6000 Steps a Day for Healthy Knees A study published in Arthritis Care & Research looked at nearly 1800 adults who either had knee osteoarthritis or were at risk for it.
What Fitness Lovers Have in Common How you think about exercise might make a big difference in how much weight you lose. Afterwards, the “exercisers” were more tired and grumpy and consumed more sugary treats at a lunch buffet.
New findings on how you should be protecting yourself
Sun Sense
RECENT RESEARCH has revealed ways to make your daily sun protection habits even more effective but, unfortunately, many doctors don’t talk to patients about such advice as a matter of course. Here’s what you need to know.
SLATHER IT ON When it comes to applying sunscreen, use the house-painting rule: two coats. Research shows that most people apply only 25-50% of the amount used in testing, which results in an SPF that’s about one-third of the one indicated on the label. Two coats ensures adequate amounts and distribution.
APPLY EVERY DAY “It’s not just typical ‘weekend warrior’ activities that lead to sun damage,” says Dr Ranella Hirsch, a US-based dermatologist. Dartmouth researchers found that cumulative sun exposure contributed more to nonmelanoma skin cancer and signs of skin ageing than sporadic damage like holiday burns.
COOL SHADES Choose wraparound sunglasses. Smaller lenses or ones that aren’t a close fit can let through up to 44% of UV rays, an American Journal of Public Health study discovered. A broad-brimmed hat will protect eyes from UV rays even more.
WATCH THE HOURS UV rays are most damaging to your skin around midday, but a recent study found that long-term exposure of the eye to UV rays – which can cause eyelid cancers as well as cataracts and other eye conditions -occurs early (8am to 10am) and late (2pm to 4pm), when the sun’s rays are more parallel to the eye.
