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Posts with tag germs

Keep it clean

Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 12:30PM by Chris Sparling
Filed under: Fitness, General Health, Women's Health, Men's Health, HealthWatch

The point of going to the gym is to get healthy, not sick. However, when you take into account what types of germs and viruses are stuck to gym equipment (from respiratory syncytial virus to strep bacterium), one can't help but wonder if being fit is worth not being healthy.

Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to make your gym visit safer. No, I'm not talking about refraining from making a crack about the gigantic guy in the MC Hammer-style balloon pants -- although, keeping your opinion to yourself will definitely make things safer. Rather, I'm talking about much more pedestrian ways of safeguarding your health, such as cleaning each workout station before and after using it. Most gyms provide spray bottles of disinfectant and paper towels for this very purpose.

Another option is to carry around a clean towel with you and use it to create a barrier between your body and a piece of equipment. For example, you can drape it over a bench before lying down to perform a set of presses. Just be sure to dump this towel into the laundry basket -- along with your gym clothes -- as soon as you get home from the gym (providing that the towel wasn't the property of the gym, in which case you've just stolen a towel ... a dirty one, at that).

Continue reading Keep it clean

Minimize germ exposure

Posted: May 12th 2008 2:30PM by Chris Sparling
Filed under: General Health, Healthy Habits, Healthy Home, HealthWatch

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.

Keyboards germier than toilet seats

Posted: May 6th 2008 7:30AM by Maggie Vink
Filed under: Health in the Media

hands on keyboardI will never forget a TV special I saw several years ago about household germs. They claimed that germs could "jump" from a toilet bowl and surfaces such as doorknobs were just breeding grounds for virtual colonies of little beasties.

Now the new germ-haven is your computer keyboard. Makes sense. Most people may remember to wash their hands before eating, but who thinks to wash their hands before using the computer? And, other than a perfunctory wipe down, my guess is there aren't too many people who really clean their keyboards.

Research from Great Britain indicates that computer keyboards may have more germs than toilet seats. The study was somewhat limited -- swabs were taken from 33 keyboards, one toilet seat, and one bathroom door handle. Several keyboards were dirty enough to be health hazards and one of the keyboards had five times the germs found on the toilet seat.

But even though the findings are a bit gross, there's no reason for alarm. The solution is simple: wash your hands before starting to work and clean your keyboard regularly. You may also want to consider minimizing the amount other co-workers use your keyboard.

How to prevent food poisoning

Posted: May 5th 2008 3:05PM by Maggie Vink
Filed under: Food and Nutrition

Sick in bedA little over a week ago I took my son out for a celebration of sorts. I brought him to one of those video game/pizza places. He'd been begging to go for months and I kept putting it off by saying "that's not an every day place -- that's a special occasion place." So, when a special occasion rolled around I couldn't exactly get out of it.

My son had a blast. And I'm glad. I, on the other hand, didn't enjoy it at all. I was troubled when I picked up our food tray and it was sticky. I was bothered by the station with puddles of spilled soda. And our pizza ... well, it looked good and smelled good, but some smarter part of my brain told me that something wasn't right. Unfortunately, my stomach spoke louder than my brain on that day, and I ate the pizza. And later on, well ... let's just say I wish I had listened to my brain.

Food poisoning, a type of gastroenteritis, is a pretty common affliction. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, shivering, and fatigue. Food poisoning is caused by improperly cooked food, spoiled food, or food prepared in unsanitary conditions. There are steps you can take to avoid food poisoning, however.

Continue reading How to prevent food poisoning

Are dogs a cure for hayfever?

Posted: May 5th 2008 11:00AM by Kristen Seymour
Filed under: General Health, Healthy Home, Healthy Kids


We have all heard that pets can help teach kids patience, responsibility, and empathy, but according to a recent study, having a dog in the home during childhood, especially during the first year of infancy, seriously decreased a child's likelihood of developing sensitivities to allergens like pollen. Our own Maggie first broke this story a few days ago but it's worth repeating for those thinking about investing in a canine commitment -- and for those who like photos of cute kids and cute dogs. See gallery that follows.

So the science behind this theory is that dogs bring germs inside on their coats and in their mouths, thus exposing kids to them and boosting the child's immune system. Older generations were often exposed to more dirt and germs as children (you know, because kids used to actually play outside instead of sitting indoors playing video games), and therefore developed a greater resistance to many allergens than kids today.

This study in particular has taken blood samples from 3,000 six-year-olds and will test the samples for hints that the child might become allergic to things like pet hair, dust mites, and pollen. The children will be retested at age 10, but the lead researcher has already stated with confidence that, "Our results show clearly that the presence of a dog in the home during infancy is associated with a significantly low level of sensitization to pollens and allergens."

Gallery: Are these kids less likely to develop allergies?

Doggy kissesAll smilesNo allergies for me!Staring contest

Trash the water bottles -- or don't

Posted: Apr 19th 2008 7:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: General Health, Health in the Media, Healthy Habits

I just washed and refilled my single-use water bottles. Put them in the fridge to chill. Will pull them out one by one as needed. Oops. Shouldn't do that, says this TIME magazine article.

Single-use water bottles -- you know, the ones with names like Dasani or Aquafina -- are made of polyethylene terephthalate, or PET. It's a lightweight plastic used in many drink bottles. But it's not intended for re-use. Here's why: PET degrades with use and its wrinkled surface can host germs. And backwash too.

Should you re-use your bottles, then? Not for drinking. Use them for a flower vase. Or recycle. Just don't wash, refill with water, and chill. Like I just did.

Continue reading Trash the water bottles -- or don't

Panic at the public potty seat

Posted: Apr 17th 2008 7:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: General Health, Healthy Habits

Do you panic about public potty seats? Many people do. I get it. Just imagining how many sets of buns have been planted on the same exact toilet seat I must use is enough to stir up a little health scare in me. Is anxiety about sharing toilet seats warranted, though?

Well, kind of.

Don't worry about genital herpes or HIV. These diseases can't survive outside the body, says D. Scott Smith, M.D., chief of infectious diseases at Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center in California. But you might worry about staph infections. There's a slight risk of picking one up -- you'll know you have one if you develop a mild skin irritation. And if your hands come in contact with germs in a filthy bathroom and you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, the bacteria can enter our body and cause diarrhea.

Continue reading Panic at the public potty seat

Be careful where you set your stuff

Posted: Apr 1st 2008 10:15AM by Bethany Sanders
Filed under: General Health, Healthy Home

The worst place to keep your shoes? The bedroom closet. Worst place to set your purse? The kitchen counter top. Worst place to keep your toothbrush? The bathroom sink.

But wait, you're saying, what's so wrong with stashing your shoes in the closet? If you've spent the day walking through yards that contain pesticides or other places where allergens and contaminants can get on your shoes, then walking through your house to the bedroom only brings those nasties in. Instead, say health experts, ditch your shoes at the door and put them away later.

As for your purse, studies have found the bottom of it is loaded with bacteria from being set on office, restaurant, and even...eww....bathroom floors. So you don't want it sharing a space with your dinner. And toothbrushes are fine on the bathroom sink as long as it isn't sitting next to your toilet, where it could get splashed with...well, that's enough descriptions for now, I think.

Find out about other places where you don't want to stash your stuff here.

Airborne manufacturers settle false advertising lawsuit

Posted: Mar 6th 2008 1:00PM by Maggie Vink
Filed under: Vitamins and Supplements

Airborne, a popular herbal supplement, that was created by a teacher who was sick of getting sick all the time. But the company recently faced a class action lawsuit regarding false advertising because of advertisements that claimed Airborne could combat the common cold. The company has since dropped those claims but now says the product can boost your immune system so it can better fight off germs.

The defendants haven't admitted any wrongdoing, but they've agreed to pay a 23.3 million dollar settlement, issue refunds to consumers, and take out ads informing consumers how they can get their refund. A nutritionist for the non-profit organization Center for Science in the Public Interest stated that there was no evidence that Airborne can protect you from germs.

Have you ever used Airborne?

Double dipping: Like putting your whole mouth right in the dip

Posted: Feb 3rd 2008 11:59AM by Rigel Gregg
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, General Health

Double dipping, is it a big deal or isn't it? One of the great controversies of life, it seems, got an answer on Friday when Bethany wrote that yes, it IS a big deal.

So for all intents and purposes it really is like putting your whole mouth right in the dip, but bad manners never stopped some people. So what are you supposed to do about it if you spot one of your guests double dipping a chip at your party?

I wouldn't recommend calling them out the way George got called out on that famous Seinfeld episode, but if they're a close friend you might be able to tease them lightheartedly and they'll get the point. And if you're really germophobic and suspect you have double-dippers in the room you can also serve your dips in smaller dishes that can easily be "refilled" with fresh dip on a frequent basis. Any other ideas?

Declaring war on germs

Posted: Feb 3rd 2008 8:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: General Health, Healthy Habits

Don't use water fountains. They're filthy. Don't eat at your desk at work. Desks are infested with germs. Sneeze and cough into the bend in your arm, not your hands. And use your knuckles and not your fingers for tasks like pushing elevator buttons.

These are just four tips for keeping germs from creeping and crawling all over your body. There are others -- wash your hands often, wash with soap and water more often than squirting the anti-bacterial stuff, and how about this one: Grab a public restroom paper towel before washing your hands so you're not touching dirty dispensers once your hands are clean. Then use it to turn off the water, dry your hands, and open any bathroom doors. And then what?

Some say there should be trashcans outside restrooms so we can dispose of paper towels properly, without touching door handles. Often, though, cans are missing and we're left with wet towels in hand. We could search for a trashcan elsewhere. Or we could drop our debris on the floor right outside the door. Is this disrespectful? Or might it send a message to those in charge that a wastebasket is necessary?

Find yourself striving for a germ-free you? What are your tricks? And how far would you go in your war against germs?

Gallery: 13 Healthy Habits

Eat breakfast every morningInclude fish and Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet regularlyGet enough sleepBe social

Boost your defenses

Posted: Jan 9th 2008 3:56PM by Chris Sparling
Filed under: Fitness, Food and Nutrition, General Health, Diet and Weight Loss

Thanks to the human body's defense systems, we are able to fight off germs, infection and certain diseases. Additionally, some food additives, pesticides, herbicides and heavy metals are also contended with by this natural mechanism. With this ongoing struggle for health always taking place, it's vital that we do what we can to aid our bodies in the fight.

To do so, try to consume foods that are high in antioxidants to neutralize free radicals produced by toxins. Also, be sure to wash your fruits and vegetables, even if they are organic and locally grown. And lastly, consume green tea, for it acts as a chelator -- an agent that removes heavy-metal toxins from the body and replaces them with healthy elements.

To learn more ways to keep your body as healthy as you can, continue reading here.

When vacations make you sick

Posted: Jan 2nd 2008 8:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Emotional Health, Fitness, General Health, Health and Technology

If you're a workaholic or someone who likes a routine or schedule, taking a vacation may actually make you sick. An expert cited in this article calls it "leisure sickness" -- a phenomenon characterized by taking a break from a busy schedule only to acquire aches, pains, and cold and flu-like symptoms.

One possible explanation for such sickness goes like this: When you are busy, your body is activated. When you are not busy and have nothing to do, your body is relaxed. For some people, this can be pathogenic. Some say "gimme a break" to this perspective; others say it's serious stuff, perhaps tied to stress and the challenge of transitioning from work to non-work.

While the science of leisure sickness remains unproven, the topic is not a new one. An inability to relax on vacations and holidays has long been a characteristic of Type A behavior. When Type As are not in control, headaches, nausea, and fatigue often result. It may be a hormonal thing. Or it could have nothing to do with personality at all. It could be that vacations involve greater exposure to germs that make us sick. Or holidays may simply allow us to acknowledge the symptoms of sickness we may ignore when we're busy with work.

Regardless of the reason behind leisure sickness, it seems regular exercise may be the cure.

"If you're under such chronic stress that you're impairing your immune system, you need to pace yourself," says Esther Sternberg, researcher of neuroendocrine immunology at the National Institutes of Health. "You can't expect to push your body to the breaking point and not have it break."

Gallery: Healthy Diet, Healthy Immune System

Eats your antioxidantsFeed your body's furnaceChoose the right fatsGo green

Are fingernails fattening?

Posted: Nov 28th 2007 9:55PM by Fitz K.
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, Healthy Habits, Women's Health, Men's Health, Diet and Weight Loss

Only if you eat about ten thousand of them! Yucky, yuck, yuck! I can't tell you how many people have asked me this strange question throughout my 18 years in the fitness industry. Too many to count. So! To anyone else who may be concerned about the belly bulging effects of fingernail chewing, here is my answer.

I'm not exactly sure how many calories are in each nail per se, but since they are made of keratin, a sturdy fibrous protein....it couldn't be much.They'd probably just run right through you. In fact, I think you'd have to chew through the hands and feet of everyone you know to even equal a moderately satisfying snack. Hmmmmmm. Yummy!

Continue reading Are fingernails fattening?

Workplace Fitness: All the ways your office makes you sick

Posted: Oct 24th 2007 6:00AM by Rigel Gregg
Filed under: Workplace Fitness

Cold and flu viruses love big offices! A whole bunch of stressed out, sleep deprived, and generally run-down people clumped together in close quarters just waiting for a flu or cold virus to come along and take them out for a few days. Finding ways to minimize your risk and stay healthy isn't easy with so many obstacles, and although leading a generally healthy lifestyle (i.e. not being terribly stressed out or sleep deprived) is a big Numero Uno on the list of what to do there are definitely other smaller parts to the puzzle that you can do every day. Just how is your office making you sick? Well, do any of these sound familiar?

*Desks and workstations acting as breeding grounds for bacteria
*Coworkers coming to work sick (presenteeism)
*Sedentary job functions
*Hot and cold temperature extremes
*Low humidity levels
*Invisible toxins in the air (mold spores, formaldehyde from furniture, fumes from equipment)
*Non-ergonomic workstations and physically repetitive tasks
*Stress as part of the daily routine
That's a lot to deal with! Some tips and ideas on what to do:


Continue reading Workplace Fitness: All the ways your office makes you sick

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