An initial weight gain is normal when starting an exercise program. Image Credit: Maya23K/iStock/GettyImages There are several reasons for weight gain when starting an exercise program. Your body goes through a transition period that can initially lead to a higher number on the scale due to water weight. This is only temporary, so you can continue to work out to get leaner and build lean mass. Advertisement Gaining Weight Despite Working Out?...
Grape-based vinegars offer a wide array of medicinal benefits. From the French for "sour wine," vinegar includes a diverse family of culinary products produced through the process of fermentation. In the Western world, the most widely consumed vinegars are derived from grapes and apples. Grape-based vinegars come in several varieties--balsamic, red wine and white wine, for example--and offer distinctive properties that broaden their usefulness to applications well outside the kitchen. Check with your doctor before beginning any regimen of self-treatment....
Plain chicken can be transformed into delicious international dishes. Image Credit: SStajic/iStock/GettyImages You can’t go wrong with chicken — it’s nutritious, lean and high in protein. It also happens to be super versatile: It can take on almost any international flavor, from Asian to South American. Advertisement While there's nothing wrong with a simple poultry dish, such as grilled or baked chicken breast with some fresh herbs and lemon, you can easily make the bird the star with recipes that feature different spices and sauces from around the world....
Brussels sprouts are a great high carb low calorie food. Image Credit: AniHobel/iStock/GettyImages Planning what meals to eat is a fantastic way to ensure you’re getting your desired caloric intake along with plenty of beneficial nutrients. If you’re looking to hit your macros while lowering calories, add some low-calorie, high-carb foods to your rotation. Advertisement Read more: The Effects of a High-Carb Diet Video of the Day What Are High-Carb Foods?...
Three teenagers walking down a sidewalk with gym bags. Image Credit: John Moore/Getty Images News/Getty Images It’s no longer unusual to see 14-year-old boys with overweight. Obesity affects more than 18 percent of those ages 12 to 19 – a three-fold increase over the past 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, it’s possible for a 14-year-old boy to lose weight safely and even somewhat easily through a combination of diet and exercise....
Check with your doctor before taking niacin pills. Niacin flush is caused when the capillaries become dilated and blood flow increases causing a warming sensation and reddening of the skin. This typically occurs within 20 to 30 minutes after niacin has been taken and usually only lasts a few minutes. Niacin flush diminishes naturally the longer a person takes niacin, however there are some suggested techniques to greatly reduce the frequency and severity of flushing....
An hour of chatting can burn calories. Image Credit: Ingram Publishing/Ingram Publishing/Getty Images Caloric burn is determined by multiple factors. Metabolic demands indicate how many calories are burned to support organ and physical health. Any additional caloric burn is determined by age, weight and activity. Even sedentary activities, such as talking, boast a surprisingly substantial caloric burn. Advertisement Significance of Gender Males and females burn calories at a different metabolic rate....
Roast pork in a red yeast rice paste on a plate. Image Credit: Kai_Wong/iStock/Getty Images Red yeast rice naturally contains compounds similar to those found in statin drugs, which are commonly prescribed to treat high cholesterol. Statins can interfere with levels of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a nutrient vital for heart and muscle health. Low levels might also exacerbate certain symptoms associated with these treatments. Because of their similarity, some concern exists that red yeast rice could also alter CoQ10 levels, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center....
You can't get ripped eating a bad diet. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages If you envy the physiques of male and female fitness models in magazines and on Instagram, you may have decided to try to get ripped muscles yourself. The first thing you should know about getting ripped is that it’s not easy. It takes hard work and dedication, a low body-fat percentage and often rigid diet and lifestyle changes. It also takes a commitment to spending a lot of time exercising....
One cup of cooked oatmeal, or just about one-half cup measured dry, has nearly 6 grams of protein. Image Credit: Arx0nt/iStock/GettyImages Many people know the benefits of oats for energizing carbohydrates and fiber to start their day. But amazingly, oats and oatmeal are also a great source of natural protein for people looking to boost their protein intake without extra meat. Advertisement Tip One cup of cooked oatmeal, or just about one-half cup measured dry, has nearly 6 grams of protein....
Fresh cabbage growing in a garden. Image Credit: YuriyS/iStock/Getty Images Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits near your vocal cords and produces the T3 and T4 hormones that control your metabolism. To make these hormones, your body uses iodine – about 80 percent of the iodine you consume is used by your thyroid. If your diet is deficient in iodine, or you have an underactive thyroid, known as hypothyroidism, eating raw cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage can further suppress your thyroid hormone function....
A man has an injured calf muscle. Image Credit: Martinan/iStock/Getty Images The calf muscles play an important role in sports and fitness, enabling you to propel yourself forward and upward. A tear in the calf muscle, also called a strain or rupture, can be painful and debilitating. Depending on the severity, complete recovery from a calf muscle tear can take anywhere from a few days to several months. Advertisement Calf Muscle Anatomy and Function Although it’s referred to as a single muscle, your calf is really two muscles located in the backs of your lower legs....
Chocolate brownies on a cutting board. Image Credit: badmanproduction/iStock/Getty Images Baking brownies in a slow cooker such as a Crock-Pot frees up your oven. It also allows you to make a fix-and-forget dessert via the same technique that allows you to prepare roasts and stews with little muss and fuss. Crock-Pot brownies feature a gooey center, similar to chocolate lava cake, and a crunchy crust. Spooned into a pretty bowl and topped with a scoop of ice cream, Crock-Pot brownies are an elegant and tasty dessert....
To make tender baked pork chops at home, ensure that your meat is not too thin. Image Credit: EasyBuy4u/E+/GettyImages Tender baked pork chops are a tasty, protein-packed meat — and relatively easy to make. Slow-cooker pork chops are an easy, hands-off option, or you can slow bake pork in a regular oven or convection oven. Advertisement Tip To make tender baked pork chops at home, ensure that your meat is not too thin (at least 1 inch thick)....
Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative In This Article Instructions Benefits Tips Variations and Alternatives There are a few things a lot of us do in our day-to-day lives: We spend a good chunk of our day hunched over a screen of some sort, and our workouts generally involve a lot of pushing exercises. Advertisement In other words, the muscles on the back of your body probably don't get much attention. And that's exactly why you need to add the face pull to your exercise arsenal....
With a few expert tips, you can adopt a plant-based diet on a budget and get your health in check. Image Credit: byakkaya/E+/GettyImages If you want to support your health and our planet’s at the same time, eating less red meat and more fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes is a good place to start. Advertisement If your goal is to eat a diet rich in plant foods and fewer animal-based foods, the EAT-Lancet Commission lays out recommendations for a global, plant-based food plan to simultaneously improve human health worldwide and double down on environmental sustainability....
Lower body exercises, like squats and lunges, can build up your hips and butt. Image Credit: Idea Images/DigitalVision/Getty Images While everyone is born with a genetically determined body type – for example, a pear, apple or banana shape – lifestyle modifications like diet and exercise can slightly change the shape of your physique. Tweaking your diet to gain weight and filling out your frame with muscle tissue can give you a curvier appearance, though exactly how curvy you’ll look at the end depends on your underlying body type....
Follow these chef-recommended step-by-step instructions for how to cook a turkey on a gas grill. Image Credit: bhofack2/iStock/GettyImages Image Credit: bhofack2/iStock/GettyImages Defrosting Food Safety Preparing the Grill How to Grill the Turkey Grilling Time Do not stuff a turkey that you plan on grilling, per the USDA. Propane Drip pan (or aluminum pan) Water Wood chips (optional) Aluminum foil (optional) Grill box (optional) You’ll be cooking the turkey using indirect — not direct — heat....
Grilled tuna steak is a quick take on gourmet food. Image Credit: gkrphoto/iStock/Getty Images Fresh tuna steaks are a luxurious treat and a quick, easy choice for a weeknight dinner, especially if you have a gas grill. Fresh tuna looks a bit like rare beef with a color ranging from pale pink to deep reddish. Skip steaks that look dried out or have brown spots. Pair your tuna with a simple salad and a few seasonings to put together dinner in minutes....
Fruits, such as strawberries, are rich in brain-supporting vitamin C. Image Credit: SeventyFour/iStock/GettyImages While there’s no single thing that’ll keep your mind sharp, certain factors — such as diet — can make a big splash when it comes to building better brainpower. Advertisement Specifically, eating the right type of nutrients may help protect cognitive function well into your golden years (at the same time, not getting enough nutrients can hinder brain health)....
