Q: How can I avoid holiday weight gain?
A: Try these tactics to steer clear of weight gain during the holidays:
- Be realistic. It's no fun to be stressed out and trying to lose weight during the holidays. Aim to hold the line at your current weight.
- Shop smart. Celebrate the season with festive and healthy items. Look for fat-free eggnog, apple cider, unsalted nuts, whole-grain crackers, fresh vegetable and fruit platters and low-fat dips.
- Keep hunger in check. Have a light, healthy snack before going to a party so you won't overdo it once you arrive.
- Enjoy yourself. Eat your favorite foods, but choose small portions. Go easy on high-calorie beverages and be choosy
at the buffet table — no need to sample everything.
- Work in exercise. It's a great way to burn calories and lower stress. Walk a lap around the mall before gift shopping. Make a holiday hike or other activity a new family tradition.
Q: To best prevent the spread of germs, how often, and for how long, should I wash my hands?
A: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing hands before, during and after you prepare food and after you use the bathroom, change a child's diaper, touch garbage or pet an animal.
Lather up with soap and water and scrub for about 20 seconds, the time it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song. Don't forget the back of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails.
When soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based sanitizing hand gel. Your local Good Neighbor Pharmacy can help you choose a hand sanitizer that you can stash in your purse or briefcase.
Q: Between holiday gifts and decorations, I'm worried about potential safety hazards to my kids. What can I do to avoid accidents?
A: Follow these safety tips to help keep the season merry and safe.
- Select battery-operated toys, rather than toys that need an outlet, for kids younger than age 10.
- Don't give younger kids toys with sharp edges, small parts or sharp points.
- If you set up a Christmas tree, place it away from fireplaces, portable heaters and radiators. Keep the tree well-watered so it doesn't dry out and become a fire hazard. Before buying an artificial tree, check the label to make sure it's fire-resistant.
- Clean up all used wrapping paper, bags, ribbons and bows soon after opening presents. They could pose a choking, suffocation or fire hazard to children and pets.
Q: Is it true that whether or not you wash your hands can affect glucose meter readings for people with diabetes?
A: Yes. Studies show that clean hands get you the most accurate readings from your glucose meter. You're probably used to washing your hands before meals, and it turns out that it's also important to wash hands after eating, especially if fruit is on the menu.
Peeling oranges, grapes or kiwis can result in too-high blood glucose readings, researchers report in Diabetes Care, and eating fruit held in your hand likely has the same effect. Produce leaves a residue of glucose on your hands. Washing it away with soap and tap water helps make sure it doesn't interfere with your test results. Another study found that unwashed hands may change glucose meter readings by up to 10 percent.
Source: Good Neighbor Pharmacy Health Connection, December 2012
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