FitSugar

Wash Up! Clean Hands Quiz

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:30:35 -0800

With cold and flu and swine flu season upon us, it's imperative to get into the healthy habit of washing your hands. But this everyday activity has plenty of facts and fiction tied to it. Do you know your hand-washing facts? Take my quiz and see if you clean up.

Take the quiz

Do You Use Herbal Remedies?

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:00:56 -0800

I ran into a friend this week who was on his way to an herbal medicine shop to bulk up on tinctures and teas because his wife is sick.

I've dabbled a little bit with herbal remedies - ginger for an upset stomach and echinacea for a cold - but not to the extent that he and his wife do. He said that for minor illnesses they only use herbal remedies, and that they're more effective than drugstore meds.

I'm still dubious about herbal remedies because the research is a bit spotty, but I think there may be some benefits to their use. What do you think of them? If you've had any experiences with using herbal remedies, share your thoughts in the comments section.

Garlic Does More Than Scare Away Vampires

FitSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:30:23 -0700

I love garlic. I can't think of any savory meal where I don't use it, and I also take garlic supplements. It's something my doctor recommended because she believes it helps regulate digestion and ward off colds. Turns out she's right, at least about the preventing colds part.

A study followed two groups - one that took garlic supplements and another that took a placebo - and found that the garlic group came down with fewer colds, and recovered faster too. Researchers aren't exactly clear why it helps, but some suggest that allicin, a main component of the pungent vegetable, blocks enzymes that play a part in causing infections.

It's also not clear if garlic works after the onset of a cold, or if it needs to be taken as a preventative measure. Until more research comes in, I'll keep taking my supplements regularly.

Cold Water Works Just as Well

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:47:13 -0700

Germs are everywhere. Swine flu, regular flu, our homes, the gym - there's no escaping the little buggers. One of the best ways to protect yourself is still the easiest: wash those hands! If you're like me, you probably believe that the hotter the water, the better. Not so, says a recent study.

Conducted by scientists with the Joint Bank Group/Fund Health Services Department, the study looked at the bacteria levels of participants after they washed their hands in different water temperatures. The results showed no difference in levels between participants who washed their hands in hot water versus those who washed in cold. The scientists went on to say that tepid water is a better choice for hand washing because it's gentler on the skin and it's better for the environment.

I think it'll take me a little while to adjust to this change - something about washing my hands in hot water just feels safer. When you do wash up, though, make sure you always use soap and lather up for at least 30 seconds.

When Is It OK to Work Out Sick?

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:30:12 -0700

'Tis the season for coughs and sniffles. If you're like me, the idea of having to skip a workout because of a small cough seems crazy. When is the best time to choose rest over a treadmill though? Take my quiz to find out . . .

Take the quiz

Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Everyone around me is sick lately, and it has me washing my hands in overdrive, but if I'm not near a sink I use hand sanitizer. The problem is that those little bottles start to add up financially, and I feel bad throwing out so many plastic containers. Recently, my friend shared her recipe for homemade sanitizer with me and I've been a convert ever since.

What's cool is that the basic ingredients are things I already keep in my medicine cabinet: aloe vera gel and rubbing alcohol. You can make as little or as much as you want, but always use a ratio of six parts alcohol to four parts aloe vera gel for it to be effective. If you're a big germaphobe like I am you can also add tea tree oil - nature's antiseptic - to the mixture. I put about five drops into every half-cup of sanitizer I make. I also add lavender oil to the mix to kill the medicinal smell. From there, just add your mixture to a small bottle that you can always keep with you.

I still think that washing your hands trumps sanitizer, but this recipe is a great alternative to the store-bought stuff.

Don't Want the Flu? Don't Touch Your Face

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:00:49 -0700

If someone sick with swine flu happened to be so rude as to cough in your face, you would have a 50 percent chance of catching the bug, according to environmental health experts at both UC Berkeley and the University of Illinois. A more likely scenario is touching your face after touching an object covered with the H1N1 virus. The flu virus cannot penetrate our skin, but it thrives in the mucus membranes of the nose, mouth, and eyes. New advice on avoiding the flu: don't touch your face. But this simple advice can be difficult to follow, since in observational studies we touch our faces 16 times an hour on average. Since flu viruses can survive on hard surfaces from 24 up to 48 hours, your hands could be come into contact with the virus. Your best defense is to wash your hands well and keep your hands away from your face.

As a side note, in writing this post, I've touched my face at least four times. I'm going to need some serious retraining.

Do You Plan on Getting Vaccinated Against Swine Flu?

FitSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:00:11 -0700

This past Spring, the swine flu scare broke out, and, although it seems to have lost momentum, many folks are still nervous about getting the H1N1 virus. Children, healthcare workers, those who work closely with kids, and pregnant women are the ones who are most at risk, but anyone can develop swine flu. With colder weather on its way and flu season soon to follow, I'm wondering . . .

When Is a Fever Too High?

FitSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 02:30:00 -0800

With the nasty flu bug making its rounds, there's only so much eating healthy, getting enough rest, washing your hands, getting a flu shot, and avoiding germs one can do. If you're unlucky enough to get the flu, your body will hike up your body temperature to boil away all those germs. So, is there a point when your temperature can get too high?

When you get the flu, a sudden high fever is totally normal, and it can get as high as 104° F, and last for three to four days. The best thing you can do is to rest and drink plenty of fluids, since a fever can cause you to become dehydrated. Don't attempt to cool off your skin with cold packs since they'll just make you shiver, which will end up raising your body temperature. Instead you should alternate between taking Tylenol and ibuprofen every four hours to help reduce your fever. Alternating these meds will help to prevent accidental overdose, and sometimes the combination of the two will be more effective in bringing down your fever.

Fit's Tips: If your fever persists for more than five days, or it goes over 104° F, call your doctor and get some medical advice immediately.

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Have You Gotten a Flu Shot This Year?

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 03:00:00 -0800

It seems reasonable to say that everyone wants to avoid catching the flu and for that reason many people get vaccinated for the flu. Even though the flu shot isn't guaranteed to protect you against all types of the flu, it is recommended for many populations, like moms and children under five. Some people are adamantly opposed to vaccinations, especially the flu vaccine. Me? This year I am trying it out and the entire family got the shot (my 4-year-old didn't appreciate the preventive measure very much).

So I was wondering...

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