The biggest threats to Americans' health cause no pain or discomfort, but they lead to deadly heart attacks, strokes and liver disease. Two simple blood tests that analyze cholesterol levels and liver health can uncover these silent threats that plague more than half of all Americans.

Although today they're typically revered for their beauty and symbolism, roses were used for medicine in the past. Rose hips are edible and are sometimes used in jams, jellies and syrups for their sweet and tangy flavor. They can also be used to make herbal tea.

Enterococcus faecalis is a strain of bacteria that is known as a commensal organism in the intestines. This means that it is normally found in the intestine, particularly the large intestine, of most human beings.

Creatine is predominantly marketed as a supplement to improve athletic performance and increase muscle mass.

The cardiovascular system consists of your heart and blood vessels and is responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients throughout your body. Physical activity strengthens your cardiovascular system — "

Milk thistle is an herbal supplement sometimes recommended for certain health conditions. Commonly available in capsule, liquid extract and tincture form, milk thistle has a variety of estrogen-like properties that may worsen certain health conditions sensitive to estrogen, such as endometriosis.

"Eat your vegetables!" It's a directive you've likely heard your whole life, since Mom served a side of broccoli with your meatloaf or mac-and-cheese.

Lightening a dark skin mole requires the right preparation and the right treatment. Mayo Clinic staff dermatologists warn that darkly pigmented moles may be cancerous melanomas. Preparation includes showing your doctor any mole you want to lighten or remove with a home remedy. Bleaching a mole can be done in many ways.

Exercise is important for staying healthy. It keeps muscles strong, burns calories, maintains flexibility, increases aerobic capacity and offers a pleasurable endorphin release. An added benefit, and one not often discussed, is that exercise actually helps your body to detoxify itself.

With each puff on a cigarette comes a rush of pleasure, but this euphoria is short-lived. Once that nicotine runs its course, your body craves its quick return. Your instant of joy turns to long-range irritability, anxiety and addiction.

A woman's menstrual cycle typically follows a 28-day cycle, ending when the lining of the uterus is shed and bleeding occurs. Because the menstrual cycle signifies a woman's hormones are properly working, having a menstrual cycle is important to signify the body is in good health.

A hernia is the protrusion of a body part through an abnormal opening, and curing it requires surgery to reposition the part and close the opening. There are 2 major goals in recovery from surgery: returning to normal activity and reducing the chance the hernia will return.