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Running in the rain by itself won't make you sick. Image Credit: Dirima/iStock/Getty Images If running in the rain was the only recipe for an illness, then people in the perennially wet Pacific Northwest would be stuck training on treadmills for most of the year. Advertisement Fortunately, that's not the case, and running in the rain is not necessarily going to make you sick. There are risks to running in the rain, but with proper precautions, you won't have to resign yourself to endless hours running like a rat in a cage....

A female doctor consults with a male patient. Image Credit: AlexRaths/iStock/Getty Images Good health depends on a complex interplay between chemicals that is precise and sometimes very subtle. Your body makes neurotransmitters using ingredients it manufactures or takes from your diet. Dietary supplements may promote or upset this complex process. For example, melatonin and 5-HTP, or 5-hydroxytryptophan, work differently, but are linked closely together through a common chemical production process. Taking these two substances together may produce unintended consequences....

Whether you love Caribbean food or you've never tried it, these Caribbean-inspired recipes are a must-try. Image Credit: from_my_point_of_view/iStock/GettyImages The variety of international cuisines available to us is, well, mind-boggling. Even though traditional American favorites have a special place in our hearts (and tummies), there’s something exciting and delicious about trying other cultures of cuisine. Advertisement If you like spicy, sweet, tart and savory flavors all wrapped into one dish, you should add Caribbean food to your must-try list....

A calculator, tapemeasure, pencil and paper with BMI formula on it. Image Credit: designer491/iStock/Getty Images The terms “lean body mass” and “fat-free mass” are used to describe body composition. Although they may be used interchangeably, they are not the same. Lean body mass includes fat that acts as fuel for energy production and other processes that are part of normal metabolism. On the other hand, fat-free mass does not include any fat....

A man is jumping up to a basketball hoop. Image Credit: cirkoglu/iStock/Getty Images Jumping is a component of numerous athletic events. For decades, athletes have tried to improve their ability to jump higher. These efforts have involved wearing funny shoes, lifting weights and jumping rope. Calf raises alone may positively affect jumping ability, however, a multifaceted approach to improving your vertical jump yields better results. Advertisement The Art of Jumping Jumping utilizes every muscle in an individual’s lower body....

Meal replacements, protein shakes and smoothies are all good options for people with cancer who want to gain weight. Image Credit: Django/E+/GettyImages Weight loss is a concern during cancer treatments like radiation and chemo because side effects can include nausea, appetite loss and painful swallowing. To gain or maintain weight during this difficult time, people with cancer can try adding high-calorie, protein-rich beverages to their diet. Advertisement "Cancer and cancer treatments can lead to poor appetite, nausea, taste and smell changes, feeling full too quickly and difficulties digesting food," explains Rachel Dudley, RD, a clinical dietitian at the Dan L....

Fruit Smoothies Image Credit: tashka2000/iStock/Getty Images The Elimination Diet is used to help your body determine what foods you are allergic or sensitive to. This diet also allows your body to detox from the foods that have been compromising your system. The most common food culprits are dairy, gluten, corn, nightshade foods, processed meats, eggs, shellfish and citrus fruits. Being on an elimination diet takes some effort, but planning one meal at a time helps....

You can do normal non contact exercises pretty quickly after PRK surgery. Image Credit: Thomas Barwick/Taxi/GettyImages For those with contacts or glasses, exercise can sometimes prove to be a hassle. Intense physical activity can either cause eye irritation in contact lens wearers or can result in broken glasses. Advertisement For those who would like to correct their vision permanently, a surgery called photorefractive keratectomy, PRK, may be an option, according to Michigan Health....

Potato chips are off limits before a colonoscopy. Image Credit: Poh Kim Yeoh / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Getting ready for a colonoscopy takes longer than the procedure itself, as Harvard Health Publishing points out — and that’s largely because of all the dietary dos and don’ts you have to follow. Some of the instructions are focused around what you ​should​ eat — but even more of them are about what you ​can’t​....

Small cups of ice cream on a table. Image Credit: janecocoa/iStock/Getty Images Stevia, Stevia rebaudiana or sweet leaf of Paraguay are some of the names given to the leaves of this plant native to Paraguay. In the early 1900s stevia was documented by Moises Bertoni, a Paraguayan botanist. It is a natural sweetener with no calories, no glycemic index and it is 250 to 300 times the sweetness of sugar. It has been used as a sweetener for centuries and is used in foods in many countries such as, Brazil, Canada, China and Japan....

A chicken caesar salad wrap with crunchy croutons. Image Credit: monkee_leelu/iStock/Getty Images Carbohydrates are your body’s chief energy source, and lunchtime is when you need energy to keep a midday slump from coming on. When choosing a good carbohydrate source, it’s important to select complex carbohydrates, like whole grains, that your body breaks down more slowly than refined carbohydrates like candy or sugary foods. Complex sources also give you a way to incorporate healthful fiber, vitamins and minerals into your daily diet....

Fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains form the foundation of the biblically inspired Daniel Fast, but there's more to the popular 21-day meal plan than what you can and cannot eat. Image Credit: brizmaker/iStock/GettyImages In This Article What It Is Benefits For many dieters, New Year's Day marks the start of a 21-day Daniel Fast, a period of temporarily abstaining from certain foods and drinks with the intention of getting closer to God and/or jumpstarting a New Year's resolution to lose weight....

It's important to continue eating healthy at any age. Image Credit: Catherine Yeulet/iStock/Getty Images As you get older, your body experiences physiological changes that likely will affect how you eat, what you eat and how your body processes it, according to Colorado State University. Foods you loved as a 20-year-old may not appeal to you as an 84-year-old. However, that doesn’t negate the need for you to eat well, In fact, 84-year-olds, like all elderly people, have specific needs for a healthy diet....

Boost drinks can help you gain weight when combined with a healthy, calorie-rich meal plan. Image Credit: DuxX/iStock/GettyImages If you’re looking to gain weight, Boost drinks and other nutrition drinks can provide extra calories in an easily consumed beverage. Boost nutritional drinks also have the added benefit of vitamins and minerals. Advertisement Tip Boost drinks can help you gain weight when combined with a healthy, calorie-rich meal plan. What Are Nutrition Drinks?...

Every body responds to exercise based on a number of different factors. Image Credit: Caiaimage/Sam Edwards/Caiaimage/GettyImages Are we there yet? That’s not just a question asked by kids on a family road trip — it’s also the plaintive cry of many a new exerciser in the gym, wondering how long it’s going to take to start to see noticeable changes from the hard work they’re putting in. Advertisement Tip Every body responds to exercise based on a number of different factors....

Three women in an advanced side plank position in a yoga studio. Image Credit: Antonio_Diaz/iStock/Getty Images You might associate yoga with calm movements and general relaxation, but you’d feel out of place carrying this belief into a power yoga class. This form of yoga provides a challenging workout for your entire body, typically with an emphasis on building strength, and isn’t ideal for beginners. Add a couple hour-long power yoga classes to your weekly workout routine, and you’ll build muscle as you burn calories....

The number of calories you consume to build muscle and burn fat is different for each person. Image Credit: Claudia Totir/Moment/GettyImages People who embark on a diet and fitness plan usually aim to lose weight as well as get more toned, but can you lose fat and gain muscle at the same time? Here’s what you need to know about whether or not it’s possible and how many calories you need to build muscle and lose fat....

Women aren’t the only ones with eating disorders. Image Credit: Art-Of-Photo/iStock/GettyImages While six-pack abs and bulging biceps are two common goals for many men, what happens when a normal quest for fitness tuns into a potentially deadly obsession? Advertisement Body dissatisfaction, eating disorders and other mental health issues are often seen as taboo for men. But recently, celebrities and athletes like Mike Marjama, catcher for the Seattle Mariners, have opened up about their struggles and what they've done to seek help....

Feet running on a treadmill. Image Credit: Ancika/iStock/Getty Images You don’t need crampons and an ice-ax to be a mountain killer. The incline settings on your treadmill let you simulate the effort required for a change in vertical height, or elevation gain. You can build your endurance and stamina by using and calculating elevation gain on your treadmill. As you prepare for an upcoming race, compare your treadmill elevation work with the race map....

You can figure out your running pace once you know your distance and time. Image Credit: Peathegee Inc/DigitalVision/GettyImages Whether you are an experienced runner trying to hit a prescribed effort for your daily run, a new runner trying to get an idea of your current fitness or you simply want to be able to quantify your daily runs — you need to know how to calculate your running pace. Advertisement The formula for figuring out your running pace is easy, and you only need to know your time and your distance....