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Serena Williams opens up about her post-baby body and her struggles with getting back into top shape. Image Credit: Presley Ann/Getty Images Entertainment/GettyImages She might be one of the greatest athletes of all time, but even tennis champ Serena Williams found it difficult to get back in shape after having her baby. The sportswoman has opened up about her post-baby body struggles — and we have to say that she’s an “ace” when it comes to keeping things real....

Try not to hold your breath while you stretch your back. Image Credit: fizkes/iStock/GettyImages Pain from a herniated disc can be debilitating. You may just want to lie in bed, but it’s usually better to move around. Stretches can help you stay limber and ease the pain as long as you’re gentle. Lower back and hamstring stretches are often recommended by therapists and doctors. Advertisement How Herniations Happen A disc herniation occurs in your spine, in the space between your vertebrae....

Try drinking peppermint, ginger or licorice tea to soothe an upset stomach. Image Credit: ginnyyj/iStock/GettyImages Just about everyone gets an upset stomach from time to time, and while it’s usually nothing to be concerned about, it can be a real pain. Fortunately, there are a number of natural remedies for an upset stomach that may help. Advertisement But keep in mind that the term "upset stomach" can mean different things to different people, says Mark Epstein, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist at Middlesex Digestive Health & Endoscopy Center in Acton, Massachusetts....

Behind-the-neck positions can tear the tissues and tendons of your rotator cuff, leading to injury — especially if you already Image Credit: oatawa/iStock/GettyImages Strengthening your rotator cuffs — the four muscles (and countess tissues) that surround the shoulder blades and help to stabilize them — is essential for maintaining overall shoulder health. But doing certain exercises might actually be doing more harm than good, especially if you lack adequate shoulder mobility and strength....

Including lemon juice in your diet may help lower high uric acid levels that contribute to gout. Image Credit: villagemoon/iStock/Getty Images In This Article Cherries Lemons Vitamin C Vegetables Whole Grains Protein Water Milk Gout is a painful form of arthritis that can come on suddenly. And your diet may contribute to these attacks, which is why it's important to steer clear of certain dishes while prioritizing the foods that are good for gout....

Semolina has many health benefits. Image Credit: Rimma_Bondarenko/iStock/GettyImages Semolina is the golden-colored coarse flour made from the hard kernels of durum wheat. It is most often used to make pasta, bread, pizza crust, couscous and porridge, such as the Indian breakfast dish sooji upma. Semolina has many health benefits due to its high protein, vitamin and mineral content. Advertisement Semolina Production and Uses Durum wheat makes up about 10 percent of the world’s wheat production and is mainly grown in West Asia, North and East Africa, the North American Great Plains and Eastern and Mediterranean Europe....

The treadmill has symbolized weight loss ever since it became a recognizable fitness tool in the 1960s — and its reputation is valid. Treadmill weight loss is definitely possible with the right approach. The treadmill can be a great weight loss tool if you use it right. Image Credit: Getty Images / Pitchwayz But if you’re wondering how long you need to spend running on the treadmill to lose weight, the answer isn’t so straightforward....

Try adding kettlebell swings to your next at-home CrossFit workout. Image Credit: Hirurg/iStock/GettyImages Kettlebells have certainly become the darling of the weight room (and the CrossFit box). And with good reason: They’re versatile enough to be used in a wide variety of exercises and provide a total-body burn. Advertisement But they're just as effective at home, and you only need one or two to replicate some of your favorite CrossFit workouts in your living room or garage....

This low-impact cardio workout is easy on your joints but will get your heart rate up. Image Credit: Choreograph/iStock/GettyImages Getting older doesn’t mean you should be moving less. While physical activity might be more difficult with age-related arthritis and other health issues, you can keep your muscles and joints healthy by sticking to low-impact cardio workouts. Advertisement Low-impact workouts provide many of the same benefits as high-impact workouts, but without all the rattling and shaking of your bones, Holly Roser, a certified personal trainer in San Francisco who works with older adults, tells LIVESTRONG....

Many claims about protein shakes are backed by scientific research, but they should be part of a balanced diet. Image Credit: gpointstudio/iStock/GettyImages Protein shakes are more popular than ever. Dieters and gym goers worldwide use them to replace one or more meals, supplement their diets or recover faster from training. Some see them as a valuable weight loss aid. Science confirms the benefits of protein shakes on overall health, exercise performance and weight management....

Increasing alkalinity in your body is said to boost your overall health and reduce your risk of chronic disease. Image Credit: Arx0nt/iStock/GettyImages The alkaline diet claims to boost the pH level of fluids in the body and reduce acidity, thereby improving your health. But, what is the real benefit of having a more alkaline system? Advertisement The theory is that by eating more alkaline foods — fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes — your blood's pH level achieves a more desirable, less inflammatory state....

Nausea after running means that something is wrong. Image Credit: anilakkus/iStock/GettyImages Experiencing slight fatigue or soreness after running is normal, but nausea is usually a sign that something is out of balance. Common factors that contribute to nausea after running include fluid imbalances, low blood sugar and overexertion. Advertisement Eating foods that are hard to digest or that irritate the gastric lining can have similar results. Pacing yourself and watching your food and water intake can prevent nausea after running from occurring in many cases, but if it doesn't, consult a doctor to rule out an underlying medical disorder....

Ice can help decrease swelling in muscles. Image Credit: AndreyPopov/iStock/GettyImages If you have ever begun a new weight-training program and then found it difficult to walk down stairs for the following few days, you are familiar with the uncomfortable side effects of muscle strengthening. You might develop swollen muscles after weight training. You might also find that your strength and range of motion have decreased, and you feel stiffness and discomfort....

A bucket of freshly harvested blueberries. Image Credit: Lasse_Hendriks/iStock/Getty Images Fruits and berries have natural sugars in varying amounts, and these can impact your blood glucose. Without sacrificing the health benefits of fresh produce, understand how the natural fruit sugars in blueberries will impact your blood glucose so you can maintain your target readings while enjoying blueberries with a meal or snack. Pair them with foods that help reduce the glucose impact for the most protection against rapid glucose increases....

Eat a gluten free diet to help manage hypothyroidism. Image Credit: OlgaLepeshkina/iStock/GettyImages One of the side effects of hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, can be weight gain. Although there isn’t a one-size-fits-all hypothyroidism diet, there are diet and exercise tips that can help get your metabolism humming again, so you can maintain a healthy weight. Advertisement Tip If you have an underactive thyroid, a hypothyroidism diet that’s focused on whole foods can help you lose weight — especially when it’s combined with exercise....

Toning flabby arms after weight loss means exercising with weights and your own body weight. Image Credit: Bojan89/iStock/GettyImages Major weight loss can literally save your life: By reducing your body fat down to a healthy level, you not only alleviate excess strain on your joints, but lower your risk of several chronic diseases, ranging from heart disease to certain types of cancer. Advertisement When you lose a large amount of weight, though, you might develop loose skin once you hit your goal weight, including on your arms....

1 of 13 Overview You may have seen people working out with battle ropes at the gym and thought, "Wow! That looks cool," but never attempted them yourself. While they may seem intimidating or even one-dimensional, with a little creativity, the battle ropes can become one of your favorite pieces of equipment at the gym. Battle ropes are not only an innovative way to add variety to your workout, they also give you a highly effective full-body workout, torching calories, building lean muscle and improving functional strength....

A protein shake is just the first step in post-workout nutrition. Image Credit: nortonrsx/iStock/GettyImages Regardless of your fitness goals, fueling your body with the right nutrients is key, especially if you don’t want to compromise your results. And if you’re supplementing with protein powder, the timing of when you eat your first meal after a protein shake can make a difference in your recovery. Advertisement Tip You can eat a meal with your protein shake or shortly after that....

You might find cellulose gum in your jar of jelly. Image Credit: ffolas/iStock/GettyImages You may find a lot of unfamiliar items when you read the ingredient list on packaged foods. However, many of the items you see listed, like cellulose gum, have been used for centuries to improve shelf life, flavor and texture of various foods, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Advertisement Even though cellulose gum may be considered generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the U....

Smoked meat is a well known preservation method that can help prevent microbial contamination. Image Credit: AnnaPustynnikova/iStock/GettyImages Smoking is one of the oldest methods of preserving meat products. There are many different smoking techniques, including rapid hot smoking, slow hot smoking and cold smoking. Unfortunately, most smoked meats are unhealthy, although healthy smoked meats can be produced using a zeolite filter. Advertisement Tip Smoked meat is a well-known preservation method that can help prevent microbial contamination....