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To get the most out of protein supplements, time them to be combined with full, balanced meals before and after workouts. Image Credit: Eugeniusz Dudzinski/iStock/GettyImages Getting enough protein during a fitness routine is certainly essential, but timing when you consume that protein can be just as important. Whether you’re eating a protein bar before workouts or cooking up full dishes after exercise, timing meals and snacks right can help you maximize your energy....

Joint cracking during workouts is usually harmless, but its worth knowing if your elbow pops for one of these seven reasons. Image Credit: Mireya Acierto/DigitalVision/GettyImages Snapping, cracking and popping are noises you might expect to hear from your morning bowl of cereal, but not from your elbows during a workout. If you’ve ever experienced your elbows cracking while doing push-ups or other upper body exercises, you may wonder what’s the deal with those disconcerting noises....

Celery, carrot, onion and cucumber work well in several weight-loss-friendly dishes. Image Credit: etienne voss/iStock/Getty Images Low in calories, naturally hydrating and packed with nutrients, veggies are your best friends – no matter what your fitness and health goals include. A mixture of celery, carrots, cucumbers and onions helps you get a broader range of nutrients than any one veggie eaten alone, and the mix of green, orange and – if you choose purple onions – purple veggies helps you “eat the rainbow” for good health....

Resume exercise slowly after a C-section. Image Credit: 10'000 Hours/DigitalVision/GettyImages You might be discouraged about the condition of your body after a C-section. After nine months of carrying around a heavy baby belly, you’re likely more than ready to get your familiar old body back. Cesarean sections take more of a toll on your body than uncomplicated vaginal deliveries because you have a major surgery to recover from. Advertisement With the right balance of healing, light exercise, muscle work and good eating, you'll be able to reach your goal weight and develop the strength and stamina you'll need to care for your new addition....

Flavored sports drinks make tasty slushies and shaved ice treats. Image Credit: kazoka30/iStock/Getty Images Gatorade got its start at the University of Florida. The school’s location in a hot subtropical climate combined with strenuous workouts left the players exhausted and unable to play to their capacity. After researching why the players had so little stamina in the Florida heat, university doctors came up with a solution: a drink that replaced lost fluids and minerals....

Your waistline can tell you a lot about your health. Image Credit: FotoDuets/iStock/GettyImages Weighing yourself may not be a part of your daily routine. But surely you are getting dressed every day — and trousers that won’t button or that you’ve outgrown altogether red-flag a weight gain. In fact, your waistline can tell you more about your health than the numbers on the scale can. Advertisement BMI vs. Waist Circumference Many people look to their body mass index (BMI) as a way of determining whether they’re overweight....

Corn is a domesticated plant native to Central and South America. Cultivated by Native Americans for thousands of years, sweet corn, so named because of its high sugar content, is grown best in free-draining soil in warm temperatures. Although raw corn is inedible, the cooking process breaks down the cellulose in its kernels, making them a good source of fiber, vitamins A and C, folate and other nutrients. Corn is fully mature when the silks visible at the top of the ear are brown....

Dietary changes and other lifestyle tweaks can help you manage acid reflux. Image Credit: Tharakorn/iStock/GettyImages You indulge in a favorite food, and not long after, it hits: the sour, unpleasant churn in your stomach, maybe paired with the familiar, low-level heat of heartburn. Pop an antacid, again? While those can be useful, there are also natural strategies for getting back on track. Advertisement How Stomach Acid Works Before considering tactics for dealing with stomach acid, it’s helpful to know the role it plays — because you don’t want to knock out this acid completely....

Strengthen your core to help prevent a hernia. Image Credit: Livestrong.com If you’ve noticed a bulge in your abdomen or groin that seemingly came out of nowhere, you might have a hernia. Advertisement Hernias occur when a portion of an internal organ or tissue protrudes through the muscle surrounding it as a result of increased pressure within the abdominal cavity. Video of the Day Read more: A 10-Minute Routine to Sculpt Your Abs All About Hernias Although there are different types of hernias, the most common hernias are abdominal hernias....

Supplements can help raise L-tyrosine levels. Image Credit: Wenjie Dong/iStock/GettyImages It’s easy to boost your intake of the amino acid L-tyrosine, also known simply as tyrosine, by eating more of certain common protein-rich foods. But keep in mind that there’s limited evidence that higher L-tyrosine levels are beneficial. Advertisement When it comes to supplements — you may want to save your money. Video of the Day What's Essential, What's Not Amino acids like L-tyrosine are crucial to human existence....

A man is holding a bottle of soda. Image Credit: Jack Hollingsworth/Blend Images/Getty Images People often get a significant proportion of their daily calories from beverages. Although caloric beverages, such as juices and sodas, have been associated with weight gain, medical researchers don’t all agree on the reasons for this. Some people believe that liquid calories aren’t as filling as calories from solid food, but this may be too simplistic of an explanation because other factors may also be involved....

Yogurt is low in iron. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages While some people have an iron deficiency, others have too much of an iron buildup, which isn’t good for the body either. To balance iron levels if yours are too high, focus on iron-free foods or designing low-iron meals. Advertisement Your Body’s Iron Needs Iron is an essential mineral that’s found in red blood cells. Its main purpose is to carry oxygen from your lungs and throughout the rest of your body....

Brocolli is a high alkaline vegetable. Image Credit: Claudia Totir/Moment/GettyImages You probably learned about the pH scale in your high school chemistry class. What seemed like information you would never use back then is actually relevant when it comes to an alkaline diet plan and the alkaline vegetables list you should stick to. Advertisement To understand the alkalinity in certain foods, you must be familiar with the following pH scale: Video of the Day Acidic: 0....

The glucose in bread products can harden over time, making bagels difficult to chew. Image Credit: Comstock/Stockbyte/Getty Images The perfect bagel is a mix of soft and chewy. It’s heavenly on day one. It’s acceptable to eat on day two. But by day three, you may break a tooth trying to eat it for breakfast. When bread dehydrates, it becomes stale. Fortunately, there are several tricks that you can employ to soften a hard bagel....

Excessive consumption of alcoholic malt beverages may increase your blood pressure. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages Malt beverages, including some beers and liquors, are sometimes touted as nutritious. But can they also cause high blood pressure and other dangerous conditions? Does drinking in moderation change the equation? Here’s what you should know. Advertisement What's a Malted Beverage? According to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), a malt beverage is a fermented drink made with malted barley and hops....

Manuka honey has antibacterial properties. Manuka honey, a particular type of honey that comes from New Zealand's manuka tree, appears to stimulate the body's immune responses to help fight infection. Manuka honey has high antibacterial properties. To use manuka honey for infections, it must be sterilized in a laboratory and receive a potency rating called the "Unique Manuka Factor" of 10 or more. For gum and root infections, manuka honey needs a UMF factor of 15 to be effective....

If you're eating 1,200 calories a day and not losing weight, you may be taking the wrong approach at the gym. Image Credit: nd3000/iStock/GettyImages You’re on a calorie-controlled diet and exercising regularly, but that darn scale isn’t moving. You’re frustrated, wondering why you’re working so hard to slim down with no results. So, how is it possible that you’re eating 1,200 calories (or whatever your limit is) and not losing weight?...

If you have a BMI of 30 or higher, your doctor may suggest trying a weight-loss medication, like phentermine. Image Credit: Fmfotograf/iStock/GettyImages If you’re trying to lose weight through diet and exercise, but not seeing the results you want, you may be wondering about taking weight-loss medications. One well-known option is the weight-loss pill phentermine, but is it safe? Advertisement When used properly, phentermine helps with weight loss, but when it is given in too high doses or to the wrong person, it can be dangerous for your heart and kidneys, explains Scott Kahan, MD, MPH, the director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness in Washington, D....

There are several shoulder stretches you can do to help with your range of motion. Image Credit: Carlina Teteris/Moment/GettyImages Breaking your shoulder can significantly impact your ability to perform basic daily tasks, such as dressing and showering. This ball and socket joint is formed by your humerus (upper arm bone) and scapula (shoulder blade). Advertisement The socket is deep in your shoulder joint and relatively well protected. When a shoulder fracture occurs, it most often affects the humerus....

You can substitute a stability ball for an exercise bench for your at-home workouts. Image Credit: alvarez/E+/GettyImages Stability balls and dumbbells are a staple in many home gyms, and with good reason! They’re incredibly versatile and effective strength-training tools. And combining the two is a great way to get results fast. Not to mention, the stability ball can conveniently stand in for an exercise bench. Advertisement Whether you call it a stability ball, balance ball or Swiss ball, adding this piece of equipment to your routine is a great way to take your workouts to the next level....