies are Made of" Annals of Dermatology: "A Histamine-Free Diet Is Helpful for Treatment of Adult Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria" American Lung Association: "Understanding Mucus in Your Lungs" Cleveland Clinic: "Sore Throat Remedies That Actually Work" U.S. National Library of Medicine: "Immune response" PLOS One: "Dietary Enrichment with 20% Fish Oil Decreases Mucus Production and the Inflammatory Response in Mice with Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Lung Inflammation" National Institutes of Health: "Omega-3 Fatty Acids" Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: "Therapeutic Role of Functional Components in Alliums for Preventive Chronic Disease in Human Being" Microorganisms: "Mucus: An Underestimated Gut Target for Environmental Pollutants and Food Additives" University of Michigan Health: "Laryngopharyngeal Reflux" Johns Hopkins Medicine: "GERD Diet: Foods That Help with Acid Reflux (Heartburn)" American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine: "The Relationship of Mucus Concentration (Hydration) to Mucus Osmotic Pressure and Transport in Chronic Bronchitis" Cell: "A dietary fiber-deprived gut microbiota degrades the colonic mucus barrier and enhances pathogen susceptibility" American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine: "Dietary Fiber and Reduced Cough with Phlegm A Cohort Study in Singapore" Cochrane Library: "Capsaicin for non‐allergic rhinitis" Cleveland Clinic: "Hangover" Nutrients: "Histamine Intolerance Originates in the Gut" Mayo Clinic: "Cold Remedies" Cell Host & Microbe: "The Impact of Dietary Fiber on Gut Microbiata in Host Health and Disease" Kaiser Permanente: "Elecampane - Uses" Kaiser Permanente: "Mullein" Mount Sinai: "Quercetin Information" Pacific College of Health and Science: "What Does Apple Cider Vinegar Not Do?...

Stretching typically produces pleasant side effects and relieves muscle tension. Image Credit: Getty Images/Photodisc/Getty Images Your muscles typically contract and release as you move them. However, when a muscle spasm occurs, it is due to a muscle contraction that occurs when your muscle tightens without your brain telling it to. Typically, a solution for muscle spasms is stretching, which can help to loosen tight or contracted muscles. However, it is possible to experience muscle spasms after stretching your muscles due to a number of factors in your body that caused the spasms in the first place....

Close-up of coconut water beside a halved coconut. Image Credit: SageElyse/iStock/Getty Images Fluid regularly enters your body tissues from your blood. Normally, excess fluid is excreted from your body, so you don’t even realize it’s there. In some cases, however, fluid isn’t removed correctly from your tissues and causes water retention, medically referred to as edema. Edema has a number of causes, many of which are not serious, but in some cases, edema may indicate an underlying health problem....

Available in good grocery stores, oyster sauce is sold in jars and bottles. Image Credit: PUTHUCHON/iStock/Getty Images Used in Chinese cooking, oyster sauce is made from oyster extract. Oysters are boiled in water and the cooking liquid is reduced. Caramel darkens the sauce, cornstarch thickens it and soy sauce adds a smoky saltiness.The result is used in meat and vegetable dishes, and a little oyster sauce goes a long way. Typically, only 1/4 cup is added during cooking....

Red licorice. Image Credit: Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images Even though you’re trying to eat healthy, it’s OK to give in to your sweet tooth once in a while. In fact, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans allow for discretionary calories, which are calories from foods with added sugar or fat. Licorice like Red Vines can certainly satisfy your need to eat something sweet and chewy without overdoing it on calories or fat....