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Dark-colored produce like beets might be the cause of your dark stools, but that shouldn't prevent you from eating it! Image Credit: istetiana/Moment/GettyImages Your bowel movements suddenly changing to a very dark color can be, understandably, alarming. But a change to the color of your poop rarely indicates a serious health problem and it’s likely caused by something you ate, the Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Foundation states. Advertisement That is, it's possible a serving of beets, a snack of black licorice or some other food you noshed on that day could have caused a color change to your stools....

Green bananas can have important benefits for your health. Image Credit: ThitareeSarmkasat/iStock/GettyImages Bananas are probably one of the most popular fruits around, and everyone has their favorite stage of ripeness. If you pass on green bananas in favor of more ripe yellow ones, you’re passing up many important health benefits as well. Here’s why you should consider eating them when they’re green. Advertisement Tip Green bananas can have important benefits for your health....

Magnesium stearate is a common excipent in tablet and capsule manufacturing Magnesium stearate is the magnesium salt of the fatty acid stearic acid. It is widely used as a diluent or filler in the manufacturing of drug or dietary supplement capsules, tablets and powders. In this regard, its lubricating properties allow powders to flow freely through encapsulation machines without sticking. Magnesium stearate, and the related filler stearic acid, have been widely maligned on several internet health sites as "toxic" or "unhealthy," particularly those selling 'stearic acid-free' or 'magnesium stearate-free" alternatives....

A plate with assorted chocolates. Image Credit: GYRO PHOTOGRAPHY/amanaimagesRF/amana images/Getty Images Hives and itching after eating any food is a common sign of an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions from eating chocolate may or may not be related to a cocoa allergy. Cocoa allergies are very rare, but possible; the allergic skin reaction that forms after eating chocolate is most likely related to other ingredients commonly found in chocolates. Hives may be a sign of anaphylaxis, a severe, whole body reaction that could lead to death....

Your calorie intake to lose weight with exercise will vary based on age, gender, type of exercise, frequency and duration. Image Credit: Claudia Totir/Moment/GettyImages When you’re trying to get healthier, it can be difficult to know your calorie intake to lose weight with exercise. Ultimately to reach your weight loss goals, you must create a calorie deficit. Advertisement Tip Your calorie intake to lose weight with exercise will vary based on age, gender, type of exercise, frequency and duration....

If you have diabetes, the number of carbs you should eat depends on several factors. Image Credit: courtneyk/iStock/GettyImages Between your doctor, other healthcare providers and information you see online, it’s possible you’ve heard some conflicting information about a key concern: How many carbs should someone with diabetes eat? The short answer is that it depends on several unique factors. Advertisement ​Read more:​ Why This Dietitian Wants You to Stop Counting Carbs and Start Tracking Net Carbs Instead Video of the Day What Carbs Do Even for people with diabetes, carbs play a role in the body’s proper functioning....

Hammer curls are a great forearms workout. Image Credit: svetikd/E+/GettyImages From opening a jar to walking your dog, the forearm plays a leading role in your daily life activities: They flex and extend the wrist, bend the elbow and pronate and supinate the arm (turn from palm-up to palm-down). Forearm workouts, when done correctly and with the appropriate frequency, will help you strengthen this essential part of your anatomy. Advertisement Tip Forearm workouts should be done at least twice a week to maximize muscle growth....

Training for bodybuilding focuses on increasing muscle size. Image Credit: Jordan Beal / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Whether you want to compete professionally or simply sculpt a well-muscled physique, becoming a bodybuilder can be a highly rewarding endeavor — regardless of your gender. Advertisement According to professional bodybuilder Rebecca Starling, bodybuilding helps you develop a fit mind along with a fit body. However, bodybuilding involves more than lifting weights at the gym: It also requires patience, discipline and a well-designed dietary regimen....

Lower-topped boots can help you stay quick on your feet. Image Credit: ohmygouche/iStock/Getty Images While boxing gloves are the most important piece of boxing equipment, the shoes that you choose will have an influence on your speed and agility in the ring. Boxing shoes are a must if you plan on boxing on a regular basis, since they are more supportive than regular running shoes. Take your own boxing style into consideration when picking out a pair of shoes that’s right for you....

Gnocchi are small Italian dumplings made from potatoes, cheese and eggs. The Roman version, made with flour, were so hearty and convenient that it was believed they made the Romans invincible. By the Renaissance, potato gnocchi became the norm, and they haven't changed much since then. The biggest difference being, of course, that in modern times they are available frozen. Gnocchi have also evolved from simple peasant fare to an Italian delicacy, often incorporating things like ricotta cheese, spinach and luxurious truffles....

Grilled mackerel on a plate. Image Credit: joey333/iStock/Getty Images Mackerel is one example of the fatty fish the American Heart Association recommends eating two or more times per week. It provides protein, unsaturated fats and other nutrients with fewer calories and less saturated fat and cholesterol than red meats. These qualities make mackerel – especially when baked or grilled – part of a heart-healthy diet. Like other fatty fish, mackerel has a pronounced, rich flavor, but it’s versatile enough to support an array of recipes and side dishes....

About a quarter of Americans with diabetes exercise for the recommended 150 minutes a week. Image Credit: adamkaz/E+/GettyImages In This Article Global Prevalence U.S. Prevalence Complications and Management We've come a long way in our understanding of diabetes. Less than a century ago, the most advanced "treatment" for the condition was a starvation diet, marked by repeated fasting and undernourishment, according to the ‌Nutrition Journal‌. Thank goodness that line of thinking didn't last more than a few years....

Finding ways to exercise that you enjoy is key to staying fit and healthy. Image Credit: Taiyou Nomachi/DigitalVision/GettyImages In This Article Unhealthy Habits Checkups Sleep Exercise Diet Breakfast Hydration Stress Emotions Yoga and Meditation Vaccines Hand-Washing Condition Management Support System You want to be or stay fit and healthy, but where do you start? It may seem overwhelming, but it's the small things you do each day that add up to a fit and healthy lifestyle....

1 of 17 Overview For most people, diet is a four-letter word that makes you feel like dropping an F-bomb… as in FRUSTRATED. That's because most diets don't feel like they're designed for real people. They can be restrictive, overwhelming and ultimately too hard to follow. But it doesn't have to be that way. John Berardi, PhD, is the co-founder of Precision Nutrition, the world's largest private nutrition coaching company (and probably the largest body-transformation project in the world, too)....

Swap out your loofah once a month to avoid skin issues, infection or allergy flares. 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 Effects What to Use Instead Proper Loofah Care Bottom Line Loofah lovers, it's time to get real. It's about your sudsing-up habits. Advertisement If you're someone who bought a loofah years ago and the pouf is still performing, skin experts suggest you swap it out....

references Tufts Medical Center: "Thumb Sprain Exercises" Tufts Medical Center: "Skier’s Thumb (Ulnar Collateral Ligament Sprain) Exercises" Stanford Healthcare: "Gamekeeper’s Thumb (Skier’s Thumb)" American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: "De Quervain's Tendinosis" These thumb rehab exercises can help improve strength and range of motion. Image Credit: vkbhat/E+/GettyImages Image Credit: vkbhat/E+/GettyImages Before you try these moves, ask your physical therapist about which thumb rehab exercises are best for your injury. Sets 2 Reps 15 Hold a small rubber ball — one that’s small enough to fit into your palm....

Drinking alcohol can affect how your body absorbs B-12. Image Credit: Ekaterina Molchanova/iStock/GettyImages Drinking alcohol, even in moderation, can have profound effects on the way your body absorbs vitamin B-12 and, if you are deficient in this vitamin, your health may suffer. It is important to be aware of how your body absorbs vitamin B-12, as this knowledge can help you make an informed decision about the amount of alcohol you consume....

Are Eggs A Good Food Choice After Working Out? Image Credit: Anna_Shepulova/iStock/GettyImages Working out is essentially the process of breaking down your muscle tissue and then letting it repair so it becomes thicker and stronger. The time in which your body is repairing is known as the anabolic state, and it begins immediately after working out. Anabolism requires nutrients, however, which is why it’s important that you eat nutritious food after a good workout....

Are Protein Shakes Good for You After Running? Image Credit: Artem Varnitsin / EyeEm/EyeEm Premium/GettyImages Your bodybuilder friends faithfully consume a protein shake following a heavy lift at the gym, but should you do the same after a long run? Advertisement Runners, as endurance athletes, benefit from eating more protein than their less active friends. A protein shake plus a few extra carbohydrates after a run helps activate muscle repair and improves fatigue and soreness following a long, intense run....

Benzoic acid is used as a preservative, but it also occurs naturally in foods like prunes, nuts and yogurt. Image Credit: dionisvero/iStock/GettyImages In This Article What's Benzoic Acid? Benzoic Acid in Food Other Uses Safety Concerns If you are a label reader and routinely check out the ingredients list of your favorite products, you might see one chemically sounding name — benzoic acid. Advertisement While some foods naturally contain benzoic acid, others have it added in, but is it something you need to worry about?...