Issue Date: November 12, 2006
Focus can cut risk of knee injuries
Tearing the anterior cruciate ligament -- the ACL -- is a debilitating injury. Researchers at Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Research Foundation found that a neuromuscular training program focusing on landing mechanics and core strengthening can reduce injury rates by anywhere from 72% to 100%.
A DVD of the training program, a great workout for athletes and non-athletes alike, is available for $25 at aclprevent.com.
One knee-protecting move:
After your pre-workout warm-up, try the "jump tuck." Stand with feet hip distance apart. Jump straight up, trying to bring knees to chest. Focus on a soft landing by rolling from the balls of feet to the heels, bending at knees and hips. Keep knees aligned over ankles; don't allow them to buckle in. Try watching yourself in a mirror.
Quality is more important than quantity. Do as many as you can with perfect form in 30 seconds, then take a break and repeat. Before starting any new program, consult a doctor.
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Cool toys that last a lifetime
A "talking" broom and dustpan make helping around the house fun.
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Do the holidays seem to bring out the worst in your children -- impatience, a bad case of "the gimmes"? Why not shop for toys that foster the qualities you value most: responsibility, patience and compassion.
HOUSEHOLD FUN: The right tools make all the difference in inspiring kids to pitch in at home. Silly Sam Talking Broom with Dust Pan ($12.99), shouts encouragement to the preschool set. If it takes the purr of a real motor to get older kids to clean, consider a DustBuster or any number of pint-size vacs. And you can lure even reluctant chefs into the kitchen with the Imperia Manual Pasta Maker, a bit pricey at about $60, but a gift that gives back, because you can eat the fettuccine of your labors.
PATIENCE BUILDERS: Promote your child's ability to delay gratification with gifts that require waiting for something to grow (a Chia Pet) or hatch (a ladybug farm). Legos or old-fashioned models also build patience. HearthSong even sells a brick construction set ($39.95 at hearthsong.com) that includes mortar mix, a trowel and bricks. And craft projects (stencil sets, knitting kits) teach kids to tolerate frustration before enjoying the best gift of all -- the right to say "I made it!"
CARING GIFTS: To instill compassion, donate a tree (arborday.org), or research a charity and give in your child's name. Or buy a charity-friendly product: Build-A-Bear Workshop, for example, donates $1 to the World Wildlife Federation when you buy one of the endangered species featured in its popular line of personalized stuffed animals.
Parenting expert Ann Pleshette Murphy is author of "The 7 Stages of Motherhood."
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Germ-proof your hotel
If you think the bathroom toilet is the least hygienic part of any hotel room, think again. "It's the TV remote control," says Allison Janse, co-author of "The Germ Freak's Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu." "It's never cleaned, yet people touch it a lot."
Other items Janse finds objectionable in hotel rooms: the mini-bar door handle, the telephone, computer keyboards, the desk, bed comforters and the carpet. A cleaning crew may dust as well as vacuum and disinfect the bathroom daily, but they usually deep-clean just a few times a year. Still, travelers can take precautions to stay healthy.
Four tips from the expert:
Travel with Clorox Disinfecting Wipes or alcohol wipes, and use them to clean surfaces such as the remote, telephone and mini-bar door handle.
Wash the bathroom glasses and ice buckets using some hot, soapy water.
Never lay a toothbrush or razor on the bathroom sink.
Remove the comforter from the bed.
TV remote controls carry the most germs.
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Trans fats = big bellies
It's well-known that trans fats (such as partially hydrogenated vegetable oils) can rot your arteries. Now, a surprising new finding says that trans fats make you fatter than other fats do.
Wake Forest University researchers fed monkeys the same number of calories, with 8% coming from either trans fats or monounsaturated fat (as in olive oil). Over six years, the monkeys that were eating trans fats gained four times more weight than the olive oil eaters. And the weight settled in the abdomen, producing the "apple" body shape that's linked to higher risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Tip: Check food labels for trans fats so you can avoid them. Major sources: commercially fried and baked foods.
Sources
June 2006 presentation at annual Scientific Sessions, American Diabetes Association. Paper not yet published.
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Deals and steals at online shopping sites
This holiday season, more people than ever are expected to avoid long lines and traffic jams by shopping online. But cyberspace has its share of pitfalls, too. Here are three good ways to get the best deals and avoid ripoffs:
FREE SHIPPING: Many retailers offer special holiday free shipping, particularly in the beginning of December, before the last-minute rush. Caveat: Beware surprisingly low prices. Some sites discount an item, then jack up the shipping charges to two or three times what the regular UPS or post office rate would be. Don't be afraid to abort your checkout and surf elsewhere. And be sure to send gifts that people are sure to like, because free shipping usually does not apply to returns.
SHOPPING PORTALS: Use a portal like shopping.com or shopzilla.com to easily compare prices on specific items. Caveat: Merchants often pay portals to be featured prominently. Look for labels like "smart choice" or "trusted merchant," signaling that other shoppers have consistently rated a site well.
SPECIAL OFFERS: Shop the sales, which means reading the dozens ofe-mails you get from Amazon.com and other e-tailers. They're full of good deals and special offers. Caveat: Never respond directly to an e-mail that looks like it's from a retailer. It could be a "phishing" scam -- a fraudulent website that crooks set up to try to get your personal financial information.
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