Overdosing on vitamin B-6 supplements can potentially cause nerve damage and birth defects for your unborn child -- as well as for health risks for you. However, it is important for pregnant women to get enough dietary B-6, since a B-6 deficiency can also cause birth defects.
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Consuming cod liver oil or other fish oils is a good way to get essential omega-3 fatty acids. Unlike other types of fish oil supplements, however, cod liver oil is available in liquid form as well as pill form. Knowing the differences between the two may help you decide which makes the better fit for your needs.
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Kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs located near the middle of the back. They play an important role in removing wastes from the blood and in maintaining its chemical balance.
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Ocular migraines are migraines that affect vision. An ocular migraine generally starts as a blind spot in one's peripheral vision that increases over time. Although triggers and causes of migraines vary, certain foods have been shown to trigger or worsen migraines more than others.
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Lecithin, or phosphatidylcholine, is one of the most abundant phospholipids, which are the structures that make up your cell membranes. Your body makes lecithin by breaking down the phosphatidylcholine in the foods you eat into choline and some phosphates, then building it up into lecithin for your own cells.
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Discover how your diet can impact your menstrual cycle and learn which foods may help alleviate symptoms like heavy bleeding, cramping, and mood swings. A balanced diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids may be beneficial for menstrual health.
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Exercise is beneficial for heart, lung, bone and tissue health. However, exercise can sometimes lead to unknown pains that can alarm unsuspecting exercisers. Pain in your sternum -- or breast bone -- during exercise can occur as the result of a variety of conditions or injuries.
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Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a repetitive stress injury that occurs in the muscles and tendons on the outside of the elbow. Tennis elbow injuries typically occur from athletic or everyday activities that overwork the muscles of the wrist and arm and can lead to chronic pain if left untreated.
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Prescription medications are generally safe and effective, but many of them can interact poorly with certain foods. Blood pressure medications are one example of drugs that can be affected by the food you eat.
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Chronic liver damage can result in the replacement of normal liver tissue with non-functioning scar tissue. Advanced liver damage is called cirrhosis, and glucose intolerance is a common feature of this condition.
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A muscle spasm is a painful, sudden tightening of muscles that occurs during physical activity. You're more likely to have muscle spasms if your diet is deficient in calcium and potassium or if you're dehydrated. Magnesium is also important for muscle relaxation.
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Stretch marks typically come in two variations: the reddish purple marks that snake across your skin or the white and silvery marks that leave depressions on the skin. These differences are determined by the age of the stretch mark. Red ones are new and white ones are old.
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Oral fluid drug tests are a popular choice with employers and with parents who want to test their teens for drugs. Among oral fluid drug tests, the swab type is the most common.
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Complications of an enlarged uterus are normally due to the disease or condition responsible for the enlarged uterus. Usually, an enlarged uterus is caused by one of two conditions: noncancerous tumors called fibroids or adenomyosis, a thickening of the uterine wall.
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A certain amount of breathlessness during exercise is normal, especially when engaging in a sport as demanding as running. Increased activity leads to faster breathing, which brings oxygen into the body to help lower building levels of carbon dioxide in the body during exercise.
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Viral gastroenteritis, commonly known as a stomach virus, is a very uncomfortable illness that most people experience at some point in their lifetime. It is highly contagious and can be acquired from contaminated food, poor sanitation or contact with an infected individual.
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Peppermint is "a popular flavoring for gum, toothpaste, and tea, is also used to soothe an upset stomach or to aid in digestion," according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Peppermint can relieve a variety of ailments, including digestive problems, muscle aches and headaches.
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Crohn's and ulcerative colitis are inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) that cause inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. According to the Mayo Clinic, both Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis cause severe abdominal pain and diarrhea. They can even lead to malnutrition.
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Facial flaking that resembles scalp dandruff is more common than you might think. Millions of Americans experience some degree of facial flaking. Seborrheic dermatitis is the most likely cause of this embarrassing symptom.
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Abdominal hernias usually occur when there is a weakening or defect in the muscles and tissues of the abdominal wall. When strain is placed on the abdominal wall, part of the intestines can break through the weakening wall, causing a mass to protrude from the abdomen.
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