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A spoonful of sprouted lentils. Image Credit: michelepautasso/iStock/Getty Images Adding legumes, such as lentils, to your diet offers health benefits. The Linus Pauling Institute notes that legume consumption correlates with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Both dried and sprouted lentils boost your legume intake. Sprouted lentils offer more caloric bang for your buck, because each cup contains just 82 calories, while a calorie-matched serving of dried lentils is just 2 tablespoons, which expands to roughly one-third cup when cooked....

Research suggesting hormonal birth control limits your ability to build muscle is preliminary at best. Image Credit: Isabel Pavia/Moment/GettyImages You’re progressing in your strength training by gradually increasing variables like reps and sets, but you keep hitting a plateau that feels endless. Could your birth control pills be the reason? Advertisement Older research has suggested hormonal birth control could interfere with muscle mass, but it often left lifters with more questions than answers....

Foods rich in iron, vitamin B12 and folate support red blood cell production. Image Credit: Tatiana Volgutova/iStock/GettyImages Red blood cells, or RBCs, transport oxygen taken in when you inhale to your organs and tissues. They also carry the metabolic byproduct carbon dioxide to the lungs, where the gas is expelled when you exhale. RBCs survive in your circulation system for approximately 120 days. Advertisement Your bone marrow continually produces new RBCs to replace those that have reached the end of their natural life span....

Running is a great exercise for 13 year old boys. Image Credit: SolStock/iStock/GettyImages Exercise is vital for 13-year-old boys for both physical and mental development. It is important to encourage physical activity at this age because it can turn into a habit that will last a lifetime. Advertisement Sports can be a great way for a young teen to get enough physical exercise each day, as they are interactive, fun and social....

Keep these healthy bean-based dinner recipes in your back pocket for busy weeknights. Image Credit: bhofack2/iStock/GettyImages If you have a can of beans in your cupboard, you’ve got the start of a scrumptious, salubrious supper. Advertisement A great source of filling protein and gut-healthy fiber, beans will satiate your stomach for hours and provide the perfect foundation for a plant-based diet, Amy Gorin, RDN, a plant-based dietitian in the New York City area, tells LIVESTRONG....

The amount of steps per day you should take varies, and it should be more about quality than quantity. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative The Daily Steps Challenge helps keep you committed to walking more throughout your day. Click here for all the details on the challenge. At this point, the directive to walk 10,000 steps a day is as much of a wellness mantra as “drink more water” or “eat your vegetables....

Pork spare ribs should be cooked slowly. Image Credit: Claudia Totir/Moment/GettyImages Boiling pork spare ribs before placing them on the grill or in the oven gives you more control over the cooking temperature. This helps ensure the ribs will be tender and juicy. Boiling not only shortens the cooking time but makes the meat easier to chew and digest. Advertisement Tip One way to tenderize pork spare ribs is to boil them, which should take about one and a half hours per pound of meat — or less for boneless ribs....

A farmer holding soy beans after a harvest. Image Credit: fotokostic/iStock/Getty Images When you consider what it takes to transform soybeans into a meat analogue – protein isolation, fiber removal and curd formation – you can appreciate the versatility and convenience it offers. You have to treat soya meat like a starch when you cook it. As with starches, too much liquid absorption causes soy protein’s cells to collapse. Prolonged contact with heat weakens cell structure, also resulting in collapse, or “turning mushy....

During dumbbell deadlifts, keeping the weights close to your body helps you target your glutes and hamstrings while taking any stress out of your lower back. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com In This Article Exercise Form Benefits Common Mistakes Best Variations Contrary to popular belief (or perhaps your social media feed), you don't need a super heavy barbell to build a strong body with deadlifts. A pair of dumbbells works perfectly fine — and offers more benefits than you might think....

A bowl of oats topped with berries. Image Credit: Almaje/iStock/Getty Images Oats are a healthy diet staple for many good reasons — they’re affordable, endlessly customizable and packed with nutrients like healthy carbs and fiber. They’re also a great option when you’re trying to lose weight, so you should incorporate them into your weight-loss diet at least a few times a week. How you serve your oats can have a big impact on the benefits of oats for weight loss though; stick to flavorings that add nutritional value and promote fat loss, and avoid sugary or fatty toppings that add lots of calories....

references & resources MedlinePlus: Dietary Fiber Bon Appetit: Wheat Bran Recipes Food Network: Mint Marinated Grilled Shrimp Tabbouleh Salad There are so many ways to eat wheat bran, just don't cook it like oatmeal. Image Credit: -lvinst-/iStock/GettyImages Image Credit: -lvinst-/iStock/GettyImages Baking Cooking Other Ways to Use It There are so many wheat bran benefits to take advantage of. Fiber, a nutrient in wheat bran, helps prevent constipation and may help treat conditions like diabetes and heart disease, according to the National Library of Medicine....

There are plenty of high-protein fish you can add to your diet for more important nutrients. Image Credit: Adam Calaitzis/iStock/GettyImages If you want to add more lean protein to your plate, look no further than fish. While salmon often steals the spotlight, there’s literally an ocean of other fish options that serve up this muscle-building macro, along with additional vitamins and minerals. Advertisement Getting more of your protein from seafood is also a smart health strategy....

Man doing pullups Image Credit: dolgachov/iStock/Getty Images The reverse-grip pull down, more often called the reverse-grip “lat” pull down, is an exercise that targets the back and biceps. It’s performed on a pull-down machine, which you’ll find in gyms or health clubs. Alternative exercises for the reverse-grip pull down work the same muscles but don’t require such expensive equipment. Advertisement The Basics Lat pull downs primarily work the latissimus dorsi muscles, or “lats....

The appropriate heart rate you should have during an exercise depends on your expectations from your workout. Image Credit: Jacob Ammentorp Lund/iStock/Getty Images When you exercise, your heart rate rises due to the heavier work load as well as the increased energy and oxygen consumption by your muscles. Your exercise heart rate is affected by your exercise intensity as well as your physique and age. The typical exercise heart rate should be between 50 and 90 percent of your maximum heart rate....

During the early phases of the Atkins diet, you'll need to restrict many foods (including grains, fruits and sugar), but as time passes, you'll be able to add some of these foods back in. Image Credit: OlgaMiltsova/iStock/GettyImages The Atkins diet is a popular low-carb eating program that originated in the 1960s, according to the Mayo Clinic. Because this diet restricts carbohydrates, you’ll need to scrupulously track what you eat so you don’t exceed your daily limit....

Baked fish on a plate Image Credit: Jarvna/iStock/Getty Images L-arginine and L-ornithine, or simply arginine and ornithine, are two amino acids that share a lot in common in spite of one significant difference. Like most amino acids, arginine helps build proteins. Ornithine, on the other hand, doesn’t participate in protein synthesis. Your body relies on both amino acids to function properly, and they work together – as well as separately – to ensure your health....

A veggie burger is a tasty way to cut calories and saturated fat. Image Credit: hobo_018/E+/GettyImages Choosing a veggie burger instead of the standard cheeseburger is an easy way to improve your overall diet the next time you go through the drive-through. Red meat, like beef and pork, contains high amounts of saturated fat that can raise your LDL cholesterol and increase your risk of heart disease. Fortunately, chains like McDonald’s have started to provide healthier options....

Some mental health professionals offer a sliding scale when it comes to costs, so be sure to ask your provider if they can better meet your needs. Image Credit: stefanamer/iStock/GettyImages Working with a mental health professional can be an enlightening and transformative experience. But the process of finding the right therapist can sometimes be discouraging, especially when it comes to costs. Advertisement Fortunately, there are some modern approaches to seeking support that are less costly than traditional therapy....

A man and woman take a walk. Image Credit: Michael Blann/Photodisc/Getty Images Walking, even at a low intensity, is a great way to get active, burn calories, and start working towards the ultimate goal of losing weight and slimming down your waistline. Especially if you are just starting to workout, walking can provide tremendous health benefits that get you started with your weight loss journey. Advertisement Impact Walking for 30 minutes at a time or more is an effective way to start increasing your metabolism and burning calories....

A pharmacy technician will prepare your order for prescription-strength Prilosec. Prilosec, a brand name for the drug omeprazole, is available both over the counter and in a higher-strength prescription form. Prilosec is used to treat disorders involving stomach acid, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, known as GERD, and frequent heartburn. Although you can take Prilosec with most types of magnesium, it can cause problems with one type of magnesium medication. Advertisement Prilosec Prilosec is a proton-pump inhibitor that decreases production of stomach acid....