A man is experiencing knee pain. Image Credit: Halfpoint/iStock/Getty Images Your body produces lactic acid, or lactate, in the absence of enough oxygen to convert glucose to energy. As your level of intensity increases, so do your levels of lactic acid. The muscle fatigue and pain that accompany lactic acid have given it a bad rap among athletes in general, and runners in particular, who experience pain in their knee joints following intense exercise....
Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that impacts a person’s quality of life by causing abdominal pain and altered bowel habits, but does not cause any damage to the gastrointestinal tract (see reference 1 pg s2 column 1 under The utility of diagnostic criteria in irritable bowel syndrome). Treatment options vary depending on severity, and may include behavioral changes or medication. While many people with IBS report certain trigger foods, such as lettuce, exacerbate their symptoms, there’s currently no evidence to support these claims (see reference 1 pg s 4 under Diet and Irritable Bowel Syndrome)....
Low blood sugar after exercise can cause symptoms like fatigue, weakness and dizziness. Image Credit: DaniloAndjus/E+/GettyImages Exercise-induced low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, occurs when the body’s stores of blood sugar are used up too quickly. Typically, this only affects people with diabetes, Samar Hafida, MD, an endocrinologist at Harvard’s Joslin Diabetes Center, tells LIVESTRONG.com Advertisement If you have diabetes, there are some important things you need to know about low blood sugar after exercise....
A healthy chicken sandwich. Image Credit: keko64/iStock/Getty Images Nutrisystem provides home-delivered diet meals designed to help you lose weight, but Nutrisystem is not the only available diet delivery system. Some plans are similar to Nutrisystem in that you are required to purchase supplemental foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, to go along with the delivered meals. Others provide everything you need but at a higher cost. Explore your options before committing to a specific diet delivery plan to ensure you are choosing the best plan for you....
Chopped nettle root on a cutting board. Image Credit: Heike Rau/iStock/Getty Images Nettle is commonly known as stinging nettle because of the fine hairs on its leaves and stems that can cause skin irritation. The plant is very nutritious, and nettles have been eaten or used for hundreds of years as a treatment for painful joints and muscles, gout and anemia. Generally, nettle root is not recommended separately from the whole plant....
A physiotherapist examining a woman's abdomen. Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Lightwavemedia/Getty Images The pancreas is a vital organ that produces the digestive hormones insulin and glucagon and other enzymes necessary to digest food. Symptoms such as sweating and weight loss can accompany a number of diseases and conditions that affect the pancreas, including acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic abscess and pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic diseases represent serious health threats and require immediate medical attention....
What could cause these bumps? Image Credit: spukkato/iStock/GettyImages Although most likely to appear on the face, back, chest and shoulders, where the oil glands in skin are most active, pimples can show up almost anywhere on the body, including the upper arms, according to University Health Services, Berkeley. Advertisement Pimple-like bumps on your arms can also be caused by infected hair follicles and pores or medical conditions like keratosis pilaris (a harmless condition that causes dry, rough patches and tiny bumps)....
Pink Lady apples have a distinct color pattern. Image Credit: Innershadows/iStock/Getty Images The Pink Lady is quite a catch. Sweet, rosy, plump and smooth-skinned, she’s popular with men, women and children, too. Pink Lady apples are a modern breed, developed in the 1970s in Australia. They require a hot climate, and are mostly grown in the southern U.S., southern Europe, South Africa and Australia. They keep well, and you can usually find them hanging around long after apple season is through....
Problems With Eating Lots of Raw Carrots Image Credit: istetiana/Moment/GettyImages Raw carrots make a convenient and healthy snack, but too much of even a good thing may cause problems. Overindulging in raw carrots, which contain 4 grams of fiber per cup, can cause intestinal problems and may interfere with nutrient absorption. Too many carrots can even change your skin color, an alarming but harmless effect. Advertisement Yellow Tint Alert Carrots contain carotene, a yellow pigment that is a precursor for vitamin A....
Many conditions can cause pain in the lower left side of the abdomen. According to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, the lower left side or quadrant of the abdomen is a common location for pain. Pain in this area can be mild, moderate or severe, depending on the cause of the pain and the organs or tissues involved. Pain in the lower left abdominal quadrant can be referred from organs in the pelvis and abdomen or from tissues within the abdominal wall....
references Journal of Hypertension: “Effect of Dietary Sodium Restriction on Arterial Stiffness: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Randomized Controlled Trials” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Get the Facts: Sodium and the Dietary Guidelines”` FoodData Central: “Dulse Flakes” Nutrients: “History of U.S. Iodine Fortification and Supplementation” National Institutes of Health: “Iodine Fact Sheet for Health Professionals” Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: “2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans” Swap salt for this umami-rich seasoning next time you reach for the shaker....
references & resources National Academies of Sciences: "Macronutrients" Generalmills.com: "Kix" Barbaras.com: "Multigrain Puffins" Foodforlife.com: "Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Whole Grain Cereal" Generealmills.com: "Fiber One" Postconsumerbrands.com: "Grape-Nuts" Naturespath.com: "Qi'a Cocoas Coconut Superflakes" Generalmills.com: "Cheerios" Allbran.com: "All-Bran" Quakeroats.com: "Quick 1-Minute Oats" threesisterscereal.com: "Uncle Sam Original Wheat Berry Flakes" Mayo Clinic: "Healthy Breakfast: Quick, Flexible Options" Mayo Clinic: "Fiber" U.S. National Library of Medicine: "Zinc in diet" U.S. Department of Agriculture: "2020 - 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans" Forager: "Cinnamon Gluten-Free Cereal" Harvard T....
Cleaning out your home or car feels so good, like a fresh start, with a sparkly new outlook. Cleaning up your diet can be even more impactful, with benefits that include all-day energy, improved mood and happiness, better sleep, clearer skin, enhanced digestive health and even weight loss. That’s a lot of bang for your buck, and it doesn’t require giving up delicious, satisfying foods like avocado, almond butter, maple syrup or even dark chocolate....
The differences between boys' and girls' bikes are largely cosmetic. Image Credit: Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images Although you can usually tell at a glance whether a manufacturer is marketing a bicycle to a girl or a boy, the differences in the frames are largely cosmetic. The main distinguishing feature of a male’s bike is the metal bar connecting the handlebars to the saddle, which bicycles for females traditionally lack. Increasingly, however, bicycle manufacturers are offering bikes tailored to the special needs of both the male and female physique....
Core exercises are much more effective (and safer) than waist trainers when it comes to slimming down your midsection. Image Credit: FatCamera/E+/GettyImages You’ve heard the hype about waist training and the celebrities who swear by it, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe. Here’s why you shouldn’t try it — and what to do instead. Advertisement What Is Waist Training? Waist training — also known as waist cinching — became popular in the 1900s....
A bottle of sesame oil. Image Credit: PhonlamaiPhoto/iStock/Getty Images Sesame is an ancient cultivated plant that was pressed into oil in Assyria and Babylon at least 4,000 years ago. Seeds have a high oil content; they are 50 percent oil and 25 percent protein. The protein pulp remaining after oil production is used for animal feed. Sesame oil is a light-colored, all-purpose oil used for salad dressing and cooking. Toasted sesame oil is darker, nuttier and smoky in flavor and is used as flavoring in Asian sauces and recipes....
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your triglyceride levels. Image Credit: sturti/iStock/GettyImages Perhaps less well-known than their cousin cholesterol, triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood. High or low triglyceride measures may be a sign of a problem — and a bit of background can help you talk it over with your doctor. Advertisement Triglycerides vs. Cholesterol According to researchers at the Cleveland Clinic, cholesterol is both a product of your liver and of animal foods....
Image Credit: shapecharge/E+/GettyImages Hospitals have grown over the years to focus on a variety of patient types. They may be divided by floor or wing into wards where different types of patients, nurses and doctors with special expertise and specialized equipment are kept. Beyond medical and practical reasons, wards may be designated to facilitate the mental well-being of patients as well. Advertisement Pediatrics In an effort to keep children together, they may be assigned to the pediatrics ward....
A close-up of acai berries growing on a tree. Image Credit: Giambra/iStock/Getty Images Acai berry is mentioned all throughout the media, and is even endorsed by a few celebrities. This fruit is said to be relatively safe, according to eMedTV, but some people may have problems. There are several acai berry warnings that you should know before eating this fruit or taking a supplement that contains it. It is also a good idea to consult a physician before using acai berry....
You may gain some momentum with an energy drink in your system. Image Credit: IPGGutenbergUKLtd/iStock/Getty Images Monster Energy drink isn’t the healthiest beverage choice, but it’s not all bad. If you’re looking for an energy boost, Monster may help, and there’s some evidence that it may be beneficial to athletes. Monster is also a good source of a number of B vitamins. If you drink energy drinks, talk to your doctor about risks and benefits specific to your health....
