FitSugar

Keep Your Vitamins Out of the Bathroom

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:00:09 -0800

If you down your vitamins with a little bit of tap water, chances are high you store them in your bathroom or kitchen. Unfortunately, a new study indicates that the watery elements of those two rooms make them the worst places to keep these pills. High humidity and high temperatures, often found in both the kitchen and bathroom, can degrade the potency and decrease the shelf life of certain supplements - even if the bottle caps are screwed on tight. Opening and closing the bottles allows humidity to creep inside, and that moisture can dissolve ingredients in the vitamins, decreasing their quality. The chemical changes are irreversible. It doesn't make your supplement unsafe, just less potent.

Check your vitamins and if you notice irregular brown spots, darkening, or signs of moisture in the container, you may want to replace them. And when you do, store your bottles away from the bathroom and kitchen. I keep mine on my desk at work. Where do you store yours?

Tips For Exercising in the Humidity

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 04:00:00 -0700

Some people really enjoy working out in the heat under the summer sun. The weather is inspiring as are the other people outside exercising in the heat with you. There is plenty to look at too.

Warm weather is wonderful, but you've got to be careful when the temperature and humidity levels get too high. Here are some tips when exercising in the humidity:

Check the heat-index level. This is the number that takes into consideration the temperature and the humidity to determine how hot it actually feels outside. Check out the chart below - If you are exercising and the temp is 85°F and rising, and the humidity is 65% or more, you could be in danger of heatstroke.

Stay hydrated. Dehydration caused by excessive sweating can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Drink fluids before, during, and after exercise even if you don't feel thirsty. Make sure to pack a water bottle with you while you're out - I like to fill mine with tons of ice and a little water. I put some cubes in my mouth and in my sports bra, and I make sure to take sips of ice water every 5-10 minutes.

To see the other important tips read more

Avoid direct sunlight. Wear a hat, or workout in shaded areas.
Wear loose-fitting, light-colored, and lightweight clothes.
Exercise at cooler times of the day, early in the morning or late at night.
Go easy. Whether you are running, biking, or hiking, slow down your pace and take intervals of rest and recovery.
Try to use water in your workout routine. Go kayaking, swimming, windsurfing, water skiing, or wakeboarding. You'll be using your muscles and getting your heart pumping, but you won't be staying cool.

Source

Do you find it easier to stretch when the weather is hot and humid?

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 07:30:00 -0700

Stretching is one of my favorite activities and warm weather really inspires me to work on my flexibility. The heat seems to make me more pliable and the stretching even more enjoyable. Does the warm weather have that affect on you too?

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Allergies and Humidity

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 13:30:00 -0700

Allergies are the worst. You know what I'm talking about if you suffer from itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, and coughing.

Summer can be one of the worst times of the year because so many things are growing. It also gets really hot and humid, so I want to know...

Source

How Germy Is Your Car?

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:30:00 -0700

I like to think of my car as a continuation of my home, my private sanctuary on wheels. Now I know there are germs in my home, I have two little ~~germ factories~~ children running around my house. For some reason though, I thought my car would be germ free. Not true, in fact, moms have the germiest vehicles around.
You would think the steering wheel would harbor the most bacteria, since your hands are on it all the time. But the dashboard is one of the leading "hot" spots. Not only is it the warmest place in the car, air vents draw bacteria via the air circulation system. Food and beverages spill and stains may look harmless but they are a haven for bacteria.

Single men have the cleanest cars, while married folks and moms have the "hottest" cars, geography does play a part. Cars in hot humid climates like Florida are likely to contain 10 times as much bacteria as cars in dry areas like Arizona.

Regardless of your geographic location or marriage status, keep some antibacterial wipes in your glove box to clean up your spills. As a mom, I must say baby wipes are great for dusting the dash.

Source

New Antioxidant on the Block: Mangosteen

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:00:22 -0800

Blueberries, green tea, and dark chocolate are well-known antioxidant powerhouses, which are believed to support your immune system and help prevent or slow down damage to cells in your body. If you're all about antioxidants, you may have already added mangosteen to your list of superfoods about to make it big. It's a gorgeous purple-colored tropical fruit grown in hot, humid climates. It's not big at all, only about two or three inches in diameter, which is about the size of a tangerine. The hard, thick rind is removed to reveal a soft, whitish fruit that's sweet and tart.

Mangosteen is rich in xanthones, which lab studies have shown to have anti-cancer effects. Aside from that, mangosteen also has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiseptic properties.

Fresh mangosteens can be found in Canada and Hawaii, but you'd be hard-pressed to find the actual fruit in the US because of concerns that infectious insects would be transported with them into the country. You can, however, find mangosteen beverages, like the one made by XanGo, freeze-dried mangosteens, and supplements. People take them for the antioxidant properties, for energy, to reduce inflammation, for cleansing, and also because the juice and freeze-dried mangosteen has a wonderful flavor.

Tell me, are you into mangosteen products?

How to Fight Frizzy Hair on Hot, Humid Days

BellaSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:01:00 -0700

Humidity plus hair can equal a frizzy mess, but it doesn't have to. When the heat rises, a few preventive measures can keep the flyaways and fluff at bay. Leonardo Manetti, co-founder of ION Studio in New York, has shared some pointers on doing so. "If you follow these quick steps," he says, "you will have frizz-free hair even on the most humid of days." For the scoop, just keep reading.

What Humidity? Fight Frizz This Summer With TRESemmé

Sponsor — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 05:45:00 -0700

The dog days of Summer can take their toll on your look - so before you step outside for
some fun in the sun, protect your hair with TRESemmé Smooth products. No more
frizzy flyaways! Keep your style under control in any weather. Just follow these simple
steps for smooth, silky hair:

Prep: Use Smooth & Silky Shampoo and Conditioner to moisturize and tame unruly hair.

Create: Set your style with Simply No Frizz Spray Gel. This unique spray protects your hair from moisture causing frizz, without the sticky mess.

Finish: Tame those annoying flyaways with Anti-Frizz Secret Smoothing Crème. Then mist Frizz Shield Finishing Spray to lock out humidity and keep flyaways out of sight.

Watch this Smooth & Silky TRESemmé StyleSeeker How-To.

Dear Bella: Help Smooth My NOLA Frizzies

BellaSugar — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:00:57 -0800

Recently, I received an email from a Bella reader, and I knew I had to help. Here's her dilemma:

I have slightly wavy, very thick, and frizzy long hair. I live in constant humidity here in New Orleans, LA. I am not sure chemicals are the answer for me because technically my hair is already straight for the most part, but I would be willing to try a chemical procedure if it will smooth my frizzies and give me a sleek shine. I would love to try a new color when I finally learn how to control my mane. And for the record, I have never dyed my hair and only used heat in my hair about every three months so it should be healthy - can't tell behind all this frizz, though.

To see what I have to say, read more.

Winter weather often means dry, Winter hair - which often leads to frizz. But, since you're living in a more humid climate, excess moisture in the air is attracted to the the porosity of hair, which causes it to swell up. Frustration. While any chemical service will open up the hair's cuticle (which can also cause frizziness - ugh!), consult with a stylist for details on gentle hair color services and straightening options. But when it comes to defrizzing at home, here are some tips to keep your hair tame. The whole point is to keep your cuticle flat, protect your hair, and repel excess moisture:

Cleansing: Shampooing daily can make the hair behave badly. If you must shampoo every day, consider using a smoothing shampoo, washing only the roots to remove oils. Then, condition the hair shaft and ends to keep hair hydrated without weighing it down. To finish, blast your hair cold water to seal the cuticle as you rinse.
Don't touch: After washing, let your hair air-dry. Whatever you do, don't aggravate your locks by rubbing the towel all willy-nilly. Instead, try keeping your hair wrapped in that towel a little longer to absorb excess water. Then, apply an antihumidity smoothing cream like Aveda Smooth Infusion Style-Prep Smoother ($24), distribute with a wide-toothed comb, and let it be.
Yes to silicone. No to alcohol: Once your hair has dried, apply a silicone serum to boost shine and further prevent the dreaded frizz. Try Citre Shine Shine Anti-Frizz Serum ($6.89). Something to avoid? Products with alcohol, which can be drying and frizz inducing.
If you must add heat: Apply a heat protector first to prevent damage. If using a blow-dryer, point the nozzle downward to avoid ruffling up the cuticle. For even smoother results, use a flat iron to help manage those wild strands. But whatever you do, always use protection.

Source

Reader Redux: I Spilled Tea on My Laptop

GeekSugar — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:30:51 -0800

Last week I told you about my friend who spilled tea on her MacBook Pro. After the spill the computer wouldn't turn on, and she feared the worst. I told her to remove the battery and seal it in a bag of rice, which she did. Four days later she took the computer out, replaced the battery, plugged in the computer, and hoped for the best. I'm happy to report it turned on! So far, so good; she hasn't noticed any problems.

Thanks for all of your helpful advice on the matter. It seems like my friend was very lucky this time around, and her first question to me as soon as she knew it was working was, "Where can I get a good case for the computer?" To read a roundup of your best advice and comments, or to comment yourself if you've experienced the same thing and have some advice to share, read more.

"I should also add to this discussion that the unibody laptops have spill sensors built it that change colors. Apple will know if you spill something on them and try to lie to them about it." - spacekatgirl

"Months ago my roommate's boyfriend spilled a vodka & sprite cocktail all over my open MacBook. The best advice I got right there on the spot was to NOT turn it on until it was completely dried out. So, I took out the battery and propped my MacBook up like an upside down V. I waited 3 days before I tried to see if it turned on, and it did! To this day the keys stick a bit, but I'm just happy it's still kickin'." - BrittneyMona

"I suggest using silica gel to thoroughly dry it out. Photogs usually use it to keep lenses dry in humid areas so that fungus can't grow. I dropped my iPhone in a bucket of water once and totally panicked. I left it on (because turning it off could cause it to short circuit). I wiped it dry and used a hair dryer for good measure. And then I put it in a ziploc bag with a 1-ounce packet of silica gel. It dried off in a day." - Anonymous