FitSugar

Fit Tip: Asthma and Running

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 13:30:00 PST

I have allergy-induced asthma, and I was worried that certain types of exercise, like running, would make it worse. Then a fellow asthma sufferer told me that it really helped to get their asthma symptoms under control, so I gave it a shot. After I started running, I was able to decrease my asthma medicine dosage to once per day, which was huge for me (I hate that I have to rely on it).

There is a right and wrong way to run when you have asthma so here are some tips that helped me:

Figure out what times of day you are breathing the best and run then. If you tend to wake up not being able to breathe, then a prework run may not be the best idea for you.
Take your asthma medicine every day as directed. Also, if your asthma is triggered by allergies, taking an allergy medicine such as Singulair or a nasal spray like Flonase may help to relieve your asthma symptoms so you'll be able to breathe freely when running.
If you know that running triggers an asthma attack, take a puff or two of your rescue inhaler (Albuterol) before starting your run. The medicine will help open your airways, which can prevent an attack.

Want to hear what else may help? Then

In case you feel an attack coming on, keep water and your rescue inhaler with you while running.
Now that Winter is upon us, run indoors. Inhaling cold air can irritate your lungs which can trigger an asthma attack.
If possible, take a hot, steamy shower before you go for a run. Not only will it loosen up mucus in your lungs, but it'll warm up your muscles, too.
Huffing and puffing can trigger an attack, so jog at a consistent pace where you can breathe calmly, but still work your heart.
Don't do interval training where you sprint for two minutes, and then jog for two minutes and so on. You'll end up breathing heavily, which could spur an attack.
Listen to your body. If you're running and you start wheezing, slow down your pace dramatically and walk. Concentrate on taking long, calm, and deep breaths. Begin running again only when your breathing has returned to normal.

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Allergy Medicine's Sexual Side Effects

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 11:45:00 PDT

Since seasonal allergies are upon us, many of you may be reaching for allergy pills to get rid of your stuffy or runny nose. These meds do an excellent job of drying up your runny nose, but that's not the only thing getting dried out. Doctors tend to leave out this little tidbit of information: Allergy medicine causes vaginal dryness. It's true and the truth truly hurts.

If you suffer from this problem, you should know allergy medicines containing decongestants are the ones to avoid. The "D" in Claritin D and Allegra D stands for decongestant, but you can buy them "D" free, which will help your dryness situation greatly.

You might also find that other allergy pills dry up your lady business as well such as Sudafed, Zyrtec and Benadryl, so you may want to switch to a nasal spray like Flonase to deal with just your allergy symptoms.

Fit's Tips: If you can't live without the allergy medicine you're taking, I completely understand, but you don't have to deal with annoying dryness either. Pick yourself up some lubricant such as Astroglide or KY personal lubricant and it will make a world of difference in the bedroom.

Sugar Shout Out: Turn Old Jeans Into Cute Cutoffs!

Katie Henry — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:55:22 PDT

In Season: Stinging Nettles

Sara Yoo — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 05:19:04 PDT

Stinging nettle: the name might lead you to believe that this plant is (1) dangerous to touch and (2) a weed. And you would be right. But despite its name and repellent nature, stinging nettles are also edible and delicious and becoming increasingly popular among foraging chefs, thanks to its abundance in the wild. Now in season, nettles could be the perfect addition to your Spring kitchen endeavors. Want to learn more about this prickly plant? Just read on.

The stinging nettle is abundant in North America, Europe, and Asia but can also be found in parts of Africa with moist soil.
The plant gets its name from the tiny, prickly hairs on the leaves and stems that detach from the plant when it's touched and inject a painful chemical concoction.
Stinging nettles have a long medicinal history with uses ranging from arthritis to rheumatism relief to dandruff prevention.
With a flavor likened by some to spinach or broccoli, nettle has become a popular Spring vegetable. Fresh and dried leaves can be steeped in tea that supposedly fights off seasonal allergy symptoms.
Look for stinging nettle at your local farmers market. Many home chefs forage for the weed, but it's important to pick the leaves before the plant begins to flower. Eating mature stinging nettle can cause urinary tract irritation and damage.
The plant is rich in vitamins A, C, iron, potassium, manganese, and calcium and high in protein for a leafy green vegetable.
The stinging hairs on the plant can be removed by soaking the leaves in water, drying, or cooking.

If you manage to track down a bag of stinging nettles, get ready for a treat! Here are a few of the many uses for this culinary weed:

Process blanched leaves with pine nuts, garlic, parmesan cheese, and olive oil for delicious stinging nettle pesto.
Top a Neopolitan-style pizza with pancetta and stinging nettles. Crack an egg in the center a few minutes before it's done.
Replace spinach or asparagus with stinging nettle in a Spring frittata or quiche.
Puree into a savory stinging nettle soup.

Photos: Susannah Chen

How to Make Your Own Makeup Remover

Michelle Phan — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 04:00:13 PDT

YouTube star and beauty guru Michelle Phan always has a new tip or two for making life a little easier. This week, Michelle tells us how we can create our own natural makeup remover:

Hi everyone,
Makeup remover doesn’t have to be expensive or come with a label. In fact, I actually prefer this gentle version that you can make at home on the cheap. It’s non-irritating, easy to make, inexpensive and highly effective.

Sublimely pretty Spring makeup

I recently uploaded a video on how to make this perfect makeup remover, but here is a step-by-step guide to have on hand when you try it out for yourself.

If You're Not Allergic, a Gluten-Free Diet Might Not Be Worth the Dough

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:47:59 PST

About one in 133 Americans suffers from the autoimmune disorder celiac disease: a severe gluten intolerance; it impedes the absorption of important nutrients like calcium and iron and can lead to abdominal pain, decreased appetite, and digestive tract cancers. The plethora of gluten-free products that are available - from pizza crust to bagels and pasta - is a lifesaver for those who have celiac disease. However, buying gluten-free products when you're nonceliac is a waste of money, according to an opinion paper published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Keep reading to find out who should splurge on gluten-free foods and who should save their dough.

How to Kick a Nighttime Cough Naturally

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:05:23 PST

Whether it's because of a cold or allergies, coughing at night is not only annoying, it prevents you from getting the sleep you need to stay healthy. Before you down cough medicine (which often just masks the cough), you might want to relieve your nighttime cough with one of these natural remedies.

Steam up: Before hitting the hay, create a steam room in the bathroom. Shut the door, don't turn on the fan, and take a hot shower. Let the water gently run on your face, or if that's too intense, place a warm washcloth on your sinuses, allowing the heat and steam to help relieve sinus congestion. You can even use a neti pot in the shower - just be sure to fill it with warm distilled or sterilized water, not the shower water. Using a neti pot after you've breathed in steam can make it more effective.
Get moist: Since dry air can often cause a dry cough (especially in the Winter months when we crank up the heat), moisten the air you breathe by running a cool-mist humidifier on low throughout the night (I'm a fan of this humidifier from Crane). In the morning, be sure to wipe down your windows and windowsills as condensation tends to form, and you don't want this moisture to encourage mold growth, which can also aggravate a cough. Follow the directions that came with your humidifier when it comes to cleaning it, and disinfect it thoroughly at least once a week to avoid mold growth.

Keep reading for more natural ways to beat your nighttime cough.

Skip the Benadryl! Natural Ways to Relieve Congestion

Michele Foley — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:07:46 PST

Whether it's allergies or a nasty cold, being congested sucks. It's hard to breathe, the sinus pressure is painful, and it can even affect your hearing. Blowing your nose offers some relief, but in cases where you're really stuffed up, it can be pretty futile. OTC medicines help dry out mucus but leave users feeling loopy, sleepy, and spaced out. What's left to do? The next time you're feeling all stuffed up, try one of these natural remedies - you'll be breathing free and clear!

Steam it out: Whether it's a steam room, hot shower, or a makeshift steam bath over a bowl of hot water, steam helps to loosen mucus and relieve congestion from your nose and chest. Intensify the benefits with the addition of eucalyptus oil, a natural decongestant. Whatever method you use, slowly breathe in the steam for about five minutes and then try blowing your nose and/or coughing. This is usually enough time to break up and loosen the mucus in the body. To aid with sleep, use a humidifier; it helps add moisture to the air, which will thin out mucus in your nasal passages.
Grab a neti pot: It might sound a little uncomfortable, but using a neti pot does wonders for relieving nasal congestion and pain - just ask any ear, nose, or throat doctor. Neti pots (in combination with a DIY saline solution) help end nasal congestion by thinning out mucus and built-up crusting in the nose; think of it as a form of nasal irrigation. Still not convinced? Check out these neti pot tips for beginners.

Keep reading for two more ideas after the break.

The Truth About the Health Benefits of Tea

Health — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:13:17 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

Tea - does it really fight cancer? Lower cholesterol? We filter the research to find out which health claims actually hold water.
By Kate Lowenstein

The way scientific studies and health gurus alike have touted the perks of tea over the past few years, you'd think the stuff was some kind of all-powerful magical elixir. Improving heart health, reducing cancer risk, warding off dementia and diabetes - there's barely a health benefit that hasn't been credited to tea. It's true that the brew has disease-fighting antioxidants, and, as far as anyone can tell, should be great for us.

"The science is certainly promising," says David L. Katz, MD, director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center. "But the hype goes beyond it and tends to make promises which the science can't yet deliver." (No, tea probably will not cure depression, eliminate allergies, or boost your fertility!) We talked to the experts and weighed the studies to separate the truth from the hype.

Health.com: Drink This Tea to Lose That Belly

Why tea is so hot
First, a definition: When scientists talk about tea, they mean black, green, white, or oolong teas - all of which are made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Herbal brews, like chamomile and peppermint, are not technically considered tea; they're infusions of other plants with different nutritional characteristics. If you're not sure what kind you're drinking, check the ingredients for the word "tea."

Keep reading to learn even more about tea.

3 Throat-Soothing Herbal Teas

Anna Monette Roberts — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:51:09 PDT

If you find yourself suffering from a scratchy, sore throat, take comfort in the herbs astragalus, licorice root, and elm bark, which have a soothing effect on throat and respiratory issues. While the medical properties of these herbs have not undergone extensive scientific research, they have been brewed as healing teas for centuries and are mainstays in the alternative medicine community. Their natural sweetness, earthy scent, and slippery texture are pleasant, soothing, and worth trying out when colds strike.

Astragalus

What is it: Dr. Weil recommends taking astragalus, a sweet-tasting Chinese root which has immune boosting properties and helps soothe sore throats and bronchial infection.
Where to try it: Astragalus Immunity Tea ($6)
What scientists think: While the root has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, no detailed, Western clinical trials have been done to prove or dispute its benefits for throat and respiratory issues. (Studies have shown astragalus to be helpful in reducing symptoms related to seasonal allergies.) Astragalus is also traditionally taken with ginseng, angelica, and licorice.

See more throat-soothing teas.