A regular biking routine, whether on roads, mountain trails or inside your local gym, can help you tone and strengthen your calf muscles. Image Credit: zimmytws/iStock/Getty Images If you’ve ever noticed the chiseled legs of pro cyclists, you have some idea of the impact biking has on leg musculature. A regular biking routine, whether on roads, mountain trails or inside your local gym, can help you tone and strengthen your calf muscles....
Push-ups are a fantastic exercise, but they shouldn't be the only exercise in your routine. Image Credit: Luis Alvarez/DigitalVision/GettyImages Push-ups are a great exercise to strengthen your arms and chest, but can you really build muscle mass with a workout consisting only of this exercise? Fitness experts weigh in on the best way to exercise your upper body to gain muscle and strength. Advertisement Muscle-Building Benefits of Push-Ups Combining the core and upper-body strengthening of both a plank and a bench press, push-ups have many benefits....
The calcium and lactic acid in milk softens tough muscle fibers. Image Credit: olgakr/iStock/Getty Images Marinating tough beef in acid makes it more tender, but there are alternatives to acid that work just as well. Harsh acids like those in lemon juice and vinegar can actually dry out the meat and leach flavor from it. Milk and buttermilk are traditional marinades in Southern cuisine, and Indian cooking often starts with a yogurt marinade....
Eggs are easier (and probably tastier) to eat when they are cooked. Image Credit: StephanieFrey/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Risks Benefits The Bottom Line When you're looking for a quick, inexpensive source of protein, eggs are there to provide. But despite the old wives' tale, drinking them raw isn't necessarily good for you. Advertisement For one, you run the risk of getting infected with the salmonella bacteria, which can cause serious illness....
The elliptical trainer might be your go-to piece of gym equipment for a sweaty cardio workout — and for good reason: It gets your heart pumping with less impact than the treadmill. But like any workout, small mistakes could cost you big fitness gains. The elliptical trainer offers a great cardio workout — if you avoid these mistakes. Image Credit: rustycanuck/iStock/GettyImages Here, experts explain the most common elliptical errors, so you can tweak your bad habits and make the most of your elliptical training....
Climbing stairs is one of the best workouts for your butt. Image Credit: valentinrussanov/E+/GettyImages Despite the band Queen’s take on the female derriere, some people might prefer to have a small tush. This is particularly true if the glute muscles are mostly covered in a pillowy, protective layer of fat. It might allow you to sit comfortably and cushion you for hard landings, but when there’s too much of good thing, you may want to take action with a smaller butt workout....
Walking and yoga are two workouts that can help reduce bloating. Image Credit: SolStock/E+/GettyImages Whether you ate a high-fat, high-sodium meal, drank a soda full of carbonation and artificial sugar or are simply prone to stomach troubles, bloating is no walk in the park. But a walk in the park may be just what you need to help alleviate that discomfort. Advertisement Although exact symptoms and sources of relief will vary from person to person, exercise can help promote gas release and healthy digestion for most people....
Beer and other alcoholic beverages can aggravate stomach ulcers. Image Credit: VisualCommunications/iStock/GettyImages Bouts of recurring stomach pain lasting minutes to hours, between meals or at night, are telltale signs of a stomach ulcer, notes the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). But what triggers it? And if you have an ulcer, is alcohol your friend or foe? Advertisement Understanding Ulcers Roughly four million Americans have peptic ulcer disease, the American Gastroenterological Association notes....
If you love Gatorade thirst quenchers but don't want to drink as much sugar every time you rehydrate, the Gatorade G2 drink might be for you. Image Credit: djiledesign/iStock/GettyImages If you love Gatorade thirst quenchers but don’t want to drink so much sugar every time you rehydrate, the Gatorade G2 drink might be for you. This lower-sugar version provides a similar electrolyte balance as the original, but replaces some sugar with artificial sweeteners....
Certain core exercises and breathing techniques for weightlifting can cause you to fart while working out. Image Credit: Ridofranz/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Causes of Exercise Gas Should I Be Worried? How to Stop Exercise Farts If you hit the gym often enough, you're bound to have an embarrassing moment. Think: falling off a treadmill, dropping a dumbbell or goofing up the choreography in a group fitness class. But nothing tops the red-in-the-face feeling you get when a fart slips out mid-squat....
Avoid fatty foods such as pizza. Image Credit: DiAnna Paulk/iStock/GettyImages If you have had your gallbladder removed, you may notice some changes in your digestion and you will need to alter your diet. Find out which foods to avoid after gallbladder surgery, as well as foods to incorporate into your diet to help you heal and feel your best. Advertisement Tip You will need to avoid fatty foods for a few months after gallbladder surgery, but most people can slowly add them back in to their diet....
There are several free online weight loss programs. Image Credit: eternalcreative/iStock/GettyImages With all the diet books and programs vying for your attention and money, wouldn’t it be nice if there was reliable information that could truly help you slim down, for free? You are in luck because there are free weight loss plans on the web. Advertisement Finding them can sometimes be a little tricky because "free" online weight loss programs can be marketing ploys to get you in the door....
Your post workout nutrition is just as important as your exercise. Image Credit: bymuratdeniz/iStock/GettyImages While the time you spend in the gym plays a crucial role in muscle building, the fuel you put in your body is just as important. Advertisement If you're looking to increase strength and stay lean, you should eat 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight and aim to get about 25 grams of protein per meal, according to an April 2015 review published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition....
These five no-fuss salsa recipes — from a kimchi salsa recipe to an avocado salsa — will spice up your dip game. Image Credit: John Lawson/Moment/GettyImages There’s nothing tastier than salsa prepared from garden-fresh ingredients. So, why crack open a jar when you can make your own? Sure, the store-bought stuff is convenient, but homemade salsa — with a handful of veggies and aromatic spices — is simple to make, too....
The number of calories in a bowl of miso soup depends on what you add to it and how big your portion size is, but if you're only eating the broth, it's generally low in calories. Image Credit: Mizina/iStock/GettyImages Miso soup boasts a combination of flavors that merge to give you a taste of umami. This savory, meaty flavor can be obtained by mixing sweet, bitter, sour and salty flavorings. But you can also get this distinctive aroma by combining vegetables — that’s the case with miso soup....
Using a calorie-tracking app is an easy way to make sure you're hitting your calorie goals each day. Image Credit: OKrasyuk/iStock/GettyImages Your body weight depends on a simple equation: Weight change equals calories in minus calories out. Burn as many calories as you take in and your weight will remain the same. Factors such as genetics, metabolism and behavior make it difficult to accurately predict a person’s calorie requirements, but simple formulas can provide useful estimates....
Swordfish are saltwater fish that are found in tropical and temperate waters worldwide. They have a thick, oily fillet that stands up well to high heat, making them the ideal fish to grill or broil. Wrapping swordfish fillets in foil will keep them moist, as well as help them self-baste in any sauce or seasonings that you have included with the fish. Be careful to use butter or oil sparingly to prevent adding unnecessary fat and calories to an otherwise healthy meal....
Most chickens sold in American supermarkets are slaughtered when very young and tender, to provide the greatest possible versatility in cooking. The only problem with this practice is that the birds are rather bland, because they haven’t lived long enough to develop a strong chicken flavor. That’s not the case with stewing chickens – larger older hens and roosters that have lived long, full chicken lives. Although they’re too tough for many popular recipes, their rich flavor makes them perfect for soups and stews....
A close-up of a spatula picking up scrambled eggs and sardines out of a pan. Image Credit: Szakaly/iStock/Getty Images The Monterey Bay Aquarium has placed sardines on its Super Green fish list, which includes only seafood with low levels of contaminants, less than 216 parts per billion, and those that offer at least 250 milligrams of omega-3s. Boneless, skinless sardines offer 24.59 grams of protein and are high in selenium, calcium and vitamin B12....
Frying frozen tuna steaks in a skillet is a great way to give your fish some flavor. Image Credit: da-kuk/E+/GettyImages Trader Joe’s frozen section is a boon for seafood lovers with a wide variety of shellfish and fin fish. At 38 grams of protein per 4.5 ounce serving and a good dose of omega-3 fatty acids, tuna steaks are a nutrition-packed find for those looking for a mild but firm-textured fish....
