Metro Fitness

Citrus peel POSINOTE/SHUTTERSTOCK Don't just squeeze lemon over fish and toss out the rind. According to  Lauren Popeck RD, LD/N  of Orlando Health Physician Group, there's some great use for lemon rind when it comes to garnishing dishes and kicking up the flavor. What's more, there are some great nutritional benefits hiding in the zest, as well. "You can expect three grams of fiber in two tablespoons of zest, five times more vitamin C in the peel than flesh, and other essential vitamins and minerals, including riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B5, vitamin A, calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, and magnesium," says Popeck. Her favorite uses for zest: blend into vinaigrette or marinade, toss a piece of peel into smoothies, grate and sprinkle on green beans, blend into yogurt or cottage cheese, stir into oatmeal, cereal, or muffin batter, or add to coffee or tea. Don't stop with lemons: Use oranges, limes, and even grapefruit for some acidity ...

Use as hair conditioner ISTOCK/CENTRAL IT ALLIANCE Is your hair as dry and brittle as sagebrush in the desert? Put the moisture back into it by heating 1/2 cup olive oil (don’t boil it), and then liberally applying it to your hair. Cover your hair with a plastic grocery bag, then wrap it in a towel. Let it set for 45 minutes, then shampoo and thoroughly rinse. Clear up acne ISTOCK/GVICTORIA Okay, the notion of applying oil to your face to treat acne does sound a bit wacky. Still, many folks swear this works: Make a paste by mixing 4 tablespoons salt with 3 tablespoons olive oil. Pour the mixture onto your hands and fingers and work it around your face. Leave it on for a minute or two, then rinse it off with warm, soapy water. Apply daily for one week, then cut back to two or three times weekly. You should see a noticeable improvement in your condition. (The principle is that the salt cleanses the pores by exfoliation, while the olive oil restores the skin’s natural moisture.) FROM OUR ...

Looking for the path toward a healthier you? It's not hard to find. The journey begins with some simple tweaks to your lifestyle. The right diet, exercise, and stress-relief plan all play a big role. Follow a Heart-Healthy Diet There's an easy recipe if your goal is to keep away problems like heart disease and strokes. Eat more fruits and veggies. Choose whole grains. Try brown rice instead of white. Switch to whole wheat pasta. Choose lean proteins like poultry, fish, beans, and legumes. Cut down on processed foods, sugar, salt, and saturated fat. When eating healthy, flexibility often works best, says Joyce Meng, MD, assistant professor at the Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology Center at UConn Health. If you like to follow a strict diet plan, go for it. If not, it's OK. "Find what works for you." Tricia Montgomery, 52, the founder of K9 Fit Club, knows first-hand how the right diet and lifestyle can help. For her, choosing healthy foods and planning small, frequent ...

It’s long been thought that what’s happening inside our gut could determine our overall health. Now, researchers from Stanford University may have found out why, and it’s because of our gut microbiome, or lack thereof. Your microbiome is made up of the thousands of microorganisms that take up residence in the digestive system. These microscopic organisms are present from the moment you’re born and are then shaped by dietary and other factors for the remainder of your life. “Stretched out, the human intestines have the surface area of a small garden. Imagine now trillions of microbes on the surface, interfacing with the human body… there are huge implications for energy harvesting, education of the immune system, and chronic inflammatory diseases, among many others,” Sam Smits, PhD, a researcher at Stanford University, told Healthline. The effects of our modern diet on gut health The human diet has radically changed over the past 15,000 years thanks to the advent of agriculture. In just...