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Swimming laps can help you tone your abs. Image Credit: Jacob Ammentorp Lund/iStock/GettyImages Trying to tone your stomach through swimming workouts? It’s virtually impossible not to work your abs when you’re swimming, because you need to engage core muscles to stay afloat and move through the water. You’ll also burn 400 calories or more per hour, which targets belly fat. But focusing on certain strokes will put more emphasis on your upper and lower abs, as well as those love handles....

Adding black beans to your diet helps you get more a fiber, a nutrient most of us don't eat enough of. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative Black beans are an affordable plant-based protein source that’s super versatile — and a delicious addition to a healthy diet. Advertisement They're nutrient powerhouses, packed full of vitamins and minerals and you'll often find them in dried or canned forms. Video of the Day Black beans are generally the size of a pea, oval-shaped and jet-black with cream-colored flesh....

If you have IBS, you may need to steer clear of coffee, chocolate and other foods that contain caffeine. Image Credit: nerudol/iStock/GettyImages Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a complex condition. Though it primarily impacts your digestive system, it can have a variety of causes, including problems with your nervous system, severe infections, stress, foods and more. Even that caffeine in your morning latte may be a trigger. Advertisement Dietary Triggers With symptoms such as abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation, it’s not surprising that one of the primary triggers of IBS symptoms is diet....

A blood pressure meter sits in the foreground of a doctor's desk with the doctor writing a prescription in the background. Image Credit: megaflopp/iStock/Getty Images High blood pressure affects about one out of every three adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High blood pressure increases your risk of heart and kidney disease. Sodium in the diet increases blood pressure. However, taking the stool softener docusate sodium does not increase blood pressure....

A close-up of a piece of chocolate cake. Image Credit: anopdesignstock/iStock/Getty Images If you want to have your cake and eat it too, but you still worry about weight loss, don’t despair. It’s entirely possible to enjoy the sweet things in life, such as delicious cake, while still losing weight. Unfortunately, you can’t just lay around and eat chocolate icing all day, though regular exercise, making sensible decisions about the amount of cake you eat and paying attention to the overall caloric intake of your diet will help you to keep the pounds off....

Combine a calorie surplus with strength training to get big, fit arms. Image Credit: Terri Lee-Shield Photography/Cultura/Getty Images When you’re trying to gain weight – whether it’s to avoid the health risks of being underweight or for aesthetic reasons – your eating habits can make or break your results. To gain weight in your arms – especially the lean mass that gives you a fit appearance – you’ll need to eat more than you need to maintain your weight, and combine your weight gain diet with strength-training exercise....

Get more immune-supporting vitamin C into your day by snacking on a clementine. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative In This Article Nutrition Facts Health Benefits Health Risks Recipes and Tips Alternatives A clementine is a small citrus fruit also known as a mandarin orange. In fact, clementines are the smallest of mandarin oranges, with an average size of approximately 2 3/8 inches in diameter, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Advertisement Clementines have thin skin that ranges from slightly smooth to bumpy....

Toe touches are a great dance stretch. Image Credit: Neustockimages/iStock/GettyImages Whether dancing to classical, modern, jazz or hip-hop music, dancers require a tremendous amount of strength and flexibility to bring the music to life through their bodies. Although your daily life may not require you to lift your leg toward the sky or bend over backward, dance stretches to increase flexibility can help you avoid injury in your regular activities....

Someone is pouring a cheesecake mixture into a metal pan. Image Credit: Howard Shooter/Dorling Kindersley RF/Getty Images If you’ve ever read the back of a cake mix package, you might be wondering why cook times are different depending on whether you use a glass or metal pan. The science has to do with how a pan heats up, holds its temperature and distributes heat. Glass tends to cook faster than metal, and knowing why that is, and what effect it has on your food, will help you choose the right pan for whatever you’re whipping up in your kitchen....

Steam rooms don't necessarily help you lose weight. Image Credit: ismagilov/iStock/GettyImages A post-exercise steam room session can be relaxing, but it probably won’t have any effect on shedding pounds. There’s no scientific research that shows a connection between the steam room and weight loss. However, spending time in the steam room could have a positive effect on sore muscles. Advertisement Tip There is no evidence that steam rooms can help you lose weight or body fat....

A tall glass of milk on a table. Image Credit: HandmadePictures/iStock/Getty Images While the average person probably doesn’t think too much about urine, doctors do. Its characteristics can be used to detect a number of health problems. For example, urine’s color, odor, pH and specific gravity give physicians valuable insight about an individual’s physical health. Yet, not all changes in your urine are a cause for alarm. Advertisement Normal Urine Most urine is clear, ranging in color from light yellow to amber depending on the concentration of solutes....

Brisk walking can help keep your weight under control to reduce cellulite. Image Credit: amenic181/iStock/Getty Images Getting rid of cellulite completely is a tall order because cellulite is related to genetics and excess fat. Women have three layers of fat on their buttocks, thighs and knees. And along with extra fat – compared to men – women have a connective-tissue network with large spaces that allow fat cells to bulge through, creating a dimpled effect....

If you want a nighttime snack, reach for foods like a glass of milk or a small handful of peanuts or pumpkin seeds. Image Credit: serezniy/iStock/GettyImages Eating a big meal before bed feels great — until you lie down and try sleeping on a full stomach. You may experience discomfort, like heartburn, and that sense of fullness may disturb your sleep. Here’s what you need to know about eating before bed to keep you and your digestive system happy....

Constant feelings of hunger may be indicative of other problems. Image Credit: Purestock/Purestock/Getty Images Most everyone likes the satisfying feeling of satiety, or feeling “full,” following a meal. For some individuals this feeling is fleeting, leading to the feeling of being hungry all the time as well as a feeling of marked nausea when not eating. While certainly unpleasant, there are ways to address the situation. Advertisement Avoid Convention Most of the modern world puts people on a timed schedule when it comes to mealtime, setting the “rule” at three square meals a day....

references MyFoodData: "Nutrition Comparison of Flax Seeds, Chia Seeds, and Hemp Seeds" Journal of Food Science and Technology: "Flaxseed—a Potential Functional Food Source" Journal of Food Process Engineering: "Seeds of Plantago psyllium and Plantago ovata: Mineral Composition, Grinding, and Use for Gluten‐Free Bread as Substitutes for Hydrocolloids" Food Science and Technology Journal: "Antioxidant Capacity and Chemical Composition in Seeds Rich in Omega-3: Chia, Flax, and Perilla" Biochimie: "Linoleic Acid: Between Doubts and Certainties" Chia seeds, psyllium husk and hemp seeds can all work as substitutes for flaxseed....

Hawthorn, also known as may flower, is a dense, thorny bush related to the rose family that grows in areas with moist climates throughout the world. Hawthorn tea is most widely known for its medicinal uses and primarily for its cardiovascular applications. The active compounds are derived from the leaves, flower and fruits, which have an unpleasant odor and a slightly bitter taste. Many cultures throughout history have recognized hawthorn’s heart-healing properties, including the ancient Greeks and Native Americans, according to AltMD....

Some medicinal herbs may cause diarrhea. Although herbs and natural fiber supplements are often the first choice to relieve constipation and maintain bowel regularity, some products may actually over-stimulate the colon and should be avoided. Certain herbs can cause cramping and diarrhea. While many herbs are considered gentle and safe, most have not yet received FDA approval and should be used with caution. Always check with your health care practitioner before using herbs or other natural supplements for medicinal purposes....

Capsaicin, the substance that makes chili peppers hot, may help with digestion and gut health. Image Credit: Olga Gagarova/iStock/GettyImages When you eat a chili pepper, a substance called capsaicin is what brings the spicy heat. Capsaicin is so potent that it’s even used in bear repellant spray. Some people may find that capsaicin can irritate their stomach, and evidence is unclear on its role in digestion. Advertisement Trial and error may be your game....

Tilapia Image Credit: rezkrr/iStock/Getty Images Boiling is a good way to cook tilapia fillets quickly and season the fish without overwhelming its natural flavor. The term “boiling,” however, is something of a misstatement. Although you do bring the cooking liquid to a boil, or a temperature of 212 degrees Fahrenheit before adding the fillets, the fish actually cooks at a point below boiling, usually between 160 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Regardless of the temperature, cooking tilapia in this manner takes only about 20 minutes from start to finish....

To properly broil a ribeye steak, use a 1-inch thick cut of meat. Image Credit: Leks_Laputin/iStock/GettyImages A properly broiled ribeye should melt in your mouth after you take a bite. This can be one of the most flavorful cuts of beef, and it is surprisingly simple to broil it in the oven. Advertisement Tip To properly broil a ribeye steak, use a 1-inch thick cut of meat. Put the ribeye meat on the top rack of the broiler for 10 to 12 minutes....