Posts

Sleeping pills can lead to worsened sleep health over time. Caffeine and sleeping pills remain some of the most popular supplements taken on a daily basis. Although they are helpful in the short-term, these supplements create a never-ending cycle of stimulation and drowsiness that move you ever further from a good night's sleep. The best approach to improved sleeping remains to reduce caffeine dependence and take sleeping pills only for short-term issues with falling asleep....

Make smart choices when eating at Rainforest Cafe. Image Credit: jessielk/iStock/Getty Images Rainforest Cafe is a family-oriented, themed restaurant with several locations throughout the country. The menu features American fare with a tropical twist to go along with the rainforest theme. You have a choice of pasta, sandwiches and burgers, soup and salads, seafood, beef and chicken. If you plan to eat at the Rainforest Cafe, knowing the nutrition information is a good way to stay within your dietary guidelines....

There are ways to prepare ramen without seasoning packets and get a healthier result. Image Credit: Ake Ngiamsanguan/iStock/GettyImages When you’re indulging in ramen noodles — whether it’s a big bowl packed with meat and vegetables at a restaurant, or instant ramen at home — you may be aware of the dish’s high levels of calories, sodium and fat. But you can prepare ramen without the seasoning packet and get a healthier result....

Ginger tea may be diuretic. Image Credit: marucyan/iStock/Getty Images Herbal teas have become popular. You can find them in a variety of blends, or you can brew your own tea from a specific herb. An herbal tea will have the health effects associated with the herb. Advertisement For instance, chamomile is a relaxing and calming herb, so a tea made from chamomile may also be calming. Herbs that are diuretic, meaning they induce salt and fluid loss through the urine, may be dehydrating if you do not replace lost fluids....

You can eat green and yellow Jell-O before a colonoscopy, but stay away from red, orange and purple gelatins. Image Credit: FotografiaBasica/iStock/Getty Images After you schedule a colonoscopy, your doctor will give you a list of instructions about what to eat and drink — and, perhaps more importantly, what ​not​ to eat and drink — in the days before the procedure. Advertisement Following these directions will help ensure that your large intestine is completely empty during the colonoscopy....

A close-up of a woman placing herbs into a tea pot. Image Credit: Ruth Jenkinson/Dorling Kindersley RF/Getty Images Herbal teas are natural remedies that are made by steeping parts of the root, plant or flower of the herb in boiling water. Many herbs are relatively benign when taken in moderate consumption, and can be safely combined with other herbs that have similar effects, such as chamomile and peppermint teas. For best results, gauge your teas so that you follow the recommended dosage of each individual herb, and talk to your doctor if you are taking medications, including over-the-counter, or OTC, drugs....

Incorporate long runs and sprints to increase fat-burning enzymes. Eat whole-grain carbohydrates instead of following a no-carb or very low carb diet, and exercise regularly to increase your fat-burning enzymes and burn your stored body fat. The energy-making processes of your body convert the energy in the foods you eat to energy your cells can use called adenosine triphosphate or ATP. The use of fat in your body to fuel your exercise requires a molecule produced only from the breakdown of glucose in the carbs you eat....

With mandarin oranges, diarrhea may occur if you have a severe allergy to citrus or you've contracted a foodborne illness, but these fruits are more likely to help diarrhea than cause it. Image Credit: Diana Taliun/iStock/GettyImages Diarrhea is common and affects 179 million Americans every year, according to the National Institutes of Health. With mandarin oranges, diarrhea may occur if you have a severe allergy to citrus or you’ve contracted a foodborne illness, but these fruits are more likely to help diarrhea than cause it....

Close-up of a bowl of strawberries. Image Credit: Purestock/Purestock/Getty Images A food allergy is caused by the body producing immunoglobin E or IgE antibiodies to a certain food. It is an immune system reaction that occurs after consumption of a particular food. Even a trace of the food can trigger signs and symptoms of a reaction, such as digestive problems, hives, swollen airways and in severe cases, anaphylaxis. Treatment for most food allergies involves avoidance of the food and antihistamine treatment....

If you have a stomach ulcer, fruits and vegetables can be emphasized in your daily food plan. Image Credit: Steve Debenport/E+/GettyImages Prior to the 1980s, stomach ulcers were typically blamed on stress or spicy foods — and thus a bland diet was a common treatment. But we now know that ulcers aren’t caused by these factors. Advertisement Instead, most stomach ulcers are a result of the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria, and some are linked to long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin....

references Maria T. Abreu, MD, director, Crohn’s and Colitis Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Florida National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: “Diarrhea” National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: “Diarrhea Treatment” Mayo Clinic: “Diarrhea” Mayo Clinic: “Dehydration” Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911....

A large bowl of pasta. Image Credit: Olha_Afanasieva/iStock/Getty Images All foods containing carbohydrates break down into sugar. Sugar derived from pasta differs from sugar in candy and soft drinks, however. For overall wellness, the “Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010” recommends a diet containing 45 to 65 percent carbohydrates, which are prevalent in fruits, vegetables, sweets and starches, including pasta. Gaining understanding of how your body responds to and utilizes carbohydrates and how pasta varies from other sources may guide you toward making wise dietary decisions....

There are certain exercises you can do on the plane to help promote blood flow. Image Credit: Erik Witsoe / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Nobody likes long airline flights. Unless you’re flying first class, the limited leg room in coach class can lead to stiff and cramped legs. For many people, this won’t result in long-term consequences; however, for certain populations, it can be life-threatening if blood clots form in the legs. Advertisement If you're at high-risk for clotting, your doctor can prescribe medication....

Athletes come in all sizes and shapes, some of which might not fit the textbook definition of a fit body. Image Credit: Shalom Ormsby/Blend Images/Getty Images When you think of an athlete, more than likely a well-developed muscular image comes to mind. But, it may surprise you to hear that an athletic body is not necessarily what exercise and fitness experts have in mind when they speak of a fit body....

A woman is stirring her drink. Image Credit: wxin/iStock/Getty Images Fybogel contains Ispaghula husk – a natural plant extract with very high fiber content. Each serving usually comes in a small sachet ready to mix with water to create an orange-colored fiber drink. It also contains flavorings and sweeteners to improve the taste. A serving of Fybogel contains very little nutritional value, with no fats, proteins or sugars at all. Each sachet contains just 5 calories....

Feeling as if you may pass out during or after exercise may be a symptom of a heart problem. Image Credit: Srdjan Radevic / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages If your vision gets dark as you stand up, or you get a head rush when climbing stairs, it may be a drop in blood flow to your brain, a type of hypotension. Or it may feel like you’re going to pass out, a condition known as syncope....

If you aren't fasting more than 24 hours, then you don't have to worry about losing muscle mass. Image Credit: MirageC/Moment/GettyImages Food is fuel — it’s how you power through your workouts and then recover from them. So when you hear about this trend of intermittent fasting for weight loss and other health benefits, you might be suspicious. After all, isn’t there some connection between fasting and muscle loss? Advertisement Tip As long as you’re not fasting for more than 24 hours, you don’t need to worry about losing muscle....

Lift weights to increase muscle mass. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Stockbyte/Getty Images Increases in lean muscle mass come from consistent weight lifting sessions and providing your body with the fuel and nutrients necessary to heal and grow. A successful muscle building training program will require you to lift weights two to five days per week and complete four to six sets of six to 12 repetitions of each exercise. With this type of consistent training, you will see increases in lean muscle mass....

A couple riding mountain bikes Image Credit: Warren Goldswain/iStock/Getty Images A cycling program is a great way to get in good shape and to lose that excess weight. Even a short bike ride such as three miles burns a surprising number of calories. For best results, you should maintain a continuous effort, rather than stopping and starting when doing so isn’t necessary for safety reasons. Continuous effort maximizes the cardiovascular and calorie burning effects of riding a bike....

To tone your arms, focus on higher repetitions and lower weight. Image Credit: SolStock/E+/GettyImages In This Article Best Exercises Best Weights Build Your Workout Getting lean, sculpted arms is a goal of many fitness enthusiasts. Strong, toned biceps and triceps help you perform many daily duties, like carrying your groceries or lifting a heavy box off the ground. Advertisement If you're looking to target this part of your body and reduce arm fat, you might be wondering how to tone your arms and what the best weights for toning your arms are....