A spoonful of PB might help you get a sounder night’s slumber. Image Credit: gradyreese/E+/GettyImages Anyone who’s ever felt drowsy after dining on turkey during the holidays knows that certain foods can affect your alertness. Yep, what you put on your plate plays a part in promoting how well you snooze. Advertisement The connection between diet and sleep was observed in a January 2022 review in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics....
Dynamic arm stretches increase blood flow to your joints and warm up your muscles for stronger, safer workouts. Image Credit: ninikas/iStock/GettyImages Stepping into a workout with cold muscles is an injury waiting to happen — and your arms are no exception. Advertisement Dynamic arm stretches are the perfect way to improve your mobility and prep your muscles for exercise, whether you're doing an upper-body workout or getting ready for a game of tennis or golf....
Hybrid bikes let you explore trails, run errands and work out. Image Credit: Lane Oatey / Blue Jean Images/blue jean images/GettyImages Image Credit: Lane Oatey / Blue Jean Images/blue jean images/GettyImages What Is a Hybrid Bike? How We Chose Best Electric Best for Off-Roading Best Affordable Men’s Option Best for Easy Maintenance Best for Limited Mobility Best Women’s Cruiser Best Basic Pick What to Know Before Buying Fitness bikes are typically marketed as either unisex or for a specific gender....
If it's been awhile since you had mussels, consider adding this protein-rich shellfish to the menu. Image Credit: Lauri Patterson/E+/GettyImages We’re living in a time of diet fatigue: There’s a never-ending onslaught of diet trends, fad diets and challenges in play. And many of us have had years of perpetual “dieting” with little to no long-term success to show for it. So if you’ve decided you want to lose some weight, where do you go from here?...
The saturated fat in foods like Italian sausage raises blood cholesterol levels. Image Credit: MackoFlower/iStock/Getty Images While it’s OK to eat Italian sausage, it’s not the type of meat you should eat all the time or in large quantities. Made with pork and flavored with garlic and fennel or anise, Italian sausage – whether sweet or spicy – is high in calories, fat and sodium. Knowing the nutrition information for 1 pound of Italian sausage can help you figure out how it might, or might not, work in your diet plan....
Numerous conditions or factors can lower BUN and creatine levels. Numerous conditions or factors can lower BUN and creatinine levels. According to the MedlinePlus website, blood urea nitrogen, or BUN, is a product that forms in your blood when protein breaks down. Tests can measure the amount of urea nitrogen in your blood. Creatinine is a breakdown product of creatine, which is an important component of your muscles. Creatinine can be measured with a urine test....
You need strength training to "get buff." Image Credit: nd3000/iStock/GettyImages The quickest way to quickly pack on muscle is by using basic weightlifting movements that work the major muscle groups. Forget about doing triceps extensions and cable crossovers; building muscle quick means using reasonably heavy weights, low reps, basic movements and lots of rest. Advertisement The following routine need only be done three days per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday for example) and shouldn't take longer than 45 minutes to an hour to complete....
A healthy walnut salad. Image Credit: Shootdiem/iStock/Getty Images Methionine is an essential amino acid, which means it’s a nutrient you must obtain from food sources. Even if you are vegan, you probably don’t have to worry too much about it. That’s because current evidence suggests that so long as you are meeting your energy needs with a variety of plant foods each day, you are likely providing your body with all the essential amino acids it needs....
Band pull-aparts are one of the best exercises for strengthening your upper back and shoulders. Image Credit: Moyo Studio/E+/GettyImages In This Article Instructions Form Tips In the era of smartphones and computers, most of us have our upper backs in a constant state of flexion (read: rounded forward). While poor posture doesn't seem like a big deal, it increasingly becomes a problem as we age. Advertisement That's because poor posture can make lifting heavy groceries off the ground, pulling doors open and other everyday activities that much harder — not to mention, it can put you at risk for serious injury....
Water filters sitting on a counter. Image Credit: John_Kasawa/iStock/Getty Images If you have high blood pressure or are at risk, you may be concerned about the sodium in your drinking water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in three American adults has high blood pressure. The average American consumes 3,436 mg of salt each day, far higher than the 2,300 mg recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services....
Squats are a great strength training exercise for ballerinas. Image Credit: kovaciclea/E+/GettyImages If you’re a ballet dancer, engaging in regular strengthening activities can improve performance and prevent injury. There are several exercises that ballerinas should do regularly as part of a ballet fit workout and some that likely won’t be as useful. Advertisement Strength Training for Dancers Ballerinas require lower body muscle strength, stamina and flexibility. They need a significant amount of core strength to stabilize the body during pirouettes and arabesques and explosive power to execute sautés and jetés....
Flaxseed oil contains omega fatty acids which are good for your immune system, brain, and heart. Image Credit: Luis Echeverri Urrea/iStock/GettyImages Flaxseed, also called linseed, is a seed that’s mostly composed of healthy fats. When you consume flaxseed oil capsules, you’re ingesting beneficial unsaturated fats. Flaxseed oil benefits your health, because these fats support your heart, improve your immune system and prevent insulin resistance. Advertisement Tip Flaxseed oil's benefits come from its healthy, essential fatty acids....
The main downside of distilled water is that it lacks minerals. Image Credit: Claudia Miranda / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages If you drink distilled water, be aware that it may have some drawbacks. The lack of minerals could prove problematic if you aren’t getting them from another dietary source. In addition, the water might cause intestinal discomfort. Advertisement Tip The main downside of distilled water is that it lacks minerals. If this is your main source of water, be sure to get minerals from fruits, vegetables and other nutritious foods....
A popular flavoring for fish and chips, malt vinegar also offers health benefits. Image Credit: RightOne/iStock/GettyImages Malt vinegar does more than pucker up your taste buds. This potent comfort food offers many nutritional benefits, ranging from helping your body regulate glucose to aiding in weight management. Advertisement Tip A popular flavoring for fish and chips, malt vinegar also offers health benefits. It can help control blood sugar levels and keep your heart healthy....
Coffee is a beverage high in magnesium. Image Credit: Vitaliy_ph/iStock/Getty Images The body needs minerals like magnesium and phosphorus to function properly. Not getting enough of these nutrients or taking in too much can have adverse side effects. Whereas magnesium deficiency is common, having too much phosphorus in the diet occurs more often than phosphorus deficiency. Although both these minerals are essential to healthy nutrition, drinking too many beverages high in phospates can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb magnesium, calcium and iron....
Include probiotics in your diet if you have a peptic ulcer. Image Credit: blanaru/iStock/GettyImages If you have a peptic ulcer, dietary changes can help alleviate your symptoms and speed up recovery by reducing stomach acid levels and reducing pain flare-ups. Suggested stomach ulcer diets are low in gastric irritants like alcohol and spicy foods and high in fiber-rich whole grains and vegetables. Advertisement Tip Foods to avoid with ulcers include caffeine, alcohol, chili and peppers....
What Is the Best Time of Day to Take an Iron Supplement? Image Credit: OlgaLepeshkina/iStock/GettyImages Iron is an essential mineral that transports oxygen to every cell in your body. Iron surpluses are housed in the liver, spleen, bone marrow and muscles. People who are iron-deficient may develop anemia, which can cause fatigue and weakness. Iron is found in a variety of foods, such as fortified breads and cereals, beans, lentils, poultry and dairy products....
Potatoes are a good source of potassium and carbs, so eat them after your workout to restore your energy levels and speed up post-workout muscle repair. Image Credit: tycoon751/iStock/GettyImages If potatoes could speak, they’d be wailing in indignation at being so misunderstood. If you’re wondering whether you should be eating potatoes if you’re bodybuilding, the answer is yes. Here’s what you need to know about the nutritional profile of potatoes....
Your stomach may appear bigger after you work out because you're looking at yourself with a more critical eye. Image Credit: Kiattisak Lamchan / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages It’s not uncommon to experience a frustrating phenomenon when exercising: Even with a regular workout routine, your stomach may seem bigger after exercise. Figure out the root cause by examining the factors involved and then alter your behaviors or perceptions to minimize the bulge. Advertisement Tip Your stomach may seem bigger after a workout because you're looking at yourself with a more critical eye....
Drinking water after exercising helps you prevent dehydration. Image Credit: FlamingoImages/iStock/GettyImages When exercising, you lose water through perspiration, so it’s important to drink water after a workout. The water loss increases if the physical activity is done outdoors in hot, humid weather. To maintain hydration, experts advise drinking water before, during and after exercise. Although, there are no clear benefits of drinking hot water before exercise instead of cold water....
