1. Swimming is ideal low-impact cardio
Tailor it: if you have asthma
The chlorine in a pool—even if it's outdoors—can trigger an attack. In children, it may even raise the odds of developing the disorder in the first place. To be on the safe side, find a different form of exercise if you have asthma that flares up poolside, experts say; if you have a child under age 7 with allergies, don't take him to a pool with a strong smell of chlorine.
2. Eat plenty of leafy green vegetables
Tailor it: if you take the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin)
This drug prevents dangerous blood clots by blocking the action of vitamin K, which is needed to make clot-building compounds in the blood—but too much K in your diet can overwhelm your protection. The nutrient is especially abundant in dark green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, Swiss chard, and kale, so don't have more than one serving of any of these in a day.
3. Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day
Tailor it: if you have any bladder issues
You might be able to avoid leaks by cutting back a bit on fluids. Ask your doctor how much you should drink each day—and don't worry if it doesn't come close to the magical "8 glass" rule. Nearly 20% of your water intake comes from food anyway, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
4. Acetaminophen is the safest pain med
Tailor it: if you have a glass of wine (or any alcohol) daily
It’s well-known that acetaminophen can damage the liver in high doses, especially in heavy drinkers. But even light drinking can prime the liver for trouble, says Donald Jensen, MD, a medical advisor for the American Liver Foundation. Although 3,900 mg of acetaminophen is the recommended maximum daily dose, you shouldn't exceed 2,000 mg on any day you have even one drink.
5. Get nutrients from whole foods, not pills
Tailor it: if you're a strict vegetarian
If you don't eat eggs or drink milk, you may need supplements to get enough vitamins B12 and D. Try 6 mcg of B12 (the amount in a typical multi). The current recommendation for vitamin D is 200 to 600 IU, depending on your age, but researchers say that needs an update: 1,000 to 2,000 IU is optimal and safe to take. And although you can get plenty of iron through a vegetarian diet, it takes planning.
Tailor it: if you have asthma
The chlorine in a pool—even if it's outdoors—can trigger an attack. In children, it may even raise the odds of developing the disorder in the first place. To be on the safe side, find a different form of exercise if you have asthma that flares up poolside, experts say; if you have a child under age 7 with allergies, don't take him to a pool with a strong smell of chlorine.
2. Eat plenty of leafy green vegetables
Tailor it: if you take the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin)
This drug prevents dangerous blood clots by blocking the action of vitamin K, which is needed to make clot-building compounds in the blood—but too much K in your diet can overwhelm your protection. The nutrient is especially abundant in dark green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, Swiss chard, and kale, so don't have more than one serving of any of these in a day.
3. Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day
Tailor it: if you have any bladder issues
You might be able to avoid leaks by cutting back a bit on fluids. Ask your doctor how much you should drink each day—and don't worry if it doesn't come close to the magical "8 glass" rule. Nearly 20% of your water intake comes from food anyway, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
4. Acetaminophen is the safest pain med
Tailor it: if you have a glass of wine (or any alcohol) daily
It’s well-known that acetaminophen can damage the liver in high doses, especially in heavy drinkers. But even light drinking can prime the liver for trouble, says Donald Jensen, MD, a medical advisor for the American Liver Foundation. Although 3,900 mg of acetaminophen is the recommended maximum daily dose, you shouldn't exceed 2,000 mg on any day you have even one drink.
5. Get nutrients from whole foods, not pills
Tailor it: if you're a strict vegetarian
If you don't eat eggs or drink milk, you may need supplements to get enough vitamins B12 and D. Try 6 mcg of B12 (the amount in a typical multi). The current recommendation for vitamin D is 200 to 600 IU, depending on your age, but researchers say that needs an update: 1,000 to 2,000 IU is optimal and safe to take. And although you can get plenty of iron through a vegetarian diet, it takes planning.
