Your Health by The Numbers - Part 2
Continued From Your Health by The Numbers
>> 400 Micrograms of folic acid you should get daily.
This vitamin is especially important if you plan on getting pregnant, since it can help prevent serious spine and brain birth defects. To get the recommended amount, pop a multivitamin with folic acid with breakfast (if you’re already expecting, you’ll need 600 micrograms). Other folate sources include fortified cereals, pasta, citrus juices, peanuts, and spinach. Even if you’re not planning to have more kids, it couldn’t hurt to eat these foods-folic acid may also prevent colon cancer, stroke, and other conditions later in life.
>> 3 Minutes you need to spend brushing your teeth, morning and night.
Clean teeth take time! “I see patients with plaque buildup who brush their teeth morning, noon, and night, but they just don’t do it long enough,” says a spokesperson for the American Dental Association. Concentrate on thoroughly cleaning all surfaces of your teeth, which usually takes at least three minutes. Don’t rely on your electric toothbrush to show you when to quit-they often don’t run long enough,. Other dental do’s: Brush gently, hold your brush at a slight angle when cleaning along the gum line, and if you don’t floss daily, start now.
>> 30 Minutes before going outside that you should apply sunscreen.
Use a full ounce (enough to fill a shot glass) of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to protect against UVA and UVB rays. Cover your face and body. pay particular attention to sun-sensitive spots like the nose, ears, back, shoulders, and the back of your arms and legs. Reapply every two hours and slather it on more often if you take a dip in the water or you’re exercising and sweating a lot.
Continued On Your Health by The Numbers - Part 3