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A woman is drinking from a mug outside. Image Credit: altrendo images/Stockbyte/Getty Images Agua de Jamaica is a nonalcoholic Mexican beverage made from the flowers of the jamaica plant, which is a type of hibiscus, sugar and water. Hibiscus contains natural compounds that might reduce blood pressure and lower cholesterol. Speak to your doctor before using agua de jamaica or any type of hibiscus tea as a natural remedy. Advertisement Hibiscus Jamaica is a Mexican name for a specific plant called Hibiscus sabdariffa....

Sodium ascorbate is a vitamin C supplement. Image Credit: Suwanmanee99/iStock/GettyImages Are you getting enough vitamin C? If your diet isn’t balanced and you’re feeling run down, a supplement may help. One way to gain vitamin C benefits is to take sodium ascorbate, a supplement form of ascorbic acid — otherwise known as vitamin C. Advertisement Tip Sodium ascorbate is a vitamin C supplement that’s available as a powder or capsule supplement....

Image Credit: seb_ra/iStock/GettyImages Many women experience some degree of lower back pain before or around the beginning of their menstrual period. This pain is often part of their normal period or premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Less commonly, it is caused by a disorder such as endometriosis. The type of pain, when it occurs and associated symptoms may provide clues about the cause. Advertisement Painful Period Mild pain around the time of a period is common....

Different push up variations work the muscles differently. Image Credit: Virojt Changyencham/Moment/GettyImages A push-up is a push-up, right? Not so fast — all push-ups strengthen the muscles of the chest, shoulders and triceps — and your core, according to ACE Fitness — but the degree to which those muscles play a role depends on how you do a push-up. Advertisement Modify your push-up so that your hands are higher than your feet at an incline, and put more emphasis on the middle portion of the chest....

Jogging with friends can help you burn fat. Image Credit: Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images Getting in some exercise every day can help teen girls build strong bones, healthy muscles and maintain their weight. If your doctor has told you that you should lose some weight, exercise can also help you lose those extra pounds. Any extra activity will help you reach you goal, but some forms of exercise are more effective than others at burning fat....

Not getting enough vitamins and minerals can cause a wide range of physical and mental health problems. Image Credit: Claudia Totir/Moment/GettyImages You might think of food as something that just tastes good and fills you up. In fact, it’s a complex delivery system for vitamins, minerals and other nutrients your body needs and, for the most part, can’t make for itself. Advertisement These nutrients help your body carry out tasks that are crucial to optimal physical and mental health....

While there are benefits to fasted cardio, most people should eat at least a little something before doing cardio. Image Credit: recep-bg/E+/GettyImages Is working out on an empty stomach really better than fueling up before you hit the elliptical? It depends on your goals and when you’re exercising. If you’re stepping up your cardio game to speed up fat loss, you might want to consider waiting to eat breakfast until after your morning run....

Goji berry is the commercial name for wolfberry. Wolfberry is a fruit of two closely related species called Lycium barbarum and L. chinense. Additional names for wolfberry include chinese wolfberry, barbary matrimony vine, mede berry, red medlar, Duke of Argyll’s tea tree, bocksdorn, murali and matrimony vine. However, goji berry refers specifically to the Lycium chinense species of wolfberry. The Name Confussion The Chinese typically refer to wolfberry as gouqi. Individuals marketing wolfberry started using the word goji to match and simplify the pronunciation of the Chinese word....

Transform your holiday ham into new, delicious recipes you'll look forward to eating. Image Credit: kabVisio/iStock/GettyImages It’s no secret that most of us overdo it when it comes to shopping for and prepping a holiday meal. Because let’s be honest, a family of three probably doesn’t need a 10-pound ham. But hey, it’s better to have too much than too little, right? Advertisement In the spirit of minimizing waste, try incorporating that leftover ham into quick and easy dishes that the entire family will enjoy....

Beachbody is best known for its intense workouts, which you can stream at home. Image Credit: jacoblund/iStock/GettyImages If you’ve ever seen someone in workout clothes carrying around what looks to be a milkshake in a large, colorful tumbler, chances are they’ve signed up for the Beachbody program. And if not, the odds are still good that you know at least one person who has tried Beachbody. Advertisement Founded by fitness enthusiasts Carl Daikeler and Jon Congdon, Beachbody has become an insanely popular brand, boasting over 23 million customers and $1 billion in gross sales since its launch in 1998....

When you're sick, it's not a good idea to go swimming. Image Credit: Purestock/Purestock/Getty Images When you’re in the throes of a respiratory illness, swimming is probably the last thing you’ll want to do, but as you begin to feel better, the congestion can move into your chest, and you may think about resuming your workouts. Swimming when you have chest congestion is unwise because doing so can spread the infection to others or make your illness worse....

Yoga's calming effects can help alleviate ear ailments. Image Credit: kieferpix/iStock/Getty Images Yoga’s combination of meditation, postures and breathing techniques offers balance and stress relief, two key benefits that may help alleviate ear ailments. The Cleveland Clinic emphasizes that stress reduction lightens the impact of Meniere’s disease and its symptoms, which include recurring vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus and pressure in the ear. Be sure to see your doctor or an ear, nose and throat specialist if you have any of these symptoms or ear pain....

A small scoopful of flax seed. Image Credit: YelenaYemchuk/iStock/Getty Images Since flax is extra high in omega-3 fatty acids, it’s known as beneficial to lowering LDL cholesterol levels, may boost immunity and as a dietary supplement can reduce dry skin and eczema breakouts. Most healthy oils, including the essential fatty oils found in flax, have a short shelf life. When flax goes bad, it’s called “rancid.” Rancid flax is not appetizing, and you should easily know when it goes rancid, but a few indicators can help you determine if the flax is past the point of being edible....

Rather than viewing workout sessions in terms of separate strength and cardio days, think of obstacle race training in terms of integrated workouts. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG In the world of endurance sports, 2012 was the year of the obstacle race, with more than 2 million people competing in some sort of muddy challenge run. Advertisement Last year nearly 500,000 people completed a Tough Mudder, the 12-mile slog through strength challenges and Fear Factor-style obstacles, and just as many went through the shorter (5K) Warrior Dash....

A hand holding a bunch of supplements. Image Credit: Alexey_R/iStock/Getty Images Each essential vitamin has its own distinct function and benefits. To reap as many of these benefits as possible, you may be thinking of taking multiple types of vitamins at the same time. While this is generally safe, you need to take a few precautions before doing so. Always talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about taking vitamin supplements....

Cut back on your training to perform well the week of your 10K race. Image Credit: Todor Tsvetkov/E+/GettyImages A 10-kilometer, or 6.2-mile, run requires significant energy and stamina from a runner. Adequate preparation is paramount for a runner to perform optimally. Adopting and adhering to a training plan can help you meet your incremental running and race-day goals. Advertisement Your training plan during the week before a 10K should involve eating right, getting enough rest, engaging in a proper warm-up and staying hydrated....

Skip the salt and add spice for flavor. Image Credit: JoeGough/iStock/Getty Images Indian cuisine, especially the vegetarian dishes, can be some of the healthiest meals you can choose. Advertisement If someone has high blood pressure and would like to try eating a plant-based diet to bring it down to a healthier level, then vegetarian Indian cuisine could be the way to do it without the boredom of eating what might otherwise be bland meals....

Lamb brain has a lot of protein but also a high amount of cholesterol. Image Credit: zstockphotos/iStock/GettyImages In France, lamb brains — known there as cervelles — are a prized ingredient in a number of gourmet dishes. They are most often deep-fried or sauteed in butter which adds to the high fat content of lamb brains. Even braising lamb brains does not alter the exceedingly large amount of cholesterol they contain....

Popping noises from the shoulder are not unusual when doing push-ups. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages Is your shoulder cracking or making popping or snapping noises when you’re doing push-ups? If so — assuming there’s no pain — it’s probably nothing to worry about. Advertisement It's not at all uncommon for joints to make music of a sorts when you're exercising. Although the neck, back and hips tend to make the most noise, the shoulders can certainly chime in there too....

Salt and its alkaline cousin, baking soda, both break down proteins in beef. Image Credit: karandaev/iStock/GettyImages Natural meat tenderizers can transform an economical cut of beef into a delectable dinner. Such tenderizers come in three categories — salt, acid or enzyme. Advertisement Use certain ingredients in a meat marinade to help make what may have been a cheap cut at the butcher's taste like the most expensive entrée from a top-notch steak house....