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Knowing the difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercise can help you create a well-rounded fitness program. Image Credit: jacoblund/iStock/GettyImages As if exercising wasn’t hard enough, the different types of exercise can be difficult to understand. The difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercise is an important one to know because they differ in how your body produces energy during exercise. This helps you understand how your body burns fat and how you can build endurance, strength and power to improve your overall fitness and performance....

The Hormone Diet restricts a variety of nutritious foods that have not been shown to affect hormone levels. Image Credit: OksanaKiian/iStock/GettyImages When it comes to finding the best weight-loss diet, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. That’s why programs that promise personalization to your unique body, like the Hormone Diet, can seem so tempting. Advertisement But is there any real science behind this eating approach, and can it actually help you lose weight?...

The direction that your toes point while squatting can either hurt or help your knees. Image Credit: VioletaStoimenova/E+/GettyImages Squats are one of the best exercises for building your lower body muscles. They work your glutes, quadriceps and hamstrings, “which means you will be able to get stronger, run faster and jump higher,” says exercise physiologist Todd Buckingham, PhD. Advertisement Plus, they work your core muscles in a more functional way than a plank, according to a June 2018 study from the ​Journal of Human Kinetics​....

Your body can work against you, especially for the last few pounds. Image Credit: Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images You’re down to the last 15 pounds of weight loss, but the scale will not to budge. It can be incredibly frustrating when you hit a plateau in your weight loss, especially when you’re so close to reaching your goals. Once you understand what’s causing your plateau, you’ll be able to make the adjustments necessary to finish strong....

A boxer with a jump rope in a locker room. Image Credit: Thinkstock Images/Stockbyte/Getty Images Preparing to get in the ring for a boxing match is a serious endeavor. You are going up against an opponent who is trying to hurt you, and you are trying to do the same to him. To compete in this sport, you need to be in tip-top condition. Jumping rope is a key exercise for building speed, quickness, footwork, endurance and confidence....

Stretching the muscles of your feet can help prevent cramps. Image Credit: spukkato/iStock/GettyImages Foot cramps after exercise can be a debilitating experience, particularly if you are engaged in exercises that require you be on your feet the whole time. You might be tempted to stop exercising, but in many cases, the cramps can be prevented by taking precautionary measures. However, if your foot cramps don’t go away despite taking preventive steps, consult a doctor to rule out an underlying medical problem....

Instead of begrudgingly choking them down, try these cooking hacks that make bitter greens taste great. Image Credit: Sarsmis/iStock/GettyImages Do you find broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage too bitter to bear? If you’ve been begrudgingly choking these veggies down, you might have choked it up to being a picky eater. Turns out, your DNA may be to blame for your persnickety palate. Advertisement Indeed, some people inherit a gene variant that makes them super sensitive to bitter compounds in greens like peppery arugula, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions....

Gaining 2 pounds over the weekend would require eating far more than a few big meals. Image Credit: d3sign/Moment/GettyImages After a weekend of fun, delicious food, yummy cocktails and maybe a skipped workout or two, it can be discouraging to see a massive jump on the scale. Advertisement While overeating can make you gain weight over a few weeks or months, your weekend weight gain probably won't do much serious damage....

Processed meats are a major part of the American diet. Image Credit: Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images At the most basic level, the secret of a healthy diet is simple – eat plenty of vegetables, fruit and whole grains; get your protein from lean animal sources, fatty fish or protein-rich plants; limit junk foods; and don’t consume more calories than you need. While even the cleanest diet has room for the occasional indulgence, giving in to an ongoing craving for less nutritious fare can diminish the overall quality of your diet, possibly leading to undesired health consequences like weight gain....

Eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of healthy fats may boost your natural pregnenolone supply. Image Credit: hiphotos35/iStock/GettyImages You may have heard that boosting your levels of pregnenolone, a precursor to steroid hormones such as testosterone and DHEA, may help stave off many of the consequences of diminishing levels of key hormones, like low sex drive, aging and fatigue. But what do the experts say? Advertisement Produced by your adrenal glands and converted from cholesterol, pregnenolone is the raw material or building block that your body uses to make the "stress hormone" cortisol and other hormones, including progesterone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and estrogen, explains Luiza Petre, MD, a cardiologist and professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City....

Loss of bone density can be an issue when older people lose weight, but resistance exercise can help counter this effect. Image Credit: Cavan Images/Cavan/GettyImages With all the benefits that come with dropping pounds when you’re overweight — improved blood pressure, more energy and lower risk of disease, to name just a few — it may be surprising to learn that there can be disadvantages, too. Advertisement True, there aren't many, as long as you're taking a safe, slow-and-steady-wins-the-race approach....

A swimmer is taking a deep breath. Image Credit: ViktorCap/iStock/Getty Images For the beginner or intermediate swimmer, bloating, belching and stomach pains often follow a long swim. This is commonly due to aerophagia, or the act of ingesting air while swimming. The potential causes of aerophagia while swimming are varied, but technique, eating habit and pre-swim meals contributing to this condition. With these potential causes in mind, try targeting each to help determine which one is causing you to swallow air while swimming....

High-repetition, low-weight resistance exercises build muscle tone without bulking you up. Image Credit: JGI/Tom Grill/Tetra images/GettyImages In This Article How Fat Loss Happens Strength Exercises Cardio Exercises Nutrition Many people are hesitant to do too many arm exercises for fear of gaining bulky muscle mass. If you want arm tone without the bodybuilder look, high-repetition, low-weight resistance exercises are the key. Advertisement There are several exercises that tone but don't bulk up each part of your arm if you use low-weight rather than heavier dumbbells....

Air fryers may minimize the post-meal mess, but they still require regular cleaning. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative How Bad Is It Really? sets the record straight on all the habits and behaviors you’ve heard might be unhealthy. In This Article Risks Cleaning Frequency How to Clean Air Fryers Summary When it comes to convenient kitchen appliances, air fryers are right up there with toaster ovens and microwaves. Cooking with these fantastic fryers cuts calories from your food and saves a ton of time (they crisp up just about anything in a matter of minutes)....

A woman peels an apple. Image Credit: arhiady/iStock/Getty Images Some people just don’t like the skin, while others send apple peels down the drain due to potential pesticide residue or wax. But you’ll lose some significant nutrients if you don’t eat the peel. About one-third of the apple’s total fiber is lost if you toss the peel in the trash. You also eliminate all of the folate of the apple, and most of its vitamin E and vitamin K....

So long as your coffee isn't rife with added sugars, dietitians give you the green light to sip. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative How Bad Is It Really? sets the record straight on all the habits and behaviors you’ve heard might be unhealthy. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative How Bad Is It Really? sets the record straight on all the habits and behaviors you’ve heard might be unhealthy. Artificial Flavors Health Risks Who Should Limit It Natural Flavoring Ideas The Bottom Line To add a hint of caramel (or another go-to flavor) to your cup, manufacturers may coat coffee beans with artificial flavors that have been combined with a solvent called propylene glycol, a common food additive and flavoring agent, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry....

Dairy products on a wooden table. Image Credit: Osipovfoto/iStock/Getty Images Lactose intolerance does not affect the cardiovascular system and does not cause heart palpitations. A milk allergy, which can cause heart palpitations, is commonly confused with lactose intolerance. If you develop heart palpitations after eating dairy products, you need to call your doctor because it may be a sign of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that could lead to death....

A male pharmacist discusses medication with a female customer. Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia/iStock/Getty Images Vitamins and medications are chemical compounds that affect the body’s metabolic function. Just as medications may have toxic interactions when taken together, they may also have toxic interactions when taken with vitamins. While many patients discuss their prescribed medications with their doctors, vitamin supplements sold over the counter often are not considered. Patients are encouraged to discuss all medications, supplements and over-the-counter products with their doctor to reduce the risk of adverse interactions....

A tray of sliced blood oranges. Image Credit: Tuned_In/iStock/Getty Images Both blood oranges and common oranges are nutrient-rich citrus fruits that make them suitable additions to a well-rounded and healthful diet. Common oranges include recognizable citrus varieties like Valencia, California and navel oranges, but the more distinctive blood orange possesses a richer red or maroon color and raspberry-like flavor and scent. Despite their color and flavor difference, the two varieties of oranges share comparable nutritional statistics....

Add plenty of fiber-rich vegetables to your diet to help you stay full for longer. Image Credit: agrobacter/iStock/GettyImages There’s no shortage of strategies and tips out there to help you lose weight. But what if you want to avoid putting on weight in the first place? Advertisement Forty-two percent of U.S. adults today are affected by obesity, which is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)....