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A woman reading a document. Image Credit: Pawel_Czaja/iStock/Getty Images You know reading is good for your mind, but you may wonder if there is any benefit for your body. You do burn some calories while reading, so maybe your practice of reading about diets helps you even before you implement the diet. Advertisement Weight and Calories The more you weigh, the more calories you burn. It takes additional energy to circulate your blood and tend to basic physiological functions when you have greater mass....

Silicone bake-ware does pose a few safety problems. Image Credit: victoshafoto/iStock/Getty Images If you’ve been to a home and garden store recently, you’ve probably seen silicone baking sets. Available in a wide range of sizes and colors, these sets are popular due to their nonstick nature and versatility. However, that doesn’t mean they are for everyone. Silicone bake-ware, while safer than you might expect at first glance, does pose a few safety problems....

Close-up of butter melting in a pan. Image Credit: MarynaVoronova/iStock/Getty Images Sugar is a substance frequently used to sweeten desserts and beverages. Although sugar is known to be high in carbohydrates, this should not concern you if you caramelize it with butter, since a little goes a long way. Caramelized sugar and butter is a delightfully sweet syrupy liquid that tastes best in small amounts, such as drizzled over cake or fresh fruit....

Canned yams often come precut and can be cooked in a slow cooker without much effort. Image Credit: from_my_point_of_view/iStock/GettyImages Slow cookers like the Crock-Pot are valuable to busy cooks for a simple reason: They don’t require a lot of upkeep. Slow-cooking may require hours of advance preparation to let food stew in seasonings and its own juices, but once you fill up that slow cooker you are, for the most part, done with your work until it’s time to eat....

Breaded fish fillets can be delicious, but breading adds calories and carbohydrates to a lean source of protein. If you prefer your fish without those extra calories or carbs, pan-searing and blackening techniques produce a delicious fillet that remains tender and flaky. Catfish is a natural choice for pan-searing because its relatively firm flesh stays together in the pan, while its mild flavor acts as a neutral carrier for bolder flavors....

Intermittent fasting can help you loose weight. Image Credit: Xsandra/E+/GettyImages Eating one meal a day, whether you’re doing it for religious reasons or as a special diet, is a form of fasting. It’s a difficult way to go about losing weight, but if you’re the type of person who thrives on structure, it can help. Advertisement Smaller, More Frequent Meals Some diets advocate for more frequent, smaller meals throughout the day for weight loss....

Fry up your whole potato then add your favorite seasonings. Image Credit: ALLEKO/iStock/GettyImages Fried potatoes have a crispy, and often salty, exterior that encases a fluffy and meaty interior. Though fried potatoes are most commonly made of strips or cubes, you can fry them whole as well. Advertisement Serve a whole fried potato as you would a baked potato or a helping of tater tots. If you're frying multiple potatoes, work in small batches of four to six to ensure they cook evenly....

Planks are a great exercise to get a flat stomach. Image Credit: PeopleImages/E+/GettyImages Say it like a mantra: Your stomach is more than your abs. While the six-pack may be the star of the show, it’s your other core muscles — the obliques and transverse abdominis — that act as the literal supporting cast to hold you in and give you a well-defined torso. Advertisement For faster toning, hit your core from all sides through workouts and healthy eating....

Mahi mahi is Hawaiian for "strong strong," a name that pays homage to the fact that the fish is a strong swimmer. Its firm flesh and brilliant, edible skin is also strong enough to stand up to grilled preparations, resulting in rich and smoky fish dishes. The fish's mild and sweet, almost lemony flavor shines with minimal seasonings, and is complemented by spicy additions such as chili powder and curry....

This back-friendly core workout for over 50 will help you build strong, stable abs — without any back pain. Image Credit: Thomas Barwick/DigitalVision/GettyImages Want to age well? Look to your core. Having a strong core is crucial for your health and wellbeing, and it’s even more important through the aging process. Advertisement Think of your core like the foundation of a house, says Rami Hashish, PhD, DPT, founder of the National Biomechanics Institute....

Nailing a push-up is an excellent example of upper-body and core strength. Image Credit: Hinterhaus Productions/DigitalVision/GettyImages In This Article Build Push-Up Strength Incline Push-Ups Proper Push-Up Form Getting strong is about a lot more than how much weight you can move at the squat rack. In fact, building stellar strength can be done without any of those weights. Body-weight exercises — like push-ups, squats and sit-ups — can lead to some serious gains....

For a hearty lunch or dinner that's still low in carbs, try any of these slow-cooked meals that pack protein and flavor. Image Credit: ahirao_photo/iStock/GettyImages Whether you’re cutting carbs for weight loss or other health reasons, there’s no shortage of low-carb recipes to keep you satisfied. But if you’re looking to save time in the kitchen — or you’re just tired of your go-to meals — the slow cooker is here to help....

Focusing on one leg at a time lets you know where your weaknesses are. Image Credit: Crystal Williams/LIVESTRONG.com Ever notice while doing arm circles or lunges that you have an easier time moving one limb through its full range of motion while you struggle to do the same on your opposite side? This unevenness has to do with lack of mobility. Advertisement To correct it (and avoid possible injuries), you have to train strategically....

A group of 13 organic compounds make up two types of vitamins that your body needs for normal cell function, development and growth. Image Credit: Doucefleur/iStock/GettyImages A group of 13 organic compounds make up two types of vitamins that your body needs for normal cell function, development and growth. Each of the vitamins has important roles, including providing energy, maintaining bones, healing wounds, chemical messaging and boosting your immune system....

There are many pros and cons of stevia that you should be aware of before using the sweetener. Image Credit: 4nadia/iStock/GettyImages In This Article What Is It? Pros Cons and Side Effects Stevia is a type of herb that has gained popularity as an artificial sweetener. That's because there are many stevia benefits and few side effects associated with it. Advertisement The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has deemed stevia "generally recognized as safe....

If you're tired of doing jumping jacks, try star jumps instead. Image Credit: Mike Powell/Digital Vision/Getty Images Jumping jacks are almost the perfect exercise: They work every major muscle group in your body and don’t require any special equipment. If you were to spend an hour doing jumping jacks vigorously, you could burn up to approximately 700 calories, depending on your weight. But jumping jacks also involve a fair amount of impact and require good range of motion through the shoulders....

Medjool dates are very healthy. Image Credit: ToscaWhi/iStock/GettyImages You might think of Medjool dates as nature’s candy — after all, they’re sweet and irresistible and addictive. But they’re also way healthier than any candy you’re going to find on store shelves. Advertisement Tip Yes, Medjool dates are very healthy! They have a lot of sugar, but they have more vitamins and minerals than most other fruit. Packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, Medjool dates are revered throughout the world for packing a punch of nutrition into such a tiny piece of fruit....

Bananas are nutritious, but they are not guaranteed to bring about weight loss. Image Credit: YelenaYemchuk/iStock/Getty Images Your meal plan can be quite varied on the Banana Diet, because very few foods or beverages are prohibited on this plan. It could be considered a fad diet though, because it has rules to follow about when and what you eat. The rules aren’t restrictive for lunch and dinner though, so depending on what you eat for those meals, you could lose weight – or actually end up gaining....

Kale, chickpeas and whole grains are all great for bone health. Image Credit: vaaseenaa/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Foods to Eat Foods to Limit Bones are an incredible part of the human anatomy, and the foods you eat can affect their strength and structure. Advertisement "Your bones are alive. Every day, your body breaks down old bone and puts new bone in its place," says Misti Gueron, RDN, CDE, a Los Angeles-based medical nutrition therapist....

Know your BMR to help regulate your weight. Knowing how many calories you burn while fasting will help you to lose, gain or sustain your weight. How many calories you burn fasting can also be classified as your basal metabolic rate or resting energy expenditure. This is the amount of calories your body must burn to perform its normal functions. Advertisement Significance The calories you burn fasting are responsible for the normal functions of your vital organs....