function-related stories
Tricep Training - 45 Second Routine Leaves Your Arms Shaking (VIDEO)
Fit Kicks Videos, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
There are many ways to train each muscle. I'm a girl who likes challenging and efficient exercises. This three-part routine, shown here and featuring me and Anthony Field of The Wiggles, not only made my arms shake ... it exhausted my chest and abs and left me breathless in a very short period of time. Looking for something new, challenging and fun? This is your answer.
If you're interested in getting the rings like the one's shown here in this video, visit RingTraining.com and look for Elite Rings. And for more star-studded training videos, fitness tips and recipes, visit Fitzness.com.
Low Carb Diets Cause Memory Problems
Going low carb is a fast and effective way to shed some of those extra pounds, but is it safe? The jury's still out on that one, especially considering the recent publicity this kind of diet is getting. Apparently, cutting out carbs can cause memory loss. The explanation is pretty simple: Your brain needs a constant supply of glucose, and glucose can't be stored. According to Professor Holly Taylor of Tufts University, "The brain needs glucose for energy and diets low in carbohydrates can be detrimental to learning, memory and thinking."
Staying away from carbs? You might want to reconsider. That's not to say you should binge on white bread -- a few servings of healthy whole grains per day is all you really need. So go on, eat a piece of bread and don't feel guilty about it.
Grapes - a good choice for heart health
A recent study divided mice who were specially bred to be susceptible to high blood pressure into diet-defined groups -- one got a low-salt diet, another got a high-sodium diet, a third got a high-sodium diet with the addition of a grape mixture, and a fourth got a high-sodium diet with a small dose of hydrazine (a common blood pressure medication). At the end of the study, the mice who got the grape mixture came out on top with lower blood pressure, better heart function, reduced inflammation, and less heart muscle damage.
Grapes make a convenient and healthful snack as is, but there are lots of other ways you can enjoy grapes. Freeze them for an alternative to other frozen treats. Top your salad with some red or black grapes. Or sip on a few ounces of 100% grape juice.
Fish - one more reason to put it on your menu
Protein in urine is an early sign of kidney disease. In a recent study, people who ate fish once a week or less were more likely to have protein in their urine than those who ate fish at least twice a week.
If you want to incorporate more fish in your diet, check out AOL Health's dish on fish. They've got the low-down on the risks (mercury, etc.) compared to the benefits as well as the various benefits of different types of fish. And before you go shopping at the fish market, you may want to check out Fitz's post on fishy business.
Chronic pain can harm the brain
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
Living with pain every day of every week can take its toll on any person, but it's not just the constant effect of suffering. Scientists have compared brain patterns of healthy, pain-free test subjects to those of individuals who experience aching all the time. What they found is that suffering all day could adversely alter the wiring of their brains.When a person is hurting, their brain constantly fires neurons that it would otherwise shut down when doing simple tasks like making a decision. So someone in chronic pain has this effect every day. In other words, the neurons fail to "quiet down."
Researchers argue that this constant firing of connections could permanently damage their wiring. If these areas don't shut down properly, the brain can't keep itself in equilibrium. Thus other problems like sleep and depression set in. Hopefully they can use this research to better treat chronic pain suffers in the future -- perhaps finding a way to medically quiet the neurons!
Ask Fitz! Your Fitness Questions Answered
Healthy Home, Womens Health, Healthy Recipes, Ask Fitz!, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Motivation, Men's Health
Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here..
Q. Yo Fitz! I'm on a tight budget. If I can only buy one thing for fitness, what should I get? Randy
Hey Randy, Tight budgets stink sometimes, but they're great at helping us prioritize and the answer to this question emphasizes that. I say, if you can only invest in one thing......get sneakers. With an awesome pair of kicks you can do just about anything. Run, jump, climb stairs, walk, skip, dance, cycle, squat, kick, strength train, etc... On the reverse side, you shouldn't be doing most of those things without a supportive pair of sneakers.
I was just certifying a terrific group of fire fighters today to become in-house personal trainers at their fire department. While teaching them the basics of muscle function, I drove home the fact that they should be able to train everywhere from the fanciest gyms to the desert. You don't NEED equipment. Equipment is nice to have, but a lack of it is never an excuse to skip out on exercise. No matter where you are......if you have your sneakers, you can put them on and go!
Once again. Sorry your budget is tight, but there are worse things in the world. More importantly, your priority is on your health. Can't put a price tag on that!
Q. My husband has gained about 40 pounds in the last year. I'm worried about him, but don't want to say anything cause I fear he'll think I'm just not physically attracted. The last thing I want is for him to feel picked on or ashamed. What do you suggest? Stacia
Color coding foods
Healthy Habits, Vegetarian, Womens Health, Healthy Recipes, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health
Ever thought about color coding your food to gain optimum health benefits? As a past chef we always emphasized making plates appealing to the eye as well as the taste buds. Now it seems that a rainbow array of food colors daily not only is pretty to the eyes inviting pleasures of the pallet but eating 5 or more servings of colorful fruits and vegetables a day can give you the benefits of better health. So the next time you are making that platter of food for a party, or special gathering, keep these food colors in mind to not only make a beautiful table but to give your guests some healthy choices to eat. Remember to buy organic foods for the healthiest intake of nutrients and vitamins.Blue and purple foods like blueberries, raisins, plums, and eggplant help with urinary tract health, memory function, and healthy aging. Green foods like avocados, green apples, cucumbers, and honeydew help your vision and give you strong bones and teeth. White, tan, and brown foods such as bananas, garlic, mushrooms and ginger keep the heart healthy and help keep cholesterol levels normal. Yellow and orange foods such as cantaloupe, peaches, sweet potatoes, and lemons help boost the immune system and also help your vision and keeping a healthy heart. Eating red foods like strawberries, raspberries, watermelon, and tomatoes keep the urinary tract healthy and aid in memory function and also a healthy heart.

























