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Sourdough bread is not gluten-free and should be avoided. Image Credit: Magone/iStock/GettyImages The beauty of bread is that it comes in different flavors, shapes and sizes. And sourdough is among the favorites. Advertisement While the tangy loaf is delicious, versatile and packs some health benefits, you'll want to be wary of food products you buy if you're on a gluten-free diet — especially when it comes to bread. Video of the Day Is Sourdough Bread Gluten-Free?...

Unlike many other milk alternatives, soy milk is a great source of protein. Image Credit: ddukang/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Benefits Disadvantages For Kids If you're lactose intolerant, concerned about the environment or you just aren't into the taste of cow's milk, you can reach for soy milk as a comparable alternative. Made from soybeans or soy flour, this pick is one of the more popular milk alternatives on the market. Advertisement It generally has a longer shelf life than dairy milk and some types of packaged soy milk can be stored at room temperature for months, which helps eliminate waste caused by food spoilage....

Tempura is a favorite both in and out of Japan. Image Credit: jreika/iStock/GettyImages Eating deep-fried vegetables in tempura batter — or battered seafood or tofu — can be fattening, but it doesn’t have to be. The fate of your waistline depends on portion size and calorie balance. If downing that tempura means eating more calories than your body needs, it’ll fatten you up in the end. Advertisement Tip Eating tempura doesn't have to be fattening, as long as you watch your portion sizes and overall calorie intake....

An Isopure shake sits on a counter with workout gloves and vitamin pills alongside. Image Credit: 188Vita_Photography/iStock/Getty Images In 2013, Americans spent more than $60 billion a year trying to lose weight, according to Marketresearch.com. Isopure is a nutrition supplement company that offers a variety of products, although none specifically marketed for weight loss. However, the line offers a few powders and drinks that can work as part of a weight-loss diet....

An older man in a hospital bed eating. Image Credit: monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Getty Images Whether you are actively dealing with cancer or are currently in remission, eating a balanced, nutritious diet can help you feel better physically and mentally. Although your doctor will likely give you advice on healthy foods, understanding that proper nutrition can benefit your body as you fight your illness may make keep you motivated to plan healthy meals in advance....

An energy drink in a glass. Image Credit: nanoomstudio/iStock/Getty Images Monster energy drinks are marketed as a beverage that increases energy levels. These beverages are available in a variety of flavors such as toffee, mocha, tea and fruit and come in regular as well as sugar-free versions. Depending which variety you choose, these products contain various sources of caffeine, a natural stimulant. Side effects of consumption of large amounts of caffeine or other stimulants can include anxiety, insomnia and gastrointestinal problems....

Your treadmill choice depends upon your personal preferences. Image Credit: Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images Having a treadmill at home provides you with a convenient way to get in a workout even if you can’t make it to the gym. There are dozens of in-home treadmill manufacturers, each one with numerous model lines. Two popular brands are ProForm and NordicTrack, which sport some surprising similarities but significant differences. Advertisement Company Both ProForm and NordicTrack brands are produced by the same company, Icon Health and Fitness....

Bananas are a source of potassium. Image Credit: johan10/iStock/Getty Images Potassium is a mineral essential for the proper function of all the cells, tissues, and organs in your body. Potassium gluconate is one of several types of potassium supplements available to help prevent or treat low potassium levels, a condition known as hypokalemia. Potassium gluconate comes in tablet and liquid forms. Advertisement Purpose of Potassium This essential mineral aids in heart function and both voluntary and involuntary muscle contraction....

Age-related hearing loss is common, but limiting your exposure to loud noises can help keep your ears healthy for longer. Image Credit: energyy/iStock/GettyImages Do you find yourself straining to hear certain sounds, turning up the volume on the radio or missing out on snatches of conversation? Advertisement Age-related hearing loss — also known as presbycusis — happens to most of us as we get older. In fact, nearly a third of American adults between the ages of 65 and 74 experience hearing loss, and almost half of those above 75 have trouble hearing, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)....

Since carbs help build muscle, you may think that eating sugar after a workout is the right idea. Image Credit: seb_ra/iStock/GettyImages Since carbs help build muscle, you may think that eating sugar after a workout is the right idea. But eating candy after a workout isn’t going to help you build muscle. Advertisement While simple carbs are the best form of after-workout snack, eating sugary snacks is never healthy for you....

references Allison Rodgers, MD, OB/GYN, reproductive endocrinologist at Fertility Centers of Illinois ​Journal of Integrative Medicine: Using weighted blankets in an inpatient mental health hospital to decrease anxiety Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911. The best heating pads for cramps have temperature and safety controls to prevent burns....

Applying wheat germ oil to your hair may help improve hydration and prevent breakage. Image Credit: Polina Lebed/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Skin Hair Wheat germ is more than just a nutritious addition to your diet — the ingredient and its derivatives, like wheat germ oil, can also support skin and nail health. Advertisement Wheat germ is the part of a wheat grain that helps new sprouts grow, according to the Mayo Clinic....

Keeping your joints moving will help prevent pain and stiffness from slowing you down. Image Credit: aldomurillo/E+/GettyImages Stretching and strength training are good for your muscles and cardio is good for your heart, but what about your joints? Unlike muscles, joints have no direct blood supply, so they rely on movement to keep them functioning properly. Advertisement "If there's no motion in the joint it will degenerate — that's a law," says Robert Bates, DC, a chiropractor and preventive care specialist in Manhattan Beach, California....

ma standing on scale Image Credit: Purestock/Purestock/Getty Images Losing stomach fat is a common desire for anyone wishing to improve the physique. While you cannot target stomach fat, you can use a healthy diet, fat-burning aerobic activity and strength training on a daily basis to reduce overall body fat levels. As you lose excess body fat, the weight on your stomach will begin to disappear. Healthy weight loss occurs at a rate of one to two pounds per week, allowing you to burn 10 pounds of stomach fat in as little as five weeks....

The Effects of Eating Too Many Apples Image Credit: YelenaYemchuk/iStock/GettyImages The health benefits of apples are numerous and well-known. Full of fiber, these vitamin-packed fruits are suggested as part of each meal, helping you to stave off hunger and fill up on low-calorie produce. However, just like any other food, too much can lead to negative effects such as weight gain or a rise in blood sugar. It’s good to know the negative effects of too much apple consumption....

Three plates with a single carrot on top. Image Credit: mcrosno/iStock/Getty Images During starvation the body does everything possible to preserve the brain. The brain has highest priority when it comes to gaining access to essential nutrients and fuel. The brain is, therefore, the last area to experience a shortage of food. There is even some evidence that short periods of starvation may be healthy for the brain. However, even the brain must eventually metabolize its own neurons to keep the rest of the brain alive....

The white button mushroom is the one that's most commonly eaten worldwide. Image Credit: “Timmann, Claudia”/Foodcollection/GettyImages There are 2,000 edible types of mushrooms, but the white button mushroom is the one that’s most commonly eaten worldwide, according to a November 2014 report in Nutrition Today. Many people may choose the shiitake mushroom for its umami flavor, but white mushrooms have health benefits to offer too. Advertisement Mushrooms are one of the only foods with natural vitamin D — a vitamin that helps keep your bones and immune system strong — and they're also rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor (or anti-cancer) compounds that can help fight off chronic disease and keep you healthy....

The hanging L-sit ab exercise looks hard because it IS hard! Image Credit: FreshSplash/E+/GettyImages Core strength is to daily movement what proper communication is to a healthy relationship: essential. Advertisement Composed of far more than just the six-pack muscle (the rectus abdominis), the core consists of your internal and external obliques, pelvic floor muscles, traverse abdominis, multifidus and erector spinae. These muscles, according to Mia Nikolajev, CSCS, work together to protect your organs, keep you standing up straight and control your ability to twist, turn, bend and hinge....

Cooking with oil adds both calories and nutrients to your food — and different oils have different flavors, which all affect your final dish. Image Credit: Igor Ploskin/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Olive Oil Grapeseed Oil Avocado Oil Sesame Oil Vegetable Oil Coconut Oil Black Seed Oil Oils to Avoid Despite being demonized in the '80s and '90s, fats are actually essential to a balanced diet. Healthy fats help supply energy, support cell growth, protect your organs, produce hormones and absorb certain nutrients, according to the American Heart Association....

The triceps dip is one common exercise personal trainers won't do because it increases the risk of shoulder injury. Image Credit: Srdjanns74/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Upright Row Burpee Curtsy Lunge Triceps Dip Crunch Kipping Pull-Up Let's be totally transparent: There are some exercises that just look cool — or are just so common they feel like a workout requirement. But that doesn't mean they're actually good, or that fitness professionals recommend you do them....