Posts

The Pilates scooter lunge improves your balance and coordination while strengthening your glutes and quads. Image Credit: LordHenriVoton/E+/GettyImages In This Article Instructions Benefits Did you spend hours joy riding on your kick scooter as a kid? While you were probably focused on the fun of zipping along the sidewalk, scooting was also stellar for shoring up skills like balance and coordination (think: You need stability to stand on one leg and kick the other at the same time)....

High doses of amino acids can have drug-like effects. Protein molecules are composed of sub-units called amino acids. Twenty different amino acids are found in proteins in the body. Nine are essential amino acids, which means they must be derived from food, and the remaining 11 are nonessential, as the body can manufacture them if necessary. According to "Advanced Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription," a healthy individual who maintains a well-balanced diet does not require amino acid supplements; ingesting large quantities of amino acids can pose serious health risks....

Pregnancy can cause breast stretch marks. Stretch marks are mostly associated with abdominal and leg skin. However, stretch marks can also appear on a person's breasts. If you notice stretch marks on your breasts, there is no cause for alarm; this is actually fairly common. Breast stretch marks can be the result of a many different factors, but stretch marks rarely mean you have any disease or irregular condition. Advertisement Weight Gain Breast stretch marks are typically the result of rapid changes in breast size....

Try not to go overboard with the chocolate. Image Credit: al62/iStock/GettyImages Chocolate can pick you up after a bad day or provide you with a little reward when things are going well — it’s a versatile treat. The nutrients in chocolate, including sugar and fat, affect your body as soon as 10 or so minutes after you enjoy a block. However, you might feel a drop in energy after a while as your blood sugar returns to normal....

Close-up of pierogies being cooked on a skillet. Image Credit: Rena-Marie/iStock/Getty Images Pierogies are small pockets of dough filled vegetables, cheese or fruit. There are a number of healthy ways to cook pierogies – it depends on the texture you prefer. Frozen pierogies do not need thawing prior to cooking. Sour cream is a popular topping for pierogies, but to keep this dish low in fat and calories, top them with non-fat cottage cheese, yogurt or applesauce....

Therapy combined with methotrexate may reduce symptoms of arthritis. Methotrexate, also known as amethopterin or MTX, is sold under the brand names Rheumatrex and Trexall. It is mainly used to treat severe forms psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and certain types of cancer. It is also used to terminate pregnancies. Your doctor may recommend dietary changes if you are taking this medication. Advertisement A Normal Diet Those taking methotrexate for psoriasis, cancer or rheumatoid arthritis should continue to follow their regular diets, unless directed otherwise by their doctors, according to the National Institutes of Health....

A good workout should wear you out. But why are you suddenly exhausted? Image Credit: dima_sidelnikov/iStock/GettyImages You stroll into the gym in full-on beast mode. Fast forward a few minutes into your workout, and you’re already wiped. Sound familiar? Everyone has off days, but if you notice your energy is consistently zapped during workouts, it could be the symptom of something more. Advertisement Here, a medical expert explains why you might feel more tired than usual, so you can get to the root of your fatigue and get back to kicking butt....

Because we tend to be wobbly on our non-dominant side, we put more effort and concentration into bracing ourselves. Image Credit: Stígur Már Karlsson /Heimsmyndir/E+/GettyImages Having a dominant leg is totally normal. Usually, it’s related to your dominant hand. So, if you’re right-handed, your right leg will be dominant, too. And often, this dominant leg — which, by default, will bear the brunt of your activity — is the stronger of your two lower limbs....

Lifting weights is a great way to gain muscles. Image Credit: JohnnyGreig/E+/GettyImages A properly-designed women’s muscle building workout routine and diet can build strength and size. A program to gain weight and muscles should focus on resistance training. The diet should provide enough calories and protein for the body to grow. Advertisement Weight Loss vs. Weight Gain Much of fitness is geared towards weight loss. However, not everyone wants to lose weight....

Wrist curls are a great exercise to work your wrists and forearms. Image Credit: Tatomm/iStock/GettyImages Your wrist and forearm muscles may be small, but they’re mighty — and mighty ​important​ when it comes maintaining strong wrists and good grip strength. If you’ve been working on a strong upper body, bulking out those forearms may be the last detail in showing off your muscular development. Advertisement Forearm Workout Options If you’re looking to bulk up your forearms, then most of your focus should go into ​wrist flexion and extension​ exercises, with some strategic ​elbow flexion​ in the mix....

A frosted red, white and pink cake. Image Credit: Lesyy/iStock/Getty Images Proper storage is the final detail that goes into all the time and effort it takes to bake a cake. Most cakes are delicate, and without proper storage, they tend to dry out or even start to go stale overnight. Short-term cake storage isn’t as tricky as long-term storage, which usually requires wrapping the cake well and freezing it. To keep leftover cake tasting as good on the second day as it did the first, store it based on the requirements for its most perishable ingredients....

The best way to know if a baked chicken is ready or to gauge roast chicken temperature it to use a thermometer. Image Credit: istetiana/Moment/GettyImages The best way to know if chicken is done cooking is to read the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. But if you don’t have one on hand, there are a few other ways to tell it’s ready to serve. Advertisement All chicken, including fried chicken, grilled chicken and baked chicken breast, should be cooked to a safe internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the USDA....

You might wonder how you can turn that semisweet baking chocolate into milk chocolate ingredients. Image Credit: nerudol/iStock/GettyImages You’re craving some milk chocolate, but all you have is a bag of semisweet baking chocolate chips in the cupboard. You might wonder how you can turn that semisweet baking chocolate into milk chocolate ingredients. The good news is that, with a little creativity, it can be done, and quite simply. Advertisement While your preference might be milk chocolate, semisweet chocolate is a little bit healthier....

Evaporated milk has had some liquid removed. Image Credit: dontree_m/iStock/GettyImages What’s the difference between evaporated milk and regular milk? Exactly what the name suggests: Evaporated milk has had some liquid removed. You can substitute evaporated milk for milk in many uses, but not all. Advertisement Evaporated Milk vs. Milk Before you open a can or box of evaporated milk and start cooking, make sure you have the right thing. Evaporated milk is often placed right next to condensed milk on the store shelves, but the two will do different things to your recipes....

You should always wash peaches before eating them, and eating the peach's skin will give you more fiber. Image Credit: prohor08/iStock/Getty Images Juicy peaches make for a great snack simply eaten out of hand — or you can use the fruit in any number of dessert recipes, including pies and cobblers. Advertisement Peaches are a good source of vitamins A and C as well as fiber, per the USDA. You don't have to worry about overdoing your daily calorie allotment when you grab a peach either: A medium fruit contains just 59 calories....

Experts weigh in on the safety of DEET. 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 What It Is How It Works DEET Safety How to Use It DEET Alternatives The Bottom Line Whether you're outside hiking, gardening or grilling, slathering on insect repellent is a must. Not only can it prevent itchy, annoying bites, but more importantly, it defends against serious illness, such as Lyme disease or West Nile virus....

Image Credit: Vitalij Sova/iStock/GettyImages It's an age-old question: to lift or not to lift before a sport or activity? There are several ways you can answer that question. However, regardless of which side of the argument you land, one thing is for sure — strength training is an essential component of your overall fitness program. Advertisement Effects of Weight Training When you lift weights, it affects your muscles and overall energy....

Cutting onions and storing them in your fridge doesn’t make them unsafe to eat. Image Credit: Magone/iStock/GettyImages You may have heard the rumors, passed from blog to blog and through recipe comments, that cutting onions and storing them, for any amount of time, makes them unsafe to eat. This is just not true. The answer to the question, “Are old onions safe to eat?” is a resounding yes. Advertisement Tip Cutting onions and storing them in your fridge doesn’t make them unsafe to eat....

Coffee and antibiotics could make you extra jittery. Image Credit: PJjaruwan/iStock/GettyImages Certain medications may not mix well with other substances, like caffeine. In fact, mixing coffee and antibiotics can lead to side effects or influence how well your medicine works. Advertisement So, can you drink coffee with antibiotics? Here's everything you need to know about combining caffeine and antibiotics. Video of the Day Tip If your doctor prescribes antibiotics, your morning cup of coffee or energy drink could influence its effectiveness....

references Cleveland Clinic: “Can I Have Sex When I Have a Yeast Infection?” Mayo Clinic: “Sex during vaginal infection: Is it harmful?” 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. While sex with a yeast infection is possible, it may cause unwanted side effects like burning and itching. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG....