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woman bodybuilding in gym Image Credit: prudkov/iStock/Getty Images As any bodybuilder knows, protein is critical in the muscle-building process. Every tissue in the human body, including muscle tissue, consists of proteins that are constantly being broken down and need to be replaced. Eggs are one of the best sources of protein for bodybuilders; they contain all of the amino acids a bodybuilder needs to gain size and strength. In fact, the protein from eggs is even used in some types of protein powders....

The average time to run a marathon is 4:32:49. Image Credit: vgajic/E+/GettyImages In This Article How Far Is a Marathon? Average Finishing Time Average Time by Age and Sex Fastest Marathon Times How to Prepare If you're gearing up to run your first marathon, you're probably not new to running (and if you are, you may want to tackle a 5K first). The 26.2-mile race is no small feat, and the average marathon time varies according to factors like age, sex and course terrain....

Three women are drinking beers. Image Credit: Digital Vision/Photodisc/Getty Images Gout, also called gouty arthritis, is a painful type of arthritis that usually affects a single joint. Gout commonly affects the big toe, resulting in a painful, red, warm toe. Gout is caused by a buildup of a substance called uric acid in a joint. Uric acid in turn is formed by the breakdown of purines, which are made by the body and also found in many foods....

Seated workouts are great for anyone with limited mobility, a lower-body injury or just starting their strength-training journey. Image Credit: Cavan Images/Cavan/GettyImages There are tons of fitness equipment options out there — so many that it can be overwhelming to choose between them all. But if you’re looking for one piece of gear that’ll come in handy for pretty much any workout you’ll ever want to do, the kettlebell is an excellent choice....

Back extensions are a great butt exercise that don't hurt your knees. Image Credit: fizkes/iStock/GettyImages You can’t ignore your butt. Not only does it follow you everywhere, it also represents one of the major muscle groups that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends you strength-train at least twice a week. Advertisement But if you have knee problems, you might struggle to perform some of the best-known exercises for your backside, such as squats and deadlifts....

references Dietary Guidelines for Americans: "Nutrients of Public Health Concern" National Institutes of Health: "Calcium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals" USDA Food Data Central: "White Beans" The National Academy of Sports Medicine: "Calcium: For Strong Bones, Muscle Function, and So Much More!" American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: "Healthy Bones at Every Age" Translational Andrology and Urology: "Calcium Intake and Urinary Stone Disease" Mayo Clinic: "Hypercalcemia" Mayo Clinic: "Calcium Supplements: a Risk Factor for Heart Attack?...

Drinking water can prevent muscle cramps caused by dehydration. An adult body is composed of at least 70 percent water, which indicates waters' importance for health and proper function. Drinking plenty of water, often considered to be between eight and 10 8-oz. glasses per day, provides many benefits, including preventing and relieving tight and cramped muscles related to dehydration. However, tight muscles can have a variety of causes and might require dietary and lifestyle changes to adequately deal with....

Ab exercises build strength, but don't burn fat. Image Credit: AntGor/iStock/Getty Images In just two weeks you want to slide into your bathing suit or work pants without your belly protruding over the waistband. You can drop a few pounds to look slimmer and reduce bloat in 14 days, but that’s no guarantee you’ll achieve a flat stomach. Belly fat takes time to lose — especially if you have a generous amount of it....

Protein molecules Image Credit: cdascher/E+/Getty Images Whether you’re trying to build muscle or lose weight, you may be adding more protein to your diet. While protein offers a number of benefits when consumed in adequate amounts, excess calories from protein are converted to body fat. If you’re trying to minimize the accumulation of body fat, you need to pay attention to your overall calorie intake, not just protein. Advertisement Benefits of Protein At its most basic level, protein repairs tissue, makes hormones and enzymes, promotes immune health and preserves muscle mass, but it serves a purpose beyond these basic functions....

Biking is a great calorie burner. Image Credit: Jacobs Stock Photography Ltd/DigitalVision/GettyImages Bike riding is not the miracle belly-fat burner you’re looking for. It is, however, one of many cardio exercises that’s recommended by the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans to keep fit. Advertisement A few variables, including your weight and how hard you pedal, will determine just how many calories you'll burn. Video of the Day To burn body fat you must create a caloric deficit, or burn more calories for energy than you consume in a day....

Many of the best foods for the lungs fall under the Mediterranean diet. Image Credit: jenifoto/iStock/GettyImages If you’ve been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — a condition where the airways in your lungs become thick and inflamed, making breathing more difficult — what you eat can affect how you feel. Advertisement Having COPD can make it hard to eat and maintain a healthy weight, which is why some people with the condition have unintentional weight loss, muscle loss and malnutrition, according to a June 2019 review in ​Nutrients....

The caffeine found in coffee and other foods and drinks may help your liver. Image Credit: Emily Gillett / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Maybe you love the energy rush that you get from coffee or an energy drink, but you’re concerned about the effects caffeine could have on your body. You may even wonder if high levels of caffeine cause liver damage. The good news is that caffeine can help the liver — in the right dose....

Sweating does not equal fat loss. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Stockbyte/Getty Images Despite what many marketers say, heat does not increase weight loss in the long term. There may be a short-term loss, but it’s in the form of water weight, not fat. Heat increases your body temperature, which makes you sweat, but it won’t increase the number of calories you burn. Excess heat can actually hinder your workout by causing dehydration....

Your baseline metabolism doesn't slow down at night, but your body typically burns fewer calories because you're less active. Image Credit: gorodenkoff/iStock/GettyImages Maybe you’ve heard that noshing at night will derail your diet because your metabolism is “off the clock.” When evening hunger pangs hit, you might wonder if there’s any truth to the claim that your metabolism slows down at night. Advertisement Well, the truth is that there's no specific time period in which your metabolism isn't working....

Your body’s metabolism involves all of the chemical and biological processes necessary for the conversion of food into energy and the use of the energy. This means that metabolism includes digestion, excretion, blood circulation, temperature regulation, breathing, hormone production, muscle function, cell repair and new cell growth. When you become sick, your metabolism does not slow down; it actually speeds up to fight off the illness. Fever Your body temperature fluctuates slightly depending on time of day and activity, but doctors consider 98....

A vasectomy is a simple procedure that seals the tubes that carry sperm into semen. This procedure is a method of birth control for men. Although the procedure is simple and recovery time is relatively quick, there are some precautions that need to be taken regarding exercise and physical activity. Immediately Following Surgery Immediately after a vasectomy, men should rest and not engage in any physical activity, especially intense activity, such as sports and exercise, for the first 24 to 48 hours....

Avoid white bread if you have tinea versicolor. Image Credit: mrs/Moment/GettyImages Tinea versicolor is a fungal infection of the skin, which interferes with normal skin pigmentation, resulting in small, discolored patches. What constitutes good nutrition for tinea versicolor? There’s not a specific tinea versicolor diet, but eating well in general is helpful. Advertisement The American Academy of Dermatology says tinea versicolor (also known as pityriasis versicolor) is caused by a yeast species known as Malassezia....

Flax seeds contain a lot of vitamins and minerals. Image Credit: Bruno Scramgnon Chagas / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Flaxseeds are nutrient-rich seeds that contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and lignans. These seeds come in two main types: golden (or yellow) and brown. The difference between golden and brown flaxseed is primarily in their different macronutrient contents. Advertisement Read more: Secrets of 16 Strange and Popular Superfoods Video of the Day Flaxseed Nutrition Facts When you consume whole or ground flaxseed, you’re consuming all three dietary macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein and fat....

Grapefruit can interfere with calcium channel blockers. Image Credit: Moyo Studio/E+/GettyImages Grapefruit is chock-full of vitamin C and other potent antioxidants and gives your immune system a boost, but grapefruit and grapefruit juice can be dangerous if you’re taking a certain type of medication to control your blood pressure. Advertisement If you have high blood pressure, your goal is likely to maintain a systolic blood pressure (the first or upper number) of less than 120 millimeters of mercury per deciliter of blood and less than 80 for diastolic pressure (the second or lower number), according to the American Heart Association (AHA)....

Hand Speed Exercises for Martial Arts Image Credit: PointImages/iStock/GettyImages Whether you practice karate, krav maga or muay Thai, fast hand speed is critical. Accomplished martial artists can launch numerous attacks in the same amount of time that a beginner throws a single punch. Much of this comes from experience and training. Doing exercises that develop your fast twitch muscle fibers, build explosiveness and improve hand-eye coordination will ensure you’re the last man — or woman — standing in a fight....