In our area, winter took its time transitioning into spring. Now it’s finally warmed up and we are spending more time outdoors. Subsequently, we need to take steps to protect our skin from the sun. What harm can the sun do to skin? Ultraviolet rays from the sun, as well as from sunlamps and tanning beds, are forms of radiation that … [Read more...] about Shedding Light on Sunscreens
health and safety
Tips for Healthier Grilling
Memorial Day is this Monday. Will you be among the many Americans who fire up their grills to barbeque dinner? My husband and I will be, so I’m reviewing some important health information about grilled foods. Grilling is often cited as a healthy way to prepare meat (because the meat doesn’t simmer in its own fat), but grilled meats also harbor … [Read more...] about Tips for Healthier Grilling
Triclosan in Antibacterial Products: Harmful or Helpful?
Triclosan, a synthetic, broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent, has been added to various products including soaps, cosmetics, fabrics, and plastics since the 1970s. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asserts that triclosan is not known to be harmful to humans, they also state that regulators do not have scientific research demonstrating … [Read more...] about Triclosan in Antibacterial Products: Harmful or Helpful?
Navigating the Nutrition Maze: Cruciferous Vegetables
What’s your favorite vegetable? While a few of you are cringing at the question because you don’t like any vegetables, most of you do have a few you really enjoy eating. How about broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, and collard greens? Do you like any of these? They are from the Brassica genus of plants and are known as … [Read more...] about Navigating the Nutrition Maze: Cruciferous Vegetables
Housework as Exercise
I’m motivated to maintain my house and keep it clean for a number of reasons: stewardship, comfort and safety, the look and feel of clean surfaces, creating a warm environment for guests, etc. Now I can add physical fitness to the list. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, many housekeeping activities constitute … [Read more...] about Housework as Exercise
Navigating the Nutrition Maze: BPA
The Navigating the Nutrition Maze series is an ongoing exploration of nutrition-related issues to help navigate the turns, dead ends, and intricate passages to healthy eating. BPA is an abbreviation for an industrial chemical (bisphenol A) that is used to make certain plastics and resins. Several years ago the public was virtually unaware … [Read more...] about Navigating the Nutrition Maze: BPA
Germ Hot Spots in the Home
Which surface in your home has the highest concentration of germs? A toilet seat? A trashcan? What researchers found from swabs of common household surfaces may surprise you. The 10 germiest places in the home In 2011, researchers at NSF International conducted a study to identify the top 10 germ-laden surfaces in the home. Here’s what … [Read more...] about Germ Hot Spots in the Home
Time Change Safety Cues
When was the last time you tested your smoke alarms? If you’re like me, your answer is a shrug (I sure hope your answer isn’t that you don’t have any!). Given by background in nursing and public health, I’m generally very attentive to safety issues. However, I haven’t managed to find the motivation to test my smoke alarms at the recommended … [Read more...] about Time Change Safety Cues
