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Bananas are high in natural sugars, but they also deliver potassium and other important micronutrients. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative The sugar detox bandwagon continues to pick up more and more passengers, and the health problems associated with added sugar are clearer than ever. Natural sugars, on the other hand, are still pretty mystifying. Advertisement After all, fruit is supposed to be good for you. But fruit has sugar, which is not good for you....

Grab a pair of dumbbells and take a seat. Image Credit: Inti St Clair/Tetra images/GettyImages Sitting too long can do a number on your posture. (Slumped shoulders, we’re talking to you!) But you can significantly strengthen those tired, stiff shoulders without leaving your chair. In fact, seated shoulder exercises are a more efficient way to grow your guns, since you can’t rely on momentum like when you’re standing. Advertisement Below, this simple-yet-effective seated shoulder workout can be done on a park bench, at your desk or in your living room....

A runner is leaning over. Image Credit: Jacob Ammentorp Lund/iStock/Getty Images If you experience shaking or trembling after a run, you could be experiencing muscle fatigue or low blood sugar. Both of these conditions can signal danger, or even an emergency situation. Muscle shaking or quaking is a sign of muscle fatigue, while trembling hands and limbs can indicate your body is out of fuel – sugar – and you are in a hypoglycemic state....

Before skipping meals, research whether your health would permit intermittent fasting and what type of fasting schedule would work for you. Image Credit: OksanaKiian/iStock/GettyImages Skipping lunch as part of intermittent fasting may help you lose weight. Potential negative effects of skipping meals include overeating later in the day and affecting your blood sugar levels. Advertisement Tip Before skipping meals, research whether your health would permit intermittent fasting and what type of fasting schedule would work for you....

Fresh picked cucumbers in a wooden crate. A bountiful summertime vegetable, the cucumber adds crunch and coolness to green salads, pasta salads and tuna sandwiches. Colorful cukes even offer a non-starchy chip alternative on your chips and dip platter. But some people experience side effects after eating cucumbers. Whether it's itchy skin or embarrassing belching, pinning down what's causing these unwelcome reactions will tell you whether you need to give up crunchy cucumbers, or simply look for new ways to enjoy them....

Situps can make a hernia more apparent. Image Credit: Inside Creative House/iStock/GettyImages Seeing your stomach protrude when doing sit-ups can be alarming, especially if there are more than one. The most likely cause of the protrusion, or protrusions, is a hernia — a weakness in the wall of the abdominal tissue. Advertisement In some cases, it is not a cause for concern, but you should consult your physician for a diagnosis....

If you're trying to support your longevity, pay attention to what's in your cup. Image Credit: juanma hache/Moment/GettyImages In This Article Green Tea Coffee Prune Juice Water Bone Broth Beet Juice If you want to live a long, comfortable life, you'll want to eat a diet that promotes longevity. In other words, you'd often choose foods full of nutrients that support your body's many functions and lower your risk for chronic diseases, like arthritis, heart disease and Alzheimer's....

Here's what you should eat the night before a marathon in order to optimize your performance. Image Credit: Maridav/iStock/GettyImages You finalized your running playlist, your training is behind you and you gave your cheer squad specific instructions for how to spot you on the course. Advertisement Now, the night before the race, you have one last task: fuel up with a meal that will provide sustained energy without causing your gut to cramp somewhere around the 10-mile mark....

Yoga can increase your body and breath awareness, which helps make you a better runner. Image Credit: Cavan Images/Cavan/GettyImages If you’re a runner, you’re likely familiar with the importance of stretching before and after your run, but incorporating yoga — not simply stretching — into your cross-training routine can help increase your endurance, mobility, strength and body awareness, as well as enhancing your focus. Advertisement "It not only helps you remain calm and focused, but it helps with knowing where your body is and how your joints, ligaments and muscles are feeling to help prevent injury," says St....

Watch the calories in thin crust pizza if you're concerned about weight gain. Image Credit: EzumeImages/iStock/Getty Images Ordering thin crust pizza instead of a regular crust may be a healthier choice because it’s often lower in fat, carbs and sodium. The nutrition in thin crust pizza includes some vitamin and mineral benefits, but you should limit your intake to avoid exceeding the healthy recommendations for saturated fat and calories. Advertisement Read more: Is Eating Pizza Healthy?...

The ThighMaster can work much more than just your thighs. Image Credit: KittisakJirasittichai/iStock/GettyImages Although its name implies otherwise, the ThighMaster is for much more than working out your thighs. This resistance-based exercise tool can help you work out most of your body, from your arms to your legs. ThighMaster exercises vary between products, however, as there are two types of ThighMaster. Advertisement Read more: 20 Health & Fitness Gadgets That Actually Work Video of the Day ThighMaster Gold vs....

A bowl of smashed up vitex. Image Credit: bdspn/iStock/Getty Images You may hear people recommending vitex, also known as chasteberry, as part of a diet plan. It’s important to remember that while vitex contains some compounds that may enhance health, it is a medicinal herb — not a food. It contains no calories, fiber, major vitamins or minerals. But vitex may help women who are struggling with weight gain associated with PMS or menopause....

Doctor sitting at desk writing a prescription Image Credit: shironosov/iStock/Getty Images Metformin is a generic drug taken orally to combat Type 2 diabetes because it reduces blood sugar levels. Topamax is an oral brand-name drug most often used as an anticonvulsant to treat epilepsy, but it is sometimes prescribed to reduce obesity. The two drugs are sometimes combined in efforts to control or lose weight, and their efficacy together is supported by research....

Close-up of a grape leaf. Image Credit: Design Pics/Design Pics/Getty Images Grape leaves, a popular staple of heart-healthy Mediterranean cuisine, are rich in vitamins and minerals. Grape leaves are often to be found canned or bottled, while raw or fresh grape leaves are best consumed after they’re steamed or blanched. A popular Greek dish called dolmas uses grape leaves as a wrapper for rice, onions and meat. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lists grape leaves on its suggested shopping list based on the healthy dietary guidelines for Americans....

Fresh glasses of juice on a table made with oranges, grapefruit, bananas and kiwis. Image Credit: lola1960/iStock/Getty Images Vitamin C is a an antioxidant vitamin that helps grow and repair tissue throughout your body, counter free-radicals which cause cell damage and fight the negative effects of toxins. Vitamin C is not a naturally occurring supplement, nor is it stored in the body, so you must continually replenish it through consumption, via food or supplements....

Urine glucose is common in conditions such as diabetes and pregnancy. Glucose is a simple sugar that exists in many types of food and in your blood. It serves many functions, the most important of which is as an energy source. Your body has sensitive systems for keeping the glucose in your blood within a normal range. However, in conditions such as diabetes, blood glucose levels can become elevated, causing glucose to spill out into your urine....

Look for machines with a pulling action to work your back. Image Credit: Andres Rodriguez/Hemera/Getty Images The sea of weight machines available on the gym floor may be enough to make you head right back out the exit. Knowing what to look for helps you navigate the floor with ease. Advertisement Workout machines that target your back are usually those that involve pulling, either in a rowing or upward direction. Once you know what you're looking for, you'll notice most facilities group them together to facilitate your workout....

Popcorn is a high-fiber snack that can help you stay full. Image Credit: bhofack2/iStock/GettyImages The glycemic index can be a useful tool for estimating the effect a food will have on your blood sugar, but it shouldn’t be the only way you plan your meals and snacks. Foods that cause moderate to high increases in your blood sugar, such as popcorn, may also be rich in nutrients your body needs. Popcorn can be a healthy whole-grain snack if you prepare it without added fats or salt....

Large blocks of gouda cheese on small table. Image Credit: Özgür Güvenç/iStock/Getty Images Creamy and addictive, cheese can be tempting and difficult to pass up. However, if you regularly have difficulty digesting cheese, you might have lactose intolerance – and that can make eating cheese a choice you pay for later with an upset stomach. Choosing a low-lactose or lactose-free cheese can help you avoid this situation. Advertisement What Is Lactose Intolerance?...

If you're opting for making dried beans from scratch, follow these dietitian-suggested tips for helping to reduce the post-dinner gas. Image Credit: Linda Hall/iStock/GettyImages Whether dried beans are a new staple in your pantry or a long-time favorite, you’re probably aware of (or have experienced first-hand) the more musical side effects of this healthy legume. Advertisement But beans are very nutrient-dense — and the fact that they can bring about gas shouldn't prevent you from eating them....