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Cellulose in vegetables is good for you. Image Credit: Diana Miller/Cultura/GettyImages Vegetable cellulose is one reason vegetables are good for your health. It’s a natural dietary fiber that keeps your digestive tract in good working condition and may help prevent some intestinal diseases. While it’s a safe food additive, it sometimes attracts negative attention. Advertisement Tip Vegetable cellulose is a type of insoluble fiber — an essential dietary nutrient that is healthy for you....

Milk is an alkaline drink. Image Credit: Pakorn Kumruen / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages The human body’s pH levels are naturally alkaline. The pH scale measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is (0 is acidic, 14 is alkaline and 7 is neutral). Bodies need a pH between 7.35-7.45 to function properly. However, consuming alkaline drinks and foods doesn’t affect that number. Advertisement Acid-Base Homeostasis The body is very efficient in maintaining an acid-base homeostasis through renal and respiratory processes, and despite the popularity of alkaline diets, there is no scientific evidence that consuming certain foods and drinks can actually change blood pH....

Most herbs and spices are naturally low in sodium. Image Credit: Design Pics/Tomas del Amo/Design Pics/Getty Images A high-sodium diet upsets the fluid and electrolyte balance in your body, raising your risk of developing high blood pressure and heart disease. Even if you make an effort to choose fresh and unprocessed foods at the grocery store, the seasonings you use in your recipes may cause you to exceed your daily sodium recommendations....

Low GI Indian food isn't hard to find as long as it's prepared properly. Image Credit: Andrey Zhuravlev/iStock/GettyImages The glycemic index (GI) measures the effect of carbohydrate-containing foods on blood sugar. Low GI Indian food isn’t hard to find as long as it’s prepared properly. Some of the most widely used ingredients in Indian cuisine have low GI values. Advertisement Measuring Glycemic Index When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into simpler sugars that go into your bloodstream....

Fresh, canned or frozen green beans work as the base of the casserole. Image Credit: from_my_point_of_view/iStock/GettyImages Stovetop green bean casserole is a classic comfort food favorite. It is also a great source of vegetables and fiber. If you are interested in meal prepping, consider a make-ahead green bean casserole. This will save you time on making fresh meals every night, and it can aid in your health goals. Advertisement There are several options when it comes to a make-ahead green bean casserole....

Baking powder works best for rolled and cut cookies. Image Credit: MASH/Photodisc/Getty Images If you’ve been baking for a while, you know that a key ingredient in most recipes is baking powder or baking soda. Although it’s possible to make banana bread without baking powder and cookies without baking soda, the result will be dense, unless you use some other leavening agent. Advertisement Tip It is possible to make cookies without baking soda or baking powder, but the resulting cookie will be dense....

Woman drinking a cup of coffee Image Credit: Astarot/iStock/Getty Images One task your nose is responsible for is the moistening and warming of air before it enters your lungs. The inside of your nose contains tiny blood vessels that lie very close to the surface of your nasal passages. Nose bleeds, also referred to as epistaxis, occur when these tiny blood vessels get damaged. One of the most common causes of nose bleeds is dryness in the nasal passages, which can occur as a result of caffeine, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians....

Box jumps are an advanced exercise that take a lot of strength and power. Image Credit: Vladimir Sukhachev/iStock/GettyImages Box jumps appear to be pretty straight forward — just jump up and land gracefully on top of the box. However, if you can’t do one, you’ve realized this activity isn’t quite as easy as it might look. Advertisement Box jumps are a plyometric exercise that require significant strength and power. Deficits in either of these areas can prevent you from successfully performing a box jump, Chris Shaffer, CF-L2 trainer and owner of Shaffer Strength and Conditioning, LLC, tells LIVESTRONG....

A spinach and tomato salad. Image Credit: Irina_Barcari/iStock/Getty Images Eating may be the furthest thing from your mind when your body is withdrawing from alcohol, but alcohol affects how your body metabolizes and utilizes nutrients, making eating an important part of your recovery. Initially, you may not be able to eat much, but as your symptoms improve, it’s important that you eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods from all the food groups to replenish nutritional deficiencies....

High VO2 Max and low resting heart rate are both associated with cardiovascular fitness and common among endurance athletes. VO2 Max is the most accurate measure of cardio-respiratory fitness. It measures the maximum amount of oxygen that the body can use in one minute per kilogram of body weight (mL/kg/min). During exercise, the heart rate responds by increasing, as does the delivery of oxygen to the body. Because of their dependent relationship, VO2 Max and heart rate are both valuable tools used to assess a person's level of cardiovascular fitness....

Rice cakes are a great source of carbs for bodybuilding. Image Credit: Sokorevaphoto/iStock/GettyImages Bodybuilding is a sport that requires extreme discipline in both the gym and the kitchen. Although refined carbohydrates are not typically recommended as part of a healthy diet, there may be an exception when it comes to rice cakes and bodybuilding. Advertisement During training, bodybuilders need a quick source of energy, which rice cakes can provide. Bodybuilders can also eat rice cakes post-workout to replenish muscle glycogen and get their bodies ready for the next training session....

Running on an instable surface, such as sand, can contribute to knee pain. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images Experiencing pain behind your knee while running can be a symptom of a more serious problem, such as tendinitis or a Baker’s cyst. If you feel such pain, immediately stop running to prevent further injury. Treatment includes ice, compression and elevation of your knee. Contact your doctor if pain persists. Advertisement Tendinitis Your calf, popliteal and hamstring tendons are behind your knee and directly above your calf....

references Philip Cheng 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 sleep trackers monitor more than just your movement — they'll also log factors like your heart rate. Image Credit: Withings/Fitbit/Sleep Cycle/LIVESTRONG.com Creative Image Credit: Withings/Fitbit/Sleep Cycle/LIVESTRONG.com Creative ‌Best Overall: ‌Muse S ($399.99, ChooseMuse.com) ‌Best on a Budget: ‌SleepOn Go2Sleep ($89, SleepOn....

The average 5K time varies by age and sex, but it's a great race for beginners and runners of all ages. Image Credit: vitranc/E+/GettyImages In This Article Average Time and Pace Prep for Your First Race Improve Your Time If you're new to running, a 5K is probably the first event on your calendar. The 3.1-mile race is a good distance for beginners, yet popular among runners of all ages and skill levels....

A group of nutritionists and doctors stand together Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Wavebreak Media/Getty Images Fibrocystic changes in the breasts are common for women in their reproductive years. Fibrocystic breasts feel ropy, lumpy, bumpy and tender, and these changes may be most noticeable just before menstruation. Certain vitamins may be helpful in alleviating fibrocystic breast symptoms. Before taking vitamins, consult with a nutritionally-trained health care provider for an appropriate diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan....

The exact calories in an omelette with cheese and ham Image Credit: martinturzak/iStock/GettyImages Eggs (or more specifically, egg yolks) spent a lot of time on the “do not eat” list due to fears about their cholesterol content, but the breakfast food has since been exonerated. Now that eggs are back in the game, you may be left wondering the amount of calories in an omelette with cheese and ham. Advertisement While the calorie count is pretty reasonable, that's not the only thing that makes an omelette a good breakfast choice....

If done improperly, heavy squats may trigger hemorrhoids. Image Credit: ciricvelibor/E+/GettyImages Squats are one of the best exercises for targeting the largest muscles in the body. But if you use too much weight or lift with improper form or breath, squats can also trigger hemorrhoids. The good news? With a few modifications, you can still include squats in your overall workout plan. Advertisement ​Read more:​ Watch Out, Heavy Weightlifting Could Be a Factor in Hemorrhoids Video of the Day Can Squats Cause Hemorrhoids?...

There are many reasons that could be the cause for both back and stomach pain. Image Credit: sorrapong/iStock/GettyImages Many disorders can cause tightness in the stomach and back pain together, from constipation to labor. If you experience these symptoms and you’re male, you can at least rule out labor. For any sexually active woman of childbearing age, labor is always a possibility, especially if you’re somewhat overweight and have irregular periods, even if you don’t think you’re pregnant....

Move beyond just serving fries with a chicken patty. Image Credit: BreakingTheWalls/iStock/GettyImages Next time you’re craving a chicken patty sandwich, remember you can use the patties for more than that. Whether you like them breaded or grilled, they are a quick and easy way to make a variety of tasty meals for the family. Advertisement Frozen Chicken Patties You can find frozen chicken patties in the freezer section of your local grocery store....

Fat is an essential part of our diets, but some types are better than others. Image Credit: a_namenko/iStock/GettyImages From the fat-phobic 1990s to today’s keto-crazed culture, it’s clear that the obsession with dietary fat permeates generation after generation of dieters. Advertisement But whether you love it or hate it, dietary fat plays an important role in keeping your body healthy and strong. In fact, it influences everything from your metabolism to your immunity and even plays a role in inflammation and vitamin absorption, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetic's most recent position paper on the topic, published in 2014....