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In soups like minestrone, pasta is added to the soup uncooked. Like most controversies, the question of whether to add pasta to your soup cooked or uncooked is one that doesn't have a single answer. The answer depends a little on the type of noodles you're using, a little on the type of soup you're making and a little on your own personal preferences. Advertisement Types of Pasta If you’re using pasta made with semolina and egg – in other words, what most Americans think of as traditional pasta – adding it to your soup uncooked for the last eight to 10 minutes of cooking time is perfectly acceptable....

An allergic response can cause sneezing and runny nose. Image Credit: PJjaruwan/iStock/GettyImages Coffee is enjoyed for its flavor and for the caffeine that can help wake you up and provide a temporary boost of energy. According to the Mayo Clinic, for most people a cup or two of coffee doesn’t cause an adverse reaction. If you have a coffee allergy, sinus it could cause sinus issues. Advertisement In some cases, coffee may simply elicit an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to its naturally occurring compounds....

Heavy menstrual bleeding is common. Image Credit: YakobchukOlena/iStock/GettyImages Heavy menstrual bleeding, called menorrhagia, is so common that about a third of women seek treatment for it, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. While medications and surgical procedures may be necessary in some cases, you might want to start by altering your diet. Advertisement That means adding some foods and avoiding others, says Jayne Williams, a certified integrative health and nutrition expert....

Make sure to include cardio in your exercise training. Image Credit: Halfpoint Images/Moment/GettyImages Middle age generally brings a stiffening of your blood vessels and a drop in testosterone levels accompanied by a loss of lean muscle tissue and increase in body fat. However, regular exercise for a middle-aged man can help combat some of these unwelcome changes. Advertisement Cardiovascular exercise will help keep your heart and lungs strong and burn fat, and strength-training exercises will help retain and increase lean muscle tissue....

Wheat is a common food allergen. Image Credit: Milkos/iStock/GettyImages Many people don’t associate a food allergy with fever, headache and fatigue. However, a bad reaction to foods can trigger these symptoms and many more. Advertisement Food Allergies, Intolerance and Reactions If a specific food makes you feel ill, the reaction could be an allergy, an intolerance or some other kind of reaction. Many people label all negative reactions to food as allergies....

Whether you're trying to lose or gain weight on a vegan diet, include nutrient-rich, whole foods. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages While you may have eliminated all animal products from your diet now that you’ve gone vegan, that doesn’t mean you can’t gain weight. Whether your weight gain is desired or not, it all comes down to total calories. Eating more calories than your body burns, no matter where those calories come from, leads to weight gain....

You can't microwave plastic without the risk of chemicals leaching into your food. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative How Bad Is It Really? sets the record straight on all the habits and behaviors you’ve heard might be unhealthy. In This Article Chemical Leaching Health Effects Alternatives Bottom Line Plastic containers are a convenient way to store food. And hey, who among us hasn't tossed a Tupperware of cold pizza into the microwave for a quick zap?...

A 5K can add to your weekly caloric deficit. Image Credit: torwai/iStock/GettyImages How many calories you’ll burn during a 5K run depends on several factors, such as your conditioning, weight and age. The calories burned running on a treadmill will also vary significantly from those burned while running outdoors, especially if there are hills involved. Advertisement Tip The number of calories burned during a 5K run depends on your weight and the environment you are running in....

Boil lettuce in a vegetable soup for an extra healthy dose of greens. Image Credit: Calvin Chan Wai Meng/Moment/GettyImages Lettuce is much more than a primary salad ingredient or an accessory placed on your sandwich or burger. Cooking lettuce gives it an entirely new texture that can be used in soups, stews or for many easy Asian side dishes. Advertisement Boiling separated lettuce is faster than boiling a whole head at once, though you can do either....

Pan-grill your chicken breasts for a tender, juicy meal. Image Credit: Debashis Kumar/iStock/GettyImages The intense heat of a charcoal or gas grill gives foods a deeply savory flavor, but it isn’t always the most practical way to cook. A ridged stovetop grill pan isn’t an ideal replacement, but it’s still a useful tool for preparing chicken and other meats when your outdoor grill isn’t an option. Advertisement The grooves of your pan let fat drip away as it would on the grill, but don't radiate intense heat like the flame from a grill....

Activate your lower body and stretch your hips with an effective yet low-impact exercise, the platypus walk. Image Credit: rbkomar/Moment/GettyImages Pop quiz: Name an animal with strong, powerful legs. Advertisement Maybe you chose the swift, graceful gazelle. Or perhaps the speedy cheetah with its explosive strides. Chances are you didn't pick the platypus — the odd-looking otter-type creature with a duck-like bill and short, stubby limbs. Advertisement While the platypus may not boast the best gams in the animal kingdom, it does lend its moniker to an amazingly effective leg exercise....

Stay active and accountable during one of the busiest times of the year with a fun, quick video workout to do every day this month. Get all the details on the challenge here. Movement is an integral part of exercise, whether you're flowing through Vinyasa or running a 5K. But some of the most challenging exercises involve practically no movement at all. Case in point: the plank. A plank is what’s called an isometric exercise, and it gets harder (and more effective) the longer you keep your body steady and the less you shift about....

Yogurt benefits your body by providing protein, calcium and probiotics. Image Credit: Petr Kazilek/iStock/GettyImages In This Article The Health Benefits of Yogurt One Disadvantage of Yogurt 3 Popular Types of Yogurt Yogurt Brands to Try Yogurt has come a long way: In the refrigerated section of a single grocery store, you might be able to find Icelandic, Greek, French, goat milk, soy-based, almond-based, coconut-based and plenty of other varieties that stock the shelves....

1 of 12 Overview Protecting your skin from the sun and bugs is important year-round, but especially during the summer. The sun's rays can damage skin and cause early aging and cancer, and insect bites are not only uncomfortable, but they're also associated with disease. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), one out of five people will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime. So they suggest using a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher....

Nutritionists share their approved menu picks at Olive Garden. Image Credit: william87/iStock/GettyImages A beloved Italian chain restaurant, Olive Garden is as popular as it is tasty. Whether you’re craving pasta, chicken or seafood, you won’t be disappointed. However, not blowing your diet with unlimited bread sticks and a 1,500-calorie “Tour of Italy” entree can be challenging, to say the least. To help you navigate the menu with healthier options that still deliver on taste, nine registered dietitians share their Olive Garden recommendations....

Your whole body might feel the effects of constipation, from a dizzy noggin to a sore bottom. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative What Really Happens to Your Body When examines the head-to-toe effects of common behaviors, actions and habits in your everyday life. In This Article Lightheadedness Sweating Fatigue Lack of Appetite Nausea Cramping and Bloating Lower Back Pain Bladder Leakage Hemorrhoids When to See a Doctor There's no mistaking constipation pain....

Skip the crunches and planks and opt for a few creative ab exercises. Image Credit: Movement Vault/LIVESTRONG.com Hate planks and crunches? Good news: You don’t necessarily need to do them. Functional exercises that target your entire core are the most effective way to strengthen your midsection and define your abs. Advertisement Whether you're working toward six-pack abs or a stronger core and better balance, the key is consistency. And if you don't enjoy your workouts, you won't do them....

Doing a workout of exclusively squats will definitely burn out your lower-body muscles. Image Credit: agrobacter/iStock/GettyImages Ever wonder how many squats you can do until you just can’t finish one more rep? Well, this workout just might get you there. Advertisement This all-squat workout will truly put your glutes to the test. Built by Carolina Araujo, CPT, a New York-based personal trainer, this routine consists of two circuits that will challenge your lower-body strength and endurance....

A woman practicing acrobatics in a studio. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Stockbyte/Getty Images Doing crunches and sit ups aren’t the only way to get in shape. Flips, climbs, spins and other acrobatic moves can also yield the results you desire in an exercise regimen. Several sports such as gymnastics, pole dancing and parkour involve different types of acrobatic exercises. In addition to adding variation to your normal workout routine, acrobatic exercises can improve flexibility and build strength....

Packed with vitamins, minerals and protein, eggs are among the healthiest foods you can eat. Image Credit: alisonteale24/iStock/GettyImages Eggs are among the healthiest foods you can eat. Packed with vitamins, minerals and protein, they make a nutritious and versatile addition to any meal. But whole eggs are also high in fat and calories, which doesn’t make them the best diet food. If you skip the yolks and load up on the whites, you’ll still get all the benefits without going over your daily calorie goal....