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The more calcium you get from food, the lower the dose of supplement you need. Image Credit: Jon Schulte/iStock/Getty Images Calcium is important for secreting hormones, cell signaling, muscle and nerve function, as well as for keeping your teeth and bones strong. However, not everyone gets enough calcium from foods. Some people take calcium supplements, but these can have side effects, including constipation, if you don’t choose the right supplement or follow the right diet while taking supplements....

Image Credit: Liderina/iStock/GettyImages The idea of boxing can be very intimidating, no matter your age. It's a fascinating sport with its mixture of strikes and strategy, but working up the courage to step into a boxing gym can take some time. If you've waited until you're over 50, don't let your age deter you—there are professional boxers who still fight in their 50s! Advertisement Older Boxers Bernard Hopkins, who won world championships in multiple weight classes throughout his career, fought his last professional bout at age 51....

What muscles do burpees work? Most of them! The burpee is a total-body exercise that trains muscles through your lower body, upper body and core. Image Credit: rbkomar/Moment/GettyImages In This Article Quads, Glutes, Hamstrings Core, Shoulders Chest, Triceps Glutes, Quads, Calves Other Burpee Benefits What muscles do burpees work? More or less, all of them. This high-impact, full-body exercise leaves virtually no muscle untapped — working your legs, hips, core, chest, shoulders and arms....

references National Dairy Council: “Butter” My Food Data: “Margarine” My Food Data: “Vegan Butter” My Food Data: “Unsalted Butter” NIH: “Vitamin A Fact Sheet for Health Professionals” Harvard Health Publishing: “Living with lactose intolerance” USDA: "Is butter safe at room temperature?" Harvard Health Publishing: "Butter vs. Margarine" Butter is high in calories and saturated fat, so it's best enjoyed in moderation. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative...

Image Credit: BrianAJackson/iStock/Getty Images Your abdominal cavity contains a number of essential organs and tissues, including your stomach, intestines, kidneys, liver, spleen, pancreas and large blood vessels such as your aorta. Pain in your abdomen, which can range from persistent dull aches to stabbing pains, can indicate a huge range of underlying disorders, including some nutritional deficiencies. Advertisement Potassium Deficiency Potassium aids in a number of biological processes: it represents one mineral involved in nerve communication, plays a role in muscle contraction and helps maintain the function of several enzymes....

Oatmeal can help you gain weight, but you can also consume oats for weight loss. Image Credit: Arx0nt/iStock/GettyImages Oatmeal can be part of a healthy plan to gain weight, but you can also consume oats for weight loss. It sounds contradictory, but it’s true. As long as you don’t add sugary sweeteners, a bowl of oatmeal provides fiber and whole-grain carbs for energy without breaking the calorie budget. Advertisement Tip Oatmeal can help you gain weight, but you can also consume oats for weight loss....

The dietary fiber in oatmeal can help promote satiety and suppress appetite, which can help you control your calorie intake for weight loss. Image Credit: Arx0nt/iStock/GettyImages A warm bowl of oatmeal is a wholesome and nutritious way to start the day, and it may help you shed pounds. Oats are rich in dietary fiber, which promotes satiety and can help you reduce your calorie intake. But oats aren’t just for breakfast — they can be added to smoothies, soups and baked goods, too....

Two glasses of apple juice beside a sliced apple. Image Credit: prakobphoto/iStock/Getty Images Making wise choices in the beverage department can definitely help you avoid weight gain and obesity. Drinks that seem perfectly healthy, such as apple juice and other fruity beverages, give you essential nutrients you need in your diet. But they also deliver a lot of extra calories if you drink them in excess. Drink fruit juice sparingly on your reduced-calorie diet....

The spices used in Indian dishes contain lot of antioxidant benefits. Image Credit: Lisovskaya/iStock/GettyImages If you like Indian food and you have fresh chicken or cooked leftover chicken on hand, you can make chicken tikka masala. This savory Indian dish has a tomato-based sauce flavored with traditional Indian seasonings and spice blends such as coriander, cumin and garam masala. Advertisement The precise nutrition information depends on the recipe you use to make it....

Chicory with coffee can cause side effects in some people that include possible allergic reactions and digestive distress. Image Credit: Eugene03/iStock/GettyImages You may think of chicory in your coffee as a New Orleans thing, but adding this ground root to a morning cup of coffee has health benefits. Adding chicory to your coffee or drinking it straight up as a coffee substitute can, however, cause digestive distress and allergic reactions in some people....

The coffee diet encourages followers to drink a minimum of three cups of light-roast coffee every day. Image Credit: Visit Roemvanitch/iStock/GettyImages If you’re a java-lover who’s looking to shed pounds, the coffee diet for weight loss might sound like the ultimate dream. After all, it promises to harness the power of this bean brew to increase your metabolism, decrease your appetite and burn fat. Advertisement Intrigued? Here's what you need to know before you fire up the Keurig....

Parasites are often undetectable to the naked eye, but they can wreak havoc within your body. Depending on the type of parasitic infection you contract, you can experience a variety of negative and potentially health-destroying symptoms. Your doctor will conduct tests once symptoms become apparent and will determine treatment based on the results. Probiotics are widely recognized tool for destroying harmful bacteria, and may be beneficial in treating parasites as well....

Creatine supplements are popular among body builders. Creatine is predominantly marketed as a supplement to improve athletic performance and increase muscle mass. Clinical research studies are inconclusive about the efficacy and safety of creatine supplements; however, there are some indications that high-dosage or long-term use may result in damage to the liver or other serious side effects. Consult a qualified health care provider before taking creatine. Advertisement Creatine Supplements Creatine supplements are available as powders, liquids, capsules, energy bars and drink mixes....

The prescription drug metoprolol is used to treat high blood pressure and certain other cardiovascular conditions. A glance around the Internet might lead you to think apple cider vinegar can cure practically any health condition, including high blood pressure. Apple cider vinegar has a potential interaction with a medication used to treat cardiovascular conditions and with some other drugs as well. Consult your doctor before drinking apple cider vinegar in medicinal doses if you take any prescription medications....

Caffeine may affect your period, but the data is unclear. Image Credit: d3sign/Moment/GettyImages In This Article Your Period Cramps Whether you prefer coffee, tea or soda, caffeinated drinks are a go-to tactic to help you feel alert and energized. But caffeine can affect your body in other ways, too, including your menstrual cycle. So, does drinking caffeine affect your period — for instance, does caffeine delay your period? Advertisement Caffeine is a stimulating substance that naturally occurs in plants like coffee beans, tea leaves and cacao pods, according to the U....

Image Credit: Yury_N/iStock/Getty Images If you're living with lactose intolerance, it's wise to check food labels often to avoid uncomfortable and embarrassing symptoms. While peanut butter is often a safe choice, some versions may contain lactose, triggering digestive woes. Depending on your sensitivity level, your reaction to these nutty spreads may range from mild to severe; however, choosing the right products can help spare you any lactose-related discomfort. Advertisement A Lesson in Lactose Lactose is a type of sugar found in dairy products such as milk, cream or cheese....

Pumpkins are nutritious and can be easily added to any diet. Image Credit: Alexander Spatari/Moment/GettyImages Pumpkins are most often associated with Halloween and Thanksgiving. But this delicious squash can help support your weight-loss goals too. Pumpkin stir-fries, pumpkin soup and even pumpkin weight-loss smoothies can help you shed those extra pounds and improve your health. Advertisement Tip There aren't any studies that specifically attribute weight loss to pumpkin consumption. However, pumpkin is a very nutritious food that can be easily incorporated into most diets....

Dumbbells allow you to try lots of different exercise variations in your strength-training workouts. Image Credit: EmirMemedovski/E+/GettyImages You have a lot of choices in the weight room, some of which might look more than a little intimidating (if not downright threatening) when you’re just starting out. But with a little strategic planning, you’ll be on your way to reaching your strength goals fast. Advertisement Build Your Own Strength Routine The ideal strength-training program will build all five major muscle groups (legs, back, chest, shoulders and arms), says Holly Perkins, CSCS, author of Lift to Get Lean and founder of Women’s Strength Nation....

The serratus posterior muscles in the lower back help your upper body and ribs twist and bend. This area of the back is especially susceptible to painful pulls and strains because it bears the weight of the upper body and is heavily involved in the moving process. Fortunately, there are a variety of exercises that can help relieve serratus posterior strain. Ball Balance Lie face down on an exercise ball with your palms and feet resting on the ground....

Utilize the wobble board to develop ankle stability. Image Credit: Jacob Ammentorp Lund/iStock/Getty Images The wobble board is an effective tool to strengthen and stabilize the ankle. The wobble board can be used in conjunction with a rocker board and a balance ball. You can utilize the wobble board as a preventative and rehabilitative tool to develop strength, stability and proprioception in the lower leg. Dr. Jens Urlik Wester and colleauges, writing in the “Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy,” recommend discontinuing wobble board training if it becomes painful....