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The Truth About Fitness Trackers

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Image result for fitness tracker

Photo from Best Products

Madison McGuire

Fitness trackers are increasingly used by people trying to get and stay healthy. Trackers can show daily activity progress, read your heart rate, and log exercise sessions. Some, like the Apple Watch, can even log hours of sleep and sense atrial fibrillation. 

A recent study suggests that while fitness trackers might help you bump up your daily steps and avoid a sedentary lifestyle, there is skepticism about their health benefits in the long run. Even participants incentivized with cash to walk more did not lose any weight, lower their blood pressure, or improve their resting heart rate. It is likely that those wearing trackers chose to reward themselves for meeting exercise goals with a dietary indulgence.

Perhaps what’s missing are motivational tools and social features that may help individuals establish healthy eating and activity habits. Users might benefit more if they focus not just on walking more, but on incorporating their individual health needs and a healthy diet. 

https://www.consumerreports.org/fitness-trackers/will-a-fitness-tracker-help-you-lose-weight/

https://www.cnet.com/news/losing-weight-with-fitness-trackers/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/expert-answers/activity-trackers-for-weight-loss/faq-20348545

https://www.today.com/health/fitness-trackers-didn-t-lead-weight-loss-low-cholesterol-blood-t159870

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Dimethicone

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Photo from Naturally Curly

What is Dimethicone and is it safe?

Dimethicone is a type of silicone which is commonly used in cosmetics, hair care and skincare products. It helps products glide over the skin and helps keep the ingredients mixed together. This produces a silky-smooth texture. It also helps fill in pores and fine lines while creating a matte finish on the skin. This can be useful in camouflaging breakouts and redness. Dimethicone is often used as an ingredient in moisturizers to prevent or to treat dry skin and minor skin irritations.

There is some speculation as to whether or not dimethicone causes acne in those with acne-prone skin. However, the evidence to support this claim is mostly anecdotal and is not supported by studies. Human and animal clinical trials of dimethicone indicate that it did not cause irritation when applied to the skin. While this is not the same as acne, it is worth noting that dimethicone is non-comedogenic and forms a vapour permeable barrier on the skin. This means that it is not totally occlusive. 

It is possible to have an allergy to Dimethicone. If you experience redness or swelling when using products that contain this ingredient, you should discontinue use and speak to your dermatologist. 

https://hellogiggles.com/beauty/what-is-dimethicone-in-cosmetics/

https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/skincare-ingredients-what-is-dimethicone

https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/a?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+1808

https://www.aad.org/media/news-releases/–small-changes-in-skin-care-routine-can-significantly-improve-skin-affected-by-acne-and-rosacea

https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/skincare-ingredients-what-is-dimethicone

All, Common Myths

The Toilet May Not Be the Dirtiest Thing in Your House

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Image result for cleaning cell phone

Photo from Digital Trends

Shreya Thiagarajan

Most people are quick to point to the toilet as being the “dirtiest” thing in their houses. After all, it comes in contact with bodily excretions, so it must house the most bacteria, right?

Studies show that it may actually be your cell phone that is the dirtiest item you own. It is estimated that your cell phone is likely home to ten times more bacterial colonies than the toilet seat is, one study showing that the typical cell phone has nearly 1500 bacterial “hotspots” compared to only around 200 on a toilet. You may think, “a toilet seat probably has more dangerous or infectious bacteria because it has more exposure to bodily fluids.” However, one in six smartphones have come into contact with fecal matter, and several strains of harmful pathogens like Streptococcus (responsible for strep throat), E. coli, and MRSA (antibiotic resistant Staph) have been discovered on phone screens as well. 

The smartphone may be much dirtier than a toilet because it is carried nearly everywhere and comes into contact with several different surfaces, including your own face. It is also not cleaned as often as a toilet seat may be. This gives bacteria in contact with the phone screen the opportunity to accumulate and spread to other surfaces. To keep your phone clean, it is recommended that you wipe the screen with microfiber cloth sprayed lightly with an antimicrobial solution weekly to prevent excessive bacterial growth! 

https://time.com/4908654/cell-phone-bacteria/

https://yourhealth.augustahealth.org/2018/11/07/fact-your-cell-phone-is-dirtier-than-a-toilet-seat/

https://phys.org/news/2019-03-smartphone-dirtier-toilet.html

https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/germs-toilet-seat/