A member of the pepper family, the herb ashwagandha has an extensive history of use in ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine.

Nitrate is a naturally occurring form of nitrogen found in many soils. According to "Staying Healthy With Nutrition” by Dr. Elson Haas, soils with heavy agricultural contaminants often measure high in nitrate levels. These high levels cause a variety of unhealthy side effects.

Types of peppers people use in cooking and salads include jalapenos, serranos, cayenne, banana peppers, szechwan and habaneeros. Many dishes such as Indian soups and curries and Jamaican menus contain these peppers.

Although water retention may be the symptom of a more severe medical condition, it is most often the result of a female issue -- menstruation. Arising approximately a week or two prior to a woman's period, premenstrual water retention can make you feel stodgy and unfeminine.

Smoking has devastating health consequences, even if you smoke just a pack per week. An October 2005 study report published in "Tobacco Control" found that the relationship between smoking and adverse health consequences occurs even among people who smoke 1 to 4 cigarettes per day.

Even if you take great care of yourself and keep abreast of current fashion trends, your teeth may be yellowing as you get older and betraying your true age. Coffee, tea, wine and cigarettes can also stain teeth, giving them an unattractive brown or yellowish cast.

The teenage years are a time when young people try to form an identity and fit in with their peers. They’re usually under pressure to perform at school and at sports. Getting into college is competitive and many teens are afraid of disappointing their parents or disappointing themselves.

Vitamin K is an important nutrient that plays a large role in blood clotting. This fat-soluble vitamin is found naturally in foods such as leafy green vegetables, as well as in dietary supplements.

Allergies and swollen lymph nodes can both be unpleasant, but the two are generally not related. An allergy occurs when your immune system erroneously overreacts to a harmless substance. An allergy-triggering substance is called an allergen.

When your baby is sick with the flu or the common cold, coughing may keep her -- and you -- up all night. If your child's pediatrician approves, use natural remedies and at-home care to soothe cough symptoms. In rare cases a cough might be the sign of a more serious illness, like bronchitis or pneumonia.

The recommended height and weight for an 8-year-old isn’t as clear-cut as the recommended inches and pounds from a specific chart. There may be an average height and weight for a child of any age, but these values for height and weight are not necessarily a good indication of whether your child is growing healthily.

If you and your partner are having trouble getting pregnant, you've likely wracked your brain trying to figure out what you could do differently. Going over your lifestyle habits and health history are things many fertility doctors recommend, and analyzing your diet is often one of the first recommendations.