Posts

Many people bruise more easily as they age, but other conditions or even nutritional deficiencies can play a role, too. Image Credit: lolostock/iStock/GettyImages You’re probably no stranger to bruises — just ask the corner of your coffee table. But if you’ve started noticing bruises more often, either ones that form following the slightest acts of klutziness or seemingly out of the (black and) blue, you may be wondering if an underlying health issue is the culprit....

The bench press can place a lot of stress on an injured AC joint. Image Credit: RyanJLane/E+/GettyImages While you might have heard of a separated shoulder and exercises to avoid, this injury doesn’t actually affect the shoulder joint. It is the acromioclavicular or AC joint between your collarbone and shoulder blade. Held in place by strong ligaments, the AC joint is important for a stable shoulder. Advertisement If these ligaments become damaged, movement of your shoulder will be limited as you heal....

woman on single speed bicycle Image Credit: TongRo Images/TongRo Images/Getty Images The bike world is broken up into two basic categories when it comes to drivetrain: multi-gear and single speed bicycles. Single speed bicycles are attached to a freewheel, allowing coasting, or a fixed gear — no coasting — hub, and do not allow you to change gears. The advantages to this style of bike are many, but they do have one major drawback for some riders....

dish of oat groats Image Credit: marilyna/iStock/Getty Images While you might not think of oats beyond steaming bowls of oatmeal or oatmeal raisin cookies, they actually have a number of uses in the kitchen. Oat groats – another name for intact, hulled oat grains – make a healthful addition to your diet. Like other whole grains, they help fight Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Use oat groats in your cooking to reap the health benefits of their fiber and mineral content....

How fast you should run a mile is dependent on several factors. Image Credit: martin-dm/E+/GettyImages In This Article Average Mile Time and Pace Common Mile Questions Prep For Your First Mile Race Improve Your Time The mile is a notorious running distance, most linked, perhaps, with a middle school or high school time trial in gym class. It's short, yes, but if done right it is hard, physically and mentally, says Olympian and five-time Fifth Ave Mile champion, Nick Willis....

Basil seed pudding is a delicious alternative to chia seed pudding that's higher in fiber. Image Credit: kajakiki/E+/GettyImages From making a cameo in everything from pudding to kombucha to energy bars, chia seeds have had more than their 15 minutes of fame over the past decade or so. But it appears there’s a “new” seed looking to steal the limelight. Basil seeds have been gaining steam, thanks to their stellar nutritional profile that rivals chia seeds'....

Chinese restaurants can be found in many towns and cities. Image Credit: mitja2/iStock/Getty Images Chinese restaurants and takeaway outlets can be found in many Western towns and cities. In China, food is traditionally eaten with chopsticks, and according to Helpguide, adopting this habit when eating Chinese food can be healthier, because you will eat more slowly. Vegetables used in Chinese mixed vegetable dishes may include Chinese cabbage, pea pods, bamboo shoots and sliced mushrooms....

Prosecco is a great toasting wine. Image Credit: MarkSwallow/iStock/GettyImages If you love the bubbly taste of champagne — but not its price tag — consider prosecco, a more affordable option. Prosecco calories are lower than those in champagne, but you’ll still get the same fizzy, light, fruity taste. Advertisement What Is Prosecco? Since Roman times, vineyards have canvassed the sunny slopes of the Italian towns of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano. The name of the prosecco grapes that produce the legendary wine was changed to glera grapes by the Italian government in 2009 to designate their region of origin, according to the International Wine and Food Society....

Exercise can increase discomfort when you have ovarian cysts. Image Credit: Jacob Ammentorp Lund/iStock/Getty Images Ovarian cysts commonly affect women during their reproductive years. While most ovarian cysts are small and go unnoticed, others may cause a range of symptoms – from mild discomfort to severe pain. Advertisement If you have painful ovarian cysts, sometimes exercise or strenuous physical activity can add to your discomfort and may need to be curtailed....

Commit to a super clean diet to lose weight and flatten your tummy. Image Credit: Fascinadora/iStock/GettyImages Despite what many fad diets promise, getting a flat stomach takes time and dedication to a healthy lifestyle. Most people can’t get a flat stomach in three weeks, but if you’re getting ready for a big event that’s only three weeks away, you can definitely improve your current stomach status. Advertisement Commit to a structured exercise regimen and eat a super-clean diet to maximize results and achieve a lean midsection....

In most circumstances, you should opt for water before drinking fruit juice. Image Credit: LeszekCzerwonka/iStock/GettyImages Whether you’re exercising, eating spicy food or just need something cold to drink, you might be wondering if water or juice is the better choice. While both quench your thirst and count towards your daily fluid intake, you may want to reach for the glass of H2O before the fruit juice. Advertisement Tip In most circumstances, you should opt for water before drinking fruit juice....

Husband kissing his pregnant wife in a hospital bed. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Stockbyte/Getty Images When you think of the word epidural, you likely think of childbirth. An epidural can be used to ease the pain and make for an easier delivery of a child. An epidural can also mean anesthesia used for surgery on the lower extremities. Another form of an epidural is an injection used to treat back ailments. Regardless of why you are receiving an epidural, there are restrictions on eating prior to your epidural....

If your upper shoulders and neck are sore, it might be the result of poor posture or even poor technique in the gym. Image Credit: fizkes/iStock/GettyImages Is your neck or your upper shoulders sore? If so, the pain you’re feeling might come from the fan-shaped trapezius muscle, which spreads across your upper back and reaches up into your neck. Trapezius pain can be caused by delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) from a workout, but it can also be the result of poor weightlifting technique or poor posture, especially if you spend a lot of time sitting at a desk....

The hamstrings must be stretched regularly to avoid injury. Image Credit: vladans/iStock/Getty Images The hamstring muscles are generally an under-developed muscle group in the body, especially for women. The hamstrings are on the back of the leg and consist of three muscles: the biceps femoris, the semitendinosus and the semimembranosus. The hamstrings are responsible for the bending of the knee, maintaining balance and promoting correct posture. Advertisement Identification Weak and under-developed hamstrings can encourage you to lock your knees, causing too much curvature in the spine, according to My-Health-and-Fitness....

Image Credit: MIND_AND_I/iStock/GettyImages Decongestants are used to reduce nasal stuffiness or congestion caused by allergies, the common cold or other infections. Nasal congestion occurs because of swelling of tissues lining the nose or the accumulation of secretions within the nose. Decongestants reduce congestion by acting directly on blood vessels in the nasal lining, causing the vessels to become narrower. This reduces swelling of the lining tissues. But decongestants may affect blood vessels outside the nose as well....

A small bowl of chips. Image Credit: GooDween123/iStock/Getty Images Your blood sugar levels affect your mood and energy levels. Blood sugar is readily available energy that the body can use to fuel various processes. The body normally regulates its blood sugar through a chemical called insulin, which breaks down blood sugar. People who have diabetes don’t produce enough of this chemical – if any at all – and, consequently, need to monitor their blood sugar and the foods they eat....

Drinking caffeinated drinks like coffee can lead to shaking in the body. Image Credit: Galina Sandalova/iStock/GettyImages Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, and when consumed in small amounts, it can give you the boost you need to get through your day. Just make sure you don’t go overboard — if you’re shaking after drinking coffee, you may need to limit your caffeine intake. Advertisement Tip According to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines, moderate caffeine consumption (about three to five 8-ounce cups of coffee per day) can be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle....

The nutrition of dragon fruits is easily influenced by where it's grown and other factors related to its cultivation. Image Credit: SherSor/iStock/GettyImages Dragon fruit comes from a type of climbing cacti. Multiple types of dragon fruit are cultivated, so it can easily be found in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Different types of dragon fruit have different nutritional values. However, their flavor is generally the same, and most types of dragon fruit can be used in similar ways....

A shoulder press with a dumbbell requires more stabilization from your muscles. Image Credit: sumnersgraphicsinc/iStock/Getty Images Stand at attention just like a soldier with your feet together and toes turned out as you push the barbell up and down to do a true military press. This position makes pressing a bar overhead incredibly tough. Nowadays, just about any overhead press — seated or standing with feet planted hip-width — is called a military press....

If you're gluten-free, be cautious before digging in at Dunkin'. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages Faced with shelves of glazed, powdered and strawberry-frosted doughnuts (let’s not forget the Munchkins), the endless choices at Dunkin’ Donuts can leave you and your sweet tooth stumped. But while plenty of people may “run on Dunkin’,” those with celiac disease or a non-celiac gluten sensitivity will have any easier time making a selection. Advertisement That's because anyone avoiding gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, has limited choices at the chain....