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Hypnic or hypnagogic jerks are involuntary muscle twitches that happen as you're falling asleep. Image Credit: JGI/Tom Grill/Tetra images/GettyImages Maybe you’ve had a rough day and are looking forward to cozying up in bed. As you blissfully doze off, though, you’re suddenly woken up by a sensation of your arms and legs jerking. You’re awake again and, in your sleepy haze, wondering what just happened. Advertisement "This is called a hypnic jerk, or a sleep start," Raj Dasgupta, MD, an assistant professor of clinical medicine at Keck Medicine of USC in Los Angeles, California, tells LIVESTRONG....

Resolve to cook more meals at home this year. Image Credit: 10'000 Hours/DigitalVision/GettyImages The new year is like a blank slate for your goals. And weight loss may be at the top of your resolution list. Advertisement But instead of picking a specific number you want to hit on the scale, this year, why not try a weight-loss-related resolution (or two) that will help you shed pounds while setting up some healthy, sustainable habits?...

1 of 11 Overview Sitting at your desk for long hours in "chair pose" can lead to chronic pain all over. Luckily, there's a simple solution to prevent and relieve that tension -- practice yin yoga at your desk. A study published in the International Journal of Yoga found that yin yoga is designed to combat irritation, sadness, anxiety and mental sluggishness and improve concentration, making it one of the best antidotes to handle the stress of your desk job....

A man swimming front crawl in a pool. Image Credit: Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images Potentially all swimming exercises can burn belly fat. Although there is no magical spot-reducing exercise, swimming is a highly aerobic exercise that, if done routinely, can burn body fat. While splashing in the pool, you tend to focus on fun, rather than on the number of calories burned and which muscles are being toned. That extra belly fat has to go....

The right yoga poses can help improve your balance and prevent falls as you get older. Image Credit: Fly View Productions/E+/GettyImages One of the best things about yoga is that it’s for everyone — at every age, body size and fitness level. And it can be a essential part of healthy aging. Advertisement "As our bodies age, it's really 'move it or lose it,'" says Joe Miller, RYT, CSCS, yoga instructor at YogaRenew Online Teacher Training....

Alopecia disease is characterized by round patches of hair loss. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 2 percent of Americans will develop alopecia areata in their lifetimes. The cause of alopecia is unknown and people with this disease tend to be in good health. Alopecia affects individuals across different ages and demographics, but children and young adults are more commonly affected. Advertisement According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the two main types of alopecia are alopecia areata and androgenic alopecia....

Avoid protein bars that are high in sugar when pregnant. Image Credit: undefined undefined/iStock/GettyImages Women have higher protein requirements during pregnancy to support fetal development. Sometimes, getting enough protein is a challenge, and eating protein bars while pregnant can be a convenient way to pack more in. However, some protein bars aren’t healthy and could even pose health risks. Advertisement Tip Protein bars that are high in sugar or contain caffeine or herbal ingredients should be avoided during pregnancy....

Walking boasts an array of health benefits, including for your heart. Image Credit: OLGA KAZANTSEVA/iStock/GettyImages There are lots of terrific reasons to exercise. It can lower your blood pressure, help your mental health and improve your sleep. But it’s also a means to help reduce your cholesterol levels. Advertisement When your body has too much cholesterol (a fatty substance in your blood), it can affect your heart health, says the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)....

references USDA: "Yeast Extract" University of Cambridge: "Bovril: A Very Beefy (and British) Love Affair" Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: "B Vitamins" USDA: "Dietary Guidance" Advances in Nutrition: "Protein Intake Greater than the RDA Differentially Influences Whole-Body Lean Mass Responses to Purposeful Catabolic and Anabolic Stressors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis" FDA: "Sodium in Your Diet" Journal of the American College of Cardiology: "Dietary Sodium and Health: More Than Just Blood Pressure" British Essentials: "Bovril Yeast Extract" Bovril is often used in stews and soups for its strong beefy flavor....

In addition to being low in calories, broccoli contains nutrients that support weight loss. Image Credit: Patricia Spencer / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Broccoli in your diet is a great choice for weight loss because it’s so low in calories, but that’s not the only benefit you’ll gain. It’s packed with essential nutrients and contains fiber, which contributes to satiety. Several micronutrients in broccoli are known to support weight loss, and its phytochemicals show potential for breaking down fats....

Simply sitting on an exercise ball boosts calorie burn. Image Credit: Brand X Pictures/Stockbyte/Getty Images Will the calories burned sitting on an exercise ball be enough to single-handedly transform your body? Probably not. But if you prefer sitting on an exercise ball to sitting on a regular desk chair, you might burn at least a few extra calories per day. Advertisement Calories Burned Sitting on an Exercise Ball There is no official “calories burned calculator” for sitting on a stability ball — but there have been a few studies to estimate how calories burned sitting on an exercise ball compare to sitting on a chair....

Constipation and fatigue occurring together might indicate another conditon. Just about everyone feels tired at one time or another, and most people occasionally experience constipation, as well. But if you're chronically constipated and you also have fatigue, there may be something else going on. You could be experiencing side effects of a medication, or you might have another condition that's causing constipation and fatigue as symptoms. Your doctor can help you sort out your symptoms and make a diagnosis....

Homemade muesli and yogurt. Image Credit: Anna Kurzaeva/iStock/Getty Images The short answer to this question is yes, you can, and your intestinal flora will love you for it. Probiotics and fiber shouldn’t cause you any problems when you consume during the same day, or even at the same meal. In fact, some manufacturers are creating products that combine probiotics with fiber because these two nutrients work in a complementary fashion to elicit greater health benefits....

Muscle strain from running is a common cause of burning calf pain. Image Credit: Jan-Otto/iStock/GettyImages Your calf is the muscular area located on the back of the lower part of your leg. It is made of two main muscles. Advertisement The most prominent is the gastrocnemius muscle, which is located just under the skin. The soleus muscle lies immediately underneath the gastrocnemius. Video of the Day These two muscles join together before attaching to the Achilles tendon at the ankle....

A man sits strapped to an electro cardiograph machine while his doctor looks at the results on a monitor. Image Credit: nyul/iStock/Getty Images There are many factors to consider when trying to reduce your risk of heart disease. It is important to keep your cholesterol levels and blood pressure under control, but both can be high without ever causing any symptoms, so it is important to get tested often. Your heart rate or pulse can also point to the health of your heart, as a high heart rate can be caused by a high cholesterol level....

It's best to stick with water flavored with a little fresh lemon or lime instead of drinking diet soda on keto. Image Credit: chanuth/iStock/GettyImages Sick of water on keto? Diet soda seems like the perfect solution. It’s sweet, it doesn’t have any added sugar and the carb count is zero. But unfortunately, it’s not that simple. The artificial sweeteners used in place of sugar disrupt your metabolism and prompt sugar cravings, which can interfere with your progress if you drink diet soda on keto....

Millions of people depend on that first cup of coffee to get started each morning. You may be among that number, but also concerned that caffeine will age you, or rather, make your skin look older. In fact, caffeine not only will not age you, it might improve the appearance of your skin and help you look younger. Description Caffeine is a stimulant. According to MayoClinic.com, caffeine’s effect on the central nervous system is responsible for its ability to wake you up, make you feel less fatigued and focus on a task at hand....

Man running on road Image Credit: Maridav/iStock/Getty Images Ankle weights are a fitness tool designed to add extra weight to your lower body during exercise or daily activities, helping you build muscle through resistance training. Although ankle weights can help improve your leg strength and potentially boost your speed, they may also be potentially dangerous for athletes and exercise enthusiasts. Safer alternatives exist for increasing how fast you can run....

Use the hollowing and bracing techniques to set you up before the real work of getting abs begins. Image Credit: FatCamera/E+/GettyImages Flat abdominal muscles are probably near the top of most people’s wish lists. But what about achieving flat abs without having to work much at it? That hope charts even higher. You may have heard that merely tightening your ab muscles while standing, sitting or lying down is an effortless (if not magic) way to get drum-tight abdominals....

Eggs and yogurt are a much healthier breakfast than most alternatives. Image Credit: EvaintheKitchen/iStock/Getty Images Breakfast has often been touted as the most important meal of the day. Unfortunately, many people often resort to unhealthful choices such as sugar-laden cereal for breakfast. For those looking to start their day off by eating healthily, one beneficial breakfast is eggs and yogurt. Advertisement Protein One reason that eggs and yogurt are particularly healthful for breakfast is that this combination is high in beneficial protein....