Catfish is a traditional Southern dish that is growing in popularity. If you're wondering whether you can eat catfish, you probably were not raised in the South. Catfish, usually fried, is a common dish in restaurants and homes in the Southern states, particularly in rural areas. Catfish is becoming more widely popular as a delicious source of protein that is low-fat and low-calorie, especially when fixed in ways other than frying....
Working out before a blood test can affect the results. Image Credit: SerhiiBobyk/iStock/GettyImages In This Article What Blood Tests Measure What Affects Blood Test Results Effects of Exercise Before a Blood Test It is important to let your doctor know if you exercise before a blood test as it can affect some of the findings, including blood glucose levels, inflammatory markers and cholesterol readings. Find out when is the best time to exercise before a blood test to get accurate results....
Eating too few calories can actually make it more difficult to lose weight. Image Credit: RonTech2000/iStock/GettyImages Many weight-loss plans stress the importance of cutting calories. If you’re motivated by quick results, it may be tempting to make drastic energy cuts and follow a very-low-calorie diet. Advertisement While it's likely that eating just 700 calories a day may cause some initial weight loss, the exact number of pounds will vary from person to person....
references Food and Drug Administration: "Advice About Eating Fish" MyFoodData: "Frozen Spinach" United States Department of Agriculture: "Ground Beef and Food Safety" Having a few ingredients on hand all the time will guarantee healthy meals for the whole week. Image Credit: Hinterhaus Productions/DigitalVision/GettyImages Image Credit: Hinterhaus Productions/DigitalVision/GettyImages Is Your Diet Missing Certain Nutrients? Track your daily nutrients by logging your meals on the MyPlate app. Download now to fine-tune your diet today!...
Fasting blood tests typically require a small sample from a vein. Image Credit: prakobphoto/iStock/GettyImages When you need a blood test, it’s important that you don’t do anything that could cause inaccuracies. Drinking diet soda with artificial sweetener before a blood test might skew your test results. Whether your tests are routine or for a particular condition, that’s a risk you shouldn’t take. Advertisement Why Is Fasting Required? No one likes to have to go without food for an extended period of time and, hopefully, doctors request it only when it’s absolutely necessary....
Chlorine does typically kill herpes, so your odds of getting the virus from a swimming pool are low. Image Credit: Thomas Bullock/iStock/GettyImages Herpes is a group of viruses that can lead to oral or genital sores, blisters or ulcers. It’s extremely contagious — but can you catch it while you’re swimming, or does chlorine kill herpes? Advertisement Herpes is common — about 67 percent of the world's population under the age of 50 has some form of the virus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)....
In high levels, sugar can dehydrate you. Image Credit: Elena Schweitzer/iStock/Getty Images Sugar can dehydrate you if it gets to very high levels in your blood. This can happen if you have diabetes, take certain medications or have an infection or certain organ diseases. If your kidneys start producing more urine to try to eliminate the sugar and you lose enough fluid, dehydration can result. Advertisement Diabetes Many people with diabetes use insulin therapy....
A man is flipping a large tire. Image Credit: Antonio_Diaz/iStock/Getty Images Both height and individual proportions affect how much you can lift. A taller lifter may be better at certain lifts while a shorter lifter may be better at other lifts. The width of your frame will also have an effect on your ability to perform certain lifts. Consult your physician before beginning any diet or exercise program. Advertisement The Squat The squat is a basic leg strengthening exercise that involves bending down with a barbell held securely on your upper back....
Marijuana induces cravings for sweet and fatty foods. Image Credit: filadendron/E+/GettyImages Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the active ingredient found in marijuana or cannabis. Marijuana smokers have long wondered if THC increases metabolism. Scientific literature has yet to explain the effects, if any, that THC has on metabolism, but health care providers, such as Health Services at Columbia University, report that the body processes food normally whether you are high on marijuana or sober....
Dumbbell exercises will give you more results than the machines. Image Credit: Hinterhaus Productions/DigitalVision/GettyImages Weight machines were once all the rage at the gym, and you may still use them when you train. But times have changed, and here’s why: Machines lock you into a predetermined path of motion, which takes away the ability to challenge and strengthen core and stabilizer muscles, says Mark Nutting, CSCS. Advertisement In short, machines don't mimic functional movements....
a carton of eggs on a wooden table. Image Credit: COSKUNA/iStock/Getty Images You may have to avoid eating eggs if you consistently develop symptoms of gastritis, which is an inflammation in the lining of the stomach. Gastritis may be the result of an egg allergy, an egg intolerance or food poisoning. Report severe abdominal pain, blood in stool or vomit to your doctor immediately to prevent further complications. Avoid eating eggs until you can be seen by your doctor....
Using an elliptical machine and running both help you work up a sweat. Image Credit: nd3000/iStock/GettyImages Using the elliptical vs. running are two of the most common forms of cardio exercise. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends you get at least 150 to 300 minutes of cardio activity a week in any form. Advertisement Traveling a mile using either activity will help you burn calories by raising your heart rate....
The ulnar nerve in the forearm is responsible for cubital tunnel syndrome. Image Credit: PeopleImages/E+/GettyImages Cubital tunnel syndrome exercises may help restore your mobility and relieve pain. Also known as ulnar nerve compression, cubital tunnel syndrome can affect your ability to move your hands and fingers. If left unaddressed, this condition may lead to nerve-related problems. Advertisement What Is Cubital Tunnel Syndrome? Most people are familiar with the kind of pain and tingling that occurs when hitting the “funny bone” in the elbow....
Fruits and Vegetables Containing Folic Acid Image Credit: Gingagi/iStock/GettyImages Folic acid, also known as folate, is a B vitamin. Too little of the vitamin has been linked to a wide range of health issues, including cancer, heart disease, neurological and neuropsychological disorders, preterm birth and stroke. It’s particularly important for pregnant women to get enough folate as this vitamin can prevent birth defects. The National Institute of Health lists 400 micrograms of dietary folate as the appropriate amount for most people....
You'll have homemade stock and bone broth throughout the GAPS diet. Image Credit: happy_lark/iStock/GettyImages We’ve been hearing a lot about our gut health, good bacteria and the gut-brain connection as of late. Against the backdrop of this emerging area, the GAPS diet is making waves, claiming to utilize the gut-brain connection to treat myriad conditions — both physical and psychological. Advertisement We dug into the GAPS diet and its claims. Here's what you need to know....
Losing weight after 50 is doable, and it comes with some big health perks. Image Credit: kali9/E+/GettyImages Although losing weight at any age has considerable health benefits, it turns out that dropping a few pounds after age 50 might be especially good for you. Advertisement Hormonal and metabolic changes that commonly take place after 50 make it easier to pack on weight, Kristine Gedroic, MD, medical director of the Gedroic Medical Institute, tells LIVESTRONG....
Heart rate is a determining factor of oxygen consumption. The cardiovascular and respiratory systems are linked in such a way that one cannot function without the other. These two systems work together to allow metabolism to occur in all systems throughout the body by delivering oxygen and removing wastes. Advertisement Oxygen Consumption Oxygen consumption, abbreviated VO2, is a measure of the volume of oxygen used by the body. VO2, as described by Dr....
Adding salt to your food can increase your thirst. Image Credit: Anna-Ok/iStock/Getty Images Your body requires some sodium to maintain the correct balance of fluids in your tissues and blood, although too much salt in your diet can raise your risk of developing certain health conditions. Consuming excessive amounts of sodium may increase the amount of urine your kidneys produce, resulting in a condition known as polyuria. Advertisement Sodium In addition to balancing your body fluids, sodium also helps support proper muscle function and nerve impulses....
Grate ginger with a zester to make fresh ginger tea. Ginger, the chunky root of a flowering plant used to make ground ginger tea, figures prominently in Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. When made into tea, ginger can serve as an effective temporary remedy for nausea. You can also buy ground ginger for tea at any supermarket. Advertisement Tip To make tea quickly from fresh ginger, scrape the skin off a piece of the root and grate it with a zester....
You don't burn a lot of calories per step. Image Credit: Zbynek Pospisil/iStock/GettyImages With new step tracking technology, it’s becoming easier to measure not only the number of steps you do per day but also the number of calories per step that you expend. Advertisement Tip The average person uses about .05 calories per step or 100 calories every 2,000 steps. Calories Per Step According to Cleveland Clinic, walking 2,000 steps a day will use around 100 calories....
