Nutritional deficiencies can cause a multitude of symptoms, including changes in the health and appearance of your fingernails. Although protein plays a major role in your overall state of health, a deficiency of this nutrient does not cause splitting or cracking of your nails.

While you may have heard that protein powder can lose its potency after it's opened, that is not true. Protein powder is just as effective after you open it as it was when you purchased it. However, protein powder may spoil if it is not stored properly or used before the expiration date.

Eating 1 ounce of tree nuts like walnuts a day -- an amount equal to about 14 halves -- may significantly lower your risk of dying from chronic medical conditions like cancer or heart disease. That's the conclusion of a 2013 study published in "The New England Journal of Medicine."

When you construct a building, you need the right materials -- the same is true when you’re toning your muscles. While resistance-training exercises are a part of the body plan, your nutritional intake must provide the right material to make new muscle fibers.

You may have heard that it is dangerous or unhealthy to eat after a certain hour in the evening. While this is not necessarily true, binging on a heavy meal or a large, unhealthy snack may affect your sleep, your waistline and your blood sugar levels.

Antioxidants usually get good press for their beneficial effects helping to prevent disease, but these powerful compounds may also have a dark side. Consuming too many antioxidants in the form of supplements could lead to an increased risk of death and disease instead of having a positive effect.

When used in conjunction with healthy eating and regular workouts, protein shakes have the potential to help you lose weight, gain muscle and get the nutrition your body needs. Unfortunately, it’s also possible to overdose on protein shakes, with short- and long-term negative consequences.

Protein powder allows you to increase your protein intake without having to make significant changes to your diet. You can use protein powder to make protein-rich shakes or add it to your food to enhance its protein content.

Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that affects the prostate, a walnut-sized gland in men located below the bladder. Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related death among men of all ages, the University of Maryland Medical Center says.

If you have trouble getting out of bed the day after your intense workouts, you may be looking for ways to reduce your post-workout muscle soreness. Muscle soreness is a common response after an intense workout session.

Protein drinks can make convenient post-workout snacks or meal replacements when you’re pressed for time, but they have their downsides as well.

A box cake mix is supposed to make the process of baking easier, but you can still make a mistake even with the simplest of mixes. A thin batter can lead to a cake that wrinkles or shrinks while in the oven. Removing some of the liquid or adding a few extras to the batter can thicken it up and save your dessert.