Can Wearing a Weightlifting Belt Lower Your Risk of Injury?
Weightlifting belts were once the domain of hardcore bodybuilders. These snug-fitting waist wraps were more of “guy thing,” belts that men wore to show they lifted heavy. But, as more women gravitate toward high resistance weight training, gals are wearing them too. Lifting belts are typically made of leather, suede,…
Are Protein Shakes Causing You to Gain Weight? It Depends on When You’re Drinking Them
Do you enjoy the convenience of guzzling down a protein shake after a workout? Protein shakes are popular because they’re so quick, convenient, and easy to consume. Many are available in powder form, so you can mix and drink on the run. Non-plant-based protein supplements typically contain whey or casein…
Can You Reduce the Loss of Height that Goes with Aging?
Have you ever wanted to be supermodel tall? If you like the idea of being statuesque, but you aren’t quite there, there’s bad news. You actually lose height as you age. In fact, studies show that the average person contracts around 1/3 of an inch every decade after the age…
2 Types of Exercise That Lower Blood Pressure
Do you have high blood pressure? You’re in good company! Hypertension is the most common problem primary care physicians see every day! You might say that high blood pressure, along with diabetes, is the “bread and butter” of primary care practice. The guidelines for what constitutes hypertension recently changed, but,…
Eat These Foods to Protect Your Vision
With age, vision changes. If you’re over 40, you probably already know that! Often, during the fourth decade, it becomes harder to focus on items that are close to your eyes, such as reading material. This condition, known as presbyopia, happens because the lens of the eye becomes stiffer and…
Rounded Shoulders? It’s Probably Weakness in These Two Muscles
Rounded shoulders make you look decades older than you are. You’ve probably seen people with them. Guys and gals with this posture problem typically have a head that’s hunched forward in an unnatural manner and their shoulders are in a pronated position. Ideally, you want shoulders that are pulled…
Estrogen, Menopause, and Weight Gain: Is Estrogen a Friend or Foe for Maintaining a Healthy Body Composition?
It’s not uncommon for women to gain weight after menopause. Menopause and peri-menopause is also the time when estrogen levels begin to drastically decline. Estrogen is the female sex hormone produced by the ovaries. It’s one of the two major female sex hormones, the other being progesterone. When a woman’s…
Can You Deadlift If You Have Back Pain?
The deadlift is a compound exercise. We love compound movements because they work multiple muscle groups at the same time. In fact, there are few exercises that work as many muscle groups simultaneously as the deadlift. When you do this exercise properly, you activate your hamstrings, gastrocnemius muscles, soleus, but…
4 Things to Consider if You Exercise in the Morning
What’s your “go to” exercise time? Do you wake up bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and ready to tackle a grueling workout or is your favorite time to work up a sweat later in the day? There are advantages to tackling a workout first thing in the morning. For one, it wakes you…
How a Certain Type of Mushroom Can Help You Stay Healthy This Winter
As the last roses of summer fade and the temperatures cool, the risk of catching a cold or flu virus rises. Unfortunately, there’s no sure-fire way to avoid catching a nasty, upper respiratory infection, but lifestyle habits can lower your risk. A healthy immune system is what helps fight off…