Seeds for Thought
Reusable shopping bags could endanger your health.
How to lower your cervical cancer risk.
How to improve your sleep.
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Do you wash your reusable shopping bag? You should! A study by researchers at the University of Arizona found that most reusable shopping bags harbor harmful bacteria like E.coli! Although they are great for the environment, they may pose risks to your family’s health. Cross-contamination happens when meats and groceries are placed in soiled bags. Wash bags after each use, don't store unclean bags in your warm car or use for anything other than food shopping.
Wash bags with regular laundry detergent in hot water in the gentle cycle, by hand or clean with bleach or disinfecting wipes. Dry completely.
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Fall for these vegetables. Squash, sweet potatoes and spinach are full of the antioxidant beta-carotene. Your body converts it to vitamin A, which regulates cell production and turnover so the skin’s surface is smooth. Aim for three one-cup servings a day.
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Lower cervical cancer odds with one test. The next time you go in for your Pap smear, ask your doctor to also perform the human papillomavirus test. Recent studies revealed that women who took this test lowered the five-year risk for abnormalities that can lead to cervical cancer by 60 percent.
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Go to bed with Beethoven. Listening to relaxing classical music for 45 minutes before bed may help you fall asleep faster. Look for a tempo of between 40 and 72 beats per minute.
Alcohol and the Holidays
The holidays can bring on added pressure and stress. Many people feel under pressure especially if traveling to see family or by not planning and rushing around at the last minute. The holiday season is one of the most dangerous times for alcohol-related accidents and death.
How Much is too Much?
The holidays can present many temptations and triggers to over indulge. Take this quiz to find out how much you really know about alcohol and its effects.
Remember that too much drinking all at once --- or heavy drinking over a long period of time --- can actually damage the heart, causing irregular heart beats (arrhythmias), high blood pressure and stroke.
To avoid over drinking during the holidays, the recommendation is to drink slowly and to socialize and eat enough food while drinking.
