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You can work your lats with free weights. Image Credit: luckyraccoon/iStock/Getty Images When pulling something toward you or pulling yourself toward something, you will use your latissimus dorsi, or lats. The most powerful muscles in the upper body, they assist with rotation and adduction, and you can build them up by performing free weight lat exercises. Advertisement Read more: 5 Exercises for Capped Shoulders — No Upright Rows Required Video of the Day Lat Workout with Free Weights There are two latissimus dorsi muscles — or lats as they are commonly called — large fan-shaped muscles that span most of your back, according to a November 2015 case report from Sports Health....

A slightly low body temperature is usually nothing to worry about. Image Credit: rilueda/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Cold Exposure Hormones Nervous System Disorders Illness and Infections Other Causes When to See a Doctor You've probably had it drilled into your head that your body temperature "should" be 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit and that a high or low body temperature signals something is wrong. But that's not quite true. Advertisement In general, normal body temperature differs among individuals and ranges from about 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit (36....

Lentils are a healthy food rich in fiber and protein. Image Credit: vaaseenaa/iStock/GettyImages Lentils are a healthy food rich in fiber and protein. Like most legumes, lentils can be combined with another plant-based protein to make them a complete protein. This means you may use them a substitute for meat and other animal foods. Advertisement Are Lentils a Complete Protein? Consumed by themselves, lentils provide lots of fiber and complex carbohydrates, while low in fat and calories, according to Lentils....

If you have dermatitis, a chronic skin disorder that leads to rashes and inflamed or scaly skin, reducing your intake of nickel may help control the condition. It’s impossible, however, to follow a completely nickel-free diet, as nickel is in most foods, and the concentration varies widely depending on the season and the metal content of the soil. Choose foods that are typically low in nickel, and avoid ones that consistently contain a high amount of nickel, such as whole grains, cocoa, soy, dried fruits, tea and chocolate....

A ham and cheese omelet. Image Credit: ClaudioVentrella/iStock/Getty Images A ham and cheese omelet, made with two eggs, 1 oz. ham and 1 oz. cheddar cheese, contains 377 calories. These calories are made up of approximately 70 percent fat, 28 percent protein and 2 percent carbohydrates. All values below are for an omelet made with whole eggs and regular cheese. You can reduce the fat content of your omelet by using three eggs whites instead of two whole eggs....

Short ribs are high in fat and saturated fat. A cow's rib cage is about 3 feet in length, and the short ribs come from the lower half of the rib cage, closer to the loin. Short ribs are a tough meat but highly marbled in fat and full of flavor. Braising, a process that cooks the ribs slowly in liquid, tenderizes the meat while adding even more flavor. Braised short ribs are high in calories, total fat and saturated fat....

Quinoa fits in the maintenance phase of a low-carb diet. Image Credit: belchonock/iStock/GettyImages Few foods have as much bona fide health cred as quinoa: It’s both whole-grain and gluten-free, low in fat, a good source of protein, and rich in antioxidants; in other words, it’s pretty much a nutritional slam dunk. Advertisement But quinoa is also high in carbohydrates — which can pose a problem if you're following a low-carb meal plan like Atkins or the keto diet....

Meditating before or after exercise should be performed in a quiet place. Image Credit: Hero Images/Hero Images/GettyImages Exercise and meditation both help to promote health on all levels, including your physical, psychological and emotional well-being. Regular moderate activity helps you to maintain overall vitality, manage your weight and keep your stress levels low. Meditation techniques improve focus and lowers stress. Both disciplines are important in whatever order your schedule permits. But spending a short time to meditate before exercising might enhance your performance....

The symptoms of drinking too much diet soda aren't too obvious, and some folks may be more sensitive to the sweet drink than others. 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. In This Article Gut Health Weight Heart Health Pancreas and Insulin Sugar Cravings Diet Soda Alternatives Summary The science is clear when it comes to the ill effects of too many added sugars in our diets — but what about zero-calorie sweeteners like those found in diet sodas?...

This month-long challenge is full of simple variations to help you modify common yoga poses for your body and needs. Image Credit: Getty Images/LIVESTRONG.com Creative Healthy habits are built one day at a time. Our monthly fitness challenges can help you stay on track all year long. Image Credit: Getty Images/LIVESTRONG.com Creative Healthy habits are built one day at a time. Our monthly fitness challenges can help you stay on track all year long....

The Benefits of Taking Folic Acid in Nonpregnant Women Image Credit: fizkes/iStock/GettyImages Folic acid, best known for its ability to help prevent birth defects, is a vitamin that most women know they need to get enough of during pregnancy. However, this vitamin is an important nutrient for women at all stages of life. The National Institutes of Health recommends about 400 micrograms of dietary folate per day for most adults to help maintain good health....

Multivitamins can help make sure that you are well rounded nutritionally. Image Credit: Kseniya Ovchinnikova/Moment/GettyImages Always looking to better themselves in their respective sports, athletes focus on nutrition often as mightily as their training. To get ahead of the competition, athletes should know the best multivitamin brand for their nutrient needs to supplement the healthy foods they already consume. Advertisement Read more: How to Determine if a Vitamin or Supplement Is Actually Right for You Video of the Day Nutrient Requirements for Athletes Athletes often have higher caloric and nutrient needs than an average person....

If your upper-body workout involves lifting weights, make sure you stretch your forearms. Image Credit: emiliozv/iStock/GettyImages You can probably think of several lower-body stretches off the top of your head: standing quad stretch, seated hamstring stretch, figure four stretch, runner’s lunge, etc. But stretching your upper-body muscles after an arm workout leaves many of us stumped. Advertisement But your chest, shoulders, arms and upper back deserves just as much TLC as your legs, especially after a grueling workout....

Medical treatments can effectively remove mucus from ears. Ear infections commonly result from mucus accumulation in the ear, according to Mayo Clinic. This health issue causes inflammation and pain. Mucus accumulation in the ears most frequently occurs during a viral or bacterial infection. Draining mucus is important for preventing health complications, such as impaired hearing and speech delays. It can also minimize the pain and discomfort experienced with mucus accumulation and ear infection....

The mineral magnesium plays several important roles in the body. Low levels can lead to a number of symptoms and according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, anxiety ranks among them. This suggests supplementing with magnesium might alleviate anxiety, but according to the University of Michigan Health System, the evidence for this therapeutic benefit is weak. Some dosage guidelines exist but consult with your doctor for guidance on whether or not magnesium supplementation is appropriate and at what dose....

L-carnitine helps reduce oxidative stress and is used by your body as it turns fat into energy. It’s found naturally in your body, in dairy products and in red meat as well as in supplement form. You may hear that supplemental L-carnitine will help you get pregnant, improve your energy while you are pregnant and help your baby gain weight. However, this supplement is not well studied in humans and has theoretical links to serious complications during pregnancy....

Beets have a lot of healthy benefits for your bowels. Image Credit: sorendls/iStock/GettyImages Not only are beets colorful and full of flavor, they are rich in nutrients and fiber that have a positive effect on the health of your bowels and your whole body. With excess consumption of beets, diarrhea may be a side effect for some people. Advertisement However, beets are a rich source of nutrients, especially potassium, copper, manganese and folate....

Stay active and accountable during one of the busiest times of the year with a fun, quick video workout to do every day this month. Get all the details on the challenge here. With all their hype online, running and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can feel like the only types of cardio exercise out there. And while they may be popular (and effective), these high-impact modalities aren't ideal — or enjoyable — for everyone....

Although not medically proven, lavender is believed to have medicinal uses as a healing aid for pain, anxiety, depression, intestinal problems and sleep issues. Image Credit: samael334/iStock/GettyImages Delicately-fragrant lavender is believed to serve as a sleep aid, and is taken in various forms to help with anxiety and pain. These uses have not yet been backed by science. There are several varieties of lavender; dried English lavender leaves are preferred for making lavender tea....

Circuit exercises my help shrink fibroids. Image Credit: AleksandarGeorgiev/E+/GettyImages Looking for the best exercise for fibroids? Exercise alone won’t reduce the size or number of fibroids, but it may improve your symptoms. The benefits are even greater for women who eat a balanced diet and try to maintain a healthy weight. Advertisement Tip Regular exercise may protect against fibroids by helping you maintain a normal weight and healthy insulin levels. If you have obesity or overweight, you can mix weight training, interval training and full-body circuits to get leaner....