Half the people in the United States consume soda on any given day, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. Even though sugary drinks such as soda are connected to negative health consequences like obesity and dental problems, they remain the leading source of calories in the teenage diet.
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Your body gets energy from calories, which come from three sources: fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Although your body can convert the calories from all three of these macronutrients into energy, fat gives you the most energy because it contains the most calories per gram.
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Constipation is one of the most common digestive complaints in the United States, affecting approximately 15 percent of the population. Each year, Americans spend more than $700 million on laxative products -- the most common form of self-treatment -- to try to get things moving.
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Hemorrhoids are veins in your anus and rectum that have become inflamed and swollen. According to MayoClinic.com, hemorrhoids are a common condition that affects at least half of adults by the age of 50.
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As you decrease your carbohydrate intake on a low-carb diet, you generally need to replace those carbohydrates with protein.
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Because more than one-third of Americans are classified as overweight or obese, a lot of public focus centers on the health consequences of carrying excess weight. What’s discussed less frequently are the health risks associated with a low body mass index, or BMI.
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Apple cider vinegar is a type of vinegar that is produced from aged, crushed apples. The fruit sugar in the apple is converted into alcohol through a process called yeast fermentation.
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A severe burn is not only painful and traumatizing, but it’s extremely stressful to the body. According to a 2012 report published in the “Surgical Clinics of North America,” the increased metabolic response associated with a severe burn surpasses that of any other disease state.
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You don't want to look down and see your stomach getting bigger, but sometimes, it happens. As life gets hectic, a healthy diet and lifestyle start to take a back seat, and the number on the scale creeps up.
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Cortisol can be your best friend or your sworn enemy. The steroid hormone, which is produced by your adrenal glands, plays a role in the fight-or-flight response -- the physiological loop that gears your body up to fight against danger or run for your life.
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Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by debilitating fatigue that worsens with physical or mental activity, but does not improve with sleep or bed rest. The fatigue is usually accompanied by sore joints and muscles.
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Persistent hunger is not just irritating, it can be a major downfall if you're trying to lose or maintain your weight. You might feel like you're eating constantly, but if you're not eating the right types of foods or drinking enough, you will never be able to satisfy your hunger.
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Head pressure, medically referred to as intracranial pressure, is pressure between the skull and the brain. Too much pressure in the head can restrict blood flow to the brain and press on structures in the brain.
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In recent years, the popularity of the Paleo diet – an eating plan modeled after the culinary habits of your Paleolithic ancestors – has skyrocketed. The primal diet, the lesser-known cousin of the Paleo diet, follows the same basic principles, but with one major twist.
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Cheese is a staple in diets across the planet -- but in the dieting world -- it’s often pegged as off limits. This is partly because of cheese's saturated fat content.
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The glands in the cervix and vagina make small amounts of fluid that are expelled from the vagina at different times during the reproductive cycle. All women experience some vaginal discharge as a regular part of life.
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Approximately 71 million American adults have high levels of low-density lipoprotein, but only 1 out of every 3 has the condition under control.
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When you’re trying to control the amount of food you’re eating, one of the most important things you can do is pay attention to portion sizes. While taking out a food scale and measuring how much your food weighs may be the most accurate way to calculate food portions, it’s not always possible or practical.
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Bloating occurs when the abdomen becomes visibly extended, and may be accompanied by cramps and a physical feeling of fullness in the stomach. Men often experience bloating as a result of increased gas in the abdomen. Increased gas can occur as a result of intestinal infections or intolerances to certain foods.
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Everywhere you turn, you will see an outlandish diet claim promising that, on their diet, you’ll lose 5 pounds in two days, or 10 pounds in two weeks or 30 pounds in 30 days. These promises are very enticing – especially if you have a big event coming up soon – but the goals are just not realistic.
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