Posts

Including the side plank, you can do these 5 challenging ab moves right in your own backyard. Image Credit: Aleksandar Jankovic/E+/GettyImages Are you sick of crunches? Or maybe planks just aren’t doing it for you any more. If your usual core routine is losing its appeal, it’s probably time to level up. And don’t worry — there’s no shortage of grueling ab exercises out there. Advertisement Next time you're feeling particularly bored with your core workouts, burn out your abdominal muscles with these five exercises, courtesy of Mathew Forzaglia, certified personal trainer and founder of Forzag Fitness on the NEOU App....

Digestion is a complex process that lasts around 50 hours on average. Image Credit: d3sign/Moment/GettyImages All digestive tracts are similar, but the normal time for food digestion isn’t always the same for everyone. Digestion is a complex process that takes place in your gut and, from eating to excretion, lasts around 50 hours on average. Advertisement Read more: Home Remedies for Digestive System Cleansing Video of the Day Role of the Digestive System In a nutshell, digestion is the process in which your body breaks down the nutrients from food you eat into smaller parts to be used for energy, growth and repair....

Eating foods that are high in phenylalanine — such as beef, chicken, pork, tofu, fish, beans, milk, nuts, seeds, pasta, whole grains and vegetables like sweet potatoes — contributes to adequate production of tyrosine. Image Credit: Eugene Mymrin/Moment/GettyImages L-tyrosine, also known simply as tyrosine, is an amino acid — one of 20 organic compounds that combine to form proteins, says the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). If you’re considering supplementing with it, you’ll want to ensure you’re taking the proper l-tyrosine dosage for your needs....

You can enjoy a cup of decaf coffee without worrying about negative side effects. Image Credit: AndrijaP/iStock/GettyImages Coffee is more than a drink. It contains caffeine — a mind-sharpening productivity drug that can lift your spirits and sharpen your focus. However, if you’ve had enough of caffeine and still want the taste of coffee, you can try decaf. Advertisement Don't worry about decaf coffee's side effects; there's nothing inherently dangerous about it....

If you're not lifting heavier weights or doing more reps month after month, you're not progressing your weight-lifting workouts. Image Credit: wsfurlan/iStock/GettyImages Lifting weights is as good for your physical health as blocking your narcissistic ex on Instagram is for your emotional health. Which is to say: very! Plus, it can help almost anyone reach their fitness goals, says powerlifter Mia Nikolajev, CSCS. Advertisement "Whether you want to gain weight, lose weight, bulk up, tone up, become more powerful or stronger, strength training can help you get there," she says....

Eating fewer high-carb foods and added sugars may help reduce your triglyceride levels. Image Credit: Janna Danilova/iStock/GettyImages Like cholesterol, triglycerides are a type of blood fat. Everyone has these fatty acids, but your diet, weight and genetics may make you prone to higher or lower levels. Read on to find out what that means for your health and what you can do about it. Advertisement Read more: What's the Difference Between Triglycerides and Cholesterol?...

Water fasting can harm your heart health. Image Credit: pkanchana/iStock/GettyImages Fasting diets have become buzzy in the weight-loss world, and water fasting is one of the most extreme. But what is water fasting, exactly? And can such a restrictive diet harm your health? Advertisement The short answer is yes, water fasting is dangerous. Despite the popularity of various fasting methods, there's no quick fix when it comes to weight loss. In fact, water fasting — or fasting of any kind — is not usually recommended without supervision from a health professional....

It can be hard to stick with a workout routine when you're surrounded by distractions at home. Image Credit: master1305/iStock/GettyImages If you’ve ever battled for the last set of 10-pound dumbbells or squeezed into a tiny space during a packed Pilates class, you’ll likely see the value of at-home workouts. Not only are they convenient and accessible, but they also save you from paying for an expensive gym membership. Advertisement That said, working out in your living room presents its own set of challenges, including never-ending distractions, time management issues and lack of motivation....

If you want to lose weight quickly you also need to exercise. Image Credit: Todor Tsvetkov/E+/GettyImages That upcoming event for which you want to look your very best is only three weeks away — but that doesn’t mean you can drop a significant amount of weight by then. Advertisement Trying to lose 10 pounds in three weeks is ambitious, but doable, especially if 10 pounds is just the start of your weight-loss journey — but it might be too aggressive if you're already at a healthy weight....

Your produce may look like it's ready to eat, but is eating it unwashed safe? 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. “Eat your fruits and veggies — they’re good for you!” This mantra has been engrained in all of us, and justifiably so. Advertisement Getting your daily dose of fruits and vegetables comes with a myriad of health benefits, including a reduced risk of developing diet-related diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes....

Is a Protein Drink Good After Cardio? Image Credit: nd3000/iStock/GettyImages Regular cardiovascular exercise boosts your long-term health— it lowers blood pressure, promotes weight loss and improves cholesterol levels. These effects, in turn, reduce the risk of heart disease, strokes and heart attacks. The food you eat after cardio exercise is just as important as the exercise itself, and reaching for a protein drink can complement your workout. Advertisement Recovery and Performance Refueling your body after an intense cardio workout helps improve performance and recovery....

Find out if your hot pepper habit is doing you any favors. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative What Really Happens to Your Body When examines the head-to-toe effects of common behaviors, actions and habits in your everyday life. While some people swear by Sriracha and extra chili flakes, others can’t eat anything that’s more than mild. Regardless of which type of person you are, the science of spicy foods is fascinating....

Meat has more than twice the amount of protein than eggs when comparing the same amount to each other. Image Credit: ValentynVolkov/iStock/GettyImages Protein is found in all animal foods, including chicken, fish, beef, eggs and dairy. If you want to eat more protein to build muscle mass or to recover from illness or injury, it’s helpful to know which is the best source. Gram for gram, meat offers more protein than eggs....

Bananas contain very low levels of sugar-alcohols. Image Credit: Howard Shooter/Dorling Kindersley RF/Getty Images If you are sensitive to sugar-alcohols – whether you have irritable bowel syndrome or are simply intolerant to these laxative sugars – you may have noticed that some fruits, such as apples, pears, nectarines, blackberries, avocado, cherries, lychees and watermelon contain significant amounts of sugar-alcohol. Sugar-alcohols are also added to many sugar-free products, like sugar-free gums, mints, candies and sugar-free chocolate....

Chicken breast without the skin is an extremely lean, high protein food. Image Credit: Lara Hata/E+/GettyImages Although most whole meats contain few carbohydrates, there are many processed and pre-prepared meat products that contain carbs. If you are curious about a certain meat carbohydrate amount, read on. Advertisement Low-carbohydrate diets, as explained by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, can help with weight loss and maintaining weight loss and can also lower triglycerides....

When it comes to choosing a menstrual cup versus a menstrual disc, it's all a matter of personal preference. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative In This Article Menstrual Disc Menstrual Cup Comparison Bottom Line Period products have (thankfully) come a long way — gone are the days when your only options were disposable pads or tampons. That's why you may be weighing the pros and cons of a menstrual disc vs. cup....

The sacrotuberous ligaments, along with the sacrospinus ligaments, anchor the sacrum to the bones of the pelvis. Although they are thick bands of ligament, they are subject to stress and injury with vigorous or repetitive sports activities and can cause a literal pain in the butt. Physical therapy focuses on reducing initial pain and preventing reinjury. Sacrotuberous Ligament The ligament starts at the sacrum, the triangular bone at the botton of the spine that fits down into the pelvis....

Never stretch past your body's natural flexibility limit. Image Credit: LightFieldStudios/iStock/GettyImages Few things are more annoying than a pulled muscle. Just when you’re making gains in your fitness and flexibility, one wrong move can sideline you for a few weeks — or longer. While you can’t turn back time, you can help reduce the discomfort and swelling, and speed up your recovery so you can get back in the game....

Man doing biceps curls at the gym. Image Credit: SamuelBrownNG/iStock/Getty Images A common complaint from performing a heavy set of biceps curls is a sore neck; this typically happens when you don’t follow proper form for the exercise. Understanding the proper form in relation to what you did to injure your neck can help you to avoid or prevent injury to your neck from biceps curls in the future. Advertisement Proper Form Stand with your feet just inside shoulder-width apart....

The best period leggings come in a variety of lengths, colors and fabrics for every sweat style. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com In This Article How We Chose Best Overall Best Shorts Best for Yoga Best for Style Best for Comfort Considerations Whether you're a distance runner, CrossFitter or yogi, fear of your period leaking during a workout shouldn't mess with your mojo. That's where period leggings come into play. Advertisement Designed to allow menstruators to work out worry-free all month long, period tights put the leakproof technology that popularized period underwear into a workout legging....