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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. Toning belts, ab rockers and sweat-inducing lotions might give your wallet a workout, but they won't do much for your core. So save your money: The only tool you need to get the strong abs of your dreams is your own body (well, that and some persistence)....

High-voltage power lines silhouetted against a sunset. Image Credit: vitsirisukodom/iStock/Getty Images The system of power production and distribution for use in the home relies on a series of different types of lines and poles to keep the juice flowing to your big plasma screen. High-voltage lines carry electricity for hundreds of miles, while low-voltage lines do the work of distributing all that power into homes. Most of these lines crisscrossing the nation are above ground and elevated on the familiar poles that dot the landscape....

Vegan and dairy-free yogurts are growing in popularity as more people adopt plant-based diets. Image Credit: David-Prado/iStock/GettyImages Just as the plant-based milk category has exploded, so has a burgeoning group of vegan yogurt brands. Nowadays, dairy-free yogurts are made with anything from oats and almonds to soy and flax, offering options for vegans and plant-forward eaters to enjoy the delicious and nutritious yogurt we’ve grown to love. Advertisement What to Look for When Buying Vegan Yogurt Just as with traditional dairy yogurt, it’s important to look at both the nutrition panel and the ingredients....

Vitamin B is often expelled in your urine. Image Credit: samael334/iStock/GettyImages Vitamins that make up the vitamin B complex group (such as B12, riboflavin, niacin and thiamin) are all water soluble, so they cannot be stored in the body for extended periods of time like fat-soluble vitamins. Advertisement They are often expelled in the urine, meaning these vitamins can affect how your urine appears and can even result in bright yellow pee or urine with a greenish tinge....

Cymbalta may cause weight fluctuations. Cymbalta is the name-brand version of the drug duloxetine, which is used to treat generalized anxiety disorder and depression, as well as to treat pain and tingling associated with certain diseases and conditions. Cymbalta may spur a variety of side effects, including weight loss or weight gain. To understand Cymbalta's effects, it helps to examine how the drug affects your body. Advertisement Background Cymbalta is classified as a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or SNRI....

Be careful when working with sodium carbonate to prevent injury. Also known as washing soda and soda ash, sodium carbonate has a wide range of uses. It can raise the pH of a swimming pool if the water is too acidic, it has roles in glass and paper manufacturing, and it is a component of some bleaches and automatic dishwashing detergents. Because sodium carbonate is corrosive, working with it poses certain dangers....

For medicinal purposes, every part of the hibiscus plant is used. Image Credit: adisa/iStock/Getty Images The colorful hibiscus flower is cultivated worldwide for both its aesthetic appeal and its medicinal uses, which are primarily in the form of tea. Although scientific research has been limited, studies suggest that hibiscus tea is beneficial with regard to several of its traditional uses, most notably helping reduce blood pressure and control cholesterol. Drinking hibiscus tea is relatively safe, but you should always consult a qualified health practitioner before consuming it for its medicinal properties, particularly if you are taking other medications or supplements....

A close-up of a sprig of jiaogulan tea on a white counter. Image Credit: eye-blink/iStock/Getty Images Jiaogulan is a climbing vine native to China, Japan and Korea. As a member of the Cucurbitaceae family of plants, it is related to the watermelon, cucumber, pumpkin and other melons and gourds. There are several health benefits attributed to drinking jiaogulan tea, with no documented toxicity or drug interactions. However, there are a few potential side effects associated with this herb, including nausea....

Unusual abdominal pain may indicate a hernia. Image Credit: tommaso79/iStock/GettyImages You’ve got pain in your abdomen that you can’t quite identify, though it does remind you of heartburn. Maybe you’ve begun noticing it more as you’ve gotten older. It could be a sliding hiatal hernia, common in people older than 50, especially people who are overweight, according to the Mayo Clinic. Advertisement What Causes a Hiatal Hernia? Your chest is separated from your stomach by a muscle called the diaphragm....

The foods you eat can play a role in belly fat, although so do your genetics. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages Lower belly fat has a number of causes, including aging, your gender and what you eat. Your lifestyle behaviors also explain why it’s developed and is sticking around. Making changes to your diet and exercise routine, as well as your sleep schedule and how you handle stress, can help you reduce this dangerous fat....

Muffins are simple, homestyle baked goods. In theory, muffins are a very simple thing to bake, but in practice, there is a lot of variation between them. Some bakers make them high, light and fluffy, like a cake, while others make them relatively dense and close-textured. Some bake oversized muffins with an extravagant top, others keep them small enough to stay inside their paper cup. Every baker finds a personal comfort zone along that range of variation and finds or refines recipes accordingly....

A bowl of granola cereal with milk and berries. Image Credit: Magone/iStock/Getty Images A complex system of hormone-producing tissues carefully regulates many of your body’s essential functions. Called the endocrine system, it includes specialized beta cells in your pancreas that make insulin, the hormone partly responsible for regulating your blood glucose. Insulin signals your liver, muscle and other tissues to take in glucose, lowering its level in your blood. Certain foods can affect how well or poorly beta cells function to keep your blood glucose in a healthy range and help you avoid health problems....

Biosil is a supplement containing the minerals choline and silicon. BioMinerals N.V., the manufacturer of Biosil, claims that use of its supplement will result in healthier hair, nails and skin as well as improve bone and joint health. Though company-funded studies show these claims to be true, there is no independent medical evidence to prove the product works as promised. The Product Label BioSil contains choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid, or ch-OSA, a combination of choline and silicon....

Scoop of pumpkin seeds Image Credit: marekuliasz/iStock/Getty Images Ongoing controversy has surrounded vitamin B15, or pangamic acid, in determining the compound’s structure and its classification as a vitamin. Although not readily available in the United States, vitamin B15 is marketed as an antioxidant that stimulates cellular respiration. However, little evidence has been determined regarding any beneficial biochemical or physiological function of vitamin B15 as a vitamin or a drug. Advertisement History Pangamic acid was isolated from apricots seeds in 1938 by Ernst Krebs and trade named B15 in 1943....

Cold water fish is a powerhouse of nutrition. Image Credit: ansonmiao/E+/GettyImages Fish consumption has been linked to weight loss, improved blood lipids and reduced inflammation. Cold water fish, such as tuna, sardines and salmon, are loaded with protein and omega-3s. Their safety is subject to debate, though. Advertisement On one hand, health experts say that cold water fish protects your heart and lowers bad cholesterol. Some even claim that it may help prevent obesity and its complications....

More research is needed to determine if bitter melon is effective for people with diabetes and at what dosage. Image Credit: TRADOL LIMYINGCHAROEN/iStock/GettyImages Bitter melon, also known as bitter gourd, bitter cucumber or karela, is a gourd-like plant widely cultivated in Asia, India, Africa and South America. It has long been used in traditional remedies, including some for diabetes, according to Kaiser Permanente. Advertisement While bitter melon's blood sugar-lowering properties have been demonstrated in the laboratory and in animal studies, research focusing on the use of bitter melon in people with diabetes is limited and results have been inconclusive....

Most fruits and vegetables are considered "free" foods on Weight Watchers. Image Credit: leonori/iStock/Getty Images Want to drop a few pounds, but hate that gnawing feeling of hunger? Trying a trusted diet program like Weight Watchers is one way, especially if you lean on the zero-point foods. You read that right: There are tons of free foods on the plan that’ll keep those hangry feelings at bay. Advertisement Fruits Are Free Foods In late 2015, Weight Watchers (which recently rebranded as WW) rolled out its new SmartPoints plan, which replaced the old Points Plus system....

Don't assess your progress only by the number on the scale. Image Credit: Zinkevych/iStock/GettyImages Weight loss can be confusing and frustrating, which is why many people end up giving up. Don’t let that be you — losing weight but not fat is common but can be easily fixed. Once you learn about body composition and how the body burns fat, you’ll understand how it affects the number on the scale. You’ll also learn that the number on the scale isn’t the best way to assess fat loss....

Alcohol's dehydrating effect is the main cause of hangovers. Image Credit: LeszekCzerwonka/iStock/GettyImages Drinking alcohol in moderation can fit into a healthy lifestyle. However, if you start to notice symptoms such as excessive sweating after drinking alcohol, it might be time examine your habits. Advertisement Tip Excessive sweating can be an unpleasant side effect of consuming alcohol. Typically this occurs when alcohol accumulates in the body, as the liver can only process around one drink per hour....

All it takes is a serving of fiber-rich oats along with your favorite protein powder and a few extras, and you have a great way to start your day. Image Credit: Arx0nt/iStock/GettyImages If you’re looking for creative ways to sneak in some extra protein during the day, then why not try a breakfast of oatmeal with protein powder? All it takes is a serving of fiber-rich oats along with your favorite protein powder and a few extras, and you have a great way to start your day....