Grab Bag Body Un-Sunblock Tip:

While the debate rages on about the “best” sunblock, even that term is controversial. Best, as in most effective? But at what potential health detriment? Best, as in non-toxic? And, have we sunblocked ourselves into a vitamin D deficiency?

For the body (the face is a different post altogether… I wear multiple, all natural SPF products EVERY day on my face) I say wear the least chemically-based sunblock you can find (I prefer Australia’s UV Natural, but know that my priority is chemical-free.. scent, feel and look come secondarily).  

But, whenever possible, wear none. None?? … None as in try clothing with a UPF 50+ and leave the sunblock tube at home.

Here’s a favorite source:

This fine company offers a nice range of men’s and women’s active wear, much of which offers a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor, the term used to rate fabric as opposed to SPF for sunblock) of 50 or more. For comparison, that white t-shirt you throw on gives you a UPF of about 7.

Click on the logo image above to go to Royal Robbins’ home page. The picture below is one of my favorite shirts to walk/run/hike/kayak in, and comes in 4 colors. Lightweight, comfortable, cool….. and MUCH quicker than rubbing sunblock all over your skin.

Grab Bag Foot Re-Tread:

Two years ago I saw the funniest looking shoes in a HUGE sporting goods store in Reno (Scheels… if you ever get a chance to go into a Scheels, do so. Amazing.)

I tried them on and chatted with the salesman. He shared that the company developed these from research showing that going barefoot in many activities produced fewer injuries when compared to high-performance athletic shoes. The claims of foot strength created by allowing the foot to move naturally confirmed my understanding of the importance of proper foot mechanics from my background in Pilates.

Why? Because the human foot is a highly technical design of  “26 bones, 33 joints, 20 muscles and hundreds of sensory receptors, tendons and ligaments.”  To allow this design to work optimally, the freedom of movement is paramount.

So, I have used them often… walking, running, trail running, hiking, swimming, paddle-boarding, and I’m sold. My feet feel much more worked after wearing these, and the strength and balance of the foot strike on the ground is something I am very aware of. This, in turn, sets up much of what else happens as we move through life. I think there is a lot of benefit to these. Give them a try… and when people start staring at your feet you can explain how buff your tootsies are 😎

Grab Bag Feline Finding:

According to today’s USA Today weekend magazine, cats may provide some health benefits to their human companions that dogs do not.

Adnan Quershi, a University of Minnesota professor of neurology and neurosurgery, tracked  4,500 people for 10 years, logging their pet ownership and their health status. His conclusion shows that those who owned cats were 40% less likely to die from heart attacks than those without cats.

Dogs did not seem to offer the same protective benefits, but the study did not show an explanation for this. Quershi is planning further study into one element cats have that dogs don’t… purring. It is a stress reliever for the feline, but it may also hold the same key for the humans they purr near (or on :smile:).

Grab Bag Fitness Test:

An important indicator of cardiac fitness is the speed at which your heart rate returns to normal from an accelerated pace. This is a good thing to test, as the results may surprise you, and inspire you to increase your interval training 🙂

Click below to try the RealAge Heart Rate Recovery Test:

Grab Bag Brain Game:

A fun crossword-type challenge…

LETTER LINES

Grab Bag Funny Stuff:

Some sharp observations from luminaries of the past.