If your "trouble spots" are your lower stomach and inner thighs, you're in good company; most women store excess fat in their lower body, so flat lower abs and trim thighs are often a challenge. Unfortunately, you can't lose fat from only specific areas of your body.
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Water plays a central role in your health -- it carries sugar, nutrients and hormones throughout your body, lubricates your joints and aids in eliminating waste products. Each day, your body loses a large amount of water through your urine and feces, as well as from evaporation off your skin.
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Although it's sometimes called vitamin H, biotin is actually part of the B-complex family of nutrients, which also include thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, and vitamins B-5, B-6 and B-12. These vitamins work together to benefit health.
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Following a healthful diet provides essential nutrients for long-term health, but even the healthiest diet has room for a treat now and then. Eating your favorite foods in moderation can prevent you from feeling deprived and keep you on track with your healthful lifestyle.
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Learn how your digestive and circulatory systems process nutrients from food, converting them into usable energy for your cells. Understand the importance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in energy production and how they're transported throughout your body.
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Aspirin, also called acetylsalicylic acid, has a number of potential therapeutic effects. The drug can manage inflammation, help to control pain, and also has implications in managing some types of cardiovascular disease.
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While nothing can beat a healthy diet to provide a source of essential nutrients, dietary supplements can boost your nutrient intake and help minimize your chance of developing a nutritional deficiency.
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Dark green veggies, which is a food group that includes leafy greens such as kale, spinach and dandelion greens, should make regular appearances in your diet, and USDA dietary guidelines recommend 1.5 to 2 cups weekly. Consuming 2 cups of raw leafy greens, or 1 cup of cooked greens, counts as 1 cup toward this goal.
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Diet and fitness products are a multibillion-dollar industry and, while much of the focus is on weight loss, there are hundreds of products designed to help you gain weight. Putting on a few pounds can benefit your health if you're underweight, or it can help fill out your frame if you feel you're too skinny.
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Ampalaya, also called bitter melon or balsam pear, makes up a staple in Indian and Chinese cuisines, and is highly regarded in tropical Asia for its medicinal properties, explains Ohio State University.
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Dieting isn't just about eating healthy -- it's about finding foods that fit into your busy lifestyle. Shakes and smoothies offer a convenient option, and because you can make virtually limitless varieties, you won't get bored. The best low-carb, high-protein shake is one you make at home.
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If you're looking for a dance- and Pilates-inspired workout -- or just want the occasional alternative to hitting the weight room -- Pure Barre might be right up your alley.
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Flaxseed has long been used in European and Asian cuisines, and you can now find flaxseed products at many grocery and health food stores throughout the United States.
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While it would be nice to change your body type at will, many of the factors affecting your shape are outside your control. Your skeletal structure, where you store fat and how easily you gain muscle are all genetic factors that help determine your overall shape.
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If you're carrying a little excess weight in your midsection, you're far from alone; 54 percent of Americans suffer from abdominal obesity, according to a 2014 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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No one likes painful broken nails and hangnails, and strong healthy nails not only lower your chance of these painful conditions, but they look good, too. Nails grow at a set rate, and food can't make them grow more quickly.
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While you might only consume pumpkin during the holidays, it has long had a place in American diets and used to make up a staple in Native Americans' and early colonists' diets.
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If the low-fat diet craze made you write off almonds as unhealthy, fatty fare, consider re-adding almonds to your diet. Consuming a diet rich in nuts, including almonds, benefits your cardiovascular health, and can halve your risk of suffering a heart attack, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.
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Most people with weight concerns are trying to shed pounds. But if you're naturally skinny with a fast metabolism, it can be just as much of a struggle to keep weight on your frame. If you're looking to bulk up your legs, you'll need to pair a weight-gain diet with an exercise program that promotes leg muscle growth.
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A close relative of cabbage and Brussels sprouts, kale was first cultivated in the 1700s and gained popularity in the United States in the late 19th century. Its tough leaves stand up well to cooking and also yield flavorful and nutrient-packed juice.
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