January 6, 2002- What a Pain!
That is, in your feet and ankles. One-legged
squats and deadlifts require you to develop the tiny muscles that help
with balance. Most of you won't even use weights on these exercises --
moving your own body up and down while standing on one leg will be challenging
enough. The balance you develop will help you later on, when you start
using bigger weights on two-legged exercises. That's when you'll see that
developing the smallest muscles first can lead to the biggest gains later.
And not only will you build more muscle faster, but you'll also cut down
on the injuries caused by poor balance and coordination.
SOURCE: Men's Health, ©2001
January 13, 2002- Pets and Allergies
Although many parents think that keeping
pets away from a newborn is best, the opposite may be true.
A recent study has shown that pet exposure
during infancy found that by the time they reached age 7, children with
pets were less susceptible to allergens. This and other studies suggest
that early exposure to pets may help the young bodies build up defenses
against allergies and even asthma.
SOURCE: Henry Ford Health System and North
Memorial, ©2002
January 20, 2002- Great Lengths
Do you think you don't have time for a
good morning stretch? Skipping the warm-up routine may help you squeeze
it in.
Stretching helps elongate muscles, making
your body strong and flexible. But stretching cold muscles can cause injury.
Many times it's best if you not stretch first thing after you wake up,
but rather try stretching after your shower or bath. A hot shower can warm
muscle tissue and make it more pliable.
SOURCE: University of Texas, ©2002
January 27, 2002- Great Lengths
If the darker days of winter have you
holed up indoors, make sure you're getting enough vitamin D. Regular sun
exposure helps your body synthesize vitamin D. With the lack of sunlight
during winter months, it is more important than ever to get your daily
dose of vitamin D through diet or supplements. Vitamin D helps the body
absorb calcium, a nutrient important for bone health.
Getting 1,200 milligrams of calcium and
400 IU of vitamin D daily can help reduce your chances of osteoporosis.
SOURCE: University of Texas, ©2002
