10 Fast Facts to Improve Your Health

Credit: Flickr/S.A. Reed

Watermelon is 92 per cent water, making it the perfect summer snack to satisfy your thirst

Ten health facts about food, prescription drugs and fungus

1. Walking downhill is as good for exercising the thighs as going uphill. However, it can be harder on the knees, 
so avoid overextending your knees.
2. 
Salmon tops the list of healthy fish, thanks to its high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.

3. Protect your feet from fungus infections or warts by wearing flip-flops in public places such as pools, showers, locker rooms and hotel rooms. 

4. Certain prescription and OTC drugs can cause the skin to react to sun exposure. If you’re taking medications, check with your doctor or pharmacist before heading into the sun.

5. Resist the urge to squeeze acne blemishes as this can force the infection deeper into the skin, causing more inflammation and increasing the risk of scarring.

6. Watermelon is 92 per cent water, making it an ideal food for quenching thirst and satisfying the craving for something sweet.
7. 
Keeping windows closed and setting 
the air conditioner to recirculate helps reduce the levels of allergy-inducing pollens in the home.

8. Drinking heavily on a hot day can cause rapid dehydration, raise blood pressure 
and increase your risk of heat prostration or stroke.

9. The sperm count of smokers is 15% lower than that of non-smokers. Smoking also affects the shape and motility of sperm.

10. Always put sunscreen on your lips. The lips are a common spot for squamous cell carcinoma – the second most common form of skin cancer.

See more easy health tips.

Originally published in Wellness Matters, Canada Wide Media’s quarterly newsletter on health and wellness.