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Roasted Duck Breast Image Credit: Aneta_Gu/iStock/Getty Images A well-roasted duck breast offers your palate a remarkably appealing combination of flavors and textures. The meat itself is dark, lean and flavorful, while the golden skin provides a crisp and richer complement. The net result – an alluring contrast of fat and lean – is akin to a bacon-wrapped piece of beef tenderloin. The crucial step in this process is rendering out the layer of thick fat that rests between the skin and breast – before it’s oven-cooked....

Training can seem daunting. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages When you’re not a runner, managing to make it any distance beyond your backyard may seem like a serious feat. Let’s break it down, though: a 3,000-meter run might seem daunting, but in reality it’s less than 2 miles – and you might already be walking about that much during your normal daily activities. It’s a nice round number, but not a common distance for races or even military training tests....

references Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Do Increased Portion Sizes Affect How Much We Eat? A food scale can help you better gauge your portion sizes. Image Credit: Ekaterina79/iStock/GettyImages Image Credit: Ekaterina79/iStock/GettyImages Wondering how to calculate your calories for weight loss? Download the MyPlate app to do the job and help you track your intake, so you can stay focused and achieve your goals! Experts offer different opinions on when you should weigh your food....

Tell the haters “bye”! Image Credit: jacoblund/iStock/GettyImages After my post-college habits of sleeping all day and partying all night became my unhealthy lifestyle mantra, I found myself 40 pounds overweight, depressed and anxious. Advertisement To make matters worse, one day a close friend told a group of girls was claiming I didn't look like any of my photographs on Facebook — that, in person, I was "fat." I was stunned and humiliated....

Your glutes are a vital part of your core. Image Credit: yacobchuk/iStock/GettyImages In This Article How to Do a Plank Activation Exercises Glute-Strengthening Planks Mastering a plank definitely earns you some bragging rights. But if you want to max out your core strength and definition, there's one (often-missed) tip you need to try: Squeeze your glutes. Advertisement "Squeezing your glutes during a plank helps make the move more effective," certified personal trainer SJ McShane, CPT, tells LIVESTRONG....

Because iron deficiency can cause headaches, taking an iron supplement can reduce the incidence of headaches in those with anemia. Image Credit: Jennifer A Smith/Moment/GettyImages Iron plays an important role in the body’s cellular function. Two-thirds of the iron in the body is used in hemoglobin, the main protein found in red blood cells. Hemoglobin transports oxygen molecules from the lungs to tissues around the body. Insufficient iron can lead to a condition called anemia, which deprives tissues of oxygen....

It is OK to drink coffee if you have gallstones. Image Credit: 2e812ac3_768/iStock/Getty Images If you’re one of the 10 to 15 percent of Americans who have gallstones, you’re probably wondering if you have to give up your sanity-saving cup (or cups) of joe. To save the suspense, the answer is no; there’s no negative association between coffee and gallstones. Advertisement Of course, the same might not be true for other additives, like sugar or cream....

You can eat the fruit in solid form or in a smoothie. Image Credit: SuzanaMarinkovic/iStock/Getty Images If you crave a sweet, cool and healthy treat, grab a smoothie. Smoothie shops like the familiar Jamba Juice and Robeks are ubiquitous these days, and for good reason. Smoothies are delicious, and many people even eat them in place of a traditional meal. But whether these blended beauties any better than eating the same foods in solid form is open for discussion....

In general, choosing ground beef with high lean-meat content and low fat is better for your health. Image Credit: DronG/iStock/GettyImages Ground beef is a type of meat product that just about everyone is familiar with: It’s what you use to make meatballs, burgers, chili and various other types of foods. It’s easy enough to find this meat at any supermarket or butcher’s shop. Whether or not it’s healthy for you comes down to its fat-to-protein ratio....

references & resources The Dalai Lama Book of Quotes Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living Kira Copperman Bo Zaunders Roxie Munro Donna Smallin Kuper Dana Lepene 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. Lagom is having just enough to make you content - no more, no less....

Rib eye beef steak Image Credit: Kondor83/iStock/Getty Images A rib eye is a cut of beef taken from the rib section of the cow, while a sirloin is taken from the rear back portion. Both cuts are high in protein, fat, and several vitamins and minerals. Sirloin steak is generally healthier, however, because it contains a greater amount of protein, vitamins and minerals, with much less total fat and saturated fat, and slightly less cholesterol....

A woman is exercising at Curves. Image Credit: Tim Boyle/Getty Images News/Getty Images Curves is a chain of fitness center franchises providing 30-minute workouts exclusively for women in a supportive environment. The Curves exercise circuit consists of hydraulic resistance machines, and women move from one to the next with aerobic exercise in between, such as jogging in place or using a mini trampoline. The Curves program provides the opportunity for exercise beginners and for women with tight schedules to get a workout....

Two soccer players fighting for the ball on a field. Image Credit: TongRo Images/TongRo Images/Getty Images Proper nutrition before a big soccer match can mean a superior performance. You’ll have the energy to stay strong through both halves, avoid game-altering cramps and you won’t feel flat as you play. What you eat in the hours before playing depends on the time of day, your personal preferences and how long you have before game time....

Be sure to use proper form throughout the lift to avoid injury. Image Credit: urbazon/E+/GettyImages After a tough deadlift workout, you may find yourself with sore muscles. Lower back stretches, foam rolling, proper nutrition, hydration, hot/cold therapy and rest will all aid in your recovery from deadlifts. Advertisement Deadlift: Muscles Worked The deadlift is an exercise that targets multiple muscle groups. To perform the exercise, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart....

Lateral raises requires good form. Image Credit: Vladimir Sukhachev/iStock/GettyImages Building strong and sculpted shoulders is a goal for many bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts. When it comes to training these muscles, one exercise that tops the list of favorites is the front lateral raise. Advertisement A variation of the lateral raise, this move requires strict form and lighter weight to avoid pain in the shoulders. Video of the Day Shoulder Impingement Issues If you’re experiencing shoulder pain while doing the front lateral raise, there’s a good chance you can blame it on an impingement issue....

For centuries, Asian countries have concentrated the sap of palm trees to make a sweetener for culinary and medicinal purposes. The sugar is drawn from two types of palm, the palmyra and the familiar coconut palm. Coconut palm sugar has attracted a great deal of interest since the late 20th century for its low glycemic index and high levels of micro-nutrients. It also can be substituted directly for cane sugar in baking....

Running in tights can help keep you warm. Image Credit: Artem Varnitsin / EyeEm/EyeEm Premium/GettyImages While they may not be the most attractive of options, running tights can help you in your running training. Keeping you warm in the winter and adding extra support, wearing tights means you can spend less time worrying about the conditions and more time focused on running. Advertisement Understanding the specific benefits of going for something light and long over wearing traditional short, lightweight running shorts may convince you to add tights to your runner's arsenal....

Mixed breads have a lower glycemic index. Image Credit: Sarah Biesinger/iStock/GettyImages The glycemic index of bread is higher than that of other carbohydrate-containing foods. Thankfully, not all bread varieties are the same. Whole-grain varieties contain more fiber and nutrients and typically have a lower glycemic index compared to their processed counterparts. Advertisement What Is the Glycemic Index? Not all carbohydrates are created equal. Some are digested faster than others, which changes the speed at which sugar is absorbed into your bloodstream....

While there is no one best tea to drink when you have a cold, finding a herbal tea that soothes your throat, helps clear your sinuses and tastes good, is a great place to start. Image Credit: Towfiqu Photography/Moment/GettyImages When you’re feeling sick, speeding up the recovery process is critical. For some, over-the-counter medicines such as antihistamines are the answer, while others may reach for the best tea when sick. Regardless of what is ailing you, staying hydrated and getting symptom relief is essential....

Doing a dumbbell row from a plank makes it a full-body exercise. Image Credit: BartekSzewczyk/iStock/GettyImages When you think of upper-back exercises, odds are dumbbell rows readily come to mind. You can rely on rows to build muscle, strengthen slumped-over shoulders and improve your posture. Advertisement While you can reap big benefits doing dumbbell rows, over time, you might find yourself feeling less challenged or bored. To prevent your progress from plateauing and to keep your motivation high, infuse your workout routine with fresh dumbbell row variations....