Health and Safety Go Hand-in-Hand


Health and Safety Go Hand-in-Hand

(Family Features)

Most people recognize the

importance of a healthy

lifestyle when it comes to

physical and emotional

well-being, but you

may not realize that some health-related

activities can pose a safety risk if you don’t

take proper precautions. Making safe habits

part of your healthy lifestyle can help ensure

you’re able to enjoy the results of your

e‡orts.

Warm up your workout. Exercise and

physical activity are essential to a healthy

lifestyle, but failing to approach your

workouts with the proper warmup and

know-how can really backfire. According

to the experts at WebMD, a warmup is

important because it gets blood circulating

and eases muscles into more vigorous

activity, getting them loose, warm and ready

for the challenge.

Know that technique matters. Another

potential safety pitfall when it comes to

working out is improperly using weight

machines or employing improper technique

for activities like yoga or core training.

Failing to execute your exercises correctly

can not only produce sub-par results, you

may actually end up hurting yourself by

causing a sprain or other injury. Even if you

tend to be a loner when it comes to working

out, enlist the expertise of a trainer or coach

who can show you the ropes before you set

out solo.

Exercise caution outdoors. A few hours

spent in the great outdoors can leave you

feeling refreshed and invigorated; fresh

air is good for your body and your spirit.

However, spending too much time soaking

up the sun can have a detrimental impact

on your health – overexposure to UV rays

is a major risk factor for developing skin

cancer. Exposure to the elements, such as

strong winds or harsh cold, can also take a

toll on your body. The American Melanoma

Foundation recommends lathering up with

a sunscreen that has a Skin Protection

Factor (SPF) of at least 15 any time you’ll be

outdoors for more than 20 minutes. Even

winter conditions pose a threat to bare skin,

as snow can actually reflect UV radiation.

Be wary of expiration dates. Most

people at least periodically use prescription

drugs or over-the-counter medicines

as part of their commitment to staying

healthy. However, for people who rarely

use medicines, their cabinets may be

filled with potentially dangerous, expired

medications. According to the FDA, both

prescriptions and over-the-counter meds

can lose their e‡ectiveness over time and

even become unsafe. Especially concerning

are the medicines that can change chemical

composition or become a breeding ground

for bacteria over an extended period of time.

That’s why it’s important to properly discard

medicines after their expiration dates have

passed.

Make reasonable eating choices. With

countless diet options available, it may seem

impossible to know which is most likely to

help you achieve your desired results. When

evaluating eating plans, be careful to avoid

diets that are excessively restrictive, as these

can have a serious impact on bodily organs

that rely on nutrients to function. Also be

wary of diets that recommend cutting entire

food groups; a balanced diet with moderate

portion sizes is the best approach for

delivering your body the nutrition it needs

for top performance.

Committing to healthier living is an

important step, so be sure you can reap the

rewards by making your journey to better

health a safe one. Find more tips for living a

healthy lifestyle at elivingtoday.com.

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