Shoes that fit poorly can contribute to foot and calf pain. Image Credit: lzf/iStock/Getty Images The lower leg is composed of the muscles extending down through to the foot. Muscles, tendons and ligaments support the foot and join it to the upper portions of the leg such as the calf. These systems work together for movement, and when a portion of the system is injured, the result is signified by pain....
White pills spilling out of a pill bottle Image Credit: ANDROMACHI/iStock/Getty Images Magnesium is an essential mineral. It contributes to important functions of the body, including relaxation and contraction of muscles and the function of enzymes. Magnesium is found in many of the foods you eat, however, many people are not consuming enough. Low magnesium levels lead to multiple health issues, including heart arrhythmias. A magnesium supplement helps control arrhythmias, however, it isn’t clear which is the most effective form....
Both White sage and “regular,” or Common, sage are a part of the Salvia L. genus of the mint family, classified as Lamiaceae. This genus contains many types of sage in additional to these two, including Clary sage, Lyreleaf sage, Mediterranean sage, Silver sage, Azure Blue sage and Purple sage. Both White and Common sage are ingested and used medicinally. Talk to a health professional before using sage as a medical treatment....
A woman is pinching her stomach. Image Credit: ipag/iStock/Getty Images When you start seeing progress in your weight loss regimen, it can sometimes seem like the fat is falling off everywhere except where you most want it to. What’s really happening is that your body is losing weight all over at the same time, but the areas that have more fat to begin with take longer to have all of that fat siphoned off....
An overhead view of a bowl of clear chicken broth. Image Credit: Photosiber/iStock/Getty Images Follow a clear liquid diet as directed by your physician. Stay on the diet no longer than recommended as it will not provide adequate nutrition. It will, however, help you prepare for or recover from certain medical tests and procedures. A clear liquid diet includes no solid foods of any kind. Some liquids – milk, for example – are also excluded....
The preacher curl is great to focus on the upper bicep muscles. Image Credit: Mike Harrington/Stone/GettyImages Who knows how the exercise got its name, but preacher curl benefits include toning and strengthening the biceps muscles. Whether you’re using a machine or doing a barbell preacher curl, it’s important to use proper form to get the best results and prevent injury. Advertisement Tip The preacher curl exercise targets the biceps muscles in the upper arms....
While they're similar and both found in fruits and veggies, there are important differences between citric acid and ascorbic acid. Image Credit: Marccophoto/iStock/GettyImages Ascorbic acid and citric acid can be found in a variety of fruits and vegetables. Advertisement They are often confused with one another because of their similar names and similar sources of origin, however, ascorbic acid and citric acid are not the same. Video of the Day Ascorbic acid is vitamin C and citric acid is an acidic antioxidant....
Man jogging on a treadmill Image Credit: Mike Watson Images/moodboard/Getty Images Treadmill jogging can help you reach a number of goals including strengthening your heart and lowering your weight. Jogging is generally defined as moving at a pace of less than 6 mph. Anything above that is considered running. But the speed at which you choose to jog depends on several variables, including your abilities and goals. Advertisement Burning Calories If you are jogging for the purpose of losing fat, then obviously the faster you jog, the more calories you will burn....
Eat more vegetables to help lose weight. Image Credit: martinrlee/iStock/GettyImages Losing weight can be a challenge, especially if you believe that the best dinner for weight loss means tiny portions of plain, unappetizing food. It doesn’t have to be that way. There are lots of delicious, filling foods to choose from as you travel along on your weight loss journey. Portion control is important, as is packing as much solid nutrition as possible into every calorie....
Bunch of garlic bulbs Image Credit: ksushsh/iStock/Getty Images Sulfur is a pale yellow, tasteless, nonmetal element that is a vital part of all forms of life. Although most people associate sulfur itself as smelling like rotten eggs, it is actually odorless. Sulfur dioxide (a compound of sulfur) is the gas that gives off that distinct odor. Sulfur is stored in the brain, cells, nerves and liver and is believed to help remove waste and toxins from the body....
Wine and certain other beverages and foods may affect urine odor. Image Credit: Alberto Gagliardi/iStock/GettyImages When you pee and something smells a little off, it’s natural to feel alarmed. In most cases, though, the culprit behind stinky urine isn’t serious. Rather, it’s more likely the result of the food you’ve eaten. Advertisement How Food Affects Urine Odor Urine isn’t exactly known for smelling like roses. After all, it’s a waste product....
For some people, gaining weight is difficult even when eating extra calories. Image Credit: Ugur Karakoc/iStock/GettyImages Approximately 2 percent of people in the United States have underweight, and some of these people have trouble gaining weight no matter what they try. You could be one of these people, or you could be underestimating how many calories you’re burning during the day or overestimating how much you’re really eating. Advertisement 'The key to gaining weight is eating more calories than you burn through your daily activities....
Healthy fats have been associated with better hormonal balance and reproductive health. Image Credit: nerudol/iStock/GettyImages A well-balanced diet is made up of a variety of nutrients: macronutrients like carbohydrates, fats and proteins and micronutrients like vitamins and minerals. While each essential nutrient has its place in your diet, there is one nutrient that gynecologists agree you should eat more often: healthy fats. Advertisement Healthy fats consist of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are associated with a reduced risk of disease, according to the Harvard T....
Weight loss may help your jumping ability. Image Credit: AlexBrylov/iStock/Getty Images The lighter you are, the less weight your muscles have to propel in a jump – so yes, losing body fat will make jumping easier. But that’s not the only way you can, or should, increase your jumping power. Strengthening the engine that powers those jumps – that is, fast-twitch muscle fibers that excel at powerful, explosive movements – and the mastery and confidence that come with frequent practice will all do wonders for your jump as well....
Exercise in a swimming pool to help to relieve the stress from your back and joints. If you experience back pain, you may find it difficult to get motivated to work out and lose weight. According to the website Spine-Health, your excess weight may actually be contributing to your back pain, so exercising and losing weight could improve your overall health while relieving your pain. Because weight loss requires that you take in fewer calories than you burn, changes to your diet can help you more quickly achieve your goals....
A medium-sized potato baked with its skin intact is a versatile, low-fat source of dietary fiber and essential nutrients like potassium, copper, iron, manganese, vitamin B-6, vitamin C and niacin. If you're traveling or have limited kitchen space, you can prepare baked potatoes without the use of a conventional oven by using a roaster oven. Roaster ovens are available in a number of sizes, ranging from 5-quart to 18-quart options....
Pierogies, Polish dumplings typically filled with creamy potatoes, can be boiled, baked or steamed, but pan-frying makes the pasta exterior crispy so it contrasts well with the creamy filling. The potato filling is often accompanied with other ingredients, such as cheese, onions or traditional sauerkraut. There are virtually unlimited ways to serve pan-fried pierogies, whether topped with grilled onions and mushrooms, or served with sour cream or marinara dipping sauce on the side....
Wheat, flour and a piece of bread. Image Credit: belchonock/iStock/Getty Images While manufacturers commonly bleach and process commercial flour, you can control every step of the milling when you grind your own flour. Home grinding lets you decide on a coarse texture for rustic whole-wheat breads or a finer flour for tender baked goods. Because flour you grind yourself retains its natural bran coating until you decide to grind it fresh, it has a more pronounced flavor than commercial flours do....
A woman is holding dumbbells down at her sides. Image Credit: DGLimages/iStock/Getty Images Strengthening the sternoclavicular joint starts with range-of-motion stretches and your program should consist of shoulder stability exercises. Participating in a program to strengthen this joint may help you avoid injuries. Advertisement Anatomy The sternoclavicular joint, sometimes referred to as the SC joint, is one of the three main joints associated with the shoulder girdle. The SC joint attaches the collarbone to the breastbone via four ligaments and links the bones of the upper arm and shoulder to the main vertical skeleton....
Man taking a water oluble vitamin pills with water. Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia/iStock/Getty Images You can make wiser choices when purchasing vitamins by learning to identify synthetic dietary supplements from natural vitamin products. Manufacturers of dietary supplements sometimes use synthetic materials for increasing the vitamin’s potency and stability. According to the Organic Consumers Association, some of these materials come from coal tar derivatives, the same toxins that cause throat cancer in tobacco smokers....
