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The body-weight squat is an essential lower-body strength move, but you won't meet you goals without proper rest and recovery. 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. You might not realize it, but a squat is something you already do every single day. When you sit down and get up from a seated position, you are essentially doing a squat, explains Heather Fletcher, an exercise physiologist based in Tampa, Florida....

1 of 15 Overview Do more during your run! Cross training can be beneficial for your body, but if you love to run, it can be tough to make yourself truly cross train regularly. To solve this issue, here's a cardio and toning routine that you can take with you on the road and to the gym. This cross-training workout alternates strength training moves and running-inspired, traveling cardio drills to help you burn more fat in less time — all while still logging a few miles....

Exercise before a fasting blood sugar test can affect your lab results. Image Credit: Tetra Images/Tetra images/GettyImages A fasting blood sugar level is usually ordered by a physician either to check for a new diagnosis of diabetes or to monitor a person who is known to have diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic. Advertisement Blood sugar, also known as glucose, is the body's main source of energy. A fasting blood sugar level is a measurement of how much glucose is in a person's blood after 12 hours without eating or drinking anything other than water, according to the Cleveland Clinic....

Bath and hand towels have different timelines for how often you should wash them. Image Credit: Михаил Руденко/iStock/GettyImages After a long day, there’s nothing like a refreshing shower to get rid of all the grit and grime, and a fluffy towel to wrap around your squeaky-clean body. That is, unless your bath towel is teeming with microbes (read: hasn’t been washed in weeks). Advertisement Yup, we said it. Just because you're dirt-free when you dry off doesn't mean germs can't latch onto your bath linens....

A closeup of a grapefruit. Image Credit: Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images If you have a special event or a beach vacation coming up, losing 10 pounds in a week on the three-day diet with grapefruit sounds like the way to go. But this very low-calorie diet, also referred to as the Military diet, may help you lose more water and muscle than fat. Any diet that makes big weight-loss claims is considered a fad diet, and not usually the healthiest way to lose weight and keep it off....

A close up of two roasted chicken breasts on a plate. Chicken is a versatile food rich in high-quality protein. You may cook it many ways, combined with a wide variety of herbs and spices. Chicken is a flavorful and delicious nutrient-rich food. Skinless poultry, such as chicken, is lower in total and saturated fat than most beef. It is available year-round and it a good source of several B vitamins, including niacin or vitamin B3, pantothenic acid or vitamin B5 and vitamin B6....

Chantix is a prescription medication designed to help people stop smoking. Chantix is a prescription medication designed to help smokers quit the habit. The pill is nicotine-free, which is a marked difference from some smoking cessation products on the market, and it allows smokers to keep smoking for the first week of their treatment. Since quitting smoking does often go hand in hand with weight gain, however, it's worthwhile to consider how Chantix can impact a potential weight loss plan....

A small pile of mustard powder beside measuring spoons. Image Credit: zkruger/iStock/Getty Images Mustard powder is finely ground mustard seed, which comes from three species of mustard plants, including yellow mustard, brown mustard and black mustard. Mustard powder contains the same nutrients that are found in the whole mustard seed and has several nutritional benefits. In powdered form, mustard has no smell when dry, but it has a hot flavor when mixed with water....

Ginger powder and root, and turmeric powder and root. Image Credit: Slavica Stajic/iStock/Getty Images Ginger and turmeric – common kitchen spices used to flavor and season foods – have several characteristics in common. Both are tropical perennial plants classified as belonging to the Zingiberacaea family, and both have beneficial constituents in their rhizomes – or roots – that cause them to be prized in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda as healing herbs....

Alcohol prevents the body from absorbing and properly using many essential vitamins and minerals, potentially leading to malnutrition. Image Credit: Roman Stavila/iStock/GettyImages When you think about the health detriments of drinking alcohol, you might not immediately think about the relationship between alcohol and nutrition — specifically, the way alcohol affects vitamins and minerals. Advertisement Instead, your mind might go to obvious short-term risks like alcohol poisoning or such long-term effects as kidney disease, two dangers of excessive consumption as listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....

If you're experiencing an irregular pulse, here are some potential causes. Image Credit: Voyagerix/iStock/GettyImages When taking their pulse, most people think of their heart rate — how fast their heart beats per minute, usually between 60 and 100 times. But your pulse strength, whether weak or bounding, can indicate a wide variety of health issues. Advertisement Reasons for a Weak Pulse A weak pulse may indicate low blood pressure, heart disease or a blood vessel blockage, according to cardiologist Randall M....

Walk for heart health; jog or sprint for calorie-burning. Image Credit: spyderskidoo/E+/GettyImages Treadmills allow you to walk, jog or run, depending on your fitness goals. The faster you go, the more calories you burn, and the more impact you create in your workouts. Your physical condition — more than your age — should guide you as you select treadmill speeds. Advertisement Younger children will be less concerned with impact than seniors and will be better able to withstand the effects of higher speeds....

Ice cream contains saturated fat and sugar. An unhealthy diet fails to provide your body with the correct amounts and types of nutrients for maximum health. The average American diet contains too many calories and not enough fruits and vegetables. In addition, certain types of foods are more likely to cause medical problems than others. Know what makes up an unhealthy diet and avoid those nutrition pitfalls. Advertisement Too Many Calories Too many or too few calories create an unhealthy diet....

Sodium is found in pretty much all food; however, there is less in some than others. Image Credit: Arx0nt/Moment/GettyImages If you’ve been thinking about changing your diet, you may have heard a lot about sodium. This chemical element occurs naturally throughout nature. Even healthy foods like fruits and vegetables are natural sources of sodium, although their levels don’t compare to those found in processed foods. Advertisement Tip Sodium occurs naturally in almost every food — but the sodium content in fruits, vegetables and whole grains is much lower than you'll find in highly processed foods....

Walking incorrectly may cause your meniscus to re-tear. The meniscus, which is a structure located within the knee joint, is a common site for injuries. Treatment for a damaged meniscus depends on the severity and cause of the injury; your physician can help determine the best course of treatment. Once your injury has healed, you will need to exercise to recover and prevent complications. Your doctor and physical therapist can review your personal medical history with you to decide if walking is a good exercise option or if your risk of re-injury is too high to walk....

Zumba vs. Treadmill Image Credit: shironosov/iStock/GettyImages When it comes to getting a good workout, people look for two things: the most bang for their buck and the most entertainment. While the former can be estimated by calorie burn and intensity, the latter is highly subjective. Some people enjoy putting on their headphones and getting into their own groove on the treadmill, while others want to be in a group and groove to the pumping Latin beats of a Zumba class....

For most people, sirloin steak is not an everyday meal. Image Credit: Claudia Totir/Moment/GettyImages For most people, sirloin steak is not an everyday meal. One of the more economical prime cuts of beef, pan fried sirloin steak offers a flavorful break from ground beef, chicken and other daily fare. It comes from the upper, forward part of the rear hip, so the muscles got a fair workout. Advertisement Though leaner and less well-marbled than some popular cuts, sirloin steak on the stovetop nonetheless offers superior flavor and tenderness....

Feet walking on a treadmill at a gym. Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Wavebreak Media/Getty Images Proform makes a reliable line of treadmills and other fitness machines. Even the most reliable machine can sometimes break down. When it comes to repairing your treadmill, you have to weigh the costs of your time, parts and possibly a service visit over purchasing a new machine. Try some quick fixes first and then move on to some more involved troubleshooting in case the problem is something as minor as the cord is unplugged....

Omega-3 capsules can help reset the hypothalamus. Image Credit: joey333/iStock/Getty Images The hypothalamus is an area of the brain that produces hormones involved in regulating hunger and thirst, among other sensations. The hypothalamus is considered a part of the nervous system. Supplying the hypothalamus with nutrients that are supportive of cognitive function may help to increase its functionality. The hypothalamus is also related to thyroid function, which controls metabolism and is linked to effectiveness of weight loss efforts....

Hoisin sauce, a fermented soybean-based condiment, is typically found in Chinese cuisine and is used as a marinade or dipping sauce for meat, seafood and poultry. Image Credit: tasha_lyubina/iStock/GettyImages Hoisin sauce, a fermented soybean-based condiment, is typically found in Chinese cuisine and is used as a marinade or dipping sauce for meat, seafood and poultry. Sesame oil is a key ingredient in hoisin sauce so if you decide to make your own easy hoisin sauce recipe at home be sure to include it....