Oat bran muffins on a table. Image Credit: palomadelosrios/iStock/Getty Images Fiber is an essential part of a healthy diet, but it doesn’t have to taste like cardboard. Oat bran is a type of insoluble fiber – the kind that can help lower your cholesterol. Aside from the cardiovascular bonus, oat bran can help regulate your bowel movements and keep your colon healthy. Just 1/2 cup of oat bran provides about 2....
Though it's called the glute-ham developer, you can use it to target your lower back muscles, too. Image Credit: Prasit photo/Moment/GettyImages In This Article What Is the Glute-Ham Developer? Why Use the GHD? How Do You Use It? GHD Exercises to Try The glute ham developer — better known as a GHD — may not look as big and impressive as barbell bench press set-ups or squat racks, but it's one of the best pieces of equipment for anyone looking to build lower-body strength and muscle mass....
You might want to save your French press or espresso habit for the weekends. 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 Cons: Unfiltered Coffee Pros: Unfiltered Coffee Cons: Filtered Coffee Pros: Filtered Coffee How to Drink Coffee The Bottom Line Drinking coffee comes with a bevy of health benefits, especially for your heart, but the way you brew your beans makes a difference....
Using a stationary bike during pregnancy is generally safe. Image Credit: moodboard/moodboard/Getty Images Exercising during pregnancy offers many benefits when it is done safely. Riding a stationary bike is one option, but it is important to talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise program during pregnancy. The safety of any type of exercise depends on your own medical situation. Advertisement Safety The American Pregnancy Association states that riding a stationary bike is safe during pregnancy....
Experts say eating meat every day isn't necessarily a bad thing — as long as you choose the right types. 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 Benefits of Meat Risks of Meat Best Meat to Eat The Bottom Line If you're a meat lover, you may cringe at the thought of giving up your favorite dish....
Calling rice pudding “healthy” may be a bit of a stretch, but it certainly offers some good nutritional qualities, including calcium, iron and protein. Image Credit: serezniy/iStock/GettyImages Creamy, sweet and comforting, rice pudding just may be the best way to enjoy rice. Rice pudding’s nutrition information indicates that it’s a relatively good dessert choice, when compared to ice cream or other high-calorie, high-sugar choices. Advertisement Tip Calling rice pudding “healthy” may be a bit of a stretch, but it certainly offers some good nutritional qualities, including calcium, iron and protein....
Corn contains a carbohydrate that some people have a hard time digesting. Image Credit: Boarding1Now/iStock/GettyImages It’s not uncommon to experience bloating after eating tortilla chips or corn on the cob. Rich in fiber, this grain can wreak havoc on your gut and cause diarrhea and digestive distress. Additionally, the carbs in corn are hard to digest, especially for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Advertisement Tip Corn may cause diarrhea, bloating and stomach pain when consumed in excess....
Probiotic supplements may promote gut health, but they aren't usually necessary. Image Credit: erdikocak/iStock/GettyImages Probiotics can help you maintain a healthy digestive system, keep your gut microbiome in check and reduce gas and bloating. Not too shabby for bacteria, right? But, probiotics can also cause flatulence as a side effect. Choosing the best probiotic for gas may require some experimentation. Advertisement Probiotics and Gut Health Your body develops bacteria in your gut, and by age 5, the microbiota is fully developed, says Tarek Hassanein, MD, director of the Southern California GI & Liver Centers....
Nonstarchy vegetables, such as carrots, celery and spinach, are great choices for people with diabetes. Image Credit: infrontphoto/iStock/GettyImages Nutritionists and doctors extol the virtues of eating more vegetables. Not only are they chock-full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, they are also rich in fiber, which helps control blood sugar. This makes them especially beneficial for people with diabetes. With the exception of a few, vegetables are healthy and recommended additions to your diabetes-friendly grocery list....
You might be sick if you have unexplained muscle soreness. Image Credit: fizkes/iStock/GettyImages The human body has more than 600 muscles that perform different functions, some that you can control, such as your skeletal muscles, and others, such as your cardiac muscles, which function automatically. Muscle soreness or pain, which is called myalgia, ranges from mild to extreme and happens to most people occasionally. Myalgia can occur in any part of the body and last for days or months....
If you find that chin-ups feel better than pull-ups, you might also like doing neutral-grip chin-ups. Image Credit: Cavan Images/Cavan/GettyImages Chin-up vs. pull-up: The only real difference between these fantastic back exercises is your hand position and how it, in turn, affects your shoulders. If you find that chin-ups feel better than pull-ups, you might also like doing neutral-grip chin-ups. Advertisement A Look at the Terminology The words chin-up and pull-up are often used interchangeably — small surprise, because both exercises center around pulling your chin up to the level of a high bar....
A slice of bread with peanut butter spread on it. Image Credit: Karen Sarraga/iStock/Getty Images Chocolate hazelnut spreads such as Nutella can be a delicious way to add variety to your sandwiches and baked goods. However, you might not want to give up on peanut butter just yet, since it has a number of advantages over chocolate hazelnut spreads when it comes to nutrition. You should consider these chocolate hazelnut spreads more of a treat than a go-to food, due to their high sugar content....
Olympic vs. standard weights Olympic plates vs. standard plates, which is right for your weightlifting? In truth, Olympic weights win by almost every comparison. Olympic plates are less disruptive while lifting, more adaptable and they are the weight of choice for competition. However, standard plates are often priced lower and are fine for lifters who aren't looking to go too heavy. Compare the two and decide which is right for you....
A raspy voice after jogging may be caused by a dry throat or allergies. Image Credit: gpointstudio/iStock/Getty Images If you’re experiencing a raspy voice after jogging, it may be related to a dry throat or exercise-induced asthma. When your vocal cords become irritated or inflamed, it causes hoarseness, and that can lead to laryngitis. Most of the time laryngitis is associated with a cold or other illness, but it may be caused by vocal cord irritants or allergens that you breath in during jogging....
Black seed oil can be taken in a variety of ways. Image Credit: Rouzes/iStock/GettyImages Black seed oil can be taken in a variety of ways. For example, black seed oil for skin can be found in skin care products. It can be ingested directly in the form of black seed oil capsules or applied topically to the skin to provide it with benefits. Advertisement Black seed oil can also be added to lots of products, such as shampoos, massage oils, fragrances and homemade skin care concoctions....
Muscle cramps is a negative side effect of overworked abs. Image Credit: SeventyFour/iStock/GettyImages When you work out, you want to feel the burn — but sometimes you can overdo it. Overworking your abs can cause symptoms that can be unpleasant or painful. Muscle soreness, spasms and cramps are some of the typical negative side effects of an abs workout. Advertisement Read more: How to Ease Muscle Soreness After a Workout Video of the Day Side Effects of Overworked Abs Muscle soreness is often to be expected following a workout....
Pulled pork sandwiches on a cutting board. Image Credit: tvirbickis/iStock/Getty Images Pulled pork is typically a barbecue dish made with pork shoulder, also known as pork butt or Boston butt, over the course of 18 to 36 hours at minimal heat. The low- and slow-cooking method is required to break down the pork shoulder’s tough consistency and to tenderize and flavor the meat. If you are short on time, making a few changes to the recipe allows you to speed the process of cooking pulled pork to about one hour....
A large, halved squash. Image Credit: Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images Constipation is most simply defined as infrequent bowel movements or difficulty in passing stools, which are fairly common gastrointestinal problems. According to MayoClinic.com, lifestyle changes such as exercising more, drinking more fluids and eating high-fiber foods can help prevent and alleviate constipation. Eating squash and other high-fiber vegetables and fruits is a simple, natural way to resolve constipation. Advertisement Benefits of High Fiber As the American Academy of Family Physicians points out, a high-fiber diet offers many health benefits....
Don't neglect your back and shoulders if you want a powerful flex. Our 30-Day Dumbbell Challenge targets your entire upper-body. Image Credit: Getty Images/LIVESTRONG.com Creative The 30-Day Dumbbell Challenge builds strength from head to toe. Get all the details on the challenge here. Arms get a lot of attention when you’re flexing. But if you’re only focusing on your biceps and triceps, you’re missing a crucial part of your upper-body pump (and strength)....
Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, which increases heart rate. Image Credit: Jorn Georg Tomter/The Image Bank/GettyImages Do you love to wake up to the smell of your morning coffee brewing in the kitchen? The majority of people drink some form of a caffeinated beverage throughout the day, but you should be aware of the negative effects of caffeine. These include physiological effects, such as an elevated heart rate. Read more: Your Brain on Coffee: A Conversation with Bulletproof Founder Dave Asprey...
