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Woman's waist as she measures her stomach with a tape-measure. Image Credit: Purestock/Purestock/Getty Images Excess stomach fat, also known as abdominal or central obesity, is linked to impaired insulin action or insulin resistance. Consequently, abdominal obesity is associated with a higher risk for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Weight loss, particularly loss of stomach fat, can help manage diabetes and reduce the risk of pre-diabetes and T2DM. However, loss of body fat occurs all over when you lose weight, so it cannot be targeted to the abdominal area only....

It's easy to overdo it on pasta serving sizes, but a few easy strategies can make that a thing of the past. One of the best parts about gearing up for any sort of race is the pre-starting line pasta party. Part of the grain food group, pasta takes its place among other carb-heavy favorites such as bread, rice and oatmeal. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that women should get six ounce equivalents of grains in a day, while men should get eight....

Many people recognize that it’s important to eat lots of green vegetables, and with steamed spinach being as versatile as it is in many meals and snacks, there’s no excuse for not getting plenty of this powerhouse food. Image Credit: Nuclear_lily/iStock/GettyImages It’s a bit of advice you hear over and over again — eat your greens. Many people recognize that it’s important to eat lots of green vegetables, and with steamed spinach being as versatile as it is in many meals and snacks, there’s no excuse for not getting plenty of this powerhouse food....

Low carb diets can cause anxiety and depression. Image Credit: vasiliybudarin/iStock/GettyImages Studies suggest that a low-carb diet may cause depression and anxiety ⁠— if it’s deficient in healthy complex carbs like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The food you eat affects your mental health as well as your physical health. Advertisement Low Carbs May Cause Anxiety An April 2017 study published in the British Medical Journal Open explored the effects of fruit and vegetable consumption on psychological stress....

15 mph is a good for a beginner bike rider. Image Credit: Klaus Vedfelt/DigitalVision/GettyImages Cycling, whether indoors or out, is an activity that benefits your health while being easy on the joints. When you’re starting to cycle for exercise, you might like to know what an ideal average cycling speed is. Just keep in mind that when you’re a beginner, it is essential to go at your own pace. Advertisement Tip Although it's hard to accurately measure a good average speed for cycling outdoors, 15 miles per hour is a very competent pace for a beginner cyclist....

A large pile of fresh cranberries. Image Credit: Monkey Business Images/Monkey Business/Getty Images Cranberry juice is full of health-promoting nutrients. In addition to playing a role in cancer prevention and heart health, cranberry juice is particularly beneficial for keeping your kidneys healthy. Not only does cranberry juice help to treat and prevent urinary tract infections via its antibacterial properties, but it also helps prevent the formation of painful kidney stones....

Generally, non-organic, conventionally grown, roasted beans have more acrylamide. Image Credit: PeopleImages/iStock/GettyImages In This Article What Is Acrylamide? Is It Dangerous? Safe Amounts Coffee Types and Acrylamide The Bottom Line Your morning brew boasts big health benefits, but in recent years, there's been some confusing (and concerning) debate about whether there's a connection between coffee and cancer. Advertisement In fact, depending on when and where your coffee was made, your package of java may come with a cancer warning about a chemical called acrylamide....

Image Credit: Thinkstock/Stockbyte/GettyImages Glucose is a main source of energy for the body, and some amount of glucose, or sugar, always needs to be present in the blood to ensure this energy reaches all of the body cells. But a problem in both prediabetes and diabetes is that too much sugar stays in the blood, and over time these abnormally high levels can harm the body. To reduce the risk of health problems, blood sugars need to be kept as close to a normal range as possible....

Normal heart rate varies for each person, based on several factors. Image Credit: Twenty20/@freemanlafleur Your heart rate (also known as your pulse) is a standard measurement of how many times your heart beats per minute, and increases or decreases depending on how hard you’re exerting yourself. Advertisement As such, keeping tabs on your heart rate (manually or with a heart rate monitor) is a great way to gauge intensity during different forms of exercise, such as walking....

The brownie is America’s favorite bar cookie. In the late 19th century, the Sears and Roebuck catalog reportedly published the first brownie recipe. The basic brownie ingredients include flour, sugar, eggs and butter base, with chocolate, which gives them their characteristic brown flavor. Today, nuts, coconut, chocolate chips and a variety of flavorings make brownies versatile and fun to eat. In recent years, nutritional concerns have inspired a societal conversation about the advantages of cooking with certain baking ingredients, including oils and butter....

If you find mountain climbers nearly impossible, there are things you can do to get stronger. Image Credit: gorodenkoff/iStock/GettyImages Like the name suggests, mountain climbers are demanding. The mother of all compound moves, mighty mountain climbers work multiple muscle groups (pretty much every single one, in fact) and torch calories thanks to the cardio component. The key to reaping these benefits? Mastering the movement. Advertisement To scale your own personal Everest, you need to have a combination of strength, endurance and body control....

Should You Eat if It Is Late & You Are Hungry? Image Credit: Maskot/Maskot/GettyImages Whether you’re dieting, trying to maintain or gain weight or just living a healthy lifestyle, you probably have more questions than answers about diet-related issues. A common one is “If I’m hungry at night, should I eat?” The answer is “Yes. And no.” Late night hunger can lead to unhealthy snacking, which can sabotage your diet and your health....

Vitamin supplements can either support or harm your health. Image Credit: Ridofranz/iStock/GettyImages A staggering 77 percent of U.S. adults reported taking dietary supplements over the previous year in a 2019 survey conducted by the Council for Responsible Nutrition. Advertisement And considering there are more than 90,000 products on the market, you may be wondering if it's more beneficial to take a daily multivitamin vs. individual vitamins — or both. Video of the Day The answer: It all comes down to your diet....

MusleTech's NITRO-TECH has many ingredients which could cause side effects. Image Credit: deymos/iStock/Getty Images Protein powder mixes have become increasingly popular with professional and recreational athletes. NITRO-TECH by MuscleTech remains a readily available product in this growing market. Made in different formulas, NITRO-TECH features several nutrients designed to enhance athletic performance and increase muscle size. Yet, some of these nutrients may cause side effects. Advertisement Read more: 15 New Ways to Use Protein Powder That Will Blow Your Mind Video of the Day Be Wary of Whey MuscleTech uses whey protein as the main ingredient in most of its protein powder mixes....

Homemade meringues with fruit on top. Image Credit: merc67/iStock/Getty Images Meringues are made from sweetened egg whites that have been beaten to form stiff peaks. The baking process is really a prolonged drying over several hours in a warm oven. To make it easier to remove the meringues from your baking sheet, you can spread parchment paper over the baking sheet before you place the little mounds of beaten egg white on it for drying....

references National Institutes of Health: "Iron" ConsumerLab: "Iron Supplements Review (Iron Pills, Liquids and Chews)" FDA: "FDA 101: Dietary Supplements" FDA: "Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) for Dietary Supplements" Cambridge Memorial Hospital: "Oral Iron Supplementation" National Library of Medicine: "Taking iron supplements" Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: "Iron" Hematology: "The Efficacy and Safety of Vitamin C for Iron Supplementation in Adult Patients With Iron Deficiency Anemia" Mayo Clinic: Iron Deficiency in Children Taking non-constipating iron supplements may be ideal for those who need more of the mineral without the uncomfortable side effects....

A plank may look simple — but this total-body exercise benefits multiple muscle groups. Image Credit: Maskot/Maskot/GettyImages Just like the foundation of your home, planks are the first building block for any workout routine. Once you nail down the plank, you can move onto doing other basic body-weight exercises, like push-ups and mountain climbers. Advertisement While planks are best known for strengthening your core, they actually work everything from your quads and glutes to your shoulders and back....

The Dukan diet, the ketogenic diet and the Atkins diet are some of the most popular weight loss plans out there, but do they really work? Image Credit: tbralnina/iStock/GettyImages Almost half the people in the U.S. go on a diet each year. Some spend thousands of dollars on weight-loss shakes, slimming pills, ready-made meals and miracle herbs that guarantee quick results. Yet, more than one-third of the population is living with obesity....

Eating certain foods may help your wound heal more quickly. Image Credit: tbradford/iStock/GettyImages Got a nasty cut that required stitches? Certain nutrients can play a key role in healing it up quickly and prevent a scar from forming. But other foods, particular sugary foods, may slow the healing process. Seal the deal: Here’s a breakdown of foods for wound healing after surgery or a cut. Advertisement ​Read more:​ The Best Foods to Eat After Surgery to Help With Recovery Video of the Day Protein Sources Protein is found all throughout your body and is necessary to build and repair muscle, as well as to prevent infections....

Flaxseeds are nutrient-rich and contain various vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and lignans. Image Credit: canyonos/iStock/GettyImages Flaxseeds are nutrient-rich seeds that contain various vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and lignans. Like most other nutrients, lignans aren’t retained in flaxseed oil and have to be added back as a powder. While lignan benefits are numerous, they haven’t been well studied. Advertisement What Is Lignan Flax Oil? Flaxseed, also known as linseed or Linum usitassimum, is a nutty, nutrient-rich seed....