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Diabetics have to watch dietary intake. Image Credit: Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images Diabetics need to watch their dietary intake, limiting foods that contain high amounts of sugar and carbohydrates. A doctor may recommend a certain calorie intake each day to help with weight loss. A 1,200-calorie diabetic meal plan is a reduced-calorie meal plan that is often prescribed to individuals who are attempting to lose weight. The meal plan involves three meals and two snacks and includes portion-controlled snacks....

Certain stretches can help relieve tension in the pelvic floor. Image Credit: Hello Africa/DigitalVision/GettyImages When you have a tight muscle, the signs are usually obvious — pain, soreness or cramping (think: a charley horse in your calf or a knot in your neck). Advertisement The same type of tension can happen in your pelvic floor muscles (they consist of skeletal muscle just like your biceps or quads), except the symptoms are often different....

If you're living in the midst of a global pandemic, for example, a little weight gain is nothing to stress about. Image Credit: AleksandarGeorgiev/E+/GettyImages Like our skin, our mood and our sleep schedules, our weight fluctuates depending on what’s happening in our lives. While being mindful of our health is important for our overall vitality, it’s important to remember a higher number on the scale isn’t the sole factor for determining our wellbeing....

Stretching is a great way to wake up in the morning or wind down at night — or any time in between. Image Credit: ake1150sb/iStock/GettyImages Our strength-training and cardio routines often take a place of pride in our workout arsenal, leaving stretching as an afterthought. But a consistent stretch routine is essential for better range of motion, improved performance as well as decreasing your risk of injury. Advertisement It doesn't have to be a chore or take up more time than you have in you already busy day....

Vegetarian pizza. Image Credit: ajafoto/iStock/Getty Images More than 7 million people follow some form of a vegetarian diet, according to a study by “The Vegetarian Times,” and 1 million of those follow a vegan diet, which eliminates all animal-derived products. Once you get acclimated to it, sticking to a vegetarian diet becomes easy. At first, though, determining what a healthy vegetarian diet looks like can seem complicated and overwhelming. Advertisement Read more: How to Lose Weight Fast on a Vegetarian Diet Video of the Day Types of Vegetarianism Bell pepper couscous salad....

Plow pose puts notable pressure on your neck. Image Credit: fizkes/iStock/Getty Images The Plow pose in yoga is one of those postures that folds you over and makes you look as twisted as a pretzel. It offers multiple benefits, including stretching the spine and calming your mind, but it’s often avoided by practitioners and some teachers because of the pressure it puts on your cervical spine and neck. Advertisement Knowing a little more about the pose can help you determine if it's one you want to include in your practice....

Anti-inflammatory turmeric is the star of this tasty golden latte. Image Credit: Anatoliy Sizov/iStock/GettyImages Would you believe that some of the leading chronic health conditions that plague Americans have one thing in common? Inflammation is one of the factors that link heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, according to January 2018 research in Oncotarget. Advertisement Acute, or short term inflammation, is a completely normal process that occurs in your body....

B complex is a supplement that contains all eight B vitamins. These vitamins are essential for numerous physiologic functions, including growth and development. Your diet often supplies the B vitamins you need, but in some cases, you may need a supplement to get sufficient amounts of the vitamins. The use of B complex can lead to adverse side effects, like stomach pain. Mild Stomach Pain An upset stomach, or mild stomach pain, is a potential side effect of B complex, according to Kaiser Permanente....

If joining a gym is not in your budget or simply not your preference, it is entirely possible to put together a home gym with a modest financial and space expenditure. Toning your butt requires you to do exercises that both isolate the gluteal muscles and work the entire lower body as a unit, and plenty of equipment exists to help you see results. Treadmill or Stair-climber If you build your gluteal muscles without getting rid of the fat, your butt will just get bigger....

A woman is performing a push up outside. Image Credit: gpagomenos/iStock/Getty Images While it is well-established that a program of proper diet and exercise can help you reduce belly fat, there is no scientific evidence indicating that specific activities can target fat loss in certain areas of your body. According to the Rush University Medical Center, the best way to eliminate belly fat is through a diet and exercise program that reduces fat throughout your body....

A class of soda on an outdoor table. Image Credit: Ahmadmahmood/iStock/Getty Images If you’ve already had gallbladder disease or gallstones, you may wonder if your diet might affect your risk of developing the condition again. If you consume too much sugar each day – perhaps in the form of sugar-sweetened soft drinks – you might be increasing your risk. However, all the research isn’t yet in, so it’s not clear whether cutting back on sugar-sweetened soft drinks might help your gallbladder....

Too much exercise can cause the body to store fat. Image Credit: Art-Of-Photo/iStock/Getty Images It’s tempting to do as much exercise as possible to lose weight. However, working out three or more hours a day may change your body’s response to your exercise routine, making it store fat instead of burning it for energy. In addition, excessive amounts of weight training may result in significant muscle gain, which also contributes to your weight loss stopping or even to gaining weight....

Talk to your doctor before increasing your Alli dosage. To help speed up weight loss, some people turn to diet aids such as Alli, an over-the-counter pill that helps reduce the amount of fat your body processes from the meals you eat. Using Alli does not guarantee weight loss, but some people find that following the plan helps keep them on track. Even though Alli is not a prescription medication, you must follow the dosage directions to reduce your risk for side effects....

Drinking too much caffeine can cause you to lose potassium. Regular coffee contains caffeine, which not only stimulates your nervous system, but also acts as a diuretic. While consuming coffee in moderate amounts is likely safe for most people, drinking too much can have negative repercussions. The diuretic effect of coffee can cause your body to lose too much potassium, leading to a deficiency, which can be very serious. If you have concerns, talk to your doctor about your coffee intake and potassium levels....

Cold brew and iced coffee are not one and the same, so you'll want to try both before committing to one cup. Image Credit: wmaster890/iStock/GettyImages Rather than heading into your favorite local coffee shop these days, you’re working on your professional at-home barista skills. Though you aren’t quite ready to buy a milk frother and try your luck at latté art, you may dabble into iced drinks as the days grow warmer....

Feet on a scale Image Credit: Ingram Publishing/Ingram Publishing/Getty Images Skin discoloration can be caused by environmental exposure, congenital factors and certain medical conditions, according to the MedlinePlus website. In some cases, skin discoloration and weight loss are symptoms of a common condition or disease. In other cases, skin discoloration and weight loss may be caused by two separate conditions. Sudden unexplained weight loss, especially in the presence of skin discoloration, may suggest a serious underlying health problem....

A small bowl of yogurt with strawberries. Image Credit: Amarita/iStock/Getty Images Probiotic are supplements that are often taken to help treat problems with the digestive tract, such as diarrhea. Although probiotics are generally safe, they can cause some gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly if they are used improperly or in high doses. Although probiotics generally do not cause any serious health problems, they must be taken in the right amounts and you should talk to your doctor before consuming probiotics....

Wrist streching can help relieve tendonitis. Image Credit: pcess609/iStock/GettyImages Tendonitis occurs when a tendon, which attaches muscle to bone, becomes inflamed from overuse. This condition is often related to excessive activity or repetitive wrist movements, according to Mayo Clinic. Wrist tendonitis exercises improve flexibility, strength and wrist size. Advertisement Perform wrist exercises after the initial pain has subsided. If any wrist tendonitis exercises cause you pain, stop immediately. Consider physical therapy for wrist tendonitis for an individualized exercise program if your pain persists or if your symptoms are accompanied by numbness or tingling....

Retinas send signals to your brain. Image Credit: Digital Vision/Photodisc/Getty Images Retinal tissue at the back of your eye sends signals to your brain that allow you to see. Many blood vessels feed the retina. If a retinal vessel breaks, fluid can build up under the retina, a condition known as central serous retinopathy. For many people, the condition clears without treatment. Discuss whether you should avoid certain foods to prevent further bleeding with your eye doctor if you develop central serous retinopathy....

references Current Developments in Nutrition: “Effect of Whey Protein on Insulin Sensitivity and Glucose Metabolism in Women With and Without Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)” Kecia Gaither, MD, double board-certified OB/GYN, maternal fetal medicine; director, Perinatal Services, NYC Health+Hospitals/Lincoln, New York, New York International Journal of Endocrinology: “The Effect of Low-Carbohydrate Diet on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials” Sara Mucowski, MD, board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, Dallas IVF, Dallas and Plano, Texas Rinku Mehta, MD, board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, Dallas IVF, Frisco and Plano, Texas Is this an emergency?...