Your health

Everything counts

I suspected caring for a toddler should count as exercise. Now there's scientific proof.

The American Council on Exercise commissioned a study of the calorie burn you get from pushing a stroller. Exercise scientists at the University of Wisconsin, La Cross, tested 15 women pushing baby strollers weighted with 35 extra pounds -- the equivalent of a 1-year-old child plus diaper bag.

On average, women walking 3 mph burned 6.2 calories a minute. That works out to 372 calories an hour, the equivalent of mowing the lawn or riding a bike at 10 mph.

It's higher than the scientists expected. But it's still up to you to get out the door.

Wise buys

If you're shopping for a jogging stroller, Baby Boot Camp founder Kristen Horler offers a few tips:

• Get big wheels. The small wheels on traditional all-in-one strollers create too much friction. Pick a stroller with three fixed wheels, especially inflatable rubber ones of 16-inch diameter or larger.

• An adjustable handlebar ensures proper posture.

• Hand brakes are handy for slowing down on hills, but wheel brakes are safer for parking. Also, insist on a five-point safety harness for your child and a reclining seat.

Air quality report

Don't hover over the office printer. Some laser printers used in homes and offices can release fine particles of toner that can harm the lungs and heart, researchers report in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

Australian researchers tested indoor air quality in a nonsmoking office and found it was five times more polluted during work hours. Laser printers emitted more particles when operating with a new toner cartridge or when printing graphics or photos, which require greater amounts of toner.

The study offered no definitive proof of harm, but researchers counseled people to make sure their offices are well-ventilated.

-- Susan Stevens