Posts

Neither sugar nor organic tapioca syrup offers significant benefits. Image Credit: Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images While it seems intuitive that more “natural” sweeteners, like organic tapioca syrup, would offer a healthier alternative to normal sugar, that’s not necessarily the case. Both options are loaded with calories and sugar but offer very little nutritional value. If you choose organic tapioca syrup, though, you may avoid the pesticides and herbicides used in conventional farming....

Fruits that are not from the citrus family include apples, pears, watermelon, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, melons, bananas, kiwi and more. Image Credit: Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images You don’t need to ask for lemon or lime with your water at most restaurants these days — it’s just served that way. And while there is no denying that citrus fruits provide colorful presentation to your meal, it’s also important to understand the nutrition behind both citrus and non citrus fruits....

Eating less sugar may reduce your chance of breakouts and even slow down your skin's aging process. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative What Really Happens to Your Body When examines the head-to-toe effects of common behaviors, actions and habits in your everyday life. You know sugar’s not great for you, but it’s 3 p.m. and you’ve hit the wall. ​What the heck​, you figure, as you rip open a package of Swedish Fish or crack a can of Coke for a quick pick-me-up....

Vegetables have low impact on blood sugar. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images Glucose is an important energy source for your brain and body. Your body converts carbohydrates and simple sugars in your diet to glucose for fuel usage. Your pancreas releases a hormone called insulin to regulate blood glucose levels. According to the American Diabetes Association, a normal fasting blood glucose level is between 70 to 100 milligrams per deciliter and the recommendation is to aim for 70 to 130 milligrams per deciliter when fasting and less than 180 milligrams per deciliter after meals....

A small bowl of sodium saccharin. Image Credit: Amarita/iStock/Getty Images Between saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, stevia and the long-outlawed cyclamates, it’s easy to be confused by all the artificial sweeteners. Judging which products are best for baking and which are best for use at the table is baffling enough without weighing the relative safety concerns. Sodium saccharin has 100-plus years of commercial use in the U.S. Scientists have exhaustively studied its relative safety over the decades....

Add some variety to your base training with tempo rides. Cyclists train in many different ways depending on their goals, time restraints and fitness levels. Often this training consists of riding in certain predefined zones that a rider measures based on a power meter, heart rate monitor or perceived exertion. Each training zone is designed to work on different aspects of a cyclist's fitness. One of those zones is the tempo zone, also known as tempo riding....

The highest fat content in a chicken comes from the skin, followed by the wings, which just barely edge out the next-fattiest cut of chicken meat, the thigh. Image Credit: istetiana/Moment/GettyImages You’ll find the highest chicken fat content in the skin. But even once you’ve stripped the skin away, not all cuts of poultry are created equal. Some have roughly twice the fat content of lean breast meat. Advertisement Tip The highest fat content in a chicken comes from the skin, followed by the wings, which just barely edge out the next-fattiest cut of chicken meat, the thigh....

Rebounding offers key physical and mental benefits. Image Credit: craftvision/E+/Getty Images Bouncing on a trampoline – or, to speak in technical terms, rebounding – is a fun and effective way to burn calories, strengthen bone density, stimulate organs and protect ligaments and joints. There are two major types of mini trampolines: spring trampolines and bungee cord trampolines. Choosing the right kind of trampoline for you depends on your specific goals – but in most cases, bungee cord trampolines have the greatest number of benefits....

Fresh fruits and vegetables help you get all the vitamins you need. Image Credit: Dave King/Dorling Kindersley RF/Getty Images Vitamins don’t provide energy, like carbohydrates, proteins and fats, but they are essential compounds that help the body grow and function optimally. Thirteen essential vitamins help boost your immunity, strengthen your bones, heal wounds, bolster your eyesight and assist you in obtaining energy from food – among multiple other functions. Without adequate vitamin intake, you may feel lethargic, be vulnerable to infection and develop other serious complications that can endanger your health and life....

Aloe vera juice can have laxative effects. Image Credit: bdspn/iStock/Getty Images One of the primary uses of aloe vera is as a topical treatment for minor cuts and burns. Traditionally, aloe also has been used as a laxative to treat constipation, but recent research suggests that it can cause severe side effects, which may include diarrhea and gas. In some cases, albeit less commonly, a digestive disorder or contamination is to blame for diarrhea and gas after drinking aloe vera juice....

Lunch is especially crucial for kids at school. Image Credit: Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images As the main daily meal in dozens of countries around the world, lunch holds a place of primary cultural importance. In 9-to-5 environments, the midday meal isn’t always such a big deal, but making time for a healthy lunch can pay off both mentally and physically. Advertisement The Benefits Eating in the middle of the day, several hours after breakfast, re-energizes your body and can raise blood sugar levels when focus and concentration are flagging....

Bread batter in a bowl. Image Credit: Peter Anderson/Dorling Kindersley RF/Getty Images Successfully swapping yeast for baking soda and lemon juice is easier than you may think, although the texture of your baked good will typically be slightly coarser than one baked with yeast. According to Margaret M. Wittenberg, author of the book, “New Good Food,” baking soda is the only leavening agent that you need as long as you have enough lemon juice in the mix....

Slow cooking can produce a better roast. Image Credit: bhofack2/iStock/GettyImages Slow cooking without a slow cooker is easy to do in an oven or on a stovetop. Because these cooking methods require less time, they’re options to consider when you don’t have time to wait for a slow cooker. Advertisement Tip To slow cook in the oven, first sear the meat in a skillet on the stove. Then put it in a heavy pot with spices and enough liquid, and cook it in an oven preheated to 200 degrees Fahrenheit....

So you watched the movie “Snatch”? Image Credit: oneinchpunch/iStock/GettyImages So you watched the movie “Snatch” and now you want to be a bare knuckle boxer like Brad Pitt. But how do you get started? First and foremost, you need to know that bare knuckle boxing is unlicensed in many states/countries and often illegal. However, on the British Isles, it’s still very popular and has even made a comeback in the U....

woman running on track The 400-meter dash is a challenging event that requires an athlete to possess both a high level of speed and specific conditioning. The 400-meter race requires contributions largely from the anaerobic glycolytic system, which produces large amounts of metabolic waste products that ultimately lead to the "burning" feeling in your legs and reduced ability to produce more energy as the race moves on further. Therefore, you must train to facilitate your body's use and removal of these products to ensure that you are able to run faster and longer....

Extra-virgin olive oil is rich in a class of antioxidants called phenols. Image Credit: S847/iStock/GettyImages There’s a lot of controversy surrounding fats and cooking oil. Some experts say that you should replace saturated fats like butter with unsaturated fats like canola oil. Others, like the researchers involved in a September 2018 report that was published in Current Nutrition Reports, say that saturated fat isn’t as big of a problem as people were led to believe....

Pumpkin is a healthy, versatile fruit that contains good amounts of fiber. Image Credit: istetiana/Moment/GettyImages The jack-o-lantern and pumpkin pie may be the first things that come to mind when you think of pumpkin as food. But the pumpkin benefits go beyond decoration and treats. The bright orange gourd is packed with nutrients that promote health, including fiber. Advertisement Tip Canned pumpkin has 7 grams of fiber per cup and is a high-fiber food....

If you're looking for a meal plan for muscle gain for a female, then the most important thing to focus on is your carbohydrates. Image Credit: istetiana/Moment/GettyImages What do you know about carbs for muscle growth? It turns out, they’re rather important. You might even say they’re as important as protein for muscle synthesis. So if you’re looking for a meal plan for muscle gain for a female or male, then the most important thing to focus on is your carbohydrates....

A hypoallergenic diet includes a variety of foods. Hypoallergenic diets are designed to minimize the chances of provoking an allergic reaction. Doctors commonly recommend hypoallergenic foods to patients to determine whether their allergic reactions are a result of the foods they eat. Eating a hypoallergenic diet can be challenging, since common foods like wheat, eggs, milk and soy are not allowed. However, with some planning, you can find a pleasing variety of hypoallergenic foods that are both delicious and nutritious....

If you're often waking up in a panic, you may need to talk with a therapist. Image Credit: Motortion/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Definition Causes Treatment Prevention When to Seek Help Nighttime panic attacks typically only last for a few minutes. But that doesn't make them any less frightening and uncomfortable, thanks to their intense physical symptoms and impending sense of doom. Advertisement "Nocturnal panic attacks can be distressing and debilitating," says Seattle-based licensed psychologist Jennifer Chain, PhD....