Some yoga blocks are crafted of wood. Image Credit: RickSause/iStock/Getty Images A yoga block comes in handy when you need extra stabilization in balancing poses or need to modify the angle of your knees when seated. Of course, these aren’t the only uses for this valuable prop first popularized by legendary yogi and teacher B.K.S. Iyengar. Advertisement You don't always have access to a block, but that doesn't mean your practice should suffer....
When done properly, Downward-Facing Dog lengthens your spine. Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Wavebreak Media/Getty Images You’re born with a certain length to your spine and, technically, nothing can make it grow longer. However, lifestyle habits such as slumping in cushy chairs and carrying heavy purses or backpacks, can erode that length. Maintaining good posture and honoring your spine’s natural length keeps your body healthy. Back pain and poor posture rarely occur because of a one-off event; it’s usually years of poor habits that wear you down....
Treadmill Image Credit: Solovyova/iStock/Getty Images Owning a treadmill provides easy, efficient access to a flexible cardio workout. When you’re ready to upgrade, or decide that it’s time to join friends at the gym, though, the biggest obstacle can be determining how best to sell your treadmill. Pricing a treadmill isn’t unlike pricing a car–you need to account for several factors to determine a fair price. Advertisement Step 1 Decide the condition of your treadmill....
Working out with your significant other is a great way to work toward your fitness goals. Image Credit: MixMedia/E+/GettyImages While we all love to enjoy a lazy Saturday morning with our significant other (SO), scheduling regular doubles workout sessions can be a great way to mix up your usual gym routine. Whether you’re lifting side-by-side or trying a couples workout, exercising with your SO may be exactly what you need to get over a plateau....
Potatoes are at their best before they sprout roots. Image Credit: Viktoriia Oleinichenko/iStock/GettyImages Every time you open the fridge, you see that potato you keep forgetting to eat. It’s starting to look a little sad, and it has what look like white potato roots starting to sprout — can you eat it? Maybe, but it’s probably best to follow the “when in doubt, throw it out” rule. Advertisement Tip Sprouted potatoes can be toxic....
Vitamins for neck and shoulder pain include B12, C and D. Image Credit: Jaromir Chalabala / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Your doctor may prescribe certain vitamins for neck and shoulder pain if you have vitamin deficiencies. Here’s what you need to know about these vitamins, as well as some natural remedies for neck pain and shoulder pain. Advertisement Tip Vitamins for neck and shoulder pain include B12, C and D. Consult your doctor before you take any supplements for neck pain or shoulder pain....
Many people wonder if cream in coffee is bad for you, but the answer depends on how much you drink it. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative How Bad Is It Really? sets the record straight on all the habits and behaviors you’ve heard might be unhealthy. In This Article Nutrition Benefits Risks How you like your java is highly personal. Between the different types of coffee, methods to brew it and ingredients to add flavor, there are endless ways to prepare a cup of Joe....
Drake recently confirmed that he’s stopped eating meat, but a cryptic Instagram post has fans speculating that he’s actually gone full-blown vegan. Image Credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images Entertainment/GettyImages Drake’s brand-new track “Nice for What” isn’t the only 6 God news you need to know about. The 31-year-old rapper recently confirmed that he has stopped eating meat, and a cryptic Instagram post has fans speculating that he’s actually gone full-blown vegan....
You can eat expired chocolate, but its color and texture may be a turnoff. Image Credit: AnnaPustynnikova/iStock/GettyImages There are certain foods that can pose risks when consumed past their expiration date — meat and milk, for example. But other foods, such as expired chocolate, are OK. However, keep in mind that the flavor and texture of old chocolate may make it as good as inedible for some. Advertisement Tip You can eat expired chocolate, but its color and texture may be a turnoff....
A runner works on stair climbing exercises. Image Credit: lzf/iStock/Getty Images Stair climbing is an exercise that uses your natural body weight to tone muscles in the hips, buttocks and thighs. Weight-bearing aerobic activities such as stair climbing can help reduce the rate of bone loss while providing cardiovascular benefits. Although stair climbing exercises and machines offer benefits for healthy individuals, they may be ineffective or dangerous if you have a hip injury....
A top down view of a smoothie with a bright pink straw. Image Credit: takepicsforfun/iStock/Getty Images McDonald’s is generally known for its burgers, fries and sodas. Recently, however, the restaurant has added smoothies, blended coffee drinks and other drinks to the menu. The drinks imitate coffee shop blended drinks, offering similar drinks for a lower price. The smoothies contain blended fruits, ice and low-fat yogurt. They come in strawberry banana and wild berry flavors....
Getting meat sweats usually isn't a sign of anything serious, but there are treatment options. Image Credit: kajakiki/E+/GettyImages In This Article Causes Groups Prone to Meat Sweats Meat Allergy Frey's Syndrome Types of Meat Prevention Treatment One minute you're feasting on a juicy filet mignon steak, and the next your forehead is dripping water like a leaky faucet. If your sweat glands seem to go into overdrive after eating meat, you might be struck with a case of the meat sweats....
The squat works multiple lower-body muscles. Image Credit: Darrin Klimek/Digital Vision/Getty Images As one of the most effective strength-building, lower-body exercise, the squat is a staple exercise for athletes, bodybuilders and power lifters. The reason the squat gets so much attention is because of the high amount of muscle fiber it recruits. Because you target more than one muscle at a time, the squat is known as a compound exercise....
Dried squid for sale in a market. Image Credit: Khlongwangchao/iStock/Getty Images Korean cuisine includes garlic, spicy red peppers and substantial soups and stews with meat, vegetables and noodles. Seafood is a central part of Korean culture, and dried squid can be a snack on its own or as part of a recipe for lunch or dinner. Dried Korean squid can be a nutritious addition to your diet if you eat it in moderation....
Oregano can promote healing. Image Credit: marrakeshh/iStock/GettyImages Struggling with a sore throat or bacterial infections? Then you might want to drink a cup of oregano tea. Rich in volatile oils, this healthful beverage kills pathogens and promotes healing. It may also soothe the stomach, boost immune function and reduce inflammation. Advertisement Discover the Benefits of Oregano Oregano is best known for its distinctive flavor and slightly bitter taste. It makes a delicious addition to pizza, meat dishes, salads and soups....
A woman lays on an exercise mat as she does breathing exercises. Image Credit: fizkes/iStock/Getty Images A pneumothorax can be a serious lung condition that causes difficulty with breathing, sharp chest pain and chest tightness. A pneumothorax occurs when air escapes from the lungs and fills the pleural space, which is the area between the lungs and the chest wall. The air cannot escape and presses on the lung tissue, making it hard to breathe....
The high fiber in whole-wheat pasta makes it a good choice on a prostate cancer diet. Image Credit: Anna_Shepulova/iStock/GettyImages Being told you have prostate cancer can be a frightening experience. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and somewhat helpless in the face of a cancer diagnosis. But your diet is one thing you can control. Advertisement There's no single prostate cancer diet, but you can tailor what you eat to help you manage the disease....
When you experience a hand injury or arthritis in your hands, simple motions like pointing or curling the fingers can be difficult. Regular exercises to strengthen the muscles in the fingers can improve range of motion and reduce pain in the finger joints. One method to increase the intensity of these exercises is use of strong rubber bands wrapped around the hand. The rubber band can help your fingers move as one or create resistance to strengthen your hand muscles....
Fatigue may indicate something else is going on. Image Credit: Klaus Tiedge/Blend Images/Getty Images Shortness of breath, weight loss, cough and fatigue by themselves are relatively common symptoms in a large variety of medical conditions. When all four are combined, they don’t fit in with many different medical medical conditions. If you experience all four of these symptoms together, see your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible....
Talk to your doctor right away if you notice a significant amount of blood following your colonoscopy. Image Credit: fstop123/E+/GettyImages A colonoscopy is an exam that allows your doctor to look for telltale signs of trouble in your colon, such as swollen tissue, ulcers, polyps or tumors. It’s an outpatient procedure that could potentially be life-saving. Advertisement Still, the procedure is invasive — it requires the physician to insert a flexible "scope" into your rectum and colon — and therefore not entirely without risk....
