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Not all exercises require heavy dumbbells. Image Credit: Ridofranz/iStock/GettyImages While lifting heavy has obvious benefits when it comes to building strength, lighter weights have their role as well. Lightweight dumbbells (think two to four pounds) are a great equipment choice for a gym-free workout, because they’re both inexpensive and don’t take up much storage space. Advertisement Plus, they can help you yield impressive results in a short amount of time and can be just as effective as their heavier counterparts, according to a McMaster University study....

Young woman with stomach cramps. Image Credit: AndreyPopov/iStock/Getty Images In healthy people, vitamin D is not generally known to cause cramping and diarrhea when taken at doctor-recommended doses and as a single agent. Excessive amounts of vitamin D, however, can lead to toxicity and related symptoms, some of which are gastrointestinal. Advertisement Supplement-Related Symptoms Many types of vitamin D supplements may also include calcium, magnesium and zinc. High doses of magnesium from dietary supplements often result in diarrhea that can be accompanied by nausea and abdominal cramping....

Caffeine can cause nausea and vomiting, especially if you drink too much. Image Credit: Weedezign/iStock/GettyImages Giving up your morning cup of coffee is likely the last thing on your to-do list. But if you’re having issues with caffeine and vomiting, you might need to put the brakes on your favorite caffeine-containing drinks and consider an alternative instead. Advertisement Tip Caffeine can cause nausea and vomiting, especially if you drink too much....

Claims that prenatal vitamins can stop or reverse hair loss in men are unproven. Image Credit: Hirurg/E+/GettyImages Prenatal vitamins are designed for mom and baby, but rumor is men may benefit from taking prenatal vitamins for hair growth. If you’re a guy looking to preserve your hair, you may be curious. However, although the nutrients may offer healthy returns, prenatals could cause more harm than good in men. Advertisement ​Read more:​ Can Men Use Women's Vitamins?...

Don't be surprised if tomato juice gives you red stools. Image Credit: czarny_bez/iStock/GettyImages Foods and juices with strong colors can change your bowel movements to red. This particularly applies to children and weaning babies. Juiced tomatoes and vegetable juices that include ingredients such as beetroot are among foods that can cause red stool. Advertisement If you're not expecting to see such a change, it can make for quite a shock when you look back in the toilet bowl....

When looking to maximize calorie burn, your best bet is to go for intensity. Image Credit: Geber86/E+/GettyImages In This Article Calories Burned Shivering Other Factors How to Increase Calorie Burn When you head outdoors for a cold-weather workout, you may be wondering if your body is working harder as it tries to keep you warm. You're sweating less than you would during warmer months, but depending on the temperature, you may be shivering, and that has to burn loads of calories, right?...

Walking up hills burns more calories. Image Credit: deimagine/iStock/GettyImages Exercise doesn’t have to be vigorous to deliver big health benefits. Walking is a low- to moderate-intensity activity that’s mild on the joints and easily accessible — and it’s a great way to burn calories and lose weight. However, it won’t work miracles. Combined with a healthy diet, it can definitely help you trim fat around your waist, but it can’t change your natural body shape....

Endomorph nutrition focuses on protein and limits carbs. Think lean meat, eggs, fish and low-fat dairy. Image Credit: ThitareeSarmkasat/iStock/GettyImages In This Article What Are Endomorphs? Best Foods Foods to Avoid Diet Plans Weight Loss Workout Plan Your body type can affect how much fat and muscle you carry, and may also determine which foods and activities are best suited to your body composition. Take endomorphs, for instance — this body type tends to store more fat, and following an endomorph diet can help you feel your best....

The restorative yoga pose savasana can help relieve head and neck pain. Image Credit: Antonio_Diaz/iStock/GettyImages Occipital neuralgia is a condition that causes chronic headaches and pain in the back part of your head and neck due to irritation of the occipital nerve. The pain usually takes a cyclical course of pain-spasm-pain, traveling from the base of your neck and head, to the sides and front of your head. Medication, massage therapy and steroid injections are common forms of treatment for occipital pain....

Face yoga can help reduce tension in your facial muscles. Image Credit: PeopleImages/E+/GettyImages Facial exercises can be effective way to stretch out the more than 50 muscles that make up the structure of your face. By using exercises to loosen up face muscles, you can achieve a more youthful look by essentially giving yourself an all-natural facelift. These types of simple exercises can be used by just about anyone — from children to older people — to help reduce tension and stretch the muscles of the face....

references National Eye Institute: “Dry Eye” Mayo Clinic: “Corneal abrasion (scratch): First aid” National Eye Institute: “Uveitis” Mayo Clinic: “Pink eye (conjunctivitis)” Royal National Institute of Blind People: “Other causes of light sensitivity” National Institutes of Health: “Albinism” Mayo Clinic: “Concussion” American Migraine Foundation: “Photophobia (Light Sensitivity) and Migraine” Sleep Foundation: "Sleep Deprivation and Migraines" American Academy of Ophthalmology: "Computers, Digital Devices and Eye Strain" Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Prevention" Wisconsin Department of Health Services: "Medications and other Agents that Increase Sensitivity to Light" Duke Health: "Myth or Fact: Blue Eyes Are More Sensitive to Light" Is this an emergency?...

Floor Wipers Exercises Image Credit: Zoonar RF/Zoonar/Getty Images Floor wipers are a part of the infamous workout used by the cast of the movie “300,” depicting six-pack-bound Spartans fighting fiercely in the Persian wars. The move is a variation on the lying straight leg raise that engages not only the superficial abdominal muscle, the rectus abdominis, and hip flexors, but also the oblique muscles at the sides of your waist. Holding the barbell extended over your chest also makes floor wipers an isometric chest and shoulder move....

Your body needs protein to maintain muscle mass. Image Credit: beti gorse/iStock/Getty Images One of protein’s primary functions in the body is to replace broken down proteins in muscle tissue. These proteins are necessary for muscle maintenance and development. The amount of protein necessary to maintain your current lean muscle mass depends upon several factors, including your body size, physical activity level and sex. Women typically require less protein in their diet compared to men, and smaller or less active people require less protein than larger or more physically active people....

How Much Protein Should You Consume to Lose Weight? Image Credit: Claudia Totir/Moment/GettyImages High-protein diets have become an increasingly popular way to lose weight. These diets aren’t like the carnivore diet, which involves eating only meat. Instead, high-protein diets focus on increasing your protein content while maintaining a healthy, balanced diet. Instead of the standard recommended daily allowance of 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, high protein diets recommend consuming 1....

Soda can be used in marinades for steak and chicken. Image Credit: Eryn Thornton / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages The high acidity of soda beverages like colas makes them a great marinade for meat. In fact, the Coke and meat experiment shows the effect that soda has on tenderizing beef, chicken and fish. Sodas also provide a great flavor to meat, but the added sugar is an issue to consider. Advertisement Tip According to the USDA, one 12-ounce can of cola has 156 calories....

Punching bags hanging from a gym ceiling. Image Credit: rilueda/iStock/Getty Images The punching bag, or heavy bag, is a staple of anyone training for boxing or martial arts. You can purchase heavy bags that come pre-filled, but it can be much cheaper to purchase an empty bag and fill it yourself. This way, you can fill it with whatever you desire, such as fabric, cloth, sand, rice and water – the materials most commonly used for the purpose....

How to trim your neckline depends on the reasons your neck is thicker than desired. If you’re overweight and want to lose neck fat, a fat-burning exercise regimen, coupled with a nutritional plan that induces a calorie deficit, can be beneficial. However, spot reduction is a myth. While you can’t target your neck for slimming, overall weight loss can result in a skinny neck. Exercises that elongate your neck and counteract faulty posture can create the appearance of a slim neck....

A tight lower back is a common problem for runners. Image Credit: Staras/iStock/Getty Images A tight lower back could be a signal that something’s missing in your running routine. Advertisement Because the human spine never seemed to totally agree with the whole bi-pedal thing, the act of running requires correct preparation and cool-down to keep the body in balance. Otherwise, you're likely to experience consequences, such as tightness in the lower back....

Strength training will tone your thighs without making them bulky. Image Credit: Cecilie_Arcurs/E+/GettyImages Everyone has “problem” areas on their body — areas they wish would magically become slim overnight. Unfortunately, losing fat is a process that requires commitment and patience. By exercising regularly and watching your diet, you can burn thigh fat and build lean muscle for a toned appearance. Although it’s not easy, all your hard work will pay off when you slip into those skinny jeans you’ve been dying to wear....

Keep in mind that water retention can be a sign of something else going on underneath the surface. Image Credit: Kentaroo Tryman/Maskot/GettyImages If you have a puffy face, it’s a good indication that there’s some water retention going on. While there’s no way to target the face directly, there are some water retention remedies that you can try, like watching your sodium intake and upping your B vitamins, so you lose excess water all over....