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The effects of caffeine in coffee can be felt within 15 minutes of your first sip and last for several hours. Image Credit: chayathonwong/iStock/GettyImages Loaded with caffeine to perk you up, a fresh pot of coffee is what gets some people out of bed in the morning. It’s no wonder why an estimated 62 percent of Americans drink it daily, per the National Coffee Association. Advertisement There are also some health benefits to drinking coffee regularly: It's associated with reduced risk of diseases like colon cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and stroke, according to John Hopkins Medicine....

Walking up stairs is a great form of exercise, especially when you do so at a brisk pace to get your heart rate up and your body working hard. Image Credit: Nomad/E+/GettyImages Have you ever noticed your heart rate is elevated after walking up a flight of stairs? That’s because stair climbing is an excellent form of cardiovascular exercise that also helps tone your lower body. When paired with a healthy diet, you can try walking up steps to lose weight and get in shape....

It takes time, effort and consistency to lose body fat. Image Credit: Liudmila Chernetska/iStock/GettyImages Creatine supplies a little more energy in the gym to help you grind out an extra heavy repetition or two. Creatine does not cause you to gain or lose weight. If you wish to drop body fat, creatine monohydrate will not affect your efforts. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any diet or exercise program and before using any supplement....

Your morning routine sets the tone for the rest of the day. Image Credit: Jomkwan/iStock/GettyImages Do you wake up and stretch each morning before you start the day? The yawn-with-arms-spread-wide-while-you’re-still-under-the-covers stretch doesn’t quite count here (but it’s a good start!). We’re talking about a dedicated stretch routine that sets the tone for the rest of your day. Advertisement If you're like most people, when your alarm goes off, you either hit snooze or immediately reach for your phone to scroll through emails and social media....

Woman preparing to do overhead press. Image Credit: Sheikoevgeniya/iStock/Getty Images For a balanced physique, you need to perform exercises that promote growth in all the major muscle groups. According to “Strength Training Anatomy,” the deadlift utilizes more muscles than any other single-movement lift, which is why it’s one of the three powerlifting competition lifts. It displays full-body strength better than almost any other exercise. Most of the few muscle groups it misses are utilized during overhead presses....

For long-lasting diet success, follow a balanced eating plan instead of relying on pills. Stacker diet pills are an herbal supplement that NVE Pharmaceuticals of Andover, New Jersey, produces and markets primarily to people who want to lose weight quickly. Diet pills such as these often appear in magazine advertisements with astounding before and after pictures. But Stacker diet pills have not been proven effective. Advertisement Stacker Energy Stacker diet pills come in Stacker 2 and Stacker 3 formulations....

While it doesn't burn tons of calories, there are other benefits of exercise during your period. Image Credit: guvendemir/E+/GettyImages It can be hard to motivate yourself to exercise when you’ve got your period, so the idea that doing so might burn more calories is an appealing one. The scientific evidence doesn’t seem to back this up, however. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t exercise, as it will still burn more calories than staying inactive and may help with a few of the premenstrual symptoms, such as bloating....

A stalk of Aloe Vera on a tabletop. Image Credit: bdspn/iStock/Getty Images Aloe vera juice is a clear liquid derived from the leaves of the Aloe barbadensis plant. Aloe vera juice contains many nutrients and displays both antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Kidney disease has a number of causes and manifestations and sometimes ends in kidney failure if not properly remedied. Kidney failure is life threatening and a medical emergency often requiring kidney dialysis....

Dumbbells help with weight loss. Image Credit: svetikd/E+/GettyImages Working out with dumbbells and other types of free weights can help you lose fat from your arms. There’s just one catch: You can’t burn the fat from only your arms. It’s going to come off your entire body, and which body parts slim down depends on your hormones and genetics, not on the muscles you work or how many pounds you can lift in a biceps curl....

Reverse your slouch with a few simple exercises and stretches. Image Credit: LightFieldStudios/iStock/GettyImages Feel like you have a permanent slouch? You’re not alone. Poor posture has become more prevalent since many people find themselves seated in front of a computer all day. Advertisement And it's not doing us any favors. More than 80 percent of Americans have back problems at some point in their lives, according to the National Institutes of Health....

You should avoid certain exercises if you have a degenerative disc. Image Credit: SeventyFour/iStock/GettyImages Exercise is some of the best medicine for back pain, and it can provide relief for degenerative disc disease. However, the wrong exercise can also exacerbate your condition. Avoid high-impact moves and those that involve heavy lifting at awkward angles. Advertisement Disc Degeneration Exercises to Avoid The number one determinant for whether or not you should avoid an exercise is pain....

HIIT is a great way to burn calories. Image Credit: BartekSzewczyk/iStock/GettyImages There are many exercises that can help you lose weight around your midsection. Exercises to lose belly fat for men should focus on more than just strength training. Men who want to lose belly fat should combine cardio, core and lifting routines to see the best results. Advertisement The Fat Around Your Waist The fat around your belly may make you feel less confident....

A stress test should include measuring how quickly your elevated heart rate returns to normal after exercise. Image Credit: Fuse/Fuse/Getty Images Your heart rate slows down when you stop exercising. Your pulse two minutes after exercise is what is called your “recovery heart rate,” and that rate will go down as you become more fit. The actual numbers vary because everyone’s heart rate varies–even between similar people at similar fitness levels....

A bowl of pumpkin oatmeal. Image Credit: jenifoto/iStock/Getty Images Having a high level of triglycerides raises the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Lowering triglyceride levels requires lifestyle changes, such as getting regular exercise, losing excess weight, quitting smoking, eating a low-fat diet and managing stress. Including oatmeal in the diet can also help control triglyceride levels. However, an overall healthy eating plan should be combined with appropriate medical care, which is overseen by a physician to avoid complications....

Different colored sugar-free lollipops. Image Credit: Maya Kovacheva Photography/iStock/Getty Images Instead of buying store-bought sugar-free lollipops, you can use candy making ingredients to create your own at home. Sugar-free syrups and sweeteners are used in place of sugar and corn syrup in traditional lollipop recipes. Artificial sweeteners that can be used to make sugar-free lollipops include sucralose, malitol or isomalt. For each flavor or color, you’ll need to make a separate batch of the sugar-free lollipop mixture....

references Society for Endocrinology: "Cortisol" Sleep Science: "Interactions Between Sleep, Stress, and Metabolism: From Physiological to Pathological Conditions" Mayo Clinic: "Chronic Stress Puts Your Health at Risk" Obesity: "Hair Cortisol and Adiposity in a Population‐Based Sample of 2,527 Men and Women Aged 54 to 87 Years" University of New Mexico: "The Role of Cortisol in Concurrent Training" Harvard Health Publishing: "The Truth About Metabolism" Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology: "The Exercise-Glucocorticoid Paradox: How Exercise is Beneficial to Cognition, Mood, and the Brain While Increasing Glucocorticoid Levels" Anxiety and Depression Association of America: "Physical Activity Reduces Stress" American Institute of Stress: "Stress and Sleep – How to Master Stress and Enjoy Restful Sleep Instantly" Mayo Clinic: "Stress Relievers: Tips to Tame Stress" Is this an emergency?...

There is no set amount of time you must wait before working out after being sick. Image Credit: nortonrsx/iStock/GettyImages Working out is a healthy activity that helps to boost your immune system, but if you are ill, listen to your body. Take it slow when getting back to the gym after being sick. If you return to working out too soon or do not stop when you are sick, you can relapse or intensify the symptoms....

Boiling chicken cuts out the need for unhealthy ingredients. From enchiladas to salads, boiled chicken is a handy to have on hand. It pulls apart easily when it's boiled to tender perfection. Boiling doesn't require any other ingredients, such as oil or butter, as you would need for frying or sauteing, so it is healthy alternative cooking method for chicken. If dinner calls for shredded chicken or you simply don't want unnecessary fat, boiling boneless chicken is a simple process that leaves you with tender, juicy chicken for your next meal....

Besides saving cooking time, a pressure cooker can help you prepare a mouth-watering roast, with or without vegetables. Image Credit: MarianVejcik/iStock/GettyImages Besides saving cooking time, a pressure cooker can help you prepare a mouth-watering roast, with or without vegetables. An eye of round roast has little marbling, making it prone to drying out with conventional oven methods — try cooking eye of round roast in a pressure cooker. Advertisement Because a pressure cooker cooks with steam, the meat remains moist....

Groat in a clay bowl. Image Credit: Ira1609/iStock/Getty Images Groats are the least-processed version of oats with only the husk removed. When cooked properly, the groats take on a nutty flavor with a chewy texture. Groats take longer to cook fully than rolled oats or other grains that are more processed. Whole grains are worth the extra cooking time because of the benefits they provide the body, including a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes along with improved digestive health....