FitSugar

Increased Cancer Risk in These Polluted Cities

FitSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:03:42 -0700

If you live in a city, you know firsthand about air pollution. Eighty different cancer-causing pollutants ca be found in the air, and they're increasing many individuals' risk for developing cancer. According to the National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment released by the EPA, nearly 600 neighborhoods across the US exceed a 100 in one million cancer risk. That means that if one million people breathe toxic air over the course of their lifetime, 100 people would develop cancer solely because of the pollution.

To find out which city's pollution levels are putting their residents at risk for cancer read more.

The chart below shows which areas have an estimated cancer risk greater than 100 in one million. It's no surprise that the major cities are the ones causing the greatest health risks.

Tell me, does knowing pollution is directly connected to increased cancer risk affect where you live?

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US Cyclists Wearing Masks?

FitSugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:00:00 -0700

When four US cyclists arrived in Beijing, they were wearing black masks over their mouths and noses. The United States Olympic Committee's (USOC) lead exercise physiologist advised athletes to wear masks on the plane and as soon as they set foot in the airport in Beijing. It all has to do with pollution and how the air quality is much poorer there as compared to the US. The athletes thought it wasn't that big a deal, until they heard that photographs of them in their masks were all over TV and the Internet.

Cyclist Mike Friedman said,

"Why we wore the masks is simple: pollution. When you train your whole life for something, dot all your i’s and cross all your t’s, why wouldn’t you be better safe than sorry? They have pollution in Los Angeles, and if the Olympics were in Los Angeles, we would probably wear these masks, too.”

Unfortunately, some USOC officials didn't agree with the mask idea and were not pleased with the cyclists' decision because they felt it may embarrass or offend China. Beijing is one the most polluted cities in the world, and it has taken measures to prepare for the 2008 Summer Olympics by shutting down or moving factories. Even cars were advised to be on the road on alternate days. For my take on the situation, and to watch a video about Beijing's air pollution, read more.

Unfortunately, you can't fix the problem of pollution in a short amount of time, and since the sky still seemed thick with gray smog, the athletes made the decision to wear the masks. When athletes came to Beijing earlier for Olympic test events last year, some athletes developed sore throats, chest infections, and allergic reactions. They just didn't want to take that chance again.

What do you think about athletes wearing masks to protect themselves from pollution? Is it a slap in Beijing's face, or do you agree that they should be able to wear these masks freely? Do you even think the masks help? For more info, check out this video, and then share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Fall Workout: Use a Push Mower

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:30:00 -0700

After raking up all the fall leaves in your yard, you will probably need to mow your lawn. Of course you can use a motorized lawn mower that needs gasoline to work, but you're not doing much for the environment. Why not use your own muscle power instead with a manual real push mower?

How does it work? All you do is push it along and it cuts your grass. It's that easy. No toxic fumes. No gas spills. No annoyingly loud noise. Plus it's cheaper than a gas-powered mower. All that and it burns more calories since you're doing all the work. 486 calories an hour as compared to 364 from regular mowing.

Still not convinced? Take it from this smart eight year old.

Fit's Tips: If your lawn is kind of huge, you may be into this bicycle-powered push mower instead.

Is it Safe to Eat the Fish I Catch?

FitSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Many of us vacation by water, and you or someone you're with is bound to do a little fishing. You might be wondering if that fish you catch is safe to eat. Unfortunately, there are no national guidelines on this topic. It all depends on where you fish and if the water is polluted or not.

To find out that information, you can visit the EPA website, click on any state in the U.S., and you will be redirected to that state's specific guidelines. Obviously if you are unsure about the pollution levels of the water, DON'T eat the fish you catch - just release it back into the water.

To lean more about certain types of fish and their level of mercury, check out this helpful poster. It illustrates the level of mercury in many types of fish. For instance catfish is low in mercury, but swordfish is high. Which is good since catfish are a lot easier to catch.

Mercury is dangerous to ingest since it can build up in your bloodstream over time. High levels of it can lead to nervous system problems including brain and nerve damage, so you definitely want to avoid mercury whenever possible. While your body naturally removes mercury, the process can take up to a year. It is especially important for women who are planning on getting pregnant to be conscious about the fish they eat - high mercury levels can harm an unborn baby.

Fit's Tips: It is recommended that you limit your weekly fish intake to 2 servings a week, that is 12 ounces of fish total. If you are not sure about the mercury level of the fish you catch, just eat one serving of that fish but skip it for the rest of the week.

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Mercury and Fish: What's the Deal?

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 13:00:00 -0800

I've heard people say that pregnant women shouldn't eat a lot of fish because of the mercury content. What's so bad about mercury and why is it in fish?

Although fish contain high-quality protein and other essential nutrients, are low in saturated fat, and contain omega-3 fatty acids, nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury.

Mercury occurs naturally in the environment, and can also be released into the air from pollution. The mercury falls from the air and accumulates in oceans, lakes, and rivers. Fish absorb the mercury since they live and feed in these waters, and the mercury builds up their bodies. That's why larger fish are the ones to watch out for when it comes to mercury, because they've had more time to accumulate it.

Some fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child's developing nervous system. That's why nursing mothers, women who are pregnant, and those who are trying to become pregnant are advised to watch their mercury intake.

For everyone, elevated levels of mercury can lead to nervous system problems with brain or nerve damage. Mercury levels can be measured by blood tests, or tests using hair.

If you regularly eat types of fish that are high in mercury, it can accumulate in your blood stream over time too. The body naturally removes it, but it may take over a year for levels to drop back to normal. That's why it's important for women who are trying to get pregnant to think about their mercury intake beforehand.

Want to hear about some guidelines from the EPA? Then read more

Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.
You can eat up to 2 meals (total of 12 oz) of fish a week.
5 of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.
Albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your 2 meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 oz (1 average meal) of albacore tuna per week.
Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught in lakes, oceans, and rivers near you. If no advice is available, only eat 1 meal (6 oz) a week of fish you catch, and no other fish that week.

Check out this poster. It's a great visual for which fish are low in mercury, and which ones to watch out for.

What You Should Know About Exercise and Air Pollution

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:30:00 -0700

There's been a lot of talk about the air quality in Beijing and how it is going to affect the Olympic athletes. But there is a significant amount of pollution stateside as well, and there are a few things you should know about pollution and exercise.

When you are working out, getting your cardio on, you take about 10 to 20 times the air that you would when just sitting on the couch. That makes sense right, the word "aerobic" often used to describe exercise does mean "with air." Generally when exercising and breathing hard you are breathing through your mouth (try as I might, I cannot breathe through my nose when I am running). This means the air bypasses our body's natural filtration system – the nose. Little particles of pollution then end up in the lungs. The unfortunate irony is that one of the important benefits of exercise is stronger lungs.

While exercising and breathing in exhaust is nowhere as dangerous as smoking cigarettes, there are a few things you can and should do to avoid "polluting" your body. To see them just read more.

Avoid biking and running paths that are right next to the freeway. It is best to have at least 50 feet between you and the roadway.
Avoid exercising during peak rush hour times.
Under the combination of high temperatures, high humidity, and high pollution move your workout indoors.
Good times to train outdoors are early in the morning and late in the evening. If there is not enough sunlight to make you easily visible, be sure to make sure you can be seen.
Do not use pollution as an excuse to avoid exercise. Be smart and figure out ways to fit working out into your schedule and around times of poor air quality. If you need to get your heart rate up indoors, check out these cardio machine workouts.

Fit's Tip: Air Now is a great website with up to date information on the air quality of many cities and metro areas in the US.

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Don't Get Exhausted

FitSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 09:00:00 -0700

It's been super hot in my neck of the woods lately, which has led me to take my workouts indoors. Not only do I not want to risk heat stroke, but I'm also concerned about all the exhaust and smoke on the streets.

New research says that even when it has been reduced by clean-air technology, air pollution can damage an outdoor exerciser's health, especially someone who has asthma, bronchitis, emphysema or other cardiopulmonary maladies. You shouldn't let pollution deter you from your exercise goals, but you may want to keep these tips in mind:

Do not run on or near roads where there is heavy truck or bus traffic.
Work out in the early morning or later in the evening when the ozone levels are at their lowest.
Exercise indoors if possible.
If you experience any difficulty breathing, stop your exercise immediately and see your doctor.

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Top 10 Cities With the MOST Smog

FitSugar — Wed, 02 May 2007 02:00:00 -0700

Ozone pollution, more popularly known as smog, is a big problem. Smog can inflame and damage the lining of the lungs, which can lead to swelling and restricted airways. Inhaling smog is like getting a sunburn on your lungs. This inflammation can lead to shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and chest pain. It can also aggravate asthma and bring on attacks.

According to the American Heart Association, chronic exposure to air pollution has been linked to heart disease and stroke. The EPA says that exposure to smog can also affect your immune system's ability to fight off bacterial infections.

High levels of ozone, the main ingredient in smog, can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, even in the average person. Bad levels of ozone are formed when heat and sunlight warm certain pollutants from cars and smokestacks from buildings.

Since summer is coming up, it's something we really need to watch out for. If you exercise outdoors in a place that's heavily smoggy, you may notice that it's more difficult to catch your breath. So on high alert days, you may want to workout inside.

Want to see which cities have the most smog? Then read more

Los Angeles, California
Visalia-Porterville, California
Bakersfield, California
Fresno, California
Houston, Texas
Merced, California
Sacramento, California
Hanford, California
Knoxville, Tennessee
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

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LA Ranks Number One For Dirty Air

FitSugar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:30:00 -0700

The recently released State of the Air report ranks Los Angeles as the nation's dirtiest city, a spot that LA has unfortunately held for a decade.

The report, commissioned by the American Heart and Lung association, found that 186.1 million people, more than half the US population, live and breathe in areas with dangerously high levels of air pollution. The rest of California did not fare so well either; the report found that the number of estimated premature deaths due to poor air quality, particulate matter specifically, has tripled. It is not surprising that three other metropolitan areas in California - Bakersfield, Visalia-Porterville, Fresno-Madera - rank among the nation's dirtiest.

To see the American cities that have the cleanest air, read more.

Made famous by the Cohen brothers movie, Fargo, North Dakota should also be famous for its great air quality. It is the only city to pass all three air pollution tests: ozone pollution, year-round particle pollution, and short-term (24-hour) particle pollution. Other cities to rank high in at least two out of the three tests are: Billings, MT; Cheyenne, WY; Colorado Springs, CO; and Honolulu, HI. You can check the state of your state's air quality at the State of the Air web site. How did your state rank?

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Exercise and Exhaust: A Bad Combination

FitSugar — Mon, 18 May 2009 08:00:00 -0700

One of my favorite bike paths parallels the freeway, which is quite unfortunate because air pollution doesn't play well with exercising lungs. Air pollutants, like car exhaust, can irritate the lungs and respiratory system, making breathing difficult. If you run, bike, or skate outdoors, you shouldn't let pollution deter you from your exercise goals, but there are few tips to keep in mind - especially if you suffer from asthma or bronchitis.

Do not run or bike on or near roads with heavy trucks or bus traffic.
Work out in the early morning or later in the evening when the ozone (resulting from the interaction of sunlight and chemicals found in car exhaust) levels are at their lowest.
Exercise indoors if possible.
If you experience any difficulty breathing, stop your exercise immediately and call your doctor.

You can use the Air Now website to check the air quality in your area. If your area's air is considered unhealthy, you may just want to pop in a fitness DVD and get your heart rate up in front of your TV rather than out on the streets.

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