FitSugar

Deodorant Woes? Try Powdry Deodorant Powder by LUSH

FitSugar — Wed, 30 May 2007 10:15:00 -0700

When it comes to being healthy, we are all trying to avoid putting unhealthy things in our body as well as on our bodies. In this quest, it can be difficult to find a deodorant that is free of chemicals we are trying to avoid.

I recently tried Powdry Powder Deodorant by LUSH. Free of talc (which is considered carcinogenic by some cancer watch dog groups), this powder is an absorbent powder made from corn starch and chickpea flour. It is scented with lemon essential oil, juniper and olibanum (frankincense), ultimately it smells a little like walking in a pine forest, which is a scent that I find refreshing.

Although the powder kept me dry, it was very messy to apply. However, since it is a powder you can apply it just about anywhere you sweat, which is a plus. I do think this product is a great alternative to more conventional deodorants, but it will not keep you perfectly dry, especially if you are prone to heavy sweating.

Buy a 1.7 ounce tin directly from LUSH for $7.95.

Spring Running Tip: Prevent Blisters

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 02:00:00 -0700

Running or jogging can be tough on your tootsies - especially if you run outside. Here are some tips to keep your feet happy:

Make sure your shoes fit properly - not too tight and not too loose. Different brands and styles cater to wide/narrow feet and high/low arches. There should be about 1/2 inch between your longest toe and the tip of your shoe. Make sure you can wiggle your toes freely, and your heel shouldn't slip when you walk.

Go to a sneaker store that has a treadmill so you can try them before you buy them. No treadmill in the store? - then run around inside. You'll feel a little silly, but when you go for that first run in your new shoes, you'll be glad you tried them out.
Keep your feet as dry as possible. Avoid running in puddles and if you like to pour water over your head on a hot day, try leaning over so it doesn't drip into your shoes.
Get yourself a few pairs of wicking socks (not cotton) - these will pull moisture away from your skin when your feet sweat. They also make blister-proof socks. Check out these made by Thorlo.
To prevent blisters, sprinkle talcum or foot powder on your bare feet before putting on your socks.

Want to know what else you can do to prevent blisters? Then read more

Another blister prevention method is to spray antiperspirant on your bare feet.
If a certain part of your foot is prone to getting blisters, tape it up with sport tape, or use mole skin.
To help prevent and heal blisters, check out Blister Block - it's like thick, rubbery, extra skin that you can apply anywhere. It cushions and protects your feet, especially on long runs.

Source

Carob Conundrum

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 07:30:00 -0700

I see carob at the health food store all the time, advertised as a chocolate alternative. It looks a lot like chocolate, but I can tell you right now, it doesn't compare to the amazingly decadent taste of chocolate.

Fit's Post Work Out Desk Kit

FitSugar — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 13:00:00 -0800

So you worked out at lunch but you didn't have time to take a shower. You feel a little icky and want to know what to have on hand next time you run (no pun intended) into this situation.

Well here's my recommendations of some things to keep in your desk for your Fit's post work out desk kit.

Baby wipes are not just for babies anymore. They're great for wiping your self down and cleaning yourself up.
Antiperspirant or deodorant - just keep a spare near.
Powder helps absorb any lingering sweat. I like Burt's Bees Dusting Powder - it smells great and it is talc free.
Toner - after wiping down your face, neck and chest apply some Murad's Clarifying Toner to freshen up and close your pores.
Undies- it is always a good idea to change them post work out, since yeast incubates in damp, dark places.

So tell Santa you want a cute make up bag for Christmas and jump start your post work out desk kit today.

Now Is the Time to Get Ready For the Slopes

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:41 -0800

Even though we're in the middle of Fall and I've yet to see any real signs of snow, experts say now is the time to get your butt in gear for Winter sports. Days on the slopes can be long and require a good amount of endurance, especially if you're the type who likes to visit the mountains for an extended weekend or even longer.

Veteran Winter Olympic athletes like ski racer Daron Rahlves and snowboarder Elena Hight recommend doing specific training for Winter sports six to eight weeks before the season starts. They say the key to lasting all day, weekend, or week on the slopes is to work on flexibility, strength, and cardio. A good mix of this will ensure you can snowboard from sunup to sundown. Being in tip-top shape will also help cut down on injuries.

An article in the San Francisco Chronicle asked a group of Winter Olympians and trainers their advice on getting in shape for Winter sports. Here's some of their advice.

Stretch for 15-20 minutes every day or do 10 minutes of sun salutations. Skiers should focus on their lower bodies, while snowboarders should focus on their upper and lower areas.
Two to three times a week, focus on strength training with emphasis on your quads, hamstrings, and core muscles. Keeping your legs and core strong helps with balance and endurance, and helps cut down on ACL injuries. If you can, use kettlebells and also make sure to do tons of squats, leg curls, and lunges.
Do some sort of aerobic activity for at least 15 minutes every day, keeping your heart rate elevated the entire time.

Sounds doable to me. Who's hungry for powder?

Sports Energy Products Explained: Drinks, Powders, and Tablets

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:47:52 -0700

In order to sustain your energy for long workouts, you need to refuel with some kind of sporty energy product. Sport nutrition products are manufactured in so many forms these days - sport drinks, powders, energy bars, goos, and chews - so how do you know which one is right for you? Hopefully I can ease your confusion starting with sport drinks, powders, and tablets.

Popular brands of sport drinks include Gatorade, Accelerade, and Powerade. These pre-made, often neon-colored drinks contain carbs that you need for quick energy, and sodium and water that you need for hydration. A proper sport drink contains about 15 grams of carbs and 110 mg of sodium per eight-ounce serving. You can also buy powders you mix with water to make sport drinks. You only really need these drinks if you are working out for an hour or longer or are sweating profusely during your workout. I wouldn't sip these while running on the treadmill for 30 minutes. The sugar isn't necessary for short workouts, and as long as you hydrate with water before and after exercising, you're good to go.

What about Smartwater? To find out read more.

There are also beverages that contain electrolytes and no sugars, such as Smartwater or Function Water. Or if you want a little flavor but not a ton of sugar, NUUN tablets can be dissolved in your water. Electrolyte-enhanced water will help prevent dehydration but help your energy levels by providing glucose (aka sugar, which is turned into fuel for your muscles).

So here's the bottom line. If your workout is under an hour, drink plain water before and after. If you're working out and sweating a lot, sip electrolyte-enhanced water every 10 to 15 minutes while working out. If you're working out for an extended period of time, and are also sweating out fluids, sip a sports drink every 10 to 15 minutes.

Powderwh*re "Flakes" Gets You Psyched For Snow

FitSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:30:06 -0700

I know it is still the middle of Fall, but here's a video that will make you wish it were Winter. Powderwh*re brings you their latest backcountry skiing video appropriately titled Flakes. Last Winter the production company filmed some of the best telemark skiers in the world, with the goal to "capture the joy and freedom that is powder skiing." There are no ski lifts, crowds of people, or impeccably groomed trails here, folks. These hardcore skiers hike up untouched powder-filled mountains, and then ski down the steepest, fluffiest, most gorgeous terrain you could imagine. This movie is touring the country right now, so here's a sneak peek to get you drooling with amazement.

If you're interested in seeing Flakes, grab your fellow ski bums and check out the tour dates. For my fellow Bay Area dwellers, it's playing in San Francisco this Friday!

Still aching for more? The Freeheel Life is another skiing movie touring the country. To check out that movie trailer read more.

Are you looking forward to hitting the slopes? I know I sure am.

Product Review: Greens First

FitSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:00:53 -0700

I try my absolute best to eat five to nine servings of fruit and veggies a day but sometimes I fall short. I also find that sometimes it's hard for me to digest all that roughage. I talked to my nutritionist about this problem and she recommended Greens First - a megablend powder that contains super foods, organic fruits and vegetables, probiotics, fiber, enzymes, and more.

It's lightly sweetened with stevia and has a slight minty flavor, it definitely tastes better than any of the other "green" drinks I've tried. I mix the powder with a glass of cold water in the morning and I'd say that within 30 minutes I feel a boost in my energy level. The website says that one serving of Greens First fulfills your fruit and veggie quota for the day but I still eat as much fresh stuff as I can.

Talcum powder

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:59:36 -0700

Overview

Definition
Alternative Names
Poisonous Ingredient
Where Found
Symptoms
Home Treatment
Before Calling Emergency
Poison Control, or a local emergency number
What to expect at the emergency room
Expectations (prognosis)

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

Talcum powder is a powder made from a purified mineral called talc Talcum powder poisoning occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally breathes in or swallows talcum powder.

Alternative Names

Talc

Poisonous Ingredient

Talc

Where Found

Some antiseptics
Talcum powder

Note: This list may not include all products containing talcum powder.

Symptoms

Most symptoms are caused by accidental or long-term breathing in (inhaling) of talc dust, especially in infants. Breathing problems are the most common problem.

Bladder and kidneys
- Urine output, decreased significantly (or none)
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Cough
- Eye irritation
- Jaundice (yellowed eyes)
- Throat irritation
Gastrointestinal
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
Heart and blood
Lungs
- Acute respiratory distress
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Respiratory failure
Nervous system
- Coma
- Drowsiness
- Lack of desire to do anything
- Twitching of arms, hands, legs, or feet
- Twitching of the facial muscles
Skin
- Blisters
- Blue skin, lips, and fingernails
- Rash
- Shedding (sloughing) of skin
- Yellow skin
Whole body
- Fever

Home Treatment

Seek immediate medical help. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional.

If the person breathed in the talcum powder, immediately move him or her to fresh air.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

Patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of the product (as well as the ingredients and strength, if known)
Time it was swallowed
Amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

See: Poison control center - emergency number

What to expect at the emergency room

The health care provider will measure and monitor your vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. You may receive:

Breathing tube
Fluids by IV
Medicine (antidote) to reverse the effect of the poison
Medicines to treat an allergic reaction (diphenhydramine, epinephrine, or prednisone)
Oxygen

You may be admitted to the hospital.

Expectations (prognosis)

How well you do depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment is received. The faster you get medical help, the better the chance for recovery.

Breathing in talcum powder can lead to very serious lung problems, even death.

Use caution when using talcum powder on babies. Serious lung damage and cancer have also been reported in workers who have breathed in talcum powder many times over long periods of time.

Review Date: 2/27/2008

Reviewed By: Stephen C. Acosta, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, OR. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Source Doc: 1_002719

What to Expect at Your First Mammogram

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:30:30 -0700

Supporting your girls with a great sports bra is important for your workouts, especially jumping plyometrics. When you hit 40, you're going to need to take photos of them too. Yep, I'm talking about a mammogram. This soft tissue x-ray is recommended annually for every woman over 40, and if you are at risk for breast cancer (if your mother or sister has had it, for instance), you start the process at 35.

The procedure is actually pretty simple and quick, but there is a lot of smooshing of breast tissue involved. So it's good to go into the process with a sense of humor and to check your modesty at the door. Here are a few pointers to make your first mammogram as pain-free as possible.

Do not wear deodorant, perfume, or powder. These substances can interfere with the imaging of breast tissue and even show up on the mammogram as calcifications, which can alarm the radiologist reading your mammogram, rendering more images necessary. This translates directly into more squishing.
Wear separates to the appointment, so you only have to take off your top and not fully disrobe.
If you have long hair, wear it up. This way your long locks won't interfere with the machinery and you won't accidentally have your hair pulled.
Avoid wearing necklaces or dangling earrings. Or simply take them off and stow them while you are having the mammogram.

A standard mammogram is four images, two per breast. If you have breast implants, double the number of images needed. At your first mammogram, sometimes extra images are needed to get a better understanding of the baseline reading of your breast tissue. At some offices, the radiologist will read the mammogram while you wait, so you get the results immediately, which seriously decreases the stress of the entire operation. However, some clinics will send the results to your primary care physician. In that case, remember to call your doc for results.