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Sit ups are great for your abs. Image Credit: Antonio_Diaz/iStock/Getty Images Situps are a classic calisthenic exercise that strengthens, firms and tightens stomach muscles. While situps are effective for toning the internal core muscles, they’re not a high calorie-burning exercise, and they do not have the ability to “spot reduce” stomach fat. If you’re looking to lose belly weight in addition to tightening up your core and abdominal muscles, more vigorous aerobic work is necessary....

The DASH diet is a non-restrictive eating plan that emphasizes whole, nutrient-dense foods. Image Credit: Sergei Gnatiuk/iStock/GettyImages The DASH diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, is designed to help you lower your blood pressure, improve heart health, reduce the risk of certain diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cancer and, in some cases, lose weight. Advertisement These overall goals are achieved by eating whole foods and focusing on an eating pattern that is rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium with low levels of sodium and saturated fat....

Aim to eat two servings of fish per week to get your fill of brain-protecting omega-3 fatty acids. Image Credit: LauriPatterson/E+/GettyImages There’s more to keeping your brain sharp than crossword puzzles. Preserving your cognitive skills for the long term means adopting a healthy lifestyle — and it doesn’t have to be complicated (really!). Advertisement "There are a number of healthy lifestyle habits that can help enhance cognitive function, optimize long-term brain health and greatly decrease the odds of developing dementia," says Scott Kaiser, MD, director of Geriatric Cognitive Health for the Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California....

Close-up of a Weber grill and food wrapped in foil being cooked on it. Image Credit: dvoevnore/iStock/Getty Images Although slow-cooking a tri-tip roast wrapped in foil is typically done in the oven, you can just as easily slow-cook it on your grill, ideal on a hot summer day. Tri-tip is a tender, boneless roast, sometimes cut into steaks. As a roast, it benefits from long cooking at a low temperature, allowing the heat to slowly melt the connective tissues in the muscle to make it extremely tender....

Protein-rich cottage cheese helps keep hunger away. Image Credit: Svetlana Monyakova/iStock/GettyImages It may be a little retro, but cottage cheese and weight loss still go together. Low in calories and filled with satiating protein and bone-building calcium, cottage cheese may be a dieter’s dream food. Advertisement And as part of a reduced-calorie diet, it may help you lose some of those unwanted pounds. If you're looking for a protein-packed entrée or side dish you can eat plain or dress up, consider giving cottage cheese a try....

references Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)" American Lung Association: "COPD Causes and Risk Factors" Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Smoking and COPD" American Lung Association: "Carpets" American Lung Association: "Belly Breathing" American Lung Association: "COPD Management Tools" National Institutes of Health: "Sleep Apnea" American Lung Association: "Exercise and Lung Health" American Thoracic Society: "Exacerbation of COPD" CHEST: "Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccination on Hospitalizations and Risk Factors for Severe Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients With COPD" Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Who Needs a Flu Vaccine and When" Is this an emergency?...

Middle-aged man working out Image Credit: Design Pics/Design Pics/Getty Images Increased bloating and belly fat in middle age causes physical discomfort and self-consciousness. Both men and women become prone to belly fat at this stage of life, along with a loss of lean tissue, the National Institute on Aging says. Increased belly fat results from the age-related slowing of your metabolism and from taking in more calories than you burn off....

Both sour cream and Greek yogurt are rich in protein, calcium and B-complex vitamins. Image Credit: OksanaKiian/iStock/GettyImages Have you ever used Greek yogurt instead of sour cream in dips, soups, salads, pie and other dishes? With its creamy texture and rich flavor, Greek yogurt can turn any meal into a feast. Along with sour cream, it’s a favorite choice for low-carb dieters. The ​difference between sour cream and yogurt​, though, goes beyond their fat content; each product has its own nutritional profile and offers unique benefits....

Statins help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, coronary heart disease accounted for one out of every 2.9 deaths in the United States in 2006. The prevalence of obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure have increased among Americans, and statins have become a key tool in the fight against heart disease. While weight loss is considered the best treatment option by clinicians, research dating back to 1980 has shown statin use to be an effective pharmacological treatment for reducing elevated cholesterol in patients....

Swimming works upper- and lower-body muscles. Image Credit: Thomas Barwick/Stone/GettyImages What are your priorities? That’s the question you should ask when determining whether swimming vs. running is a superior workout. Both offer value in cardiovascular health, respiratory strength, disease prevention and calorie burn, but both aren’t necessarily suited to everyone. Advertisement Consider how each of these exercise modalities affect your primary goal in exercise, and that will help determine which one comes out on the top of your priority list....

references MIPS Protection: "Protect your brain — you only have one" CPSC.gov: "Which Helmet for Which Activity?" The best bike helmet for you should match the kind of cycling you do — and it should fit snugly and comfortably. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com How We Chose Commute Road Mountain Race Shopping Tips Visit Page https://www.amazon.com Image Credit: Thousand/LIVESTRONG.com Image Credit: Thousand/LIVESTRONG.com Visit Page https://click.linksynergy.com Image Credit: Specialized/LIVESTRONG.com...

You can sculpt strong arm muscles with these five movements. Image Credit: The Good Brigade/DigitalVision/GettyImages Getting chiseled biceps and defined triceps is about way more than boasting pretty muscles. A strong upper body can actually reveal a lot about your overall health. It’s true: Your grip strength and ability to do push-ups may even predict how long you live. Advertisement So what better reason to start shaping up those arms? Here, Emily McLaughlin, certified personal trainer and nutrition specialist at 8fit, shares the only exercises you'll ever need to get those strong, gorgeous guns....

A bowl of cinnamon on a wooden table. Image Credit: YelenaYemchuk/iStock/Getty Images Found in certain tree bark, cinnamon is an aromatic spice well known for its versatility in cooking, and its ability to reduce blood sugar and soothe an upset stomach. Cinnamon, however, can have several negative health effects if eaten in too great a quantity or when paired with particular drugs. Advertisement The Coumarin Question Cinnamon is high in a chemical compound called coumarin....

Rye bread has a lower glycemic index than white bread. Image Credit: ARTindividual/iStock/GettyImages When it comes to making a health-conscious choice, opting for food with a lesser effect on your blood sugar levels can ensure you have more energy and could help your efforts to lose weight. Rye bread’s glycemic index is reliably moderate compared with some other grain products. Advertisement What’s the Glycemic Index? As the American Academy of Family Physicians explains, the glycemic index of food — commonly called the GI — is a measurement between 0 and 100 that tells you how quickly the carbohydrate content breaks down in the body....

This 5-minute plank workout will finish off your abs and strengthen your core. Image Credit: brizmaker/iStock/GettyImages When you’ve completed the very last rep of your scheduled workout but still have a little gas left in the tank, why not end your sweat session with an ab finisher? The concept is simple: You use the strength and energy you have left to complete a short — but intense — bout of exercise....

Two women smiling and tending to their nails. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Stockbyte/Getty Images Adults between 19 and 70 years old – including pregnant and nursing mothers – need approximately 600 international units of vitamin D each day. People 71 years old and over should have at least 800 IU daily. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more Americans are deficient in vitamin D than iron, vitamin C or vitamin B-12....

Are you wearing the right type of sneaker for your go-to activity? Here's why deciding between walking and cross-training shoes matters. Image Credit: BAaAej Ayjak/iStock/Getty Images You probably have a lot of shoes in your closet. Dressier options for dinner dates. Sandals for days at the pool. And of course, sneakers for when you’re ready to pick up the pace outside or at the gym. Advertisement But did you know that there are different types of sneakers best-suited for different types of activity?...

Regular exercise can help promote weight loss in 21-year-old men. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Stockbyte/Getty Images As a 21-year-old man, being overweight can have numerous effects on your health. These effects can include the risk for developing diabetes and heart disease as well as implications on your mental health – including poor self-esteem. With lifestyle modification, regular exercise and a change in diet, if you’re a 21-year-old man, you can develop a weight-loss plan that works for you....

The fiber in dried kiwi fruit may contribute to bowel health. Image Credit: baphotte/iStock/Getty Images Sweet, juicy kiwi may not always be practical for long-term storage or eating on the go, so consider dried kiwi fruit as an alternative with many benefits. This dehydrated fruit is low in fat, moderately low in calories and provides healthy minerals and fiber. It is often quite high in added sugars, however, so only incorporate it into your meal plan if you eat a low-sugar diet....

A large pile of shelled almonds ona table. Image Credit: nito100/iStock/Getty Images When you’re trying to eat a healthy diet, bananas and almonds are two of the best food choices because both are filling and packed with nutrients. The sweet softness of a ripe banana and the nutty crunch of almonds complement one another well, so snacking on these two foods together can fill you up and satisfy your sweet tooth....