Cinnamon sticks and red apple Image Credit: peanut_roaster/iStock/Getty Images The seasonal scent of cinnamon originates from the bark of trees found off the southeastern coast of India on the island of Sri Lanka. As cinnamon was a rare commodity in West Asia, Europe and Africa, the spice was sold at prices that helped create many prosperous nations. Though cinnamon was originally valued as a culinary additive, its benefits are further reaching....
A young woman is snacking at work. Image Credit: didi/amana images/Getty Images You know the feeling: The clock strikes 2 p.m., and you can barely pick your head up off the desk. Your first instinct may be to reach for a cup of coffee or an energy drink, but slow down. The tiredness you’re feeling is likely due to a drop in blood sugar, which can’t be corrected with caffeine. Although that cup of Joe may give you a quick energy burst, you have to work on correcting your blood sugar levels....
references & resources International Journal of Trichology: "Scalp Condition Impacts Hair Growth and Retention via Oxidative Stress" Cleveland Clinic: "Does Dry Shampoo Actually Keep Your Hair Clean?" Epidemiology: "Talc, Asbestos, and Epidemiology: Corporate Influence and Scientific Incognizance" How often you shampoo after a workout depends on how much you sweat and your hair type. 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....
A fun bonus: You can get the Whoop strap in a bunch of different colors. Image Credit: Whoop/LIVESTRONG.com As fitness editors, it’s probably no surprise that we love to track our workouts. And personally, as a nerd at heart, I love keeping a close eye on my stats, including my running pace, mileage and heart rate. Advertisement But with several injuries and burnout experiences under my belt, I've also come to realize that recovery is just as important as the actual training....
references Physiological Reports: "Composition of Two‐Week Change in Body Weight Under Unrestricted Free‐Living Conditions" Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: "How Much Water Do You Need?" Nutrition Reviews: "Fundamentals of Glycogen Metabolism for Coaches and Athletes" Harvard Health Publishing: "Should You Weigh Yourself Every Day?" Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology: "The Characterization of Feces and Urine: A Review of the Literature to Inform Advanced Treatment Technology" Merck Manual Consumer Edition: "About Body Water" Nutrients: "The Role of Water Homeostasis in Muscle Function and Frailty: A Review" Physiology Education: "Insensible Water Loss During Sleep: A Theoretical Exercise" Harvard Health Publishing: "Edema" Mayo Clinic: "Edema" Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: "Training for a Marathon?...
The UFC welterweight belt belonging to Johny Hendricks sits in the foreground as he signs autographs for fans. Image Credit: Peter Larsen/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images The Ultimate Fighting Championship, known as the UFC, is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Aspiring fighters often look to emulate UFC fighters in their bid for success. The fitness industry also offers UFC fighter training sessions for people who wish to build strength and fitness, without necessarily engaging in head-to-head combat....
An active lifestyle deters the development of belly fat. Image Credit: monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Getty Images “Middle-age spread” can appear at any age, but women may notice it most as they hit 50. Even if the number on the scale is the same as it has always been, your waistline may expand as your proportion of body fat to lean mass changes. The good news is that you can take measures to minimize belly fat, even after you hit the half-century mark....
There are safer and more comfortable ways to sit to protect your posture. 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. Unless you’ve been living under a rock (which can’t be all that healthy, either), you’ve probably heard that sitting too much really isn’t good for you — in fact, it’s linked to an increased risk of dying from various chronic diseases, according to a June 2018 study in the American Journal of Epidemiology....
A close-up of steamed clams in a bowl. Image Credit: Qanat Società Cooperativa/iStock/Getty Images With heart disease reaching near epidemic proportions in the U.S., health care professionals are urging patients to reduce their risk factors through exercise and a diet low in cholesterol and saturated fats. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends keeping your daily cholesterol intake below 300 milligrams, or 200 milligrams if you have high cholesterol or heart disease....
Diseases that produce shaking and twitching as symptoms affect the central nervous system. Shaking and twitching show that the person does not fully control the function of the nervous system and its effects on the body. In most cases, medications can help to decrease these types of symptoms, but eventually, they will have little or no effect as the disease progresses. Advertisement Multiple Sclerosis Multiple sclerosis, the Mayo Clinic reports, causes the person’s immune system to attack the covering over the nerves....
Make sure to stretch to help with a broken fibula. Image Credit: LimaEs/iStock/GettyImages Ankle stiffness and weakness are common after fibula injury, particularly if you spent time in a cast or using crutches. Range of motion and broken fibula rehab exercises, as described by the Government of Alberta, can improve function after this injury. Advertisement Broken bones not only cause pain, but can leave you with stiff joints and weak muscles....
Changing your eating habits can help prevent weight gain while taking Seroquel. Image Credit: djedzura/iStock/Getty Images Seroquel, also known as quetiapine, is an antipsychotic medication used to treat disorders like schizophrenia. While it can be effective for this purpose, Seroquel may cause weight gain as a side effect in some users. Using a lower dosage of Seroquel for weight loss is one option for controlling your weight. To prevent serious complications, never change the dosage of your medication without a doctor’s permission....
Shrimp is not allowed in the Maker's Diet. Image Credit: wmaster890/iStock/GettyImages At 19 years old, wheelchair-bound Jordan Rubin was near death, diagnosed with a severe case of Crohn’s disease. His story about how he healed himself by eating only foods eaten in biblical times is the basis for the Maker’s Diet, a 40-day experience that Ruben says will change your life. Advertisement The Maker's Diet Basics According to the diet’s official website, there are three main tenets of the Maker’s Diet:...
Most meat products contain some potassium. Image Credit: Jacek Chabraszewski/iStock/Getty Images Potassium is an essential mineral needed in your body to maintain muscle contractions, fluid balance, blood pressure and good bone health. Your body is unable to make potassium, so it must come from your daily diet. Adult men and women need at least 4,700 milligrams of potassium daily to maintain good health, according to the Institute of Medicine. Fruits and vegetables are some of the best sources of the mineral, but certain meat and animal products help meet your needs, as well....
White mushrooms have a lot of nutrition. Image Credit: Eichinger, Hannes/Foodcollection/GettyImages When it comes to fruits and veggies, generally the brighter the color, the more nutritious. However, white mushroom nutrition breaks with that concept. These relatively dull and colorless veggies come packed with nutrition. Advertisement White Mushroom Benefits White mushroom benefits include helping your bones by boosting your copper and phosphorus intakes, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)....
A woman is stretching with a partner. Image Credit: Dmitrii Kotin/iStock/Getty Images Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching is the most effective way to increase range of motion. Instead of merely letting your muscles stretch passively, you first contract the muscles and hold them tight before relaxation. This stimulates a reflex called autogenic inhibition, which causes further relaxation. By using this method, you can stretch your hip flexors and quadriceps to their limit, contract them and then relax them into a deeper stretch....
Don't compromise your gains by making these post-workout mistakes! Image Credit: DaniloAndjus/E+/GettyImages What you do after your sweat session is almost as important as what you did during. From taking time for recovery to treating yourself well in the hours following a workout, your post-exercise behavior matters in order to see both physical and mental results. Advertisement Instead of thinking about working out as a 30-minutes-and-done part of your day, reframe your fitness commitment as a lifestyle choice that affects the rest of your waking hours....
Knee braces may help prevent injury. Image Credit: Pra Phasr Xaw Sakhr / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Knee injuries are a common hazard in almost every sport. Like other major joints, knees combine several bones, muscles and ligaments in a confined space. However, knees endure more strain than many other joints because they support the body’s entire weight. Advertisement They're also required to support frequent changes of direction, sudden impacts and many other powerful, transient stresses....
Deep purple rice is also known as forbidden rice. The world has a vast array of rice varieties. Rice varies in texture, size, shape, aroma and stickiness. Rice is also available in a number of colors, including white, brown, red and deep purple. Deep purple rice gets its dark color from its outer coating of black bran. When purple rice is cooked, the bran gives it a nutty flavor and adds to its dietary fiber....
Red pine bark. Image Credit: DAJ/amana images/Getty Images Pycnogenol is a trademarked name for pine bark extract, and there is little to no difference between the two in terms of composition or effects. You might use pine bark extract or pycnogenol to help treat a variety of medical conditions, including chronic venous insufficiency, retinopathy or erectile dysfunction. Before you take pycnogenol or pine bark extract, consult your doctor to discuss the proper dosage and potential health risks....
