Posts

Tight hamstrings and hip flexors are the top reasons why you can't do the splits. Image Credit: JosuOzkaritz/iStock/GettyImages Doing splits is so much more than a cool parlor trick. Indeed, the ability to seamlessly slide into a split is a fantastic feat of flexibility and mobility, which is also why accomplishing the masterful move is so difficult. Advertisement So if you're wondering "why can't I do the splits?," Joanie Johnson, CPT, former professional dancer and founder of Strong Mom Society, shares the top five reasons, plus strategies to help you step things up....

Resistance training is a great way to increase muscle density. Image Credit: Mireya Acierto/DigitalVision/GettyImages Removing the fat embedded in between the fibers of your muscle tissue will increase your ​muscle density​. Many effective methods can help you safely reach this goal. Learning more about these ways improves your overall health as well as your body composition. Advertisement ​Read more:​ 6 Rules of Gaining Muscle Mass Video of the Day Aerobic Exercise for Muscle Density Doing aerobic exercise gives you an excellent way to increase your muscle density....

A measuring tape. Image Credit: redstallion/iStock/Getty Images If you weigh 400 pounds, it’s a near certainty that you could stand to lose a few pounds. In many ways, the process is the same as if you weigh 200, or even 150. However, getting started may take a few extra steps to ensure that you don’t cause yourself harm as your body adjusts to your new regimen. Fitness coach Ben Cohn of Hillsboro, Oregon, also notes that many people who are severely overweight have a long history of unsuccessful weight-loss attempts....

Fruits with seeds can affect the consistency of a smoothie. Image Credit: DENIO RIGACCI/iStock/Getty Images Smoothies, particularly the ones made with coarse greens such as kale and collards, have a less than smooth consistency. Even when making smoothies with fruit, yogurt and other ingredients, the smoothie may not turn out smooth if it isn’t blended long enough or in the proper manner. Understanding what ingredients to use and how to properly blend the smoothie are the keys to achieving a perfectly smooth smoothie....

Neutralize sugar in a tomato sauce with lemon juice or vinegar. Image Credit: fcafotodigital/E+/GettyImages Is your tomato sauce too sweet? Tone it down with the addition of lemon juice or vinegar. Reduce spiciness by adding coconut milk. Advertisement Tip Neutralize sugar in a tomato sauce with lemon juice or vinegar. Tomato Sauce Too Sweet? In an interview with LIVESTRONG.com_,_ Lisa Richards, CNC, nutritionist and creator of The Candida Diet, shares advice on how to tone down sauces that are too sweet or spicy....

Gas from boiled eggs may be a sign of an intolerance. If you develop intestinal gas along with other gastric symptoms after you eat boiled eggs, you may have a dietary intolerance to eggs. Egg intolerance is a condition that causes digestive complications anytime you ingest eggs. An egg intolerance is different from an egg allergy. Egg intolerance is caused by a lack of enzymes in your digestive system, while an egg allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to the proteins in eggs....

A plate of tortilla chips and a bowl of salsa. Image Credit: AD077/iStock/Getty Images Some tortilla chips do contain gluten, but not all of them. It depends on what the tortilla chips are made from and how they were handled during processing. Even if you’re certain that your favorite type of tortilla chip is gluten-free, you’ll still need to be wary when you go out to eat. Cross-contamination in the kitchen happens quickly and can add trace amounts of gluten to your entree, ultimately making you sick if you’re sensitive to gluten....

Large amounts of some cinnamon preparations may be bad for the liver and for those on blood-thinning drugs. Image Credit: Sommai Larkjit / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Cinnamon is the warming spice that tastes so wonderful in apple pies, aromatic curries and, of course, naughty-but-nice cinnamon rolls. The spice has purported health benefits, too. However, too much cinnamon can cause problems, so it pays to understand how much is harmful and when to go easy....

Stairs are a great way to lose belly fat. Image Credit: filadendron/E+/GettyImages Exercises to lose belly and thigh fat at home consist of both strengthening and cardiovascular training done regularly. Workouts that tone up the thighs and abdominal muscles are important, but they must be combined with fat-burning exercises and a healthy diet plan for best results. Advertisement ‌Read more:‌ Do Sit-Ups Burn Belly Fat? Video of the Day Reducing Stomach and Thigh Fat While there are specific exercises to lose belly and thigh fat at home, they must be part of a routine that also includes cardiovascular training and a proper diet....

Adding more plant-based dishes to your diet will help you get essential nutrients, and is generally good for your health. Image Credit: vaaseenaa/iStock/GettyImages Eating a plant-based diet doesn’t just ‌sound‌ healthy — it is. People who eat a plant-based diet tend to weigh less, have a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes and better blood pressure and cholesterol compared to their omnivorous counterparts, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics....

Numbness in the outer thigh is commonly known as meralgia paresthetica in the medical community. Image Credit: bee32/iStock/GettyImages Numbness in the outer thigh is commonly known as meralgia paresthetica in the medical community. This disorder is characterized by numbness, tingling and a burning sensation on the outer portion of the thigh. Advertisement This condition can be painful or sensitive to the touch. A majority of meralgia paresthetica cases can be treated....

Apples and pears are popular fruits. Image Credit: Magone/iStock/GettyImages Fruits are one of the most popularly consumed types of foods in America. Although the benefits of antioxidant-rich fruits like berries are well known, commonly consumed fruits, like the pear, apple and banana, have many nutritional benefits as well. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends consuming fruits on a daily basis as these foods are good sources of various vitamins, minerals and antioxidants....

Man running up a hill Image Credit: Purestock/Purestock/Getty Images Running on flat terrain results in fast times, but it may not be the most realistic environment for road and trail runners. Most non-track running courses include some hills, which can cause your running times to vary. Knowing the impact of hills on your training will help you become a better runner and ensure that you are able to train for upcoming races appropriately....

The best CrossFit shoes are versatile, comfortable and designed for lifting, cross-training and sprinting. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Unlike your one-trick pony running shoes, the ultimate sole mate for your CrossFit workouts needs to withstand everything from hoisting heavy weights to climbing rope and busting heart-pounding burpees. And yes, running. Advertisement But with so many options for cross-training pairs, it can be hard to choose one that checks all of your boxes....

references & resources Canada Safety Council: "Safety Tips for Winter Walking" Zappos.com The Walking Company The best walking shoes for winter are waterproof, have good traction and keep your feet warm without making them sweaty. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com How We Chose Best Overall Best for Low Snow Best for Deep Snow Best for Water Protection Best for Hikes Best for Cold Temps Best for Uneven Ground What to Look for We make deliberate choices about the language we use, but most manufacturers typically market shoes according to gender, so we’ve listed both women’s and men’s picks below....

references FDA: "FDA 101: Dietary Supplements" FDA: "Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) for Dietary Supplements" Nutrients: "The Evolving Role of Multivitamin/Multimineral Supplement Use among Adults in the Age of Personalized Nutrition" CDC: "Only 1 in 10 Adults Get Enough Fruits or Vegetables" Office of Dietary Supplements: "Vitamin D" ODS: "Omega-3 Fatty Acids" American Society of Hematology: "Iron-Deficiency Anemia" ODS: "Iron" Mayo Clinic: "Dietary fiber: Essential for a healthy diet" USDA: "2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans" Mayo Clinic: "Prenatal vitamins: Why they matter, how to choose" Mayo Clinic: "Creatine" Mount Sinai: "Creatine Information" Drug Design, Development, and Therapy: "Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Curcumin in the Inflammatory Diseases: Status, Limitations and Countermeasures" National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: "Turmeric" ODS: "Magnesium" Rather than take a bunch of random supplements, ask your doctor which ones might be best for your health....

Eat foods with a lot of antioxidants to help with torn ligaments. Image Credit: samael334/iStock/GettyImages Tendons and ligaments are different types of connective tissue. Tendons connect muscles to bones, while ligaments connect bones to one another. Although these tissues have different roles in the body, their similar structure means tendon and ligament supplements are typically very similar. Advertisement Read more: 43 Supplements Exposed: Which Ones to Consider, Which Ones to Avoid Video of the Day Joint, Tendon and Ligament Injuries Tendons and ligaments play similar roles in your body, linking important parts together....

Exercising your abs in the afternoon may be better for your spine than doing your workout in the morning. Image Credit: Jasmine Lin/Moment/GettyImages For most people, the best time for that ab workout was “yesterday.” In truth, though, the best time is “whenever you can make it happen consistently.” But if you have flexibility in your workout schedule, there might be a good reason to do your ab workout a little later in the day....

Fried rockfish is easy to make, and a fast dinner. Image Credit: CharlieAJA/iStock/GettyImages Try these great rockfish recipes: fried rockfish and rockfish tacos. Fried rockfish is easy to make, and a fast dinner. Advertisement According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, there are 32 species of rockfish in the gulf of Alaska. Rockfish reach up to 40 inches in length, have large scales, spines on the head, fins and gill-covers, and can be colored red, orange, yellow, gray or black....

Most fruit and vegetables have a low glycemic index. The glycemic index, abbreviated GI, is a great tool to evaluate the quality of carbohydrate-containing foods. Foods with a low GI result in more even blood sugar levels after eating, while foods with a higher GI cause larger fluctuations in your blood sugar levels. Low GI foods are associated with a healthier body weight, a reduced risk of developing heart disease and improved physical performance....