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Yoga can be part of your recovery after rib fracture. Image Credit: fizkes/iStock/GettyImages A rib fracture can be excruciatingly painful, interfering with something as basic as the ability to breathe. Severe fractures can even lead to a collapsed lung. While exercise can help you recover from injuries more quickly, you should not exercise until you get the go-ahead from your doctor, who may recommend specific exercises. If you don’t get a plan from your doctor, though, focus on slowly and steadily increasing the intensity of your workouts over several weeks....

Choose cardio first if it's your priority. Image Credit: Ancika/iStock/Getty Images Whether you should do cardio before or after strength training is an age old question, and one without a concrete answer. Really, you should prioritize the workout that is most important to you. Advertisement If you're training for a running event, for example, you'd be best off doing your cardio when you're fresh and leaving the push-ups and sit-ups for the end....

Experts say there shouldn't be sex differences in exercise because following workouts designed according to your sex doesn't account for your individual goals. Image Credit: Hiraman/E+/GettyImages In This Article Why Sex Shouldn't Matter Biological Differences The Takeaway We've all seen workouts or exercises touted as best for women or best for men. You may have also come to know some gender stereotypes at the gym, like women focus on building their glutes and quads, while men just want to pump their biceps and pecs....

Impetigo can spread at pools when children come into contact with someone who's infected. There are several million cases of strep-related diseases including impetigo each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of these cases occur in children, which may make it difficult for active youngsters who are told they can't go swimming or pursue other activities during an outbreak. But doctors and government health experts believe that in order to contain this contagious disease, it may be necessary to keep impetigo patients away from public areas like pools....

Wide shot of a large, industrial gas refinery. Image Credit: kynny/iStock/Getty Images “Hydrocarbon” and “carbohydrate” sound similar but are two very different types of compounds. Hydrocarbons consist of purely carbon and hydrogen, while carbohydrates also contain oxygen. Living organisms metabolize carbohydrates for energy, whereas hydrocarbons are used as fuels and in industrial applications. Advertisement Hydrocarbons Hydrocarbons are the simplest organic, or carbon-based, compounds. They are made only of carbon and hydrogen but can be virtually any size and shape....

Keep your back flat and chest up as you perform the sumo squat. Image Credit: SerhiiBobyk/iStock/GettyImages Like your calves, your hamstrings can be a tricky muscle to target, especially without the help of gym machines. But elaborate equipment definitely isn’t a necessity if you’re looking to strengthen the back of your legs. Advertisement While machines can be convenient, all you really need is a single dumbbell to strengthen your hamstrings at home....

Strength training builds muscle and burns fat, helping you lose weight in your 30s and beyond. Image Credit: RichLegg/E+/GettyImages You may be pounding the pavement or stepping up the cycling, and while aerobic exercise is a bona fide calorie burner (and an ace at boosting heart health), don’t ignore strength training. For many women wondering why is it so hard to lose weight after 30, it’s because we become less active with age, and consequently, carry more fat than muscle....

Many people start a liquid fast for therapeutic or religious reasons. Image Credit: istetiana/Moment/GettyImages People typically link a liquid fast with a cleansing diet, but drinking only nutritive liquids for a short time improves your health in many ways. It can even help you lose weight. Learning about the benefits and risks of a liquid fast will help you decide whether to try this type of cleansing. Advertisement Tip Fasting can decrease blood pressure and body weight as well as help treat arthritis and asthma, according to January 2016 report in ​Cell Metabolism​....

Sugar substitutes aren't always what they seem. Image Credit: MichellePatrickPhotographyLLC/iStock/GettyImages Because sucralose, aspartame and Splenda don’t have calories, you may think they’re healthy choices, but the facts surrounding artificial sweeteners aren’t so sweet. Like many people, you’ve been watching your weight, but you’re suddenly craving a can of soda. Advertisement Due to your new motivation to drop a few pounds, you decide to try the diet version of your favorite brand....

It's always best to ask your eye doctor about the right contact solution for you. Image Credit: Tatyana Kochkina/iStock/GettyImages More than 45 million people in the U.S. wear contacts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And it’s no wonder — they’re a convenient way to correct impaired vision. Advertisement But it's important to use contacts properly and keep them clean and cared for in order to avoid eye infections, per the CDC....

Ice cream is a slow digesting food. Image Credit: istetiana/Moment/GettyImages Slow-digesting foods are typically those that are high in fiber, protein and fats. Your body takes longer to digest fat and protein. These are components of milk and cream, which makes ice cream digestion time slower. Advertisement Tip Ice cream digests slowly because of the fat and protein it contains. Rate of Digestion of Foods Digestion begins in your mouth when you chew your food....

A woman is tying up her laces. Image Credit: Bogdanhoda/iStock/Getty Images Advair is an inhalant used for the treatment of COPD, including chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both, according to Advair.com. Prednisone and albuterol steroids in asthma medication can cause weight gain as a side effect. Unexpected weight gain can be a mentally frustrating. Losing weight requires burning more calories than you eat daily. Evaluate your current daily habits that may be causing weight gain....

Most running shoes should be slightly bigger than your normal shoes. Image Credit: lzf/iStock/Getty Images Whether you run marathons or just put in a few miles at the track, your running shoes can make or break your run. While quality matters when it comes to supporting your feet, even the best shoes won’t feel comfortable if they don’t fit properly. Shoes that are too tight can damage your toes, while shoes that are too big can cause blisters and ankle pain....

The rowing machine, or row ergometer, provides an excellent cardiovascular workout. Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Wavebreak Media/Getty Images Rowing machines don’t offer enough resistance for strength training; instead, they’re an excellent tool for building cardiovascular fitness. If you’re looking for a strength-training workout, aim for a row machine instead. The difference in terminology may be minute, but it makes all the difference in the world. A seated row machine – as opposed to a rowing machine – uses a weight stack or weight plates to work your back, shoulders and arms....

Chipotle CAN be healthy, Image Credit: AlexPro9500/iStock/GettyImages If you’re a frequent visitor of the fast food chain restaurant Chipotle, you’ve probably at some point wondered just how healthy the Mexican-American style cuisine really is. Advertisement There's no black-and-white answer to this question, but by examining the ingredients, you can have a better understanding of what you're getting and thus choose the options to make your next Chipotle outing a healthier one....

While cardio is good, you should include some form of strength training as well. Image Credit: Martin Novak/Moment/GettyImages Sweating buckets on the treadmill or stationary bike will definitely give you results. But if you’re doing only cardio the results probably won’t be everything you hope for, particularly when it comes to muscle tone. That’s why your fitness program should include a strength training aspect as well. Advertisement Cardio exercise is essential to any well-rounded fitness program....

In addition to natural sugars, bananas are loaded with fiber, vitamins and minerals. Image Credit: EvgeniyShkolenko/iStock/GettyImages If you avoid bananas because of their sugar content, think again. You’re passing up a healthy snack that provides numerous vitamins and minerals, including fiber, potassium and vitamin C. When health organizations, such as the American Heart Association, recommend cutting back on sugar, they’re talking about added sugars — not the naturally occurring sugars found in fruits....

Drink plenty of fluids during a bout of stomach flu. Image Credit: Boris Jovanovic/iStock/GettyImages When you’re laid up with gastroenteritis, also known as stomach flu, you may wonder what you could eat that wouldn’t make you feel worse. Actually, fluids are the best gastroenteritis diet. Advertisement Why Fluids Are Important Gastroenteritis is swelling and irritation — inflammation — of your stomach and your intestines, caused by a viral, bacterial or parasitic infection, according to the Cleveland Clinic....

Probiotics can both cause and alleviate bloating. Image Credit: RomarioIen/iStock/GettyImages Your gastrointestinal (GI) tract contains a variety of bacteria. Some help maintain normal function of your intestines; others may induce infection or inflammation that cause bloating. If you feel gaseous, eating foods that offer the best probiotic for bloating can help balance the bacteria and relieve any discomfort. Advertisement Tip Taking probiotics has many health benefits, but it’s a double-edged sword when it comes to bloating....

Both jasmine and basmati rice are high in carbs and low in fat, but there are slight differences in nutrition between the two types of rice. Image Credit: ribeirorocha/iStock/GettyImages With more than 40,000 different types of rice, it’s hard to limit yourself to just long-grain rice. Both jasmine rice and basmati rice — available in white or brown — are aromatic rices with a nutty flavor that make a nice alternative to your usual side dish....