If you eat a traditional French meal, you will encounter a cheese course which may include a wheel or wedge of Brie. Or, you may decide to include Brie as one of your hors d'oeuvre offerings. The soft texture and shape of the cheese may make it seem difficult to cut. In reality, cutting Brie is not difficult at all.
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Progesterone is one of the major female hormones produces by the ovaries. The other hormone is estrogen and the two hormones work together to control a woman’s menstrual cycle. Doctors often prescribe progesterone as hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women.
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Lipids are fats. In the body they take the form of phospholipids, cholesterol and fatty acids. Although fats play a role in obesity and disease, your body needs a certain amount of fat to function -- also known as essential body fat.
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Your blood sugar levels fluctuate naturally throughout the day, and the normal blood sugar range is between 70 and 140 mg/dL. Your blood sugar levels are generally lowest in the morning, because you have not eaten for several hours, and increase after your first meal of the day.
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The foot has 26 bones, and these bones, along with heredity, determine the width and length of your foot. The bones are connected by tiny muscles and ligaments that hold the bones together and contribute to the strength and flexibility of your foot.
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Tense neck muscles can cause pain in your neck and up into the back of your head. Many of your neck muscles insert into your upper back and shoulders, so you may experience pain in those areas, as well. Tense neck muscles also cause stiffness, which affects your neck's range of motion and mobility.
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Sun hives, or photodermatitis, occur when the skin has an abnormal reaction to sunlight. Several factors can cause sun hives, including an allergic reaction to sunlight, diseases such as lupus or medications that cause photosensitivity, such as St. John’s Wort.
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Gas in your stomach and intestines occurs as a natural result of eating and drinking. The food itself can cause gas, or the way you eat can cause you to swallow air and create gas bubbles in your stomach. Over time the gas naturally disperses or passes out of your body through belching or flatulence.
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Zucchini belongs to the same family of vegetables as melons, cucumbers and pumpkins. You can eat cooked zucchini on its own or in dishes such as breads, pastas and casseroles. You can also eat zucchini raw; according to the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, the vegetable is best when fresh.
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You couldn't open or close your mouth without your masseter muscles. Imbalances or tightness of the masseter on each side of your jaw can contribute to temporo-mandibular joint, or TMJ disorder. Characterized by pain, stiffness and clicking in your jaw, TMJ can cause headaches and neck pain.
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When water fasting, you consume nothing but water for a period of days. Some individuals use this type of fast for health reasons – to lose weight or clear toxins from the body. Others may use a water fast to help clear their minds and go into a meditative state.
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An allergy is the immune system’s response to what it perceives as a threat from a foreign substance such as a food item, pollen or an animal. When this substance, known as an allergen, enters your body, the immune system releases histamines which cause a series of physical reactions, including swelling.
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Aloe vera is a tropical plant known for its healing and anti-inflammatory properties. Similar to a cactus, the leaves of the plant are thick with a pulpy interior. You use the pulp as a topical remedy, but you can also drink aloe vera juice to treat constipation, according to Linda B. White, M.D.
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In spinal fusion surgery, an orthopedic surgeon removes the discs between two or more vertebrae and then fuses the bones together with screws. Over time, the bones graft together to immobilize that section of the spine.
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A sprained thumb makes it difficult to perform certain movements in basketball, but learning how to tape the injury can allow a player to still be effective.
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A hernia occurs when a structure or organ protrudes through a weak area of muscle. With an umbilical hernia, a part of the intestine protrudes through the abdominal muscles, near the belly button.
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Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps repair and build tissue. When you apply vitamin E to your scalp, it helps reduce inflammation and repair damage to the follicles, and healthy follicles encourage hair growth. Vitamin E is available in pill form as a dietary supplement in the vitamin section of the drug store.
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Pimples are the result of bacteria on the surface of your skin clogging a pore. As the bacteria grows, it creates a raised, red welt with a white center. As tempting as it may be, you should not pop or pick at pimples as this can spread the bacteria to other pores, causing more pimples.
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GABA, gamma-aminobutyric acid, is classified as a neurotransmitter – a chemical that sends messages to the brain. Under stress, the body releases chemicals that signal the brain to initiate the fight or flight response.
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Slow-burning carbs are foods that take longer to convert to blood sugar and provide you with sustained energy. These foods include whole grains, fresh vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds. Fast-burning carbs take little time to convert to blood sugar, and your body uses them quickly.
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