Get Rid from Gym Germs

Bench the Bugs: When it starts Gym Germsgetting hot outdoors, more people move their workouts - and their cold, flu, and other germs - into the comforts of an air-conditioned health club. But you don't need to fumigate the weight room or hose down the stair-climber to avoid catching something. These five simple tips can help you stay healthy at the gym ail year long,

1. Keep your hands clean. You've heard it before, but it bears repeating: Washing your hands is the most important thing you can do to stay well, especially at the gym. Those cold-causing viruses and respiratory bacteria don't live for very long outside the body. But while those pesky bugs are alive, you can bet they'll be looking for a new home. So after touching weights and machine hand rails, keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, ears, and mouth until you can lather up.

2. Take two towels. Place one on machinesGym Germs and benches before you sit down to protect yourself from fungi like those that cause jock itch. Use the other to blot sweat off your body.

3. Wear flip-flops. You don't want to know what grows on shower floors, but we'll tell you anyway. Fungi and bacteria thrive in damp shower stalls and can cause athlete's foot and painful plantar warts.Flip-flops won't keep you fully fungi-free, but it's better than going barefoot.

4. Use your own mat. Otherwise, you could end up with contact dermatitis, a bothersome but rarely serious allergic reaction to such substances as sweat left by rarely serious allergic reaction to such someone with a rash.

5. Change your sweaty shorts. You're more likely to develop yeast or bacterial infection from leaving them on than from anything else you’d encounter at the health club, so shed the shorts right after your workout. If you have post-exercise errands to run and can't shower right away, change into dry underwear and shorts first; then wash up and dry off thoroughly at your first opportunity.