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Pumpkin benefits include provides a number of essential nutrients such as iron and calcium, and vitamins A and C. Image Credit: istetiana/Moment/GettyImages Pumpkin benefits include providing a number of essential nutrients, such as iron and calcium and vitamins A and C, according to the USDA. Pumpkin contains carbohydrates, so it can raise your blood sugar. Advertisement While it is not on the list of diabetes superfoods, pumpkin nevertheless contains a number of substances that can help minimize its effect on blood sugar, so pumpkin for diabetes could be beneficial....

Diet for Soft Stools Image Credit: RUNSTUDIO/Photodisc/GettyImages You may not give much thought to your bowel movements until you’re experiencing a problem. Whether dealing with stool that’s too soft or loose or trying to soften your stools if you experience constipation, what you eat or don’t eat may help ease symptoms. Consult your doctor before making changes to your diet if you have irregular bowel movements. Advertisement Foods to Improve Soft Stools If you’re having diarrhea, with frequent soft, loose or watery stools, making changes to your diet may help....

Flaxseed oil can be an additional source of calories if you're trying to gain weight. Image Credit: yokeetod/iStock/Getty Images If you’re trying to gain weight, flaxseed oil provides you with essential fatty acids as well as additional calories. Flaxseed comes from the pressed seeds of the flax plant, and you can add it to smoothies, drizzle it on top of cereal or mix it into a salad dressing. Avoid cooking with flaxseed oil, though, as heat destroys the healthful essential fatty acids and could actually make them toxic....

Ditch unwanted belly fat with incline walking. Image Credit: YakobchukOlena/iStock/GettyImages Working out your stomach doesn’t have to entail doing sit-ups or crunches. You can also walk uphill or hop on an incline treadmill to lose belly fat and improve your core. Advertisement Two types of abdominal fat exist — subcutaneous fat is the type of fat that is visible, while visceral fat is the dangerous fat that surrounds the organs, according to Harvard Health....

If you want to build running endurance, jumping rope on a regular basis can help. Image Credit: Innocenti/Image Source/GettyImages You can improve your running endurance by implementing cross-training into your workout regimen. Jumping rope is an effective way to build your running endurance and strengthen the muscles that you use while running without your joints bearing as much impact. Advertisement While it may feel exhausting at first, consistent jump roping will improve your strength, endurance and coordination over time....

Herbal teas like rooibos tea do not contain the same ingredients as black or green tea. Real tea all comes from the same plant. Whether green, black, oolong or white, all real teas come from the Camellia sinensis plant. Rooibos tea, sometimes called red tea, does not come from Camellia sinensis and does not contain the same ingredients as non-herbal teas. Specifically, red tea does not contain tannins, which are the ingredients in Camellia sinensis tea that interfere with iron absorption....

Dark chocolate and cacao on spoon Image Credit: Jacek Nowak/iStock/Getty Images Dove chocolates, the brainchild of Greek immigrant, Leo Stefanos, made its debut in 1939 as the “Dove Bar,” an ice cream pop enveloped in a luxurious silky chocolate coating. In 1986, according to Dovechocolate.com, M&M/Mars acquired Dove and expanded into the extensive line of chocolates now available in many forms. One product, dark chocolate, has joined the ranks of a few foods known to combat free-radicals, those elements of the body that have a strong association with a number of diseases....

Building your abs and chest muscles takes hard work and consistency. Image Credit: vm/E+/GettyImages Achieving a six pack takes work, sacrifice and dedication. Couple this with the fact that you want to build your pecs, and you’ll need to increase your effort even more. That doesn’t mean you can’t pull it off, though. You just have to follow the right game plan. Advertisement Not only do you have to exercise, but you have to be strategic about it....

Frozen spinach Image Credit: Santje09/iStock/Getty Images Spinach is a versatile green that is high in essential nutrients. One 1/2-cup serving of frozen spinach has 20 calories, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 3 grams of protein and several vitamins and minerals. Though you may purchase fresh spinach for salads, frozen spinach works best with casseroles, sautes, soups and warm, cooked foods. Frozen spinach is usually the flat- or smooth-leaf type, which has unwrinkled, spade-shaped leaves and a milder taste than savory varieties....

Historians point to the first Olympics in 776 B.C. in Greece as the birth of track and field. Since then, the sport of track has evolved and emerged as the standard bearer of running excellence, from the 50-meter race to the 26.2-mile marathon, along with the field events of jumping, throwing and vaulting, all of which make up the Decathlon. From its origins at the Greek Olympics to its establishment within collegiate ranks; a worldwide, professional circuit; and now a regular varsity sport for youth school teams, track and field is a mainstay in the sports world....

Talk to your doctor before cutting out certain foods and going on a low-oxalate diet. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages In This Article Does Alkaline Matter? Low-Oxalate, High-Alkaline Foods Low-Oxalate Vegetables Low-Oxalate Fruits Low-Oxalate Proteins Low-Oxalate Grains Get Rid of Oxalates Low-Oxalate Diet Risks Oxalates are compounds found in many foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts. They're also naturally produced by the body. Advertisement The problem: Oxalates can bind to calcium and other minerals in the gut, preventing their absorption and compounding to create solid masses in the kidneys, aka kidney stones....

Hot peppers growing on a plant. Image Credit: Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images Hot peppers, including jalapenos, habaneros and ghost peppers, are a tasty addition to many recipes, and many people enjoy eating them plain. While this vegetable is a nutritious option for your meal plan, hot peppers may also have advantages and disadvantages for your stomach. Consult your health care provider about the benefits and problems associated with hot peppers. Advertisement Gastric Ulcers Gastric ulcers, also called peptic ulcers, occur on the inside of your stomach and can cause quite a bit of pain....

Squats are a type of exercise known as calisthenics. Image Credit: Mike Powell/Digital Vision/Getty Images As one of the more popular body-weight exercises you can do, the squat works your abs, butt, hips, calves, shins and thighs, according to the American Council on Exercise. But maybe you’re more curious about squats and the calories they burn rather than muscles they work. Advertisement The good news is that most experts agree squats are every bit as good for torching calories as they are for building strength....

The number of calories burned gardening is similar to walking at a brisk pace. Image Credit: Kathrin Ziegler/DigitalVision/GettyImages Doing yard work may not be on your list of exercises to burn calories, but perhaps it should be. Depending on how much you weigh and the type of work you do, you can burn a decent amount of yard work calories every hour. Advertisement The harder you work, the more calories you burn when gardening, digging, raking leaves or doing other yard care activities....

The number of push ups a 14 year old depends on gender. Image Credit: Steven Errico/DigitalVision/GettyImages A 14-year-old has school, games, friends, chores and after-school activities to worry about — how many push-ups he can do isn’t usually a primary focus. However, if the teen wants to know how he stands up to his peers or how his commitment to sports practice is paying off, it’s fun to test push-up prowess....

Jump rope is a great aerobic exercise. Image Credit: bernardbodo/iStock/GettyImages Are you a jump rope-spinning fan or more of a leisurely skipper? No matter what your jump rope workout looks like, there’s no denying that this deceptively simple exercise can really put your heart and lungs to work. Ultimately, how much you should jump rope every day depends on what sort of benefits you want. Advertisement Tip To get the best rope-skipping benefits for your health, aim to jump rope at a moderate intensity for at least half an hour, five days a week....

Adding pulses or isometric holds to an exercise exhausts your muscles quickly, which builds endurance and strength. Image Credit: twinsterphoto/iStock/GettyImages Whether you want to build muscle, endurance or power, making tweaks to your exercise routine can make a big difference. The good news? You don’t even have to spend money on buying heavier dumbbells (or other weights) to increase the intensity of your exercises. Advertisement Adding new elements into your workout is important, as it helps prevent plateaus and exercise boredom....

Baking drumsticks in the oven on properly prepared cookware ensures the meat doesn’t stick to the dish. Lubrication methods vary depending on whether you use cookware with a nonstick finish or one without. Preventing the drumsticks from touching keeps them from sticking together, while turning the drumsticks and watching the cooking time closely can prevent pieces from burning or sticking to the cookware. Step 1 Line the cookware with a piece of parchment paper or coat the sheet lightly, but evenly with olive oil or nonstick cooking spray so the drumsticks do not stick to the pan when baking....

The number of calories that you need to eat to maintain your weight depends on many different factors. Image Credit: Arx0nt/Moment/GettyImages The number of maintenance calories you need daily depends on your age, sex, weight and activity levels, and whether your goal is to lose, gain or maintain weight. Finding your individual needs will help you find the calorie level you need to maintain your weight. Advertisement Maintenance calories are, in theory, the level of calories you take in to remain the same weight, and the calculation is based on something called your resting metabolic rate (RMR), and your total daily energy expenditure (TDEE)....

Cooking sausage patties is fairly easy. Image Credit: catinsyrup/iStock/GettyImages Cooking sausage patties is fairly easy. Whether you’re dealing with a standard pork-based breakfast sausage, or something like chicken or turkey, the process is the same. Advertisement Breakfast Sausage Patties Nutrition In terms of breakfast sausage patties nutrition, a lot will depend on the type of meat used. Many sausages use sodium nitrate as a preservative. According to the Mayo Clinic, sodium nitrate may increase your heart disease risk, as it’s thought to damage your blood vessels and may affect how your body uses sugar....