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Switch out starches and sodas for whole foods to help lose weight. Image Credit: Povareshka/iStock/GettyImages While it can be possible to lose 3 pounds a week, it may not be safe. Cutting too many calories or exercising excessively may deprive you of the energy and nutrients you need to function. That’s why there are a few things to consider before getting started with any weight-loss program. First of all, it’s important to determine your daily calorie needs and then plan your meals accordingly....

Can a High-Carb Diet Cause You to Retain Water? Image Credit: OksanaKiian/iStock/GettyImages Carbohydrates are blamed for a lot of things, but when it comes to carbs and water retention, the accusation is a fair one. Eating a diet high in sugary, starchy carbs requires your body to store the extra calories. Because sugary carbs cause an insulin spike and then a resulting drop in blood sugar, eating too many carbs may keep you hungry and cause you to overeat....

You may not experience diarrhea with every fat burner or diet pill. Image Credit: Nik_Merkulov/iStock/Getty Images Some fat burners and diet pills can cause diarrhea. It may partly depend upon how sensitive your body is to the particular formula used in the fat burners that you take. Even if your body has a high tolerance to a fat burner’s ingredients, the number of ingredients can trigger certain side effects, such as diarrhea....

Milk containing lactase enzymes is safe to drink even if you don't have lactose intolerance. Image Credit: Qwart/iStock/Getty Images Lactaid milk contains enzymes that break down lactose, the sugar in milk that breaks down into two other sugars, glucose and galactose. People with lactose intolerance don’t produce enough lactase enzymes, which break down lactose in simple sugars so it can be digested and used in the body. Lactaid milk contains added lactase enzymes....

The terbinafine 250 mg oral tablet is prescribed for adults to treat a fungal infection of the fingernails and the toenails. It must be taken daily for six weeks to cure an infection in the fingernails, but taken every day for 12 weeks to treat a toenail infection. You must use it as prescribed, but there are possible side effects. Terbinafine Terbinafine is an antifungal medication that destroys fungi because it interferes with a fungal enzyme called squalene epoxidase....

Prunes are permitted on an acid reflux diet. Food passes from your mouth to your stomach through a muscular tube called the esophagus. A one-way valve at the junction of your esophagus and stomach normally keeps food and stomach acid from regurgitating into your esophagus. A faulty gastroesophageal valve leads to acid reflux, which typically occurs after eating and causes heartburn. Although certain foods and eating habits aggravate the condition, prunes are a healthful and safe food to include in your diet if you have acid reflux....

A woman is experiencing lower back pain. Image Credit: nito100/iStock/Getty Images While lumbar back ache represents one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints, lower back injuries have many different causes. Symptoms of back pain and fatigue, however, most often arise from systematic overuse of muscles. Unlike an acute muscle strain such as a lifting injury, chronic overuse that gradually becomes apparent may make diagnosis difficult. Patients need to discover the actions behind their injuries to get the self-care and medical treatment necessary to restore health....

Use light weights to work out your upper body, to help increase lung capacity. Image Credit: adamkaz/E+/GettyImages It’s no secret that regular exercise is important. But when you have COPD, you might wonder whether your body is really up to the task. Advertisement Here's the good news: Not only is it possible to exercise with COPD (that's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, for the record), but being active can actually have big benefits....

Whether you remember her from the aerobics era of the 80s or keep up with her health and wellness Instagram page today, personal trainer Denise Austin has long been a popular face in fitness. These days, Austin’s focus in the industry has shifted to women in their 40s and beyond. The best exercises for your 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond. Image Credit: Denise Austin HLB “We really need a voice,” says Austin....

Image Credit: nata_vkusidey/iStock/Getty Images Although skin is a concern in the beauty products industry, healthy skin serves numerous functions that have little to do with physical appearance. Your skin helps to keep germs from entering your body, allows for body temperature regulation and "supports the life of all other body parts," according to the American Skin Association. Altering your diet may help manage skin dryness to guard against cracked fingers and chapped lips....

Make sure to choose the correct exercises to prevent yourself from aggravating a hiatal hernia. Image Credit: Martin Novak/Moment/GettyImages A hiatal hernia occurs when a portion of your stomach pushes up through your diaphragm’s small opening, the hiatus, which is responsible for allowing the esophagus to pass through to the stomach. When a hiatal hernia occurs, it cannot close properly and stomach acid travels back to the esophagus. Advertisement Tip Choosing the wrong types of exercise can make symptoms of hiatal hernia worse....

Fish Oil Supplement Image Credit: Rahul Bhardwaj/iStock/Getty Images Fish oil is an animal source of DHA and EPA omega-3 polyunsaturated fats. It is found most abundantly in fatty fish such as salmon and tuna, or as pill or oil supplement. Fish oil is widely known and used in the management of cardiovascular disease. However, studies have revealed it may also be used for many other brain functions, including the management of mood disorders and depression....

A bottle of supplement pills on a table. Image Credit: tedestudio/iStock/Getty Images According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, folic acid is the synthetic form of folate, or B-9, one of the B-complex vitamins. The Linus Pauling Institute notes that folic acid exists naturally, but indicates that it is rare in foods and is commonly taken as a dietary supplement. Neither health organization lists folic acid as something that contributes to constipation or helps treat it....

A chicken breast on a plate. Image Credit: villagemoon/iStock/Getty Images Labeling foods as either “good” or “bad” might be a simple way to decide which foods are good for you. The problem with these labels is that they give a negative connotation to foods that can still be part of a healthy diet when enjoyed in moderation. When it comes to protein, certain sources contain components that, in large amounts and over time, could be damaging to your health....

Layer lots of vegetables with lean protein for an easy, delicious and healthy sheet-pan dinner. Image Credit: Michael Nike/EyeEm/Getty Images You shouldn’t have to fit into a diet and fitness plan. The plan should have to fit you. Click here for all the details on our January challenge. Image Credit: Michael Nike/EyeEm/Getty Images You shouldn’t have to fit into a diet and fitness plan. The plan should have to fit you....

Rice Krispies Treats are a low-fat snack that can satisfy your sweet tooth. Image Credit: belchonock/iStock/GettyImages Before you write off these ooey, gooey treats as off-limits, make sure you know about Rice Krispies Treats calories and other nutrients. The low calorie count in these bars may surprise you. Advertisement Tip Most prepackaged Rice Krispies Treats contain 90 calories per bar. However, mini treats and homemade versions vary in calorie counts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends balancing caloric intake and exercise to reach your ideal weight....

Drinking 2 to 3 cups of green tea a day may offer health benefits, but may not help you lose too much weight. Image Credit: Roman Larin / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Tea is the second most-consumed drink in the world, preceded only by water. And green tea, one of the most popular of the teas, contains nutrients that supposedly help melt away pounds. Unfortunately, research shows that green tea weight loss isn’t as miraculous as it sounds, and it’s no replacement for a healthy diet and exercise program....

You should start small with up to one mile of jogging two to three days a week to reduce your risk of injury. Image Credit: g-stockstudio/iStock/GettyImages Jogging benefits your health by improving your cardiovascular fitness. As one of the most inexpensive and accessible forms of exercise, jogging requires little equipment except for workout apparel and running shoes. Plus, you can jog almost anywhere and you don’t need any type of training to start....

Running is a type of aerobic exercise. Image Credit: filadendron/E+/GettyImages Aerobic exercises are brisk exercises, such as running or swimming, that make your heart and lungs work hard, increasing the amount of oxygen circulating through your blood. When combined with a low-calorie diet, aerobics can lead to significant weight loss. Advertisement To lose weight with aerobics, you'll need to burn more calories than you consume and exercise regularly. Gradually increase the duration and intensity of your aerobic workouts for even greater weight loss....

A plate of salmon and fruit on the side. Image Credit: iuliia_n/iStock/Getty Images Fad diets such as a meat and fruit diet are meant to encourage short-term weight loss, and they can be successful. However, there are potential risks to eating such a limited variety of foods, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll lose any weight as a result of following the plan. Advertisement Calories Before you start to follow any new diet plan, it’s important to understand that the number of calories you eat and burn is what determines weight loss, not the specific foods you choose....