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Many factors besides hypertension can cause a high blood pressure reading. Image Credit: Onfokus/E+/GettyImages According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one-half of US adults have high blood pressure, which raises the risk for stroke and heart disease. Many factors can affect your blood pressure and cause a high reading, but they don’t mean you have hypertension. Advertisement "In the short term, factors like stress, exercise or eating a meal can cause a rise in blood pressure, but that is not the same as having the disease of hypertension," says Anupam Kotwal, MD, and endocrinologist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha....

Woman drinking bottle of water after workout Image Credit: AmmentorpDK/iStock/Getty Images You already know that water is essential to your health, and you probably already get an adequate amount of fluids to meet your basic needs. If you are exercising, however, you need to increase your water intake to make up for the fluid you lose when you sweat. It is important to drink water in regular intervals before, during and after your exercise session....

Eating a square of dark chocolate here and there isn’t necessarily bad for your health. Image Credit: serezniy/iStock/GettyImages Eating a square of dark chocolate here and there isn’t necessarily bad for your health. When one square turns into an entire candy bar, however, then you might be eating too much chocolate. Advertisement Chocolate has been around for thousands of years. The ancient Mayans and Aztecs used chocolate as medicine and made chocolate offerings to their gods, according to Science News for Students, an online publication from the nonprofit Society for Science & the Public....

Three slices of a sushi roll on a bamboo mat. Image Credit: Ivan Kmit/iStock/Getty Images When handled and served properly, sushi – typically a combination of raw fish and sticky, vinegared rice – can be part of a healthful diet. If not prepared or handled properly, however, it can cause food poisoning or a parasitic infection, which can lead to stomach pain. It’s also possible that you are experiencing an allergic reaction....

A man is training on a heavy bag. Image Credit: LuckyBusiness/iStock/Getty Images Kettlebells are used in the gym to build strength, endurance and explosiveness. The Russian exercise apparatus are becoming increasingly popular and a number of gyms and workout facilities have them for workout enthusiasts to use for training purposes. However, you may need to find substitutes for kettlebell swings if your gym does not have them. Advertisement Dumbbell Arm Swings Performing arm swings with dumbbells can help you gain upper body strength if you can’t use kettlebells....

If you're going gluten-free, choosing the right cookbook can help you craft the best dishes. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com/Creative Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com/Creative How We Chose Best Overall Best for Budget Cooking Best for Beginners Best for Meal Planning Best for Baking Best Grain-Free Best Dairy-Free Best Expert-Recommended Best for Easy Cooking Best Slow Cooker What to Look For Visit Page https://www.amazon.com For all your favorite carb-rich recipes, go for this gluten-free cookbook....

These challenge races are tough but doable (given the right training). Image Credit: Sam Edwards/Caiaimage/GettyImages There are those who measure the prestige of an endurance event by the length of time it takes to complete. And sure, there’s something to be said for those strong enough to take on 100-mile ultramarathons, double Ironman-distance triathlons, double century bike races or marathon-length swims. Advertisement But for those of us who lack the free time, inclination and insanity to attempt such a feat, there are plenty of more accessible events to test our physical and mental limits - without making training a full-time job....

references Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: "Omega-3 Fatty Acids: An Essential Contribution" American Cancer Society: "Soy and Cancer Risk: Our Expert’s Advice" Mayo Clinic: "Will eating soy increase my risk of breast cancer?" U.S. Food and Drug Administration: "Foods Program Guidance Under Development" FDA: "CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21" USDA: "Urban Remedy - Cashew Milk" University of Michigan Health: "Potassium (K) in Blood Test" American Society of Nutrition: "Going nuts about milk?...

Fill up on protein on a weight loss diet. Image Credit: thesomegirl/iStock/GettyImages A two-week diet can come in handy before a party, a beach vacation or an important work meeting. Even the slightest weight loss will boost your confidence and body image. The question is: can you really slim down in as little as two weeks? Advertisement While it's possible to lose a few pounds in just 14 days, don't expect miracles....

Whole pan-seared mullet on a metal plate sit on a wooded table. Image Credit: Denis_Vermenko/iStock/Getty Images Mullets are commercially fished off the coastal waters of Florida. The body of the fish is long and stout and bluish colored on top with silver sides. Mullets have an average weight of about 2 to 3 pounds, but some have been caught weighing in at more than 6. The two most common species are the striped, or black or gray mullet, and the white or silver mullet....

A doctor is administering a test to a patient on a treadmill. Image Credit: Cathy Yeulet/Hemera/Getty Images Often used to measure the fitness of firefighters and military personnel, the Gerkin treadmill test helps you estimate your cardiovascular endurance. The test makes a treadmill run incrementally more difficult for a specified amount of time, during which you measure your heart rate until you exceed your target rate. How long it takes you to exceed that rate helps you measure your fitness level....

Check your blood pressure twice a day for more accurate results. Image Credit: Piotr Adamowicz / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages It’s one of the simplest tests you can have at the doctor’s office and take at home yourself. But there’s a knack to correctly using a blood pressure cuff or, as it’s known medically, a sphygmomanometer. Advertisement "Depending on whether or not you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, known as hypertension, you may be advised to check your blood pressure more often than if you have normal blood pressure," says Thomas F....

You'll want to skip eating high-sugar, high-fat foods after your workout. Image Credit: d3sign/Moment/GettyImages Whether it’s a banana with some peanut butter or a quick protein ball, you may have your pre-workout snack down pat. But what you eat after a workout is just as important as what you consume before. After all, your muscles need important nutrients, like protein and carbs, to grow bigger and stronger. Advertisement If you want to make the most of your workout and stay energized for training sessions to come, you'll want to fuel your body with nutritious foods....

Carbonated water can help you switch from drinking soda to water. Image Credit: Arx0nt/iStock/GettyImages There’s a reason nutritionists recommend drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day while limiting soda — or better yet, avoiding it altogether. Water is calorie-free, hydrating and the benefits are many. Soda is loaded with sugar and calories but does nothing for your health. Advertisement While the sweetness of the carbonated beverage may be enticing, ditch the soda pop and reach for water instead....

During the plank challenge, you'll hit all the muscles in your core, including targeting your obliques with side plank variations. Image Credit: AJ_Watt/Getty Images/LIVESTRONG.com Creative Your core powers everything you do. Each day of the 4-Week Plank Challenge, you’ll try a new plank variation to improve your core strength and endurance. Get all the details on the challenge here. You know sitting all day isn’t your healthiest option. But it’s not always feasible to take a mid-day workout break....

A woman is exercising on an elliptical machine. Image Credit: simonkr/iStock/Getty Images When you choose to have a home elliptical machine instead of using one exclusively at the gym, you need to provide maintenance to keep it in proper working order. Maintenance can require tightening loose parts and cleaning the wheels and tracks. It’s also very important to keep the moving parts lubricated with the right substance. Advertisement Stick With the Manufacturer Your elliptical machine should come with lubricant when you purchase it....

Red and yellow grapefruit are from the same family, and thus only have slight differences. Image Credit: Aleksandr Zubkov/Moment/GettyImages In This Article Vitamin A Vitamin C and Potassium Sugar, Fiber and Calories Flavor Red and yellow grapefruit, often called white grapefruit, are closely related varieties of the same citrus fruit, Citrus paradisi. It's a hybrid cross between a variety of pomelo and a variety of sweet orange that was originally developed in Barbados....

White bread is missing most of the fiber found in the original grain. Image Credit: Howard Shooter/Dorling Kindersley RF/Getty Images Protein may get a lot of attention as a muscle-building nutrient, but you need carbohydrates for energy to help you meet your lean-body goals. Bread is a good source of carbohydrates, but not all types are equally beneficial. Choose 100 percent whole wheat bread, rather than white bread, to obtain essential fiber and other nutrients for a healthy, muscular frame....

Make sure to choose a zero-added-sugar, high-fiber bread to make the base of your avo toast. Image Credit: VankaD/iStock/GettyImages If you want to keep your ticker in tiptop shape, a heart-healthy meal first thing in the morning is the best place to start. And there’s one breakfast that stands above the rest according to a cardiologist: avocado toast with a side of fruit. Advertisement This trendy toast lives up to the hype, boasting a bevy of benefits to support a strong heart....

Garlic may confer a host of health benefits, but garlic makes you burp, which can be embarrassing. Image Credit: Lucy Lambriex/DigitalVision/GettyImages Garlic may confer a host of health benefits and certainly adds some flavor to your favorite dishes, but — and this a big but — garlic makes you burp, and that can be embarrassing. Let’s explore how to stop burping garlic and get some strategies. Advertisement Why Garlic Causes Burping It’s a pretty common occurrence, and there are many reasons for burping after eating garlic....