Your health: On the job exercising

Summer myths

Have you ever hesitated before diving into a pool, trying to remember if it’s been at least 30 minutes since you ate? Or not itched a mosquito bite for fear that scratching would only make it worse? Health myths buzz around summer pastimes such as swimming, camping, hiking and picnicking like so many gnats. The Washington Post breaks down some health myths vs. reality:

Myth: Swallowing watermelon seeds is bad for you.

Swallowing a few watermelon seeds won’t do any harm, Washington nutritionist Rebecca Scritchfield says. Our bodies try to digest them but can’t, so the seeds pass directly through our system.

Myth: You can catch poison ivy from someone who has it.

No matter how icky and oozy a poison ivy rash looks, the rash itself is not contagious, says Indianapolis pediatrician Rachel C. Vreeman. It’s the oil from the poison ivy plant that is contagious, not the reaction to it that is the blistery rash you see on someone’s skin.

Myth: Scratching a bug bite makes it worse.

This one is true. If you scratch a mosquito (or other bug) bite vigorously enough to break the skin, the bacteria from underneath your fingernails could cause a skin infection, Vreeman says.

Myth: Don’t swim for 30 minutes after eating.

If you have a big meal and then go for a swim, the worst thing that could happen is you’d feel uncomfortable or get a cramp, not drown, according to nutritionist Scritchfield. It’s unlikely that a food-related cramp would disable you, Scritchfield says.

“There’s no magic to the 30-minute number,” Scritchfield says. “Nothing dangerous is going to happen before that. It’s really how you feel.”

9 to 5 fitness

With everything we have on our plates these days, how are we expected to get in a good workout, too? Since our health should be priority No. 1, squeezing in some exercise at work might not be a bad idea. They might not be as good as a spinning class, but the website FabFitFun offers these suggestions:

Ÿ Buy a ball: Stability balls are a staple at most gyms, so why not try using one at the office? By swapping your chair for a fitness ball, you’ll tone core muscle groups and improve balance all day long.

Ÿ Raise the bottle: Chances are high that you probably don’t keep weights at your desk. But grab two water bottles and you can add a little resistance to many exercises that you can do right in your office chair. Think tricep presses, bicep curls and lateral raises.

Ÿ Walk the office: Instead of calling or IM-ing your co-workers, why not get up and walk to their offices? You’ll burn a few calories and improve circulation.