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Your doctor is likely to recommend cutting back on iron prior to a colonoscopy. Image Credit: monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Getty Images A colonoscopy is a procedure that examines your large intestine and rectum to diagnose several health conditions, including colon cancer and polyps. Despite the outpatient techniques used during a colonoscopy, medication and dietary restrictions begin several days before the examination. Iron supplements are one item to limit before a colonoscopy. Advertisement Preparing for a Colonoscopy Certain medications and supplements must be avoided for a set amount of time before you have a colonoscopy because they could interfere with the procedure or subsequent recovery....

Transitioning to a healthier diet can sometimes cause temporary stomach upset. Image Credit: apomares/iStock/GettyImages For many people, a diet or healthy eating plan kicks off with a not-so-fun side of stomach pain and discomfort. Sometimes, a transition to more nutritious eating can give you an upset stomach — at least in the beginning. Here’s why this happens and how to ease these side effects along the way. Advertisement ​Read more:​ Keep Salad on the Menu, but Hold the Gas Pain Video of the Day High-Fiber Foods May Be to Blame A less nutritious diet can increase your risk of dying from heart disease, stroke or type 2 diabetes, according to a March 2017 ​JAMA​ study — just to name a few reasons to eat healthier....

Several elements of Dr. Oz's plan, such as eating more veggies and cutting processed food, are good for your health and your waistline. Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Wavebreak Media/Getty Images Dr. Oz, the heart surgeon and television personality, has become known in the media as a guru on health and complementary medicine. His Two-Week Rapid Weight Loss Plan is designed to help you lose 10 pounds quickly while at the same time fighting inflammation, detoxifying your body and boosting your metabolism....

Fans of food-combining say separating carbohydrates and proteins improves wellness. Image Credit: Yulia_Kotina/iStock/Getty Images Although the body’s need for carbohydrates and protein is well-known, varying beliefs exist regarding whether you should eat them together. Carbs provide glucose – your body’s main dietary source of energy. Protein provides amino acids – the building blocks of lean tissue that enhance immune function and tissue repair. Gaining understanding regarding the potential benefits and risks involved with separating “carbs” and protein might help guide you toward making wise dietary decisions....

If you’re following a low-fat eating plan, steer clear of high-fat foods like fried chicken. Image Credit: mikafotostok/iStock/GettyImages There was a time when standard nutritional wisdom held that eating fat made you fat. But these days, nutrition research has shown that low-fat diets aren’t necessarily a recipe for weight-loss success. Still, some people may need to reduce dietary fats for medical reasons. Advertisement Read more: 7 Myths About Dietary Fats You Should Stop Believing Right Now Video of the Day Defining a Low-Fat Diet While the ins and outs of a low-fat diet plan can vary, its definition is fairly consistent....

Protein is an essential part of your diet and should come from both animal- and plant-based sources. Image Credit: Christopher Stokey/iStock/GettyImages The amount of protein you consume is important for your health. Most people should consume 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, but this amount can change based on various factors. People who are pregnant, lactating, have certain health issues or are very active typically require more protein than average....

You're better off starting a diet and fitness program slowly and carefully. Image Credit: Iryna Imago/iStock/GettyImages Three weeks does not represent a lot of time for you to lose weight, and it’s definitely not enough time for you to develop new, healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime. But if you absolutely need to shed pounds in 21 days – maybe for a once-in-a-lifetime special event – you do have some strategies you can use to help you get slimmer in time....

Roasting or baking is one of the few safe ways to cook a chicken directly from its frozen state. Image Credit: istetiana/Moment/GettyImages Roasting or baking is one of the few safe ways to cook a chicken directly from its frozen state. Making a roast chicken from frozen starts cooking it fast enough to prevent potentially dangerous rapid bacterial growth; never slow-cook a whole frozen bird. Advertisement There aren't many differences between cooking a frozen and a defrosted chicken in the oven, but there are two of note: You'll have to wait until it's thawed to truss, and the cooking time is extended by about 50 percent....

Broccoli and carrrots are a nutritious vegetable side dish. Image Credit: SStajic/iStock/GettyImages Like Batman and Robin, broccoli and carrots are a powerful duo. Packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals, they take any meal from zero to superhero. For an easy side dish, roast, boil, steam or bake them together — you can even cook broccoli and carrots on the grill. Advertisement Healthy Steamed Veggies These two cooking techniques involve water, and neither requires the addition of oil....

Oven knob Image Credit: DAJ/amana images/Getty Images Wild hogs are found in 39 states, as of 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and these populations are considered invasive species, providing numerous hunting opportunities. The hogs can reach 400 lbs., resulting in a significant amount of meat for the freezer. One of the best cuts from a hog is the backstrap, or tenderloin. Wild hogs have less fat than domestic pork with dark meat and a tight grain....

Beef stew in a blue bowl. Image Credit: OlgaMiltsova/iStock/Getty Images Although defrosting meat in the refrigerator is the preferred and safest method, if your stew beef is frozen and you are in a hurry to use it, you can use the microwave to defrost your meat. Stew beef chunks have the advantage of being easier and faster to defrost than large, single pieces of meat and are less likely to develop overcooked areas....

If you want to lose weight, try eating six times a day. Image Credit: istetiana/Moment/GettyImages Eating six small meals a day instead of two or three larger ones is a weight-loss strategy that works for many people because it helps to control your hunger. To be successful with a six-small-meals-a-day plan, it’s helpful to do some meal planning and try to stick to a structured eating schedule. Advertisement Tip If you want to lose weight, try eating six times a day....

Limit your consumption of high-protein meats to lower microalbumin levels. Healthy kidneys filter waste product from your blood and send it out of your body via urine. Albumin, a protein normally found in blood, helps move particles through your blood vessels and protects them from leaking fluid into your tissues. If albumin leaks into your urine, it means your kidneys are experiencing filtration problems. The microalbumin test is used to determine kidney function status....

A common side effect of regularly training for a particular sport is muscle soreness due to microscopic tears in the muscle fibers. The typical 48 to 72 hours of recovery time following a workout or practice may not fit into your game schedule, though. Mild soreness and stiffness can be somewhat alleviated by performing a dynamic – or active – warm-up. Performing movements that activate your muscles and get the blood flowing can help to reduce tightness and prepare your body for the physical demands of the game....

references Mayo Clinic: "Gas and Gas Pains" International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders: "Tips on Controlling Gas" International Milk Genomics Consortium: "Dairy Protein Digestion: Life in the Slow Lane" Ingredients in protein bars may cause digestive symptoms in some people. Image Credit: Enrique Díaz / 7cero/Moment/GettyImages Image Credit: Enrique Díaz / 7cero/Moment/GettyImages Type and Amount of Protein Dietary Sensitivities Artificial Sweeteners Other Options Visit Page https://www.amazon.com These protein bars will satisfy your sweet cravings and give you important nutrients....

Slow cooker chicken recipes are perfect for busy weeknight dinners because they're convenient but high in nutrients. Image Credit: bhofack2/iStock/GettyImages The beauty of slow cooker meals is that, in most cases, they’re made with minimal ingredients and you can set-and-forget them. And when you can guarantee a slow cooker meal will be chock-full of protein, you’ve got a winner, winner chicken dinner. Advertisement That's why we rounded up 30 slow cooker chicken recipes that guarantee satisfaction and satiety thanks to their high protein content....

There are several benefits to eating at night. Image Credit: pixdeluxe/E+/GettyImages For years you’ve probably heard that it’s bad to eat before bed. And that may be true if you’re on a fasting diet. But eating at night isn’t a weight gain trigger, so you’re OK if you’re snacking on a pomegranate or eating dates at night. In fact, there are a lot of surprising benefits to a nighttime snack....

Image Credit: Corey Hartford/LIVESTRONG.COM Swollen feet can be as much a mystery as they are a source of pain and discomfort. So what actually causes swollen feet? Technically, they're the result of fluid in the blood that escapes from the capillaries (the smallest type of blood vessels in your body) and build up in tissues, which is a condition known as peripheral edema. But what causes the peripheral edema can be a little bit harder to nail down....

This lower-body workout over 50 builds functional strength to help you move through life more easily and comfortably. Image Credit: Prostock-Studio/iStock/GettyImages Some workouts may be harder on your joints as you age (think CrossFit, plyometrics and HIIT) but there’s no reason to stop strength training in your 50s, 60s, 70s or beyond. Actually, as you get older, it’s even more important to maintain a strength routine. Advertisement In the later decades of your life, it's normal to experience age-related muscle loss, especially through your lower body, according to Maria Delgado, PT, a New York-based certified physical therapist with Blink Fitness....

Reverse the negative effects of sitting at your desk all day. Image Credit: Cavan Images/Cavan/GettyImages You likely don’t need anyone to tell you this, but the American workforce is sitting more than ever. What you might need a little bit of help figuring out, though, is what to do about the aches and pains caused by hunching over your computer. Advertisement "Back problems are among patients' most frequent complaints to their doctors," according to Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute....