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An Egg McMuffin may seem like a healthy breakfast choice, but is it? Image Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images When it comes to breakfast, the most appealing morning meals are usually the ones you can grab and gobble on the way to work. Advertisement Sure, scrambling a few eggs doesn't take long, but it's so much easier to swing by the drive-thru under the golden arches. Video of the Day According to one 2010 survey, one in five Americans choose to start their day at McDonald's....

Chocolate can affect the heart. Image Credit: George Doyle/Stockbyte/Getty Images Heart palpitations, including the feeling that your heart has skipped a beat, though not necessarily serious, may startle you. They have a variety of causes, including chocolate, or more specifically, some of the compounds in chocolate. Dark chocolate provides antioxidants not found in milk chocolate or white chocolate. It also increases arterial blood flow, reduces your risk for blood clots, and boosts brain chemicals that may improve your mood....

1 of 10 Overview In our society, sitting down is the standard. Research from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is continuing to show that -- although there is a push for an increase in physical activity to lower the incidences of preventable diseases such as heart disease -- many people remain sedentary or have jobs where they are sitting down most of the day. Spending a large amount of the day sitting at a desk or sitting in traffic in a car does not have to stop you from doing some basic exercises and focused movements to activate muscles that can also improve functional movement....

The cross-trainer is a great way to lose weight and get in shape. Image Credit: microgen/iStock/GettyImages The cross-trainer, also known as an elliptical, is a low-impact cardiovascular exercise machine. The machine mimics the movement of cross-country skiing, making it the perfect exercise machine for those who have lower-body injuries and can’t handle the stress that comes with running or jogging. If you are looking to lose weight but have injury issues or simply don’t like the treadmill, the elliptical might be the cardio machine for you....

Punching bags are a key part of a home boxing gym. Image Credit: rez-art/iStock/GettyImages While being able to punch, jab and uppercut your way through a high-intensity class at your favorite boxing studio gives you a full-body workout and a built-in community, going to the gym isn’t always an option. One solution is to bring the studio home. Advertisement "Boxing is one of the best and most addictive workouts imaginable and having the convenience of it at home enables you to get in an effective workout at any time," says former U....

A woman is stretching. Image Credit: bigphotomaster/iStock/Getty Images Dynamic stretches put your joints and muscles through a range of motion. These help you warm up and loosen up, preparing your muscles and joints for the strenuous activity of weightlifting. However, you shouldn’t do static stretches that involve gradually easing into a stretch, and holding the position. According to a study published in the March 2013 issue of the “Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports,” static stretches before weightlifting reduce your muscles’ ability to perform optimally, so stick to dynamic stretching before you lift weights....

Gastric acid. Image Credit: decade3d/iStock/Getty Images Prilosec is the brand name for omeprazole, a protein pump inhibitor that is used to reduced the amount of acid in the stomach. The medication is available both over the counter and by prescription. The over-the-counter dosage is 20mg whereas the prescription version is available in 10mg, 20mg and 40mg dosages. Advertisement Probiotics are beneficial bacteria found in the gastrointestinal tract. The beneficial bacteria prevents harmful bacteria from causing problems....

Your diet plays the biggest role in toning your body. Image Credit: istetiana/Moment/GettyImages Let’s face it. Muscles on a man are attractive. A toned physique radiates health and strength, and it not only makes you look better, but feel better as well. Muscle toning has two components: building muscle and burning fat. Eating a clean diet, getting in some weekly cardio and doing resistance-training activities can help men achieve their toned body goals....

Cinnamon at medicinal levels may not be suitable for breastfeeding mothers. Image Credit: Maksym Khytra/iStock/Getty Images There are a few types of cinnamon. The two most common are called Ceylon and Cassia, but cinnamon is rarely identified by type on packaging. Cinnamon is frequently used as a spice in recipes and sprinkled on foods such as oatmeal, but it is also available in supplement form for medicinal purposes. Supplements usually are taken in doses totaling between 1 g to 1....

A muscular man holds his shoulder. Image Credit: Staras/iStock/Getty Images Each time you move a part of your body, you use tendons, which are specialized structures that attach muscles to bones. They’re made of tough, nonelastic tissue – called fibrous connective tissue – that transfers the force produced when a muscle contracts. Tendons are found in most parts of your body, including your arms, legs, hands and feet, and even your head and torso....

An improperly executed deadlift can result in a sprain or strain of the lower back. Image Credit: SerrNovik/iStock/Getty Images Don’t let the simplicity of the deadlift fool you – when properly executed, the old school exercise increases your core strength while working more muscles than any other single weightlifting move. On the other hand, improper execution could put too much stress on your lower back, leading to a painful sprain or strain....

Muscle recovery techniques can counter soreness after a basketball game. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images When the final whistle sounds at a basketball game, your responsibilities to defend an opponent and execute your team’s offense are replaced by your responsibilities to care for your own body. Following healthy post-game recovery techniques will do more than ward off feelings of muscle fatigue and stiffness. Proper recovery will also refresh your body for your next practice, game or tournament and keep you performing at your best....

An overhead view of a perilla plant. Image Credit: yumehana/iStock/Getty Images The leaves of the perilla plant, which is an herb, may be an effective ingredient to add to your meals, as Drugs.com notes that perilla is purported to prevent food poisoning. These leaves may also have anti-inflammatory effects and are said to promote healthier cholesterol levels. However, Drugs.com notes that there is not adequate clinical evidence to support these claims....

Eating foods rich in omega-3s, like salmon, can help protect your body from inflammation. Image Credit: iuliia_n/iStock/GettyImages Inflammation is a built-in defense mechanism in the body. For instance, the process helps heal a cut — that’s why you see some redness, swelling, and sometimes even heat around a cut. That’s the kind of inflammation that’s good, healthy and typical. Advertisement There's another kind — called chronic inflammation — that's not healthy, and over time can harm your overall health and put you at a higher risk of developing chronic conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, autoimmune illnesses and even Alzheimer's....

Pork shoulder is high protein and several B vitamins. Image Credit: from_my_point_of_view/iStock/GettyImages Pork shoulder cuts commonly found at a meat shop or the butcher section of your supermarket include arm picnic, arm roast, arm steak, blade Boston roast, blade steak, smoked whole picnic, smoked shoulder roll and pork hocks. Advertisement The pork shoulder arm picnic is essentially the entire shoulder. All of the other shoulder cuts come from the picnic. Pork shoulder nutrition information will vary somewhat among the cuts and, in similar cuts, will depend on whether or not the meat is cured or smoked....

A bowl of risotto with zucchini. Image Credit: NatasaMandic/iStock/Getty Images Risotto is a traditional Italian dish made from Arborio rice, a specific type of short-grained rice. Usually, the rice is cooked slowly in broth with frequent stirring, and then mixed with cheese, cream, butter and vegetables, meat or seafood. Although risotto can be a main dish, it’s most often a side dish or a first course in a bigger Italian meal....

To avoid injuries, corral someone to help you flip or rotate a mattress. Image Credit: katleho Seisa/E+/GettyImages In This Article Flipping vs. Rotating Benefits Downsides Mattress Type Frequency How to Do It Flipping or rotating your mattress usually falls somewhere on the list of Nagging To-Dos That Never Seem To Get Done. So is it actually worth prioritizing, and if so, how often do you really need to do it? Advertisement Turns out there's no one-size-fits-all recommendation....

Folic acid is safe if taken in the recommended dosage; however, its overuse may cause some side effects in the long run. Image Credit: Nehru Sulejmanovski / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Folate, or vitamin B9, is the active ingredient in folic acid. It is crucial during pregnancy and beneficial in treating various chronic conditions. As a supplement, folic acid is safe if taken in the recommended dosage. However, its overuse may cause some side effects in the long run....

references Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library: "Gas in the Digestive Tract" U.S. National Library of Medicine: "Food Poisoning" USDA: "Cabbage, Raw" Cleveland Clinic: "Are Your Digestion Troubles Irritable Bowel Syndrome?" International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders: "Tips on Controlling Gas" Cleveland Clinic: "What Are Cruciferous Vegetables — and Why Are They So Good for You?" Mayo Clinic: "Dietary fiber: Essential for a healthy diet" U.S. National Library of Medicine: "Preventing food poisoning" Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology: "Cooking and the human commitment to a high-quality diet" Cleveland Clinic: "8 Health Benefits of Cabbage" Cabbage contains a hard-to-digest carb that may lead to stomach pain or gas for some....

Therapist stretching woman's gluteus minimus Image Credit: 4774344sean/iStock/Getty Images Your gluteus minimus muscles can become strained through overuse, often due to muscle imbalances in the legs and hips. Stretching the gluteus minimus lengthens the muscles to release tension so that the muscles can resume their proper length. Advertisement Outer-Hip Stretch The outer-hip stretch lengthens the gluteus medius as well as the gluteus minimus and tensor fasciae latae. This stretch is beneficial also for runner’s knee, piriformis syndrome, iliotibial band syndrome and trigger points in the glutes....