STAYING WELL

Best socks for walkers, runners

Biological engineering students at the University of Missouri-Columbia tested popular types of athletic socks ranging in price from $1 to $12. They found some surprises.

Less expensive socks were just as good as expensive ones when it came to wicking away sweat and keeping friction low to avoid blisters. But well made socks lasted longer. Their recommendations:

• Look for a blend of fibers like cotton/nylon/spandex.
  
  
• Socks with flat seams were less likely to rub or cause blisters.
  
  
• Extra cushioning and support made socks more comfortable when worn in tennis shoes and walking shoes.

Better first aid keeps minor injuries from becoming major problems

Minor cuts and scrapes aren't the stuff of medical dramas. If not treated correctly, they could be.

The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery reports that they get more inquiries about "minor" injuries than about anything else. That's probably because today's infections can be a lot more serious.

Bacterial skin infections that are highly resistant to antibiotics can spread to other parts of the body. Staph infections used to be found mainly in hospitals, but newer strains have become common in some communities.

They are hard to treat but not usually life threatening. Doctors at the Infectious Diseases Society of America say they are only fatal in rare cases. That's one reason why any injury that breaks the skin should be properly treated.

Make sure the injury is minor. If a cut is gaping open and bleeding heavily you need medical attention, but maybe you won't need stitches. Many doctors now use medical glue to close wounds. There's no pain involved, and the wounds heal just as well.

If the wound is minor, check these recommendations:

• Stop bleeding with pressure using a clean cloth or sterile pad. Avoid use of paper towels and dish towels.
  
  
• Clean the wound with running water. Use soap if the wound is dirty. Don't use lake or pond water.
  
  
• Cover the wound so it's not exposed to the air. Dry wounds don't heal as well as moist wounds.
  
  
• To add moisture, apply a triple antibiotic ointment or plain ointment such as Aquaphor.
  
  
• Use a sterile bandage and keep the wound out of the sun which can increase scarring.
  
  
• Change the bandage daily and check for infection. If the wound is getting worse instead of better see your doctor.

Lose your belly fat

Most often, it starts about age 40. You aren't eating more or exercising less but you are accumulating fat around your middle.

Dr. Pamela Peeke of the University of Maryland says the flow of fat from our arms, legs, and hips to our stomachs is a natural part of aging. Before that, estrogen in women and testosterone in men keep it away from the abdomen. Some advice for reducing abdominal fat:

• Don't be a stress eater. Stress influences where fat is deposited, according to the University of California, San Franciso, Center for Obesity Assessment.
  
  
• Increase muscle mass. It decreases each year after 30. Studies show that lifting weights and strength training in people age 50 and over resulted in a 10 to 15 percent decrease in belly fat. Doing aerobic exercise also helps, but not as much.
  
  
• Only eat the good stuff. That means lean meat and fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats like those in olive oil and fish oil.

New orange juice benefit

If you've ever had a kidney stone, you know how agonizing
the pain can be. Unfortunately, once you've had one, chances of having another are high.

A study reported in the Clinical Journal of Nephrology now shows that orange juice helps to prevent the recurrence of kidney stones. It's the citrate in orange juice that does it.

Citrate is found in all citrus juices, but not all juices have the same effect on kidney stones that orange juice does.

© 2015 TLC Magazine Online, Inc.