Straight Health offers easy to understand and accurate information on health, nutrition, diets and exercise. With this RSS feed you can stay up to date with all the new articles, FAQ and top 5 lists that are updated. http://straighthealth.com/ So you're wondering why you don't have a perfect midsection? You can start with your exercise routine (or lack of one) and work your way over to the kitchen to check out your eating habits. These two factors are the biggest reasons why people can't seem to get that toned body. http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/reasons-you-dont-have-abs.html When most people think about exercise and losing weight, they automatically picture running, biking or swimming - a high intensity workout that burns a large amount of calories. They focus all their effort on cardio and completely ignore any of the benefits a strength training routine has to offer. http://straighthealth.com/pages/articles/earticles/strength-training-weight-loss.html Want some free gas? I know I do but I'm not eligible. You on the other hand, are, and by sharing your thoughts on the health poll of the week, you can win a free gas card to help with high prices. http://tips.straighthealth.com/tip/2008/0629.html If you've ever watched The Biggest Loser on NBC, you probably noticed that they lose a lot more weight than the recommended 1-2 pounds per week. You might also be curious as to how they achieved such a fast paced weight loss so that you can create your own Biggest Loser diet and exercise plan. http://straighthealth.com/pages/articles/sarticles/biggest-loser-diet-exercise-plan.html There are some people that find it impossible to lose any weight and then there's you. It seems no matter how much you eat and how little you move, you can't put any weight or muscle onto your body. http://straighthealth.com/pages/articles/sarticles/cant-gain-weight.html Our children have been getting fatter and fatter over the past few decades. The CDC now states that about 1 in 5 kids are overweight. This is up from 1 in 20 back in the 60's. So why is this a problem and who's to blame? http://tips.straighthealth.com/tip/2008/0623.html It wasn't long ago that no one really cared about health or the environment. While these two issues seem very far apart, our own well being is directly associated to that of our planet. http://straighthealth.com/pages/articles/sarticles/environment-and-your-health.html "Arm flab" is the buildup of fat that many women and men get on the back of the arm. It covers any definition from your tricep muscle and hangs down in an unsightly manner. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/get-rid-arm-flab.html A good spotter will watch out for your safety as well as allow you to feel confident enough to push your body farther than what you're accustomed to. Rather than picking the first person you see, a spotter needs to have some traits that will let them do a good job. http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/spot-good-spotter.html Back before cars were invented, we walked around a lot which meant we weren't fat and didn't have to spend hundreds of dollars on gas each month. People back then didn't walk for exercise, they walked because it was one of the only modes of transportation available to them. http://tips.straighthealth.com/tip/2008/0615.html Having a job that forces you to sit in a cubicle or office all day presents some interesting challenges if you're trying to lose or even maintain your weight. The same basic rules that apply to everyone else will help you lose weight: eating less than you burn will cause weight loss. http://straighthealth.com/pages/articles/sarticles/lose-weight-stuck-at-work-all-day.html With high gas prices here to stay, there has never been a better time to ditch your car and pick up a good bike, pair of running shoes or even a set of roller blades. This calculator will help motivate you by estimating how much gas money you'll save by finding a different form of transportation. http://straighthealth.com/pages/tools/exercise-gas-saving-calculator.html Having a workout partner will help you stay motivated, give you new exercise ideas and push you harder. Unfortunately, it isn't always easy picking the right person to help you out. You need someone who is dedicated, knowledgeable and friendly. http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/pick-good-workout-partner.html The other day I was driving out of a grocery store plaza which took me right past a McDonald's. The problem I saw wasn't that people were eating fast food, it was how they were getting it that bugged me. http://tips.straighthealth.com/tip/2008/0609.html Gaining weight is about more than just putting every food you see at the store into your cart. You need to pick the right foods for lunch and dinner to pack on the right kind of weight: muscle. http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/lunch-dinner-shopping-list-gain-weight.html So you have a sedentary lifestyle but want to become more active in order to look better, feel great and be healthy. Unfortunately, becoming fit isn't an easy task to complete after being inactive for a number of years. Soon after starting you'll get sore, tired and may even want to quit. http://straighthealth.com/pages/articles/earticles/getting-into-shape-beginners.html There are a lot of early birds who like to wake up before the sun comes up and exercise first thing in the morning, before eating breakfast. While this can be tempting to save time, it might not be the best idea. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/exercise-before-breakfast.html Losing weight requires that you reduce your intake of calories and increase the amount of exercise you do. Usually, the exercise used to burn the most calories is a cardiovascular workout. Combining high intensity aerobics with a calorie restricted diet will lead to some muscle loss. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/lose-weight-without-losing-muscle.html Snacks are very important if you're trying to gain weight. They help you increase your calorie intake between meals to give you energy for exercising or protein to rebuild your muscles from a rigorous routine. Buying the right snacks at the store is therefore important in filling your kitchen with healthy choices. http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/snack-shopping-list-gain-weight.html Searching for good health information can be hard these days. Everyone is trying to sell something and it's hard to trust anyone. Aside from the obvious, there are some sources that may seem reliable but have different motives for giving you bad advice. http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/bad-exercise-diet-information.html Switching to healthier foods will lead a lot of good things: decreased blood pressure, cholesterol, lowering the risk of diabetes and heart disease. These benefits are real and measurable. But don't you feel like there's something missing when your main meals are salads and rice crackers? http://tips.straighthealth.com/tip/2008/0530.html Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because before it, the last time you ate was dinner. What other point in the day do you go without food for seven or eight hours? Breakfast allows your body to get the energy and nutrients it needs to function properly throughout the day. http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/complete-breakfast.html Since working out a little can have a big impact on your health, working out even more should result in even better gains. Unfortunately this isn't the case. After a certain point, extra exercise will lead to injuries, excessive soreness and even the common cold. Find out how to tell if you're working out too much. http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/working-out-too-much.html Crash diets are advertised as solutions for quick weight loss needs. If you're going on a cruise, to a wedding or class reunion, you need to look your best. These diets promise to whip you into shape in a matter of days so you can look good without worrying about healthy weight loss limits. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/crash-diets-work.html To gain weight, you need to treat each meal as an opportunity to eat a lot of food. Breakfast is no exception because it helps your body snap out of a fasting state it's been in since you went to sleep. These fasting states can breakdown muscle so eating the right foods in the morning will prevent and reverse some of those losses. http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/breakfast-shopping-list-gain-weight.html Getting a set of abs that is perfect for the beach requires more than just doing hundreds of sit ups and crunches everyday. While these are the exercises most people do when trying to get a six pack, they can be the least effective. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/getabs.html Going to a wedding, prom, party or the beach? Need to lose weight quickly? Does this sound like an advertisement for a diet that doesn't work yet? If you've ever read a diet that promised quick results in time for a big occasion, it probably doesn't work. http://straighthealth.com/pages/articles/darticles/crash-diets-dont-work.html One of the reasons why weight gain is so prevalent in this country is the intake of high fat meat, cheese and milk. While this isn't the only factor, cutting these foods out can have a very positive impact on your weight, looks and even your health. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/vegetarian-weight-loss.html Crash diets are plans that severely restrict your calorie intake for a few days in hopes that you will lose a lot of weight in a very short period of time. Unfortunately, crash diets promise to much and delivers too little. They are unhealthy and don't succeed in permanently getting rid of any weight. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/crash-diets.html The secret to weight loss is like the fountain of youth: everyone wants to find it but in reality there is no such thing. Weight loss is dependent on a solid exercise routine as well as a proper diet. If you're doing both, you will lose weight. http://straighthealth.com/pages/articles/sarticles/secret-to-weight-loss.html When shopping around for a personal trainer, there isn't a lot of information available to base your decision off of. The most important factors that should influence your choice is the trainer's experience and education. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/certified-personal-trainer.html Good protein can be hard to find. The problem is that some sources of protein are incomplete, absorbed poorly and associated with a high amount of saturated fat. Luckily, for those that are looking to increase their intake of protein, their are some healthy and complete sources you can use. http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/increase-protein-intake.html Becoming active is a positive step that will improve your health and the way you look. Even exercising as little as two days per week will yield results, but pushing yourself too hard too fast will cause you to get muscle pain, weakness and even more serious injuries. http://straighthealth.com/pages/articles/earticles/overtraining.html Pizza has always been touted as some sort of secret health food that's also really tasty. It's so good that some may wonder if it's even healthy and the answer to that depends on how it is prepared. Buying a frozen pizza or going out for one is not nearly as healthy as making your own from fresh and healthy ingredients. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/pizza_healthy.html Forums are a useful tool in meeting new people that share the same interests as you. StraightHealth.com has now opened a diet and exercise forum so that you can ask other people for nutrition and fitness advice or share your own experience of what works and what doesn't to get and stay healthy. http://forums.straighthealth.com To get stronger and bigger, you need to stimulate your muscles through exercise. It's not so much the exercise that makes your muscles grow (although exercise is needed), it's the change from doing nothing to forcing your muscles to work that causes them to respond. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/often-change-workout.html Even though you may be at a normal weight, you can still have excessive body fat in some problem areas such as your abs, thighs and arms. The solution is proper nutrition (not calorie cutting) and a good weight training and cardiovascular exercise routine. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/thin-with-body-fat.html Everyone knows that sugar is an ingredient you should generally stay away from. But what is the difference between the sugar in fruit and junk food? One of these you should eat a lot of and the other you should avoid. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/difference-sugar-fruit-junk-food.html Breakfast is the most important meal of the day but some people, due to time constraints or food options, skip it all together. By eating breakfast, you'll start your day off in a healthy way, keep yourself more alert and reduce your calorie intake for the rest of the day. http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/quick-easy-breakfast.html About an year ago, I started the Straight Health forum so that people, in addition to reading all the information on this site, could exchange experiences and tips on how to lose weight, exercise and be healthy. Being in school kept me from devoting as much time to the forum as it probably needed, but now it's back (from outer space). http://tips.straighthealth.com/tip/2008/0516.html The dilemma: you know how unhealthy doughnuts can be but love them nonetheless, should you eat one here and there? You defiantly should. To be completely healthy, you have to make your body as well as your mind happy. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/ok-eat-junk-sometimes.html In our society of quick fixes, we have supplements that solve every imaginable problem ranging from too much belly fat to improving memory and even stopping hair loss. Unfortunately, most claims made by supplements have no real science to back them up. http://straighthealth.com/pages/articles/sarticles/supplement-safety.html Getting a perfect summer body isn't as easy as doing sit ups and crunches every day. You need to target all the muscles in your body and do cardio to burn off the layer of fat covering them. Only then can you get a toned and ripped appearance fit for the summer. http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/exercises-perfect-summer-body.html If someone is trying to sell you a diet or weight loss plan, the word most likely to come up is secret. What is the secret to weight loss? The secret to weight loss is that there is no secret. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/secret-weight-loss.html Getting a nice set of abs requires that you take three important steps: go on a calorie restricted diet, burn energy with cardiovascular exercise and start a strength training routine in which you target your abdominals and obliques. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/best-six-pack-abs.html The claim made by sport drink manufacturers is that their product is superior to water. It contains electrolytes and sugar to replenish what is lost during exercise so that it can boost performance. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/sports-drink-workout.html Joining a gym can be stressful and hectic so having a list of questions to ask will keep you from forgetting what you need to know. http://straighthealth.com/pages/tools/new-gym-questionnaire.html Researching a gym before you join is the best way to ensure you won't get ripped off after you pay. You need to visit, ask questions and try before you buy. Unless you know everything about the gym you're interested in, don't join it. Joining a gym before you know all the facts will results in a bad experience and less motivation to workout. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/pick-right-gym.html We all want to lose weight for different reasons: a wedding, party, beach trip or just to be healthy. Whatever our motivation, trying to lose weight quickly is always tempting. Why only lose a healthy 1-2 pounds per week when you can work harder and lose double or even triple that? http://straighthealth.com/pages/articles/sarticles/best-way-lose-weight-slowly.html A calorie surplus is the term used to describe when a person is in a state of positive energy balance. In plain english, they are eating more calories than they are taking in either by accident or on purpose. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/calorie-surplus.html The government finally figured out that the people are the best ones to spend their own money, so to help fix the economy, they're sending out stimulus checks. You've probably already thought of buying a TV or even a new dining room set, but why not spend your stimulus money on making you and your family healthier. http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/healthy-stimulus-check-diet.html The government will soon be sending the majority of people some money to try and save the country from going into a recession. Instead of wasting the money on something shiny, you can use it on a few items that will help you increase your exercise level and make you healthier. http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/healthy-stimulus-check-exercise.html I know that sodium is the enemy. It causes hypertension which could lead to a more serious form of cardiovascular disease if left unchecked. But there are some times in which it is OK to add some extra salt to your meals. http://tips.straighthealth.com/tip/2008/0510.html The term empty calories describes foods that are very high in energy but low in nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fiber and essential fatty acids. While on a diet, you should avoid excessive intake of these foods because you can put yourself at an increased risk of a vitamin and mineral deficiency. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/empty-calories.html You've seen all those infomercials that sell those peculiar looking contraptions that are supposed to give you a six pack. They promise results within weeks and show you before and after pictures of happy customers. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/home-ab-machines.html There are so many diets out there that it's easy to be fooled by remarkable claims and fake facts. The best diet will allow you to lose weight in a slow and controlled way while keeping you healthy and energetic. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/bestdiet.html The reason that healthy foods are so expensive is simple economics. Even though recent trends have pointed to an increased demand of healthy, natural and organic food, supply is still very low and the cost to produce them is very high. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/healthyfoodexpensive.html The term spot reducing refers to lowering fat stores in a specific area of the body, for example the abs, hips or arms. The only problem is that spot reducing, through exercise and diet, is impossible. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/spotreducing.html Exercising can be quite expensive nowadays but you really have no choice. The alternative is not exercising and being unhealthy which can cost you later on in life. Luckily, there are some free and low cost ways you can get your exercise in each day. http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/lowcostexercise.html Getting that perfect lean and muscular physique takes some work and dedication. With the help of this guide, you can transform your winter flab into summer abs before your summer beach trip. This guide will show you to trim up, lose weight and look good in your favorite bathing suit at the beach, pool or water park. http://straighthealth.com/pages/guides/summerbeachbody.html With the summer approaching, you need to start eating healthy foods to get a toned and chiseled look. Just because a food is low in calories, doesn't mean it'll help you with your goal. You need to eat foods low in calories and sugar while high in fiber to reduce fat storage. http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/foodsforsummerbody.html The definition of best is losing weight in a healthy way so it won't come back. You can be healthy and increase the chance that the weight will not come back by losing it in a slow and controlled manner. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/bestwayloseweight.html There are so many diets that it's hard to separate which work and which don't. You can choose to go low carb, low fat, only fruits, only lemonade, detox and the list goes on for a long time. What makes a diet healthy or not are the rules of the diet, therefore there are some diets you should avoid. http://straighthealth.com/pages/articles/darticles/worstdiets.html Over the years, seemingly healthy foods have received bad reputations because of half truths, misguided diets and hijacking by the fast food industry. Since these foods are actually healthy, go ahead and have a bite. http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/foodnotdeservebadrap.html Getting a perfect summer body involves not only cutting calories, but also eating health. Eating junk will make it difficult for you to cut enough calories out of your diet to see any meaningful weight loss. Without nutritious foods, you won't see the bathing suit results you're looking for. http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/foodavoidsummerbody.html One of the easiest ways you can get your summer body ready is by moving. Even if you do nothing to change your diet, becoming more physically active will yield results within weeks. http://tips.straighthealth.com/tip/2008/0505.html When you're trying to get a perfect summer body, the most important step to take with your diet is cutting calories. Apart from the amount of calories you take in, the types of food you eat can also help you lose some weight. http://straighthealth.com/pages/articles/darticles/foodsummerbody.html To get that perfect summer body, you need to decrease your body fat percentage by exercising and eating less calories than you burn. Cardio will help you burn a large amount of calories while strength training will help you build some muscle and give you a more toned physique. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/summerbeachbodyquickly.html Drinking protein shakes at different times of the day will have different effects on your body. The main use for a protein shake is to aid your body in recovering after a hard workout. Shakes can also help increase your calorie intake for weight gain. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/timeproteinshake.html With bathing suit season coming up quickly, you need to get your body into shape so you can show off your washboard abs, killer legs and toned arms. To do this, you will need to combine cardiovascular exercise to burn the fat with a strength training routine to build some muscle and give you a toned, chiseled look. http://straighthealth.com/pages/articles/earticles/summerbeachbody.html If you get hungry before going to bed, you should eat something because your next meal won't come for six or seven hours. Ideally, a midnight snack should be small, low in calories and digested slowly. http://straighthealth.com/pages/qna/foodbeforebed.html With the new season comes the need to lose your winter weight so you can look good at the beach or even the pool. With a calorie restricted diet that is high in healthy foods and low in junk, you can trim up and start looking good just in time for the hot months ahead. http://straighthealth.com/pages/articles/darticles/summerbeachbody.html