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A sore throat can be particularly bothersome when you first wake up. Image Credit: Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images Colds and flu are among the most common causes of a sore throat, but allergies, strep throat, smoking and tonsillitis can also cause throat pain. (See Reference 1) While a sore throat can make eating and drinking certain breakfast foods uncomfortable, there are plenty of nutritious foods that not only ease your sore throat, but that also supply the vitamins and minerals you body needs to heal....

Circuit workouts can help you hit the cardio and strength training aspects of your fitness routine. Image Credit: jacoblund/iStock/GettyImages Whether you bought a new gym membership as part of your New Years’ resolution, let your gym membership lapse over the holidays or want a bit of reset on your workout routine, strength training is a great way to start off the new year. Advertisement You don't have to start pumping iron as soon as you hit the weight room, though....

references Celiac Disease Foundation: "Eat Gluten-Free Without Breaking The Bank" Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: "Lentils" Celiac Disease Foundation: "Sources of Gluten" FDA: "Gluten and Food Labeling" GFCO: "About Us" If you're a fan of legumes, you'll be glad to hear that lentils are naturally free of gluten and safe to eat. Image Credit: trexec/iStock/GettyImages Image Credit: trexec/iStock/GettyImages This lentil and chicken curry provides 11 grams of fiber to keep you satiated....

Plantain chips are a fried, processed food and you should consume them in moderation. Image Credit: Premyuda Yospim/iStock/GettyImages Plantain chips are a lot like potato chips or sweet potato chips. Most plantain chips are fried, rather than baked, which means that they’re rich in fat as well as carbohydrates. While plantain chips are a source of some vitamins and minerals, like potato chips, they should be consumed in moderation. Advertisement Tip Plantain chips are a fried, processed food, and you should consume them in moderation....

Image Credit: LauriPatterson/E+/GettyImages Feeling thirsty after eating a large amount of carbs is often a symptom of diabetes, a group of diseases in which the body does not make enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it makes to regulate blood sugar levels. Elevated blood sugar levels can cause complications in the body, including blindness, kidney damage and digestive problems. It is critical that you be tested for diabetes if you feel thirsty after eating a large amount of carbs....

Barbell bench press is a great way to help lift your boobs. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages It’s time to get in shape and drop those pounds, but can you lose weight without losing your boobs? The bad news is that your breasts are made of fat and will also lose fat as you do. The good news is there are things you can do to help keep your breasts perky as you shed the weight....

High FSH Levels can mean a woman will have difficulty getting pregnant. Follicle stimulating hormone or FSH is one of the most important hormones in a woman's reproductive health, according to Just Mommies, a website devoted to providing accurate fertility information to women. FSH is produced by the pituitary gland and needed for ovulation to occur. An elevated FSH occurs when the number and quality of a woman's eggs decrease. Measuring a woman's FSH levels can give doctors an indication of the condition of a woman's eggs and her ability to have a successful pregnancy....

There are plenty of dairy-free substitutions that can be used as vegan buttermilk, including soured plant milk and silken tofu. Image Credit: GeorgeRudy/iStock/GettyImages Buttermilk lends a creamy texture and tart flavor to dips, sauces and salad dressings. In baked goods, it helps activate the leavening action of baking soda and adds a rich, tender taste with less fat than whole milk. Advertisement If you avoid dairy — whether it's due to an allergy, lactose intolerance or dietary preferences — there are dairy-free options you can use in place of buttermilk....

Bowl of spinach Image Credit: nata_vkusidey/iStock/Getty Images Too much iron can darken stools, which is common for people taking iron supplements. Although iron-rich foods don’t typically cause the same effect as iron pills, some deeply hued fare can turn your stool a different color, making you look twice after using the restroom. If your stool is sticky like tar in addition to appearing black or having red streaks, this could be a sign of bleeding and requires medical attention....

Vegetables and fruits make nutrient-rich choices after a workout. Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Wavebreak Media/Getty Images A long endurance session or tough weight-training workout requires post-workout fueling to help replenish your energy stores and repair your muscles. That snack or meal won’t cause you to gain weight, unless it pushes you above the number of calories you need to maintain your weight. If you use exercise as an excuse to eat, especially high-calorie foods and treats, it could cause weight gain....

Image Credit: Oscar Wong/Moment/GettyImages In This Article Fat for Muscle Building Types of Fat Best Fats to Eat Fats to Limit Protein often gets all the credit when it comes to making gains, but fat is an important part of muscle growth, too. Advertisement While dietary fat (i.e. the fat found in foods such as nuts, avocado and oily fish) can't directly build muscle, it does play a significant role: Eating healthy fats is important for absorbing essential vitamins and producing energy and hormones necessary for muscle growth....

A cup of green tea. Image Credit: danekalbo/iStock/Getty Images Drinking green tea does interfere with nutrient absorption. Anti-oxidants such as polyphenols in green tea can bind iron, inhibiting its intestinal absorption. You may also have trouble absorbing vitamin B12. To maximize your vitamin and mineral absorption from the diet, concomitant intake of green tea should be avoided. Advertisement Iron Absorption Green tea contains tannin that blocks the absorption of iron from food and supplements, according to the National Institute of Health’s MedlinePlus....

Microscopic muscle tears and dehydration are the primary causes of fluid retention related to strength training. Image Credit: nPine/nPine/Getty Images It’s normal for your weight to fluctuate a couple of pounds from day to day, and if you’re engaging in resistance training, newly-acquired muscle may reflect a slight gain when you weigh yourself. But you may also notice weight gain due to fluid retention. There are two primary causes of water retention related to strength training: microscopic muscle tears and dehydration....

Coffee has several health benefits for your body. Image Credit: Jorn Georg Tomter/The Image Bank/GettyImages If you need a cup of coffee (or two or three) to get yourself going in the morning, you’re not alone. Although many of the negative stories around coffee have been shown to be false — in fact, the brew has several health benefits — there’s still confusion about the effect of coffee on digestion....

It is important to exercise your ankles if you have tendonitis. Image Credit: CasarsaGuru/iStock/GettyImages Stretching and strengthening are the goals of tendonitis ankle exercises. If you’ve been diagnosed with an inflamed tendon, you can use these exercises to speed up the recovery process. These movements may increase joint mobility and improve your symptoms. Advertisement Signs You Have Tendonitis Pain in your ankle is discouraging and difficult to work around. For example, if you have tendonitis of the elbow, you can take a break from activities like tennis and weight training....

Vegetables can help you avoid the stomach flu. Image Credit: Cleardesign1/iStock/GettyImages Although eating certain foods doesn’t guarantee that you won’t become a victim of stomach flu symptoms, diet can play a role in keeping your immune system healthy. By building up a strong immunity to bacteria and viruses, your body will be better equipped to fight off infections and disease. Advertisement Is It the Stomach Flu? If you woke up feeling achy and feverish and not wanting to get out of bed, you may be wondering if a stomach flu bug has invaded your body....

Young girl holding up a banana. Image Credit: robertprzybysz/iStock/Getty Images Bananas are among the most popular fruits enjoyed in the United States. Chiquita Brands International claims that the average American eats 27 pounds of bananas each year. Bananas are cheap and available year-round, and with their sugar content they provide a quick burst of natural energy to power you through your day. Fructose and glucose are the two most abundant sugars found in bananas, and they occur in roughly equal amounts....

Golden Gloves weight classes may vary by tournament. Image Credit: Voyagerix/iStock/Getty Images According to Golden Gloves of America, the first Golden Gloves tournament was held in Chicago in 1923, in which the winning amateur boxers were given miniature golden gloves as a prize. Golden Gloves tournaments are held on both national and regional levels, and each organization may have different regulations regarding weight classes. The weight classes for National Golden Gloves tournaments are based on the official Olympic rules for amateur boxing....

A green tea allergy can lead to anpahylactic shock. Image Credit: karandaev/iStock/GettyImages Everywhere you turn, you see green tea in different forms, all hailed for providing health benefits — not only tea bags but also green tea extract capsules and topical products. These are great if you respond well to green tea, but what if you have a green tea allergy? Advertisement Only a doctor or health care provider can determine whether you have an actual green tea allergy, but there are symptoms you can look out for....

When you combine green tea with lemon, the benefits can be even greater. Image Credit: Katerina Solovyeva / 500px/500Px Plus/GettyImages If you enjoy sipping a cup of green tea you may be enjoying some health benefits too. When you combine green tea with lemon, the benefits can be even greater. Advertisement Although there can be green tea side effects, it's worthwhile to examine green tea ingredients and consider incorporating it into your diet....