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Pull ups are a great back workout. Image Credit: Neustockimages/E+/GettyImages Few back exercises are as challenging — both mentally and physically — as doing pull-ups. But they’re well worth the effort, because they work every single muscle in your back all at once. Advertisement Tip Although the primary power for pull-ups comes from your latissimus dorsi, this exercise also works every major muscle in your back. Proper Form for Pull-Ups No matter how you choose to grip the bar, basic form for pull-ups remains the same....

Skinless potatoes are permitted for some patients before a colonscopy. Image Credit: Purestock/Purestock/Getty Images A colonscopy exam requires a special diet for the procedure to be successful. The exam is performed to rule out colorectal cancer and test for abnormalities related to the large intestine. A special diet is often followed several days before the procedure occurs. When choosing the proper vegetables to include in your diet, you should consider several key factors....

Bruised shins when running can be due to impact stress. Image Credit: Todor Tsvetkov/E+/GettyImages Whether you’re a novice runner or a seasoned veteran, bruises on the shins from running can rear their ugly head from time to time, interfering with your training and competition schedules. Advertisement However, shin pain caused by running is not inevitable. Learning to identify the possible causes can set you on the path to recovery and improved performance....

Drinking beer or anything alcoholic may cause heartburn. Image Credit: Christopher Zagyi/iStock/GettyImages Most everyone has heartburn occasionally, and an array of food and drink may contribute to the cause. That includes beer, a heartburn risk because it’s alcoholic, acidic and carbonated. Some beers also have added ingredients — chocolate, coffee, chili peppers or mint — linked with heartburn. Advertisement Read more: Bad Effects of Beer Video of the Day Understanding Acid Reflux Your stomach is connected to your mouth via a tube known as the esophagus....

Eating too few calories can contribute to a slower metabolism and losing muscle mass. Image Credit: NelliSyr/iStock/GettyImages If you’re trying to lose weight, it may seem tempting to drastically decrease your daily calorie intake. However, an intake under 1,200 calories per day for women and 1,500 calories per day for men can slow your metabolism and cause muscle loss. Advertisement Tip Eating too few calories can contribute to a slower metabolism and losing muscle mass....

Stay dedicated to a healhty diet and exercise program to shed pounds. Image Credit: Kenishirotie/iStock/Getty Images If you want to lose a significant amount of weight, you need a specialized plan of attack. Weight loss requires creating a calorie deficit, or burning more calories than you consume. To lose 30 lbs. in nine weeks, you need to lose between 3 and 4 lbs. per week. Following a low-fat diet plan will help you eat fewer calories....

Made from various tough cuts of beef, cube steak is processed in a way that helps create a more tender piece of meat. Image Credit: Zoran Kompar/iStock/GettyImages Made from various tough cuts of beef, cube steak is processed in a way that helps create a more tender piece of meat. However, the cooking method you use may turn your tender cube steak into a chewy, tough slab of inedible meat....

Cooking your seafood with lemon or adding a spritz at the end is an easy way to get rid of that fishy flavor. Image Credit: VICUSCHKA/Moment/GettyImages If you’ve ever cooked fish at home, you’re probably familiar with that unpleasant “fishy” taste seafood sometimes takes on. It can be enough to make anyone want to stop eating it altogether. But before quitting the salmon and tuna steaks, know that there are a few easy methods that help fish taste less fishy — so you can enjoy dinner and reap its benefits....

Properly cleaning your running shoes will help them last longer. Image Credit: LightFieldStudios/iStock/GettyImages Running shoes are essential fitness tools. But sweat is just one of the many components that can give running shoes a dirty appearance. Weather conditions and grime buildup also affect the way shoes look and smell. Advertisement Washing running shoes will not only make the shoes look newer, but also prolong their life. For quick and straightforward cleaning of your running shoes, you only need to use your washing machine....

Increasing fluid intake may help reduce creatinine levels. Image Credit: Nastasic/E+/GettyImages Creatinine is a waste product formed when creatine – a protein found primarily in your muscles – is broken down in your body. Your kidneys are responsible for eliminating the majority of this waste product, so blood creatinine levels are frequently used as an indicator of kidney function. If your creatinine level is too high, this often means your kidneys are not working well....

Wear lightweight clothing and sunscreen when exercising in the heat. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Digital Vision/Getty Images Working out in very cold temperatures or extremely hot temperatures pose safety risks to the athlete. While workout temperature preference may vary somewhat from person to person, most exercisers perform and feel their best when they work out at a moderate air temperature of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. When training for a race or sport in extremely cold or hot conditions, however, the athlete should work out in similar climatic conditions to gradually acclimate the body....

references Planned Parenthood: “How do I prevent vaginitis?” Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative Effects Best Wipes for Adults Alternatives Bottom Line How Bad Is It Really to Push Back Your Bathroom Trip? by Bojana Galic How Bad Is It Really to Use Wet Wipes?...

Add at least three fruit servings to your daily diet. Consuming at least three daily servings of fruit will help to maintain your health, but you should eat more non-starchy fruits to minimize calories and sugar. Fruits darker in color are typically packed with the most nutrients. To make the best choices when it comes to fruit, it is important to understand the four fruit groups: sweet, melons, acidic and sub-acidic....

Noom factors in each user's activity levels to determine their personalized plan. Image Credit: Getty Images/ kali9 If losing weight seems to get more and more difficult as you get older, despite making healthier choices over the years, there’s actually some science behind the struggle. “Biologically, our basal metabolic rate (how many calories we burn just by being alive) decreases with age,” says Rebecca Washuta, LDN, nutritionist and coach manager at Noom....

Grapeseed oil is suitable for cooking. Image Credit: svf74/iStock/GettyImages Olive oil is extracted from olives, while grapeseed oil is a byproduct of the winemaking industry. Both are suitable as cooking oils for use in many of the same dishes, but there are some distinct differences in taste. Although the fat composition differs slightly, grapeseed oil and olive oil are nutritionally similar, so whichever you choose may offer health benefits. Advertisement Calories and Fat Content Both olive oil and grapeseed oil contain approximately 120 calories per tablespoon, according to the USDA National Nutrient Database....

Peanuts -- and peanut butter -- provide some omega-3 fatty acids. Image Credit: Kesu01/iStock/Getty Images Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of heart-healthy polyunsaturated fat, nicknamed “PUFA”. These beneficial fats offer benefits to your health, most notably their effect on improving heart health. You can get omega-3 fatty acids in your diet by eating a variety of nuts, including peanuts. Since peanuts provide a minimal amount of omega-3s, they should not be your only source of this beneficial fat....

The American Cancer Society recommends eating fruits and vegetables of different colors. Image Credit: nuttakit/iStock/Getty Images The American Cancer Society recommends eating fruits and vegetables of different colors—yellow, orange, blue, red and purple. Generally, the more colorful the fruit or vegetable, the more nutrients it contains along with cancer-fighting properties, antioxidants. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture, purple foods contain important nutrients called anthocyanins, which are responsible for the purple, blue and red colors of some fruits....

An elevated heart rate can be a serious sign when associated with diarrhea and vomiting. Vomiting and diarrhea are very common symptoms that occur together and usually are the result of something minor that goes away on its own within two to three days. An elevated heart rate can also be caused by many different things, such as exercise, medications, anxiety and fear. When an elevated heart rate is combined with vomiting and diarrhea, it can be a sign of something more serious....

A young woman is filing her nails. Image Credit: Thinkstock Images/Stockbyte/Getty Images Most white lines on nails are harmless and should be of no concern. However, if you have similar lines on many nails or a pair of lines that runs all the way across the nail, these could be an indication of a more serious underlying condition. If you have these types of white lines or if your lines don’t go away as your nails grow, seek medical advice from your doctor....

Unusual Symptoms of Shingles Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages Shingles is quite common. In fact, one in three people in the U.S. will develop the shingles infection in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms can vary from mild annoyances to a widespread blistery and painful rash. Advertisement Just What Is Shingles? “Shingles is caused by a reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox,” explains Rhoda Chang, MD, a primary care physician with WakeMed Health & Hospitals in Raleigh, N....