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When consumed in tea form, hyssop tea can benefit one's health. Image Credit: Ingram Publishing/Ingram Publishing/Getty Images The word hyssop has a Greek origin and is a native eastern Mediterranean semi- woody plant that is a member of the mint family. Hyssop is also found in North America and has many applications that can benefit human health. When consumed in tea form, hyssop tea functions as an expectorant. An expectorant helps the body regulate blood pressure and also helps dispel gasses in the body....

Here's what we know so far about the link between iron-deficiency anemia and anti-anxiety or antidepressant meds. Image Credit: Grace Cary/Moment/GettyImages If you have anxiety or are thinking about starting a medication like Zoloft, you might have concerns about whether your prescription has the potential to affect your iron levels. Or are your iron levels the thing that’s actually causing your anxiety? Advertisement Anxiety and anemia are definitely related. Still, experts can't say for sure whether low iron comes from taking antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications....

Coffee doesn't cause bloating for most people. Image Credit: momnoi/iStock/GettyImages You may look forward to your first cup of coffee in the morning, savoring the smell and the taste. Are you wondering, “Will coffee cause bloating?” You may want to examine your coffee drinking habits to figure out what is actually causing the distress. Advertisement Tip Coffee doesn't cause a bloated belly in everyone. Coffee has been shown to cause stomach distress in a minority of people, but if you're one of those people, one of the symptoms could be bloating....

Turn a frown upside down with targeted facial exercises. Every time you scowl, squint, glare, glower or grimace, you contract the underlying muscles around your eyebrows and forehead. At the same time, your skin becomes thinner and drier and loses its elasticity with age. Over time, the natural aging process, coupled with repeated facial expressions, creates wrinkles and furrows commonly known as frown lines. Facial exercises targeting the area can help make your skin more pliable and resilient, soften frown lines and restore a youthful appearance....

Your heart rate jumps up and down throughout the day based on things like your activity and emotions, but a wildly fluctuating heart rate may signal an underlying problem. Image Credit: kupicoo/E+/GettyImages In This Article Normal HR Causes Heart Rate vs. Rhythm Treatment Measurement Most fluctuations in heart rate (aka pulse) are normal responses to the rhythms of daily life due to things like stress, sleep or a morning cup of coffee....

When it comes to counting calories vs. macros, the best choice lies within your health goals. Image Credit: KucherAV/iStock/GettyImages When it comes to meeting your health goals, perhaps no factor is more important than what you eat — as well as how much you eat. Counting calories and tracking macronutrient intakes are both viable ways to keep track of your food consumption, but the best option ultimately depends on your goals and preferences....

Tennis and running sneakers are built specifically for their different sports. Image Credit: jacoblund/iStock/GettyImages Running and tennis are both sports that depend heavily on use of the feet, but the way the feet are used in each sport is significantly different. Having appropriate footwear specific to each sport is critical. Advertisement The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society suggests buying your athletic footwear at a specialty store at the end of the day when your feet have swollen to their largest....

Combine a healthy diet with exercises such as regular leg workouts to help eliminate fat. Image Credit: aywan88/E+/GettyImages A fat burning leg workout routine may be the way to alleviate both the physical and emotional toll of wearing extra pounds around the midsection. While it’s impossible to spot reduce fat, there are activities that act as a belly fat burner. Advertisement Tip Too much body fat, including the two types of belly fat, subcutaneous and visceral, can potentially be dangerous....

Physical therapist working with a patient Image Credit: Keith Brofsky/Photodisc/Getty Images Exercises for neuromuscular reeducation are part of a therapeutic technique that addresses various adverse conditions that arise from faulty nerve and muscle activities. According to Peter Levy, D.C., more than 90 percent of the soft tissue injuries that chiropractic professionals encounter can benefit from neuromuscular reeducation exercises. The exercises are particularly beneficial for unhealthy movement patterns that persist after injuries....

Air-popped popcorn, minus butter, is a filling fat-free, sugar-free snack. Image Credit: tashka2000/iStock/Getty Images Ninety percent of U.S. adults snack at least once per day, reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture, so chances are that most of your days include one or more snacks. High-fat, high-sugar snacks, such as cereal bars and snack cakes, can be high in calories and low in nutrients. Fat-free, sugar-free snacks can satisfy your hunger while helping you keep your calories in check and meet your nutrient requirements....

Avoid fried foods when you have gallstones. Image Credit: MaximFesenko/iStock/GettyImages There’s no set gallstone diet, but dietary changes can decrease the chances of gallstones developing. Plus, tweaking your diet can lessen the likelihood that you’ll experience a painful gallstone attack if you already have asymptomatic gallstones. Advertisement Tip There’s no one-size-fits all gallstone diet, but foods to avoid with gallstones include high-fat dishes, fried foods and sugary desserts. What Are Gallstones?...

Grapefruits sliced. Image Credit: Almaje/iStock/Getty Images Grapefruit seed extract is a popular supplement some people believe can cleanse their digestive systems. It’s taken in capsule or liquid form. Some Western travelers to developing countries swear by a few drops in their water bottles to protect against parasites. But experts are split over the supplement’s efficacy. Advertisement Grapefruit Seed Extract Claims Grapefruit seed extract is made from grapefruit’s pulp, seeds and white membranes....

Homemade meals usually supply fewer calories, fats, sugars and sodium than most fast foods. Image Credit: Eugene Mymrin/Moment/GettyImages With your busy life, you might find it easier and faster to grab fast food on your way home from work. But this convenience comes at a price. Research has shown that homemade meals tend to be healthier than takeaway. You can spare yourself unwanted calories, carbs, saturated fat and sodium by preparing your own meals with fresh, healthy ingredients, possibly reducing your risk of hypertension, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease....

The caffeine content in a cup of coffee depends on the type of bean used to brew it, as well as the type of coffee drink you choose. Image Credit: Verônica Linhares / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages If you rely on your java to get your day started or as an afternoon boost, you might be wondering just how much caffeine is in a cup of coffee. The answer isn’t that simple. Advertisement Tip There's no simple answer to the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee....

Pedometers help track your mileage. Image Credit: JGI/Jamie Grill/Blend Images/GettyImages It may seem like an easy question to answer, however, figuring out the number of steps in a mile is slightly more complicated than it appears. While the average walker takes between 2,000 and 2,500 steps when completing a mile, this number varies widely depending on factors like your stride length and the terrain you’re walking on. Advertisement Calculate Steps Per Mile You can use a few different techniques to more accurately figure out the number of steps you take while walking a mile....

Talk with your doctor before taking magnesium citrate. Image Credit: PeopleImages/E+/GettyImages Magnesium is one of the most abundant minerals in the body, essential in energy production, blood pressure and blood sugar regulation. protein synthesis and nerve, heart and muscle function. Advertisement Although this mineral is naturally present in foods, magnesium compounds — such as magnesium citrate — may be recommended as a laxative or to counter a deficiency. Video of the Day Since excess supplemental magnesium can lead to toxicity, it's important to follow recommendations on how much and how often to use this supplement....

Breaded chicken on a white plate. Image Credit: yasuhiroamano/iStock/Getty Images A slightly healthier alternative to deep fried chicken is baked, pan-seared chicken. Searing or pan frying the chicken gives a nice flavor, while finishing off the chicken in the oven cuts back on the amount of fat used in the process. It combines a crispy, golden-brown outside and a moist inside for chicken with a delicious and mouth-watering flavor. Advertisement Step 1 Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F....

Close-up of raw chicken filets on a cutting board. Image Credit: gbh007/iStock/Getty Images When buying chicken, you may notice boneless chicken breasts bearing the label “with rib meat.” Some boneless breasts have very neatly-defined edges, while boneless chicken breasts with rib meat have an extra piece of ragged meat attached to one side. The rib meat has the same nutritional value as the breast and will likely be unnoticed after cooking; however, trim it away, if you prefer....

There are three main ways to cook peeled and unpeeled shrimp. Image Credit: Anna_Shepulova/iStock/GettyImages You can cook peeled and unpeeled shrimp using the same methods, but the shell prevents the flesh from browning. For example, if you like the smoky flavor of the grill but don’t like the char it leaves, grill the shrimp with the shells on and peel them after grilling. Advertisement Or, if you want to cook the shrimp quickly over high heat but don't want the browned color and texture a sear imparts, sauté the shrimp unpeeled and pull the shell off later....

Cooked rice with vegetables in a skillet. Image Credit: VeselovaElena/iStock/Getty Images Image Credit: VeselovaElena/iStock/Getty Images Salt Butter It is generally recommended to wash any rice that has been imported, while American-grown rice does not need to be washed because of how it is processed. Saute onions, garlic, frozen diced vegetables and chicken or beef chunks in the skillet before adding the water and rice to make a skillet meal. You may need to adjust the cooking time and add additional water as needed, depending on what you add....