health
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That's disgusting
Playing with your gum
Twirl, pull, twirl, pull. We have all seen it: the "gum pulver," the person who thinks it is OK to yank that sticky piece of glycerin and sweetener, then take the stretched-out chewing gum and construct a perfect coil around the index finger. Then comes the most daring part of all: The gum goes back in the mouth.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, millions of bacteria, fungi and viruses are on your hands.The hand comes in contact with more foreign objects than any other part of your body.Some of these bacteria-bearing places include the toilet seat and handle, door knobs, telephones, and, worst of all, others' hands.
"It's basically like sticking your entire finger in your mouth. The same bacteria sticks to your gum and then you chew on it all day and it is
Photo illustration by Megan Weltner
Keep it classy and less germ-infested to boot: Playing with your gum is like sticking your finger in your mouth.
in your system," says Anne Coveney, R.N. with Pediatric Associates in Kansas City, Missouri.
— Megan Weltner
The old wives' tale that a glass of warm milk will put you right to sleep is right on the money.
Milk is a great sleep aid for two reasons:
1. It contains calcium and magnesium, which both relax the body.
2. Tryptophan is the ingredient present in turkey that's responsible for making you sleepy after a hearty Thanksgiving feast. A glass of milk has a large amount of this natural sleeping aid.
But does the milk need to be warm to induce sleep? Dr. David Edelberg of the Whole Health Clinic in Chicago says milk should be warm.
"Warming the milk helps because it breaks up the protein molecules making it more readily available to the body," Edelberg says. "Also, you don't want to drink something cold right
Photo illustration by Megan Weltner
Nighty night: Milk contains calcium, magnesium and tryptophan, which all help relax the body or serve as natural sleeping aids.
before bed because that can be stimulating to the body."
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February 5,2009
— Megan Weltner