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Without enough iodine, side effects may occur. Image Credit: Towfiqu Photography/Moment/GettyImages Iodine is found naturally in soil and seawater. In your body, the thyroid gland needs it to produce hormones. Without enough iodine, side effects may occur. These can include an enlarged thyroid, as well as learning disabilities in infants from mothers who are iodine deficient. Advertisement How Much Do You Need? Your body doesn’t make iodine, so you must get it from food or supplements....

Fatigued man sleeping at desk. Image Credit: James Woodson/Digital Vision/Getty Images Although many adults in the United States who have overweight or obesity may benefit from weight loss, losing weight too quickly or losing too much body weight can cause unpleasant – even dangerous – side effects. Advertisement Unless you're being medically supervised during weight loss, a safe rate of weight loss is 1 to 2 pounds weekly, suggests the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....

If you have a bathtub, you can make your own sitz bath easily — or, opt for a store-bought sitz bath, which sits on top of your toilet seat. Image Credit: Catherine Falls Commercial/Moment/GettyImages If you’ve ever had irritated or sore private parts, you might’ve heard that a sitz bath could help soothe them. But what exactly is a sitz bath? Advertisement Originating from the German word ‌sitzen‌ (meaning ‌to sit‌), a sitz bath involves sitting in shallow, warm water, according to Saint Luke's Health System, which can relieve inflammation in your nether regions....

Your calf muscles are used in a range of exercises and everyday activities. Image Credit: kaspiic/iStock/Getty Images Calves often receive less attention than your thighs as areas to exercise, but they provide essential support to your lower body and are used in a range of activities, including running, bicycling and jumping. Calf strength is also needed for everyday activities, such as standing on your toes to reach a high shelf, or for walking....

A night on the town is only as good as how you feel the next morning. Image Credit: Ridofranz/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Why Food Matters Foods to Eat Foods to Limit Before Drinking If alcohol is going to be a part of your dinner or an evening with friends, it's important to have a plan — not only on how you get home, but also to keep yourself from feeling tipsy too quickly....

references National Institute on Aging: "Older Adults and Balance Problems" World Health Organization: "Falls" Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Keep on Your Feet—Preventing Older Adult Falls" 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 shower chairs are sturdy, sized to suit the space available in your bathroom and comfortable for use....

Brown rice is known for its nutty flavor and chewy texture. Brown rice gets its color, flavor and texture from the bran layers that remain on the rice when it goes through the hulling process. It's milled for less time than white rice, which is why it retains the bran layers and is known for being a healthy source of fiber and for its chewy texture and nut-like flavor. There are four different types of brown rice — short grain, medium grain, long grain and light brown — and each takes a different amount of times to cook....

A bowl of salsa with limes. Image Credit: rez-art/iStock/Getty Images Salsa is a Mexican sauce made from tomatoes or tomatillos, peppers and cilantro. Other ingredients in salsa are onions, garlic and even corn or black beans. Salsa can be fresh or cooked, is a healthy addition to your diet as it is full of vegetables and herbs. Advertisement With Baked Tortilla Chips The most popular way to enjoy salsa is with chips; however, tortilla chips fried in oil are not a good idea when you are on a diet....

A close-up of an assortment of gelatin capsules. Image Credit: lolik/iStock/Getty Images Gelatin capsules, also known as soft gels, have an outer coating or shell containing the active ingredient and any filler. The interior ingredients must be in the form of a liquid, paste or suspension, which has small particles of the active ingredient suspended in liquid. The shell is made of gelatin, usually derived from beef or pork, along with water and a plasticizing agent such as glycerin to provide durability with flexibility....

Couscous' nutrition is similar to that of other carbohydrate-rich foods, like bulgur or rice. Image Credit: vaaseenaa/iStock/GettyImages Once considered to be a North African delicacy, couscous is now a commonly consumed food in most parts of the world. Couscous is a carbohydrate-rich food that can be consumed as an alternative to pasta, rice and other grain-based foods. It is particularly rich in selenium, an important mineral that protects your body and supports thyroid gland function, DNA production and reproduction....

Man looking out window. Image Credit: ColorBlind Images/Blend Images/Getty Images Creatine is a compound that is synthesized in your body by your pancreas and used for energy production in your skeletal muscles, with 95 percent of creatine stored in your muscles and the remaining 5 percent in your brain. Creatine can also be ingested as a nutritional supplement and ergogenic aid designed to increase exercise performance, principally muscle power and strength....

Basmati rice has a glycemic index between 50 and 58. Image Credit: Sanny11/iStock/GettyImages The glycemic index can help you determine how different foods affect your body’s glucose levels. Carb-rich foods, which tend to be high on the glycemic index, often increase your body’s blood glucose substantially. However, there are certain exceptions, like basmati rice. Advertisement Tip According to an April 2015 report in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, basmati rice has a glycemic index value between 50 and 58....

Ginkgo Biloba is one of the oldest living tree species and its extracts have been used most widely for the treatment of memory loss and dementia (Reference 1). A 20-year study on the cognitive function of elderly patients, published in PLoS in 2013 by Amieva, et. al., demonstrated the utility of Ginkgo Biloba in cognitive memory retention (Reference 2). The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) recommends 240 mg per day of Ginkgo Biloba (Reference 5)....

Exercise to feel good, not to burn calories. Image Credit: Youngoldman/iStock/GettyImages Raise your hand if you’ve ever put in extra hours at the gym for an upcoming wedding or beach vacation (we’re right there with you, for the record). Advertisement Listen, weight loss can be a valid goal, but dropping pounds shouldn't be your ​only​ reason for working out. In fact, when we see physical activity as transactional — in other words, we sweat just to burn calories and lose weight — we're heading down a slippery slope as far as our physical and mental health is concerned....

If your chain is rattling and noisy or you experience poor shifting on your bike, it may be time to replace the chain. Image Credit: Maskot/Maskot/GettyImages In This Article When to Replace Your Bike Chain Bike Chain With a Master Link Bike Chain Without a Master Link Common Bike Chain Tools Bike Chain Maintenance If your bike chain is rattling or you're unable to shift gears smoothly, it may be time to replace it....

Smoke kingfish in thin slabs. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images King mackerel, also known as kingfish, inhabits coastlines around the world, including North America, Western Australia and Brazil. This fatty, flavorful fish can weigh up to 90 pounds with a fat content between 6 and 23 percent. This high percentage of body fat increases the flavor of smoked kingfish, which is why especially large king mackerel are sometimes called “smokers.” Advertisement Brining Because kingfish have high water concentration between 50 and 74 percent, promptly gutting and brining your fish is necessary to reduce bacteria growth....

A close up of a few almonds and part of a shell. Image Credit: morningarage/iStock/Getty Images Bloating, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal pain and cramping are some of the most common gastrointestinal complaints. If you are diagnosed with IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, you may experience gastrointestinal symptoms that severely impair your quality of life. Some people with IBS find relief by eliminating some foods, although identifying the problematic foods can be a complicated and arduous process; working with a registered dietitian for guidance can make it easier for you....

Glass of orange juice being poured Image Credit: artisteer/iStock/Getty Images Acid reflux can be painful and is often associated with a burning sensation. It can occur when stomach acid is pushed into the esophagus. During an episode of acid reflux, you may taste regurgitated food or sour liquid at the back of your mouth or feel a burning sensation in your chest. Citric acid can cause an increase in stomach acid....

Lifting weights as a teenager can be beneficial, as long as you're safe about it. Image Credit: Chet_W/iStock/GettyImages As a parent, if you’re questioning whether weight training for your 15-year-old is healthy and safe, the answer is simple: Yes, as long as your teen is responsible about it. This entails using proper technique, having adequate supervision, warming up and stretching beforehand, using the right equipment and starting slowly, all to prevent injuries....

references Celiac Disease Foundation: "Sources of Gluten" Beyond Celiac: "Is Vinegar Gluten-Free?" FDA: "Gluten and Food Labeling" Gluten-Free Certification Organization: "About Us" Most mayonnaise is safe to eat but be sure your other ingredients are free of gluten. Image Credit: Oleksandr Todorov/iStock/GettyImages Image Credit: Oleksandr Todorov/iStock/GettyImages Visit Page https://amzn.to Sir Kensington's mayo is shelf-stable and seasoned with a hint of lime. Image Credit: Sir Kensington’s Image Credit: Sir Kensington’s...