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Lemon juice can help with liver function. Image Credit: HandmadePictures/iStock/GettyImages Lemon detox diets are trending these days for their slimming effect, but have you thought about the connection between lemon and liver health? There is little evidence that lemons help weight loss. However, this fruit and its juice have many benefits, from improved liver function to youthful skin. Advertisement One small lemon contains more than one-third of the daily recommended vitamin C intake, in addition to offering other nutrients with antioxidant effects....

If you don't take your prenatal vitamins, it's possible that you might experience certain nutrient deficiencies. Image Credit: Prostock-Studio/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Folic Acid Deficiency Calcium Deficiency Vitamin D Deficiency Iron Deficiency Your baby needs an abundant supply of certain vitamins and minerals to develop properly. And you also require additional dietary support while pregnant. Enter prenatal supplements, which help provide those extra nutrients. In fact, not taking prenatal vitamins can potentially leave you at a deficit....

Pushups can help you build your chest muscles but won't change your cup size. Image Credit: PeopleImages/E+/GettyImages You’ll see magazine articles galore promising you an exercise solution to perk up sagging breasts or increase your size. Your breasts, however, are made up mostly of fat tissue, and you can’t tone fat with exercise. You can only lose it — to reduce size — or strengthen the muscles around your chest to create the illusion of size and lift....

Image Credit: Madeleine_Steinbach/iStock/GettyImages The lavender plant, a fragrant flower, is also an edible herb. You can use lavender to add flavor to baked goods and other recipes. However. the strong flavor can be overpowering, so add it sparingly. There are many health benefits of eating lavender, including upping your intake of vitamins and minerals and protecting your body from antioxidants and stress. Advertisement Tip Lavender health benefits include increasing your intake of certain vitamins and alleviating stress and insomnia, but be aware of any possible drug interactions....

A man works at his desk with a glass of black tea next to him. Image Credit: Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images Theanine, a powerful amino acid found in black tea and green tea, mushrooms, and available as a non-prescription, over-the-counter food supplement in capsule form, is getting a lot of attention these days. According to Life Extension Magazine, theanine in tea “causes changes in body chemistry that rejuvenate, relax, enhance the ability to think and change mood....

A man is with his doctor, undergoing a medical exam. Image Credit: Brand X Pictures/Digital Vision/Getty Images Creatinine is a waste product from normal muscle metabolism. It is easily filtered out of the blood by well-functioning kidneys and levels typically remain relatively stable in the body and bloodstream over time. Creatinine is often included in routine laboratory testing to evaluate kidney function. There are many reasons why creatinine levels may be low, some as relatively harmless as a low-protein diet and others as serious as advanced liver disease....

The Body Reset Diet encourages replacing some meals with smoothies. Image Credit: ilona titova/iStock/GettyImages Image Credit: ilona titova/iStock/GettyImages Set yourself up for success with LIVESTRONG.com’s 30-Day Weight-Loss Kickstart. As a dietitian, I’m not a fan of short-term, quick-fix diet plans. They tend to lead you right back where you started, with perhaps a few extra pounds (restricting tends to lead to binging) and maybe even some shame and disappointment in yourself....

A wooden bucket next to a hot springs. Image Credit: DAJ/amana images/Getty Images Many people mistakenly believe that all bottled water is spring water. Most bottled water, however, comes from other types of sources. The website, My Spring Water describes spring water as originating from an underground water supply that flows upward to the earth’s surface. Whether forced to the surface naturally or mechanically, spring water must originate from the primary spring location....

A muscular man is doing a squat variation in the gym. Image Credit: Ibrakovic/iStock/Getty Images The Bulgarian split squat is a variation of a regular squat that’s done with one leg. Done with the rear foot elevated on a bench, it builds lower body muscles without the additional stress on the back found with traditional squats. Strengthening the glute and upper leg muscles will provide additional support for the back. They are easier to do and require no spotter, making them an approachable exercise for new lifters....

Energy drinks, including diet versions, may pose numerous serious side effects. Image Credit: Peter Dazeley/Photographer’s Choice/GettyImages Sugar-free energy drinks are popular beverages promoted as energy enhancers. They are usually carbonated and contain caffeine or other stimulants, such as ginseng and tea extracts. Advertisement People may consume energy drinks like sugar-free Monster for improved athletic performance, weight reduction or for energy to stay up for work, school or recreational activities. Video of the Day Routine or excessive consumption of energy drinks poses numerous risks, however....

The basic ziti bake recipe provides the foundation for a great dish, but still gives you the freedom to make any changes that you want. Image Credit: ALLEKO/iStock/GettyImages If you’re feeling like having a hearty pasta dish, but lasagna just seems way too complicated, you might want to try baked ziti with ricotta and ground beef instead. It will give you the same comforting feel, but with less preparation and hassle....

Edge out the competition. Image Credit: Solovyova/iStock/GettyImages Hockey is a fast-paced sport, and if you’re a player, you need to be on your toes to keep up. Just like with any other sport, it’s important to train properly beforehand so you’re at peak performance during games. Advertisement Long, moderately paced cardio workouts used to be the go-to method of increasing endurance in any sport. However, research — including study results published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise in 2007 — has since shown that shorter periods of intense exercise are more effective — not to mention more time efficient....

A grilled hamburger patty topped with mushrooms on a bed of rice. Image Credit: acrylik/iStock/Getty Images When cooking hamburgers, the juices in the ground beef expand, causing the top of the burger to become domed. Those in the know have a simple secret to keeping burger patties flat during the cooking process, which not only ensures even cooking throughout the burger, but lets you pile on the toppings without fear of them sliding off the patty and onto your lap....

Cyclist on the road Image Credit: wgmbh/iStock/Getty Images Lubrication is important to many functions on a bicycle. It helps moving metal parts rub against one another without creating high-pitched noises or warped metal. Pedals don’t require grease or lubrication to the extent a bike chain or gears would since these parts are expensive and highly complex to replace. But dirt, sand and dust can conspire to wear down the threads on pedals, making it tougher to pedal smoothly and shortening the lifespan of these parts....

Turkey chops have fewer calories and fat than most types of meats. Image Credit: Vitalina/iStock/GettyImages Turkey chops are tender slices cut from the breast of the turkey. They look — and taste — a lot like lamb, veal or pork chops, but this lean cut of protein is lower in fat and calories. Advertisement A 3-ounce serving of turkey breast (without the skin) has 125 calories and about 2 grams of fat and 26 grams of protein....

There are several ways to neutralize the acid in your coffee. Image Credit: simarik/iStock/GettyImages Around 15 million Americans experience heartburn daily, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. If you’re among them, rest assured that you don’t have to nix coffee to find relief from the acidic pH of coffee. Advertisement Keep Caffeine in Check The pH of coffee is 5 on a scale of 0 to 14 — with 0 being the most acidic and 14 the most basic — which means coffee is acidic....

Both cardio and weightlifting workouts help raise HDL cholesterol. Image Credit: jacoblund/iStock/GettyImages Cholesterol levels can be confusing. The usual goal is low cholesterol levels, and people try to avoid consuming too much cholesterol. There are two kinds of cholesterol; if you don’t have enough of the good kind, high-density lipoprotein or HDL, you’re at a greater risk for heart problems. Advertisement The Bad Cholesterol There are many risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and obesity....

The health supplement 5 HTP sometimes causes stomach problems. The amino acid derivative 5-Hydroxytryptophan is far more well known by the abbreviated term 5-HTP. It is sold worldwide as a commercial dietary supplement, mainly because of its potent anti-depressant and relaxant properties. It's sometimes badly tolerated by certain users though, and as such, it's important to be fully informed of how to secure optimum benefit before beginning to use it. Simply swallowing a pill aimlessly can often lead to stomach health becoming impaired, especially if a history of digestive problems exists....

If you can't reach for your toes, tight hips and hamstrings might be to blame. Find out how to touch your toes. Image Credit: fizkes/iStock/GettyImages In This Article The Plan How to Touch Your Toes Head, shoulders, knees and toes… If one of your goals is to increase your flexibility, touching your toes may be on your to-dos. But this stretch is more than just a cool party trick — it can tell you a lot about your current fitness....

A one-repetition max lift helps you determine your strength-to-weight ratio. Image Credit: AmmentorpDK/iStock/Getty Images Your strength-to-weight ratio is simply your strength divided by your body weight. The ideal ratio depends on your gender and what lift you’re performing. Competitive athletes’ goals for the strength-to-weight ratio differ from those for the average gym-goer. Advertisement Regardless of your experience level, think of strength-to-weight ratios in terms of progress; you want to see improvements in the ratio as you train to help you become more adept at your sport, not necessarily work toward a specific ideal....