Healthy

The CDC reports that common side effects of getting the COVID-19 vaccine include pain, redness, and swelling on the arm where you got the shot as well as tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea throughout the rest of your body. They recommend using a cool compress to reduce pain and discomfort where you got the shot as well as drinking plenty of fluids to reduce discomfort from fever. We spoke to registered dietitian Lauren Manaker MS, RDN, LD, founder of Nutrition Now Counseling and author of Fueling…

There's no way around it: salt is, well, delicious. Sprinkled on top of popcorn, sticking to steaming-hot, crispy french fries, adding a dynamic flavor to salmon, steak, or other meats, there are many uses for this essential spice. But with anything yummy and thus, potentially addicting, consuming too much salt can lead to problematic health issues. Some of these are incredibly serious, like heart disease, premature death, and stomach cancer. However, one significant short-term side effect worth noting if you're eating too…

Metabolism. It's the set of life-sustaining chemical transformations within the cells of living organisms. It's such a big concept that it's understandable to feel as if it's beyond your control. But that's not true! If you're wondering how to increase metabolism, we've rounded up the 50 best quick and easy ways to rev your fat-burning furnace to help you reach your weight loss goals that much faster. And to keep you on track, be sure you're stocked up on The 7 Healthiest Foods to Eat Right Now. If you want to weigh…

When the time comes to get in shape and burn off some stomach fat, picking the right foods to incorporate into your weight loss regimen proves crucial. Even if an item appears healthy on the surface, it might hold some nutritional secrets that hamper weight loss around your midsection. When you have to devise a new weekly menu designed to burn fat, bananas are one of the best foods to melt belly fat fast. According to the Mayo Clinic, we have a ton of reasons to love bananas, especially when we need to diet. The fruit has a…

Moving on, baseball - weight loss can only be America's true pastime. According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 2020, 17.1% of adults in the United States between 2015 and 2018 on a diet at any given time, with the vast majority of these individuals losing weight as a means of achieving weight loss. But for most people, these weight loss efforts do not last long - a meta-analysis from 2020 published in BMJ found that…

Scientists and dietitians are now learning many of the health benefits of having a healthy gut. One of the biggest benefits is supporting the health of beneficial bacteria and immune cells that help fight foreign bodies like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Many popular diets that you may have tried or are currently trying can be detrimental to your health—especially the health of your gut. Registered dietitians weigh in on the damage that some of these popular plans may have. And as always, it's best to consult your doctor…

Drinking too many cups of coffee each day may make you feel more anxious, susceptible to acid reflux, and increase your heart rate. If you identify as a woman, it may also make your breasts sensitive. "Large amounts of caffeine can lead to changes in your hormone levels. This may lead to cyst formation and therefore tenderness," Dr. Jill Hechtman, MD, a board-certified OBGYN, and scientific advisor to Nightfood, says. "Caffeine can also dilate some vessels causing swelling and tenderness." In general, Hechtman advises that…

Sleep is vital for your overall wellbeing, playing a key role in important functions like muscle growth and recovery, immune function, and memory. New research even suggests that not getting enough quality sleep may increase the risk of certain conditions such as dementia and heart failure. The question is, when you're trying to get a good night's rest, what's the last thing you should eat as a snack? Aside from avoiding caffeinated beverages like coffee several hours before your head hits the pillow, are there other…

Protein powders are one of the most popular nutrition supplements available on the market, and for good reason. Not only do they make it easy to boost your intake of protein and various other nutrients, but there is plenty of research to support the health benefits of using protein powder, too. From weight management to muscle building, protein powders can be a valuable component of your diet and also make meal and snack time slightly easier. If you aren't currently using protein powder in your daily routine, I have six…

Brain fog isn't a medical term, it's a catchall phrase for a constellation of uncomfortable and distressing symptoms that include fatigue, fuzzy thinking, lack of focus, mild memory issues, and more. Identifying exactly what's causing your brain fog can be challenging because the culprit can be anything from an overgrowth of candida, thyroid dysfunction, anemia, heavy-metal toxicity, hormonal imbalances—or even stress and anxiety, says medical herbalist Daniela Turley, who recommends seeing a healthcare practitioner to help…