Spicy foods may help relieve some flu symptoms, but they're not always a good idea. Image Credit: Tharakorn/iStock/GettyImages If you’re a fan of spicy foods, you know they definitely have an effect on your body. You may break out into a sweat after downing a hot pepper or feel like you’ve set off the smoke alarms in your mouth after a bowl of zesty chili. But do these fiery foods have any effect on bodily invaders like the flu?...
A plate of calamari. Image Credit: Lihana/iStock/Getty Images If you are looking for unique sources of protein, try calamari. Calamari is the Italian word for squid, a type of shellfish. Like most other fish, calamari offers protein with little fat and a myriad of vitamins and minerals. Although a lean source of protein, calamari contains a substantial amount of cholesterol and is often served fried. Advertisement Amount of Protein In a 3-ounce serving of raw squid, or calamari provides 13 grams of protein....
A group of friends are drinking glasses of wine. Image Credit: Christopher Robbins/Photodisc/Getty Images You may have heard that drinking a glass of wine per day is good for you. A 1992 study found an association between moderate wine drinking and lower risk of heart disease. The key is moderation. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, moderate alcohol consumption is defined as one drink per day for women and two for men....
A high-protein diet could help you lose weight, but can wreak havoc on your gut health if you eliminate fiber-rich foods. Image Credit: Sjale/iStock/GettyImages Among the three macronutrients — carbohydrates, fat and protein — protein is the only one that hasn’t gotten a bad rap. In fact, if you’re trying to lose weight, you may be encouraged to eat more protein. Confused? Here’s the lowdown on high-protein diets. Advertisement How Does Protein Fit Into Your Diet?...
A server is holding a plate of cheesecake. Image Credit: XiXinXing/XiXinXing/Getty Images Famous for its generous portions, The Cheesecake Factory restaurant provides diners with more than just cheesecake, offering a full menu of distinctive dishes. Yet the restaurant chain’s protective nature kept its nutritional information a mystery until a new restaurant disclosure law in the state of Washington finally made the stats available for all menu items, including the original cheesecake....
A drink with 35 milliliters of Captain Morgan’s Original Rum (40 percent) and 330 milliliters of Diet Coke has 79 calories. Image Credit: id-art/iStock/GettyImages Getting your groove on while you’re watching your calorie intake can be tricky. Apart from calorie content, here’s what you need to know about your Captain Morgan and Diet Coke drink. Advertisement Tip A drink with 35 milliliters of Captain Morgan’s Original Rum (40 percent) and 330 milliliters of Diet Coke has 79 calories....
Factors like your age and how much you sweat can determine how often you should wash your hair. Image Credit: K-Angle/iStock/GettyImages How frequently you suds up your scalp is a hot topic: Some people prefer to shampoo their strands several days a week at most, while others clean their mane daily. But how often should you wash your hair for healthy strands? Advertisement The answer is that it depends. Unfortunately, there's no hard and fast rule to follow for shampoo frequency because every person's scalp and hair needs vary (more on this later)....
Wait a few months after pregnancy before doing situps. Image Credit: LENblR/iStock/GettyImages You’ve had the time to soak up the joy of welcoming your new addition, and now you want to work on returning to your pre-pregnancy body and start doing sit-ups after giving birth. It’s best to ease into things because doing too much too soon may set recovery back. Advertisement Tip Though you can start exercise after a normal delivery within days of giving birth, it’s best to wait at least a few months before doing sit-ups....
Mexican chicken mole is a complicated dish cooked from scratch, so when you're looking to fix a quick and tasty midweek version, a jar of Dona Maria mole sauce, or a similar brand, can be a godsend. Image Credit: LarisaBlinova/iStock/GettyImages Mexican chicken mole is a complicated dish cooked from scratch, so when you’re looking to fix a quick and tasty midweek version, a jar of Dona Maria mole sauce, or a similar brand, can be a godsend....
Eye of round steak is an inexpensive boneless cut of beef that is also very low in fat and calories. Image Credit: Sanny11/iStock/GettyImages Eye of round steak is an inexpensive boneless cut of beef that is also very low in fat and calories. The ideal way to cook this cut of steak to medium rare is by grilling, braising, pan broiling or frying in a skillet, according to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln....
Hams include some of the most legendary of all cured meat. Image Credit: Anatoliy Sizov/iStock/GettyImages Hams include some of the most legendary of all cured meat. Whether wet-cured or dry, smoked or unsmoked, the rich flavor of a good ham always comes through. However, some cooks struggle to achieve a moist, delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture in their baked ham dinners. Advertisement Understanding a few basics can make it much easier to get the finished product you are looking for....
Idlis are made with a fermented batter of rice and black gram. Image Credit: santhosh_varghese/iStock/GettyImages Soft, spongy, steamed rice cakes, idlis originated in the southern states of India as a breakfast food. Idlis are made with a fermented batter of rice and black gram. Follow these steps to make idlis in a pressure cooker. Advertisement A scientific assessment of idlis published by Manipal University in May 2014 notes that they are a good source of protein, calories and B vitamins and that the fermentation process enhances their nutritional profile....
Sardines add a boatload of flavor and nutrients, spicing up any dish. Image Credit: Tori Avey Maybe it’s the intense flavor, but canned sardines don’t get the love they deserve. Yet there’s no denying that these tiny but mighty fish pack plenty of perks. Advertisement "Canned sardines are not only a source of complete protein (around 15 grams per serving for five sardines) that contains all of the essential amino acids, but they also have omega-3 fatty acids (both EPA and DHA) often found in cold water fish," May Zhu, RDN, LDN, founder of Nutrition Happens, tells LIVESTRONG....
Concentration curls are one of the best biceps exercises. Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia/iStock/GettyImages Before you finish this sentence, pause and flex your muscles. Did you lift your arms and flex your biceps? Advertisement Probably the first muscle to come to mind when you're told to flex, the biceps play a big part in building strong, sculpted arms. And while muscles grow and develop at different rates for different people, all you need is a week to kickstart a new biceps-building routine....
When it comes to making boneless pork ribs on the grill, there are two general ways to cook these these hearty slabs of meat, cut from the rib end of the sirloin muscle. Image Credit: Tatiana Volgutova/iStock/GettyImages When it comes to making boneless pork ribs on the grill, there are two general ways to cook these hearty slabs of meat, cut from the rib end of the sirloin muscle. Country-style pork ribs, which come both boneless and bone-in, are meaty enough to cook with a few minutes on a hot grill....
Pair your steak with a side of potatoes or beans for even more choline. Image Credit: karandaev/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Animal-Based Foods Vegan Foods When it comes to micronutrients, there's plenty of discussion about how much vitamin D, calcium and vitamin B12 you need. But choline isn't mentioned quite as much. Advertisement That doesn't mean you don't need to get enough of this essential nutrient. The brain and nervous system need it to regulate mood, memory and muscles, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and it's a vital part of the membranes surrounding your body's cells....
The heart is the core of the cardiovascular system. Image Credit: EpicStockMedia/iStock/Getty Images The cardiovascular system, also known as the circulatory system, includes the heart, arteries, veins, capillaries and blood. The heart functions as the pump that moves blood through the body. The arterial circulation delivers blood from the heart to the body, and the venous circulation carries it back to the heart. Capillaries are tiny blood vessels at the interface of the arterial and venous circulation where exchange of substances between the blood and body tissues occurs....
Planks are a good abdominal exercise for fused lumbar spines. Image Credit: PeopleImages/E+/GettyImages Approximately 80 percent of adults will experience back pain during their life (yikes!). Unfortunately, when the pain is aggravated by excess motion and can’t be resolved with non-surgical methods, spinal fusion may be necessary. Advertisement Although a spinal fusion sounds like it may be the end of your active days, you can still lead an active lifestyle when you exercise and strengthen your whole body, particularly your abdominals....
Can Taking an Antihistamine Help IBS? Image Credit: Moyo Studio/iStock/GettyImages At first it sounds implausible, but popping an over-the-counter antihistamine may help relieve some of the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), including stomach pain and bloating, according to a growing body of evidence. Advertisement As many as 45 million people in the U.S. live with IBS, and it affects twice as many women as men, according to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders....
Tamales are a healthy, delicious and culturally important food for many people. Image Credit: snyferok/iStock/GettyImages In This Article What Are Tamales? Nutrition Benefits Potential Downsides Tips for Healthy Tamales Tamales are a traditional Mexican dish served at New Year's Eve or Christmas Eve dinners, and other special occasions and holidays. Not only are tamales healthy, but some also say they symbolize ideas like wealth, sustenance and family in Mexican and Mexican American cultures, offering both comfort and nutrition to those who enjoy them....
