Activity helps you manage your weight at any age. Image Credit: moodboard/moodboard/Getty Images Weight loss at any age can improve your sense of well-being, your body’s functions and overall health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that losing just 5 to 10 percent of your body weight – about 10 to 20 pounds for a 200-pound person – can improve your blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels....
A bowl of bean soup with bacon and tomatoes. Image Credit: LemonTreeKid/iStock/Getty Images Beans are high in protein, iron, fiber and other nutrients – and low in fat, cholesterol and sodium. In addition, beans are inexpensive, delicious in a variety of dishes and an excellent substitute for meat. Eating beans may have some drawbacks, however, including gastrointestinal problems. Advertisement Gastrointestinal Problems The high amount of nondigestible fiber in beans may cause gastrointestinal problems if you aren’t used to eating them....
Thanks to its fiber, celery won't cause significant spikes in blood sugar. Image Credit: Nikolaeva Elena/iStock/GettyImages All carbohydrate-rich foods are likely to have some sort of effect on your blood glucose. Celery is high in fiber and contains very low amounts of digestible carbohydrates in the form of sugars. Ultimately, the crunchy stalks aren’t likely to have drastic effects on your blood glucose. Due to its fiber content, celery may actually be a good tool to help keep your blood glucose levels under control....
Talk to a doctor or trained fitness professional for information concerning your ideal weight. Image Credit: Hero Images/Hero Images/GettyImages Medical and fitness personnel often use body weight to compare individuals to norms based on the general population. But if you have an athletic build, chances are you’re toward the higher end of the charts. You might look like an Adonis or Aphrodite, but your greater lean muscle mass and bone density could get you categorized as having overweight or having obesity based on weight alone....
Recovery heart rate is a good indicator of your fitness level. Image Credit: jacoblund/iStock/GettyImages Your heart’s ability to return to normal levels after physical activity is a good indicator of fitness. A healthy heart will recover quickly in the first three minutes after stopping exercise. Advertisement Being out of shape or having certain health conditions can result in a higher heart rate after exercise. You can improve your recovery heart rate by becoming fitter....
The shake diet plan is a meal replacement system in which you substitute a protein shake for one or two meals per day in order to lose weight. A variety of commercial products are available. Although this type of diet can lead to weight loss, protein shakes are not a magical solution for weight issues, cautions Mayo Clinic nutritionist and licensed dietitian Katherine Zeratsky. Features On a shake diet plan, you generally replace breakfast and lunch with a protein shake, and then eat a healthy 600-calorie dinner....
GNC offers a wide variety of diet pills that may not help people lose any long-lasting weight. Image Credit: Kwangmoozaa/iStock/Getty Images Although sales for diet pills are down, they’re still a major money maker for stores like GNC. The retailer that sells health and nutrition-related products has a list of best-selling items, including the top diet pills. While this list may seem like a good place to start when searching for a little extra something to help lose those unwanted pounds, the pills may lighten the customer’s wallet more than they do the customer....
Stiffness following knee replacement surgery can be caused by a variety of factors. Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia/iStock/GettyImages A total knee replacement, also known as knee arthroplasty, can feel like a second chance at life after years of dealing with a sore, arthritic knee. While most people achieve improved range of motion and better all-around function after a knee replacement, this isn’t always the outcome. Unfortunately, some patients still experience a stiff knee after surgery....
Try to eat a nutritious snack before exercising if you can't stomach a full meal. Image Credit: Antonis Liokouras/iStock/Getty Images If you want to lose weight or get in shape, following a nutritious eating plan and a regular exercise program are the most effective ways to achieve your goals. Although it may be tempting to severely restrict your calories to help you lose weight faster, not eating can cause a variety of problems when you’re exercising according to TeensHealth From Nemours....
To maintain the most nutritional value, eat your beets raw or lightly steamed. Image Credit: sagarmanis/iStock/GettyImages Adding beets to your diet can not only brighten up your dinner plate, but it can also improve your health. Because of their earthy flavor, which some describe as “dirt-like,” beets can be an acquired taste. If you’re “team beet,” though, you’ll enjoy the many health benefits of beets — but they do come with a few side effects....
Belly fat is the hardest to lose, but a combination of diet and exercise will melt it right off. Image Credit: Stevica Mrdja / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages A softly rounded abdomen was all the rage way back in the Italian Renaissance, and few can look at a voluptuous Rubens painting without appreciating the lush softness of his models. But just as standards of beauty have changed, so has our understanding of what your shape says about your health....
Cycling works several muscles in your lower body, including your quads, glutes, hamstrings and hips. Image Credit: Cavan Images/Cavan/GettyImages From improved heart health and weight loss to strength training and stress relief, the benefits of cycling are well-documented. But when your butt finds that seat and your feet start to pedal, you may be surprised at just how beneficial cycling is for your body — and your mind. Advertisement Tip Cycling works several muscles in your lower body, including your quads, glutes, hamstrings and hips, but when it's done vigorously for exercise, your abs are also getting a great workout....
Many people seek out yoga as a complement to other types of exercise, such as weightlifting and playing sports. Image Credit: Hero Images/Hero Images/GettyImages Many people seek out yoga as a complement to other types of exercise, such as weight lifting and playing sports. For avid gym-goers, yoga and weightlifting work particularly well as an exercise regimen. After stressing your muscles with strength training, yoga can help to soothe sore muscles....
Don't let the holidays completely overwhelm you. Image Credit: Tatiana Dyuvbanova/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Side Bend Heart Opener Seated Cat Cow Seated Forward Fold The holidays: They're the most wonderful time of the year, but they can also be the most nerve-wracking. With the pressure to pick the perfect present for everyone on your list, fear of missing your flight or worry about clashing with relatives, the holidays can bring up a lot of anxiety....
Losing 50 pounds in three months is more than double the recommended rate of weight loss. Image Credit: LuckyBusiness/iStock/GettyImages Losing 50 pounds in three months is an ambitious goal that’s not recommended by health professionals. While you can see major results in your health and appearance by sticking to a healthy eating and exercise plan for three months, it’s more realistic to aim to lose between 12 and 24 pounds in that timeframe....
Want to measure muscle mass gains? You've got some options. Image Credit: kupicoo/E+/GettyImages In This Article What Is Muscle Mass? BMI vs. Muscle Mass Averages How to Calculate Reasons for Low Levels How to Build When you're working toward health and fitness goals, you may be interested in knowing more about your body composition — or what percentage of your weight is fat mass and what is lean mass. Specifically, you may be wondering how to measure muscle mass....
Lose upper-body fat by increasing your physical activity, eating the right foods and toning your muscles. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages If you’re sick and tired of dealing with pesky upper-body fat, you’re not alone: Many of us carry fat in our upper backs, torsos and upper arms. The good news is, you can easily trim the fat in your upper body by increasing your physical activity, doing targeted toning exercises and eating a healthy, well-balanced diet....
Icing, via the use of an ice pack or an ice bath, is one of the most commonly used techniques in sports for preventing or treating injuries, such as sore muscles. Although some athletes may use ice baths after a strenuous exercise, some believe that icing before exercise may also provide benefits. Although ice baths may help reduce pain, it is not clear what effect, if any, they have on muscle function....
Drinking softened water is unlikely to raise your blood pressure. Ingesting large amounts of sodium can lead to hypertension, or high blood pressure. Because hypertension can cause kidney and heart damage, it is important to limit the amount of sodium in your diet, especially if you already have high blood pressure or are at risk of developing the condition. However, drinking water with salt added, such as softened water, won't likely raise your blood pressure....
Coffee Mate has few natural ingredients. Image Credit: Michelle Lee Photography/iStock/GettyImages Providing 30 ways to add a little pizzazz to your coffee, Coffee-Mate coffee creamer comes in 23 regular flavors and a variety of seasonal flavors. Coffee-Mate is available in fat-free, sugar-free, all-natural, liquid and powder forms. Advertisement However, Coffee-Mate isn't a significant source of nutrients. Here's the list of ingredients for their most popular types. Video of the Day Regular Coffee-Mate The ingredients in liquid Coffee-Mate vary slightly depending on flavor, but in general, they include:...
