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Several Crystal Light products contain caffeine. Image Credit: SeanShot/iStock/Getty Images Crystal Light offers low-calorie drinks in powdered form you mix for yourself and also offers ready-to-drink beverages packaged in various-sized cartons. Whether you’re trying to lose weight or maintain weight, good hydration helps to keep your stomach full and quell your hunger pangs. When you drink liquids that are cold, you increase your metabolism by 30 percent as your body expends calories to heat the fluid, according to a study published in 2003 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism....

Weight training helps improve your appearance and health. Image Credit: George Doyle/Stockbyte/Getty Images While women rarely bulk up as dramatically as men because they have lower testosterone levels, some women build muscle more easily than others. The exact amount of muscle a woman gains depends on her age, fitness level, body type, diet and program. Understanding the important role strength training plays in your overall health and how your body responds to it can help you determine the best way to include weights into your weekly fitness routine....

Spirulina is a type of algae extract that is rich in a variety of essential nutrients and antioxidants. Image Credit: Magone/iStock/GettyImages Spirulina is a type of algae extract that is rich in a variety of essential nutrients and antioxidants. It can be consumed as a food product or taken as a dietary supplement. Although the spirulina plant is healthy, it should be consumed in moderation; even small amounts can contain heavy metals....

How often you train your back depends on your goals. Image Credit: santypan/iStock/Getty Images Your back is one of your major muscle groups and, thus, benefits from resistance training on a regular basis. How often you work it out depends on your goals and the types of exercises you’re doing. Advertisement A bodybuilder lifting super-heavy weights may only do a specific back workout once, or at the most, twice per week....

Pork belly is a cut of meat that is very high in fat content, which gives the meat its rich taste. Salted pork belly is not as common as its unsalted brethren. While salted pork belly has technically been cured already, it can be cooked in a variety of different ways. Cooking salted pork belly quickly at a high temperature intensifies the flavor of the meat without altering the texture, and cooking it slowly in liquid makes the meat fork tender and tones down some of the salty flavor....

Soba noodles are delicious in stir fries. Image Credit: iko636/iStock/GettyImages Yakisoba (soba) noodles are the starch component of a number of Asian dishes. These noodles can be incorporated into stir fries, paired with vegetables and even eaten on their own. Advertisement The noodles look similar to Ramen noodles and are made from wheat flour and egg. They're yellower than other types of noodles and are sold fresh or dried. Although recipes abound that include yakisoba, the process of cooking the noodles themselves is fairly simple....

Work out your shoulders to give the illusion of a smaller waist. Image Credit: cyano66/iStock/Getty Images While it would be nice to change your body type at will, many of the factors affecting your shape are outside your control. Your skeletal structure, where you store fat and how easily you gain muscle are all genetic factors that help determine your overall shape. But a well-planned cardio and diet regimen can help you achieve or maintain a healthy weight to show off your natural shape, while strategic strength training can help you achieve more of an hourglass look....

1 of 12 Overview Smoothies are a great way to pack in a ton of nutrient-dense foods, and when they're properly balanced they can be the perfect portable meal replacement or energy-boosting snack. All you need to make an awesome smoothie happen is produce and a decent blender. Here are 10 tasty, superfood smoothies that are ideal for any time of day. They're packed with antioxidants, healthy fats, protein and made entirely without dairy, gluten or added sugar....

These quick and easy open-faced sandwich recipes make weekday breakfasts a breeze. Image Credit: sveta_zarzamora/iStock/GettyImages If you’re looking to cut carbs or calories, but love the ease and convenience of sandwiches, try ditching one slice of bread. Advertisement Open-faced sandwiches have the same flavor as traditional sandwiches, but using only one piece of toast saves you carbs and lets you load up on the best part: the fillings. Plus, opting for an open-faced version can be your answer to getting over that post-meal slump....

Woman in exercise class holding weights Image Credit: XiXinXing/XiXinXing/Getty Images Increase muscular strength to appear more physically fit and attractive as you reap the benefits of improved sports performance and ability to handle daily activities. Do resistance training exercises, using an ever-increasing amount of weight or resistance to build muscular strength. Researchers at Tufts University found that resistance training for just two days per week increased muscular strength in the study group by 75 percent, compared with members of the control group who lost muscular strength without strength training....

Beef stew made in a slow cooker is a healthy, low-calorie freezer meal that reheats well. Image Credit: rudisill/E+/GettyImages During the hustle and bustle of busy weeknights, sometimes popping in a quick microwave meal is tempting. But instead of succumbing to a store-bought frozen dinner — which is likely stacked with sodium, other additives and unhealthy fats — have your own homemade options on hand. Advertisement Stock your freezer space with these six healthy, low-calorie freezer meals that won't disrupt your weight-loss plan....

A wide variety of conditions can cause shortness of breath. Image Credit: Science Photo Library/Science Photo Library/GettyImages When you have it, the feeling of being short of breath can be scary. Especially if you’re not sure what’s causing it. Advertisement "Shortness of breath is a subjective feeling of having very uncomfortable breathing," Sana Quddus, MD, a pulmonologist at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago, tells LIVESTRONG.com. Video of the Day Of course, if you head out to run intervals or do a sweaty HIIT workout in your basement, you might expect to be short of breath....

Different varieties of squash are considered healthy, starchy vegetables. Image Credit: MelanieMaier/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Nutritional Value Vegetables and Fruits Beans and Legumes Whole Grains and Cereals Which to Avoid Starches are complex carbohydrates that produce vital energy when your body converts them to glucose during digestion. These starches provide fuel for your muscles, brain and other vital organs. Advertisement When you're planning your diet, choose minimally processed starchy foods rather than refined starches to keep calories under control and increase the nutritional value of your meals, advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)....

Many think that the apple cider vinegar's pH level can improve the body’s pH. Image Credit: bhofack2/iStock/GettyImages For centuries, apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been touted as a healing tonic. A tangy liquid made from the fermented juice of chopped apples, ACV’s main component is acetic acid. Advertisement And raw, unfiltered ACV — the type you want to shop for — is traditionally labeled "with the mother," thanks to the benefit-boasting murky strands floating inside the bottle....

Aloe vera is an edible succulent plant with a variety of health benefits. Image Credit: MarsBars/E+/GettyImages Aloe vera is an edible succulent plant with a variety of health benefits. The inside of this plant is gooey and slightly bitter, so most people prefer sweetened aloe vera drinks to foods. Consuming an aloe and honey drink can support the health of various organ systems throughout your body. Advertisement Read more: Do These 11 So-Called Superfoods Live Up to the Hype?...

Make sweet potatoes a staple in your muscle-building diet. Image Credit: Comstock Images/Stockbyte/Getty Images Sweet potatoes feature in many a bodybuilder’s daily diet. Alongside rice, potatoes, oats and pasta, sweet potatoes are a top source of carbohydrate, meaning they’re a good source of energy for anyone hitting it hard in the gym. In addition to the carb content, sweet potatoes have numerous other benefits for bodybuilders. Advertisement Calorie Control The average-size serving of sweet potatoes has fewer calories than an average-size serving of white potatoes, containing 112 calories versus 168....

Grapefruit can be a healthy snack, but you need to be aware of how it affects your digestion right before bed. Image Credit: sveta_zarzamora/iStock/GettyImages With its sweet-tart flavor and juicy flesh, grapefruit is a delicious treat that you can eat late at night without feeling guilty. Advertisement However, this yummy fruit is acidic, and eating grapefruit at night could exacerbate heartburn for some people, which is often worse when lying down....

You can take calcium supplements with milk. Image Credit: SerrNovik/iStock/Getty Images Calcium supplements come in capsule, tablet and chewable form. Chewable calcium looks like candy and you don’t have to drink anything with it. You should take capsule or tablet calcium with food and liquid. Milk contains calcium naturally and does not need to accompany a calcium supplement, unless specified by your physician. Milk also interferes with the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals....

While it would be a convenient excuse, housework generally is safe for pregnancy. Since the actions could be considered low-impact exercise, sweeping and mopping actually could be a beneficial way to stay active while pregnant. Unless your doctor has expressed specific concern for physical activity, you might not be able to convince your significant other into doing the housework himself. Still, know the signs of a problem so you can listen to your body and contact your OB with any possible issues....

A young boy flexing his arms in a bodybuilder pose. Image Credit: Purestock/Purestock/Getty Images Physical appearance is important to adolescents, so it’s natural for teens and pre-teens to want to start working out. Skinny beanpoles or pudgy babies who grew into pudgy kids may start having visions of building muscles to re-shape their bodies. Before puberty, however, kids’ bodies aren’t ready or able to build significant muscle mass, so if they attempt to gain muscle before their bodies are ready, they are likely to be disappointed....