Posts

Female sprinter. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Stockbyte/Getty Images Sprinters are a prime example of how important nutrition is for performance. To compete at the highest level, they need their nutrition to be on point so they have enough energy to stick to a demanding training schedule, yet they don’t eat so much they gain body fat, which can affect performance. Even if you’re not competing at the top level and just sprinting for your school, as part of an athletics team or for fun, you can make tweaks to your diet to optimize your performance on the track....

Try side planks if you want to avoid hurting your back. Image Credit: Zinkevych/iStock/GettyImages Sometimes, ab exercises can feel like a no-win proposition — you have back pain because you don’t have core strength, but training those muscles makes your back hurt. To solve this problem, look for moves that train your entire core — the muscles that surround and stabilize your spine, including your abs — that won’t put undue stress on your back....

Abdominal belts can support healing muscles after pregnancy. Image Credit: Adobe Stock/tatomm Thinking about wearing an abdominal belt after pregnancy to regain some of your prebaby body? There are several things to consider when it comes to binding and wrapping your belly after delivery. Some of it is hype (it’s not a miracle cure, after all), but there are also some real potential benefits. Advertisement History of Abdominal Wrapping Wrapping with cloth soon after giving birth has been going on for thousands of years in many cultures, as it’s believed to help reduce swelling, tighten overstretched muscles and give the back more support to help decrease aches and pains....

Jogger running on a trail Image Credit: Karl Weatherly/Photodisc/Getty Images Tiny amounts of blood in the stools occur in about 20 percent of marathon runners, according to “Marathon Medicine.” This occult – or hidden – bleeding is only detectable by laboratory tests. Visible blood in the stools plus cramping are much less common. Many conditions – such as infections, inflammatory bowel disease or diverticulitis – that cause cramping and blood in the stools when not running can also produce these symptoms after a run....

Starch is a form of carbohydrate. Image Credit: amenic181/iStock/Getty Images Dangerous food allergies can make you afraid to eat anything. If you have a reaction to starchy foods like corn, peas, potatoes and grains, your diet can seem very limited. Allergies to rice are uncommon, but possible. Starch is tough to avoid and certain food additives and processed food products can trigger an unexpected reaction. Learning how to supplement your diet to compensate for missing food groups is an important skill for living a healthy life....

Bowflex promises results with just 20 minutes per workout. Since its invention in 1979, the Bowflex home gym has offered a different approach to weight training. Rather than using traditional barbells and weight plates, the Bowflex PR1000 allows you to clip exercise attachments to pliable rods, copyrighted as "power rods." More than 30 exercises are possible on the Bowflex PR1000 using its exercise attachments, and you can combine these exercises several different ways for a total body workout that suits your fitness goals....

Two glasses of sparkling water mixed with cranberry juice. Image Credit: Wiktory/iStock/Getty Images Cranberry is well-known as an alternative remedy for a urinary tract infection, also known as a UTI or bladder infection. However, in certain circumstances, cranberry juice may actually increase symptoms of bladder discomfort and frequency or urgency with urination. Drinking cranberry juice also has the potential to increase your urine output or bladder irritation. Consult your doctor for advice regarding any unusual urinary symptoms....

It's best to avoid taking any OTC or prescription weight-loss pills while pregnant. Image Credit: dragana991/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Heart Function Side Effects Organ Damage Hidden Ingredients Insufficient Fuel Phentermine and Birth Defects Accidentally Taking Phentermine Weight gain is a natural part of pregnancy, so there's no need to turn to diet pills to counteract your growing body. In fact, taking weight-loss supplements when you're pregnant can put you and your baby at risk....

A woman eats a bowl of cereal in a loft apartment. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images Hemorrhoids result when veins around the anus and/or rectum become inflamed or swollen. While hemorrhoids are rarely a serious condition, they can be painful, itchy and result in anal bleeding. Hemorrhoids are caused by a number of factors, including an episode of diarrhea, straining during bowel movements or after sitting on the toilet for long time periods....

These cast iron breakfast recipes are easy to make and delicious. Image Credit: Anna_Shepulova/iStock/GettyImages Cooking in a cast iron skillet may be just what you need to perk up your a.m. routine — literally. Cast iron pans can increase the iron content in your food, which can help with low energy, according to Columbia University. Advertisement Here's how that works: If you're lacking iron in your diet, your cells may not be getting the oxygen they need....

If you haven't pooped in over a week (or even a few days), there's some tweaks you need to make to your daily schedule. Image Credit: seksan Mongkhonkhamsao/Moment/GettyImages In This Article Lack of Fiber Sodium Gluten Processed Carbs Dehydration Inactivity Stress Vitamin Imbalance Holding It Pregnancy Diseases Medications Nothing feels crappier than constipation. But if you haven't pooped in days, your digestive system definitely deserves some attention — and addressing the common causes of constipation can help....

Fish oil is the most common source of omega-3s. Image Credit: bookzaa/iStock/GettyImages Some of the most common dietary dietary supplements used in the U.S. today are omega-3 and CoQ10. They’re often consumed individually or together in order to improve brain and heart health. You can even find supplements with the two compounds combined. Advertisement Omega-3s are a type fatty acids — commonly found in fatty fish, such as salmon or mackerel....

Can Cardio Workouts Make Your Hair Grow? Image Credit: shevtsovy/iStock/GettyImages Your boxing stance in the ring is more than just how you stand. Your stance stabilizes your body and that stability allows you to generate force for your moves. There are two general boxing stances: orthodox and southpaw, which are chosen based on whether you’re right-handed or left-handed. Advertisement No matter which stance you go with, there are a few techniques to follow for the strongest stance possible: Video of the Day Maintain your balance by squaring your shoulders between the outlines of your feet....

A bike's wheel next to a brick wall. Image Credit: Smikey26/iStock/Getty Images When the weather turns sour many bicyclists retire their machines to wait for the next season. For those cyclists who want to continue riding in the off-season, an indoor bike trainer is a solid option to stay in shape. In general, bike trainers are very safe to use on bicycles, even very expensive carbon fiber bikes. However, there are a few ways to damage your bicycle and its components with a trainer....

You don't necessarily have to give up meat completely if you have high blood pressure. Image Credit: Fotoatelie/iStock/GettyImages Calling all carnivores: Love red meat, but concerned about your blood pressure levels? You don’t necessarily have to give up meat completely. While high-sodium processed meats can raise your blood pressure, not all red meat is a mistake in moderation. Here’s how red meat affects BP. Advertisement ​Read more:​ 4 Benefits of Eating Red Meat in Moderation Video of the Day Does Red Meat Raise Blood Pressure?...

Elliptical machines are great for improving circulation. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages Are you a dedicated runner who can’t handle the impact anymore — or would you be one if it weren’t for all that literal pounding of the pavement or trail? If you take up running on the elliptical, benefits you can look forward to include almost everything you expect from running, along with the blissful absence of repeated pounding on your joints....

No diet can cure gastritis, but some ways of eating may reduce symptoms. Image Credit: Dejan_Dundjerski/iStock/GettyImages If the lining of your stomach becomes inflamed, a condition known as gastritis, this can lead to ulcer disease over time, according to the Mayo Clinic. Although foods can’t cause — or cure — gastritis and ulcer disease, the way you eat could lower your risk or relieve your symptoms. Advertisement Symptoms of gastritis and ulcer disease develop when the natural, protective coating of your stomach becomes too weak to protect these areas from the digestive acids produced in your stomach, explains the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)....

Gluten is a protein found in many different grains as a way for the plant to store protein. The gluten content varies between grains, although the exact gluten content present in these foods is not available in food composition tables. Grains can be divided as containing gluten or not. People with celiac disease or gluten intolerance need to go on a gluten-free diet to manage their symptoms and stay healthy. If you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance, you should not eat even small amounts of gluten as even the traces of gluten found in a breadcrumb are enough to cause you health problems....

Hydration is essential in preventing exercise-induced headaches. Image Credit: Obradovic/E+/GettyImages Regular exercise provides many health benefits, including lower blood pressure, increased energy, reduced risk of heart disease and some cancers, and weight management. Sometimes, however, individuals may develop painful headaches the day after strenuous exercise. Advertisement You can take various preventive measures to reduce or eliminate exercise-induced headaches. If your headaches worsen over time or cause other health problems, you may need to consult a physician....

An increase in your heart rate may increase your metabolism to promote weight loss. Image Credit: George Doyle/Stockbyte/Getty Images If you have tried to lose weight and failed, you’ve probably searched for a cause to your problem. At one point, you may have considered the problem the fault of your metabolism. Metabolism may play a part in this difficulty, if your heart rate isn’t elevated enough to increase your body’s calorie needs....