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Whether you choose something fruity, chocolatey or tangy, every one of these smoothie recipes is blended to improve digestion and help you poop. Image Credit: FGorgun/iStock/GettyImages Smoothies are an easy and delicious way to enjoy fruits and vegetables along with other nutritious foods like nut butter, yogurt and seeds all in one shot. They also make getting fiber and other gut-friendly foods much easier. And filling up on these healthy foods first thing in the morning can help your overall gut health in a number of ways....

To keep inflammation at bay, start your day off right by avoiding these seven inflammatory breakfast foods. Image Credit: nitrub/iStock/GettyImages Breakfast is your first opportunity of the day to feed your body foods that’ll help fight inflammation. But, all too often, we pile our breakfast plates with stuff that can cause an inflammatory response. Advertisement While short-term, acute inflammation is a helpful tool that triggers the body's defenses to attack foreign invaders (like to fend off the common cold or heal a wound), chronic inflammation is a larger problem, Leslie Langevin, RD, author of ​ and co-owner of Whole Health Nutrition, tells LIVESTRONG....

Making time to cook more meals at home instead of ordering takeout could help you get more nourishing nutrients and avoid the ones that age you. Image Credit: Peopleimages/E+/GettyImages Who doesn’t want to look and feel good into their golden years? The solution to a graceful aging process might just be on your plate. Advertisement While there is no fountain of youth, the food you eat can either help or hinder your health into middle age and beyond....

A caesar salad on a plate. Image Credit: prapassong/iStock/Getty Images Applebee’s is a casual dining restaurant offering a variety of menu choices, from pasta and burgers to chicken and steak. Although many items are high in calories, fat and sodium, the restaurant also offers healthier meals with less than 550 calories. With any entrée, you can substitute a side salad – house or Caesar – in place of French fries. Applebee’s Caesar side salad is also available in a larger size as one of the restaurant’s lunch combo selections....

Supplement companies often promote L-citrulline as an aerobic performance enhancer. Image Credit: altrendo images/Stockbyte/Getty Images L-arginine and L-citrulline are two amino acids that have potential therapeutic uses. A relationship between the two exists in that L-citrulline is converted into L-arginine once inside the body. Therefore, L-citrulline is sometimes supplemented to increase levels of L-arginine. Being a precursor to L-arginine, L-citrulline can potentially be used as treatment for the same conditions as L-arginine, in addition to being used as a sports supplement....

Apps are a great way to help you cope with stress and manage your anxiety. Image Credit: FluxFactory/E+/GettyImages Whether you’re working remotely or in the office, separating work from play is becoming more and more difficult, especially since many of us have our company emails and chat channels synced to our personal phones. So, the idea of de-stressing with a cell phone probably sounds like an oxymoron. Advertisement But these anti-anxiety apps are here to prove you wrong....

Salmon burger with lettuce Image Credit: Azurita/iStock/Getty Images Salmon burgers have slightly different flavor profiles depending on the use of seasonings and fresh or canned salmon, and the toppings really make or break a great burger. There’s a range of toppings beyond the typical lettuce, tomato and onion accompaniments that elevate a salmon burger to something special. Salmon is full of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids so keep the rest of your ingredients fresh, light and low in sodium to enhance the health benefits....

Breakfast Cereals That are High in Iron Image Credit: istetiana/Moment/GettyImages Iron is one of the most vitally important nutrients in the diet. Not only are sources of iron essential for normal growth and development, healthy skin, bones and teeth and optimal immunity, but it also supplies body cells with the oxygen they need to produce energy. While some whole-grains do contain a fair amount of iron, most high-iron breakfast cereals have been enriched with the mineral....

To reduce the calories, add vegetables to your quesadillas in place of some of the chicken and cheese. Image Credit: OlgaMiltsova/iStock/GettyImages Chicken quesadilla calorie counts totally depend on the recipe you use or where you purchase the item. The combination of chicken, cheese and tortillas can make for a satisfying meal that keeps you full for a long time. Advertisement Tip For a chicken quesadilla, calorie counts vary depending on the recipe or brand....

Moderate amounts of caffeine are not likely to cause uncontrollable sweating. Image Credit: olindana/iStock/GettyImages If your favorite cup of coffee or black tea is causing you to heat up, you might be feeling the effects of sweating from caffeine. While not a common occurrence, coffee sweats may happen if you’re sensitive to caffeine, trying to cut back or taking a medication that doesn’t mix well with your drink. Advertisement Tip Moderate amounts of caffeine are not likely to cause uncontrollable sweating....

Diarrhea is rarely a side effect of cholesterol-lowering drugs. Image Credit: Peter Cade/Stone/GettyImages Statins and other cholesterol drugs can be powerful tools to prevent heart disease, but they do come with potential side effects. Can statin drugs cause diarrhea? Maybe, but it’s rare. If you’re worried your cholesterol medication may be causing diarrhea, read on and chat with your provider. Advertisement Statins Are the First-Line Defense Your doctor can prescribe any number of drugs to lower your cholesterol, but statins are first-line treatment for the prevention of cardiovascular disease....

Cranberries have been found to decrease uric acid which could help with gout attacks. Image Credit: HandmadePictures/iStock/GettyImages Gout, an inflammatory arthritis characterized by sudden severe pain and tenderness in the joints, is best managed by avoiding foods that trigger attacks. Cranberry juice for gout is not currently supported scientifically; doctors recommend drinking water or low-fat milk instead of fruit juices. Advertisement Tip There is no evidence that shows drinking cranberry juice could trigger a gout attack, although there also are no current studies supporting the use of cranberry juice to treat gout flares....

Drinking too much water can affect renal function, but it's unlikely to cause kidney pain. Image Credit: Michael Heim / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Water not only keeps you hydrated but also lubricates the joints, maintains your temperature and promotes digestive health. If your kidneys hurt after drinking water, you may have an underlying disorder. Also, remember that more isn’t always better — this old saying applies to water intake, too. Advertisement Tip Drinking too much water can affect renal function, but it's unlikely to cause kidney pain....

Consuming energy drinks regularly might harm your kidneys. Image Credit: Peter Dazeley/Photographer’s Choice/GettyImages Research suggests that a link exists between regularly consuming energy drinks, and kidney damage, especially when the drinks contain large amounts of caffeine. While the products are purported to increase endurance, they have some downsides that extend beyond a possible decline in kidney function. Advertisement Tip Consuming energy drinks regularly might harm your kidneys. Consult your doctor if you are experiencing pain or difficulty urinating....

Consuming gluten is typically safe for most people, unless you are intolerant or allergic to the protein. Gluten intolerance, also known as celiac disease, is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks the lining of the small intestines, causing permanent damage. If you develop excessive mucus from eating gluten, you may not have gluten intolerance but rather a gluten allergy. Talk with your doctor about your symptoms to receive a clinical diagnosis....

Diverticular disease is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder with two distinct phases. Diverticulosis, the chronic phase of the disorder, causes small pouches to bulge outward at weak points along the inner lining of your large intestine, or colon. Diverticulitis, the acute phase of the disease, occurs when these pouches become inflamed or infected. Quinoa and other whole-grains are prohibited during an acute attack of diverticulitis. Nutritional Information Quinoa has been cultivated and eaten by people in Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Brazil for over 5,000 years....

Storing canned food in a glass container may help preserve flavor. Image Credit: Getty Images/Kentaroo Tryman Most of us have less-than-perfect habits when it comes to storing food — especially when it comes to canned foods. After all, it’s easy to toss a can of chickpeas into the refrigerator with some plastic wrap over it until you decide you want to use the rest. Advertisement But after years of hearing that refrigerating food in cans isn't a best practice, it's time to find out if doing so is safe once and for all....

Dips can be performed anywhere, if you have a stable surface to brace against. Image Credit: Antonio_Diaz/iStock/Getty Images Choosing an exercise routine when you’re on a tight schedule means picking exercises that give you the most bang for your buck. So, what’s better; the classic push-up, or advanced exercises like chest dips and bench dips? Advertisement These enduring exercises target several muscle groups for a great upper body workout. Each exercise is simple to perform anywhere using just your body weight, but the benefits of each exercise depend on the muscles you're looking to target....

Cooking food causes a loss of water content, which can change the amount of calories by weight. Image Credit: Lisovskaya/iStock/GettyImages Caloric values for foodstuffs are often given for the raw or uncooked food. Cooking food can significantly alter its nutritional profile and the number of calories present in the same quantity by weight. Compare the calories in cooked vs. raw foods for an accurate picture of your daily consumption. Advertisement If you are watching your calories for purposes of weight loss or weight control, it is also important to consider how the method of cooking your food may alter its caloric content....

Our recipes for eggless cookies without butter or flour are healthy, delicious and easy to make. Image Credit: Vasyl Dolmatov/iStock/GettyImages If you’re salivating for something sweet but don’t have baking staples in stock, rest assured that some masterpieces don’t need one bit of flour, eggs or butter. Advertisement Seriously — you can still cobble together a batch of comforting cookies and crush those cravings with limited ingredients on hand. These four convenient cookie recipes don't require any flour, eggs or butter, but you'd never know the difference....