health:
Does the treadmill make you tremble or are you revved up and ready to hit the gym? Tell us about your love/hate relationship with getting or staying healthy.
The Tipping List
See YOU Run
How to start running
-Julie Ryan Evans
Do you ever drive by runners and feel a pang of jealousy, wishing you could be out there burning all those calories and sailing on a runner's high? Do you also make statements like, "I'm just not a runner"?
Well, chances are you could be. And what a great, healthy habit to start at any age.
One of my greatest regrets in life is not starting running sooner. It would have been such a great stress reliever through high school, college, graduate school and so many life events in between. But it wasn't until after I got married and a friend asked me to train for a marathon with her, that I really started (and, yes, when I decide to do something, I do it big!). We joined a training program, so we had some guided instruction, but you don't need anything that formal. The most important thing is to just get started as soon as possible.
Katherine Hobson at U.S. News & World Report recently interviewed John "the Penguin" Bingham, who writes a column for Runner's World magazine. In the article, Bingham provides some great information for those thinking about starting to run, including the following: read more...
Product Review
Flipping for FitFlops
A flippin' good workout while you walk
-Julie Ryan Evans
I love flip flops - and since moving to Florida about a year ago, I'm not sure I've purchased much of anything else. From my Jack Rogers to a pair by Tory Burch to the standard old Reefs, I have them all.
But none has come even close to my love for FitFlops. They are, hands down, the most comfortable things I've ever put on my feet (except the hands of a masseuse or my husband, when I can talk him into it). Seriously, they mold to your foot; they're supportive and soft all at the same time. For that alone I would buy many a pair.
But there's an added bonus - they work out your legs and butt while you walk - and not on the treadmill - just while you're going about your daily business like walking in the mall or around the grocery store. They're billed as the flip-flop "with the gym built in."
"I thought, How amazing if I could invent something that would help fight the onset of cellulite while I'm walking to the office," says Marcia Kilgore, creator of the FitFlop. "I work. I have kids. I have a husband. And the likelihood of me seeing the inside of a gym in the next 10 years is slim to none. That said, I'd obviously prefer to go with slim."
Sound familiar?
I honestly can't tell yet, after just a few weeks of wearing FitFlops, whether my legs look any different, but I'm hopeful that I'll be able to soon. I can definitely feel some muscle fatigue after I've worn them on a particularly active day. And I LOVE the bright yellow warning tag they come with that reads: "The FitFlop has the potential to increase muscle activity in terms of duration and workload. As such, we recommend that the FitFlop be used progressively to avoid excessive muscle soreness."
Bring it on!
They come in a great selection of colors and designs - everything from basic black to ones with sequins and fringe - so you can wear them with virtually anything. And trust me, once you try them on, you're going to want to.
In the News
One Scary Salad
Celebrity Chef Recommends Poisonous Ingredient
-Julie Ryan Evans
I've tried some bad recipes before, but nothing this bad.
In a magazine interview, Celebrity Chef Worrall Thompson mistakenly recommended that readers add a potentially fatal herb to the salads. Ironically, the name of the magazine in which the article appeared is Healthy and Organic Living.
Instead of fat hen, which is reportedly a safe and delicious addition to salads, Thomspon recommended henbane, which can cause hallucinations, convulsions, vomiting and death. Yikes!
The magazine printed a correction the following month, and as far as they know, there have been no fatalities because of the mistake. But a warning a month later could have been a little too little too late, no?
In the News
Is Obama Too Buff to be President?
Some Americans say they won't cast a vote for him and his healthy ways
-Julie Ryan Evans
I would have thought it was a joke or some skit from SNL because it's so absurd, but there it was in the reliable old Wall Street Journal. It seems some Americans aren't going to vote for Barack Obama because - get this - he's in too good of shape physically.
"...in a nation in which 66% of the voting-age population is overweight and 32% is obese, could Sen. Obama's skinniness be a liability?" the author questions, and then goes on to quote some who seem to think it is:
"He's too new ... and he needs to put some meat on his bones," says Diana Koenig, 42, a housewife in Corpus Christi, Texas, who says she voted for Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary.
"I won't vote for any beanpole guy," another Clinton supporter wrote last week on a Yahoo politics message board.
John McCain seems to be jumping on this "weakness" and in an advertisement compares Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. "Only celebrities like Barack Obama go to the gym three times a day," was the explanation given by his campaign. (For Paris Hilton's response, see below.)
I get that our president should be relatable, but c'mon it's not like he's Mario Lopez. He's just health conscious and chooses MET-Rx bars over McDonald's. Like we all SHOULD.
This isn't the first time being too health conscious has been an issue for a candidate.
"In 2003, Mass. Sen. John Kerry was labeled effete when he ordered a Philly cheesesteak with Swiss instead of the usual Cheez Whiz topping," the article states. "Sen. Obama's chief message strategist Robert Gibbs served as Sen. Kerry's press secretary during the cheesesteak debacle. A few days later at the Iowa State Fair, famous for its deep-fried Twinkies and beer booths, Mr. Gibbs noticed Sen. Kerry buying a $4 strawberry smoothie. He made a frantic call to campaign staffers: "Somebody get a f-ing corn dog in his hand -- now!"
Don't we want a president who inspires us-someone we can look up to hope our children emulate? Just because most Americans aren't as smart as fifth graders, does that mean we don't want our president to be either?
Maybe that nasty cigarette habit Obama has been trying to kick will win him some votes.
And now.. for a word from Paris Hilton. (Did we actually just write that?) Some of us thought this was hilarious and credit Paris for pulling it off with jsut the right amount of self-depreciating humor. Others of us think it's incredibly disrespectful to refer to McCain that way, and that it's just indicative of her shallow, tele-prompter reading, spoiled self.
Would you rather have a fit or fat president? What do you think about Paris' "rebuttal"?
Seen and Heard
Britney Reportedly Spends $22K a Month to Get in Shape
Britney sports bikini showing off the bucks she's spent
-Julie Ryan Evans
So it's being reported that Brit is spending about the same amount on getting her body in shape as she is paying in child support to K-Fed to whom she recently gave custody of her sons Jayden and Preston. Is it just me, or is that really wrong on a lot of levels?
That's right, $22,000 to get her derriere and the rest of her in shape. The price tag includes a nutritionist, supplements, personal trainer and dance coach. For a couple hundred bucks, I think a pair of running shoes and a Weight Watchers membership could probably do the trick, but I guess it's her prerogative to do what she will with all that dough.
And I hate to be snarky about a woman who's given birth to two children in such a short time, and the camera adds 10 pounds and all (can you tell I feel bad about even going here?), BUT do you think she looks that good? For TWENTY TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS a MONTH?
I personally don't think she's getting her money's worth...or hasn't yet. If I'm spending that kind of dough, I want to look more like these mamas
But kudos to her for doing something healthy at least.
In the News
Is Your Air Freshener Poisonous?
Study says yes; industry says no
-Julie Ryan Evans
You know the great smell of freshly washed laundry? Well, if you're using a scented laundry detergent to get it, a recent study says that fragrance may be toxic.
And it's not just laundry products. If you have a penchant for room sprays and plug-ins, those are on the list too.
"I didn't find a brand that didn't emit at least one toxic chemical," said study author Anne C. Steinemann, PhD, professor of civil and environmental engineering and public affairs at the University of Washington, Seattle. She tested laundry detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets, and air fresheners in solid, spray, and oil form after more than 200 complaints from consumers.
"I actually witnessed someone having a seizure when exposed to an air freshener," she says.
And get this - the chemicals that make them dangerous aren't even included on the product labels.
"If an ingredient is hazardous they [the manufacturers] still don't need to list it," she says. They can just put on a warning label," she says, such as ''Don't inhale."
Of course, the industry that produces the products is poking holes in the study. According to Brian Sansoni, a spokesman for the Soap and Detergent Association, listing all the ingredients on a label is unrealistic, he says. Sometimes there are so many they would not fit.
And according to a statement from the Fragrance Materials Association, "consumers who experience sensitivity to fragranced products can simply avoid using them."
I'd rather have them prove their products safe or change them, how about you?
Do you avoid scented laundry products and room fresheners? Will you after reading this study?
In her Words
Blowing off Workouts
What are your biggest workout roadblocks?
-Julie Ryan Evans
I love to workout, I truly do. I'm never happier than after a long, exhausting run. So why don't I do it every day, any chance I get?
My main reason for exercise avoidance is nothing typical like not having the time or energy or motivation. No, in a nutshell, it's: blow drying my hair.
I'm not an exercise-first-thing-in-the-morning person. My mornings are for...sleeping. So that means if I have somewhere to go in the morning that requires me to look presentable, I have to shower and blow dry my hair. Then anytime else I find to fit in a workout will inevitably require another shower...and yes, another session with my blow dryer. I loathe blow drying my hair - it's tedious, time consuming and it makes me hot. So doing it twice in one day? Torture, and thus my roadblock to many a workout.
I'm trying to plan better and using more ponytails and the sort in the morning to avoid the double-dryer conundrum, but it just doesn't always work; and air drying does nothing for my straight, flat hair. And before you even suggest that hair doesn't need to be washed everyday - trust me, mine does.
I know my workouts are more important than my hair (keep repeating to self), but if anyone could invent something that instantly dries hair, I (and my waistline) would be eternally grateful!
Woman to Woman
What's for Dinner? Spinach Pesto
Great, healthy meal for carb loaders or anyone in search of an easy meal
-Julie Ryan Evans
If you're training for a big endurance event, you know the importance of carb loading, but often the carbs we load ourselves with aren't the healthiest of sorts, and the heavy sauces and such that accompany the carbs come back to haunt us during said event.
Here's one of my favorites that's light and delicious and gets in some extra nutritional punch with several super foods. It's also one of our favorite family meals - even if the only endurance event we're preparing for is making it through a long day of summer with no scheduled activities.
All you need:
1 5-6 ounce bag of baby spinach leaves (preferably organic)
½ cup of pine nuts
½ cup of olive oil
½ cup of shredded parmesan cheese
2-3 cloves of garlic (or more if you love it like me!)
Salt and pepper to taste
Throw it all in the food processor and blend until it's smooth. You can use it any way you use the traditional basil-based pesto. We like to toss it with some hot pasta (Barilla Plus is the best I swear for healthy and yummy at the same time) and some grilled chicken. And there you go - a complete meal. My friend Tracy (who originally gave me the recipe) likes to toss hers with cheese ravioli.
The pesto-bilities are endless.
The Tipping List
Tips for Traveling Healthy
And something you should know about pools, but will gross you out
-Stacey, Because I Must Blog
As I'm sure you've often found, planning travel (ensuring the kids have their favorite toys, your hubby has the proper summer wear, exchanging dollars for Euros, and making sure you haven't forgotten the important little details) can be incredibly stressful.
With travel maps in hand and excitement at its peak, the last thing you want during vacation is to contract norovirus or something equally contagious vacation wrecker. With help from Dr. Kelly Reynolds, microbiologist and mom of 3, and The Clorox Company, I bring you these healthy summer travel tips:
• Pack disinfecting wipes (such as the new thicker, textured Clorox Disinfecting Wipes with Lavender scent- ahh!)
• If you're flying, make sure the whole family keeps drinking water (no ice ), and take a stroll down the aisle to keep your circulation going. read more...
The Tipping List
Lightning Can Strike Twice
Common (and dangerous!) myths debunked
-Julie Ryan Evans
Ahh, summertime storms. They're beautiful and powerful and great to nap in, but the bolts that light up the sky aren't only dazzling, but dangerous. Just this past weekend 10 people in Boston were hospitalized after being struck by lightning at a soccer game!
I'm paranoid about lightning (OK, I'm paranoid about a lot of things), but I always thought I was safe from it as long as I was in my house-and not in the shower. But I was wrong!
Here are the Top 10 Lightning Myths as provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:
1. MYTH: Lightning Never Strikes The Same Place Twice
TRUTH: Lightning often strikes the same place repeatedly, especially if it's a tall pointy isolated object. The Empire State Building used to be used as a lightning laboratory, since it is hit nearly 25 times a year. Places prone to lightning are places to avoid when thunderstorms are nearby!
2. MYTH: If It's Not Raining, Or If Clouds Aren't Overhead, I'm Safe From Lightning
TRUTH: Lightning often strikes more than three miles from the thunderstorm, far outside the rain or even thunderstorm cloud. ‘Bolts From The Blue', though infrequent, can strike 10-15 Miles from the thunderstorm. Anvil lightning can strike the ground over 50 Miles from the thunderstorm, under extreme conditions. Lightning in clouds has traveled over 100 miles from the thunderstorm. read more...
In the News
How Does Your Hospital Rank?
Best U.S. hospitals announced
-Julie Ryan Evans
We've moved a lot-about five cities in 10 years. When considering a new location, I have a mental checklist I go through to make sure that the destination in question has some of the important necessities-good schools, good restaurants and good shopping. One thing that's really never dawned on me to consider in my equation is the quality of health care in the area-and it probably should.
While hopefully you don't need a hospital often, when you do, you want the best. But how do you determine how yours stacks up? And how do you determine if there's a better place you should seek medical care?
U.S. News and World Report recently released its list of America's Best Hospitals. It identifies the best hospitals for each of 16 specialties and then 19 hospitals that rank tops in at least six categories. Children's Hospitals are also ranked.
So what makes a hospital great? There's an entire methodology behind the rankings, but they sum it up this way, "A great hospital is different because of an internal culture of excellence. Set at the top and embraced by caregivers, medical standards are high and emphasize not only doing well but striving to do better-to hammer down the number of infections, to boost survival of high-risk surgery patients, to systematically squeeze out errors rather than painting a scarlet "E" on those who make them. If such goals cannot be achieved by using conventional means, invent new ones."
Check it out to see where yours ranked. While it's disappointing for me to see that my new home isn't home to many tops, at least I have that information and know where to go for second opinions and the sort if the case should ever arise.
In the News
Need Fitness Inspiration? Just Check out Helen Mirren...in a Bikini!
A rockin' bod at 63
-Julie Ryan Evans
Have you seen the pictures of Helen Mirren in a bikini? Unbelievable!
People, this woman is 63 and is rocking that bikini better than most people half, even one-third, of her age could.
I love finding inspiration in older women, because really while fighting fat gets harder as you get older, it's not impossible. Just look at Helen-I'm going to everyday now as I'm posting this pic on my refrigerator!
Super Food or Super Supplements?
-Jeanette Bronee, Divine Caroline
Pass me the berries and the nuts, and the beans, and the broccoli and the...
Almost daily a new study result comes out with the "solution" to eating healthy. Each time it seems we have to add yet another food to our daily servings.
If the supplement industry has it their way, soon we will be eating nothing but supplements, because getting all the foods we need every day is not that easy. Or is it?
Not according to a recent food convention for technologists, where the food presented was infused with health benefits. For example, there was a fish paste colored with lycopene, a phytochemical known to possess cancer fighting properties. There was rice infused with green tea, a highly potent antioxidant, and brownies with phosphatidylserin, a chemical compound that is said to enhance memory.
Food is being supplemented to be functional. Soon we can live off pills and bars, can't we?
Food as food or food as medicine?
Many believe that health comes in a bottle of pills. Real food is no longer convenient enough in our busy lives, and fast junk food is, for many, a very last resort. The supplement industry is increasing its sales everyday, as we hope to give our body what it needs when we cannot get it from our food. read more...
In the News
Another Reason to Put Down Those Fries
Fewer calories may equal longer life
-Julie Ryan Evans
Besides dieting to look good, it seems more and more evidence points to the health benefits of restricting calories. Now it seems cutting out those fries could increase your life-span!
HealthDay points to a recent study that shows eliminating 300-500 calories a day "could be the key to slowing the signs of aging and living longer."
And for those who like to exercise more so they can eat more, that doesn't seem to cut it. Exercise is, of course, a healthy habit, but this study compared two groups-one who just exercised and the other who cut calories. While both lost weight, it was only the calorie-restricted group that lowered their thyroid levels-which is believed to slow tissue aging.
The study's lead author, Edward Weiss, associate professor of nutrition and dietetics at Saint Louis University's Doisy College of Health Sciences, says while more research is needed, there's plenty of evidence that cutting calories counts.
"There is plenty of evidence the calorie restriction can reduce your risks for many common diseases including cancer, diabetes and heart disease," Weiss said. "And you may live to be substantially older."
With that being said, let's go through some common food items (according to Diet Bites)and where they weigh in on the calorie scale:
1 small apple - about 55 calories
1 cup or grapefruit - about 97 calories
1 cup of raspberries - about 64 calories
1 cup of chocolate milk - about 208 calories
1 cup of vanilla ice cream - about 145 calories
12 oz. of carbonated cola beverage - about 136 calories
1 cup of coffee - about 2 calories
5 oz. of wine - about 125 calories
1 Taco Bell Burrito Supreme w/ beef - about 469 calories
1 Wendy's Biggie Fries - about 507 calories
1 Burger King Cheeseburger - about 380 calories
1 McDonald's Caesar Salad - about 94 calories
That list should make you think twice about starting a happy, healthy, and new lifestyle...don't you think?
Tip of the Day
Hungry Girl? Look at your Daily Plate
Two Great Sites for Healthy Eating
-Julie Ryan Evans
Are you trying to lose a few pounds or just make sure what you're putting into your mouth gets healthier? There are all sorts of approaches to do so, and the internet offers many resources, but two sites float to top of the heap for me.
The first is Hungry Girl. I've been getting their newsletter for years now, and they always have tons of great tips about new healthy and/or diet-friendly foods coming out, recipes and product reviews; and their reviews are generally pretty right on. If they say a product tastes good, it usually does; and they're not afraid to tell you if something sucks either. For any of you Weight Watchers, they also offer up points values. The Web site is also chock full of good information; and they recently came out with a recipe book that I've heard is full of amazing diet-friendly recipes.
My other favorite foodie site is The Daily Plate. It's a fun way to keep track of what you're eating; it's free; and it has a really cool interface. You simply enter what you eat each day, which in and of itself has proven helpful in weight loss and maintenance, and it calculates the calories and nutritional value of what you've consumed each day. Their database is extensive, and includes values for everything from fast food to healthy food to junk food. You can also add any physical activity you do, and it adjusts your targeted calories for the day; and you can track your weight free. And did I mention it's free?
So there you go. All you need to start eating healthier-an internet connection...and some willpower.
In the News
100 Ways to Look Younger
You're never too young to start
-Julie Ryan Evans
My entire life I tried pretty much anything I could to look older. Until I turned 21.
Once I had that magical date of entry on my license, the quest shifted directions abruptly--straight into reverse. Since then it's been one long mission--ever increasing in intensity--to look younger.
Prevention has a great list of 100 tips to help find some splashes of youth, if not a gushing fountain. And trust me, you can never start too young--a lot of the things that can really help should be done long before you can ever set foot in a bar (legally anyway).
Here are the first five; for 95 more, click here...
1. Get a Glow. Slough dead skin cells below your neck with a scrub made of dissolvable granules, such as sea salt or sugar. These gentle abrasives are less likely to inflame skin than scrubs made with crushed apricot pits or walnut shells.
2. Smooth Skin on Upper Arms. Regular use of a body scrub, which sloughs dead cells from the skin's surface, can help roub out keratosis pilaris, the rough bumpy skin on the back of your upper arms, butt and thighs. KP looks like tiny pimples, but it's actually a buildup of dead cells around individual hair follicles. To keep follicles from replugging, use a lotion with an exfoliator such as retinol, salicylic acid or alpha hydroxyl acid daily.
3. Erase Veins. Get rid of spider veins with a simple "lunchtime" dermatologic procedure called scierotherapy, during which a solution that causes the vein to collapse is injected via a very fine needle. After several monthly treatments, about 80 percent of vessels can be cleared.
4. Go Organic. Avoid bad skin reactions by sticking with organic products. They usually have fewer ingredients known to cause sensitivity problems; that's important because older skin is usually drier, which makes it more prone to being sensitive.
5. Boost Skin Health. Taking 1,000mg of omega-3 fatty acids a day can help heal dry skin and rough, red, scaly patches of psoriasis and eczema. Besides being an integral part of the membranes that surround our skin cells, these essential fats are a key component of the lubricating layer that keeps skin supple.
In the News
Red Flags for Red Lipstick
Bill to ban lead in some lipsticks fails
-Julie Ryan Evans
Love it or hate it, red lipstick is a cyclical beauty trend that has emerged every few years for decades. And this year it's back in full force for fall.
But besides the fact that it may or may not look good on you, there's another reason you may want to rethink sporting crimson lips. And a good one at that-many of those seemingly innocent tubes contain lead!
Yes, lead as in the evil stuff that has parents everywhere chucking their children's favorite toys if there's a speck to be found. And here we are putting it right on our LIPS.
This article says that the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found lead in 61 percent of lipsticks tested, yet that "ingredient" wasn't listed anywhere.
They say the top offenders are:
-L'Oreal Colour Riche "True Red" - 0.65 ppm
-L'Oreal Colour Riche "Classic Wine" - 0.58 ppm
-Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor "Maximum Red" - 0.56 ppm
-Dior Addict "Positive Red" - 0.21 ppm
And apparently a bill in California that would have limited lead from lipstick was shot down. Why would they need to put it in there in the first place? So-called "safe" levels or not, I don't want ANY lead anywhere near my mouth.
The whole thing has me seeing red!
In the News
Survivors' Breasts Getting the Attention They Deserve
New surgery eases the toll of breast cancer
-Tracy Morris
If you've ever had surgery of any kind, you know what a blow it is to your life - even when the surgery saved your life. First, there's the tension leading up to the event, then there are those lovely immediate side effects from having your body pumped full of anesthetics, then there's the recuperation time, and the scarring...
Nobody wants more surgery than necessary, for any reason. So it's a big deal that cancer surgeons are getting on board with the idea of also wielding a cosmetic surgeon's knife.
Slowly but surely, survivors of breast cancer have raised enough hell to convince their life-saving oncologists that - Hey - I still want to be beautiful now that I'm going to keep living!
Breast reconstruction after lumpectomies or mastectomies has traditionally meant additional surgeries and all that entails. Now, the emerging field of "oncoplastic surgery" is enabling women to have the cancer cut out and beauty rebuilt - in fewer surgical events.
For the most part, women undergoing lumpectomy, in which only a small portion of breast tissue is removed, are the majority recipients of oncoplastic surgery. Still, this report in the Wall Street Journal says that women who need a mastectomy (full breast removal) can also benefit from oncoplastics.
One women interviewed lifted her shirt to demonstrate how her oncoplastic surgery kept her breasts balanced in size. After surviving cancer and coming out on the other side with beautiful boobs to boot, I'd be showing ‘em off, too!
Woman to Woman
Closing the Doctor-Patient Gap
Building a relationship with your doctor
-Tracy Morris
Doctors: you love ‘em or hate ‘em. You're not alone. They feel the same way about patients.
Some eye-opening books have been written on the topic of doctor-patient relationships. I suppose they're only really interesting when you've had to untangle some of those relationships yourself. But the number of people who feel like that's the case - that engaging a physician for professional reasons is tantamount to entering what you know upfront will be a real hassle of a relationship, to say the least - is apparently growing.
One book I recommend on the subject is by a long-time family physician, Dr. Phyllis Hollenbeck. In her book, Sacred Trust, Dr. Hollenbeck describes the "far too many jerks in medicine" and offers tips on how to know when it's time to fire your doctor.
To be fair, just as with any crappy coupledom, it's almost always the fault of both people. In this NY Times article (Eyes Bloodshot, Doctors Vent Their Discontent) Dr. Sandeep Jauhar writes about the doctors' side of the story. He's also written a memoir, Intern: A Doctor's Initiation.
And Tara Parker-Pope's NYT blog on Health, Well, just published a few snippets from a recent Reader's Digest survey of doctors. It's interesting reading if you're a patient, but be forewarned: it'll raise your hackles.
In the News
Exercise Caution in the Heat
Serious injury can result from excess exercise in the summer heat
-Julie Ryan Evans
No other season inspires fitness like summer-the layers are gone and there are shorts to sport, sundresses to bear and hello, bikinis.
But keeping fit in the summer isn't without challenges, especially if you prefer to work on your bikini body outside the gym. The soaring temperatures can be dangerous if you're not prepared.
The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) recently issued recommendations to help guard against illness related to warm-weather activity:
• Don't start at full tilt. Gradually increasing the intensity and duration of activity helps ready your body for the heat.
• Take rest breaks. Add them to the activity and get adequate rest between bouts of exercise. Good sleeping habits also cut your risk of heat-related trouble.
• Stay hydrated. Drink water or sports drinks well before and throughout physical activity in the heat. If your urine turns a darker color - more like apple juice than lemonade - that's a quick indicator of dehydration.
• Timing helps. When possible, exercise during the cooler portions of the day - early morning or late evening.
Back off at signs of trouble. If you don't feel well, reduce the intensity or length of your activity, for example, walk instead of run. If you have symptoms of an illness (e.g., fever, diarrhea, extreme fatigue, etc.) don't exercise at all. These conditions can decrease your body's tolerance for heat and increase your risk of a heat illness.
Even if you think you are prepared, always listen to your body. If you start to feel ill or strange, stop immediately and seek medical attention.
To read more about heat-related illness including some signs to watch for, visit Healthday.com for the complete article.
Be careful out there!
In the News
Skip the Sunscreen?!!
Study shows dangers of Vitamin D deficiency
-Julie Ryan Evans
We've been warned, lectured and scared straight past the baby oil to SPFs higher than we can count. Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen has been the mantra of health officials everywhere. Until now.
Now it seems all that sunblock is also blocking the very rays that make our bodies produce VERY vital Vitamin D. In a recent U.S. News and World Report article, Deborah Kotz quotes research from the Archives of Internal Medicine that shows "those with the lowest vitamin D levels have more than double the risk of dying from heart disease and other causes over an eight-year period compared with those with the highest vitamin D levels."
For those in the Northern United States, summer is the time to stock up on a healthy amount of rays. Kotz states, "If you're fair skinned, experts say going outside for 10 minutes in the midday sun-in shorts and a tank top with no sunscreen-will give you enough radiation to produce about 10,000 international units of the vitamin." For others supplements may be necessary.
She also interviews Robyn Lucas, an epidemiologist at Australian National University who has found that "far more lives are lost to diseases caused by a lack of sunlight than to those caused by too much." You can read the entire, enlightening article here.
Do you think you get enough sun or have you been scared into the shade?
In the News
Drunkorexia
Eating less to drink more
-Julie Ryan Evans
Do you ever eat less so you can drink more alcohol and not pack on the pounds?
If so you might be what has been coined a Drunkorexia. And while it makes sense in theory to limit the overall number of calories ingested-whether they be liquid or solid-it's also apparently quite dangerous to tip the scales into the too tipsy direction. From short-term effects like doing stupid things and passing out in strange places to some serious long-term effects, too much alcohol and not enough food can be a particularly damaging combo for women.
The CBS article states: "Women's bodies have more fat, which absorbs alcohol, and produces lower quantities of an enzyme that helps metabolize alcohol, putting them at higher risk for blackouts and cirrhosis."
They also quote addiction expert Becky Flood, who says that "two years of women's drinking equals 10 years of a man's."
So before you go out for a night on the town, make sure you eat a sandwich or something to pad your system. You can always hit the gym in the morning, when hopefully the extra food will also help prevent a nasty hangover.
Once again, the moderation mantra my dear!
In the News
Ricki Lake Reamed for Promoting Home Birth
Would you give birth in your bathtub?
--Julie Ryan Evans
So apparently the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association are up in arms about Ricki Lake's promotion of home births.
After one hospital birth, she chose to have her second 
son at home, which she documented in her film The Business of Being Born. And the docs don't like it, which made they known in a recently released statement that singles Ricki out.
Personally, I'm all for all the medical invention and PAIN MEDICINE I can get, but I totally understand and respect a woman's choice to do otherwise. For goodness sake, women did it for hundreds of years.
And according to the Citizens for Midwifery, there are many benefits to home births, such as a reduction in:
• the risk of infection
• risks from unnecessary interventions
• maternal morbidity rates from complications and interventions
• risks from errors in hospitals
• interference in bonding and breastfeeding from hospital policies
• risks from poor staffing levels in hospitals
• the risks of tampering with the baby
While there's heated debate over the topic in general, there does seem to be some consensus that home delivery is best for mothers without risk factors, and there are precautions that can be taken to ensure the best outcome, such as these offered by Parents.com.
Have you had a homebirth, and if so what was your experience like? If not, would you in the future?
100 Calories: White Girl with a Fat Ass
-Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons, Divine Caroline
Recently house-sitting for a friend of mine, I discovered the concept of 100 calorie snack packs. This is where basically any junk food in the world is pre-portioned out for you into individual 100 calorie packs. I will spare you the obvious commentary on how that's essentially paying more for less. I won't say how all that extra packaging is bad for the environment. Or point out how easily one could then apply Garfield's theory (yes, the cat) that eating a whole pie one slice at a time actually has far less calories than consuming said pie en masse. What struck me was how embarrassingly ideal these 100 calorie packs are for me. I am someone who has always had trouble with portion and control when it comes to food. And well, life. How much to I wish this concept could be applied to other areas of life.
How about a vodka pack that only gives you 100 minutes of a hang over?
Or a smoking pack that may risk only 100 hours of cancer? Okay, that still doesn't seem worth it. But I've never been a smoker. I can't fathom paying that much money for something that goes into your mouth but you can't swallow.
What about a 100 kisses pack that guarantees the exact right amount of fun without any heartbreak? I'd buy those in bulk. Wait ... read more...
In the News
Tomato Terror
Which ones to eat, which ones to avoid
-Julie Ryan Evans
I've been waiting and waiting for all the terror over tomatoes to pass, but so far no all-free flags have been flown. So I'm still leery of what used to be one of my favorite healthy summer treats...with fresh mozzarella, basil, good olive oil...yum.
Instead of knowing which ones to buy, I've just been avoiding them all together. And frankly, I'm starting to miss them.
Shape, however, ran a recent article that has some great tips about which varieties to eat and not to eat--both at home and at restaurants. I would have never even thought of the tomatoes in the salsa or in the guacamole, but as they point out, the contaminated ones could be in there too! Things like cooked tomato sauces and catsup are, luckily, OK.
In the News
Yes! More Reason to Crack Open That Cab!
We'll drink to that!
-Tracy Morris
Admit it -- we are ALL running around looking for the Fountain of Youth. What better form could it possibly take than in glowing, glimmering shades of crimson?
Just as we learned to recognize (if not understand) terms like "endorphins" and "SSRIs" and "Omega-3 fatty acids," we'll soon all be chatting about our sirtuin levels. Sirtuins are protein agents in human bodies; there's some thought that these little babies might be activated and then increase the body's tissue preservation mode. In short, rev up your sirtuins and your body's natural aging process vis a vis degenerative diseases might slow down.
Here's the kick: resveratrol is one of the naturally occurring compounds that activates sirtuins. Guess where you can ingest a little resveratrol?
One of the critical unanswered questions, of course, is just how inebriated will we need to be before the age starts falling off. Gene studies on mice are underway (and such happy little mice they must be!) and the NIH has been watching some long-lived rhesus monkeys with varying results. It could be that Faithful Followers of Reasons to Drink Red will succumb to the ill effects of alcohol before there's enough impact on the sirtuin side of things.
But hope springs eternally garnet!
In the News
How fit does the President say you are?
New test introduced for adults
-Julie Ryan Evans
Remember gym class each year in grade school, taking the (dreaded or much anticipated, depending on your athleticism) Presidential Physical Fitness Test? I don't remember how I did on it, but I just remember it being so public--like everyone knew if you sucked or not.
Well, the test now has a grown up version, and you don't have to go back to school to take it. You can take the President's Challenge Adult Fitness Test online in the privacy of your own home. You're tested on things like muscular strength, flexibility and endurance; which means you have to do exercises like a timed run or walk, sit ups, pushups and toe touching. It comes with pretty extensive, explanatory directions and gives you your results immediately.
I haven't yet taken it in full yet, but I'm incredibly curious to see how I stack up against other adults. I guess I'm also a little scared I won't come out as fit as I think I am. Especially since I run quite regularly, and I plugged in an estimated time for a 1.5 mile run of 13.5 minutes (I typically run about a 9-minute mile, which I THOUGHT was pretty respectable) and it said that's only in the 70th percentile, which pissed off the competitor in me to think that 30 percent of women my age can run faster than that?! Of course, if I was JUST running 1.5 miles I bet I could do it way faster...and I will when I go to do the test for real.
And maybe that's the good in this test, to inspire us to compete to be better to become fitter. But first we've got to get people up off the couch to actually take the test.
Let us know what you think about the test, and if you take it, what were your results?
In the News
This Little Piggy Had a Heart Attack
What do you toenail clippings say about you?
-Tracy Morris
The next time your doc asks you bare it all in the exam room, don't be surprised if she starts coming at you with toenail clippers.
The Nurses' Health Study - a long-running research project that used a humongous cohort of women nurses to examine everything from hormone replacement therapy to nutrition - has now decided that (and I really get queasy when I write this) toenail clippings are a great way to measure how much nicotine is in a person's body.
The reasoning is that because toenails take a while to grow, they're a better marker than urine or saliva when it comes to estimating someone's level of exposure to tobacco smoke.
In this particular study, they used the - ugh - clippings to correlate nicotine content with diagnosis of heart disease. Yes, lots of nic in your toenails equates to a greater likelihood of high blood pressure, diabetes, and family history of heart attack.
Why does writing about toenail clippings bug me out so? Oh, that's a sordid personal story for another venue. But I dare anyone to read this article, which includes such sentences as "the 905 women who had been diagnosed with heart disease had twice as much nicotine in their toenails..." without at least cracking a smile, if not the type of shiver you get when eating brussel sprouts.
I think the ramifications for these findings are even greater...
Foot fetishists can rejoice in a prospective new line of work.
In the News
Add Booze to Your Berries
And not just for fun- they're better for you that way!
-Julie Ryan Evans
A recent study from Thailand says that alcohol can make berries not only longer-lasting, but healthier for you. Apparently soaking them in grain alcohol ups the antioxidant values of fruits like strawberries and blackberries. So bring on the booze!
For a yummy and healthy summer treat, check out this recipe for blackberry and vodka sorbet with mixed berries.
In the News
Cheers to that!
More reasons to drink wine
-Julie Ryan Evans
I love reading good news-especially when it gives me good to cause to open a bottle of wine. Not that I really need a good cause to do so, but still...
In addition to the heart benefits that have been touted lately, a recent Scandinavian study found that consuming vino helps prevent rheumatoid arthritis.
And get this--while most of these kinds of studies caution that moderation is best, THIS study says the more the better!
And I quote: "People who had a moderate alcohol consumption were 40 and 45 percent less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis compared with people who did not drink or drank only occasionally, it found. Among those who had a high consumption, the risk was reduced by 50 and 55 percent respectively."
I'll drink to that!
Seen and Heard
The Ugly in your Beauty Products
Site shows dangers of primping products
-Julie Ryan Evans
I'm a serious product junkie. Ask me about any lipstick, moisturizer, hairspray or conditioner and I can probably give you a personal review. Beauty booty is among my favorite indulgences-hey, it always fits, unlike jeans!
But my innocent indulgence doesn't seem so innocent after I came across this site: cosmeticsdatabase.com. They rate a slew of cosmetics, hair care products, perfumes and other of my favorite things on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the most harmful to your health. Then they tell you all the terrible things they're linked to.
Since I tend to buy primo products (I know they say the drugstore stuff works just as well, but I don't buy it-pun intended!) I thought mine would fare pretty well. I thought very wrong!
My Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray got a 5! It says it's linked to: cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity; violationships, restrictions and warnings, allergies/immunotoxicity..." and more! Holy hairspray!
Oh and my new-found love-Laura Mercier Cream Brulee lotion (heaven! Seriously I want to eat my arms when I wear it.) got a seven!!! Interestingly, almost all the concerns are the same, but the level of severity varies.
Even Origins (which sure looks and sounds healthy), didn't make the grade-their Once Upon a Shine Lip gloss got a seven! Prescriptives Eyelash Curler Shaping Mascara-a seven too!
A lot of things I do use aren't on their list. There's a place you can add them, but I'm thinking no. I'd rather go back to my ignorant beauty bliss! As it is, I'm never going to look at my cosmetics bag the same way.
Do you research your beauty products for their health affects?
In the News
Do you Lie about your Weight?
It's OK we do too!
-Julie Ryan Evans
Canadian health officials are up in arms about new statistics that show Canadians are lying about their weight.
I'm not sure why they're so surprised--doesn't everyone lie about their weight? At least women? 
If asked, even by a doctor or nurse, I always give the number my weight SHOULD be. The REAL number just out there like that--no way. It's just not descriptive enough, and it just sounds so awful without my describing my muscular legs, monthly bloat, the necessary ice cream splurge the night before whose evidence will surely be gone soon and shouldn't be counted.
So I asked some of the other Bettys if I'm alone in my weight charade. Here's what they had to say:
Stephanie, a.k.a. Manic Mommy : Five months ago I went back on Weight Watchers and have since lost 21.8 pounds, but I still don't like the actual number the scale says. It just SOUNDS high! I'm 5'9" and currently weigh 166, and that is NO LIE. My license says 150, which still sounds high, doesn't it? In the past I would totally lie, but now, like if I'm donating blood, or entering the number into the treadmill machine or the stairmaster at the health club, I don't want to lie because I feel like it's bad karma, and that if I lie, then those extra pounds will sneak back on. Plus, right now I am proud of the fact that I've lost the weight and I think I look OK, so the number isn't bothering me too much these days.
Nicole: Here's my problem - I don't lie intentionally, I seem to actually think I weigh about 5-10 pounds less than I do. I took a quiz in a magazine recently that said you should hold your arms out parallel in front of you and widen or narrow the gap between them to align with what you believe to be the width of your hips. Then you lower your arms and see how delusional you are about your body. Apparently I am under the impression that I'm Kate Moss because my arms hit right in the middle of my thighs about, oh, at least six inches in from my hips. WHOOPS! Supposedly this translates to a positive body image, but it also seems to suggest that I'm totally unaware of my size and will probably be one of those women on Springer, claiming I had no idea I was pregnant - "I just thought I'd been eating too much bread."
On the flip side, my driver's license does say 125....but I'm actually only that weight between July and November. The rest of the year I'm cushioned by the winter layer. I keep hoping I'll go into hibernation and make good use of that.
April: I lie about my weight on the ELLIPTICAL machine at the gym!
Jill: I used to have a weight complex, and I would say I was 10 pounds lighter than I actually was. Then I realized that I wanted to show women that it's okay to weigh more than people thought was OK or thought you were, because then I might encourage people to be less self conscious about it. Now I openly admit my actual weight, and people are always really surprised. I'm just really glad that I'm comfortable enough with my weight now to admit it to people. Everyone has a different shape, so we all aren't going to be the same size or weight. We have to be confident about our own unique size and show the world that we're not afraid to be honest about it!
The Tipping List
Breathe Easy
Asthma Sufferers Wave Goodbye to Certain Inhalers
-Tracy Morris
You're probably all ready to switch the televisions in your world to HDTV, (unless you're like me and thinking this may be your cue to pitch the boxes altogether.) Did you also know that 2009 heralds the end of certain types of asthma inhalers?
We wave goodbye now to readers clicking to a different story (not everyone has asthma, fortunately,) but for thousands of you, this is news that might literally affect every breath you take.
Getting environmentally righteous sometimes means a little personal sacrifice, and in this case, it's your CFC (chlorofluorocarbons) inhaler. A lot of patients don't know about this coming change, which has some people worried. CFC-free inhalers are already out there. Instead of the ozone-depleting CFC for propellant, the green-friendly ones use hydrofluoroalkanes (HFAs), and they're labeled that way. They'll still deliver the goods - for those of you still reading who aren't lucky enough to have asthma, these little breathing babies will literally save your life when under attack - but there are a few problems with the change.
For one big thing, the new ones are all brand name (not generics, like C