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2 days ago | 
health.com | Chelsea Rae Bourgeois |Hannah Harper |Kayla Girgen
supersizer / Getty Images Salt cravings are normal. Sodium, the primary mineral in salt, is essential for many body functions, and it's important to get enough in your daily diet. However, frequent or intense cravings may be a sign of an underlying issue. What Causes Salt Cravings? Salt contains a mineral called sodium, which plays a key role in your body’s normal operations. Sodium helps support muscle movement, sends signals to nerves, and keeps the right amount of water in the body.
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1 week ago | 
health.com | Heidi Cope |Hannah Harper |Anju Goel
Photo by Alex Tihonov / Getty Images Loose skin can occur during weight loss, especially rapid weight loss, due to changes in skin structure from obesity. You do not have to be obese to experience loose skin. For example, you can have loose skin, stretch marks, and other skin changes during and after pregnancy. If you’re losing weight and worried about loose skin, there are steps you can take to improve the health of your skin.
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1 week ago | 
health.com | Kirstyn Hill |Hannah Harper |Brendan Camp
MesquitaFMS / Getty Images Sunscreen protects the skin from ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Applying sunscreen before spending time outdoors can help lower your risk for sunburn and skin cancer. Using sunscreen past its expiration date may not protect your skin from damage, as the product could be less effective. Does Sunscreen Expire? Sunscreen does expire.
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1 week ago | 
health.com | Ashley Wong |Hannah Harper |Kelly Wood
Grace Cary / Getty Images Magnesium is an essential mineral in many body processes, including blood pressure control, muscle and nerve function, energy production, and blood sugar regulation. It is available in many foods, sold as a dietary supplement, and in some medications. While magnesium deficiencies aren't common in people without health conditions, people with diabetes often have low magnesium levels. Diabetes is one of the most common metabolic conditions linked to magnesium deficiency.
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1 week ago | 
health.com | Kirstyn Hill |Hannah Harper |Lindsay Cook
AlexanderFord / Getty Images Some people apply magnesium oil to their feet to help improve sleep and pain. While research supports the effectiveness of topical (on skin) applications of magnesium, no studies show that using magnesium on your feet can help. Potential Benefits Of Using Magnesium Oil on Your Feet Magnesium is a mineral that plays an important role in hundreds of body processes, like muscle contractions and blood pressure.
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1 week ago | 
health.com | Jillian Kubala |Hannah Harper |Maggie Moon
Anjelika Gretskaia / Getty Images Inflammation is your immune system's natural response to irritants, injuries, or infections. While short-term inflammation helps you heal, chronic (long-term) inflammation can damage your body over time, increasing your risk of serious conditions like heart disease, certain cancers, and diabetes. Your diet plays a big role. While certain foods help fight inflammation, others—like processed snacks, alcohol, and fast food—can make it worse. 1.
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2 weeks ago | 
health.com | Lindsay Curtis |Hannah Harper |Angela Lee
AzmanL / Getty Images Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries (vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of your body). Blood pressure is measured in two numbers. Systolic pressure (the top number), which reflects the force when your heart beats, and diastolic pressure (the bottom number), which shows the force when your heart rests between beats.
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2 weeks ago | 
health.com | Merve Ceylan |Hannah Harper |Alex Yampolsky
Iuliia Pilipeichenko / Getty Images Calcium carbonate is a type of calcium supplement used to treat low blood calcium levels and calcium-related conditions such as osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones). As an antacid, it can lower stomach acidity and relieve heartburn. Calcium carbonate is a common food additive. It can be found in cereals, dairy products, packaged broths, and other foods.
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2 weeks ago | 
health.com | Lindsay Curtis |Hannah Harper |Jay N. Yepuri
bymuratdeniz / Getty Images Those rumbling, gurgling noises from your stomach have a scientific name: borborygmi. Stomach growling happens when food, gas, or fluids move through your digestive tract. Because the intestines are hollow, this movement creates echoing sounds in your belly. These noises often mean your digestive system is doing its job.
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2 weeks ago | 
health.com | Roxana Ehsani |Hannah Harper |Mary Choy
Oxalic acid, or oxalate, is a naturally occurring organic compound in plant foods like vegetables, fruits, grains, and nuts. Your body also produces small amounts of oxalate. Oxalic acid is sometimes classified or referred to as an “anti-nutrient.” In the digestive system, oxalic acid can bind to minerals like calcium and inhibit their absorption. Many oxalate-rich foods are packed with essential nutrients that benefit health.
