Healthful Tips

Jump it out!

The next time you're fighting a serious craving, grab a jump rope: Jumping up and down fights hunger better than other forms of exercise, according to a new study.

Bright paint can be dangerous

Bright shades of colour may liven up your home, but recent research is warning that those bright-coloured paint can release dangerous gases called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), even months after it has dried. Used to keep colours from fading and separating, VOCs have been associated with neurological damage (brain fog, balance issues), infertility, and birth defects, said Walter Crinnion, ND, chair of the environmental medicine department at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe in Arizona, United States. Experts are warning to use your nose as a guide: the stronger the smell of the paint, the more VOCs it contains. But whatever colour you choose, it is strongly advised to never paint a room unless you'll be able to open its windows for at least 24 straight hours afterward. Be sure to always choose zero- or low-VOC paints (they should be clearly labelled) and skip repainting altogether if you're pregnant or hoping to be anytime soon, said Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, co-author of The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Women's Health.