Using a cotton swab in your ears may feel good, but there are serious risks to cleaning out wax this way. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative How Bad Is It Really? sets the record straight on all the habits and behaviors you’ve heard might be unhealthy. In This Article What Wax Does Effects of Q-Tips How to Clean Your Ears Warnings Bottom Line We've all heard that you shouldn't clean your ears with cotton swabs....
You will lose weight during your first boxing class although your weight loss might be imperceptible. How much weight you lose during boxing classes depends on how active you are during the class, the kind of boxing you’re involved in, your exercise heart rate and your weight. Improving your boxing skills enough to participate in a bout can help you lose even more weight because boxing in a ring burns more calories than most other exercises....
Oatmeal for breakfast can support your metabolism, but make sure you're sticking to a healthy serving size. Image Credit: Arx0nt/Moment/GettyImages If you’re trying to lose weight, you may have heard that eating oatmeal for breakfast can boost your metabolism. The obvious next question, then, is how much should you be eating to reap the benefits? Advertisement First, keep in mind that there's no single food item that can rev up your calorie-burning capacity — a healthy metabolism comes from an overall healthy lifestyle, which includes your eating, sleeping, exercise and stress-management habits....
Pilates changed Lacy Looney's life — here is how! Image Credit: Roberto Matteo Photography Walking into my first, life-changing Pilates class, I vaguely remember being told the workout was dangerous and I could get hurt easily, but I felt up for the challenge. Little did I know that just two years from that first class, I’d be teaching Pilates mat classes and private clients at that exact studio. Pilates became a passion — and a whole new way of life....
It’s not always possible to follow a recipe to the letter, especially if you need to alter cooking temperatures. Image Credit: Cavan Images/Cavan/GettyImages It’s not always possible to follow a recipe to the letter, especially if you need to alter cooking temperatures. Unfortunately, there’s no cooking time conversion chart that fits all scenarios, and adjustments in cooking temperature and time may depend on many factors. Advertisement Cooking Time for Proteins When it comes to preparing proteins, there are many methods of cooking....
Close-up of two chorizo sausages cut in half. Image Credit: Hreni/iStock/Getty Images Chorizo is a popular spiced pork sausage that comes in two main varieties: Spanish and Mexican. Spanish chorizo is dry-cured and doesn’t require cooking. Mexican chorizo, however, is fresh pork that does. Many recipes call for chorizo to be cooked on top of the stove; however, it’s just as easy to bake it in an oven. Advertisement Step 1 Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit....
Lamb steaks on a white plate. Image Credit: Wiktory/iStock/Getty Images Lamb meat comes from the young offspring of sheep and is popular for its flavor and lean protein. Though lamb meat is more tender than other types of red meat, a shoulder steak can take some time to cook and soften. Using a pressure cooker is a efficient way to make a savory lamb shoulder steak. Unlike microwaves, a pressure cooker seals in the juices that flavor the meat, rather than drying it out; unlike boiling, baking and other methods of cooking, it will preserve more of the meat’s natural nutrients....
A close up of a gourmet pizza. Image Credit: Purestock/Purestock/Getty Images Pizza is an all time favorite meal. When you don’t want to pay for delivery or leave your house to go and pick up a pizza, the NuWave oven is a quick and easy way to cook your next pizza at home. Cooking in the NuWave can keep you from having to use your oven and reduce the amount of heat in your kitchen....
You can build strong, muscular legs at home without the gym! Image Credit: LightFieldStudios/iStock/GettyImages If leg day doesn’t get you as pumped to hit the gym as back or biceps, you can still get an effective leg workout right at home! While back squats and heavy deadlifts are optimal for leg strengthening, they’re not your only options. Put together a challenging and powerful leg workout that you can do in the comfort of your own home....
Eating is one of the most important aspects of losing weight. The foods you choose play a key role in how successful your weight-loss efforts are, as well as how quickly you are able lose your desired number of pounds. Chili can be an effective weight-loss food if you select the most nutritious ingredients and eat it in place of higher-calorie and higher-fat fare. Howard M. Shapiro and Franklin Becker, authors of “Eat & Beat Diabetes With Picture Perfect Weight Loss,” note that eating chili can help lower your cholesterol and increase your intake of many important nutrients....
A young girl biting into an apple. Image Credit: Ableimages/Photodisc/Getty Images Gas and bloating are often caused by an intolerance to a certain food item, lack of moisture in the intestines or taking in excessive air while eating. Gas and bloating are not fatal, but are generally a sign of slowed or obstructed digestion. However, severe cases of gas or bloating can cause pain and cramps. Introducing apples into your diet can help to restart and maintain healthy digestion....
Cheese fondue is fun to eat, but you must cook it over low heat and stir constantly to get rid of any lumps. Image Credit: margouillatphotos/iStock/GettyImages Melted cheese is a staple ingredient for many recipes: cheese quesadillas, loaded nachos, grilled cheese sandwiches and much more. The ultimate melted cheese dish, though, might be ooey-gooey cheese fondue. Advertisement Cheese fondue originated in Switzerland. It's traditionally made with fontina, Gruyère or gouda cheeses — you can even use a combination of all three....
Beet salad recipes can be colorful, delicious and tasty if you incorporate the right ingredients. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages Beets are a root vegetable and they’re chock-full of beneficial nutrients. The best part is you can enjoy them however you please — raw, cooked or juiced — and reap the benefits. “Beets are high in fiber and a good source of folate, a B-vitamin that supports blood production and energy,” May Zhu, RD, founder of Nutrition Happens says....
Exercising for at least 150 minutes a week, or 30 minutes for five days a week, can greatly reduce your risk of disease. Image Credit: Maskot/Maskot/GettyImages Listen to Your Heart highlights the simple nutrition, fitness and lifestyle changes you can make for a healthy heart at any age. There’s a reason your co-worker, best friend and brother can’t get enough of their workouts. Exercise is a body- and mind-altering experience, and those who engage in it understand why it’s truly worth the sweat....
You lose weight on the 13 Day Metabolism diet because of its calorie restriction. Image Credit: OksanaKiian/iStock/GettyImages The diet industry is full of crash diets promising instant results. One program that’s creating quite a buzz online is the 13-day diet. Also known as the Copenhagen Diet or Royal Danish Hospital Diet, the 13-day metabolism diet is a fad diet that makes bold claims of fast weight loss. Advertisement The 13-Day Diet Losing 22 pounds in less than two weeks may sound enticing, but it’s certainly not realistic....
references Ochsner Journal: 'Coccydynia: An Overview of the Anatomy, Etiology, and Treatment of Coccyx Pain' National Health Services UK: 'Causes of Coccydynia (tailbone pain)' The Cleveland Clinic: "Coccydynia (Tailbone Pain)" Adventure Cycling Association: "Make It Fit: Saddle Adjustments for Women" It's common to have a sore tailbone from cycling, but it can be a sign of improper bike set up or riding form. Image Credit: nito100/iStock/GettyImages Image Credit: nito100/iStock/GettyImages...
Calf cramps at night are common, but there are simple steps you can take to prevent them. Image Credit: Daria Kulkova/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Causes Treatment Prevention When to See a Doctor Calf cramps are never fun. But they're especially unpleasant when they wake you up and disrupt your sleep. Advertisement Muscle cramps are sudden, uncontrollable muscle spasms that cause intense pain. Cramps that occur in the leg — often in the calf, foot or thigh — are sometimes called charley horses....
references Science Advances: “Nighttime temperature and human sleep loss in a changing climate.” Harvard Health Publishing: “Cold and flu warning: The dangers of too much acetaminophen.” Journal of Research in Medical Sciences: The Official Journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences: “The effect of magnesium supplementation on primary insomnia in elderly: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.” National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: “Magnesium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals....
A running group gives you a sense of community. Image Credit: Luis Alvarez/DigitalVision/GettyImages You might think running is a solitary activity — just you and the open road — but it doesn’t have to be. For many who belong to running groups or clubs, running is a social endeavor, the epitome of a team sport where cooperative spirit abounds. Advertisement Even the world's most elite track athletes train in teams. In Iten, Kenya, the place some of the fastest humans on earth call home, runners religiously work together in pacing groups to prep for a big race....
Sculpt and strengthen your entire body with just one pair of dumbbells. Image Credit: Raphe Wolfgang/LIVESTRONG.com You don’t need an expensive gym membership to get a great full-body workout. All you need is a pair of dumbbells and this video workout we’ve created with CrossFit athlete Jordan Shalhoub. Advertisement Follow along with the video below or print out the workout so you can fit in your daily sweat session anytime, anywhere — even without an internet connection....
