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What Are the Benefits of Spinach in Smoothies? Image Credit: Lecic/iStock/GettyImages Popeye’s love of canned spinach may have increased his strength, but it did nothing to please his taste buds. Combining spinach with fruit into a smoothie drink not only provides all the benefits and nutrition of raw spinach, but, because it tastes great, you will be more likely to drink this healthy beverage more often. Advertisement Tip Adding spinach to your smoothie significantly increases the nutritional quality of your smoothie, upping your fiber, antioxidant, and phytochemical intake....

Cranberries contain a ton of natural antioxidant compounds, meaning that consuming them in any form could help to reduce your risk of developing cancer and other disease. Image Credit: Nataliia Mysak/iStock/GettyImages Though cranberries come from an evergreen plant that’s grown all over North America, these tart red berries normally only grace tables during the winter holidays. But the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants present indicate there are more uses for cranberries than just a side of savory sauce....

Vanilla extract contains a compound known as vanillin that has antioxidant, antidepressant and antitumor effects. Image Credit: ValentynVolkov/iStock/GettyImages Vanilla may be your favorite flavor when it comes to ice cream or pudding, but the extract offers so much more than a delicious taste. The health benefits of vanilla are vast. Just make sure you have the real stuff rather than cheaper, and often inferior, imitation extract. Advertisement Vanilla gives a delicious aroma and taste to baked goods and sweets....

For better heart health, the American Heart Association recommends consuming fish at least twice per week. You may be wondering if this is true for all fish or if you should limit fish that are high in cholesterol and fat. The truth is, when compared with meat, fish is relatively low in cholesterol. Shellfish is a high-cholesterol fish, but even this food may be worked into a healthy diet. Advertisement Minor Cholesterol Risk Watching your cholesterol intake will help you lower your blood cholesterol and improve your cardiovascular health....

An assortment of colored Mentos. Image Credit: Anders Aagesen/iStock/Getty Images Mentos, the self-proclaimed “FreshMaker,” originated as a hard mint with a chewy center. Over the years, Mentos has evolved to include fruit flavors, sour flavors, sugar-free options and mint gum. Mentos also gained notoriety as an Internet phenomenon when a collection of videos appeared showing people combining Mentos and diet cola to form a geyser-like eruption of soda into the air....

Pole dancing provides a surprisingly tough full-body workout for all fitness levels. Image Credit: Getty Images/BraunS Pole dancing is a popular form of dance that people of all fitness levels can (and do!) enjoy. While some people still associate it with entertainment of a more adult nature, studios continue to pop up around the country, presenting pole dancing for what it is: a form of artistic expression. Or, if you’re more fitness-inclined: a killer full-body workout....

Some vaginal discharge is normal, but certain colors or consistencies can signal a problem with your down-there health. Image Credit: patchanan promunat/iStock/GettyImages In This Article White or Cloudy Discharge Yellow or Green Discharge Pink Discharge Brown Discharge Cottage Cheese-Like Discharge Sticky or Jelly-Like Discharge Clear, Watery Discharge There's an age-old saying that death and taxes are the only certainties in life, but if you're a person with a vagina, you can add daily vaginal discharge to that list too....

Follow a printable 1,300 calorie meal plan to keep yourself accountable. Image Credit: barol16/iStock/GettyImages If you’re eating 1,300 calories a day but think you have plateaued, you might be eating more than you think. You can also try consulting a weight-loss calculator to check your progress, or ramp up your exercise routine to push through the plateau. Advertisement Tip Finding yourself struggling to lose weight on 1,300 calories a day can mean you may be eating more than you think — or you may have hit a plateau you need to work through....

A binge may feel like you've ruined your diet, but you can get back on track. Image Credit: MaElena1/iStock/Getty Images You’ve been disciplined and focused when it comes to your eating plan – sticking to the calorie recommendations and resisting treats. But one night – be it a holiday event, a stress-induced feast in front of the television or a party where the drinks left you uninhibited as to what you ate – has left you feeling guilty and defeated....

To prevent chronic disease, trim your waistline by reducing unwanted belly fat. Image Credit: Sian Kennedy/Stone/Getty Images Abdominal fat can be devious, gradually building up over your adult years until you suddenly have an unwanted pooch. Your body stores subcutaneous and visceral fat, both of which add inches to your waistline. Subcutaneous fat hibernates just beneath your skin and you can grasp it with your fingers. Visceral fat stows away deep in your abdomen around your organs....

references Smithfield: The Lady’s Oven-Roasted Ribs Southern Yankee Bar-B-Q: Bar-B-Q Ribs Food Network: Short Ribs What's Cooking America: Jalapeno Jerk Baby Back Ribs with Pineapple Barbecue Sauce Season ribs with smoky and spicy flavors before cooking. Image Credit: Eugene Mymrin/Moment/GettyImages Image Credit: Eugene Mymrin/Moment/GettyImages Knife Slab of ribs 4 tsp. liquid smoke Salt Pepper Garlic powder Paper towels Large plate or platter Plastic wrap You can choose to forgo the liquid smoke and only use dry ingredients to season the ribs....

Losing your glasses in the water is a big concern for nearsighted swimmers. Image Credit: Halfpoint/iStock/GettyImages Swimming can be a bit of an obstacle for people who are nearsighted. The water can muddle vision through your lenses, but an even greater concern is having the glasses come off your face while swimming. Advertisement If you have poor vision or are in a natural body of water, such as a lake, finding your glasses might be difficult or even impossible....

To keep your juice from discoloring during storage, add a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon juice to it. Image Credit: ablokhin/iStock/GettyImages If you like the idea of eating your vegetables on the run, a little preparation ahead of time goes a long way. Instead of buying a pricey juicer, turning your blender into a juice blender may provide a healthy drink without breaking the wallet. Advertisement Tip To keep your juice from discoloring during storage, add a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon juice to it....

Lactaid is for people who are avoiding lactose. Image Credit: cagkansayin/iStock/GettyImages Plenty of people avoid dairy, but not all do so for the same reason. While those with an intolerance to the sugar in milk can seek out a lactose-free milk brand like Lactaid, those who have an allergy to milk protein will likely have to find a dairy-free milk alternative. Advertisement Tip Lactaid is formulated for people who are avoiding milk sugar (lactose) but is not an appropriate option for people with an allergy to milk protein....

Silicon dioxide can commonly be found in protein powder as an anti-clumping agent. Image Credit: Nungning20/iStock/GettyImages A quick read of your protein powder or baking flour’s ingredient lists most likely reveals the ingredient silicon dioxide. While it’s a common food additive, silicon dioxide is also added to cosmetics. But is it safe to eat or put on your face? Advertisement What Is Silicon Dioxide? Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is a chemical compound commonly used in food as an anti-caking agent or in cosmetics to prevent corrosion, according to the USDA....

Steamed rice can be part of a healthy diet. Image Credit: tashka2000/iStock/Getty Images Twenty percent of the daily calories consumed around the world come from rice, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Steaming rice is one of the healthier ways to cook this food because this prevents the loss of water-soluble nutrients into the cooking water and doesn’t require any added fat. Steamed rice is a healthier alternative to fried rice, especially if you choose steamed brown rice instead of white....

The carb limit to stay in ketosis is pretty low, and eating sugar can take you out of this fat-burning state. Image Credit: Jennifer_Sharp/E+/GettyImages Following a ketogenic diet requires a lot of focus, especially on keeping your carbohydrate and sugar intake to a minimum. When your body is deprived of carbs, you enter (and stay in) a condition called ketosis, in which you burn fat instead of carbohydrates for energy....

The moon may help you lose weight. Essentially a 24-hour juice fast, the Moon Diet is a trend which involves the use of a lunar calendar. By aligning the day of the new moon with an absence of solid foods and following a few other suggestions during each of the lunar cycles, the moon diet is believed to boost an individual's ability to quickly lose weight. Advertisement The Moon and the Body Myth and lore throughout time and place has spoken of the effect that the moon can have on living beings....

Pain in your upper-left chest during exercise can result from blocked coronary arteries. Image Credit: Sam-Stock/iStock/Getty Images Chest pain in your upper-left chest during exercise and lying down can occur for various reasons including coronary artery disease and high blood pressure. Chest pain related to cardiac or heart-related functioning, results in symptoms such as tightness in your chest and crushing pain. Pain in your upper-left chest that occurs from non-heart-related causes can produce symptoms including heartburn....

Sprinter preparing to run. Image Credit: Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images Although sprinters require carbohydrates before events, they do not need to participate in carbohydrate loadings. Since sprints are short races, the athlete will need fewer carbohydrates for energy than individuals running endurance races. Keep food choices low in fat and calories to avoid digestive issues during events. Along with eating right before events, drink plenty of water to combat fluid loss during sprints....