Diet and Nutrition

Urine Production The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. Kidneys play a major role in the body’s daily urinary elimination. The body produces one to two liters of urine…
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Overview Zinc is an essential trace mineral needed by the body for proper growth and maintenance. While zinc is involved in many functions of the body, including enzyme activity, protein synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism, it is particularly beneficial to the…
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The appearance of your daughter’s belly is the result of either extra body fat deposited around the abdominal area or slack, underdeveloped abdominal muscles. She can use cardiovascular fitness exercises to reduce the fat deposits while simultaneously incorporating abdominal strength-building…
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1. Consider Cooking Cooking your vegetables before you use them as smoothie ingredients offers two advantages. First, the cooking process softens the tough fibers in vegetables that can cause your smoothie to have a chunky or gritty consistency. Second, cooking…
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Overview Deficiency in vitamin B12 is fairly uncommon in the United States because the typical American diet is rich in animal products that contain more than sufficient amounts of vitamin B12. However, in developing countries where there is malnutrition, vitamin…
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For the individual new to fitness and exercise, sorting through the myriad workout programs available on DVDs, as well as in books and magazine articles, can be daunting. Determining which is appropriate for the novice and which should be left…
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Fish oil has many advantages for your health because it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3s). Omega-3s naturally occur in oily, cold-water fish like salmon, tuna, halibut, mackerel, herring and sardines as well as in flaxseed and flaxseed oil,…
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Lemons aren’t the favorite mid-meal snack of many people. The sour and acidic taste of the fruit is welcomed by many in mild doses or as a flavoring to some foods, but rarely is the fruit eaten and enjoyed on…
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Skullcap is a name given to two different types of herbs, American skullcap and Chinese skullcap. Despite their shared name, the two types are not used interchangeably–American skullcap is traditionally used as a relaxant but has a limited application in…
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Introduced in the 1980s, step aerobics revolutionized group fitness by adding the vertical step–and the variety of new exercises and possible movements that came with it–to standard floor-based aerobics. Beginning exercisers typically start with a 4-inch step, while advanced steppers…
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Methods for losing pounds quickly to make a lower weight class in wrestling run the gamut of old wives’ tales to modern science. Cutting weight can be dangerous and several young wrestlers have lost their lives due to extreme dehydration….
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Overview A fried shrimp salad can be any dish that includes lettuce and fried shrimp. The nutritional value, therefore, depends on the particular recipe, especially the amount of shrimp that the recipe calls for. Fried shrimp is generally high in…
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1. Include Good Fats Fat has gotten a bad rap. It is associated with weight gain, high cholesterol and heart disease. But not all fats are created equal. Many foods contain polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, aka good fats. These foods…
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1. Traditional Doesn’t Always Mean Healthy Italian cuisine is considered one of the tastiest and most popular international cuisines. Italian dishes feature bold sauces, rich cheeses, hearty meats and huge portions. Food was, and still is, considered one of the…
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Flavorful, rich and nutritious, macadamia nuts are a tree nut grown outside of Hawaii and Australia and commercially produced in many countries. Australia is the world’s largest commercial producer (2010). Macadamia nuts are high in several vitamins and minerals essential…
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Overview Many people confuse buckwheat with the grain wheat, however the two have no actual botanical relationship other than they both come from plants. Buckwheat and its flour do not contain gluten, which is important for people with celiac disease…
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1. Are You Ready for the Challenge? One of the biggest things Bob Greene, founder of the Best Life Challenge, stresses is being ready to make a lifestyle change. The Best Life Challenge is about changing your life, not just…
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Carrying and delivering a baby can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a woman’s life, but it can also cause negative side effects like excessive weight gain. Shedding those pounds after pregnancy can seem like an impossible task,…
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Overview Snickers bars are chewy, chocolate candy bars with peanuts and caramel inside. They are very popular in the United States due to their rich flavor and humorous advertising campaigns. While most people know that chocolate bars aren’t the healthiest…
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Overview Many health organizations, including the American Heart Association, agree that fish are brimming with proteins and vitamins. These sea animals are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, like insurance for the heart. Whether you eat fish or pop in a…
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Macadamia nuts are smooth-shaped nuts that can be eaten raw, roasted or cooked in oil. Known for their high protein content as well as containing a high amount of nutrients, macadamia nuts are high in fat, yet the fat is…
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Morbid obesity increases a teen’s risk for depression, heart disease and other life-threatening conditions. According to the Obesity Action Coalition, morbid obesity refers to body weight that exceeds a person’s ideal weight by at least 100 lbs. Weight-loss medications provide…
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Canola oil and olive oil fall into the generally healthy category of primarily unsaturated vegetable oils, meaning they provide the important nutritional benefits of fats without contributing to heart disease to the same extent as animal fats. There are some…
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Overview Toenail fungus can be an embarrassing and persistent problem. Many of the over-the-counter medications used to treat it are harsh and often ineffective, and prescription medications can have strong side effects. This is why many sufferers of toenail fungus…
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1. Stop the Roaming Free Radicals Antioxidants are substances found in vegetables and fruits that protect our bodies against free radical damage. Our bodies produce free radicals after exposure to stress, toxic chemicals and even intense exercise. When free radicals…
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Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that lower triglycerides and reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and death. Omega-3s are available in foods such as fish, flaxseed and walnuts but can also be supplemented in capsule form. Other…
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Too much of a good thing is an adage that can apply to vitamins. The body needs vitamins to function properly, but high doses of certain vitamins can be toxic, especially fat soluble vitamins that the body stores for long…
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Gluten is found in barley, wheat, rye and oats. People who experience a gluten intolerance suffer from a condition called celiac disease, in which a reaction to gluten damages the lining of the small intestine, inhibiting the absorption of vital…
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Higher than average levels of potassium in the blood are referred to as hyperkalemia. This condition can occur due to a number of causes, including kidney disorders or dietary problems. Although potassium is extremely important for a number of body…
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The stomach is often the hardest area to trim down for many people. While an unhealthy diet, slowing metabolism and decreased physical activity is often to blame for too much belly fat, the Mayo Clinic suggests that heredity may be…
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