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Soy is safe for most healthy people, but questions remain about its estrogen-like compounds. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative From tofu and tempeh to milk and miso, the seemingly simple soybean can be molded into just about anything. But despite its versatility, nutritiousness and deliciousness, soy is still a pretty contentious food. Advertisement Soy contains phytoestrogens — a group of natural compounds that can act like the hormone estrogen — which has led to some concerns that eating or drinking the plant-based protein disrupts our natural hormones....

Depending on your fitness goals, you can lift everyday. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages You ​can​ arrange your workouts to lift weights every day — but that doesn’t necessarily mean you ​should​. Ultimately, the question of how often you should lift weights is determined by your choice of fitness goals. Advertisement Tip Although you ​can​ adjust your workout schedule to lift weights every day, it's best to leave yourself at least one solid rest day a week....

Too little sleep can up the risk of making mistakes or losing focus, neither of which help with a workout. Image Credit: martin-dm/E+/GettyImages In This Article What You Can Do Side Effects Quick Workout Exercise and Sleep Dangers of Sleep Deprivation We've all been there: The morning after a particularly rough night of tossing and turning, you're barely a functional human being. But you'd promised yourself you'd get up early to sweat....

Squats are great, but too much of a good thing is still bad. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages Squats are the Beyonce of the exercise world — multi-talented and definitely deserving of all the praise they get. And if squats are Beyonce, lunges are Ciara — equally talented but arguably underrated. Advertisement Celeb musicians aside, lunges are a functional lower-body exercise that just might sculpt your legs even better than squats. As a single-leg exercise, lunges offer an array of benefits from better balance to leaner legs to a stronger core....

Stress can cause inflammation in the body, which makes it harder for your immune system to do its job. Image Credit: PeopleImages/E+/GettyImages The immune system is our body’s main line of defense when it comes to intruders, like infections that can make us sick. Think of it like a tiny-but-mighty army that’s always on standby to defend its homeland (aka your body). Advertisement While some of what keeps our immune system healthy can be chalked up to genetics, there are some practices, including eating well and exercising, that help keep everything running smoothly....

Certain options at Taco Bell, like the tacos, are healthier than others. Image Credit: BURCU ATALAY TANKUT/Moment/GettyImages Taco Bell is a fast-food chain serving a menu of low-priced Mexican-influenced items. It is possible to make good food choices there as recent menu changes include more nutritious meals that are low in fat and calories. Advertisement Learn all about Taco Bell nutrition for some of their meals, hot sauces and more. Video of the Day Taco Bell Calories and Nutrition: Healthier Choices Anyone can view Taco Bell’s nutritional information on their official website....

The rack, stand or cage you buy should fit your space, lifting style and budget. Image Credit: Fly View Productions/E+/GettyImages Image Credit: Fly View Productions/E+/GettyImages The 10 Best Treadmills for Your Home Gym, According to a Trainer Visit Page https://go.skimresources.com Image Credit: Rogue/LIVESTRONG.com Image Credit: Rogue/LIVESTRONG.com ​Measurements: ​48" length x 49" width x 92" height ​Buy it:​ Rogue.com; ​Price: ​$795 Visit Page https://amzn.to Image Credit: Fitness Reality/LIVESTRONG.com Image Credit: Fitness Reality/LIVESTRONG....

Barbells can help you work more arm muscles with every rep, speeding up and simplifying your arm workouts. Image Credit: Iya Forbes/Moment/GettyImages To build strong arms, you’re going to want to hit the weight room (masked, of course) or take that barbell out of the closet. Because the only thing you need for more defined, sculpted arms is these three barbell exercises. Advertisement That's because each is a compound exercise, hitting multiple muscle groups at once....

Break up your burpees into smaller sets or try modifications (or variations!) as you progress through the 30-Day Burpee Challenge. Image Credit: Getty Images/LIVESTRONG.com Creative In This Article How the Challenge Works The Challenge Calendar How to Join Proper Burpee Form Burpee Modifications Burpee Variations The burpee is an exercise many of us love to hate. But you're never going to get better at them — or love them any more — if you don't actually do them....

A 2-tbsp. serving of wheat germ contains 52 calories. Americans eat too many calories and not enough nutrient-dense foods, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture. As the center of the wheat seed, wheat germ is a highly concentrated source of nutrients that can help you meet your nutrient needs. However, wheat germ may not be appropriate for all diets. Knowing the benefits and side effects of wheat germ can help you determine its role in your diet....

Ginger chews are made from pieces of real ginger root, which means they contain its natural active ingredients. Image Credit: Aaron Chambers/iStock/Getty Images Ginger chews are made from pieces of real ginger root, which means they contain its natural active ingredients. While it has multiple benefits, ginger is best known for its ability to alleviate nausea. Advertisement According to a June 2019 article published by ​Foods,​ ginger has many different characteristics that benefit health, including antimicrobial, anticancer, antiobesity, antinausea, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antioxidant, antiemetic and cardiovascular and respiratory protective qualities....

Cashew chicken can be a healthy option at Chinese restaurants if you practice portion control. Image Credit: photoanatomy/iStock/Getty Images Cashew chicken can be a healthy option at Chinese restaurants if you practice portion control. If you are eating more than 1 cup, however, the calories, sodium and fat can quickly add up. The ingredients found in cashew chicken vary based on the chef. In addition to cashews and chicken, common ingredients include vegetables, soy sauce, oil and hoisin sauce....

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body. Although the bones contain 99 percent of the calcium, the remaining 1 percent in the blood must remain within a very narrow concentration range to support vital physiological functions. In addition to keeping your bones and teeth strong, calcium plays an important role in nerve signal transmission, muscle contraction, blood vessel dilation and constriction, heartbeat regulation and hormone secretion. Liver disease can affect calcium levels....

You can build muscle and even lose weight doing daily body-weight workouts, but it's important to mix up your body-weight exercises to avoid overtraining. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative What Really Happens to Your Body When examines the head-to-toe effects of common behaviors, actions and habits in your everyday life. When gyms shut down across the country back in March, we all had to suddenly pivot our fitness routines. Unless you were one of the lucky few who either already had a home gym or had the foresight to order equipment before shelves were completely wiped, body-weight workouts became the most realistic way to incorporate resistance training into your new normal....

Meal replacement supplements are a simple, convenient way to lose weight and eat better without spending hours in the kitchen. Image Credit: Better Bitez/500px/GettyImages Meal replacement supplements are a simple, convenient way to lose weight and eat better without spending hours in the kitchen. Isagenix, a top supplier of protein and meal replacement shakes, appeals to dieters, athletes and healthy eaters. These products, however, may not be as safe as you think....

Healthy heart pills L-Arginine is an amino acid found in many foods and is the precursor to one of the most potent vasodilators, called nitric oxide. This opens the blood vessels and increases circulation to the heart muscle as well as to peripheral tissues. Because of this, L-Arginine is often used for congestive heart failure, angina, coronary artery disease and erectile dysfunction. Arginine is also one of the main components of human growth hormone, and so it can be taken before a workout or before bed to boost growth hormone naturally....

Thyme tea is rich in beneficial antioxidants. Image Credit: Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images Thyme, botanically known as Thymus vulgaris, is a perennial garden herb that has been employed since ancient times for medicinal and culinary uses. Thyme has traditionally been associated with courage, with medieval women giving sprigs of thyme to knights going into battle; it has also been used as an herbal remedy for a host of ailments. Thyme tea, rich in volatile oils, minerals, beneficial phenols and flavonoids, is a healthy beverage choice....

Bodybuilders aim for very low body fat percentage during competitions. Image Credit: OlegUsmanov/iStock/Getty Images Body fat percentage is a number that denotes how much of your body composition is made up of fat. The healthy range is quite different for men and women, and is often very different for bodybuilders. These athletes aim for an extremely low body fat percentage so their muscles are more defined. When cutting body fat, even bodybuilders shouldn’t drop below 3 percent, according to the American Council on Exercise....

Squats require more coordination and mobility than you might realize at the outset. Image Credit: PeopleImages/E+/GettyImages On a list of the most functional exercises (i.e., those that help you develop strength for everyday tasks) squats would be number one. Not only do they prepare you for daily life (think: bending down to pick something up), they also use — and build — most of your lower-body muscles and help reduce your risk of injury....

The London broil temp you'll need will depend on how you choose to cook your meat. Image Credit: Lara Hata/iStock/GettyImages The London broil temp you’ll need will depend on how you choose to cook your meat. London broil usually comes from the top round, which is at the hind side of the animal. Advertisement Some butchers call flank steak or cuts from other regions London broil, too, especially when these cuts are too small to constitute a true "roast....