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For a good full-body workout, all you need is a barbell. Image Credit: rilueda/iStock/GettyImages The barbell is the workout staple of CrossFitters, bodybuilders and Olympic lifters alike. But anyone can get a full-body workout using just a barbell and weight plates. You can target all your major muscles and lift more weight than with standard dumbbells or kettlebells. Advertisement Not sure where to start? Below are nine of the best exercises to start with....

1 of 10 Overview The animal kingdom is one wild world. Animals must dodge predators, battle their competition and fight off illness. And the stakes are high: Being physically fit is key to health and survival. There are no Olympics or playoffs in the animal kingdom: Fitness is a matter of life and death. From insanely strong fighting skills to jaw-dropping longevity and breakneck speeds, here are the fittest creatures of land, air and water....

Following a grapefruit diet is typically restrictive and unsafe. Image Credit: dddoria/iStock/GettyImages In This Article What It Is Menu Weight Loss Benefits Downsides Bottom Line Like one of those annoying pop-up ads that take over your entire phone screen, the grapefruit diet is a fad that just keeps coming back. It's been around since at least the 1930s, and each generation seems to embrace it at one point or another. Advertisement Several versions of the diet exist, but they all have one thing in common: followers restrict their calories and eat grapefruit at each meal, along with a limited variety of foods like bacon and eggs....

A woman eating icecream while working at her desk. Image Credit: John Howard/Photodisc/Getty Images Losing weight is tricky, especially if you can’t ditch your craving for ice cream. But the Ice Cream Diet, created by Holly McCord, is purported to help dieters lose weight while still eating ice cream every day. Any diet that involves eating the same foods over and over again is considered a fad diet, and may not provide healthy or maintainable weight loss....

Strengthen your bones and improve healing with supplements for a herniated disc. Image Credit: anilakkus/iStock/GettyImages A herniated disc can wreak havoc on your body. It’s a pain in the butt, the hip, the back and the neck. While natural remedies won't cure a herniated disc, an article in the December 2017 issue of Journal of Osteoporosis noted that dietary and vitamin supplements can improve bone health, and like every other tissue, healthy bones heal better....

Whether you wish to take holy basil for cortisol management or for specific ailments, be aware there may be instances in which holy basil is contraindicated. Image Credit: anand purohit/Moment/GettyImages Holy basil, aka tulsi, is one of the oldest medicinal herbs, frequently used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat various disorders, according to February 2019 research published in the Journal of Plant Medicines. While holy basil side effects are not well-documented, the benefits can be numerous....

Powerade can promote nutrient balance during athletics. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Stockbyte/Getty Images Powerade is a sports beverage that replenishes electrolytes, carbohydrates and vitamins during physical activity. Powerade beverage products include a variety of flavors and calorie contents. While Powerade is effective and replaces lost nutrients during exercise, it also contains high levels of sodium and sugar that are detrimental in excess. Advertisement Carbohydrates Carbohydrates are your body’s main source of energy. As carbohydrates break down during digestion, they release glucose, or blood sugar, which is released into the blood stream and used to create a variety of substances that promote muscle contraction and nerve cell function....

Both honey and lime juice offer antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Image Credit: HandmadePictures/iStock/GettyImages Adding lime and honey with cold water, or even warm water, to your daily diet will ensure that you get the antioxidant and antibacterial properties that both ingredients have to offer. A mixture of the juice of lime and honey has even been shown to be effective in suppressing coughs. Advertisement Tip Both honey and lime juice offer antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects....

Cardio is a great way to burn extra calories. Image Credit: Martin Novak/Moment/GettyImages If you’re looking to lose a few extra pounds around your waist, you don’t necessarily need a new gym membership. You can lose weight at home with exercise and a few lifestyle tweaks. But remember that while you can lose weight at home, you can’t control just where the weight will come off. Advertisement Tip You can't spot reduce any area of your body, including your waist....

What Exercises Can I Do in P90X If I Don't Have a Pull-Up Bar? Image Credit: Bicho_raro/iStock/GettyImages Pull-ups are one of the best exercises you can do to strengthen the muscles of your back. The developer of the DVD workout series known as P90X knows this, and encourages you to install a home pull-up bar to participate in the rigorous workouts. Advertisement If a pull-up bar is just not an option, explore alternative exercises that get you the same benefits....

What Fruits Cause Diarrhea? Image Credit: Yulia Gusterina/iStock/GettyImages If you find your stomach making bizarre sounds and feel the need to sprint to the bathroom, it’s possible that you ate something that didn’t agree with you. Diarrhea can be defined as loose or watery stools three or more times per day. This happens when food and liquids pass through your body too quickly. Although fruits should be a staple in your diet because of their vast array of health benefits, some fruits can cause diarrhea if you eat too much of it....

Tight or weak hamstrings are among the top reasons why you may struggle with legs up the wall pose. Image Credit: GibsonPictures/E+/GettyImages You’ve probably heard stretching before bed can benefit your sleep. And there’s no better slumber-supporting stretch than legs up the wall pose (Viparita Karani). Yep, this yoga posture helps calm your mind ​and​ body. Advertisement But if you've ever attempted this pose pre-bedtime, you might've found yourself feeling more flustered and frustrated than zen....

Avacados are a great low sugar fruit. Image Credit: Alexander Spatari/Moment/GettyImages Touted as the cure for multiple ailments, including yeast infections, digestive issues and fatigue, the candida diet plan aims to eliminate foods that proliferate the growth of Candida albicans. This includes foods high in simple sugars like fruit. Advertisement Tip According to the diet proponents, you can eat low-sugar fruits when following the candida diet plan. Low-sugar fruits include olives, avocados, starfruit and berries....

Not eating vegetables is not good for your health. Image Credit: OksanaKiian/iStock/GettyImages The World Health Organization calls lack of exercise and poor diet the “leading global risk to health,” yet only 1 in 10 Americans gets enough vegetables via diet, while some eat no vegetables at all. Not eating vegetables makes it harder to maintain a healthy weight and increases the risk of disease. Advertisement If you don't eat vegetables or you're not eating enough, try to start incorporating them into each of your meals to make sure you're meeting your nutrient needs....

Chocolate Frosting Image Credit: ninikas/iStock/Getty Images As much as you might want to, sometimes there just isn’t time to make frosting from scratch. If you’re decorating a cake for a birthday or making cupcakes for you child’s class, you don’t have to settle for the muted flavor of canned chocolate frosting. Fortunately, you can turn canned frosting into frosting nobody will believe you got at the store. Advertisement Step 1 Place your can of chocolate frosting on your countertop and allow it to warm to room temperature, as warm frosting is easier to work with....

Loser kid wearing flip flops pushes his bike along a sidewalk after getting a flat tire. Image Credit: champja/iStock/Getty Images Essential equipment for a cyclist includes a floor pump in the garage and a road pump clipped to the bicycle frame or carried in a backpack. Bike shops inflate tires using an air compressor with a fitting and pressure gauge like the type found at service stations. For emergency situations on the road or at home, when no pump or air compressor is available, you can inflate bike tires quickly using a compact compressed air or C02 inflator designed for bicycles....

Jogging in the morning can elevate your mood. Image Credit: fatchoi/iStock/Getty Images Jogging is one of those versatile workouts you can do any time of day and in almost any place. However, jogging in the morning calls for some preparatory steps to ensure you maximize your workout and feel energized afterward. Ultimately, the endorphins you release during a morning jog can reduce your feeling of stress, create a sense of well-being and even function as a mild painkiller....

Spoon taking a scoop from an orange Image Credit: DAJ/amana images/Getty Images The bladder is part of the urinary system and has the role of storing urine until you are ready to eliminate it. A properly working urinary system and bladder can hold up to two cups of urine for five hours, notes the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. However, when body acid level is too high the result is increased bile acid production....

Having trouble breathing isn't a normal symptom of vitamin D deficiency. Image Credit: Kentaroo Tryman/Maskot/GettyImages Vitamin D is well known for being an essential nutrient. Consuming vitamin D foods can help you maintain good muscle, nerve and bone health. Insufficient vitamin D is often associated with bone or muscle problems and sometimes correlates with respiratory issues. Advertisement Tip Trouble breathing isn't a typical symptom of vitamin D deficiency. However, there has been an association with low vitamin D and lung function problems, such as breathing difficulties or respiratory conditions....

Sitting comfortably and quietly can enhance the powerful effects of meditation. Image Credit: Hero Images/Hero Images/GettyImages Stress is a normal part of life, but it can wreak havoc on your physical health. Meditation helps to reduce stress, and the effect of meditation on the cardiovascular system has shown to have positive results. Advertisement Tip Meditation has been found to have positive effects on heart rate and cardiovascular health. Meditation and Heart Rate When you experience emotional stress, your body reacts to prepare you for the fight or flight response by releasing stress hormones....