Women have been taking oral contraceptives, aka The Pill, for almost 50 years to prevent pregnancy. But there are a lot of misconceptions about taking the pill, particularly those about weight gain. Most side effects of taking oral contraceptives are mild and include breast tenderness, nausea, headache and breakthrough bleeding….
There’s a reason health experts go nuts over this superfood. Walnuts are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which offer a host of health benefits. Research shows that walnuts reduce the risk for heart disease and lower bad cholesterol while providing the body with fiber, B vitamins, magnesium and…
Microwave popcorn might be an on-the-go dieter’s best friend. It’s a convenient, sometimes lower-calorie salty snack option. It’s a whole grain, and it offers plenty of fiber per serving, which fills you up. And it’s certainly better than the movie theater’s fat- and salt-laden offerings. But microwave popcorn is far…
Regardless of whether you’re a novice athlete or a professional athlete, it’s always important to make time for a little R & R. Periods of rest are instrumental in helping to make sure you get the most out of your workout. In fact, the days off from working out are…
The Chinese people seem to get it — how to eat lots of food, yet still lose weight. In fact, recent research says that they eat 30 percent more than Americans, yet they weigh 20 percent less. However, what they eat and their levels of activity differ vastly from fast-food-fed…
Fast food restaurants, convenience stores and other one-stop shops for junk food can be the ultimate landmine for even the most determined dieter. When hunger strikes, it’s important to have healthy foods on hand. So instead of putting your diet on ice, put some healthy foods on it. When hunger…
You’d start exercising, but you’re just too tired, right? It sounds counterintuitive, but a regular exercise program actually increases energy. Researchers found that typically sedentary people who complained of fatigue increased energy levels by up to 20 percent, and 65 percent reported less fatigue. The participants in the study simply…
Beware of the muffin. For years people have assumed that muffins are a healthy, diet-friendly option. When presented with the choice between a donut, a bagel or a muffin, they’ll opt for the latter, thinking it’s the best move for their waistline. However, that isn’t the case. Some muffins come…
Surely you’ve heard about the health benefits of wine through the grapevine by now. A compound found in wine – a polyphenol called resveratrol — present in red wine in particular, can reduce heart disease risk and ward off some types of cancers, plus Parkinson’s disease. But are grapes just…
When it comes to the obesity crisis, it’s hard to deny that a lack of portion control is a huge part of the problem. In this super-sized society, we wrongly believe that bigger is better and the more, the merrier. But most experts agree it’s portion distortion that’s making Americans…