Posts

Microbes and bacteria may be present in tap water. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images Water sources can be contaminated by bacteria, heavy metals and other contaminants. Charcoal filters, or carbon filters, are a common method of water filtration; they come in various types. Charcoal filters can be attached to the water faucet, used in refrigerator water filters, contained in the lid of a water carafe and used in under the sink filtration units....

Add our best protein foods to your muscle-building diet to stay lean. Image Credit: Aja Koska/E+/GettyImages Protein is the all-star nutrient your body needs to build muscle. Advertisement While many folks are drawn to supplements and protein powder to kickstart muscle growth, there are a number of powerhouse foods that will do just the trick — and also boast the benefit of other nutrients helpful in health and gaining muscle. Video of the Day The American College of Sports Medicine recommends eating 0....

There's no denying that Hass avocados, also often referred to as California avocados, are rich, creamy, nutritious and delicious. Image Credit: barmalini/iStock/GettyImages There’s no denying that Hass avocados, also often referred to as California avocados, are rich, creamy, nutritious and delicious. However, it’s also true that avocados are higher in calories than some other fruit, meaning they need to be enjoyed in moderation. Advertisement Hass Avocado Calories One Hass avocado that weighs around 136 grams without any skin or seeds contains about 227 calories, according to the USDA....

Drinking lots of water with apple cider vinegar is a good idea. Image Credit: ThitareeSarmkasat/iStock/GettyImages Apple cider vinegar benefits your waistline as well as your blood sugar levels — or at least that’s what its proponents say. These claims are not entirely unfounded. The downside is that apple cider vinegar may damage your teeth, stomach and esophagus, in the long run. Advertisement Tip Undiluted apple cider vinegar is high in acetic acid, a natural compound with erosive action....

Eating healthier can lead to more efficient and quicker weight loss. While it's a common belief that eating unlimited amounts of fruits and vegetables can help you lose weight, studies proving this as a fact are limited, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, consuming foods that are more nutritious and lower in calories can lead to better health, thereby promoting a healthier weight. Fruits and veggies meet these parameters and more....

Lifting weights every day results in greater lean muscle mass, which can help you burn calories and lose weight. Image Credit: Mireya Acierto/DigitalVision/GettyImages Combined with a healthy diet, light weight training daily will help you lose weight and gain lean muscle mass. At the same time, incorporating rest days is an important part of your fitness routine. Be strategic with your weight lifting and rest periods for optimal results. Advertisement Tip Lifting weights every day results in greater lean muscle mass, which can help you burn calories and lose weight....

Cake can still be perfect even if you do make substitutions. Image Credit: AnnaPustynnikova/iStock/GettyImages We have all been there. You’ve started the recipe, but when you go to the refrigerator to get the milk, someone else has gotten to it before you. Do you drop everything and run to the store or is there a viable substitute for milk? Advertisement There's no need to panic. As long as you have water and a little butter, you have your replacement for milk in baking your cake....

Oranges are a good source of vitamin C that you can consume along with your vitamin B complex. Image Credit: warrengoldswain/iStock/GettyImages Vitamins aren’t all equal. B complex vitamins provide certain essential nutrients, while vitamin C provides others. Vitamins are found in food and supplements and perform functions necessary to a variety of systems in the body — and they’re vital to maintaining good health. Advertisement Tip B complex vitamins should be taken first thing in the morning, and taking your vitamin C along with them is fine....

A small dish of soybean oil. Image Credit: HandmadePictures/iStock/Getty Images If you are looking for an alternative to cooking with lard or butter, consider trying cottonseed, sunflower or soybean oil. These versatile and healthy vegetable oils are derived from plants grown in different countries and climates. In addition to providing oil, these seeds are a source of food for people and animals, clothing and textiles, industrial chemicals and biofuel. Cotton, sunflowers and soybean oils differ in their nutritional profile, suitability for cooking and in their taste....

Deli meats are low in calories but may contain a lot of sodium. Image Credit: oksix/iStock/Getty Images Most deli meats are low in calories and make for a convenient meal choice because they provide a quick, tasty dose of protein in sandwiches, wraps, salads or even in plain slices. Advertisement However, if you have specific dietary concerns, especially if you're following a low-sodium diet, it can be helpful to check the nutritional information for deli meats before you buy them because deli meats can be very salty....

Sodium and water are intricately connected in the body, but if you're overdoing it on the sodium, drinking a lot of water won't be enough to counteract that and flush it out from your body. Image Credit: Maridav/iStock/GettyImages So you just left the doctor’s office and were told that your BP is a little too high, and now you need a way to lower blood pressure fast. The good news is that there are lots of natural ways to lower blood pressure, but it doesn’t happen overnight....

A close-up of red onions for sale at a market. Image Credit: hemeroskopion/iStock/Getty Images Body odor is a nuisance and can cause embarrassment. Stress, exercise and high temperatures are normal causes for sweating, also known as perspiration. Odor occurs when perspiration encounters bacteria on the skin. Excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, and little or no sweating, also known as anhidrosis, are medical conditions that require treatment. Strong-smelling foods such as onions may cause body odor....

A woman punching with weights at the beach. Image Credit: Dirima/iStock/Getty Images Punching faster means your strikes land earlier, more often and with greater force. It should come as no surprise, then, that many fighters make punching faster a priority in their training. Holding hand weights while punching adds resistance to your punch, which can build attributes that improve your speed, though not as effectively as one might hope. Advertisement The Basics Strong muscles can accelerate faster and move objects like your fists with greater speed....

Woman stretching on track Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Wavebreak Media/Getty Images According to the American Council on Exercise, stretching is an integral component of fitness and should be a part of any workout program. The act of stretching elongates muscles and increases the body’s range of motion. Additionally, scientific research indicates that stretching encourages muscle growth. Advertisement Expert Insight A study published in the “Journal of Applied Physiology” in 1993 discovered that stretching can indeed enhance muscle growth....

The way you cook your eggs can influence their nutritional content and digestibility. Image Credit: Arx0nt/iStock/GettyImages Eggs are rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. They’re used in a wide variety of cuisines, from your standard American breakfast to the egg-drop soup at your local Chinese restaurant. Eggs can be found in sweet foods, like cookies and cake, and in savory foods, like meatballs and salad dressings. From a nutritional point of view, not all eggs are equal....

Unsweetened cocoa powder can satisfy your taste for chocolate without spiking your blood sugar levels. Image Credit: Anna Quaglia / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages If you have diabetes and love chocolate, here’s some good news: Unsweetened cocoa powder won’t spike your blood sugar or glucose levels. Cocoa may even protect your heart, according to a growing body of research. Advertisement It's not just any cocoa or cocoa powder that provides such beneficial effects. "It has to be 100 percent unsweetened cocoa or cocoa powder," says Avigdor Arad, PhD, an instructor of medicine, endocrinology, diabetes and bone disease at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City....

Honey is a great food to help when coughing. Image Credit: ediebloom/iStock/GettyImages Coughing may be annoying, but, like it or not, it’s your body’s way of trying to protect you. When you have a cough, the last thing you may be thinking about is food, but there are certain types of food for cough relief that may ease your symptoms. Advertisement Of course, while you're actively coughing, it's a good idea to stay away from solid food until things calm down; but during the periods in between coughing, you can try citrus fruits, berries, honey, spicy foods and chicken soup....

It's important to keep track of your blood pressure and how to maintain a healthy one. Image Credit: Nikola Ilic/E+/GettyImages High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. It’s important to know your numbers and follow your doctor’s advice to keep your blood pressure under control. And that means knowing and avoiding sneaky blood pressure triggers. Advertisement Understanding High Blood Pressure High blood pressure is often called the silent killer because there often are no obvious symptoms until it’s too late, the American Heart Association warns....

references American Heart Association: "Added Sugars" That moment the creamer hits the coffee only gets better when your add-in is dietitian-approved. Image Credit: evrim ertik/iStock/GettyImages Image Credit: evrim ertik/iStock/GettyImages Visit Page https://www.amazon.com In addition to this line, Califia creamers come in various lines, such as a keto creamer, a barista blend and an oat-based creamer. Image Credit: Califia Farms Image Credit: Califia Farms Visit Page https://elmhurst1925.com Elmhurst Unsweetened Oat Creamer has a simple ingredient list that makes it dietitian-approved....

An opened bag of cheese snacks. Image Credit: PongsakornJun/iStock/Getty Images When you want a crunchy and cheesy snack, it’s tempting to head to the vending machine. Hot Cheetos are not the healthiest snack, because they contain a high amount of calories, sodium and fat, but you can work them into your eating plan as an occasional treat if you keep your portion sizes small. Advertisement Calories, Fat and Cholesterol Hot Cheetos have 170 calories per 1-ounce serving, approximately 21 pieces, with 100 calories coming from fat....