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A pile of supplement pills. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/PHOTOS.com»/Getty Images Lysine is an essential amino acid, meaning the human body cannot produce it, but the body requires it to function properly. Lysine is most commonly found in beef, fish, chicken and soy, but it can also be found in beans and dairy products. The average adult requires about .85 g of lysine a day. Individuals who exercise may benefit from taking as much as 1 g to 3 g of lysine daily....

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. In This Article Effects Benefits Eating Boogers How to Stop Bottom Line Nose picking probably isn't something you'd do in public. But when you're by yourself and you feel something up there, the urge to go digging can sometimes be pretty strong. Which might lead you to wonder: Is nose picking really ​that​ bad?...

The dark-skinned muscadines are more nutritious than their lighter counterparts. Image Credit: bhofack2/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Nutrition Health Benefits Tips and Recipes Muscadine grapes, native to the southeastern United States, aren't much like the green and red grapes you typically see in the produce aisle. Advertisement Muscadine grapes, which are sometimes called "scuppernongs," are indeed grapes, though their thick, fleshy skin might make you think otherwise. This thick outer skin protects the fruit from disease, fungi and pests, according to the North Carolina Muscadine Grape Association (NCMGA)....

Rotation stretches can help treat a sartorius muscle injury. Image Credit: Johner Images/Johner Images Royalty-Free/GettyImages The sartorius muscle is the longest muscle in the body, attaching to two joints, so a pain or strain in this muscle can cause a lot of problems. If you experience sartorius muscle pain, you could feel it in the front of your hips or knees. Advertisement The sartorius muscle is something called a bi-articular muscle because it operates on two joints— the hip and the knee....

Drink plenty of water to help prevent muscle twitching from walking. Image Credit: Radomir Tarasov / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Twitching leg muscles are not uncommon after a long walk or exercise session according to Dr. John Su in an article in the Los Angeles Times. Although muscle twitches may cause you to worry about the health of your leg muscles, in most cases, twitching doesn’t indicate a serious underlying medical program. Staying hydrated and warming up completely before walking can help reduce annoying twitches....

Work with your doctor to develop a plan for lowering your LDL cholesterol. Image Credit: Cecilie_Arcurs/E+/GettyImages Cholesterol has long been a numbers game. Today, though, the numbers considered most important — that best indicate your risk for heart disease — may not be the four typically revealed by a cholesterol-checking blood test, called a lipoprotein profile. Instead, two other numbers have become key. Advertisement The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute explains that your cholesterol blood test results will indicate your level for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, considered the good cholesterol; low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the bad type; triglycerides, a type of fat in your blood; and total cholesterol, a combination of all three....

Sweet jujube tea may boost your antioxidant intake. Image Credit: TongRo Images/TongRo Images/Getty Images Jujube, which is sometimes referred to as the Chinese date, is a type of fruit that has been part of the Chinese diet for nearly 2,000 years, according to the Institute for Traditional Medicine. Jujube fruit is also consumed as a tea. While the research is limited, jujube tea is rich in antioxidants and may alleviate constipation....

When it comes to digestive health, nothing keeps things moving like fiber, and you'll find plenty in plantains. Image Credit: Edgar D Pons/iStock/GettyImages Plantains look similar to bananas, but they’re drastically different in flavor. Bananas are smaller and much sweeter, while plantains have a starchy consistency and taste. But because of their similar look, plantains are often referred to as cooking bananas. Advertisement Commonly used in Caribbean and South American cuisines, plantains are a versatile carbohydrate source and are full of fiber, potassium and other vital nutrients....

The time for a sprint triathlon depends on several factors. Image Credit: pixelfit/E+/GettyImages An official sprint triathlon involves a 750-meter swim, a 20-kilometer bike ride and 5K run. If you’ve signed up to take on this challenge, you may wonder what constitutes a respectable showing. Advertisement Although you don't expect to hang with the leaders, you probably don't want to be struggling in the back either. What makes a good time depends on your gender, age and the course....

PH scale next to a sample Image Credit: suriyasilsaksom/iStock/Getty Images An alkaline solution is a mixture of base solids dissolved in water. The potential of hydrogen, also known as the pH scale, measures the alkalinity or acidity level of a solution. The scale ranges from zero to 14. The midpoint 7 represents a neutral pH. A neutral solution is neither an acid nor alkaline. pH levels below 7 indicate an acidic solution, and numbers above 7 indicate an alkaline solution....

Use ice at first and then heat. Image Credit: Dirima/iStock/GettyImages When you have a pulled hamstring, you want relief and you want it fast. But it’s hard to remember whether you’re supposed to use ice or heat for hamstring pain. The answer depends on when your hamstring injury occurred. If it’s very recent, ice is your best choice; if it happened a while ago, heat can bring relief. Advertisement Tip For a pulled hamstring, ice or heat will provide relief, but ice is best in the first 72 hours after the injury....

Lifting weights can cause your joints to crack. Image Credit: Jordan Beal / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Any movement that stresses your joints can result in popping and cracking sounds. Lifting weights often causes the shoulder joints to make these noises. There is no definitive answer as to why this happens, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Orthopaedic Surgery unit, though two theories have been proposed. Advertisement The buildup and release of gases in the synovial fluid around your joints is suspected to cause popping....

Creating a progressive overload exercise program, paired with good nutrition is the quickest way to increase biceps size. Image Credit: twinsterphoto/iStock/GettyImages If you want to increase the strength and size of your biceps, we have good news: There are plenty of isolation exercises you can add to your routine to increase the size of your arms — and progressive overload is the key to bigger biceps. Advertisement ‌Read more:‌ 4 Reasons Why Your Biceps Aren't as Big as You Want Them to Be Video of the Day The Best Exercise for Bigger Biceps As with all muscles in the body, you need to create an appropriate training program to increase your biceps size....

A hiatal hernia is a mild form of a hernia that you may not even know you have unless your physician finds it. A hiatal hernia is when a portion of your stomach protrudes upward through your diaphragm and through an opening called the hiatus that allows the esophagus to connect to the stomach. Most hiatal hernias won’t cause symptoms, but large ones may result in chest pain, heartburn and/or nausea....

After a hysterectomy where the ovaries are removed, many women put on weight due to recovery time and hormone changes. While preventing extra weight gain and losing excess weight may be tricky, it is possible by making a few lifestyle changes. Step 1 Pick one or two lifestyle changes to work on and then add a few more in a week, instead of drastically changing habits overnight, which is difficult to maintain....

Marinating chicken is a simple way to tenderize the bird and infuse the meat with a burst of flavor. Using curry in your marinade adds a bit of heat and Indian flair to the chicken. In as much time as it takes to whisk your ingredients together, you'll have a rich marinade that will do all the work of flavoring and seasoning your chicken. The beauty of a curry marinade is that you can include whatever spices and herbs you wish, as long as you include basic curry powder, too, according to Pat Chapman, author of "Curry Magic....

Bowls of sugar and flour. Image Credit: mashimara/iStock/Getty Images The food trends seem to be changing from one that encourages any type of carbohydrate consumption to one that favors whole grains and eliminates refined white flour and sugar. Refined white flour and refined white sugar cause rapid blood sugar increases and add empty calories to processed foods. Whether you’re trying to live a low carb lifestyle or just trying to eat more nutrient dense foods, there are many ways to eliminate sugar and flour from your diet....

You can simply rinse raspberries under cold running water before you eat them, or use this more-involved method. Image Credit: janecocoa/iStock/GettyImages Raspberries are extremely fragile and susceptible to spoilage, but you can extend their shelf life naturally with the right washing and storage techniques. Advertisement Because raspberries break so easily, they are particularly vulnerable to natural surface molds and microbes that attack damaged fruit. You can minimize that microbe growth by gently washing your raspberries in diluted vinegar, according to Colorado State University, and then storing them without excess moisture....

Limit bacon intake to reduce chronic disease risks. Image Credit: MOHAMMED MORADALIZADEH/iStock/Getty Images Turkey bacon is healthier than regular bacon when you’re trying to lose weight and reduce your chronic-disease risks. Additionally, turkey bacon provides you with numerous essential nutrients that are beneficial during weight loss. Because turkey bacon is high in sodium, saturated fat and dietary cholesterol, however, eat it in moderation and choose reduced-sodium turkey bacon. Advertisement Weight-Loss Basics Reduce calorie intake through healthy eating....

As we age, we often face additional needs and challenges connected to getting older. If a family member, neighbor, or friend has reached a point where he needs assistance with his daily routine, you’ll need to know what those daily needs are. Allow him to be as independent, while respectfully helping him with the tasks that have become difficult. Mobility Mobility is important to older adults, even if it is just within their own surroundings....