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Developing footwork and agility through drills can help in many sports and activities. Image Credit: DisobeyArt/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Footwork Drills for Adults Speed and Agility Training for Kids Part of getting ready for the rigors of sports or other physical activity is improving footwork, which affects agility. Agility exercises help you gain better control of your body and movements, honing your ability to change directions quickly and efficiently, without sacrificing speed or balance....

Calorie equations are fairly easy. Image Credit: serezniy/iStock/GettyImages There are many calorie equations online that can help you figure out how much to eat per day. They’re based on fairly generic formulas, which give you an estimate for how many calories you need to eat ⁠— but they aren’t completely accurate. Advertisement Calculate Your Calorie Intake Food contains energy. That energy is counted by units of measurement called calories. The actual unit of measurement you see on food labels is a kilocalorie, which means that there are actually ​1,000 calories​ ​per calorie​ that you eat....

Jerusalem artichokes, provide essential nutrients. Image Credit: monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Getty Images Jerusalem artichokes, also called sunchokes, aren’t like regular artichokes. These root vegetables have a taste that’s similar to water chestnuts, and you can eat them raw or cooked. If you eat them cooked, they have a creamy texture and you can use them in ways similar to potatoes. Jerusalem artichokes provide a number of vitamins and minerals and may provide some health benefits because of their role as a prebiotic....

Saltines help absorb stomach acid and reduce nausea. Image Credit: Garrett Aitken/iStock/GettyImages Nausea is a queasy feeling that includes an urge to vomit. Fortunately, there are ways to calm nausea. It’s commonly caused by pregnancy, chemotherapy medications, viral gastroenteritis, gastroparesis, motion sickness, migraine and many other health conditions, according to the Mayo Clinic. Advertisement Tip Saltines help nausea because they are odorless, a little salty, light and pass through the stomach easily....

Wait at least 30 minutes after eating a snack to begin your workout. Image Credit: nensuria/iStock/GettyImages You’ve probably heard the age-old advice that you shouldn’t exercise for at least 30 minutes after eating. Although this doesn’t give the full story, there is some truth to this statement. Digestion involves a complicated series of events that provide the necessary fuel and nutrients for proper body function. Advertisement While exercise after eating might seem like a good idea, it can actually hamper your workout due to the stomach upset you may experience....

Focus on consistency rather than working at your max heart rate. Image Credit: MixMedia/E+/GettyImages Cardio workouts are key to losing weight and the more intense your workout, the more calories you’ll burn. Using this logic, it can be tempting to exercise as hard as possible in an effort to shed pounds quickly. Advertisement Unfortunately, working at your maximum heart rate is not only risky to your health, but can lead to frustration with your workout....

Tracking carbohydrates can help you keep your blood sugar balanced. Image Credit: AnnaPustynnikova/iStock/GettyImages Tracking carbohydrates can help you keep your blood sugar balanced. There are a significant amount of carbs in pasta. Counting carbohydrates isn’t hard, but it does take a little time and can get tricky with pasta due to different sizes, shapes and ingredients. Advertisement Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Carbs and Why You Shouldn't Cut Them Video of the Day Counting Carbs in Pasta 101 Before you begin counting, decide how many carbs you’ll consume at every meal and snack, as recommended by the Joslin Diabetes Center....

When many of us think about Pilates, we picture a boutique studio filled with bulky equipment. But you don’t actually need a fancy studio setup to do Pilates at home. Especially where the downhill ski abs exercise is concerned, all you need is a few feet of space to start strengthening your core. Amy Jordan, founder of Wundabar Pilates, loves this reformer exercise so much, she decided to create an equipment-free version....

This plank variation will light your core on fire and sculpt your abs. Image Credit: LumiNola/E+/GettyImages Just when you think you’ve tried all the plank variations, we’re serving up another: the kettlebell drag. Unlike some of the more dreaded ab exercises (hello, crunches), this move will fire up some of the harder-to-activate muscles in your core. All you need is a kettlebell (or dumbbell) and a few feet of space....

A sliced papaya sitting on a table. Image Credit: siwaporn999/iStock/Getty Images Papaya is a sweet-tasting fruit that stands out with it’s slight musky flavor and soft consistency. Not only does it make a nice addition to your fruit salad, but it also provides health benefits. Advertisement Papaya aids in digestion and helps reduce inflammation. The oil located in the papaya seeds is used in health and beauty agents. In fact, according to Holly Lucille ND, RN, papaya oil boosts the immune system and also works as an anti-aging skin care agent....

Zucchini and summer squash are light, earthy flavored vegetables. When they are raw they have firm, white flesh and a smooth, hard green of yellow skin. When cooked correctly, they take on a whole new flavor and texture. Squash and zucchini will soak in all herbs and spices that they are cooked with, and their flesh will become slightly translucent and incredibly tender. Grilling squash and zucchini in a foil pack will steak the vegetables to make them tender, flavorful and perfectly cooked....

Pineapple is a natural diuretic. Image Credit: Jennifer A Smith/Moment/GettyImages Diuretics can help you excrete water and sodium. Diuretics can be taken as medications, but they also occur naturally in a variety of plant-based products. You may not be aware of it, but you probably already consume several diuretic foods and drinks as part of your normal diet. Advertisement Diuretic Foods and Drinks A variety of different diuretic drinks and foods are part of a normal diet....

Side planks strengthen the entire side of your body for better side-to-side and rotational movement. Image Credit: Morit Summers/LIVESTRONG.com Creative This 31-day body-weight workout challenge will inspire you to move more, no matter your starting point. Get all the details on the challenge here. When you’re getting ready for a strength-training session, think of yourself as a house. You need a solid foundation of strength to build on. That’s why it’s important to build core strength....

Agave nectar running off a spoon. Image Credit: SouthernLightStudios/iStock/Getty Images If you’re looking for an alternative to sugar, you may be confused about the difference between agave nectar and stevia. Once you understand how these sweeteners are made and how they affect your caloric intake and your blood sugar levels, it should be easier for you to figure out which sweetener is the better alternative for you. Advertisement Sweetener Source Agave nectar is a syrup made from the agave plant that is 1....

A pinenut pesto pizza with tomatoes and spinach on a table with a pizza cutter. Image Credit: NKMandic/iStock/Getty Images Probably one of the most well-loved foods in the country, pizza is offered in almost every restaurants, and it always includes a crust of some kind, as well as sauce and toppings. People with certain food allergies, however, must proceed with caution when eating pizza. Depending on the recipe, most pizza contains one or more of the top eight food allergens, which include peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish....

The sugar content in dried fruit is more concentrated. Image Credit: vi-mart/iStock/GettyImages Fruit is nature’s candy — naturally sweet, but also full of fiber and important nutrients. With so many flavors and varieties, it’s a great choice to satisfy your sweet tooth while maintaining a healthy diet. If you have diabetes, you’ve probably been told to limit sweets and sugar and to substitute a piece of fruit instead. Fresh fruit is always a good option to include in your meal plan, but where does dried fruit fit in if you’re limiting carbs or sugar?...

Rib eye steak is a tender, succulent steak cut from the outer edge of beef ribs. Image Credit: Leks_Laputin/iStock/GettyImages Prepare a slow cooker ribeye steak in the morning and have a healthy meal waiting for you after work. Add your favorite seasonings and vegetables for a complete, flavorful meal. Advertisement Tip Ribeye steaks are cut from the beef ribs and are typically grilled, broiled or pan-fried, notes the University of Nebraska-Lincoln....

Green lemongrass on a plastic bag. Image Credit: mansum008/iStock/Getty Images Cymbopogon, or lemongrass, comprises more than 55 species of grass. You can use lemongrass in various dishes and teas, as a pesticide and as a preservative. You can also prepare lemongrass can in several ways and use this grass fresh, dried or powdered. You can eat raw lemon grass. However, whole lemongrass is not easily chewable, so remove the stalk before consuming raw lemongrass....

Apple cider vinegar can benefit your health. Image Credit: Adobe Stock/anjelagr In the natural health world, apple cider vinegar is considered a cure-all, with claims that it improves digestion, boosts immunity and promotes weight loss. Made from fermenting sugar, apples and yeast, the amber-colored vinegar is rich in acetic acid, the compound to which its purported benefits are attributed. Advertisement Although research results are mixed and limited, apple cider vinegar may contribute to weight loss through its effects on metabolism, appetite and blood sugar....

Tight hip flexors can cause low-back pain. Image Credit: LarsZahnerPhotography/iStock/Getty Images When it comes to diseases of civilization, low back pain is public enemy number one. Often this condition is caused by tight hip flexors, which can manifest as low back pain or the sensation that one’s hips are tied in knots. If you experience hip tightness during the night, specifically, this is good news. It reduces the possible causes and simplifies treatment....