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Patients with a pulmonary embolism need to monitor their diet carefully. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images A pulmonary embolism is a blockage in the lungs usually caused by a blood clot. The symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pains, anxiety, rapid heart rate and dizziness. Many situations can lead to a pulmonary embolism, including a recent surgery, pregnancy, hypertension and smoking. Poor diet and a lack of exercise that leads to obesity can increase your risk of a pulmonary embolism as well....

Coconuts contain fat, water, and minerals good for your body. Image Credit: Milkos/iStock/GettyImages If you have a recipe calling for young coconut meat or want to try it as a snack, harvest it from a whole green coconut or buy it frozen in a specialty food store. Young coconut meat is nutritious and tasty, but enjoy it in moderation if you’re counting calories or following a low-fat diet. Advertisement Tip Young coconut contains fat, water and some of the trace minerals your body relies on....

Sunflower seeds can provide health benefits, but eating too many poses some risks. Image Credit: 4nadia/iStock/GettyImages Rich in healthy fats and a good source of fiber, protein, iron, vitamin E and several of the B vitamins, sunflower seeds can be a sound addition to your diet. But, like anything in life, moderation is key. Advertisement Consuming too much, even of healthy foods like sunflower seeds, can lead to unwanted effects, such as weight gain and excess sodium intake....

Nutrients in red wine may help decrease mucus. Image Credit: Boarding1Now/iStock/Getty Images Flavonoids, or antioxidant-like plant substances, in red wine may reduce mucus and phlegm associated with several conditions. Red wine contains an abundance of the flavonoid resveratrol, which is produced by the reaction of plants to stress. Flavonoids are found mostly in fruits such as grapes – from which red wine is derived – apples and pears. The Linus Pauling Institute reports that in addition to their antioxidant properties, the flavonoids in red wine act as antiviral and anti-inflammatory agents, which suggests they may help fight some mucus-producing illnesses....

You know probiotics can benefit your gut, but did you know they might also help combat bad breath and high cholesterol? 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. Probiotics, good-for-you bacteria best known for their connection to healthy digestion, naturally occur in plenty of foods — often the fermented kinds, including kimchi, miso and yogurt....

Climb your way to stronger hips. Image Credit: MangoStar_Studio/iStock/GettyImages Located on the upper side of your thigh, the tensor fasciae latae, or TFL, is enclosed between layers of fascia, or fibrous tissue. This muscle works with the iliopsoas to flex your hip forward and with the gluteus medius and minimus muscles to abduct your hip out to the side. Advertisement The tensor fasciae latea, as explained by ExRx.net, plays a key role in hip and knee stability as well....

Unhealthy diets can adversely affect mental health. Image Credit: YekoPhotoStudio/iStock/Getty Images When you don’t give your body the proper nutrients, it’s unable to function at its best. An unhealthy diet not only deprives you of the nutrients required for energy and vitality, it also introduces unhealthy substances such as trans fat, as well as high levels of saturated fat and sugar. The combination of the two can contribute to chronic diseases, compromised mental health and obesity....

Most people won't experience any effects from too much vitamin K. Image Credit: Fascinadora/iStock/GettyImages Several vitamins can be dangerous when you take too much of them, but for most people, vitamin K isn’t one of them. The only people who could get too much vitamin K are those taking the blood-thinning medication warfarin. Advertisement Tip Most people won't experience any effects from too much vitamin K. For people taking warfarin, suddenly increasing vitamin K can interfere with how well the medication works....

Your doctor can help you determine what a dangerously low BMI may be for you. Image Credit: jonathandowney/iStock/GettyImages Your body mass index, or BMI, depends on your weight and height, and gives you a general idea of whether you’re at risk for an obesity-related illness. The BMI helps doctors quickly screen for serious issues with body weight. If your BMI becomes dangerously low, such as less than 18.5, you are at greater risk for malnutrition and premature death....

Bone mass is measured against a standard average bone mass of a healthy young adult. Image Credit: AleksandarGeorgiev/E+/GettyImages Strong bones are crucial for good health and aging well. Maintaining a healthy bone mass percentage helps prevent osteoporosis and broken bones. While childhood is the most important time for building bone health, it’s never too late to take care of your bones. Advertisement Tip Bone mass is measured against a standard average bone mass of a healthy young adult....

The pec deck focuses on your pectoralis major muscles. Image Credit: EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER/iStock/GettyImages Sometimes you want to work out your chest without loading heavy plates onto a bar or heaving bulky dumbbells. In that case, turn to the pec fly machine, also sometimes referred to as the pec deck. Advertisement Tip The pec machine targets the pectoralis major and minor muscles in your chest, as well as muscles in the front of your shoulders....

Premature fullness while eating could signal a serious medical problem. Image Credit: joshuaraineyphotography/iStock/Getty Images A sensation of fullness following a meal is a normal part of the digestive process. Signals from your gastrointestinal tract to your central nervous system serve as a means to ensure you consume enough calories to meet your energy needs, while simultaneously preventing overconsumption. However, certain processes can interfere with this self-regulatory mechanism and make you feel prematurely full....

Tomatoes on a cutting board next to a knife Image Credit: KatarzynaBialasiewicz/iStock/Getty Images Montelukast, or Singulair, is an asthma medication used to ease breathing, chest tightness, wheezing and coughing. It treats breathing difficulties during exercise and allergic rhinitis. Although the pharmaceutical company does not report weight gain as a side effect, anecdotal reports suggest it may be associated with weight gain. Advertisement Step 1 Lose weight slowly. Aim for a weight loss of 1 to 2 lbs....

Cod and green vegetables are some foods that encourages weight loss for type ABs. Image Credit: NataBene/iStock/GettyImages Losing weight with blood type AB positive is outlined in “Eat Right for Your Blood Type,” by Dr. Peter D’Adamo, a naturopathic physician. Adamo continued the work of his father, Dr. James D’Adamo, also a naturopath. Advertisement D'Adamo Sr. began delving into the characteristics of people with different blood types and how they burn calories....

A 3-oz. serving of mussels contains nearly 10 times your recommended vitamin B12 allowance. Image Credit: Lisovskaya/iStock/GettyImages Vitamin B12 deficiency is one of the most common health concerns worldwide, affecting 1.5 to 15 percent of Americans. But high B12 levels in the bloodstream are not necessarily a good thing. Too much of this nutrient could be a sign of liver disease, leukemia or other disorders, according to the Mount Sinai Health System....

Water purification tablets kill pathogens in water, making it safe to drink. Image Credit: Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images Water purification tablets kill pathogens in water to make it safe for human consumption. The tablets are commonly used by backpackers and other outdoors enthusiasts to replenish their drinking water supplies from freshwater sources such as streams. The tablets are also used by international travelers and in emergency situations such as floods or hurricanes, when the water supplies may be polluted or unsafe....

references Celiac Disease Foundation: "Sources of Gluten" Whole Grains Council: "Corn — October Grain of the Month" Food & Drug Administration: "Gluten and Food Labeling" GFCO: "About Us" Mayo Clinic: "Dietary fiber: Essential for a Healthy Diet" Harvard Health Publishing: "Choosing Oils for Cooking: A Host of Heart-Healthy Options" USDA: "Broccoli" Corn is naturally gluten-free and safe to eat on a gluten-free diet. Image Credit: Farknot_Architect/iStock/GettyImages Image Credit: Farknot_Architect/iStock/GettyImages...

Experiencing back pain after lifting weights is a common occurrence. Image Credit: adamkaz/E+/GettyImages If you’re a fitness enthusiast, you know how frustrating it is to be sidelined due to lower back pain after lifting weights. But by correcting your form, lifting the appropriate weight and allowing adequate recovery time, you should be able to minimize this post-exercise back pain. Advertisement ​Read more:​ 10 Popular Exercises That Can Hurt Your Back Video of the Day Why Your Back Hurts About 80 percent of American adults deal with back pain, according to the federal Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion....

Muscle aches and weight loss can be a sign of a medical condition needing attention. Image Credit: g-stockstudio/iStock/Getty Images Muscle aches and unexplained weight loss may be something simple, or it could be a sign of something more ominous. Diseases causing these symptoms can range from simple nutrition deficiencies to more serious auto-immune conditions. Muscle aches alone are not a major cause of concern. However, when accompanied by unexplained weight loss and other symptoms, it should be evaluated by your doctor....

Myositis can cause muscle pain, typically in the shoulders or hips. Image Credit: NickyLloyd/iStock/GettyImages You know how tuna is sometimes called “chicken of the sea?” They’re different foods, of course, but the comparison helps make the unfamiliar seem a little more ordinary. Well, the same logic applies to the term muscular arthritis. Advertisement Just like chickens don't come from the sea, arthritis doesn't occur in your muscles. The word literally means joint (arth) inflammation (itis)....