Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - North Mississippi - (Page 44)

KISSING YOUR DOG SPITTING WHILE THE UPSIDE: "There's pretty good evidence that children in families with pets have a tendency to have fewer allergies," says Mary Ruebush, PhD, author of Why Dirt Is Good. HOW IT WORKS: Kids are going to kiss and be playfully licked all over by their pets. And all that smooching is good. "Dogs and cats have a variety of worm parasites, and exposure to those germs helps train a child's immune system to take care of them," Ruebush says. "If your immune system doesn't get exposed to animal parasites, it may respond against harmless things like dander and pollen. That's when you get allergies." CAVEAT: Of course, genetics plays a role in allergies as well. If you come from a family with a lot of allergies, there's a good chance your kids will develop a reaction to animals or other allergens. But, in general, children are likely to beneﬁt in countless ways from the affection and microbes of pets. THE UPSIDE: Getting rid of excess saliva may help you breathe more comfortably when exercising vigorously. HOW IT WORKS: When working out at a high intensity, you might feel like spitting more than you normally would. "Saliva production is regulated by the autonomic nervous system, and the sympathetic branch of that, which is active during exercise, stimulates a thicker saliva that is rich in mucus," says Stephen Hawkins, PhD, a spokesman for the American College of Sports Medicine. "Most people are mouth breathers during exercise because of the volume of air required, so the feeling of this thicker saliva stimulates spitting." And the only way to get rid of the uncomfortable glob is to spit it out. CAVEAT: While spitting discreetly during your morning jog wouldn't raise a neighborly eyebrow, hawking up phlegm in public is taboo. So, keep a pack of tissues on hand if you're a regular spitter. ON THE MOUTH SPRING 2 014 PHOTOGRAPHY BY THINKSTOCK 44 WORKING OUT

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - North Mississippi

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - North Mississippi
Contents
Opening Thoughts
Cardiac Caretakers
Mending Hearts
Occupational Hazards
The New Rules of Play
Shopping for Two
Back to Basics
Burn, Baby, Burn
Angelina Jolie
Rock Your Health
Breaking Up with Salt
Disgusting! (or Not?)
Virtual Health
One Day at a Time
The Doctor Will See You Now
Catch the Spirit

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - North Mississippi