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If you pledged to hit the gym this year, take some steps to prevent skin infections, an expert says. “While skin infections are not a reason to cancel your gym membership, it’s important to follow a few simple steps to avoid germs while you’re at the gym,” said Dr. Brian Burke Adams, professor and chair of dermatology at the University of Cincinnati. “The bacteria, viruses and fungi that cause skin infections to develop thrive in warm, moist places like sweaty exercise equipment and locker room showers. If you’re not careful, you could end up with an infection like ringworm, plantar warts or impetigo,” he said in an American Academy of Dermatology news release. Here’s what Adams recommends: At the gym, wear loose-fitting, moisture-wicking clothes that will help keep your skin dry and prevent germs from growing. Wash your gym clothes after a workout. Always wear shoes, especially around pools, and in locker rooms and showers. Keep shower shoes, flip-flops or sandals in your gym bag. If you have cuts, keep them clean and covered. Don’t use saunas, steam rooms or hot tubs until the wound is healed, Adams said. Wash or sanitize your hands immediately after working out, and shower as soon as possible. After showering, put on clean clothes, including clean socks and underwear. Never share towels, razors or other personal items. Use disinfectant… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Teens typically have a significant increase in appetite around the age of 10 in girls and 12 in boys, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. During adolescence, boys require an average of 2,800 calories per day and girls an average of 2,200 calories per day. Hunger typically starts to subside once teens stop growing, the academy adds. But taller teens and those who play sports may require more calories into late adolescense, the doctor’s group says.

(HealthDay News) — Stress is a function of the demands placed on people and their ability to meet them, the Nemours Foundation says. Stress affects anyone who feels overwhelmed, including children. Signs of a stressed child include mood swings, acting out, changes in sleep patterns or bedwetting, the foundation says. Additional signs may be stomachache, headache, trouble concentrating or appearing withdrawn. Nemours suggests how to help your child manage stress: Make sure the child gets enough sleep and eats a nutritious diet. Set aside time each day to speak with your child. Don’t force a child to talk about what’s bothersome. Anticipate and prepare the child for stressful situations. Use a character is your child’s favorite book to identify a stressful situation and to learn how the character worked things out.

Over the past few decades, the amount of food Americans eat away from home has increased from 18 percent to 33 percent. At the same time, restaurant meals with oversized portions have become a major contributor to the nation’s obesity epidemic. While much of the blame has been aimed at fast-food places, these aren’t the only restaurants to supersize portions. A study done at Tufts University found that meals from non-chain restaurants averaged 1,200 calories, about the same as offerings from the large chains. And meals from three of the most popular cuisines — American, Italian and Chinese — tallied even higher, close to 1,500 calories. With 92 percent of restaurant meals delivering more calories than needed in one sitting, it’s pretty easy to gain weight. Half of all U.S. restaurants are individual establishments or part of a chain small enough to be exempt from having to provide nutritional information — such as calorie counts — so you’re on your own for making careful choices. Here are steps you can take. First, watch out for the freebies, such as any tasty bites from the chef presented as you sit down, as well as a bottomless bread basket. Dipping bread in olive oil rather than spreading on butter cuts out saturated fat, but not calories, so skip it if you want to spend those calories elsewhere.… read on >

Quitting smoking is one of the hardest things to do, but studies have found that one strategy in particular can help many people: Start anti-smoking medication well before your intended quit date. Under traditional prescribing guidelines, people who plan to quit smoking with the help of a medication begin taking their anti-smoking drug about one week before their set quit date. But about 75 percent of people who try to quit go back to smoking within a year. So what’s the solution? Research done at the University at Buffalo, in New York, showed that simply starting the drugs four weeks in advance can increase the success rate. One study was done on bupropion, known by the brand name Zyban, and similar research has involved both nicotine replacement therapy and varenicline (Chantix). The idea of taking quit-smoking medication earlier in advance of your quit date stemmed in part from reports of people who were taking these medications for other reasons — bupropion, for instance, is well-known as an antidepressant — and found that they gave up smoking without even trying to quit. Four weeks also provides a good timeframe to mentally prepare to quit smoking. In fact, many study participants started smoking less before their quit date and without experiencing strong cravings or withdrawal symptoms. And their cravings tended to decrease. As for results, over 50… read on >

Deadly lung attacks may be averted in some COPD patients with a daily dose of vitamin D, new research suggests. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, includes a number of lung conditions, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Nearly all COPD deaths are due to a sudden worsening of symptoms (lung attacks), often triggered by viral upper respiratory infections, the researchers explained. “New treatments are urgently needed to prevent COPD attacks. Our study shows that giving supplements to vitamin D-deficient COPD patients nearly halves their rate of potentially fatal attacks,” said lead researcher Adrian Martineau, a professor at Queen Mary University of London. In the study, Martineau and his colleagues analyzed data from 469 COPD patients from three clinical trials, which took place in the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Netherlands. Taking vitamin D supplements was associated with a 45 percent reduction in lung attacks among patients who were deficient in vitamin D, but there was no reduction among patients with higher vitamin D levels, the investigators found. The study was published Jan. 10 in the journal Thorax. Vitamin D supplementation is safe and inexpensive, Martineau noted. “So this is a potentially highly cost-effective treatment that could be targeted at those who have low vitamin D levels following routine testing,” he said in a university news release. “Around a fifth of COPD patients in the U.K.… read on >

A large, new analysis helps confirm that eating lots of grains, vegetables and fruit lowers your risk of dying early from cancer or heart disease. When compared with those who consume very little fiber, people at the high end of the fiber-eating spectrum saw their risk for dying from heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and/or colon cancer plummet by 16 to 24 percent, investigators reported. The team also concluded that more is definitely more: For every additional 8 grams of dietary fiber a person consumes, the risk for each of those illnesses was found to fall by another 5 to 27 percent. “The health benefits of fiber are supported by over 100 years of research into its chemistry, physical properties, physiology and effects on metabolism,” said study author Andrew Reynolds, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Otago in New Zealand. “What really surprised us was the range of conditions that higher intakes of dietary fiber seemed to improve,” Reynolds added. “Heart disease, type 2 diabetes and [colon] cancers are some of the most detrimental diseases of our time.” The conclusions follow a deep-dive into the results of 185 observational studies conducted over the last four decades, alongside the findings of another 58 clinical trials involving more than 4,600 participants. Reynolds and his colleagues reported their work, which was commissioned by the World… read on >

Tainted food, trash-filled parklands and even hungry kids: Public health could be increasingly at risk as the U.S. government shutdown drags into its 21st day, experts say. Crucial inspections intended to protect Americans have either been curtailed or are not being performed because the responsible federal workers have been furloughed, said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. “We have a very refined regulatory process which protects people from known and unknown hazards,” Benjamin said. These inspections are designed to protect people against threats like tainted drugs, foodborne illnesses and water contamination, he explained. “Even though we have a system that’s pretty good, things fall through,” Benjamin said, noting the frequency of drug recalls, foodborne disease outbreaks and polluted drinking water. “And that’s when we’re running on all cylinders, everyone’s funded, everyone’s at work,” he added. Large sections of the government have been shut down since late last month. President Donald Trump is insisting on government funding of more than $5 billion to start building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border; Democrats have refused to fork over the money. Congress already has passed five of its major appropriations bills, which fund about three-quarters of the government. The shutdown hasn’t affected the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Veterans… read on >

Research confirms that a good sex life is a key to strong feelings of intimacy and satisfaction for both partners in a relationship. Yet for many, sex goes by the wayside, often because of life’s demands, from the boss at the office to the kids at home. Responsibilities can leave you feeling drained and longing for nothing more than a solitary soak in a warm tub at day’s end. But experts warn that physical intimacy shouldn’t be sacrificed, because it not only helps you stay connected to your significant other, it also leaves you feeling more alive and youthful. Start by taking care of yourself — your health has a direct relationship on your sex life. If you work outside the home, leave work stress at the office. Don’t sabotage sexual desire by worrying about work all night. Resist the old-fashioned thinking that once you’re a parent, you’re no longer a sexual being. Set bedtimes for your kids and make sure they’re adhered to so that you and your partner can have “alone time.” Disconnect from your computers, cellphones and other gadgets early in the evening so that you can focus on time with your partner, even if it doesn’t always lead to sex. Resist the temptation to check your work email before bed — most problems can wait until morning. If your sex life… read on >

You know how important fiber is for overall health, making meals more filling and staying “regular.” But did you know that children need their fair share of fiber, too? And for the same reasons. How much is enough? In general, the U.S. Institute of Medicine states that monitoring fiber intake should start early in life, and by their teen years, kids need nearly as much fiber as adults. Grams of Fiber by Age: Ages 1-3: 19 g. Ages 4-8: 25 g. Ages 9-13: 26 g for girls, 31 g for boys. Ages 14-18: 26 g for girls, 38 g for boys. The American Academy of Pediatrics says to remember the number 5 — make sure kids eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day plus other good sources of fiber, like whole grains. The nutrition facts panel on packaged foods can help you make fiber-rich choices. If a food claims to be a good source of fiber, the fiber grams will be listed under carbohydrates. “Excellent” sources have 5 or more grams of fiber per serving. “Good” sources have at least 3 grams. While whole grains make healthier choices than refined ones, some have more fiber than others. For instance, whole-grain wheat has more than whole-grain brown rice or oats. Also, the amount of fiber in the same grain can vary by… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Exercise Caution to Protect Your Skin at the Gym

Health Tip: Nutritional Needs for Your Your Teen

Health Tip: Reduce Childhood Stress

When Calorie Counts Aren’t on the Menu

A Better Strategy for Quitting Smoking

Daily Vitamin D Could Be a Lifesaver for Some COPD Patients

More Proof High-Fiber Diets Help Prevent Cancers, Heart Disease

Here’s How the Government Shutdown Could Affect Your Health

Are You Sabotaging Your Sex Life?

Fiber: It’s Not Just for Adults