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The slow cooker can easily concoct healthy recipes that pack in protein, good fats and fiber. Image Credit: littleclie/iStock/GettyImages It’s no secret that the trusty slow cooker is a total time and energy saver — you can just dump in your ingredients, head out the door and then come home to a hot meal. And that can seriously come in handy during cold winter days. Advertisement A good rule of thumb for cooking up a healthy slow-cooker meal is to make sure it has lean protein, healthy fat and fiber-rich carbohydrates....

Andes mints are a go-to after-dinner mint for many people. Image Credit: Aleksandra Dymochkina /iStock/GettyImages Andes is best known for its bite-sized after-dinner mints. Each foil-wrapped creme de menthe candy consists of a green, mint filling sandwiched by two thin layers of chocolate. Andes thin candies also include Mint Parfait, Cherry Jubilee, Peppermint Crunch, Mint Cookie Crunch and Toffee Crunch. Advertisement Calories Each serving of Andes Thin Candies consists of two pieces candies....

Eating a balanced diet including evenly distributed calories at each meal promotes a healthy lifestyle and can assist in weight loss. Image Credit: wmaster890/iStock/GettyImages Whether you’re looking to lose pounds or simply manage your weight, a calorie calculator is helpful in determining a good amount of calories for lunch. Average lunch calories are dependent on both your diet and level of activity. Advertisement Tip Eating a balanced diet including evenly distributed calories at each meal promotes a healthy lifestyle and can assist in weight loss....

Men workout on treadmills in the gym Image Credit: Mark Bowden/iStock/Getty Images You may hope to burn off a pound in a day, but an attempt to burn 3,500 calories all at once on a regular basis is not healthy. Depending on your size and speed, it could take anywhere from 3 to 10 hours, or 180 to 600 minutes, on the treadmill to burn all those calories. A marathon session like this isn’t good for your body, and can be downright dangerous....

For most people, a twice-weekly, full-body strength-training workout gives you the most benefit. Image Credit: Mikolette/E+/GettyImages When it comes to exercise, more isn’t always better — and that’s especially true when it comes to lifting weights. Yes, you do need to continue to challenge yourself to improve; but no, you don’t need to lift weights with the same muscle group every day. In fact, you shouldn’t — because your body gets stronger during the rest periods between workouts, not during the workout itself....

A small pineapple cake on a plate. Image Credit: Lesyy/iStock/Getty Images Marketed to save you time and space, the NuWave oven has the ability to cook any part of your meal, from appetizer to dessert. This appliance is approximately the same size as a large food processor unit and is made to sit on your countertop in a similar fashion. The NuWave oven is promoted as a way to get dinner on your table in a jiffy and with an easy cleanup, but you can also purchase an additional baking set that allows you to cook some yummy dessert items, including cakes....

Cannellini beans are large, white Italian beans that have a creamy texture when cooked. Enjoy cooked cannellini beans in chili, soups, stews or bean salads. Use canned cannellini beans, which are already cooked, when you are in a hurry, or save money by cooking your own dried beans. You can soak your beans overnight, or do a quick soak method to speed things along. Dried beans cook easily on the stove, with little attention required....

Put one part rolled oats and three parts water into the slow cooker. Image Credit: Arx0nt/iStock/GettyImages Cooking rolled oats in a crock pot yields a creamy, delectable porridge that makes for a decadent breakfast. Even though it takes just 10 minutes to cook old-fashioned oat on the stove top, giving them 8 hours in a slow cooker is worth it. Advertisement Tip Put one part rolled oats and three parts water into the slow cooker....

At any temperature, water may help you lose weight. Image Credit: Magnascan/iStock/Getty Images You don’t need to be a nutritionist or a personal trainer to know that cutting excess calories from your diet while increasing your activity level is the basic formula for successful weight loss. Although exercise makes you stronger and boosts your metabolism, your dietary habits can have an even greater effect on your waistline. Choose water rather than caloric beverages of any kind, and especially avoid drinks high in sugar....

Tree pose is an intermediate balancing pose, but you can tailor it to fit what feels good for you. Image Credit: Natalia Tabilo/LIVESTRONG.com The 30-Day Yoga Challenge progresses from foundational poses to more complex asanas with variations and modifications for every body. Get all the details on the challenge here. Once you feel comfortable with child’s pose and corpse pose (that deceptively simple-looking asana that calls for full-body awareness while quieting your mind), you might be wondering what’s next on your yoga journey....

Toss a third of an avocado into your morning smoothie for extra creaminess and longevity-supporting nutrients. Image Credit: Oscar Wong/Moment/GettyImages They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what about an avocado? Turns out, incorporating this fantastic fruit (yes, avocado is technically a fruit) into your daily diet can support your health today, tomorrow and in the long term. Advertisement Here, Phyllis Famularo, DCN, RD, CSG, a dietitian with a specialty in gerontology, explains why eating avocado is amazing for longevity (good news for you guac lovers!...

Taco salad shells are loaded with fat and calories. Image Credit: Brand X Pictures/Stockbyte/Getty Images Taco salad shells are typically deep-fried, which makes them fairly heavy on calories. Pair them with ingredients like ground beef, cheddar cheese, sour cream and guacamole, and you could end up eating more than 1,000 calories in a single salad. To spare your waistline, only eat half of the shell or less, and fill it high with lettuce, tomato, onion and salsa while going easy on the higher-calorie ingredients....

Having high triglycerides increases your risk for heart disease. Image Credit: setthaphat dodchai/iStock/GettyImages According to the American Heart Association (AHA), if you have high levels of triglycerides along with low levels of good cholesterol and high levels of bad cholesterol, you’re at higher risk for heart disease and stroke. But what happens if you have high triglycerides with good cholesterol numbers? Advertisement "It is not uncommon to have high triglycerides with normal cholesterol — we see it all the time," says John P....

Fish oil supplements spilling from a bottle. Image Credit: mrkiedog/iStock/Getty Images Although there is no reliable information demonstrating the chances of developing an allergic reaction to fish oil supplements if you’re allergic to shellfish, MedlinePlus recommends avoiding its use. Shellfish are a common food allergy that can lead to a severe allergic reaction, anaphylaxis. If you have been diagnosed with a shellfish allergy, you need to talk with your doctor before taking a fish oil supplement....

A woman has a severe stomach ache. Image Credit: gpointstudio/iStock/Getty Images Zinc is an essential trace element, meaning your body needs it in very small amounts. It’s found naturally in seafood, pork, chicken, beans, nuts and dairy. Zinc is also available as a topical or oral supplement. Depending upon how sensitive your body is to these supplements, you may experience stomach discomfort when taking them. That’s why it’s important to consult your doctor before starting a zinc regimen....

One in 10 people has restless leg syndrome. Image Credit: Hero Images/Hero Images/GettyImages Help Guide, a nonprofit source of health information, reports that one in 10 people has restless leg syndrome, or RLS, and yet much of the medical community is not educated on this serious neurological disorder. Advertisement Exercise is often suggested as a method of relieving RLS symptoms, but some people find that exercise makes the symptoms worse. Experts suggest several reasons this might be true....

Generally, women don't have more lower-body strength than men because of key physiological differences. Image Credit: alvarez/E+/GettyImages In This Article What the Research Says Factors to Consider Important Takeaways There's a stereotypical scene familiar to many gym-goers: The men are focused on blowing out their biceps and pecs, while the women are all about rounding out their glutes and toning their quads. Of course, that's a ​huge​ generalization, but it leads many people to think that women have more lower-body strength than men....

Will you gain weight by building muscle? Image Credit: Comstock/Stockbyte/Getty Images If you want to keep the number on your scale low, you may feel unsure on whether to add weight training to your workout routine. Although building muscle mass may cause temporary weight gain, you may lose weight over the long-term. Before you make any changes to your exercise routine, consult your doctor. Advertisement Common Misconceptions The idea that muscle weighs more than fat is a common misconception....

In the long run, the best way to prevent upper back spasms is with exercise. Image Credit: mheim3011/iStock/Getty Images Muscle spasms in the upper back are somewhat common but painful. They are your body’s natural response to overexerting, fatiguing or not warming up those muscles before a sweat session, according to the North American Spine Society. Advertisement Rather than working the upper back extra-hard during your next workout, it's best to prevent overuse from occurring by doing a warm-up that includes your upper back....

There are several yoga poses you can do to relieve spd in pregnancy. Image Credit: shironosov/iStock/GettyImages Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it also has its challenges as your body experiences changes. It’s not uncommon to have aches and pains — such as symphysis pubis dysfunction — along the way. Advertisement Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), also called pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain, can develop at any stage of pregnancy. This painful condition can impact your ability to do simple daily tasks, such as getting dressed and walking....