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Caffeine is a stimulant and is present in coffee, tea, cocoa, soda, and some medications. It increases alertness, revs up metabolism and enhances mood. Caffeine reaches its peak level in your body within one hour of consumption and can stay at peak levels for up to six hours. Eighty percent of adults consume coffee everyday according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Increased Peristalsis Caffeine acts as a laxative and increases peristalsis....

Invest in a fitness tracker to get a better read on how many calories you burn while waiting tables. Image Credit: fizkes/iStock/GettyImages When you’re trying to lose weight, going for a jog or spending an hour on the elliptical machine at the gym isn’t the only way to do it. Even your profession, if it’s active, can help you burn calories to shed pounds. Waiting tables is an active job that keeps you on your feet for hours at a time....

You’ve finished your first 5K, tackled the 10K and feel ready to take on a new challenge. You could aim to run either of those distances faster or set your sights on a half marathon. But there’s another, less-common option to consider: the 15K. If you can run a 10K, you can also run a 15K with these race training tips. Image Credit: Getty Images / Hero Images Preparing for, and running, the 15K will take slightly more time than a 10K....

Taking a day off from the gym each week is essential for health. Image Credit: nortonrsx/iStock/GettyImages Getting a good sweat on most days of the week is critical to good health and fitness. But if you’re hitting the gym every day for months at a time, you may be getting too much of a good thing. Taking planned rest breaks both weekly and monthly helps your body recover from the intensity of your workouts....

Boil-in-a-bag rice is an easy, no-muss, no-fuss way to prepare rice. You don't have to worry about measuring your rice or about your rice getting stuck to the pan. You can prepare boil-in-a-bag rice either on the stove top or in the microwave. Cooking times and the amount of water you need to use can vary slightly, depending on the brand. Using less water and reducing your cooking time will result in a firmer rice....

Goat is eaten in Africa and all over the Caribbean, but most Americans cringe when you mention eating goat meat. Well, they are missing out because like lamb, goat has a pleasant, slightly pungent, flavor that is best brought out by grilling the meat slowly at low temperatures. Similar to preparing lamb, don't be shy with the herbs and seasonings because the flavor of goat stands up well to heavy seasonings and marinades....

While there are many options when it comes to making gluten-free desserts, be prepared to do your homework, read the labels and to not contaminate the recipe in the process. Image Credit: Livestrong.com According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, as many as 1 in 100 people suffer from celiac disease worldwide, an autoimmune disorder that attacks the small intestine when even the tiniest amount of gluten is ingested. It can make navigating the world, especially one filled with desserts and baked goods, a dietary nightmare....

If you frequently feel nauseated or faint during a workout, talk to your doctor. Image Credit: PeopleImages/iStock/GettyImages Many of us pride ourselves on the ability to power through a challenging workout. We think by pushing our physical boundaries to the limit, we can grow faster, stronger or leaner. Advertisement And it's true, to an extent. But sometimes grinning and bearing it crosses the line into something potentially harmful for your health....

Justify your glass-a-day with these promising health benefits of red wine. Image Credit: Portra/E+/GettyImages When it comes to healthy choices, alcohol is not usually the first thing that comes to mind. But in moderation, red wine has actually been linked to a host of benefits that can make it a smart addition to your diet, from aiding digestion and weight loss to staving off certain diseases. Advertisement Red vs. White Wine “The color of wine is determined by the color of the grapes used to make it, and whether the crushed grapes are pressed before or after fermentation,” Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, creator of BetterThanDieting....

Melaleuca Inc. produces a multivitamin and mineral supplement that serves as the basis for a variety of nutritional products. The company specializes in creating packages designed to support specific health needs by combining its multivitamins with other supplements, most of which are proprietary products developed by the company. About the Company Based in Idaho, Melaleuca has been in business for 30 years. It produces and sells a line of nutritional products, including multivitamins and minerals, specialty supplements, weight-loss products, herbal teas and energy drinks....

L-Carnitine supplements. Image Credit: Mitch Hrdlicka/Photodisc/Getty Images Carnitine is an antioxidant used by your body to turn the fat you eat into energy. Typically, the body makes plenty of carnitine, so supplements aren’t necessary. However, some people take supplements in the hopes of increasing weight loss, but research doesn’t appear to support this practice. Before taking L-carnitine supplements, check with your doctor, as this may not be safe for everyone....

Drinking coconut water can help with rehydration. Image Credit: conee/iStock/GettyImages Coconut water is the clear juice inside a coconut. According to the Mayo Clinic, compared to traditional fruit juices, coconut water contains half as many calories. But is there such a thing as too much coconut water? Advertisement Tip Drinking coconut water can help with rehydration. However, if you drink too much coconut water, you could cause electrolyte imbalances and diarrhea....

Stretching can have a positive impact on your strength training workouts. Image Credit: Bojan89/iStock/GettyImages If you’re regularly active, stretches are likely part of your workout routine. If you’ve skipped these drills, there’s no time like the present to start. Advertisement Stretching might seem like it's just for runners, dancers or yogis, but it has many benefits for anyone, such as helping to increase circulation, lengthen muscles to aid in recovery and decrease and relieve post-exercise muscle stiffness — even help with posture, according to the American Council on Exercise (ACE)....

close up of blue cheese Image Credit: igorr1/iStock/Getty Images If eating blue cheese causes inflammation to develop anywhere in your body, make an appointment with your doctor because you may have an allergy to one or more of its ingredients. Blue cheese contains two highly allergenic substances: milk and mold. Most symptoms caused by an allergic reaction are the result of inflammation in soft tissue in different parts of the body....

Like other drugs, caffeine and nicotine can cause dependence and other health problems. Caffeine and nicotine belong to the stimulant family of drugs. They increase heart rate and speed up other bodily functions, and have the potential to cause overdose or be habit-forming. Despite the risks associated with these substances, both caffeine and nicotine are legal to purchase and consume in the United States. Advertisement Sources Nicotine occurs naturally in all tobacco products, including snuff, cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco....

Blue cheese uses mold, a type of fungus, to age. Image Credit: DAJ/amana images/Getty Images Fungal infections come in many forms, including yeast infections and athlete’s foot. A body fungus usually thrives in warm, moist areas and can attack people with weaker immune systems. They’re also contagious, which is why you should wear flip-flops in the gym shower and not share hair brushes. Your diet can exacerbate a fungal infection, particularly one known as candida, but no one food is the reason you acquire it initially....

Exercise with caution if you have a herniated disc. Image Credit: Paul Bradbury/Caiaimage/GettyImages Your spine is a column of bones called vertebrae and tough, cartilage-containing discs that cushion the spine. A thick, protective band that features a gel-like substance underneath it surrounds the discs. If the band surrounding the disc becomes cracked or broken, this gel substance can leak out of the disc and place pressure on the nearby nerves that run down the spinal cord....

Pregnant woman holding stomach Image Credit: luamduan/iStock/Getty Images Some spices could cause miscarriage or early pregnancy loss, but not because of their spicy flavor. Many spices and herbs stimulate uterine contractions or uterine bleeding, which can cause very early miscarriage or later pregnancy loss. Cooking with spices isn’t dangerous in pregnancy; only supplements are potent enough to potentially cause problems, so do not take supplements containing herbs or spices without your doctor’s approval....

Eating only salads might keep you from getting all of the important nutrients. Image Credit: DragonFly/iStock/GettyImages Salads and fruit are great for you — and they’re worthwhile to add to a weight loss diet. However, eating only salads every day can get boring, and it might keep you from getting some other important nutrients. Advertisement Tip You would likely lose weight eating only salads every day but you may also be depriving yourself of essential nutrients you need to feel and look your best....

The clear plastic wrap used to keep your foods safe could be hazardous to your health. Researchers have discovered that trace chemicals found in plastic products are responsible for an assortment of medical conditions. As a result, many manufacturers have altered the materials used in their plastic products; however, not all companies have made these changes, and some of the replacement materials may not be as effective in preserving your food....