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Certain bacteria can break down toxic pollutants. We think about bacteria as harmful, disease-causing, invisible creatures. But actually, only a few species are dangerous. The majority of bacteria are good, and without them, life on Earth wouldn't be possible. Advertisement Bacteria help degrade dead animals and plants and bring valuable nutrients back to Earth. Some species also help clean harmful pollutants out of the environment in a process called bioremediation. By using bioremediation techniques, toxic substances such as heavy metals and petroleum are no longer harmful to the environment....

Mother holding her newborn in the hospital. Image Credit: XiXinXing/XiXinXing/Getty Images Anxiety can creep in as the numbers on the scale rise during pregnancy. Labor and delivery may mean a sudden and dramatic drop in weight, while some pounds may linger for weeks or months after delivery. Moms-to-be can look at averages to get an idea of how many pounds they can expect to drop from minutes to months after giving birth....

Pork tenderloin is a lean cut of pork that can dry out quickly. Image Credit: Jonathan Lovekin/Photolibrary/GettyImages Pork tenderloin is a lean cut of pork that can dry out quickly. Foil-wrapped pork tenderloin is a great way to prepare this cut of meat to lock in flavor and moisture. Pork loin may not be as apt to dry out, but covering your pan with foil while roasting helps the meat retain its juiciness....

Cooking steak in a toaster oven is easy. Image Credit: The Picture Pantry/Alloy/GettyImages Cooking steak in a toaster oven is easy. If you know how to broil steak in an oven, you can essentially follow the same recipe. However, a toaster oven is smaller than a normal oven and may cook your steak faster than average, so make the appropriate adjustments. Advertisement Read more: 15 of the Best Lean Animal Proteins Video of the Day Cooking Steak in Toaster Ovens Cooking a steak in a toaster oven might seem like a strange idea....

If you want rich flavor and tender meat without using a full-size oven, use a little creativity to broil pork chops in a toaster oven that has convection capability. Image Credit: EasyBuy4u/E+/GettyImages If you want rich flavor and tender meat without using a full-size oven, use a little creativity to broil pork chops in a toaster oven that has convection capability. Thorough cooking is important for food safety, but overcooking your pork will make it dry — so you’ll need a meat thermometer too....

There are a few small adjustments you may want to make if you're cooking a turkey in a gas oven. Image Credit: DNY59/E+/GettyImages Image Credit: DNY59/E+/GettyImages Defrosting Food Safety Instructions How Long to Cook Turkey Turkey Water (optional) Food-safe bucket or sealable bag that fits the turkey (optional) Kosher salt (optional) Roasting pan Aluminum foil Cotton butcher’s twine Vegetable or olive oil or butter Salt Pepper Root vegetables (optional) Liquid (water or chicken stock)...

A chicken leg quarter with potatoes. Image Credit: meteo021/iStock/Getty Images Chicken leg quarters are an inexpensive and practical protein choice for large families, parties or to stock your freezer with convenient, pre-cooked chicken. Skip the messy clean up by roasting chicken leg quarters in an easy-to-use oven cooking bag. Cooking bags, made of heat-proof nylon, produce moist and delicious meat. The bag will contain the juices, allowing you to make a delicious gravy to serve alongside roasted chicken leg quarters....

A plate with prepared pork hock on it. Image Credit: pabkov/iStock/Getty Images A pork hock, or ham hock as it is commonly called, comes from the pig’s leg just above the foot and below the knee. Pork hock is a very inexpensive and tough piece of meat that is loaded with connective tissue, ligaments and muscle fibers. When cooked low and slow, however, it yields fork-tender meat and a very flavorful broth that is useful for making stews and soups....

Kang squats help you build a strong lower body and back no matter your fitness level. Image Credit: martin-dm/E+/GettyImages Pistol, goblet, sumo — there are enough squat variations to fill a telephone book. But one little-known type of squat, called the kang squat, deserves its own chapter. Advertisement The kang squat, which is basically a back squat paired with a good morning, touts twice the gains of a good ol' squat....

Gooseberries aren't as popular as grapes, but they're similar in taste. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages In This Article Recipe Ideas Buying Gooseberries Health Benefits Gooseberries are a delicious summer fruit that comes in a variety of colors and flavors. They're closely related to currants and can be green, yellow, pink, red and dark purple, and they span from tart to sweet. Advertisement While they're not as popular as they once were, they're still commonly harvested in both European and American varieties, as explained in the 2018 reference guide ​Exotic Fruits​....

Image Credit: LauriPatterson/E+/GettyImages Grilling can dry out even the best cuts of chicken. But proper seasoning seals in moisture, and watching your cook time results in a juicy piece of chicken. Advertisement In the mid-'80s, Weber produced a new gas grilling method, replacing the lava rocks used in most grills at the time with metal bars, according to the Weber website. This reduced flame flare-ups and helped evenly distribute the heat....

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Slow cooker oatmeal is perfect for making breakfast in batches. Image Credit: Arx0nt/iStock/GettyImages Warm and comforting breakfasts are always in season. And if you’re often in a hurry in the morning, slow cooker oatmeal is perfect for making ahead of time so all you have to do is reheat it when you’re ready to eat. Advertisement Slow cookers like the Crock-Pot are reliable kitchen tools best known for their ability to create flavorful batches of soups and stews with the simple push of a button....

If you had zero side effects from the COVID shot, don't worry — it still worked. Image Credit: SDI Productions/E+/GettyImages ​How’d you feel after?​ Is probably one of the most popular questions you’ll hear after you get the COVID-19 vaccine. Swapping stories of side effects is kind of fun, and this is the only time when having nausea and chills is sort of cool. Especially because they’re so short-lived for most people....

Falling asleep at the same time every night can support healthy aging. Image Credit: Sergey Dementyev/iStock/GettyImages When it comes to building sustainable, healthy habits, we spend a lot of time focusing on our morning routine: nosh on a nutritious breakfast, mix in a meditation, add in a sweat session, etc. (You get the picture.) Advertisement While starting your day off right is a smart strategy, your nighttime routine is just as important....

Sleep apps can help ease many sleep-related problems, from snoring to insomnia. Image Credit: JGI/Jamie Grill/Tetra images/GettyImages In This Article Best for Snoring Best for Oversleepers Best for Drifting Off Best for Waking Up With Energy Best for White Noise Best for Insomnia Best for Sleep Apnea and Snoring Best for Sleep Quality Evaluation Having trouble sleeping lately? Join the club. In a May 2020 survey from SleepStandards, 98 percent of people reported experiencing new sleep problems since the novel coronavirus pandemic, thanks to anxiety, insomnia, loneliness, nightmares and an inconsistent schedule....

Do these arm exercises for as many rounds as possible to fire up your biceps, triceps and shoulders. Image Credit: janiecbros/E+/GettyImages You don’t need fancy gym equipment or a ton of time to challenge your arms. In fact, you can accomplish a lot of work in just five minutes. Advertisement As they say, the key is working smarter, not harder. Advertisement This effective 5-minute arm workout without weights helps you do just that....

references Mayo Clinic: "What Are Probiotics and Prebiotics" Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: "Prebiotics and Probiotics: Creating a Healthier You" Food Intolerance Diagnostics: "Fructo-oligosaccharide Intolerance" Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture:Prebiotic Potential of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) in Wistar rats: Effects of Levels of Supplementation on Hindgut Fermentation, Intestinal Morphology, Blood Metabolites and Immune Response" Carbohydrate Polymers: "Inulin: Properties, Health Benefits and Food Applications" International Food Information Council Foundation: "Functional Foods Fact Sheet: Probiotics and Prebiotics" Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology: "Effect of Chicory-derived Inulin on Abdominal Sensations and Bowel Motor Function" Whole Grains Council: "Whole Grains 101" University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: "Is Honey the Same As Sugar" USDA: "Asparagus, Cooked" Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Technologia Alimentaria: "Antiradical Capacity and Polyphenol Composition of Asparagus Spears Varieties Cultivated Under Different Sunlight Conditions....

Incorporate these sandbag exercises into your routine for a full-body workout. Image Credit: EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER/E+/GettyImages Water jugs as kettlebells, pieces of paper as sliders, a couch as an exercise bench — when it comes to at-home workouts, sometimes you have to get creative. Now, there’s one more piece of equipment you can DIY: sandbags. Advertisement These non-traditional weights deserve way more credit than they get. Weight machines and dumbbells will certainly help you build muscle but sandbags are a great tool to build functional strength, which can help you in your everyday tasks, from lifting a bag of laundry off the ground to carrying a sack of soil....

A young woman catching her breath after a work-out in the park. Image Credit: 4774344sean/iStock/Getty Images Shortness of breath or breathing problems involves difficult breathing unrelated to the intensity of physical activity. Breathing problems after a workout may be a side effect of medication, a symptom of a health problem or an indication of stress or anxiety. Stopping to catch your breath after a strenuous workout is normal, while wheezing, tightness in the throat and a barking cough may indicate a more serious problem....