Posts

The main lunges muscles worked are the quads, glutes and adductors, but the lunge variation you choose determines which muscles work the hardest. Image Credit: kali9/E+/GettyImages In This Article Muscles Worked Forward Lunge Reverse Lunge Side Lunge Walking Lunge Adjustments Other Benefits The lunge is one of the absolute best lower-body exercises to build strength and stability in your legs and hips. As a compound exercise, they require movement in your knees and hips and activate more than 10 different muscles in your lower body....

Proper lubrication keeps your chain turning smoothly. Image Credit: John Howard/Digital Vision/Getty Images As your bicycle chain turns around the gear sprockets and pedal cranks, it creates friction. In order to limit the amount of wear on the chain and sprockets caused by this friction, you need to regularly lubricate your chain. Many riders use some type of a light oil to lubricate their chains. This is appropriate in many cases, but you should consider your normal riding conditions to find the best lubricant for your biking needs....

references Mayo Clinic Proceedings: "Effect of Omega-3 Dosage on Cardiovascular Outcomes" ConsumerLab: "Fish Oil, Krill Oil, and Algal Oil Omega-3 (DHA & EPA) Supplements Review" Algae oil may help protect your heart as a vegan replacement for fish oil. Image Credit: Svittlana/iStock/GettyImages Image Credit: Svittlana/iStock/GettyImages Algae Oil for DHA and EPA Algae Oil Supplements Algae Oil vs. Fish Get More Plant-Based Omega-3s With These 10 Brilliant Cooking and Baking Hacks...

Orange juice is one of the healthiest options, among juices Image Credit: Petar Mulaj/iStock/GettyImages Over the last few years, juice has gained quite a bad reputation. The bulk of the blame for this goes to companies that have rolled out juice concoctions laden with chemicals and added sugar, causing an uptick in sugar intake, not to mention unnecessary calories. Don’t worry though — in moderation, orange juice is healthy, as long as it’s 100 percent juice and not from concentrate or a sugary juice “drink....

Just because you can swallow them together doesn't mean you should. Image Credit: studiodr/iStock/Getty Images Taking vitamins with prescription drugs can present a challenge as the number of potential complications varies by the type of prescription drug you are taking versus the vitamin type and other factors such as dietary choices. Although taking something as benignly named as “dietary supplements” makes them sound harmless, they can interfere with your prescriptions....

Bragg’s Raw Apple Cider Vinegar is an unpasteurized organic apple cider that contains protein enzymes, which give the vinegar a cloudy appearance. These live cultures help alkalize the body, and like probiotics, replenish beneficial bacteria that crowd out yeast. Candida is a naturally occurring yeast, but can quickly grow out of control if your body becomes acidic from eating too much sugar or if beneficial bacteria are killed off from antibiotic use....

Playing tennis frequently can help keep you slim as long as you don't overeat in between sets. Image Credit: Rulles/iStock/GettyImages Because weight loss is all about creating a calorie deficit — eating fewer calories than you burn day in and day out — tennis can be an effective way to lose weight. Playing singles especially is a high calorie-burning activity, although a good, competitive match of doubles will also help keep you trim....

Meat may contribute to joint pain and inflammation. Roughly 30 percent of adults in the United States experienced joint pain or stiffness in 2006, according to a National Health Interview Survey. The most common cause is arthritis -- the term for chronic joint inflammation. Although particular foods are not known to cause joint problems, your overall diet may contribute. If you suspect a correlation between meat and your joint symptoms, or if your symptoms are severe, seek guidance from your doctor....

A glass jar of coconut oil. Image Credit: marekuliasz/iStock/Getty Images You’ll find both jojoba and coconut oils in skincare products. Jojoba oil mainly is used as a skin or hair conditioning ingredient. Coconut oil is found in a variety of cosmetic products including lipstick, skin care products, shaving cream, tanning products and bath products. You also may find both of these oils or their derivatives in acne products. Advertisement Jojoba Jojoba oil is an emollient that serves as a natural moisturizing factor, or NMF....

Foods with sulfites, like hot dogs, can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Sulfites are used in the food industry to prevent oxidation and spoilage of food, preserve flavor, control bacterial growth and bleach food starches. Sulfites are metabolized by the enzyme sulfite oxidase. However, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology some people are enzyme deficient, which can lead to a sulfite intolerance or allergy. A sulfite allergy can cause asthma, hives, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, seizure, anaphylactic shock, dizziness and skin disorders....

Whole grain bread with jam. Image Credit: joannatkaczuk/iStock/Getty Images Pre-diabetes is a condition marked by blood sugars that are higher than normal but not too high to be diagnosed with diabetes. Most people with pre-diabetes develop Type 2 diabetes within 10 years, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders. If you have pre-diabetes, the best way to prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes is to lose 5 to 7 percent of your current body weight by following a healthy diet....

To make sure that 1,200 calories won't leave you starving, create a meal plan that provides the nutrients you need. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages If you’re looking for a diet to help you lose weight, restricting calories allows you to eat the foods you love, just in smaller portions. The most common recommendation is limiting yourself to 1,200 calories a day for weight loss. Advertisement To make sure that 1,200 calories won't leave you starving, create a meal plan that provides the nutrients you need....

A knee injury may trigger outer thigh pain. Image Credit: AndreyPopov/iStock/GettyImages A number of interrelated factors, including muscular overuse, knee injuries, joint disorders and back injuries, may trigger pain and soreness in the upper, outer portion of one or both of your thighs. Advertisement Before you attempt to alleviate sore outer thigh muscles, ask a doctor to diagnose the source of the pain. Video of the Day Overusing Your Muscles Despite evidence to the contrary, the myth of spot reduction exercise still prevails....

A plate with scrambled eggs made from powder alongside tomatoes and white bread slices. Image Credit: hatchapong/iStock/Getty Images There are different types of powdered eggs; they are available as whole eggs containing the white and the yolk, as well the powder containing only the white of the egg.The powder is a mixture of eggs, vegetable oil and powdered milk. Advertisement Calcium Powdered eggs are high in calcium providing 13 percent of the recommended daily amount (RDA)....

Starches are found in foods like beans, corn and potatoes. Image Credit: ANPerryman/iStock/GettyImages Many people think of starch as a mealtime side dish like potatoes or rice, but in terms of nutrition, a starch is simply a long chain of sugar molecules linked together, also known as a polysaccharide. Here’s a look at how your body digests starch for fuel. Advertisement What Exactly Is Starch? It’s natural to assume “starch” is just another name for carbohydrates....

Stressed to the max? Take a quick stretch break. Image Credit: Cavan Images/Cavan/GettyImages It’s a busy and noisy world out there. Everything and everyone seems to be vying for your attention and your to-do list seems to double in length. There are kids to tend to, emails to answer, groceries to stock up on and a house to keep clean. Advertisement At times, it may seem impossible to find a little peace and quiet....

If you want more burn from your biceps curls, try holding your curl isometrically for a few seconds before lowering the weight Image Credit: kali9/E+/GettyImages Just like squats may be your go-to leg exercise, curls probably dominate your arm workouts. But after repeating the same style of curls week after week, you’re likely to see your gains start to plateau. And you’ll definitely get bored. Advertisement Spice up your usual curls with a few variations that guarantee extra burn....

references Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Prevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and Type 2 in Persons Aged 14–49: United States, 2015–2016" American Academy of Dermatology: "Cold Sores: Tips for Managing" Harvard Health Publishing: "Preventing Cold Sores" Brown Health Services: "Cold Sores" Cleveland Clinic: "Cold Sores" University of Maryland Medical Center: "Lemon Balm" Molecules: "Glycerosome of Melissa officinalis L. Essential Oil for Effective Anti-HSV Type 1" American Academy of Family Physicians: "How to Treat a Cold Sore" University of Florida: "Medicinal Plant of This Week: Lemon Balm" Is this an emergency?...

While any kind of physical activity lowers your risk of cardiovascular disease, there are a few options — such as running, dancing and strength training — that are best for heart health. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages Keeping your heart happy is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Every 36 seconds, someone in the U.S. dies from heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)....

Make sure to eat a healthy balanced diet. Image Credit: Claudia Totir/Moment/GettyImages When it comes to food and fitness after 50, it’s important to stay physically active and get the nutrients needed for optimal bone health. Fill up on foods rich in antioxidants, heart-healthy fats, calcium, potassium and vitamin D. Move more, sit less and strive to maintain a normal weight. Advertisement Food and Fitness After 50 Your exercise and nutritional needs change as you age....