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references Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Nut Consumption and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Unlockfood.ca: Understanding organic foods California Certified Organic Farmers: Organic is Non-GMO and More Center for Food Safety: GE Food and Your health Environmetal Protection Agency: Human Health Issues Related to Pesticides U.S Department of Agriculture: USDA Organic What's on my Food: Almonds The Science of the Total Environment: Spatial and temporal patterns of pesticide use on California almonds and associated risks to the surrounding environment University of Florida IFAS Extension: CASHEW APPLE FRUIT GROWING IN THE FLORIDA HOME LANDSCAPE International Journal of Developmental Research: Inventory of pesticides use in cashew nuts orchards in the north of Côte D'Ivoire UCIPM: Relative Toxicities of Insecticides and Miticides Used in Pistachios to Natural Enemies and Honey Bees Extoxnet: Phosmet Earth Justice: Phosmet Kids Health: Nut and Peanut Allergy National Peanut Board: How Peanuts Grow National Cancer Institute: Aflatoxins Food Print: Real Food Encyclopedia-Walnuts Chemosphere: Residue Levels and Risk Assessment of Pesticides in Nuts of China Buying organic nuts can protect you from the potentially harmful effects of GMOs and pesticides....

Taking a few minutes to stretch when you feel a tension headache coming on can help ease symptoms. Image Credit: JGI/Tom Grill/Tetra images/GettyImages Feel like your head’s in a vice? Stress may be to blame for the throbbing pain in your temples. Indeed, a global pandemic coupled with everyday strain from work, family and finances can create the perfect storm for stress headaches. Advertisement That's because psychological stress can cause physical tension in our muscles (think: stiff necks and knotted backs)....

During pregnancy, many women find themselves periodically losing their appetites. Pregnancy brings about tremendous change in a woman's body. Her hormone levels soar, her body changes shape, weight, and proportion, her blood volume increases, and all her systems work harder to provide for not only her needs, but those of her unborn baby, as well. This leads to a variety of symptoms, many of which are uncomfortable. A loss of appetite is no exception; many women find themselves unwilling or unable to eat from time to time during pregnancy....

Whey protein powder isn't alkaline, but that doesn't mean you can't use it in a healthy diet. Image Credit: deymos/iStock/Getty Images Your body naturally maintains a balance of acid and alkaline – measured by pH – and this healthy pH level lets your cells function properly. Proponents of the alkaline diet claim that eating a diet high in fruits and veggies and lower in meat and dairy helps prevent excess acidity that negatively affects your health....

Green, leafy vegetables have anti-inflammatory properties. Image Credit: Zedcor Wholly Owned/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images Inflammation occurs through a complex series of reactions to prevent infection and heal your body. Although inflammation can be helpful in certain circumstances, chronic inflammation increases your risk of cardiovascular disease. Some alternative medicine proponents believe a special diet based on your blood type may reduce chronic inflammation and improve overall health. There is no scientific evidence to support the use of the blood type diet, although some foods permitted by the diet may reduce inflammation....

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. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which affects more than half a billion people around the world. Image Credit: Anut21ng/iStock/GettyImages Image Credit: Anut21ng/iStock/GettyImages The different types of arthritis fall into two major groups, according to the Mayo Clinic: ‌Osteoarthritis‌ occurs when the cartilage in joints wears down due to injury, overuse or age....

Foot Pain Image Credit: Voyagerix/iStock/Getty Images About 75 percent of Americans will experience foot pain at some point, according to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Foot pain can be caused by anything from poor posture to poor balance to inactivity; however, not all foot pain is attributed to obvious physical causes. Pain in the feet can also occur due to too much calcium as well as too little calcium that has developed into osteoporosis....

Strenuous exercise has been linked to causing costochondritis. Image Credit: golero/E+/GettyImages If you think you have costochondritis, exercises may in fact be to blame. But before you write it off as pain brought on by a workout, take the time to educate yourself about what else might be causing your chest discomfort. It might just save your life. Advertisement Tip When it comes to costochondritis, exercises can be the cause. But undiagnosed chest discomfort might also signal a true medical emergency....

Orange juice is acidic, so it may irritate you if you have stomach ulcers or colitis. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages If you’ve been diagnosed with ulcers or colitis, certain foods may cause abdominal pain. Because orange juice is highly acidic, you might wonder if you should cross it off your shopping list. But it doesn’t affect everyone the same way, so it depends on your personal tolerance level. Advertisement Orange Juice and Ulcers According to Mayo Clinic, peptic ulcers are sores that develop on the inside of the stomach lining or the uppermost part of the small intestine (duodenum)....

sliced oranges Image Credit: Claudio Beduschi/iStock/Getty Images Oranges offer a bonanza of nutrition – a single medium-sized orange can provide you with 120 percent of your daily vitamin C requirement, along with valuable fiber and other vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately, though, oranges also provide plenty of acid, and that can irritate people with sensitive stomachs. If you have a condition such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease or peptic ulcers, you may find oranges upset your gastrointestinal system....

A close-up of an espresso drink with frothed miik. Coffee is known for its positive health benefits but may interact with the mineral calcium. Calcium is vital for bone health. Moderate coffee intake will not harm younger adults but can put elderly women at a higher risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis. Coffee causes interactions with calcium by potentially decreasing the body's ability to absorb calcium. Advertisement Bone Health Calcium plays an important role in bone health....

Cycling is a low-impact exercise that places minimal stress on your knees. Knee arthroscopy is a common medical procedure in which a small camera is inserted into the knee joint to evaluate and treat a variety of knee conditions. According to the American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine, there are more than 4 million arthroscopic knee surgeries performed throughout the world each year. Arthroscopic knee surgery is a minor procedure that allows patients to quickly to return to the activities they enjoy -- including cycling....

A selection of milk and cheeses. Image Credit: artisteer/iStock/Getty Images At least 20 percent of adults in America have fatty liver disease, according to a January 2011 report from the “Harvard Health Letter.” Contrary to popular belief, fatty liver disease does not just affect alcoholics. Common risk factors for fatty liver disease include diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol. Low-fat dairy products are a part of a diet plan designed to help control fatty liver disease....

Skeletons of single-celled algae called diatoms make up diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth is a chalky natural sediment. It is available in food-grade forms and approved for use in the manufacturing and processing of many common food products. The International Programme on Chemical Safety reports no toxic effects from ingestion. As with any nonfood substance, if you are concerned that someone else has ingested an unsafe amount, contact your local poison control for advice....

Slices of wheat bread. Image Credit: EdnaM/iStock/Getty Images Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders involve the chewing muscles and joints connecting the lower jaw to the skull. Although TMJ is technically the abbreviation for the joint, people commonly use this term as shorthand for the disorders and symptoms, says MedlinePlus. Diet changes can prevent episodes of TMJ and help ease symptoms. Advertisement Identification The temporomandibular joints are located on each side of your head in front of your ears, connecting your lower jaw to your skull....

There's not much evidence to support products that claim to burn belly fat, like using a heating pad on your stomach to lose weight. Image Credit: Tetra Images/Tetra images/Getty Images In This Article Heating Pads Medical Treatments 4 Better Ways to Burn Belly Fat Love it or hate it, excess belly fat gets a lot of attention. But instead of promoting body acceptance or lifestyle changes to help you find your healthy weight — which is the weight where you feel your best, no matter your body size — some claim a heating pad (and similar treatments) can burn fat....

A man eats pickles with his meal. Image Credit: Radist/iStock/Getty Images Cucumbers are staples in the average American diet, with large cucumbers typically eaten raw and small cucumbers pickled for long-term storage. Even though pickles are made from cucumber, they differ slightly from raw cucumber with respect to their nutrient content. Pickles generally offer more vitamins and fiber than cucumber but also contain sugar or sodium that lowers their nutritional value....

Sliced roast beef on a plate. Image Credit: PicLeidenschaft/iStock/Getty Images A savory, home-cooked beef roast is one of life’s little pleasures, especially when served with mashed potatoes and gravy. However, novice home cooks may find a roast a daunting challenge to prepare. To cook your roast properly, you must first understand the basic differences between cooking methods such as baking and broiling, and which better suits your roast. Advertisement Broiling and Baking Differences Baking is a low, slow cooking method where heat radiates from a bottom burner throughout the oven and cooks food indirectly....

Caffeine causes an increase in the production of the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine. Image Credit: AegeanBlue/iStock/GettyImages Coffee is a staple in many people’s lives due to its “pick-me-up” qualities and reported health benefits. What you may not know is that when you drink coffee, dopamine levels increase in your brain, leading to a better mood and feelings of wellbeing. Advertisement Tip According to the National Academies of Sciences Engineering Medicine, caffeine increases dopamine release in the striatum by acting on adenosine A1 receptors....

Avoid swimming after cataract surgery. Image Credit: Hero Images/Hero Images/GettyImages Your driving, work and exercise routine may be interrupted after cataract surgery, but luckily about 90 percent of patients have improved vision after this quick and common procedure, according to the National Eye Institute. Allowing your eyes to recover will help ensure proper healing, so make sure you understand all follow-up directions before you head home after surgery. Exercise guidelines may vary slightly depending on who your doctor is and on the details of your individual case of cataracts....