Posts

Chewing gum burns an average of 11 calories per hour. Image Credit: belchonock/iStock/Getty Images People have been chewing “gum” for thousands of years. Ancient Greeks chewed on mastic tree sap, Native Americans in New England chewed on spruce sap and then passed this habit on to European settlers. With the invention of sugar-sweetened bubble gum, modern manufacturing has propelled chewing gum into the same category as candy, but the development of sugarless gum has enabled gum-chewers to indulge in gum – and to burn a few calories – without sacrificing their oral health....

Carb-rich bananas help boost your energy. Image Credit: kuppa_rock/iStock/GettyImages In general, most fruits contain little iron – a nutrient needed to make proteins in your muscles and blood. Bananas are no exception. However, they are loaded with plenty of other beneficial nutrients. As long as you meet your iron requirements by eating other iron-rich foods, you can still include bananas – in moderation – in your diet, despite the fact they are low-iron foods....

Water is essential for life, as it plays a vital role in every part of your body. Image Credit: len4foto/iStock/GettyImages Water is essential for life, as it plays a vital role in every part of your body. However, it doesn’t necessarily matter if you’re drinking 32 ounces of water at a time — it’s just important that you’re drinking enough water on a daily basis. Advertisement Don't focus on how much water you're drinking in one sitting....

Eat too few calories, and you will lose muscle in addition to fat. Image Credit: Comstock/Stockbyte/Getty Images When considering weight loss, it is always best to plan ahead. It takes a significant amount of time to lose weight, especially if you do it in a way that does not harm your body. Safe weight loss never exceeds 2 lbs. per week – any diet that causes weight loss greater than that amount should be supervised by a doctor....

Calculating weight loss goals isn't as hard as you think. Image Credit: Image Source/Image Source/GettyImages Four months is a short period in your life as a whole. But it’s long enough that you can make a significant change in your body that may change your life permanently and for the better. But if you’re looking to lose weight in four months, be sure to do it at a safe rate to avoid regaining weight later on....

A bottle of olive oil and seasoned chicken breasts on wood. Image Credit: Katsiaryna Belaya/iStock/Getty Images Baked chicken with olive oil and seasonings is a delicious main dish. Eat it with nutritious sides such as a salads, cooked vegetables or whole-grain dishes like brown rice. Extra-virgin olive oil is the most stable cooking oil to use. Advertisement Baked Chicken With Olive Oil Are you looking for basic oven-baked chicken breast recipes?...

If you’re indulging in a delicious cookie, the last thing you want is a soft top and burned bottom. Image Credit: fcafotodigital/E+/GettyImages If you’re indulging in a delicious cookie, the last thing you want is a soft top and burned bottom. No one likes when cookies are too brown on the bottom. Some simple hacks prevent burned cookies, and make for a delicious batch every time. Advertisement Prevent Burned Cookies Several steps in the cooking process can help prevent burned cookies....

A slender woman is doing pushups. Image Credit: 4774344sean/iStock/Getty Images Anorexia nervosa, often called simply “anorexia,” is a serious psychological disorder characterized by extreme weight loss through self-starvation, and an unshakable belief that you are still fat no matter how much weight is lost. While anorexia’s physical complications can be severe, recovery is possible; many adverse effects can be reversed. Because severe dieting lowers your metabolism, if you’ve had anorexia, you may struggle with metabolism difficulties as you recover....

A slice of medium rare prime rib on a plate with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Image Credit: bhofack2/iStock/Getty Images Prime rib is the tender and flavorful meat from the rib portion of the cow. Although prime rib is one of the more expensive cuts of beef, the “prime” in the name refers to the fact that it is one of the primal cuts of beef, and not related to the USDA grading scale....

Cinnamon's chemical components are nearly water-resistant, making it almost impossible to blend cinnamon into liquids. Image Credit: Oksana Shufrich/iStock/Getty Images Cinnamon in drinks adds flavor and spice with no appreciable calories and fat. Trying to dissolve powdered cinnamon can be frustrating because it generally floats on the surface no matter how many times you stir it in. Don’t worry – it’s not just you. Cinnamon’s chemical components are nearly water-resistant, making it almost impossible to blend cinnamon into liquids....

Approach the dive with a hop-skip-step for adequate momentum. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images The front flip is a beginner-level dive that helps you build a foundation for more advanced skills. Eventually, a proficient front flip or tuck can allow you to progress to dives such as the front one-and-a-half somersault pike and the front flip with two twists. A forward facing dive capitalizes on the spring from the diving board....

Your gym should make you feel at home. If it doesn't, find a new gym. Image Credit: santypan/iStock/GettyImages One place you should always feel included — and that should welcome everyone and every body — is the spot where you choose to move your body. Advertisement "I know what it's like to walk in somewhere and have someone give you this look of like, 'Why are you here?'" says Teresa R....

Pro basketball players have large, defined muscles with low body fat. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images Professional basketball players follow a sport-specific training program to improve their performance, but the training program also builds lean muscle tissue. As a result, pro basketball players are often ripped, with large muscles and a low percentage of body fat. You can improve your muscle mass and body composition as well by following a similar training program....

Overnight oats are convenience at its best: The breakfast is healthy, quick and delicious. Image Credit: AnnaPustynnikova/iStock/GettyImages Overnight oats are an easy breakfast to enjoy during the weekdays. You can mix up a large batch and let the mixture sit and chill in the fridge so it’s ready to eat in the morning. Advertisement Having something to grab when you're on the go can help you avoid skipping breakfast, which may negatively affect your heart health, according to April 2019 research in ​The Journal of the American College of Cardiology....

A few simple daily habits can have a big effect on inflammation in the body. Image Credit: AleksandarNakic/E+/GettyImages Everyone is fired up about inflammation these days. The number of Google searches for the term quadrupled between June 2011 and June 2021, due in large part to a surge in scientific research into the role inflammation plays in causing and advancing disease. Advertisement Here's a quick recap: There are two categories of inflammation....

Pain in your armpits from pull-ups can be a sign of injury. Image Credit: Youngoldman/iStock/GettyImages Pull-ups are used to strengthen your arms, back and shoulder muscles. While you can experience a certain level of soreness after completing a strenuous exercise such as pull-ups, sharp or radiating pain in your armpits could be a sign of an injury caused by improper exercise form. Advertisement Muscles that are worked during a pull-up can wrap around your arm and under your armpit, including those that become sore or painful during the exercise....

A woman stretching her legs. Image Credit: curtis_creative/iStock/Getty Images Blood clots can occur in any vein in your body, but they most commonly develop in the deep veins of the legs. A clot that forms in this area is called a venous thrombosis and the condition is referred to as deep vein thrombosis, or DVT for short. One of the main risk factors for DVT is inactivity, so regular exercise to get the blood moving is generally recommended as part of preventing and treating a blood clot....

Enjoy the fruit as guacamole or on toast — but skip the avocado seed. Image Credit: guvendemir/iStock/GettyImages Foodies and nutritionists alike laud the mighty avocado. The nutrient-dense pulp of this fruit is both delicious and nutritious — a quintessential win-win. But what about the avocado seed or pit? Advertisement While you've likely seen people grinding the seed into a smoothie or mixing it into a salad, most experts agree that you should not eat avocado pits because they may pose some health risks....

Juicing can be a tasty and convenient alternative to help you get the nutrition you need if you are not eating enough vegetables. Image Credit: Dzevoniia/iStock/GettyImages Fruits and vegetables are essential to a healthy diet. Yet, only a tenth of people consume enough of them. Regardless of the way you choose to eat your vegetables, what’s most important is making sure they’re a part of your diet. Both juicing and eating raw vegetables have important pros and cons....

The best ab workouts focus on strengthening your entire core, not just your "six-pack muscles." Image Credit: spyderskidoo/E+/GettyImages In This Article What Makes the Best Ab Workout? The Most Effective Exercises Building a Workout Routine Are Crunches Good or Bad? How Do You Get a Six-Pack Fast? Carving an enviable six-pack isn't an easy feat — which is too bad, because it seems nearly everyone wants a defined set of abs....