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Sunglasses That Are Good For Your Body - This Week on AOL Health

Reviews & Products

women wearing sunglasses
Photo: Getty Images
Last month That's Fit reported on shades that are a good fit for your workout. This week, AOL Health is reporting on tinted lenses that are good for your health (and looks). One tip we learned: Trendy as the "big-framed" look may be, these larger lenses may actually be doing you a service by protecting the skin around your eyes from the sun's cancerous rays and by helping prevent wrinkles. Find out more shades-savvy tips this week on AOL Health.

Paul McCartney's Yoga Addiction

Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

Paul McCartney
Let's face it: Divorce is stressful. Particularly if you're the one who has to pay out. So how do you deal with having to fork over around $50 million to your ex? If you're Paul McCartney, you cope by doing yoga. A LOT of yoga ... as in, six times a day.

OK. OK, let me clarify. The 66-year-old mega star doesn't spend his entire day doing downward dogs, but he does spend a significant amount of time doing eye yoga. As in, yoga for eyes. In a recent television interview, he demonstrated the workout -- which he learned in India -- and it basically involves a bunch of different eye movements. So, obviously, it's not going to help you burn calories or look good in that sleeveless dress.

Nonetheless, it's easy to do and you don't even need to lace up your sneakers. Want to know more about Eye Yoga? Click here.

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The hidden hazards of the office job

Motivation

Compared to a job like deep-sea welding, working in an office behind a desk seems like a pretty safe career move. You might think that there's little chance for injury, but don't forget that there are still are a few dangers: Weight gain from inactivity, depleted eyesight, poor posture, and let's not forget probability of severe mid-afternoon fatigue.

Divine Caroline has some excellent rules for avoiding some of the dangers of the desk job:

  • The 20/20 Rule - Save your eyesight by looking away from your computer every 20 minutes for 20 seconds at something three feet away.
  • The Floating Mouse Rule - When moving your mouse, move your whole arm instead of just your wrist.
  • The Mini-break Rule - take a 30 to 60 second break every 30 minutes -- use this time to take a short walk or do some stretches.

They have even more excellent tips to share ... click here for more info.

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6 tips for healthy vision

Diet & Weight Loss

close-up of woman's eyeWe know that it's important to eat right and exercise to care for our bodies. We buy special products and take care of our skin. Brushing and flossing take care of our teeth. But what about our eyes? It's just as important to guard our eye health -- Revolution Health gives us six simple tips for healthy vision:

  • Good nutrition. Inflammation is the root cause of many eye disorders, so opt for anti-inflammatory foods when possible. Avoid red meat, choose fish and other products that are rich in omega-3s, and choose monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (avoid saturated fats as much as possible). Also eat lots of green, leafy veggies -- they're high in lutein which is important for eye health.
  • Protect your eyes from the sun. Wear sunglasses that have 100% UV protection. It can also be helpful to wear a wide-brimmed hat when at the beach or other sunny spots.
  • Exercise. Moderate exercise has been proven to reduce intraocular pressure, a causative factor for glaucoma.
  • Don't smoke. Smoking doesn't just damage the lungs -- it also damages blood vessels which, in turn, can deprive the eyes of much-needed oxygen.
  • Minimize eye strain. Position your computer monitor properly (not too close and a bit below eye level) and use a glare guard.
  • Have regular eye exams. Even if your vision isn't impaired, it's important to visit an eye doctor regularly. (Many people go annually, but you can ask your doctor what intervals he/she recommends.)

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Blueberries bursting with health benefits

Nutrition & Supplements

In the market for a tasty, healthy treat? Try blueberries. Why? Read on and you'll find a handful of reasons.

Blueberries are quite low in calories -- there are only 83 calories in one cup, says CalorieKing.com. If for some reason, this is too much for you, you can burn these calories off with any one of the following: 11 minutes of walking, four minutes of jogging, three minutes of swimming, or six minutes of cycling (based on a 35-year-old female standing 5.74 feet tall and weighing 144 pounds). Or you could just pick some berries yourself -- I did the other day and spent about 45 minutes walking up and down rows of bushes, sweating my butt off. I surely burned off a serving or two of these blue berries. Really, though, it doesn't matter to me whether or not I burn them off because they are so darn good for me, the health trade-off is worth the caloric intake.

According to the The World's Healthiest Foods, blueberries are superbly healthy for these reasons.

  • They are good for the heart, the brain, and the eyes.
  • They protect against colon and ovarian cancers.
  • They promote gastrointestinal health.
  • They help relieve diarrhea and constipation.
  • Their antioxidants neutralize free radical damage to cells and tissues.

Clearly, blueberries are bursting with health benefits. So buy some, pick some, eat some. They'll do your body good. So will the following antioxidant-rich foods.

11 antioxidant-rich foods(click thumbnails to view gallery)

CauliflowerBroccoliCabbageOnionGarlic

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Stressed to my eyeballs

Motivation

Last week my son and I went to the eye doctor for a routine check up. My son's exam went without a hitch -- his prescription is a bit stronger than before, but it's no more than to be expected. My exam, however, showed a few unexpected changes.

I've noticed that the vision in my right eye hasn't been very good lately, but I blamed it on the pair of contacts I've worn much longer than I should have. It turns out that there is at bit of a problem in my right eye, or there was a bit of a problem anyway. Though I was largely asymptomatic, sometime in the past few months I had a case of Central Serous Retinopathy (CSR).

In CSR, layers of tissue near the macula become detached and serous fluid builds up underneath. Eventually, the fluid leaks out. Some people experience symptoms such as decreased night vision, problems discriminating between colors, distortion, or even loss of sight. Most often, the symptoms are temporary, resolving themselves as the CSR heals. In my case, I did experience some visual difficulties, but they were subtle enough that I didn't think anything was wrong.

Often, CSR is caused by extreme stress but it is also associated with pregnancy. In most cases, the symptoms go away in time but sometimes a degree of visual impairment remains. (That's the way it is with me. Scar tissue is causing some permanent damage, but the damage is mild.) All I know is that this gives me a good reason to take better care of my stress levels.

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Are polarized sunglasses better for your eyes?

Diet & Weight Loss, Reviews & Products

Sunglasses are important year round, but especially so during summer months when we tend to spend more time outdoors. When you shop for sunglasses, one of the things that makes a big difference in price is whether or not the lens is polarized, which might lead you to believe that polarized is better for your eyes. That's not entirely true.

You need to make sure that any sunglasses you purchase block UVA and UVB rays. Polarization has nothing to do with UV -- it simply prevents glare. And, while glare can cause you to squint (which can lead to eye strain and wrinkles), the glare itself isn't doing damage to your eyes.

Surfaces that tend to cause glare are pavement and water, so polarized is often preferred for driving and boating. Personally, I like polarized lenses for running outdoors, but I know other people who are bothered by the polarization, so if you're spending big bucks on glasses for running outdoors, make sure you're familiar with the return/exchange policy.

Polarized Glasses(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Arnette, $109.95D&G, $164.95Ray-Ban, $169.95Oakley, $300Maui Jim, $279.95

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Sun in your eyes

Diet & Weight Loss


Are you hitting the beach during the holiday weekend? If so, don't forget to protect your eyes from the sun! While it's always important to lather on the sunscreen before heading out, it's equally important to protect your eyes from UV rays.

Numerous eye problems can result from sun damage. Young people especially need to remember to wear eye protection as they tend to be outdoors in the bright sunlight more than their adult counterparts. A good pair of UV-blocking sunglasses is you first line protection, but wide-brimmed hats can also provide some shade.

An American Optometric Association survey revealed that 40% of Americans don't consider UV protection an important criteria in sunglasses. It is important. Look for sunglasses that block out 99% of UV-A and UV-B radiation.

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See clearly with these power veggies

Healthy Habits, Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

Here are some must-haves to jot down on your next grocery list: Leafy spinach, kale, turnip greens, squash, green peas, broccoli, and corn. These are just a few of the foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin -- two plant nutrients one large study reveals can reduce your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.

You might be 35 percent more likely to ward off the most serious form of macular degeneration by incorporating these veggies into your diet. So get them on your list, get them in your cart, and get them in your mouth. They'll do your body good. You'll see.

Happy shopping. Happy eating.

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Celebrity Fitzness Report: ESPN College GameDay Analyst Kirk Herbstreit

Healthy Aging, Healthy Habits, Healthy Home, Healthy Relationships, Stress Reduction, Vegetarian, Work/Home Balance, Womens Health, Celebrities and Entertainment, Healthy Kids, Celebrity Fitzness Report, Healthy Events, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Motivation, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health

Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Want to know the secrets of the stars? Bi-weekly our That's Fit fitness expert Fitz sits down with the celebs we want to know more about, and digs out their great and not-so-great methods to staying healthy.

This week I got to sit down on a beautiful sunny day, in The Swamp with the very sweet, smart and athletic ESPN College GameDay Analyst Mr. Kirk Herbstreit. No, we weren't knee deep in mucky water. We were in the heart of Gator Country enjoying the breeze after Kirk completed his workout, running zillions of steps at the University of Florida football stadium, The Swamp. Kirk retired from playing football more than 15 years ago, after four years at quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes. But now, he's one of the major faces of college football. Pandemonium strikes college campuses across the country when he -- along with host Chris Fowler and analyst Lee Corso -- set up shop outside the biggest games of each week.

Kirk brings something unique to the team. Every time the GameDay crew heads to the University of Florida, I find more than just the expected crowd of rowdy football fans swarming their booth. There is always an unusual amount of females in a frenzy to get as close a look as possible into Kirk's pretty blue eyes. He's definitely worthy of the attention. From my interaction with Kirk, I think he's a genuinely nice and genuinely thoughtful person. Before we started talking fitness, Kirk shared concerns over all the violence taking place on college campuses. He's a protective father and husband who tries to excel in his career while taking care of his family. He is just plain old sweet! And even though his professional life has been built around sports, he works hard to squeeze in fitness and manage nutritious eating just like the rest of us. Kirk seems to be an expert juggler of life and shares some great tricks for staying fit on the go. He also dishes a few doozies on football.

Fitz: What types of things do you do to stay in shape?

Kirk: It's kind of a lifestyle really. As an athlete I worked out so hard, I could eat anything without paying the price for it. As I got older, I still had that appetite and I was not able to work out as hard as I did when I was playing football. What I really try to do is control my portions, and mix in cardio and strength training workouts four to five days a week. If I can do that, I feel like I'm in a pretty good place. It's just about doing it though!

Fitz: What do you do while you're on the road?

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An ounce of protection for eyes

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness

My son wears glasses and I've always worried about him when he's out playing sports. A good smack to the face and he could sustain serious eye injury. Last soccer season, I chalked up the horror movies running through my mind as unreasonable mommy-worries. (Because goodness knows I have a lot of those.) But according to this article, my fears aren't that outlandish after all.

The American Optometric Association reports that there are roughly 600,000 sports-related eye injuries each year. About 13,500 of which result in a permanent loss of sight. Eye protection is a necessary measure in high-risk sports such as baseball, basketball, and football. Other sports, such as golf, tennis, and fishing, may not seem like as big of risks, but protective measures should still be taken.

Purchase protective eye wear from a sporting goods store if you don't wear glasses vision correction. If you do wear glasses, ask your optometrist for recommendations. AOL Body has more tips on sports safety and injury prevention.

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Fit Beauty: Preparation is the key to holiday beauty

Traveling is easily one of my favorite activities. Whether it's a short road trip with friends or an across the globe adventure, as long as I can get the time off work and scrape together enough money to go, I'm in. The only thing I don't like, is the dazed and crazed look I often sport after several hours of travel time.

I wrote not so long ago about an article that gave tips on how you can maintain your good looks while on a flight -- drinking lots of water and no alcohol, sleep and movement are all key. This time I've come across an article that will help you prepare beforehand, including advice on what to pack and which beauty treatments to try before you hit the road. Whether you're traveling for business or for pleasure, the advice listed here will make sure that you're looking great as soon as you land.

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Daily Fit Tip: Give your eyes a break

Daily Fit Tip

I got quite the shock when I went to see my optometrist five years ago, only to have him tell me that my vision had deteriorated signifcantly and I needed glasses. I found out I was quite near-sighted, despite having near-perfect vision a few years earlier. I racked my brain to figure out what I had done wrong, and it all came down to one thing: My job. That was around the time I started to work in an office environment, slaving over a computer day in and day out. Nearsightedness is rarely caused by genetics--more often, it is caused by strain to your nearpoint vision. And the top source of that kind of strain? You guessed it--the computer.

So my advice? Give your eyes a break. Finish this article, then turn off the computer and let your eyes relax. Men's Health also has this suggestion: Close your eyes, tense all the muscle in your body and and release all at once with an exhale. Do this a few times a day, and you'll find your whole body will be less tense, including your eyes.

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George Clooney explains Hollywood's latest cosmetic surgery craze: Ball ironing

Celebs & Entertainment

I can't even count the ways I love George Clooney. A lot of celebrities could take a lesson from him on how to handle the media attention (at least most of the time).

He was recently interviewed for the April 2008 issue of Esquire, and when asked if it was true that he had cosmetic surgery on his eyes, he said he didn't, but went on to joke, "I did get my balls done, though. I got them unwrinkled. It's the new thing in Hollywood -- ball ironing."

This was the same interview in which he went online to see what rumors were circulating about him, and in response to one that said he was "GAY, GAY, GAY," he left a comment saying, "No, I'm gay, gay. The third gay -- that was pushing it."

The man clearly has a good sense of humor about himself, his fame, and the public's response to all that is George Clooney. If only more celebrities could be that secure -- we'd have more jokes than drugs, and more bouts of uncontrollable laughter than bouts of depression.

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Daily Fit Tip: Fight puffy eyes with acupressure

Daily Fit Tip, Alternative & Green Health

At some point or another we all suffer from puffy eyes, and they inevitably time their appearance before an important day at work, a social gathering, or worse yet a big date. Of course there are all kinds of beauty masks out there, and home remedies like using cucumbers or teabags, but if those don't work for you is there anything else you can try? Natural Health enlisted the help of massage therapists from a spa in New York City for advice, and they had this interesting technique to share:
  • Place your index fingers in the depressions a half-inch below the inner edge of your eyebrows, below the brow bone (on either side of the narrowest part of your nose), and gently press in and upward (see a picture here).
  • Hook your index fingers over the edge of the infraorbital ridge (the bone below each eye) at the very center, aligned with your pupils, and apply gentle pressure on the ridge.

12 "healthy" foods that really aren't:



Why? Click to find out!

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