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Flaxseed does not appear to increase estrogen levels in the blood. Image Credit: ninitta/iStock/GettyImages In recent years, flaxseed, one of the world’s oldest and most versatile crops, has emerged as a nutritional powerhouse. This tiny, nutty seed is not only a good source of fiber, but one of the richest plant sources of omega-3 fats, and abundant in lignans — an estrogen-like compound or phytoestrogen. Advertisement While human estrogen is vital for the growth and regulation of the female reproductive system, excessive exposure to this hormone is linked to certain health conditions, including breast cancer....

Woman taking a shower Image Credit: Ghislain & Marie David de Lossy/Taxi/Getty Images While it’s nice to think that you can burn away excess fat by showering, it’s not the best way to shed pounds. Shivering from exposure to cold – such as in a long, cold shower – might help you burn more calories over time, but it’s not clear whether it actually leads to weight loss. In addition, you might put yourself at risk for hypothermia, which could be deadly....

Cholesterol in red meat — like venison — is generally high and should be consumed in moderation. Image Credit: bonchan/iStock/GettyImages Swapping out venison in favor of other meats may be a beneficial health choice if you have high levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. That’s because a 3.5-ounce serving of venison (100 grams) contains between 79 and 113 milligrams of cholesterol. That’s more than the cholesterol in most other meats, both red and white....

Work closely with your doctor if your cholesterol levels are extremely high. Image Credit: Nopphon Pattanasri/iStock/GettyImages When it comes to total cholesterol and LDL (the “bad” type of cholesterol), having extremely high levels can mean serious risk for early heart attack and stroke. Read on to discover how high cholesterol levels can actually go, what causes this and what you can do about it. Advertisement Read more: What You Need to Know About Cholesterol Video of the Day The Lowdown on High Cholesterol “I would say that there is probably no upper end” for cholesterol levels, says cardiologist Eugene Yang, MD, MS, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the University of Washington, Bellevue....

Vitamin D supplements come in both prescription form and an over-the-counter version. Image Credit: Fuse/Fuse/Getty Images Vitamin D is commonly known for its role in bone health. Scientists now believe that the effects of vitamin D deficiency go beyond the skeletal system. A lack of vitamin D may also increase your risk for several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and autoimmune diseases. Many physicians are measuring vitamin D levels in their patients and recommending supplementation....

Women laughing on couch drinking soda Image Credit: JGI/Blend Images/Getty Images A can of soda may be your preferred pick-me-up during the afternoon at the office, but the truth is it’s probably not doing you any favors. While a jolt of sugar and caffeine might give you a temporary boost, the effects will soon wear off, leaving you feeling more sluggish than before. Eating a nutritious diet and drinking plenty of water is a better way to promote long-lasting energy and health....

There are several stretches you can do for wrist flexibility. Image Credit: Neziha Kalı Ertuğrul/iStock/GettyImages Many people take wrist flexibility for granted. Yet your wrists are essential for a variety of different activities, from playing the violin to doing handstands. If you’re struggling to perform activities like these, there are many different ways to increase wrist size, strength and flexibility. Advertisement ​Read more:​ Normal Range of Motion of the Wrist Video of the Day The Importance of Wrist Flexibility From lifting to twisting, your wrist flexibility and strength are important for a variety of daily activities....

Fish is a great food to eat if you have weak muscles. Image Credit: a_namenko/iStock/Getty Images Muscle weakness or fatigue is a symptom that’s associated with many different health conditions. Often though, it’s caused by overworked muscles or a diet that’s leaving you tired because it’s not providing enough energy for your body. Adding the right foods to combat tiredness can help you feel better. Advertisement Tip If you have muscle weakness, talk to your doctor to make sure it’s nothing serious....

GABA supplements are use to help calm and relax you. GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, is such an important neurotransmitter that your brain would rather make it itself rather than bring it in from the outside. Nature has erected a barrier between the central nervous system and the bloodstream that limits what may cross over. While GABA may be crucial to the growth and development of your nerve cells and your mental health, the barrier will keep it from passing through....

A glass pot of raspberry tea. Raspberries provide high levels of vitamins and other nutrients as well as being delicious. Medicinal properties and botanical benefits have been of interest since the time of Jesus, reports the Berry Health Benefits Network of Oregon State University. Containing a powerful phytonutrient and antioxidant known as ellagic acid, red raspberries have been found to protect against a variety of health conditions and diseases. Advertisement Anti-Inflammatory Properties Red raspberries are known to help reduce inflammation and relieve pain associated with gout, arthritis and other inflammatory joint conditions due to the presence of anthocyanins, the chemical that gives them their red color....

The Herbalife weight-loss programs encourage replacing two meals a day with shakes. Image Credit: Starcevic/iStock/GettyImages If you’ve ever tried — or thought about — losing weight with meal-replacement shakes and nutritional supplements, you might have heard of the Herbalife weight-loss programs. Advertisement The good news is, if you're set on trying Herbalife, it may help you lose weight — but there are some things you should know before you get started....

Get more exercise each week for faster weight loss. Image Credit: Thomas Barwick/DigitalVision/GettyImages When you want to lose weight, you want to lose it ASAP. While you can weigh and measure and track yourself, it’s hard to tell how quickly you’ll lose weight after exercise. One thing is for sure, though — if you follow an effective exercise program and eat a healthy diet, you will start to see results quite quickly....

A 4 1/2-inch bagel has about 360 calories and 1 tablespoon of cream cheese has about 70 calories. Image Credit: MelindaSiklosi/Moment/GettyImages Many experts, including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, recommend eating breakfast for benefits to overall health and wellbeing. So does your go-to favorite — a bagel with cream cheese — count as healthy? Advertisement Tip A 4 1/2-inch bagel has about 360 calories, and 1 tablespoon of cream cheese has about 70 calories....

The number of calories in a bowl of cereal varies widely depending on the type of cereal, kind of milk and serving size. Image Credit: LightFieldStudios/iStock/GettyImages If you’re looking for a quick breakfast that won’t ruin your diet, you may consider a bowl of cereal with milk. While some breakfast cereal choices can help you meet your goals, others contain excess calories and sugar. Advertisement Tip The number of calories in a bowl of cereal varies widely depending on the type of cereal, kind of milk and serving size....

How much calories you eat to lose weight depends on several different factors. Image Credit: YelenaYemchuk/iStock/GettyImages There are probably many women who would love to escape the tyranny of weight loss advice being offered everywhere they turn. But for men, they often find themselves faced with the opposite problem — there aren’t enough dieting tips geared toward them, as noted by Tufts Medical Center. Advertisement Tip Although every man will have different caloric needs based on his height, weight, age and physical activity level, most healthy men need between 2,000 and 3,000 calories....

You don't need oil or butter to make a chocolate cake. Image Credit: Alexander Lyakhovskiy/iStock/GettyImages Chocolate cake is a classic American dessert. Of course, it’s usually high in fat and calories. Those who are trying to avoid extra calories or want a lighter option may think that homemade chocolate cake is out of the realm of possibility. Advertisement However, with just a little bit of creativity, you can make a chocolate cake that is light and fluffy and doesn't contain butter or oil....

If you want potatoes with the perfect crunch-to-softness ratio, try to boil potatoes before baking. Image Credit: Vladislav Nosick/iStock/Getty Images If you want potatoes with the perfect crunch-to-softness ratio, try to boil potatoes before baking. This method may take several steps, but it can make a wow-worthy side dish that you can customize for any meal. Advertisement Read more: Fiber in Potatoes Video of the Day What You'll Need There are several methods people use to boil potatoes before baking them....

If you need to make a lot of bacon, a griddle is definitely the best way to cook bacon. Image Credit: prosado/iStock/GettyImages If you’re ready to graduate from using the frying pan to cooking bacon on a griddle, these tips will come in handy. A frying pan is a good tool for cooking bacon, if you’re just making a little bit. However, if you need to make a lot of it, a griddle is definitely the best way to cook bacon....

Get a strong core by adding dumbbells to sit-ups Image Credit: Ibrakovic/iStock/Getty Images Sit-ups are an integral part of any workout routine. People of all ages complete the move — from children in gym class to adults in workout classes even to professional athletes in competition. But for extra resistance and to add difficulty to this simple exercise, just add dumbbells. Advertisement Lauren Conner, personal trainer and owner of CrossFit ARX says that adding weight to your ab exercises, "helps you hit different 'corners' of your core that you cannot get to as easily with a non-weighted sit-up....

Considering just how tempting the shower and couch look after a tough training session, we don’t blame you for letting post-exercise flexibility work fall by the wayside. Instead of skipping flexibility entirely, just incorporate the archetypal squat into your workout routine. Like any Pilates exercise, it will strengthen your muscles and joints while helping improve your total-body flexibility and mobility, too. Advertisement Advertisement "One of my favorite things about Pilates is that it's about working from the inside out and improving the function, rather than just the form or the look of your body," says Amy Jordan, founder of Wundabar Pilates....