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A new study has connected wearing eyeglasses with lower rates of infection with COVID-19. Image Credit: Sisoje/iStock/GettyImages Wearing glasses can do a lot of things, from blocking UV rays to topping off a Clark Kent-inspired Halloween costume (and, yes, correcting your vision). But can donning spectacles give you the superhero-like power to fend off COVID-19, too? Advertisement While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend wearing face masks and sticking to social distancing to help prevent your exposure to the novel coronavirus, protective eyewear (like glasses or goggles) isn't on the list of safety recs for the general public....

Eating bananas before bed can help you sleep because they have nutrients that support a good night's rest. Image Credit: Miljan Živković/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Why It Works The Bottom Line Sleep is an integral part of overall health, but it's overlooked by many. If you struggle to fall asleep at night or find yourself too busy to hit the hay, getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep isn't as easy as it seems....

The amount of oxygen you can take in affects your athletic performance. A test to determine VO2 max measures the maximum amount of oxygen you can take in during maximum exertion. Measuring oxygen uptake is one way of measuring exercise intensity. VO2 max is also an indicator for endurance for sports such as cross-country skiing, triathalons and long-distance running. Even with optimal training, your VO2 max can limit or enhance your performance....

High-fat foods like bacon and stimulants like coffee can upset your gut. Image Credit: pamela_d_mcadams/iStock/GettyImages If your poop is a little loose, aka, you’re experiencing a bout of diarrhea, know that it’s actually a fairly common problem. While that camaraderie may not exactly make you feel better in the moment, the good news is that there are simple changes you can make to your diet to help improve your symptoms....

Tendinitis is a condition that involves painful inflammation of tendons and surrounding ligaments in the knee, elbow, wrist, hip or ankle. It can be caused by overuse of particular joints, undertraining or poor form during athletic activity, falling, lifting heavy objects or trauma. Tendinitis is often treated with ice packs, rest, massage therapy, and flexibility and strengthening exercises. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), particular nutrients can help ease or prevent symptoms of tendinitis....

Your autonomic nervous system works behind the scenes to stabilize your blood pressure. Image Credit: Marc Wiegelmann/iStock/GettyImages Gravity is your friend. It keeps you, and everything around you, from simply floating off into space. But one aspect of gravity does pose a significant and almost constant challenge: the need to keep your blood pressure stable when you go from lying down to standing up. Advertisement ​Read more:​ The 6 Big Health Risks of Low Blood Pressure — and What to Do About It Video of the Day The Autonomic Nervous System in Action “It’s all about the veins,” says John Osborne, MD, PhD, director of cardiology at State of the Heart Cardiology in Southlake, Texas, and a spokesperson for the American Heart Association....

Get closer to meeting your essential nutrient needs every day with these veggie-packed dinner recipes. Image Credit: Fudio/iStock/GettyImages Making dinner each night can seem daunting: It involves coming up with an idea (hopefully one the majority favors) and then trying to make it balanced and healthy. Advertisement Does it have enough fiber, servings of vegetables, protein — and actually tastes good? And none of this includes the actual shopping, cooking or clean-up....

Gout Diet With Fish Image Credit: xamtiw/iStock/GettyImages Gout sufferers need to avoid foods high in purines — naturally occurring compounds that your body metabolizes into uric acid. When your blood has too high a concentration of uric acid, it can accumulate in your joints, causing the swelling, inflammation and pain characteristic of gout. Advertisement While fish should be a part of a gout diet since they provide the omega-3 fatty acids that can help prevent heart disease and high blood cholesterol, certain types of fish may exacerbate gout symptoms....

Have physical difficulty getting out of bed? These simple exercises will help you get up and at 'em. Image Credit: miniseries/iStock/GettyImages Do you struggle to get out of bed in the morning? OK, let’s be honest, most of us do — mentally, at least. Having physical difficulty getting out of bed, however, is a completely different story and can seriously make it tough to get the day started. Advertisement With age, it's common for simple daily activities like rolling out of bed to become more difficult due to stiff and achy joints....

Kombucha is packed with probiotics and vitamins, acting as a delicious and healthy alternative to soda. Image Credit: ThitareeSarmkasat/iStock/GettyImages Your first sip of kombucha might make your nose tingle a bit. A sour, almost vinegary taste with the slightest hint of sweetness packs a big punch of flavor. While you may like the way kombucha tastes, many folks sip it for its purported health benefits. Advertisement Kombucha is gaining popularity in the United States, although, it's not a new beverage around the world....

Chicken breast is a weight-loss staple but can often be bland and boring if you've run out of ways to cook it. Image Credit: Dar1930/iStock/GettyImages For anyone trying to lose weight or get some more protein in, chicken breast probably makes its way to the top of the menu. Advertisement Because chicken is a lean protein, it lacks the fat that helps give meat its flavor and keeps it juicy and tender — which is exactly why chicken breast can be dry and bland....

Smoked fish is a delicacy in some cultures. Image Credit: Erwin Purnomo Sidi/iStock/Getty Images Smoking, as a mode of food preservation, is probably as old as cooking with fire. Heat and smoke infuse a delicate flavor into fish, ham, poultry and meat and can prevent the growth of microbes. While smoking done right is a very effective form of food preservation, care must be taken to avoid contamination and food-borne illness....

A well-rounded core routine has to be combined with weight loss to get a flat stomach. Image Credit: FatCamera/E+/GettyImages Many people exercise with the goal of sculpting swimsuit-worthy, chiseled abs that would make them proud to show off their midsection. You may be doing gut-busting ab workouts while wondering when all of your hard work and sweat will pay off. However, there are a number of factors that will determine how soon your six-pack will show through, and some have little to do with how many crunches you do....

How Long Do Vitamins & Zinc Stay in the Body System? Image Credit: Claudia Totir/Moment/GettyImages Vitamins and minerals are essential for proper development and function of the body. Vitamins fall into two categories: water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins. The length of time a vitamin remains in the body depends on which category it falls into. Zinc is a mineral used by the body to facilitate a large number of metabolic reactions, and you need a daily supply....

Smoothies can be a tasty way to consume fruit. Image Credit: Buero Monaco/DigitalVision/Getty Images A study in the June 2013 issue of “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” found eating your daily five of fruits and veggies could lead to a longer life span. McDonald’s smoothies contain fruit puree, fruit juice and low-fat yogurt, making them one option for getting some of your daily fruit servings. Depending on the size and flavor, the smoothies average between 220 and 340 calories....

Mixers can add unwanted calories. Image Credit: a_namenko/iStock/GettyImages Rum is a spirit distilled from fermented sugar cane. Established in 1862, Bacardi offers white and dark rums as well as fruit-infused flavors. Advertisement Standard Rum LIVESTRONG’s food database MyPlate lists Bacardi Superior Rum as containing 97 calories per 1.5 ounces, with zero fat and zero carbohydrates. Video of the Day Infused Rum Infused rum is rum that is flavored through contact with fruits and herbs....

Multiply your weight by 15 to see how many calories will maintain your current weight. Image Credit: Lisovskaya/iStock/GettyImages The secret to finding out how many calories to eat to get six-pack abs is based on knowing your ideal weight, combined with the right diet to build lean muscle. Armed with this knowledge, science tells us exactly what type of exercise program will get you that ripped and toned torso you desire....

Weight loss will change from person to person. Image Credit: Goodshoot/Goodshoot/Getty Images Weight fluctuation varies from person to person. A quick glance at any weight loss forum will show people fluctuating 2 to 4 lbs. per day all the way up to 10 per day. The bottom line is that your weight will fluctuate, regardless of what you do. Determine how much your own body fluctuates and then avoid contantly weighing yourself....

Adjusting a jump rope helps make it easier to use. Image Credit: SeventyFour/iStock/GettyImages Jumping rope develops coordination, agility and, when done properly, can provide an intense cardiovascular workout. According to Harvard Health Publishing, jumping rope can burn 300 to 444 calories every half-hour, depending on your body weight. Advertisement Proper jump rope technique depends on having a rope of the appropriate length; if the rope is too short, you'll have a difficult time clearing it safely, and if it's too long you won't be able to get up to speed....

A plate of hash browns garnished with parsley. Image Credit: Paul_Brighton/iStock/Getty Images Potatoes are a versatile and customary side dish, whether served fried, sauteed or baked. While baked potatoes require lengthy cooking times in a conventional oven, shredded potatoes, or hash browns, cook quicker, due to their thin size. Frying hash browns in butter or bacon fat in a skillet is the traditional way to prepare them, but by baking them instead of frying, you can serve a healthier version of this delicious root vegetable, without sacrificing taste....