Most people take a break from their fitness routines when they are sick. Then, there are those who power through and risk getting even sicker. Ideally, you wouldn’t get sick at all, but that’s not reality. On the bright side, studies show that people who follow a regular fitness routine lower their risk of contracting colds and other common communicable diseases.
Still, germs are everywhere. While most are harmless, experts say, roughly one percent of germs can cause life-threatening infections. To avoid upsetting your fitness routine, consider the following simple steps to help you stay healthy:
Beware of Dirty Mats
Welcome mats house millions of unwanted guests. Most welcome mats are placed just outside the front door, which is one of the dirtiest spots in and around your home. A recent study found that nearly 96 percent of shoe soles carry traces of coliform, which includes fecal bacteria. Once the germs get into your mat, any time you walk on it, you give bacteria a free ride into your home. Ditto for shopping bags that are placed on the front mat while you fish around for your keys or balance kids on your hips. Those bags are then brought inside and placed on countertops, where germs then transfer and prosper. To avoid getting sick from these unwanted houseguests, remember to never to put your shopping bags on your countertops. You can eliminate bacteria on your welcome mat by spraying it once a week with Lysol or another disinfectant spray. Also, take your shoes off before entering your home.
Dish Towel Danger
A recent study found that about seven percent of kitchen towels are contaminated with a type of staph bacteria that can cause life-threatening skin infections. Dish towels also rate high for dangerous strains of E. Coli and other bacteria. That said, if you use dish towels as opposed to paper towels, you might consider making a switch. Experts recommend that you use paper towels to clean countertops, and save the towel to dry clean dishes. Even then, you should wash your dish towels in hot water and bleach at least twice a week to keep them germ-free.
Related Articles:
Creating an Affordable Fitness Plan