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Illustration of the human muscular system. Image Credit: cosmin4000/iStock/Getty Images The disorder that causes rapid muscle growth occurs in people who have myostatin-related muscle hypertrophy, which is a rare genetic condition that reduces body fat and can double the body’s muscle mass. The condition, which is also known as muscle hypertrophy syndrome, also can cause increased muscle strength. Advertisement Myostatin Myostatin-related muscle hypertrophy results from a deficiency of the MSTN gene....

All-purpose flour can be used for just about any recipe and is available as bleached or unbleached. Image Credit: Arisara Tongdonnoi / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages You probably have all-purpose flour stowed away somewhere in your kitchen. All-purpose flour can be used for just about any recipe and is available as bleached or unbleached. You may wonder why you’d need bleached versus unbleached flour. Advertisement Unbleached flour does not have as nice an appearance as bleached flour, but it has been exposed to fewer chemicals....

Overbaked muffins here are salvaged with a chocolate glaze. Image Credit: minadezhda/iStock/Getty Images When everything works as planned, fresh-baked muffins are a moist, tender and flavorful breakfast pastry. However, despite muffins’ simplicity, things can go wrong in several ways. Inaccurate measurements, stale baking powder and overmixing all can cause their texture to suffer. Baking the muffins at too low or high a temperature also can result in substandard muffins, while overbaking leaves them crusty and dry....

Close up of woman using Sauna. Image Credit: DAJ/amana images/Getty Images Although both have health benefits, lounging in the sauna and taking part in a cardio workout produce very different results. Cardiovascular activities, such as an aerobics class, brisk walking or lap swimming, gets your heart pumping, builds endurance, raises your metabolic rate and leads to improved overall health. Spending some time in the sauna can also increase your heart rate, and the welcome warmth helps soothe and relax sore, tense muscles, but the sauna can’t match the health benefits of cardio exercise....

The decision to do cardio or weightlifting in the morning depends on your overall fitness goals. Image Credit: PeopleImages/E+/GettyImages It’s the age-old debate: Is it better to do cardio in the morning and weight training in the evening, or should you combine them both into one workout? Well, depending on who you ask, you may hear anything from, “Always separate the two workouts” to “It doesn’t really matter, as long as you get your body moving....

Cranberry tablets are commonly taken for the purpose of treating or preventing urinary tract infections. Image Credit: Ana Lukascuk/Moment/GettyImages Cranberry tablets are commonly taken for the purpose of treating or preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs), which occur in at least 60 percent of women at some point in their lives. Before getting started on a supplement regimen, you must know the potential cranberry supplements side effects. Advertisement Cranberry Pills Side Effects Cranberry tablets are often used for the prevention of UTIs, which are widespread among women....

Start your day with these balanced strawberry breakfast recipes, pancakes to parfaits and more. Image Credit: Arx0nt/Moment/GettyImages A match made in heaven, berries and breakfast go together like bacon and eggs, cheese and crackers, spaghetti and meatballs and, well, you get the point. Advertisement Strawberries — arguably the tastiest of the berry bunch — can sweeten any a.m. meal and add a heap of health benefits, too. Video of the Day Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants like anthocyanin compounds and ellagic acid, strawberries can help keep you healthy by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, Leslie Langevin, RD, author of ​The Anti-Inflammatory Kitchen Cookbook​ and co-owner of Whole Health Nutrition, tells LIVESTRONG....

references NIH: "Iron" Medical Clinics of North America: "Nutrition Recommendations in Pregnancy and Lactation" American Academy of Pediatrics: "Vitamin D & Iron Supplements for Babies: AAP Recommendations" Pediatrics: "Maternal Versus Infant Vitamin D Supplementation During Lactation: A Randomized Controlled Trial" The best postnatal vitamins have been tested for safety and contain the nutrients you need after birth and during breastfeeding. Image Credit: Charday Penn/iStock/GettyImages Image Credit: Charday Penn/iStock/GettyImages How We Chose Best Overall Best on a Budget Best Gummy Best Vegetarian Best DHA What to Look For Who Needs a Postnatal When to See a Doctor The majority of nutrients don’t change significantly from a prenatal to a postnatal supplement....

The best mattresses for hip pain are made of memory foam and are on the softer side. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative In This Article Best Overall Best on a Budget Best Luxury Buy Best for Side Sleepers Best Cooling Best From a Box Best for Support What to Look For If you have chronic hip pain, it can affect the quality of your sleep. And that's no small thing when you consider that sleep takes up about a third of your life, and sleeping on the wrong mattress can significantly worsen your pain, especially if you lay on your side....

Elevated Push-Ups are a great lower chest exercise. Image Credit: GretaMarie/Cultura/GettyImages Do you wish you had more strength to push your body up — whether it’s from a chair, a table or the ground — or more definition between your chest and your abs? Either case is a great reason to do a special lower chest workout twice a week. Advertisement Your Lower Chest Workout Unless you really feel a need to define your chest or strengthen yourself for pushing at a downward angle, you don’t necessarily need to do special lower pectoral workouts....

references Mayo Clinic: "Supplements: Nutrition in a Pill?" Harvard Health Publishing: "How Much Protein Do You Need Every Day?" International Food Information Council Foundation: "A Primer on Protein Powders" ACSM: "Protein Intake for Optimal Muscle Maintenance" Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior: "Perceived Importance of Dietary Protein to Prevent Weight Gain: A National Survey among Midlife Women" Nutrients: "The Role of the Anabolic Properties of Plant- versus Animal-Based Protein Sources in Supporting Muscle Mass Maintenance: A Critical Review" American Society for Nutrition: "Protein’s Role in Bone Health: Does Protein Type and Amount Matter?...

Coffee has barely any calories — but add-ins like milk and sweeteners can quickly change the nutrition facts of your favorite caffeinated (or decaf!) beverages. Image Credit: ediebloom/E+/GettyImages In This Article Coffee Calories and Nutrition Coffee With Milk and/or Sugar Coffee Blends and Café Drinks Coffee Brands Instant Coffee Coffee Creamers A morning cup of coffee is more than just emotionally pleasing — it's also a relatively healthy way to start the day, given that it's low in calories and comes with additional health perks....

Oil paints can contain heavy metals. Image Credit: ROMAOSLO/iStock/GettyImages Although lead was banned from oil-based paint in 1978, today’s oil-based paints may still contain some heavy metals in the pigments. Oil-based paint fumes contain potentially poisonous hydrocarbons and high levels of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which perform numerous function in paint and evaporate as it dries. The most significant health effects of oil-based paint are due to polluted air from VOCs, inhalation and poisoning....

A baked potato with greek yogurt and chopped tomatoes. Image Credit: Lesyy/iStock/Getty Images Potatoes are nutritious vegetables that provide vitamin C, fiber and some B vitamins. When you fry them or prepared them with large amounts of cheese and cream, the added saturated fat and calories of these cooking methods eclipses potatoes’ health benefits. Cook potatoes in a healthy manner to enjoy their earthy flavor and benefit from their multiple nutrients....

With practice you'll be rollerblading in no time. Whether for fitness or fun, rollerblading has serious benefits. You'll get a higher heart rate for cardio activity, spend time outside, and may just find a new hobby. Of course, there aren't training wheels for rollerblades. You'll need to start slow and practice your technique before you glide through the city park. Advertisement Gearing Up Your first area of concern is the rollerblades themselves....

A breathing machine is a piece of equipment that facilitates breathing in the case of low oxygen levels in the blood stream. It aids the body to overcome the inability to breath normally, such as during respiratory failure. Many people have afflictions such as asthmatic conditions, lung cancer and chronic obstructive lung disease. Breathing machines help the victim of lung problems carry on a more normal life by aiding the person as needed....

Consider venison a leaner, high-protein alternative to beef that's low in calories. Image Credit: Shaiith/iStock/GettyImages If you’ve already ditched beef for bison, you may be interested in adding venison to your list. Low in calories and fat and high in protein, venison meat comes from deer and is a lean source of protein to consider trying. Advertisement Read more: 2 Reasons Your Body Will Thank You for Eating Less Red Meat Video of the Day Venison Nutrition Despite that it’s considered a form of red meat, venison is low in fat and calories....

Eating certain vitamins can help fight cellulite. Cellulite is the lumpy appearance of skin brought on by pockets of fat that collect in certain areas of your body, including your buttocks and thighs. Many products boast of cellulite reduction, but you can help ward off these fatty deposits by increasing your intake of certain vitamins. Though vitamins cannot completely rid your body of cellulite, they can help in fighting it off and reducing its appearance....

Weight Loss Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Wavebreak Media/Getty Images When you lose weight, the numbers on the scale aren’t the only things that change. Thermoregulation, or the modulation of body temperature, changes as your metabolism and body fat percentage shift. Put on an extra layer of clothing and drink a steaming cup of herbal tea to keep yourself warm and toasty. Advertisement Thermodynamics The body of a person with overweight or obesity has a small surface area to volume ratio....

Pouring milk into a bowl. Image Credit: View Stock/View Stock/Getty Images Lactose is milk sugar–it’s much less sweet than table sugar, and occurs naturally in milk and other dairy products. While you can certainly burn the chemical components of lactose for energy, it doesn’t serve unique cellular functions–you can burn other carbohydrates instead with no ill effect whatsoever. Advertisement Lactose Chemistry Lactose is a disaccharide, meaning it’s made up of two smaller sugar units....