You may be familiar with the saying “too much of anything isn’t good for you”.  This is entirely true.  Even simplest things in life, like water, can threaten your health.  Consuming large amounts of any substance can be extremely damaging to your health – and some even deadly.  But, if you follow to this simple advice and don’t over-indulge in one thing, you will not have to worry about harming your health.

Too much caffeine or sugar can really harm your health!

Believe it or not, drinking too much water in a short period of time can be fatal.  This occurrence has been diagnosed as “water intoxication”.  People who have water intoxication show similar symptoms of alcohol intoxication, such as disorientation and nausea.  An excess amount of water in your system will cause your brain cells to swell (sometimes sending you into a coma) and then burst, which disrupts normal brain functions.  It can cause your brain and kidney to become dysfunctional and it can provoke heart failure.

However, water intoxication is not something you should worry about every time you go to drink another glass of water.  You should consume 8-10 glasses (about 2-2.5 liters) of water daily.  Water intoxication is only triggered when this turns into a situation like 4 liters in less than 4 hours.  We should all know from common sense that this not a smart idea.  Also, if you’re exercising it is true that you’re going to need to consume more water.  Just know your body’s limits and spread out the drinks over time.

There are other substances that people consume daily in minimal amounts that can be toxic in large amounts.  Take caffeine for example.  The average American drinks about 3 cups of coffee a day (Coffee Fun Facts)!  Meaning that many Americans drink even more than that.  Does this mean that those people who drink more coffee are putting their life at risk for a caffeine overdose? Not at all.  The average cup of coffee contains no more than 200 mg of caffeine.  Toxic levels way surpass this amount.  Consuming 10g or more of caffeine could be fatal (that would be over 50 cups of coffee in one day!).

A well balanced diet will keep you healthy.  Continuing on the theme of “too much of anything isn’t good for you”, too much of any one food can be seen as a health hazard.  If you eat too much of one particular food, this means you’re going to eat less of other varieties of foods containing additional vitamins and minerals.  These other nutrients are essential to your health and well-being.  Also, over-indulgence of one particular food can pose long-term health risks.  For example, if you consume too much sugar with not enough exercise you put yourself at risk for diabetes.  The human body is such a well-designed complex that it well let you know when enough is enough.  It sends out warning signals, such as nausea, indicating that it has reached its limit.  You risk unhealthy conditions when you push this limit.  Listen to your body.

Approximately 75% of Americans wear some type of vision correction.  Blurring of our vision is mostly genetic and out of our control.  It occurs when light enters your eye and is focused to a point around the retina, instead of directly to the retina.  When and if you need vision correction (although not everyone will), glasses and contacts have been designed to fix this condition.  Once diagnosed, the question is glasses or contacts? For some, the decision is quite obvious depending on their lifestyle; but for others, the decision may be more difficult.

Glasses or Contacts?

Many Americans find that glasses are a more appropriate choice for their lifestyle, while others find them more inconvenient.  On the down side, many find glasses to be a bit of an annoyance.  The frames can obstruct your vision and the lenses do not cover your peripheral vision.  The distance from the lens to your eye may distort your perception, too.  Also, you have to take your glasses on and off throughout the day when necessary, which can be irritation for some people.  And the more you have to touch your glasses for adjustments, the more you’re going to have to clean them off.  They also require cleaning or wiping according to the weather (wiping off rain drops) and sudden temperature changes.

On the plus side, many people love their glasses.  They enjoy being able to take their glasses on and off as they please and not worry about falling asleep while wearing contacts.  When you wake up in the morning, your glasses can be immediately available, instead of stumbling to the bathroom for your contacts.  Also, you don’t have to be anal about cleaning your glasses daily to prevent the risk of infection.  Importantly, a pair of glasses could last you a lifetime! This makes them a more affordable option over contacts and not to mention they can be quite stylish.

Although there are millions of glasses wearers in the US, many people are aficionados to their contacts.  12% of those who need vision correction wear contacts; more women wear them than men.  Contacts are popular because they are suitable for any type of lifestyle.  Even those who don’t need vision may choose to wear colored contacts to make a fashion statement.  Since they’re directly on your eye, there is no vision distortion or obstructions.  Contrary to popular belief, contacts do not make your vision worse more quickly than glasses.  However, people find that the maintenance of contacts is not worth the convenience.  They can be dry and uncomfortable.  Contact wearers risk the possibility of a bacterial infection as well as a contact tear and damage to the eye.  Those who wear contacts must be very cautious because your eyes are delicate organs.

The decision between glasses and contacts can be simple – get both! Many people choose to wear both since both options are relatively affordable.  With both glasses and contacts, you have flexibility to wear either whenever you would like.  Or if you’re really courageous, Lasik is now an option.  During this procedure a laser is used to correct your vision so you will no longer need glasses or contacts.  In the end, we all make the decision that best suits our need and lifestyle.

Get out of that tanning bed!

When summer comes along, many people just can’t resist lying out in the sun to develop a deep, golden tan. Now, the summer tan is no longer limited to the summertime. The rise of the tanning bed, coupled with the idealization of tanned bodies from shows like the Jersey Shore, has led people—mostly women—to tan year round. Tanning, whether out in the sun or in an indoor tanning bed, can have harmful consequences. Here are the top seven reasons for you to quit tanning once and for all.

1.      Tanning—especially in tanning beds—can actually be habit forming and at worst, addictive. Research has shown that tanning is often habit forming, and some people show behaviors similar to drug and alcohol addicts. In a study reported by ABC News back in April, researchers found that between 30 and 40 percent of individuals who used tanning beds demonstrated the psychiatric diagnostic indicators for addiction.  Some “tanorexics” just can’t stop tanning no matter what they try, while others miss social opportunities just to tan.

1. Melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, is highly linked to exposure to UV rays. Both tanning beds and the sun produce UVA and UVB rays, and overexposure to UV rays can cause cancer. In particular, melanoma is one of the most common cancers affecting young people, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

3.      Ultraviolet rays also cause premature aging of the skin. Yes, that means wrinkles.  UV rays break down the collagen in your skin. Collagen keeps your face smooth and wrinkle-free. Do you really want to risk turning your skin into leather just to keep up a Snooki-esque tan?

4.      Proponents of tanning have argued that exposure to sunlight and tanning bed light generates Vitamin D, which may be able to reduce the risk of certain cancers.  However, a recent study showed that high levels of vitamin D weren’t necessarily linked to reduced risk in cancer.

5.      Overexposure to the sun can also damage the DNA in your skin, leading to increased risk of skin cancer.  Tanning bulbs also prevent your body from repairing the damaged DNA, another factor that may increase cancer risks.

6.      Anyways, soaking up the sun is not the only way to increase Vitamin D intake.  Alternative sources include fish, cheese, and fortified foods like milk, as well as vitamin D supplements. Limited exposure to the sun is a good thing, but baking in tanning beds and burning in sunlight is not a good way to obtain Vitamin D.

7.      Not only does tanning hurt your health, but it can also hurt your wallet.  If you choose to tan in a tanning salon, by default you must pay for services. Add in expensive tanning lotions meant to enhance your tan. By the time you factor in the 10% tanning tax that starts July 1^st 2010, you’ve made a sizeable dent in your wallet.

The Situation with tanning does not look promising. “Fake-n-bake” tanning and sunbathing alike can be very harmful to your wallet, and most importantly, your health. If you’re not willing to cut down on your tanning habits, consider at least reducing your time under the heat lamps. If you prefer to brown outside, wear sunscreen to protect your skin. Follow Lindsay Lohan’s lead—this is probably the only time you’ll ever be told to listen to Lohan—and use sunless tanning products. Self-tanners and spray tans can give you that golden glow without harming your health.