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You can revive stale baguettes in a conventional or microwave oven. Image Credit: Yulia Naumenko/Moment/GettyImages A fresh baguette is glorious when it’s soft on the inside with a crusty exterior, but a hardened or stale baguette is unappetizing. The good news is that it’s often possible to bring breads back to life when they’re no longer fresh. Advertisement How to Soften Bread Penny Stankiewicz, Pastry & Baking Arts Chef-Instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education, tells LIVESTRONG....

High-altitude hiking requires the right training. Image Credit: miljko/E+/GettyImages Reaching the highest peaks has its rewards, including stunning views and picturesque sights. But if you want to reap the perks, it’s imperative that you maintain your safety and health on your climb to the top. Whether you’re trekking up Kilimanjaro or scaling the Rocky Mountains, you must get your body acclimated to the altitude, and for that, you’ll need a few high-altitude hiking tips....

Running hills help protect your joints. Image Credit: sergio_kumer/iStock/GettyImages You can lose weight by walking on flat ground or at a decline, but tackling inclines is a great way to push yourself. Incline walking for fat loss is effective because it raises your heart rate more than flat ground walking. This pushes your body into better condition while burning more calories. Advertisement Incline Walking Benefits Weight loss is only one of many incline walking benefits....

A mature woman is exercising outdoors. Image Credit: Erik Snyder/Photodisc/Getty Images Many different conditions can cause weight gain around the middle. No matter what the cause, belly fat is dangerous to your health, increasing your risk of heart disease, diabetes, gallbladder disorders and certain kinds of cancers. Imbalances involving the female hormone estrogen increase your chance of gaining belly fat. Women are especially at risk due to fluctuating hormone levels throughout life....

Sliced kielbasa on a wooden table. Image Credit: ffolas/iStock/Getty Images When you’re pregnant, you have to be particularly careful about what you eat. Eating the wrong thing could lead to a foodborne illness, which could cause adverse effects for the baby, and a high-fat or high-sodium diet could increase your child’s risk for future health complications. However, kielbasa can be enjoyed in moderation as long as you cook it to the proper temperature before eating it and follow a healthy diet....

Combine HIIT and lifting in the Beachbody on Demand program LIIFT4. Image Credit: Beachbody There’s a reason exercise is called “working” out : It’s downright drudgery for a lot of people. Oftentimes it can feel like a part-time job that doesn’t leave a lot of time for the things you really want to be doing — like eating nachos and, um, hanging out with friends. Advertisement Beachbody's newest program LIIFT4 was designed with this in mind....

Leg Press Vs. Leg Extension Image Credit: Brainsil/iStock/GettyImages The machines in the gym are there to help build your leg strength, but there’s so many to choose from — which one should you do? Both the leg press and the leg extension train your legs, but the leg press is a compound exercise using both the knee and hip joints, and works all the upper-leg muscles, including the hamstrings. The leg extension machine is an isolation exercise, using only the knee joint....

This low-carb lunch can be made the day before, making it easy to grab and enjoy. Image Credit: Elena_Danileiko/iStock/GettyImages Your workweek lunches should be tasty, energizing and, perhaps most importantly, easy to assemble. Advertisement If you're trying to cut back on carbs, we've rounded up six delicious (and simple!) recipes that clock in under 30 grams. Video of the Day From zucchini noodles to good-for-you nachos, try these registered dietitian-approved low-carb lunch ideas this week....

Chinese spare ribs are rich in flavor but also tend to be high in calories. Image Credit: hut547/iStock/Getty Images Boneless spare ribs are a staple of many Chinese restaurants, as the ribs provide a rich, meaty flavor and are packed with protein. While boneless spare ribs can be an enjoyable treat, they aren’t ideal for your overall health, as they tend to be high in calories and fat as well. Spare ribs served at different restaurants may have variances in nutritional information due to differences in recipes....

Too much exercise can also be harmful. Image Credit: Cecilie_Arcurs/E+/GettyImages Like most things, there are positives and negatives of exercise. It’s important to understand its pitfalls so that you can stay injury-free and reap the rewards. The benefits are numerous for your body and mind, but ​too much of a good thing​ can harm you. Advertisement Fitness is part of the equation for a healthy lifestyle. Throughout your life, it's important to maintain a consistent workout routine....

Doctor checking pediatric patient's thyroid. Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Wavebreak Media/Getty Images The thyroid gland – located in the neck – produces thyroid hormones, which help in maintaining a normal metabolic rate, facilitating protein synthesis, regulation of bone growth and control of brain cell maturation. Hypothyroidism is defined as low thyroid hormone in the blood. Hypothyroidism is associated with reduced urinary excretion of potassium; when thyroid hormone is replaced in hypothyroid patients, urinary potassium excretion increases....

Proper supplement storage can ensure your vitamins remain potent. Image Credit: Blackzheep/iStock/GettyImages If you’re one of the millions of Americans who take vitamin or mineral supplements, you may have been told that storing nutritional tablets in the refrigerator will keep them fresh, along with extending their shelf life. Advertisement Not only is this reasoning incorrect, but every type of supplement does not belong in the cold. Video of the Day Where to Store Vitamins so They Stay Potent With more than 90,000 supplements on the market, there’s no one-size-fits-all rule as to where to keep each bottle in your home....

The medicinal herb rhodiola, also known as golden root, originates in the high-altitude regions of Northern Europe and Asia. Herbalists commonly regard rhodiola as an adaptogen. Herbs in this class, which may include ginseng, ashwagandha and eleuthero, enable the body to adapt to stress with fewer changes in appetite, sleep, mood or sexual health. Although rhodiola is generally regarded as safe, it may cause side effects in some individuals. Consult your health care provider before using rhodiola, especially if you have a medical condition....

SlimFast can be a handy on-the-go meal replacement, but it shouldn't be a dietary mainstay. Image Credit: Phill Thornton/iStock/GettyImages SlimFast provides relatively low-calorie, nutritional meal replacement products in the form of milkshakes. They come in four different flavors: chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and cappuccino. Advertisement Each serving contains between 180 and 190 calories and provides about one-third of your daily recommended intake for many vitamins and minerals. For short-term use and convenience, they can help you with your weight-loss goals....

Catching up on your social media feeds may seem relaxing, but can lead to feelings of stress, anxiety and depression. Image Credit: PeopleImages/E+/GettyImages Feeling more anxious, depressed or stressed lately? The answer, in part, may have something to do with your daily dose of screen time. Yup, those hours you spend scrolling through your social media feeds may be taking a toll on your mental health. Advertisement Here, experts explain the connection between social media exposure and emotional wellbeing, break down the signs that your habit is becoming unhealthy and share strategies to manage your media consumption....

A soft diet meal plan includes things that require minimal chewing and are easy to digest. Image Credit: photohomepage/iStock/GettyImages A soft food diet might be recommended after oral surgery or if you have a gastrointestinal condition that prevents you from eating as you normally do. If you have some time to plan, it’s helpful to make a list of soft food diet ideas so you can have the right meals and snacks available....

Image Credit: Aleksandar Jankovic/E+/GettyImages Popcorn is a whole grain, an essential food group many Americans lack. Whole grains offer valuable amounts of fiber and nutrients, such as B vitamins and iron. Just because popcorn is nutritious, however, does not mean it suits every person's diet. Pain that follows popcorn eating might stem from a variety of factors. Gaining understanding of these factors might help guide you toward making wise dietary and lifestyle decisions....

When choosing a bike, you should be able to stand over the center part of your bike with both feet flat on the ground. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative How We Chose Best Mountain Bike Best Hybrid Bike Best Road Bike Best on a Budget Best for Beginners Shopping Tips Many manufacturers market bikes according to gender. However, the main difference between most men’s and women’s bikes lies in the frame size....

resources USNews Health: ‘Whole Food’ Vitamins Are a Cool Idea, But Proof of Benefit Is Lacking Best-Multivitamins-Guide.com: Xtend Life - Total Balance Review Whole food vitamins offer nutrients from a variety of plant foods. Image Credit: Tassii/E+/GettyImages Image Credit: Tassii/E+/GettyImages Pros and Cons How We Chose Garden of Life New Chapter Kirkland Pure Synergy Innate Response Formulas Consider Before Buying You should aim to meet most of your nutritional needs through what you eat....

references Nutrients: "Calcium Intake in Bone Health: A Focus on Calcium-Rich Mineral Waters" UCLA: "Ask the Doctors – Is Sparkling Water Bad for Your Bones and Teeth?" Food and Drug Administration (FDA): "CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21" American Heart Association: "How Much Sugar Is Too Much?" San Pellegrino: "Tangerine & Wild Strawberry Sparkling Water" Enjoy flavored water on its own for a refreshing pick-me-up or try it in homemade cocktails and mocktails to cut back on sugar....