9/7/10

Staying hydrated by drinking fresh, clean water when you're traveling can be difficult; you might even want to break open your hotel room fridge to fetch a bottle of water when you're thirsty. Instead, carry a reusable water bottle with you when you travel and fill it up with free water. You'll often find it inside the hotel's gym. Just because you aren't planning to run a 5K on the treadmill doesn't mean you can't pop in to fill up your bottle.

9/6/10

Recent studies on lab rats by the Food and Drug Administration's National Center for Toxicological Research and the National Toxicology Program have shown that the chemical retinyl palmitate, a derivative of vitamin A added to sunscreen as a moisturizer, may increase the risk of cancer when worn. While further research is needed, the good news is this: Only 40 percent of sunscreens contain this ingredient. So when shopping for UV protection read the labels carefully, and consider a retinyl palmitate-free brand the next time you have fun in the sun.

9/5/10

If you can't afford to buy all-organic fruits and vegetables, buy the ones that really count. Ideally, thin-skinned fruits like strawberries, grapes and apples should always be organic. Berries absorb pesticides and herbicides like sponges. Apples are cultivated with high levels of pesticides, so scrubbing each apple and peeling it is important. And because grapes have been found to be heavily sprayed as well, immerse them in water, using a special soap spray to clean them. You can even peel each grape for safer eating.