Posts

Fasting is sometimes necessary before blood work. While there are some blood tests that allow you to eat whatever you wish, while others require you to abstain from drinking or eating certain things for a specific period of time prior to testing. Strict adherence to your physician's instructions regarding fasting is essential in order to achieve an accurate reading of your blood work. Advertisement Fasting Blood Tests There are three main tests that require fasting – glucose, cholesterol and iron....

Caffeine can get you up and running. Image Credit: dolgachov/iStock/Getty Images Your new diet pills promised to maximize your energy so you could burn off the fat, so why are you yawning? The answer is the caffeine. Some diet pills such as orlistat help you lose weight by inhibiting fat absorption, but most operate through a stimulant mechanism. It may be advertised as “thermogenics” or “energy precursors,” but it’s really just caffeine....

Some people experience a loss of appetite when they have a cold. According to the National Institutes of Health, the three most common symptoms of a cold are sneezing, a runny nose and nasal congestion. Along with aches, sore throat and cough, however, loss of appetite is another frequent symptom. A few physical factors combine to result in decreased feelings of hunger when a person is sick with a cold. Advertisement Theories/Speculation It’s important to realize that not everyone who has a head cold experiences a loss of appetite, and it’s not a symptom that occurs as often as some others....

Stay hydrated to avoid water retention. Image Credit: C0rey/iStock/Getty Images Water weight can artificially inflate how much the scale says you weigh. After all, a scale measures all parts of your body – the muscle, bones, connective tissue, organs and fluids. In addition to increasing your weight, water retention can make you look puffy and feel uncomfortably bloated. If you have an occasion tomorrow – a special presentation, photo shoot or sporting event – for which your weight matters, you can take action today that will help you lose water weight overnight....

Including lots of protein in your diet can help you shed weight more easily. Image Credit: monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Getty Images While you might have been able to eat whatever you wanted in your teens and 20s without gaining an ounce, those days are often long-gone by the time you hit 35. Aging slowly depletes your body’s muscle tissue, which slows your metabolism, and, in turn, causes that all-too-familiar weight gain as you progress through adulthood....

To help reduce food waste at home, try buying perishable food items more often and in smaller quantities. Image Credit: Tassii/E+/GettyImages A November 2019 paper published in BioScience, produced by a global team of researchers and with the signed support of 11,000 scientists, has declared a climate emergency. Advertisement "Despite 40 years of major global negotiations, we have generally conducted business as usual and are essentially failing to address this crisis," said William Ripple, PhD, distinguished professor of ecology in the Oregon State University College of Forestry and co-lead author of the paper....

The 800M is a mix between sprinting and distance running. Image Credit: Daniel Cole/Hemera/Getty Images No other race in track and field is as awkward as the 800-meter run. It’s stuck in a strange middle ground between an all-out sprint and the cruising pace of a distance race. Advertisement In two full laps around the track you can't sprint at the same pace you would a 400-meter run, but it has the sense of urgency that distance races lack....

Pouring a cup of coffee Image Credit: DAJ/amana images/Getty Images For people who struggle with anemia – a condition characterized by low red blood cell levels – iron supplements can help alleviate the severe fatigue, weakness and breathing difficulties associated with this condition. Despite the beneficial attributes of iron supplements, this nutritional supplement may interact with certain medications, supplements or foods you consume throughout your day. Discuss any questions you have regarding potential interactions with iron supplements with your medical provider....

Weighted vests can exceed 80 pounds of additional weight to your workout. Image Credit: Blend Images - Dave and Les Jacobs/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images Weighted vests make exercises such as push ups, walking, jogging and playing sports more challenging. Vests can weigh as little 5 pounds or they can exceed 80 pounds. You can adjust most weighted vests by adding or removing metal ingots from the pockets. This allows you to gradually increase the weight of your vest as you get fitter and stronger....

Eating 1,400 calories per day is too low for most people. Talk to your doctor to see if this diet is right for you. Image Credit: d3sign/Moment/GettyImages In This Article Is It Too Low? Tips Sample Meal Plan Bottom Line Depending on how many calories you currently eat and how active you are, switching to a 1,400-calorie daily diet may cause you to lose more than a pound per week. Advertisement However, a 1,400-calorie diet may not be safe for you if you're very active....

Sex hormones are responsible for male and female characteristics. Image Credit: towfiqu ahamed/iStock/GettyImages Pregnenolone is marketed for its ability to enhance memory and brain function, among other claims. Before popping pills, make sure you’re aware of pregnenolone side effects. This supplement may affect endocrine function and aggravate hormone-sensitive disorders. Advertisement Tip Little is known about the long-term safety and effectiveness of pregnenolone, a steroid hormone. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warns that steroids or steroid-like substances carry serious adverse effects ranging from acne and hair loss to strokes and heart attacks....

Smoked salmon can be a tasty way to get essential nutrients, but not without a few potential side effects. Image Credit: larik_malasha/iStock/GettyImages In This Article What Is It? Nutrition Health Benefits Risks How to Store It Recipes The health benefits of smoked salmon come from all the nutrients, including essential vitamins, minerals, fats and protein in the fish. Advertisement Smoking typically involves salting the meat first, which means many smoked salmon products are very high in sodium....

Sap is edible, especially when you boil it down into syrup. Image Credit: yanikap/iStock/GettyImages Sap is that sticky substance you sometimes see oozing out of tree trunks. But is tree sap edible? Advertisement The short answer is yes. Pure maple syrup is the most well-known product made from tree sap — and it's delicious (hello, pancakes and waffles). Video of the Day And maple syrup is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to sap products....

There are several leg circulation exercises you can do while sitting. Image Credit: Thomas Barwick/DigitalVision/GettyImages Your circulatory system constantly keeps blood flowing throughout your body. Circulation that become compromised, sometimes due to inactivity during travel or bed rest, can lead to a potentially harmful condition called deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. Advertisement DVT is the occurrence of a blood clot in your body, most often in your lower leg, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons....

Maintaining a normal blood pressure during pregnancy is important for mother and baby. Image Credit: LumiNola/iStock/GettyImages You might not give your blood pressure a second thought when that cuff is slapped on during your annual check-up. But a normal blood pressure during pregnancy is key to keeping you and your baby healthy. Advertisement If you're pregnant, here's why you should keep an eye on your blood pressure readings, and what's a healthy range to aim for....

A well-rounded weight loss program can include regular servings of peanuts and peanut butter in moderation. Image Credit: serezniy/iStock/GettyImages Peanuts and weight loss go together like peas in a pod. A well-rounded weight loss program can include regular servings of peanuts and peanut butter (in moderation). Even better, both forms of this legume offer good nutritional benefits. Advertisement Healthy Weight Loss Basics When it comes to losing weight, the time-tested “calories in vs....

Stretching is a great way to help relieve a sore inner thigh. Image Credit: Venerala/iStock/GettyImages Sore inner thighs are among the most difficult areas to remedy because these muscles are very sensitive. They are used in nearly every motion, which makes inner thigh pain especially noticeable. Luckily, several treatment options exist. Advertisement Causes of Inner Thigh Pain The inner thigh is most often associated with the groin muscles, but the abductors also sit in this region....

Panax ginseng offers several sexual benefits for men. The root of the Panax ginseng plant has been used for centuries as a component of traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM. TCM practitioners and Western herbalists widely promote Panax ginseng as an adaptogen, or an herb that enables a healthier response to physical or mental stress. Scientific studies have validated many of the traditional uses attributed to Panax ginseng, including its use as a male sexual stimulant....

Should I Avoid Taking B Vitamins at Night? Image Credit: Photo by Cathy Scola/Moment/GettyImages It’s tough to sleep when you’re thinking about your responsibilities for the next day, stressing out about your schedule and scrolling through Instagram. In our fast-paced society, sleep is at a premium, so you can’t afford to let anything get in the way of your slumber. Especially not a vitamin that’s supposed to make you healthier....

Is your mindset actually hurting your healthy progress? Image Credit: Liderina/iStock/GettyImages In a perfect world, you’d have unbreakable willpower. Maybe that means you’d eat lean protein and veggies at every meal, hit the gym every day of the year and never crave a chocolate bar. Advertisement But life happens. Most days you won't have the time to whip up a perfectly healthy dinner or work up a sweat for an hour — and that's okay....