Acetylcholine What Is It And What Are Its Functions

Egg yolks are rich in brain-boosting choline, which your body converts into acetylcholine. Image Credit: Alexander Spatari/Moment/GettyImages Acetylcholine is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the human body, primarily found in the hippocampus. It’s integral for memory, mood, muscle control, and other nervous system and brain functions. Advertisement Read more: 19 Best Brain Superfoods Video of the Day If you've never heard of acetylcholine, you've likely heard of choline. Choline, found in many animal products, is the precursor to acetylcholine that's synthesized through a chemical reaction where acetic acid is esterified from acetyl-CoA and choline....

July 21, 2022 · 4 min · 718 words · Joyce Alley

Are Dill Pickles Healthy During Pregnancy

Image Credit: minadezhda/iStock/Getty Images Pregnant people are notorious for having weird cravings for foods like pickles and ice cream. While dill pickles aren't the healthiest food you could eat during pregnancy, indulging in a pickle or two every once in a while isn't likely to cause harm. Advertisement Eating large amounts of pickles during pregnancy, however, might make you more likely to experience swelling or heartburn. Video of the Day Calories and Macronutrients Eating pickles isn’t likely to cause you to exceed your daily recommended calories during pregnancy and gain too much weight....

July 21, 2022 · 3 min · 570 words · Harold Stupar

Atkins Diet Phase 1 Meal Plans

If you’re looking to lose or maintain weight, the Atkins Diet is one possible option for reaching your goals. Image Credit: etorres69/iStock/GettyImages If you’re looking to lose or maintain weight, the Atkins Diet is one possible option for reaching your goals. The Atkins diet menu restricts carbohydrates and emphasizes proteins and fats to help you shed extra pounds. Advertisement By eliminating most carbs, the Atkins diet aims to help you burn fat for fuel rather than sugar....

July 21, 2022 · 6 min · 1242 words · John Valdez

Can Certain Foods Help Create Melanin

Copper can be found in oysters. Image Credit: Elena Yeryomenko / 500px/500Px Plus/GettyImages When it comes to protecting ourselves from the sun, do melanin pills or foods said to increase the production of melanin really work? Though there’s some evidence on the effectiveness of antioxidants in helping protect from sun damage, the best course of action is to protect your skin from the sun. Advertisement Tip Antioxidants found in leafy greens, fruits, nuts and more, can help protect from sun damage....

July 21, 2022 · 5 min · 974 words · Steven Roberson

Can Fish Oil Cause Gallbladder Problems

Fish oil may protect against gallbladder problems, not cause them. Although it's not entirely clear what causes gallbladder problems, eating an unhealthy diet full of saturated fat and refined flour seems to raise your risk of gallstones and gallbladder inflammation. Fish oil, on the other hand, seems to protect against gallbladder problems, not cause them. Therefore, if you've been diagnosed with gallbladder disease or you're at risk for the condition, you may want to consider adding fish to your diet....

July 21, 2022 · 3 min · 552 words · Charity Replogle

Can I Exercise After A Single Tooth Extraction

Wait at least a week after an extraction before resuming full exercise. Image Credit: Pekic/E+/GettyImages Tooth extraction can occur for several reasons, including severe tooth decay, trauma, aesthetics, and preparation for orthodontic treatment. Over-retained teeth may require extraction to make way for the teeth succeeding them. Wait at least a week to exercise after tooth extraction. Advertisement Tip Exercise can typically resume within a week after tooth extraction. However, it's important to follow your dentist's specific instructions after this procedure....

July 21, 2022 · 4 min · 675 words · Danielle Donovan

Can Vitamins Increase Blood Oxygen Level

Taking vitamins for low blood oxygen levels depends on your situation. Image Credit: skaman306/Moment/GettyImages Low blood oxygen levels can occur for many reasons, from living at a high altitude to having a congenital disorder. Whether a vitamin will help increase oxygen in the blood depends on the cause of your low blood oxygen level. Advertisement In general, you can maintain healthy blood oxygen levels by getting enough of the nutrients that support optimal functioning of red blood cells....

July 21, 2022 · 8 min · 1529 words · Wanda Lee

Cardio Vs Weights Which One Is Better For You

Is your workout plan tailored to your health and fitness goals? Image Credit: Letizia Le Fur/ONOKY/GettyImages Your time in the gym is valuable. It takes so much motivation to even walk through the door some days that you want to make sure your workouts are actually going to get you to your goals. And though both cardio and strength training are essential for your health, most fitness regimens will skew one way or the other....

July 21, 2022 · 8 min · 1545 words · Brad Campbell

Causes Of Frontal Thigh Pain

Image Credit: Daviles/iStock/GettyImages Frontal thigh pain occurs for a variety of reasons and may develop suddenly or gradually. Pain in this location can sideline you from your physical activities or, at worst, interfere with your ability to walk or bear weight. Injuries involving muscles or tendons located at the front of the thigh are most often to blame, although other conditions can cause pain in this location. Advertisement Quadriceps Strain Sudden frontal (anterior) thigh pain frequently signals a quadriceps strain – stretching or tearing of the muscle fibers and/or associated tendon fibers....

July 21, 2022 · 5 min · 924 words · Debra Ratliff

Cycling Vs Swimming What S The Better Cardio Workout

Cycling offers plenty of cardiovascular benefits, but so does swimming. Image Credit: South_agency/E+/GettyImages Both swimming and cycling are effective, low-impact forms of cardio exercise. But if you needed to choose between swimming and cycling, is it better to pedal or paddle your way into better shape? Advertisement The good news is there's no bad choice. In a May 2017 British Journal of Sports Medicine study of more than 80,000 adults, those who swam reduced their risk of dying of heart disease by 41 percent and of any cause by 28 percent (over the course of the follow-up period)....

July 21, 2022 · 6 min · 1158 words · Frances Pasquino

Do Deadlifts Stress The Rotator

A personal trainer assisting a woman with a deadlift at a crossfit gym. Image Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images Properly performed deadlifts primarily strengthen and tone your upper and lower back muscles; however, deadlifting a barbell also requires some work from the shoulder muscles. The rotator plays a small yet important stabilizing role in the deadlift motion and thus experiences some stress from performing the exercise. Advertisement Shoulder Stabilization When you hold the bar in front of your body while performing a deadlift, the force of the bar pulling down on your shoulder causes the humerus, or upper arm bone, to pull out away from the shoulder joint....

July 21, 2022 · 2 min · 276 words · Ursula Davidson

Does Chocolate Cause Blood Pressure To Rise

When eaten in moderate amounts, dark chocolate can lower your blood pressure. Recently, there has been evidence that chocolate may lower blood pressure. However, that's not to say that it can't cause a rise in blood pressure as well. How chocolate affects you depends on your sensitivity to the ingredients in it, as well as the amount you eat. Advertisement Benefits Chocolate, when eaten in small amounts, can reduce blood pressure....

July 21, 2022 · 4 min · 655 words · Cecilia Cabrera

Fenugreek Fennel Seed

Fenugreek and fennel seed are spices used in cooking. Fenugreek and fennel seed are both spices that people use on a daily basis in a variety of culinary dishes and pickling. However, both these spices also have medicinal properties for everything from colic in infants to cholesterol management and diabetes. According to a survey conducted by the National Institutes of Health and published in the "National Health Statistics Report" in 2007, as many as four out of 10 Americans report using alternative and complementary medicine, and the use of herbs such as fennel seed and fenugreek to maintain health....

July 21, 2022 · 5 min · 940 words · Charles Martin

Ferritin And Vitamin D

Blood tests measure your serum ferritin or vitamin D levels. Image Credit: aykuterd/iStock/Getty Images Doctors and scientists sometimes measure the levels of ferritin and vitamin D in your body. Levels of both can serve as indicators for numerous health conditions. The levels of ferritin and vitamin D are measured via blood tests. Always discuss your findings with your health care provider to gain a correct interpretation. Advertisement Ferritin Ferritin is a protein that is found inside your cells which stores iron....

July 21, 2022 · 4 min · 781 words · Abram Penn

Glucerna Shake Vs Atkins Shake

A vanilla shake on a table. Image Credit: HandmadePictures/iStock/Getty Images Whether you are watching your carbohydrate intake to get your blood sugar levels under control and better manage your diabetes, or following a low-carb eating plan to lose weight, there is a large variety of products on the market to help you if you need snack or meal replacement options. Glucerna and Atkins are two examples of brands selling such products....

July 21, 2022 · 3 min · 447 words · Judith Weatherford

Healthy Red Meat Recipes To Try

Although you should keep red meat intake at a minimum, there are some healthy meat recipes you can try. Image Credit: bhofack2/iStock/GettyImages Picking healthy protein sources is a crucial part of a balanced meal, but where does that leave red meat? In general, red meats like pork, beef and lamb are higher in unhealthy, saturated fat than lean protein picks like poultry and fish, according to the American Heart Association....

July 21, 2022 · 6 min · 1263 words · Nellie Ortega

How Many Jumping Jacks Do You Have To Do Daily To Lose Weight

Daily jumping jacks are a full body workout that may lead to weight loss. Image Credit: AzmanJaka/E+/GettyImages Blast calories with a full body, fat-burning workout, no pricey gym membership or special gear required. Jumping jacks can be done anywhere without needing any equipment and are easy to learn, making them an affordable and accessible option for all fitness levels. Advertisement Tip Doing daily jumping jacks may also assist in weight loss when incorporated into a regular, daily workout routine....

July 21, 2022 · 4 min · 746 words · Lynn Hogan

How Soon Does Omega 3 Start To Work

When it comes to heart health, omega-3 fatty acids may start to work in a matter of weeks. Image Credit: Darkkong/iStock/Getty Images If you’re not getting enough omega-3s from the food you eat, you may consider adding an omega-3 fatty acid supplement to your daily routine. Omega-3 fatty acids may help promote heart health, lower cholesterol and reduce pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. While you might be anxious to get results fast when supplementing your diet, how quickly omega-3s work may depend on the reason you’re taking them....

July 21, 2022 · 3 min · 559 words · Eric Miller

How To Bake Bread In Romertopf Clay Pots

Baking bread in covered clay pots creates an old-world style artisan loaf. This bread has a thick, crisp crust like bakers used to produce in wood-fired clay ovens before the advent of electricity. This just can’t be done in your normal kitchen oven. The Romertopf company, however, manufacturers a covered clay pot that produces this type of crust. The secret is the clay lid – it traps the steam escaping from the bread dough, yet is porous enough to absorb some moisture and not return it to the surface of the loaf....

July 21, 2022 · 2 min · 400 words · Alison Gagner

How To Build Up Atrophied Muscles

Supplements and exercise allow you to restore atrophied muscles. Image Credit: Mireya Acierto/DigitalVision/GettyImages Disease, aging and inactivity will make your muscles atrophied. There will be less nutrient absorption and blood flow as your muscles shrink. Several treatments can help fight muscle atrophy. However, you should speak with your healthcare team before self-diagnosing or treating this medical condition. Advertisement ​Read more:​ Signs & Symptoms of Muscle Wasting Video of the Day Understanding Muscle Atrophy's Epidemiology Muscle atrophy appears as a result of many medical conditions, ranging from sports injuries to cancerous tumors....

July 21, 2022 · 11 min · 2228 words · Rebekah Wright