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Monday, October 16, 2006
Wipe down Your Workout
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s a surprising way to protect your health during cold and flu season.
Your have probably heard that regular workouts can strengthen immunity, but even the cleanest gym can be an unexpected source of germs that can make you sick. Spending just a few seconds disinfecting equipment before you use it may help stave off the sniffles (more than half of cold and flu viruses are caught by touching your eyes or nose after handling a contaminated area). Who knows how many people have held onto that treadmill rail before you or what germs were on their hands. Cold viruses can live on most surfaces including gym equipment, up to 72 hours. Don’t rely on your gym’s bottle of disinfectant solution. Carry some disinfecting wipes in your gym bag. Use one wipe for each piece of equipment, and make sure you rub down the buttons and handles. Don.t forget yoga mats and free weights they are just as likely as cardio machines to carry bugs. And try to avoid rubbing your face until you can wash your hands after your workout.
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Fighting Cancer with Exercise and Nutrition
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As you may be aware of, this month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You are probably also aware of the most common forms of treatments associated to cancer. Mainly, you hear about radiation and chemotherapy. What you may not be aware of is that many other programs are coming into fruition to prevent and recover from cancer.
Understandably, recovering from cancer of any kind can be very distressing for the patient. You suffer from a weakened immune system, muscle atrophy, fatique, weakened bones, and myriad of other side effects. Interestingly, more post treatment programs have been reinforcing the basics of a healthy lifestyle to recover and to prevent remission. These programs include nutrition training, weight training, cardiovascular exercise, and yoga (meditation). After and during recovery, the key thing is to have a program that takes it slow and light.
At Piedmont hospital, there is such a program called PINK to help. For more information go to www.piedmontcancerconnection.org or call 404.605.1969. Tomorrow, I will be interviewing Jennifer Hopper and Carolyn Helmer (on my radio show) who is in charge of the program. On my show Fitness Mythbuster, we’ll be talking about the next point I am about to make.
Though there is no way possible to say that an exercise and proper nutrition program will always prevent cancer, there is proof that a healthy lifestyle can contribute to preventing cancer. More and more, studies are proving this fact. Just like most other chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis, cancer can be prevented and treated with a healthy lifestyle.
It is said that an “ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Take the time to include a regular regimen of weight lifting, cardiovascular exercise, and nutrition not just to fit in a nice pair of pants or have six-pack abs, but for your health. It can save your life.
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