[url=http://health.msn.com/womenshealth/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100163331&imageindex=1]Here are some "healthy habits" that aren't as healthy as some people think.... what do you think?

1. Use anti-bacterial soap all the time.  Regular soap is just as effective in killing bacteria as the anti-bacterial soap.
2.  Sitting up straight. Slouching in your chair (as in reclining), is actually better for your back than sitting up straight.  (YEA!!  I'm always reclined in my chair - even at work!).
3.  Follow a low-fat diet. Research shows it isn't as great as originally thought! 
4.  Eat lots of carrots for your eyesight.  You really only need a little Vitamin A for good eyesight. 
5.  Take antioxidant supplements.  The best way to get your antioxidants is via the natural foods.
6.  Drink 8 glasses of water a day.  Most people get enough fluid in their food and regular beverages, excess water can actually cause problems with some people.
7.  Buy "all-natural" products.  Some can actually be toxic and the quality could be questionable in some situations.
8.  Sunscreen will protect you from cancer.  Well..... this is true, however most people do not apply the sunscreen properly or frequently enough.

Sakina wrote on May 16^th, 2007 at 11:14am:


#1 - I would tell my son to spell Mississippi twice when washing his hands.  (When he was really young - this kept him washing a looooong time as he would keep adding ississississ.....!!)

#2 Slouching forward does restrict breathing, reclining backwards (which is what the article referred to as slouching), opens up the chest more.  I experience this when biking on my recumbent.  If I pull my shoulders forward, I have a harder time breathing.  When I push my shoulders back (and relax), I can breath much easier.

Of course he had to spell it out loud, that how I would know he was spelling it right or wrong.    I taught him to spell it before he started school - his teachers were very impressed in kindergarten when he could spell it correctly out loud .  Little did they know that it was just a memorized phrase he used for washing his hands.

Sunscreen is ESPECIALLY important if you are on medication.  Lots of meds make you very sensitive to the sun.  The cost of the sunscreen is cheaper than your life with cancer.

As for sunscreen causing cancer...I do not know the testing and legistlation in  Aussie, but the screening here includes so many saftey factors to ensure people will not get cancer, I would be surprised if they do.  I do not look at sunscreen but as a toxicologist with the Cnd Fed Gov't, I would be shocked if this statement would reflect Cnd or the US (since Cnd and US are harmonized with respect to these things).  If you are really nervous, the zinc is a possibility.  Remember, no matter which you use, it will block the suns ability to help the body create Vit D.  Spend 10 minutes a day out WITHOUT block so you can produce healthy Vit D levels.  This is important to your health in a big way!!!  If not, take a supplement. 400 IU is the recommended daily dose, although now there is speculation that 1000 IU would be better.  I would say, do not take 1000 IU unless you speak with your doctor as Vit D is fat soluble (ie:  you will not pee out extra like you do Vit C and B) and you could hit toxic levels if you take too much.