Latest news with #AmIDoingItWrong?
Buzz Feed
05-08-2025
- Health
- Buzz Feed
Never Do This In Public Restrooms, Says Germ Expert
Using a public restroom is rarely a joyous occasion. They're filled with sights and smells that can strike fear in the hardest of hearts (and stomachs), and still, most of us have to venture into them at some point if we ever want to live a life outside of our homes. So how can we make our time in a public bathroom better or safer or, at the very least, less gross? That's we ― Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, hosts of HuffPost's Am I Doing It Wrong? podcast ― asked microbiologist Jason Tetro, aka 'The Germ Guy,' to school us on when he dropped by our studio. 'Every time I talk about toilet seats and toilets, I'm always saying, 'Well, it's not germy — everything is germier than a toilet seat,'' Tetro told us. '[I'm basing that on] studies that were done back in the 1970s and controlled laboratory environments that were mimicking the home... [but those toilets] also had a lid.' That lid, which is absent from the vast majority of toilets in public restrooms, is key, he said, to containing what scientists call a 'poo plume,' the droplets and aerosol particles that can spray up to six feet out of the toilet when we flush. 'As a result of [there not being a lid], there's that plume that comes from the toilet that ends up on the seat, and no matter where you go, you're always going to find that about 50% of the [public restroom] toilet seats at any given time are going to have some kind of poo germs on them in the range of hundreds [of particles],' he said. Those poo particles can contain E. coli, salmonella, or even norovirus, all of which, if present in high enough concentrations, can make us sick — but not from sitting on the toilet seat. 'We do see potentially some low level of all sorts of different types of bacteria and viruses that could potentially cause an infection, but the reality is, unless you have a cut, then there's really no opportunity for that to get into your skin to cause a problem,' Tetro, the author of The Germ Files and The Germ Code, explained. However, droplets in the air are a different matter altogether. That's why he says we should flush the toilet before using it to 'get a fresh' bowl and never stay in the stall after flushing. 'Make sure that you kind of get out of the stall for 30 seconds to let whatever was aerosol or the droplets to fall and then you can go back in,' he said, noting that he actually does this himself. 'So here's the problem: If it's norovirus or some of the more really troublesome bacteria like 0157:H7, then you may actually end up getting exposed to a high enough level that it could potentially cause infection,' he warned. That's because the droplets from the plume could land in your mouth or nose — which is even more of a danger if you're standing in close proximity to a public restroom toilet that features an extremely powerful flusher. 'So if you're gonna go for the clean or for the fresh bowl, make sure that your face is nowhere near that plume,' he added. Once you've finished your business, don't stick around in the stall after you've flushed either — unless you want to be showered by a plume of your own poo particles. We also chatted with Tetro about the germiest part of a public restroom (spoiler: it's not the toilet seat), what to do if there's no soap in the bathroom, and much more. Listen to the full episode above or wherever you get your podcasts.
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
"It's Bad": An Eye Doctor Is Warning People About This Common Habit That Could Ruin Your Eyesight
The human eye is a wondrous thing. It is considered the body's most complex organ after the brain and contains over 2 million working parts. About 80% of all learning happens through vision. So how can we keep our eyes in tip-top condition? And what should we never do if we want them to stay as healthy as possible? That's what we — Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, the hosts of HuffPost's 'Am I Doing It Wrong?' podcast — asked Dr. Amanda Redfern, an ophthalmologist and assistant professor at Oregon Health & Science University's Casey Eye Institute, when she recently dropped by our studio. ″[Sleeping with contact lenses in your eyes] is bad. It's real bad. Don't do it,' Redfern told us, adding that this even applies to naps. 'It's like a game of Russian roulette.' That's because you can get a corneal ulcer, which is an infection on part of the eye that a contact covers. 'It's not going to happen every time, but when it happens, it's terrible,' Redfern said. 'It can be so bad you could, in really terrible cases, lose your eyeball.' In less severe situations, Redfern said you could end up with a scar on your cornea. 'If that scar is in the center of your vision, that could affect your vision permanently, unless you get a corneal transplant,' she said. Redfern also warned us not to engage in any activity that could cause lenses to become compromised or contaminated, including swimming in a pool or lake while wearing contacts or even showering with them. 'The problem with contact lenses is that it will sandwich bacteria between the lens and your cornea, and you can get infected and then have all the complications we talked about,' she said. 'In general, we frown upon anything where your eye is going to expose to something nonsterile.' That includes using tap water to rinse or store lenses. When asked what she would suggest if someone were on vacation and forgot to bring contact lens solution, pushing them to choose between sleeping while wearing contacts or using tap water to store them, Redfern refused to pick either choice. 'Both of those are awful options,' she said. 'I'd rather you [throw the contacts out] and just walk around a little bit blurry for the weekend.' One thing Redfern does want us to do to keep our eyes healthy? Use eye protection more regularly. 'I always wear eye protection if I'm doing a house project where I'm hammering, sawing — anything where something can fly at my eye,' she said. 'Always wear eye protection, because I actually spend half my time seeing hospital consults and the trauma that you see is just crazy.' If you end up getting something lodged in your eye, don't try to remove it yourself. Instead, tape a paper cup over your eye and immediately see a medical professional. 'Pulling it out in an uncontrolled fashion [could cause] the inner contents of the eye to come out with it,' Redfern said. She also busted some myths about other activities that may be harmful or beneficial for the eyes (spoiler alert — reading in the dark isn't going to ruin your vision), why we get floaters (and when we should see a doctor about them), and lots more. Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts. For more information from Redfern, check out her Instagram page. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in Goodful: Also in Goodful: Also in Goodful:
Buzz Feed
30-07-2025
- Health
- Buzz Feed
Eye Doctor Reveals 1 Major Thing You Should Never Do
The human eye is a wondrous thing. It is considered the body's most complex organ after the brain and contains over 2 million working parts. About 80% of all learning happens through vision. So how can we keep our eyes in tip-top condition? And what should we never do if we want them to stay as healthy as possible? That's what we — Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, the hosts of HuffPost's 'Am I Doing It Wrong?' podcast — asked Dr. Amanda Redfern, an ophthalmologist and assistant professor at Oregon Health & Science University's Casey Eye Institute, when she recently dropped by our studio. ″[Sleeping with contact lenses in your eyes] is bad. It's real bad. Don't do it,' Redfern told us, adding that this even applies to naps. 'It's like a game of Russian roulette.' That's because you can get a corneal ulcer, which is an infection on part of the eye that a contact covers. 'It's not going to happen every time, but when it happens, it's terrible,' Redfern said. 'It can be so bad you could, in really terrible cases, lose your eyeball.' In less severe situations, Redfern said you could end up with a scar on your cornea. 'If that scar is in the center of your vision, that could affect your vision permanently, unless you get a corneal transplant,' she said. Redfern also warned us not to engage in any activity that could cause lenses to become compromised or contaminated, including swimming in a pool or lake while wearing contacts or even showering with them. 'The problem with contact lenses is that it will sandwich bacteria between the lens and your cornea, and you can get infected and then have all the complications we talked about,' she said. 'In general, we frown upon anything where your eye is going to expose to something nonsterile.' That includes using tap water to rinse or store lenses. When asked what she would suggest if someone were on vacation and forgot to bring contact lens solution, pushing them to choose between sleeping while wearing contacts or using tap water to store them, Redfern refused to pick either choice. 'Both of those are awful options,' she said. 'I'd rather you [throw the contacts out] and just walk around a little bit blurry for the weekend.' One thing Redfern does want us to do to keep our eyes healthy? Use eye protection more regularly. 'I always wear eye protection if I'm doing a house project where I'm hammering, sawing — anything where something can fly at my eye,' she said. 'Always wear eye protection, because I actually spend half my time seeing hospital consults and the trauma that you see is just crazy.' If you end up getting something lodged in your eye, don't try to remove it yourself. Instead, tape a paper cup over your eye and immediately see a medical professional. 'Pulling it out in an uncontrolled fashion [could cause] the inner contents of the eye to come out with it,' Redfern said. She also busted some myths about other activities that may be harmful or beneficial for the eyes (spoiler alert — reading in the dark isn't going to ruin your vision), why we get floaters (and when we should see a doctor about them), and lots more. Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.
Buzz Feed
21-07-2025
- Health
- Buzz Feed
The One Food You Should Always Eat At Breakfast
From Apple Jacks to cheese omelettes, blueberry pancakes to leftover pizza, there are a zillion and one potential choices for breakfast these days. But some options are definitely more nutrient-rich than others. So what would a dietitian's No. 1 pick be? And how can we get more good stuff into our bodies first thing in the morning without sacrificing deliciousness? That's the question that we — Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, the hosts of HuffPost's Am I Doing It Wrong? podcast ― had for Lisa Moskovitz, a registered dietitian, certified dietitian-nutritionist and the CEO of NY Nutrition Group, when she dropped by our studio to offer her tips and tricks for doing breakfast better. Listen to the full episode here. Moskovitz's breakfast all-star is chia seeds, which are harvested from Salvia hispanica, a member of the mint family. 'It's a superfood because of all of the nutritional properties that it has, from fiber and magnesium to B vitamins and iron, and there's a little protein in there,' the author of The Core 3 Healthy Eating Plan told us. They also contain omega-3 fatty acids, which help keep our brains and hearts healthy and have been shown to reduce inflammation. 'It's great for regulating digestion,' Moskovitz added, 'so for people that struggle ... with constipation and regularities, chia seeds are a great source of insoluble and soluble fiber.' In fact, just one serving of chia seeds — typically two to three tablespoons — offers nearly 10 grams of fiber, which is one-third of the recommended daily intake for most people. Fiber not only helps with digestion by bulking and softening stools; it's been found to lower the risk for many dangerous health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Chia seeds are also incredibly versatile and can be easily added to countless breakfast favorites to boost their nutritional benefits. 'You can sprinkle them in your yogurt, you can put them in your oatmeal, you can even sprinkle them on your avocado toast, in your eggs, in your coffee, and you can just take them in water,' Moskovitz suggested. 'You can soak them in your almond milk or dairy milk or any or oat milk and leave them in the fridge overnight, and that's a great grab-and-go.' By making tiny tweaks — including adding chia seeds or other nutrient-packed foods like nuts and fruit — to our tried and true breakfast go-tos, we can score more of what our bodies need without missing out on our morning favorites. 'Stop worrying about what to cut out and just think about what we can add in,' she advised. Moskovitz also chatted with us about the ideal time to eat breakfast, what to know before you eat another egg, the four things to add to every smoothie, and much more. Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.
Buzz Feed
19-07-2025
- Health
- Buzz Feed
Eye Doctor Reveals Worst Thing For Your Eyes
The human eye is a wondrous thing. It is considered the body's most complex organ after the brain and contains over 2 million working parts. About 80% of all learning happens through vision. So how can we keep our eyes in tip-top condition? And what should we never do if we want them to stay as healthy as possible? That's what we — Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, the hosts of HuffPost's 'Am I Doing It Wrong?' podcast — asked Dr. Amanda Redfern, an ophthalmologist and assistant professor at Oregon Health & Science University's Casey Eye Institute, when she recently dropped by our studio. ″[Sleeping with contact lenses in your eyes] is bad. It's real bad. Don't do it,' Redfern told us, adding that this even applies to naps. 'It's like a game of Russian roulette.' That's because you can get a corneal ulcer, which is an infection on part of the eye that a contact covers. 'It's not going to happen every time, but when it happens, it's terrible,' Redfern said. 'It can be so bad you could, in really terrible cases, lose your eyeball.' In less severe situations, Redfern said you could end up with a scar on your cornea. 'If that scar is in the center of your vision, that could affect your vision permanently, unless you get a corneal transplant,' she said. Redfern also warned us not to engage in any activity that could cause lenses to become compromised or contaminated, including swimming in a pool or lake while wearing contacts or even showering with them. 'The problem with contact lenses is that it will sandwich bacteria between the lens and your cornea, and you can get infected and then have all the complications we talked about,' she said. 'In general, we frown upon anything where your eye is going to expose to something nonsterile.' That includes using tap water to rinse or store lenses. When asked what she would suggest if someone were on vacation and forgot to bring contact lens solution, pushing them to choose between sleeping while wearing contacts or using tap water to store them, Redfern refused to pick either choice. 'Both of those are awful options,' she said. 'I'd rather you [throw the contacts out] and just walk around a little bit blurry for the weekend.' One thing Redfern does want us to do to keep our eyes healthy? Use eye protection more regularly. 'I always wear eye protection if I'm doing a house project where I'm hammering, sawing — anything where something can fly at my eye,' she said. 'Always wear eye protection, because I actually spend half my time seeing hospital consults and the trauma that you see is just crazy.' If you end up getting something lodged in your eye, don't try to remove it yourself. Instead, tape a paper cup over your eye and immediately see a medical professional. 'Pulling it out in an uncontrolled fashion [could cause] the inner contents of the eye to come out with it,' Redfern said. She also busted some myths about other activities that may be harmful or beneficial for the eyes (spoiler alert — reading in the dark isn't going to ruin your vision), why we get floaters (and when we should see a doctor about them), and lots more. Listen to the full episode above or wherever you get your podcasts. And for more from Redfern, check out her Instagram page.
