FitSugar

Health Tip: Replace Contact Lens Case Every Three Months

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0700

You only get one pair of eyes so it's important to care for them as best you can. If you wear contact lenses, here's one thing you can do to keep your lenses clean and prevent eye infections. Every three months (at least) replace your case with a new one. In between replacements, disinfect the case after every use by rinsing it with your sterile contact lens solution. Then leave it open to air dry to prevent bacteria from growing. When was the last time you changed contact cases?

Health Tip: Take a Walk After You Eat Like Rosario Dawson

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:47:00 -0700

I'm a fan of taking a walk after dinner, but why limit your postmeal strolls to just after supper? Roasrio Dawson says, "It's great to take a walk after you have a meal." So, if you have time, take a little walk after breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Not only will it burn some calories and help with digestion, but it's a way to get some fresh air and enjoy the pleasant Summer weather. Since exercise curbs your appetite and can give you an added boost of energy, walking after eating can also prevent you from mindlessly snacking in between meals. Another bonus? Walking is free and calms the mind, so it's an inexpensive way to relieve stress, which can lower blood pressure. Try walking just 10 minutes after each meal, and you'll immediately notice the benefits.

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Health Tip: Don't Brush After Acidic Drinks

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:00:00 -0700

You think you're doing something healthy by brushing your teeth right after slurping a soda, but you're doing more harm than good. The combination of the acid in the soda and the abrasive action of brushing can actually erode your tooth enamel, which can lead to cavities. So instead of reaching for your toothbrush after drinking acidic drinks such as soda, citrus juices like lemonade, or sport drinks, reach for some water to sip on instead. It'll help rinse the acid from your teeth. Or chew gum since it encourages the production of saliva, which neutralizes the acid in your mouth. Then afterward, feel free to brush.

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Summer Health Tip: Apply Sunscreen When You're Nude

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:00:00 -0700

When applying sunscreen, you want to make sure you cover every inch of your exposed flesh to protect yourself from sunburn and skin cancer. If you apply lotion when you're already dressed, you tend to miss spots since you want to avoid getting lotion on your clothes. I highly suggest applying sunscreen before dressing, to ensure that every part of your body, neck and feet included, is protected. Not only will you be fully protected from the sun's harmful rays, but you'll also avoid those bizarre streaky blotches on your skin that you get when you accidentally overlook certain spots. Remember it takes an ounce to cover your body completely. For a visual reference, that is about the size of a shot glass.

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Health Tip: Wear Sunscreen, Even If You Don't Burn

FitSugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:00:00 -0700

Warmer weather means baring more skin, so you've got to be extra vigilant about wearing sunscreen. What's that? Your skin doesn't burn? You still need to wear sunscreen! All skin types (not just the folks with pale skin) are susceptible to sun damage and skin cancer, so even if you don't burn, be sure to lube up with sunscreen. Choose one that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Apply sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes before going outside, and reapply it every two hours to keep your skin protected at all times.

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Health Tip: Protect Your Toothbrush From Bacteria

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Environmental microbiologist Chuck Gerba studies the spread of viruses and parasites, and he made an interesting discovery about bathroom hygiene. Gerba found that every time you flush the toilet, your toothbrush gets sprayed with bacteria. Eww! Even if you put the lid down before pressing the handle, microorganisms are still ejected into the air landing on every surface in your bathroom. Although, you probably won't get sick because the bacteria dies when the toothbrush dries, it's a good idea to keep your toothbrush as far away from the toilet as you can. Placing it in the medicine cabinet or your vanity drawer is a good option. Other items you should store in drawers include contact lens containers, bars of soap, and other things you use on your body in order to protect them from harmful germs. I keep my toothbrush in the bathroom closet. Where do you store yours?

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Keep Track of Water Intake With Chocolate

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Drinking enough water is so important to our health. Not only is staying hydrated good for our skin, it also promotes regularity and weight loss by keeping cells fully functional to stoke your metabolism. Eight glasses of water isn't the standard anymore, so to find out how much water you need per day, depending on your age, height, weight, and activity level, check out Fit's Calculator. I need about 80 to 100 ounces a day, so I figured out a fun and tasty way to monitor my daily water intake.

I put eight to 10 dark chocolate-covered cranberries in a little dish on my desk. Every time I drink 10 ounces of agua, I treat myself to a chocolate morsel. It reminds me to consistently drink water throughout the day until the dish is empty. If chocolate doesn't inspire you, fill your dish with something else you enjoy like cashews, dried cherries, or yogurt-covered raisins.

Health Tip: Pick a Doctor Who's a Peer

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 03:30:00 -0700

The April issue of Esquire features a Q and A with Dr. Mehmet Oz called "The Lightning Round" - as in, if you had the good doctor cornered at a party, what burning questions would you ask him? One of the questions was: What's the single most important thing to look for in a doctor? Dr. Oz's answer: Choose a doctor like you, or who treats other people like you.

Obviously there are other considerations, like which doctors are nearby and covered by your insurance. But a physician who treats other patients in your age range will be well-versed in the issues you might face. Even better, Oz adds, "you want your doctor to be around your age or younger (unless you're 17). That way you can have a doctor for life, and that continuity is a big help in diagnosing and predicting problems as you age."

I definitely appreciate that my doctor treats other patients around my same age, so this seems like a smart idea. What do you think? Is your doc in your peer group?

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Health Tip: Disinfect Commonly Used Personal Items

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Spring may be on its way, but we're still not in the clear when it comes to cold and flu season. Germs are still lurking everywhere, so take a few minutes to disinfect the things you touch every day at work, in your home, and in your car.

At Work	At Home	In Your Car
Keyboard Office phone Mouse Pens, stapler, and other office supplies Buttons on calculator, printer, and fax machine Reusable water bottle Eyeglasses	Cell phone Doorknobs Light switches on walls and on lamps Buttons on microwave, coffee maker, remote control, etc. Handle to the fridge Faucets Alarm clock	Steering wheel Stick shift Interior buttons for the radio, windows, and heat/AC Interior and exterior door handles Rear view mirror Seatbelt buckle

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Health Tip: Don't Ice a Burn

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:30:00 -0800

I love spending time in the kitchen cooking and baking, but I am quite the klutz and I burn myself with surprising frequency. After years of running for ice to soothe a burn, I just learned that this practice is a no-no. Ice actually further damages burnt skin. You should run the burn under cold water, which also cleanses the area as well. If you are concerned about water consumption - there is a drought happening here in rainy Northern California - a cold compress can help as well.

Butter and mayo are not good for burns either. First degree burns are easy to treat at home, but depending on how large a second degree burn is, it might require medical attention.

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