FitSugar

Smog Can Claim More Lives Than Car Crashes

LibertySugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:30:00 PST

Cars can be deadly in California, but not in the way you expect. Air pollution leads to more deaths than car accidents in two California regions. In addition to saving lives, bringing air pollution up to standards would save $28 billion each year in health care costs, missed work, and a loss of salary due to early death, according to a new study.

Despite what this depressing reality may suggest, California hasn't been sleeping at the environmental wheel. The state has plans to display global warming ranking stickers on every new car, and California was one of seven states to join four Canadian provinces in agreeing to cut greenhouse gas emissions even absent of federal action. News about smog related deaths makes California's maverick environmental policies seem more like a necessity, than a luxury.

Source

Top 25 Cities With LEAST Smog

FitSugar — Mon, 07 May 2007 17:15:00 PDT

OK, so last week I told you about the top 10 cities with the MOST smog. It's kind of depressing, but good to know so we can do something about it.

The good news is that smog levels across much of the country are lower than they were from 2003 to 2005, especially in the eastern U.S.

Here are the top 25 cities with the cleanest air...

Cheyenne, Wyo.
Santa Fe and Espanola, N.M.
Honolulu
Great Falls, Mont.
Farmington, N.M.
Flagstaff, Ariz.
Tucson, Ariz.
Anchorage, Alaska
Bismarck, N.D.
Albuquerque, N.M.

Want to see the rest? Then

Salinas, Calif.
Pueblo, Colo.
Fort Collins and Loveland, Colo.
Rapid City, S.D.
Redding, Calif.
Duluth, Minn.-Wis.
Phoenix, Mesa and Scottsdale, Ariz.
Pocatello, Idaho
Fargo and Wahpeton, N.D.-Minn.
Midland and Odessa, Texas
Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach, Fla.
Billings, Mont.
Colorado Springs, Colo.
San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles, Calif.
Reno, Sparks and Fernley, Nev.

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A Week In Review: FitSugar Round up

FitSugar — Sat, 05 May 2007 04:00:00 PDT

You have got to try this yoga pose: Extended Side Angle. Work your legs while stretching your side - it feels great.

Today, May 5th is Pilates Day. Hopefully there is a studio participating near you so you can check out the method.

If you are looking for a new suit, check out these sexy backs by Speedo.

Evangeline Lilly's beauty is not Lost on us. Read what she does to keep looking so great.

Do you eat Hot Pockets? You might want to read this nutritional breakdown of them before you nuke your next hot pocket.

Here's the skinny on some not-so-healthy health foods.

Do you know which drink has less calories, a mint julep or a margarita.

Want to see if the city you live in made it on the list of the top 10 cities with the most smog.

There are seven habits of healthy people. Hopefully your habits would make the list.

May is all about Skin Cancer Awareness. Get a free skin cancer screening.

See what a pound of muscle can do for you.

Top 10 Cities With the MOST Smog

FitSugar — Wed, 02 May 2007 02:00:00 PDT

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

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

Source

Design Inspiration From LA's SmogShoppe

Tara Sharp — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 05:00:00 PST

I've fallen in love with green, urban venue SmogShoppe in LA. But for those of you not planning on celebrating any events at the refurbished smog check center, there's still much to glean from this hidden gem. Take a cue in your own home from SmogShoppe's blend of vintage furniture and modern design with both industrial homages to the spot's past life and a smattering of desert-plant greenery. And with all its eco-friendly features, it'll have you seeing green in more ways than one. Check out my slideshow to be inspired.

Brazilian Blowout Agrees to Up Its Safety Warnings in CA

Jaime Richards — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:43:02 PST

The formulas will be the same, but change is already in progress for manufacturer GIB's controversial Brazilian Blowout and Acai Professional Smoothing Solution. Last November, California brought a lawsuit against the company for making misleading claims about the safety of the products, specifically the levels of formaldehyde contained within, but now the parties have come to an agreement. "This settlement requires the company to disclose any hazard so that Californians can make more informed decisions," California Attorney General Kamala Harris's office said in a statement.

As a part of the deal, the makers of Brazilian Blowout have agreed to label the aforementioned product with hazard warnings (a process which they have already started), and will also provide salons with pamphlets containing safety precaution information. See more of the outcome when you read more.

Live Like the Jetsons in Japan (Almost)

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:41:16 PST

I've always said that Japan is living in the future, so it comes as no surprise that someone there would build a house fit for a futuristic utopia in the year 2062. There are no flying cars parked in its driveway, but this Toda House in Hiroshima, Japan, which was built by architect Kimihiko Okada to resemble a birds nest, seems to draw inspiration from one of my favorite TV shows growing up - The Jetsons.

In The Jetsons, the population was forced to build apartment buildings on stilts in order to find relief from the smog and pollution on the earth below, but the residents in this case just wanted a better view over their neighbors' roof. Sounds like a better deal to me. Check out a few more images of the Toda House in the gallery, but head over to FreshHome for a better look at the Hiroshima dwelling.

15 Tips For an Urban Wedding

Tara Sharp — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 05:00:00 PDT

Maybe I'm slightly biased because I'm having my wedding at a renovated smog check center, but I was so happy to read on Style Me Pretty that "brick is the new backyard." Glitz and glam ballrooms and rustic, country fields can be beautiful wedding settings, but I'm all about the less-obvious, rough-around-the-edges venues. If you're with me, I've rounded up my favorite chic industrial weddings to illustrate some tips on going a little bit gritty with your big day locale.

You Asked: Running in Polluted Air

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:07:37 PST

Hi FitSugar, Has the topic of running and pollution been raised recently? I live in Los Angeles and gave up running in the morning because my lungs would burn afterward and I'd be coughing the rest of the day. I wouldn't have the symptoms when I ran before rush hour, at night, or at the gym. I am a non-smoker, typically running 3-5 miles at an easy pace, 2-3 days per week. Have other readers had the same experience, or do you have some thoughts on avoiding pollution-related lung or heart damage for city runners? -Secondhand Smog Sucks

This is a great question, and one that extends to international proportions. Training in pollution was a huge topic during the Beijing 2008 Olympics due to the city's high level of air pollutants. Individuals noted that running in Beijing was a nightmare on the lungs, and many athletes refused to train there before the games. And though air pollution in Beijing is a whopping five times higher than the World Health Organization's standard, it got people thinking about what harmful effects they might be exposing themselves to when exercising outdoors.

To find out what risks are associated with exercising outdoors,