Following restrictive diets is not typically a good idea. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages There are a lot of outlandish fad diets out there, but the banana and milk diet is one that takes the cake. The restrictive diet promises rapid weight loss, with the requirement that you eat only bananas and drink only skim milk. Advertisement Although bananas and milk do have health benefits, following such a restrictive diet isn't typically a good idea....
The side plank is a challenging but totally underrated ab exercise. Image Credit: LanaStock/iStock/GettyImages Regardless of what type of activity you do, repeating the same workouts over and over can get boring quickly. Not to mention, your progress will stall. But by varying the exercises you do, you’re more likely to stick with your regimen over time, according to the American Council on Exercise (ACE). Advertisement Take your ab workouts, for example....
Don't hop on the treadmill without first doing some dynamic stretches. Image Credit: Caiaimage/Paul Bradbury/Caiaimage/GettyImages When you’re running short on time at the gym, you might be tempted to skip stretches and shoot straight into your cardio workout. Don’t! Before you hit the treadmill, hop on your bike or get busy on the rowing machine, warm up those cold muscles with dynamic stretches to maximize your performance. Advertisement Here, Nedra Matosov trainer and owner of the New York City-based fitness studio The P....
Working out with a headache can put a damper on your day. Image Credit: piranka/E+/GettyImages Headaches can be painful, throbbing experiences that derail your to-do list and make you feel irritable. And if you’re super conscious about what you put in your body, you might wonder whether working out with a headache can provide an alternative to popping some pain medication. Advertisement The answer depends on the kind of headache. Video of the Day Tip In some cases, gentle exercise can help loosen your muscles and alleviate a mild headache....
Brewing time changes caffeine content in tea. Image Credit: NA/AbleStock.com/Getty Images If you are an expectant mother, you likely have considered what foods and beverages you need to avoid during pregnancy. Though tea contains less caffeine than coffee, many pregnant women avoid it. Oolong tea is a type of tea that comes from the same plant as black tea and green tea. Like other varieties, oolong has beneficial compounds and varying amounts of caffeine....
Know when — and when not — to swap out whole milk for heavy cream in icings. Image Credit: Morsa Images/Stone/GettyImages Baking is often a precision art, requiring exact measurements of specific ingredients. But with certain recipes, there’s a little wiggle room for substitutions. Advertisement You can substitute whole milk for heavy cream in recipes that call for a small amount of cream to thin the frosting. Recipes that rely on heavy cream as a main ingredient, such as ganache, don't adapt well to whole milk....
Whiplash requires time to heal. Image Credit: PredragImages/E+/GettyImages If you’ve ever had whiplash as the result of a car or sports accident, you know that it can be excruciatingly painful. Whiplash is the result of soft tissue damage in the neck following a jerking motion according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Advertisement Whiplash typically clears over several days, although some effects can be permanent. Exercising and allowing yourself to become injured while you're still healing could exacerbate your symptoms and cause lasting damage....
Rather than targeting belly fat, jumping rope can help you lose fat throughout your body. Image Credit: pitchwayz/E+/GettyImages The jump rope is a classic training tool used by both athletes and those interested in fat loss alike. For athletes, the jump rope develops foot speed, coordination, endurance and challenges the cardiovascular system to work harder and burn more calories. For fat loss, jumping rope is a low-impact exercise that helps you lose fat all over your body....
Multivitamins are one of those things that almost sound too good to be true. Image Credit: skaman306/Moment/GettyImages Eating well is about much more than simply counting calories — you need to make sure you’re getting plenty of vitamins and minerals. If you’re someone who takes a daily multivitamin, you might think that’s all you need, and the biggest dietary choice you have to make is Centrum vs. One A Day, right?...
Although meat enthusiasts might prefer a proper rare steak from a top-quality restaurant, most budgets don’t allow you to eat this way often. Image Credit: grandriver/iStock/GettyImages Although meat enthusiasts might prefer a proper rare steak from a top-quality restaurant, most budgets don’t allow you to eat this way often. Although you will find a difference between rump roast and chuck roast, these cheaper cuts can both produce tasty and tender meat when properly cooked....
Most types of meat have some kind of preservative in them. Image Credit: grafvision/iStock/Getty Images Preservatives prevent microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria from developing on foods, which then lead to spoilage. Preservatives are also used to maximize the amount of time poultry, fish, beef and other meats and foods can stay on supermarket shelves, as well as in your refrigerator. Though preservatives help protect the food supply, many fear the negative effects preservatives might cause to the body....
Wearing a knee brace may help stabilize your knee during exercise and daily activities. Hypermobility in your knees can be due to injuries such as ligament sprains or connective tissue diseases like benign hypermobility syndrome. In either case, strengthening and developing the muscles around your knees is imperative to managing hypermobility. Before starting a new exercise program, consult your physician. Advertisement Bridges and Straight-Leg Raises Non-weight-bearing exercises place less strain on your knees and therefore are a good starting point....
Bicyling can be an excellent and enjoyable exercise for senior citizens. Image Credit: Noel Hendrickson/Photodisc/Getty Images Exercise can have profound effects on a senior citizen’s vitality and overall well-being. Staying active can help to reduce pain and stiffness, improve energy levels and increase strength. Older adults who exercise are more mobile and independent. Senior citizens need to get a mix of four types of exercise: endurance, strengthening, stretching and balance. Your routine can be simple and does not have to involve elaborate or expensive equipment....
Broaden the size of your neck with free weight and body weight exercises. Having a skinny neck does not have a major impact on your health, but it can cause self-consciousness. This is especially the case when the rest of your body is muscular. To bulk up your neck, focus on the muscles that surround it. These include the trapezius, levator scapulae, splenius and sternocleidomastoid. Advertisement Barbell Shrug A barbell shrug works the upper and middle trapezius as well as the levator scapulae....
Yogurt and fruits can help increase your appetite. Image Credit: Arx0nt/iStock/GettyImages Having a poor appetite that leads to unexpected weight loss can place you at risk of malnutrition and health issues, which may have you searching for foods that increase appetite. Unfortunately, there’s no single food or combination of foods that can stimulate your appetite. Advertisement However, you can make changes to what and how you eat to improve nutritional quality, as well as your nutritional status and health....
A diet lacking in nutrients may require a nutritional supplement drink. Image Credit: IRA_EVVA/iStock/GettyImages If you have a poor appetite or feel that your diet is lacking, you may consider adding a nutritional supplement drink, such as Glucerna or Ensure, to your diet. Advertisement While both products contain a variety of the nutrients you need for good health, there are some differences in Glucerna vs Ensure. Knowing these differences can help you decide which supplement drink is the right one for you....
A woman is curling a dumbbell and wearing a fitness monitor. Image Credit: LiudmylaSupynska/iStock/Getty Images Whether you exercise with the intention of burning fat or gaining muscle, it’s impossible to overlook the benefits of exercise on your heart. When you strengthen your heart by exercising, you improve the health of this organ and limit your risk of heart disease. Maximizing your workout means raising your heart rate to within a specific zone, but not exceeding it....
If you're looking to gain specific benefits from your cardio workouts, there are ways to structure your weekly workouts more wisely. Image Credit: Prostock-Studio/iStock/GettyImages In This Article If Your Goal Is Heart Health If Your Goal Is General Fitness If Your Goal Is Weight Loss Few things pack a healthy punch quite like a cardio workout: Your muscles, including your heart, are working hard. Advertisement The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans are pretty clear that when it comes to aerobic exercise, "any amount is helpful, generally more is better, and many Americans are too sedentary," Janet Hamilton, CSCS, MA, an exercise physiologist and running coach, tells LIVESTRONG....
Wrist/ankle weights Image Credit: piggu/iStock/Getty Images Walking benefits your cardiovascular health by increasing your heart rate and strengthening your heart. The number of calories burned while wearing weights and walking depends on how much you weigh and the length of your workout. Advertisement Formula MET, or metabolic equivalent, is a number that represents your energy output during an activity. To calculate your calories burned while walking and wearing weights, use this formula: (METs x 3....
Drinking water won't directly burn calories, but drinking it as an alternative to sugary drinks can help cut excess calories out of your diet. Image Credit: fizkes/iStock/GettyImages Many fat loss methods are nothing more than snake oil, so you have to keep your wits about you. While there are many benefits to drinking water, fat loss is not directly related to doing so. Advertisement Tip Drinking water won't directly burn calories, but drinking it as an alternative to sugary drinks can help cut excess calories out of your diet....
