Man stretching at desk. Adequate physical activity is often difficult to achieve, particularly if you're employed in a sedentary office job. While simple changes, such as taking the stairs or parking farther away from the office do help to some extent, the large amount of time you spend sitting at your desk does nothing to improve your fitness. Use the time you sit in a chair to refine your health with discrete chair exercises....
A cup of green tea has many healthful antioxidants. Image Credit: ULTRA F/Photodisc/Getty Images According to the University of Maryland, tea is consumed by hundreds of millions of people around the world; only water is imbibed more frequently. There are three main varieties of tea – green, black and oolong – and all are made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Of the three, green tea contains the most antioxidants, called catechins....
A piece of bread with duck liver pate. Image Credit: wmaster890/iStock/Getty Images Duck liver, commonly called foie gras, is a delicacy made by force feeding cornmeal to ducks in a process known as gavage in an effort to make their livers larger and richer. This food is not without controversy, as some feel this amounts to animal cruelty. There has been some movement by cities and states to curtail both the production and sale of this food, although the American Veterinary Medical Association maintains that gavage may be performed humanely....
Electrolytes are electrically-charged minerals in the body that help balance hydration and the body’s acid/base, or pH, level. Image Credit: mihailomilovanovic/E+/GettyImages When it comes to staying adequately hydrated and fueled during a sports match or after falling under the weather, there’s often the debate of Propel vs. Gatorade. Both beverages are chock-full of electrolytes, but what’s the real difference between the two? Advertisement Reasons to Consume Sports Drinks Before discussing the difference between Propel and Gatorade, let’s first discuss why people reach for sports drinks in the first place....
The green gram is a low-calorie, high-protein legume that can replace peas in most recipes. Image Credit: shakzu/iStock/GettyImages Touted as the next superfood, the green gram is one of the best plant-based protein sources in the world. It’s used in both sweet and savory dishes, providing large amounts of antioxidants and phytochemicals. Advertisement You've probably already tried it, though you may know it under a different name, such as mung bean, green moong, maash or pachai payaru....
Women dancing in a gym studio. Image Credit: dolgachov/iStock/Getty Images Many people choose dancing as a way to burn calories, strengthen muscle and meet other people. Your heart rate responds to the muscles you use and the work you are doing while dancing, although this activity is sometimes entertaining enough that it doesn’t feel like a workout. Advertisement Heart Rate Your heart rate is the amount of time that your heart beats each minute....
Using the stair climber provides an aerobic workout. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages The StairMaster burns calories and builds lean muscle mass, making the low-impact workout a good way to accomplish cardio and toning all at once. Depending on StairMaster levels, it can also be a tool when training for a hike requiring lower-body power and all-over strength. Advertisement Tip Because it is low impact, the StairMaster vs. treadmill may be a better fit for those with joint issues....
Each 8-ounce serving of sangria, both the red and white variety, has around 215 calories. Image Credit: Foxys_forest_manufacture/iStock/GettyImages A tasty blend of fruit and booze, sangria is a refreshing, customizable beverage. However, when traditionally made in its original Spanish style, the number of calories in sangria — as well as the carbohydrates and sugar — can be a problem for someone trying to choose a healthy drink. Advertisement Tip Each 8-ounce serving of sangria, both the red and white varieties, has around 215 calories....
Exercise caution when bearing weight on a broken foot. Image Credit: wernerimages/iStock/GettyImages Whether you fell off a ladder or were injured playing sports, walking on a broken foot too soon can set back healing time and cause more injury. Before you ditch the crutches or walking boot, understand how bones heal and the importance of proper weight bearing on your foot for optimal recovery. Advertisement Tip Most foot fractures will allow you to be fully weight bearing, as long as you are in a walking boot or cast....
Corned beef is high in sodium, fat and saturated fat, so aim to eat it occasionally and in moderation. Image Credit: bhofack2/iStock/GettyImages About 31 percent of Americans plan to make a special meal on St. Patrick’s Day, according to a March 2017 survey by the National Retail Federation. And by far the most popular holiday choice — although it isn’t authentically Irish — is corned beef. Advertisement Traditional corned beef recipes call for boiling the meat in a large stockpot along with vegetables such as carrots, potatoes and cabbage....
Using veggies as a vessel for other veggies and ingredients is a great way to meet your daily quota. Image Credit: bhofack2/iStock/GettyImages This may not come as a surprise to you, but despite all of mom’s harping when we were younger, more than 90 percent of us still don’t eat enough vegetables on a daily basis, according to a November 2017 Centers for Disease Control report. Advertisement This is concerning (and frustrating) when you consider all that we know about vegetables and how good they are for our health and even our economy and planet....
Image Credit: Natalia Gdovskaia / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages While some celebrities may have 24-inch waists, this isn't an easy feat to accomplish and isn't necessarily healthy for everyone. Although it isn't possible to spot reduce and just lose fat from your midsection, a combination of diet and exercise can help you shrink your waistline along with the rest of your body. Avoid fad diets, waist training and weight-loss supplements, which are associated with potential health risks, and check with your doctor before starting any new diet or exercise plan....
Have your blood pressure checked by a health care professional or keep tabs on it at home using a portable unit. Image Credit: SDI Productions/E+/GettyImages Regular exercise is a key tool for maintaining a healthy blood pressure or, if you have high blood pressure, for lowering it. Yes, your blood pressure will increase during exercise, but that’s normal. Cooling down after you work out helps your blood pressure return to its normal state....
Measure your waist to determine if you have too much belly fat. Image Credit: Woraphon Nusen / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Love handles or a little junk in the trunk may make your suit pants swell and your jeans hang low — but they aren’t usually a huge health concern. Advertisement But if you're a man with deep belly fat — measured by a waist circumference of 40 inches or greater — take notice....
What you eat affects your blood pressure. Image Credit: monkeybusinessimages/iStock/GettyImages The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH, diet is based on research from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. It’s an effective way to reduce blood pressure in individuals with hypertension, and because it’s balanced and flexible, it’s also a popular diet for weight loss or healthy eating. Advertisement The DASH diet recommends a certain number of servings from each food group depending on daily calorie needs....
references USDA: "Nonfat Cottage Cheese" Mayo Clinic: "Calcium and Calcium Supplements: Achieving the Right Balance" USDA: "Almonds" Mayo Clinic: "Vitamin E" Mayo Clinic: "Organic Crispy Chickpeas Roasted In Olive Oil" USDA: "Edamame" NIH: "Magnesium" From chips to vegan jerky, there's plenty of high-protein vegetarian snacks worth trying and tossing in your cart. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative 9 Plant-Based Foods With More Protein Than an Egg...
Trader Joe's offers some great grocery picks, whether you're following the Mediterranean diet or just wanting to eat a bit healthier at home. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages People love the Mediterranean diet for plenty of reasons. One that can’t be ignored: The food that’s encouraged on the diet has potential to turn into absolutely delicious meals. Advertisement The Med eating plan focuses on vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, fish and seafood, as well as healthy fats like olive oil, while limiting red meat, added sugars and the so-called "bad" saturated fat....
There are plenty of ways to treat dandruff naturally at home, but there is no cure for the condition. Image Credit: Artem Varnitsin / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages In This Article Tea Tree Oil Apple Cider Vinegar Anti-dandruff Shampoo Fruit Relaxation Lemongrass Oil Aloe Vera Zinc and B Vitamins Coconut Oil Baking Soda Is There a Cure? We like flakes in our cereal, and we love them on the ski slopes. But flakes on your scalp?...
Spinach contains vitamin K, which can interfere with blood thinners. Image Credit: Anton Ignatenco/iStock/Getty Images Blood clots can be a deadly occurrence, contributing to heart attack and stroke. If your physician suspects you are at risk for blood clots or if you have experienced them in the past, he may recommend taking a blood-thinning medication. These medications can reduce your risk for a life-threatening event – but you must take special precautions when taking these medications, particularly avoiding certain foods in your diet that can interfere with how well your blood thinner works....
Heart attack and heart rate The Merck Manuals, an online library of medical information, says, "Acute coronary syndromes result from a sudden blockage in a coronary artery. This blockage causes unstable angina or heart attack, or myocardial infarction, depending on the location and amount of blockage." A normal heart rate is 60-80 beats per minute, but during a heart attack that rate is altered due to the disrupted blood flow. Heart rates during a heart attack can vary from too slow or fast to palpitations and even skipped beats....
