HEALTH & WELLNESS
S PE CIA L S E C T I O N
a person’s risk of heart disease by 35 percent. It is important to be cognizant of sugar intake,
as it can often sneak into your diet unnoticed. Men should only consume about 37.5 grams
of added sugar (think coffee drinks, sodas, yeast breads, cereals, fruit drinks) per day, while
women should stay around 25 grams. Starting out the day with a latte, frozen beverage, or
soda could add anywhere from 20 to 63 grams of sugar in just 12 ounces! Make sure to stop
and think before you consume added sugar for the sake of your heart health, because sugar
isn’t as sweet as it seems.
NO BONES ABOUT IT
Is your job a pain in the neck? If you work in a sedentary environment, your response is
probably yes. Musculoskeletal pain is caused by excessive sitting throughout the day, leading
to slouching, hunching over, and muscles in your body going without use for hours. Studies
are finding that although a regular workout routine helps, it won’t combat the constant
weight on your rump. Although some offices are moving toward healthier options, such as
convertible, stand up/sit down desks, or treadmill desks (if you have the skill to think and
walk at the same time), most of us have to face our chairs every day. What a pain!
There are ways to prevent the negative effects, such as stiffness and poor circulation, of
constant sitting.
• Get up and move! If you find yourself sitting for extended periods of time, you need to
break the habit. Schedule an alarm for every 30 minutes to get up and take a lap around
your office. Manage your time effectively by going to pick up your paper from the
printer or grabbing a glass of water. Even better? Visit a co-worker to talk about a project
instead of sending an email.
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• Establish proper sitting habits. Keep your
back straight, feet at 90 degrees, and eyes level
with the top of your computer screen. Make
sure your shoulders aren’t hunched when
resting your elbows on your desk to type.
• Stretch in place. Adding stretching to your
daily routine is beneficial for anyone. Stand
up and do a few stretches at your desk to
get your muscles loosened up and moving.
Feeling spunky? Add a few jumping jacks in
to get your heart rate pumping for some extra
energy.
• Realize how much sitting you do. Sitting for
eight hours at your job has negative effects on
your body, but going home and sitting on the
couch for the rest of the night doubles those
effects, increasing cause for concern. If you
have a sedentary job, make a point of taking
a walk when you get home or spend some
time on your feet with your kids or at the
gym. Keeping active during breaks and on the
weekends will help combat negative effects
from the workweek.
BEST FOOT FORWARD
After hours of physical abuse from constant
pounding and tapping, your feet deserve a break!
Feet take a constant beating every day, and we
often blame foot pain on a long day on our feet or
shoes with poor support. Foot pain may be caused
by other problems in your body that shouldn’t be
ignored.
Keep tabs on your feet by:
• examining your feet regularly
• wearing comfortable shoes that fit properly
and offer plenty of support
• keeping your toenails trimmed straight across
• allowing your feet to air out after being in
shoes.
Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing:
• joint stiffness
• tingling or numbness
• swelling
• discoloration or bruising
• inability or limiting of physical tasks due to
foot pain. ■
SN