If you are looking for a weight loss diet that does not require much food preparation, you may want to consider using Slim-Fast. The program combines diet bars and shakes with a limited amount of fresh food that you make for yourself. If you plan...
High blood pressure, or hypertension, can by caused by factors such as too much sodium, inactivity, stress, family history or age. The National Institutes of Health define hypertension as having a systolic pressure greater than 140 mmHg and a...
Fast food became popular due to a demand for cheap, convenient food. However, fast food often leads to unhealthy eating habits. Eating fast food can lead to high blood pressure because fast food is filled with unhealthy fats and sodium and it is...
High-fructose corn syrup, or HFCS, has become increasingly prevalent in beverages and processed foods since the 1970s. Often incorrectly believed to be pure fructose, the sweetener and preservative actually contains fructose and glucose, with...
Lipoproteins consist of proteins combined with fat, cholesterol and triglycerides. They are what is measured when you get a cholesterol test, also known as a lipid profile. Stored lipids are an energy source for the body. They are necessary for...
Triglycerides are a type of fat associated with cholesterol. Any calories eaten, but not immediately used for energy, are stored as triglycerides in your fat cells. Triglycerides can then be used for energy in between meals. Untreated type 2...
Metabolic syndrome (also known as abdominal obesity-metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance syndrome or metabolic syndrome X) is a group of health conditions that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. About 25 percent of U.S....
Insulin resistance is a metabolic disorder characterized by the body's not properly using glucose, or blood sugar. A major feature of type-2 diabetes is insulin resistance. Abdominal obesity, or excess fat tissue in the abdomen, predisposes...
Approximately one in three adults in the United States is obese. Obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher. If the Body Mass Index is 40 or more, the person is considered morbidly obese. Obesity has been identified as a risk...
In the face of a growing epidemic of obesity, one frequently discussed condition is metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors that may indicate you are at risk for serious, life-threatening diseases. Ketogenic diets that focus on low...
All the risk factors associated with syndrome X, also called metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance syndrome, are related to obesity, according to PubMed Health. If you are diagnosed with syndrome X, you have a higher chance of cardiac disease...
Only approximately one in six Americans who has battled being overweight or obese has lost weight and maintained the weight loss, reports a group of researchers from Penn State College. As they point out, current weight loss strategies need...
People often choose diet pop, also known as diet soda, when they want to enjoy a sweet and bubbly drink without the worry of taking in too many calories. Diet pop manufacturers use artificial sweeteners to add the sweetness to this drink....
Drinking soda on an everyday basis can have health consequences. While an occasional soda is not a health risk for most people, regular consumption, even one or two sodas daily, can add up to health trouble over the long run, whether it is diet...
No one, including the Coca-Cola Company, has ever claimed that drinking soda is good for you. However, the fact is that soft drink manufacturers produce 10.4 billion gallons of soda each year, or enough to supply every American with a daily 12-oz....
Focalin XL (dexmethylphenidate) is a medication in a classification of drugs known as central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. It is used in children 6 years of age and older and adults for the management of attention deficit hyperactivity...
Fructose is more present in the American diet than ever, thanks to the increased use of high-fructose corn syrup, or HFCS, and sugar. Table sugar, or sucrose, is made of 50 percent glucose and 50 percent fructose, while HFCS contains between 55...
The National Institute on Aging (NIA), the aging research arm of the National Institutes of Health, writes that physical activity is beneficial regardless of age. For seniors, it takes on special significance. The NIA states that exercise keeps...
Detox is a natural response to getting rid of drugs and alcohol in the body. It is often necessary for the person to use medication and be under a doctor's care when in detox. The body goes through many withdrawal symptoms when a drug is no longer...
Many people forget that caffeine is a powerful drug. Not only can it be addictive; it can also cause a wide variety of negative health effects. Certain people are more sensitive than others to caffeine, and you may find you have to cut out...
In the world of cholesterol there is one type of fat most people give little thought to -- triglycerides. These fats can pose as a much of a health risk to your heart as high levels of low-density lipoproteins, or your bad cholesterol. Taking the...
Fast food is a convenience you may not want to give up. It is often easier to hit the drive-through than prepare a meal in your own kitchen, but it is not a healthy way of eating on a regular basis. An occasional fast food meal will not harm your...
Numerous factors can cause your high-density lipoprotein, or HDL cholesterol, to be low. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), high levels of HDL, also known as good cholesterol, may protect you against heart attack. Medical experts...
Glaucoma is a disease characterized by high pressure in the eye and damage to the optic nerve. Acute closed angle glaucoma is one subtype of this disease which occurs suddenly, over a period of minutes to hours. The eye becomes red and very...
Fast food meals do not always have to be unhealthy, but without choosing your fast food wisely, you can put yourself at risk. The high-calorie, high-sodium and high-fat amounts often contained in fast food meals can increase your risk of...
McDonald's is a fast-food chain with thousands of locations across the nation. However, eating fast food on a regular basis results in consuming too much fat, calories and sodium, as much as an entire day's worth or more in one meal, according to...
A pheochromocytoma is an adrenal gland tumor located in the center (medulla) of the adrenal gland. It causes the adrenal gland to produce too much adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine). These tumors are usually benign, but...
