Germs are all around us all the time. Try as you might to keep yourself free from them, save for living in a plastic bubble, there's really not much you can do to provide 100 percent protection. Wear rubber gloves? Wear a face mask? Wear an entire Haz-Mat suit? Go for it if it makes you feel "cleaner." Truth be told, however, measures of this kind are no more effective at preventing the spread of germs than much simpler methods.

For starters, keep your fingernails clean. Germs are found in the most abundance underneath your fingernails, so you'd be wise to thoroughly wash your hands throughout the day. And, as you'd probably expect, don't bite your fingernails, either. One would assume that everyone washes their hands, but it's actually not the case. Women's Health recently reported that a 2006 international survey found that two-thirds of American adults admit to not washing their hands properly (falling right behind the appropriately-named Germany). Another simple way to help keep as germ free as possible is to not shake hands with someone who you just heard coughing up a lung. Germs can hang around on human skin for two hours, so when Coughy McCo-Worker extends his or her hand, you may want to tactfully and respectfully decline.

Look, it's almost impossible to stay completely germ free. But, there are steps you can take to at least minimize your exposure, such as those mentioned. Feel free to add more suggestions of your own in the comments section below.

I've come across research suggesting that water has a thermogenic affect on fat. I've also come across research suggesting that research suggesting that water has a thermogenic affect on fat is unsubstantiated and untrue. As this scientific tennis match continues, new research gives the advantage to those who believe the former.

Based on a study conducted in Germany, water can cause a rise in metabolism and contribute to the burning of fat. In said study, researchers found that drinking a 16 ounce glass of cold water increased the metabolism of volunteers by as much as 24 percent over their normal metabolic rate, with this increase lasting as long as 90 minutes.

What caused this increase? Researchers posit that it has to do with the energy generated by the body as it warms the water during digestion. This could very well be the case, as there was no mention of the volunteers drinking warm water or any subsequent effects.

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Those smokers who think eliminating smoking in public places withing the U.S. is more akin to democratic rights trampling more than public health, listen up. Our friends in France are going down the same road. That is, banning smoking in public places.

As of New Year's day, smoking in most public places in France is now against the law. Again, health freedom against the inhaling of toxic second hand smoke wins the day.

Smoking bans are not just happening in the U.S. -- far from it. World health officials realize that the fumes from smoking are killing millions of non-smokers globally every year. That's the reason for the ban, as opposed to finding ways to limit one's personal freedom. Agree or disagree?

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On the streets of popular driving-style video games, you can drive up onto sidewalks and careen at top speeds down narrow streets crashing into buildings, all without anyone getting hurt. Obviously you know that when you get into your actual car, you can't behave that way, right? On a conscious level you may know that, but recent research in Germany suggests that when you play these kinds of video games, your risk-taking behavior on the real streets may increase.

Three different studies found that both men and women who played video games that allowed or required major traffic violations were more likely exhibit risky behavior in a driving simulator. While these results can't necessarily be transferred into real life, it does suggest that playing these types of video games may affect the judgment of drivers on the road. Not only that, when you consider that kids start playing these kinds of games as early as 10 years old, it makes you wonder what kind of drivers you may be sharing the road with in the future.

The effects of video games on teens and young adults has been a source of debate for some time now. Do violent games cause violent behavior? Do video games play a role in childhood obesity? Now we can add to that list -- Do video games make bad drivers? What do you think?

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