Posts

Stuffed pasta shells ready for a meal. Image Credit: thepiwko/iStock/Getty Images Cooking pasta shells is a great start to a simple, nutritious meal. Pasta shell recipes include using small shells in casseroles and soups and stuffing larger ones with anything from blended cheeses to chopped vegetables and chicken, meat or seafood. Preparing pasta shells is simply a matter of boiling them first, but the timing is important. Undercooked shells have an unpleasant texture, and over cooked ones will fall apart, so it’s important to check them frequently to see if they are done....

When doing frogger squats, stick to the range of motion that feels comfortable to you. Image Credit: Hello Africa/DigitalVision/GettyImages In This Article How to Do Frogger Squats With Proper Form Benefits If you want strong, healthy legs, you might take a cue from the animal kingdom. More specifically, from frogs. Advertisement Frogs are known for their long, strong legs, which help them leap large distances and propel through water. So, for powerful gams, make like this active amphibian, and start doing frogger squats (also called frog squats)....

You need to plan coming out of a juice fast. Image Credit: Whitestorm/iStock/GettyImages Juice fasting is a simple, convenient way to give your digestive system a break and boost your antioxidant intake. Breaking a juice fast, on the other hand, can be confusing. Advertisement If you eat too much — or eat the wrong foods — you may experience digestive discomfort, nausea, fatigue and tummy aches. Eat too little, and you'll feel hungry, weak and fatigued....

We often associate bone and dental health to nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. And while calcium and vitamin D ‌do‌ play important roles in building strong bones and teeth, we might be forgetting about another crucial player: phosphorus. Most of the body’s phosphorus is found in the bones and teeth, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). Not only does phosphorus help with the formation of bones and teeth, but the mineral also helps the body make energy, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH)....

Ab exercises are critical, but versatile — do them wherever you have space. Image Credit: FatCamera/E+/GettyImages Sure, six-pack abs are nice. But abdominal strength means much more than sporting Adonis-like abs. Advertisement Your abs are part of your core, which includes your pelvic muscles, hips and the muscles that support the spine. The benefits of abs extend to daily function, sports performance and physical health. Video of the Day 1. Abdominal Strength Reduces Back Pain Your abdominals act as an anchor for muscles of the mid and lower back....

This diet encourages replacing your regular food with branded supplemental snacks and meals. Image Credit: sanjagrujic/iStock/GettyImages The Medifast diet — which has been replaced by an offshoot program, Optavia — is a weight-loss plan that promises to help you shed pounds easily with its branded snacks and meals. But the reality may look a little different, which is why it’s important to be aware of potential Optavia side effects. Advertisement Here's everything you need to know about the side effects of the Optavia diet to help you decide if it's worth trying....

references Temperature. "Effect of capsaicin on thermoregulation: an update with new aspects" Harvard Health Publishing: "Relaxation Techniques: Breath control helps quell errant stress response" Mayo Clinic: "Hot flashes" National Institute on Aging: "Hot Flashes: What Can I Do?" National Institutes of Health: "Hyperthyroidism" American Academy of Dermatology: "Hyperhidrosis: Signs and Symptoms" Mayo Clinic: "Hyperhidrosis" International Hyperhidrosis Society: "Drugs/Medications Known to Cause Hyperhidrosis" National Institutes of Health: "Sepsis" Mayo Clinic: "Excessive Sweating" Is this an emergency?...

Playground activities can count towards your child's exercise goals. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images Healthy habits should begin in childhood. Children who grow up with an emphasis on fitness will have the habit for healthy living more deeply ingrained in them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children and adolescents get at least one hour of physical activity every day. Many things count as physical activity; however, if you are unsure if an activity should count, check the heart rates of your children to see if they are exerting themselves enough....

Pistachio nuts are rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. Image Credit: NatashaBreen/iStock/GettyImages If you’ve stopped eating nuts because they’re too high in fat and calories, you may need to reconsider. Sure, the fat in nuts like pistachios makes up most of the calories, but the fat in pistachios isn’t bad for you. In fact, the types of fats in pistachios may lower your risk of heart disease — the leading cause of death in men and women in the United States — and help you manage your weight....

You need to build a solid foundation when starting a weightlifting routine. Image Credit: Kolostock/Tetra images/GettyImages In This Article Workout How to Start If you haven't heard the new, let's shout it from the rooftops: Strength training is for everyone! Regardless of gender, age or fitness level, you can pick up a pair of dumbbells and start getting stronger. Advertisement "As a woman, your resistance-training workout doesn't need to be radically different from a man's workout, especially at the beginning," says Henry Halse, CPT, owner of Halse Strength and Fitness....

A mother is holding her baby. Image Credit: FamVeld/iStock/Getty Images Your body can get vitamin D from foods fortified with vitamin D, supplements or from producing it with the help of sunlight. Only a few foods have vitamin D, and you may not be able to meet your own needs and that of your nursing infant through diet alone. Studies have shown that dietary vitamin D supplements increase the amount of vitamin D available to the infant, helping meet the needs of both mother and baby....

Proteins are made by arranging various amino acids together into specific combinations. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages Protein is a crucial nutrient that benefits your body — from the strength of your muscles to the health of your skin, hair and nails. Protein also contributes to the repair of tissue and helps with neurotransmitter functioning. All foods contain some protein. Advertisement If you're on a vegetarian diet, you don't need to worry about being unable to get your protein from animal sources....

A beef inside round, also called a top round, is an affordable cut of beef with plenty of juiciness and flavor. Image Credit: Foxys_forest_manufacture/iStock/GettyImages A beef inside round, also called a top round, is an affordable cut of beef with plenty of juiciness and flavor. With just 184 calories and 6 grams of fat in a 3-ounce serving, according to the USDA, this type of meat is among the leaner cuts, allowing you to enjoy the healthy benefits of red meat....

Bananas are nutritious, and an especially good source of fiber and potassium. Image Credit: jirkaejc/iStock/Getty Images Everyone’s packed a banana in their purse or backpack, only to forget about it until days later when it’s a brown, sticky mess. You don’t have to worry about that with banana chips — a perfectly portable version of the original. Just be sure to avoid those fried in oil and covered with sugar....

Eggs can cause swelling in the legs. Image Credit: Winslow Productions/Tetra images/GettyImages Swelling in the legs, known as edema, does not always point to a serious condition. However, it’s a symptom that shouldn’t go ignored. While injury, inflammation and certain diseases can cause leg swelling, there are also certain foods that cause edema. Advertisement What Is Edema? Edema is swelling that occurs when fluid is trapped in your body’s tissues, according to the Cleveland Clinic....

Some foods, such as cinnamon, have a strong thermogenic effect, which may help increase metabolism and calorie burning. Image Credit: FotografiaBasica/iStock/GettyImages While it’s tempting to employ a wash out diet to quickly flush fat from your system, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends eating a balanced diet of produce, whole grains and lean protein to achieve sustainable weight loss. A well-thought-out exercise plan can help too. Advertisement Eat Thermogenic Foods The thermic effect of food is the body’s metabolic response to the food you eat....

Kettlebells are just one option when it comes to free-weight workouts. Image Credit: Nastasic/E+/GettyImages Even if you’ve never picked up a set of dumbbells or swung a kettlebell, there’s an easy way to get started with these free weights. Resistance training like this isn’t just another item to check off your to-do list, it’s an incredibly beneficial use of you time. Advertisement Strength training helps you build stronger muscle and stronger bones and improves your insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular health....

A gluten-free diet prevents gluten intolerance complications. Image Credit: agcuesta/iStock/Getty Images Having hypertension raises your risk of heart disease and stroke. In many cases, lifestyle changes can prevent or control it. The dietary factor most commonly cited as contributing to high blood pressure is sodium intake. However, limited research reveals that intolerance to gluten – a protein found in wheat, rye and barley – is a risk factor. If you have unexplained hypertension and suspect you may be gluten-intolerant, ask your doctor for a blood test....

The gyro ball provides a good hand and arm workout. Image Credit: Tatomm/iStock/GettyImages The gyro ball is a gyroscope-based workout tool, which helps the fingers, wrists, forearms, upper arms and even the shoulders gain strength. Small movement in the forearm and wrist make the ball spin faster inside the shell. Advertisement The gyro ball can develop up to 39 pounds of resistance force as the ball increases in speed. You can perform a variety of exercises using the gyro ball to target different muscles in the arm and hand....

Garlic has some antimicrobial properties Image Credit: Azri Suratmin/Moment/GettyImages Garlic is one of many naturally antibiotic herbs and has been eaten for its nutritional and medical benefits for more than 5,000 years, according to Michigan State University. That said, should you be taking garlic as an antibiotic? Advertisement Read more: Which Is Healthier, Raw or Cooked Garlic? Video of the Day Tip While garlic is an antibiotic herb and is marketed as a natural antibiotic supplement, you should not take it instead of antibiotic medication prescribed to you by your doctor....