Stop making this handwashing mistake, eat shrimp and use the Pomodoro technique to clean up — plus 8 more tips to improve your health

Hello Yahoo Life readers! My name is Kaitlin Reilly, and I am here to share the best health and wellness tips from around the internet.

This week, Kerry Justich spoke to American track and field Olympian Gabby Thomas, who spilled her wellness routine. This includes drinking coffee, which Thomas says is “one of the first things I do every morning.”

The athlete may not be ditching coffee anytime soon, but plenty of people are, whether that’s due to caffeine jitters or digestive woes. The good news? There are some excellent coffee alternatives on the market.

This week, I explored whether beanless brews and coffee blends — some of which are made with mushrooms or upcycled ingredients like date pits — are a good solution for when you’re craving a pick-me-up that isn’t a traditional cup of joe. While experts say there’s no reason to ditch coffee if your body responds well to it, you could get some perks by sipping on these beverages, such as a brain boost from adaptogens like reishi.

Take a peek at the local weather forecast and, if so inclined, peruse your horoscope to see what the stars have in store. Then check out what small steps you can take to make the week ahead great.

👐 Wash your hands right

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases just released its State of Handwashing report, which revealed that 48% of Americans are not washing their hands at key times. But some may not be aware of what those times even are. For example, while most Americans sudsed up after going to the bathroom and handling food (phew!), the NFID says that we should also be washing our hands after visiting food-centric places — like a grocery store, restaurant or coffee shop — as well as the doctor’s office, pharmacy or hospital. These places have the potential to be particularly germy, and those germs can go from your hands into your mouth, eyes or nose and get you sick.

An easy habit to stick with? Wash your hands every time you come home, and make sure you’re doing it the right way: Scrub with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, making sure to get under your fingernails. Don’t forget to properly dry your hands too; wet hands spread germs more easily.

🍤 Eat shrimp

May 10 is National Shrimp Day, but there are a lot of reasons to eat this crustacean year-round. One big benefit of shrimp is that it’s very low in calories while also being high in protein — a three-ounce serving has about 20 grams of protein. Plus, it also contains minerals like potassium, phosphorus and magnesium.

Want to get the best-tasting shrimp? While it may make dinner take a little longer to prepare due to the de-shelling process, buying shrimp that are still in their shells will deepen that umami flavor.

🧼 Try the Pomodoro technique for spring cleaning

It’s already May, and you still haven’t gotten around to spring cleaning? It’s time to stop procrastinating. Yes, organizing your closets and filing 6 months’ worth of random paperwork can feel overwhelming, but Apartment Therapy has a handy hack: Try cleaning with the Pomodoro technique, a method in which you work in focused 25-minute intervals followed by five-minute breaks. The goal? Staying motivated while also breaking down big tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks. Your house will get clean and you won’t lose your mind in the process — a win-win!

🍎 Upgrade your smoothies

Weird … but kind of genius? A writer at Salon found that her smoothies tasted even better when she started using roasted fruit. Think roasting peaches with honey and cinnamon, or creating an apple pie-inspired smoothie by baking apples, storing them in the fridge overnight and then blending them with rolled oats in the a.m. It’s a great way to make a morning smoothie way more exciting with new flavors.

The latest fitness craze on social media? People doing 100 kettlebell swings a day. You don’t need to do that many reps to enjoy the benefits of this exercise, however.

“Most of us spend a lot of time sitting — on our phones, at our computers, in our cars — which makes the front of our body super-tight and pulls us into that rounded, hunchback position,” personal trainer Nico Gonzalez tells Yahoo Life. “When done correctly, kettlebell swings really activate the muscles along your spine, the backs of your arms and the backs of your legs, which helps bring your posture upright. So, it’s actually a really great corrective exercise.”

Research says that working out with kettlebells can improve your grip and muscle strength overall, as well as lower inflammation. This week, make your gym workout all about kettlebells with this five-move kettlebell plan.

💦 Relax in a sauna

I recently hit up an infrared sauna on my longevity treatment journey and was so glad I did; there’s nothing more relaxing than getting a good sweat in. But there’s science behind the sweat too: Regularly using a sauna has been shown to reduce joint and muscle stiffness, improve your immune system and enhance sleep. Plus, spending time in a sauna has also been linked to a better mood. I, for one, am never happier.

Try sitting in a sauna for 15 to 20 minutes, Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino, a primary care physician at Love.Life, tells Women’s Health. If you feel dizzy or sick, step out. “Sauna use should feel like a supportive ritual, not a challenge to power through,” Tolentino explains. “The key is to listen to your body — it should feel nourishing, not punishing.”

Gossiping has an admittedly bad reputation. But there’s actually some good that can come from talking about others. “Human connection through shared information and communication is core to who we are and connects us to each other,” Thea Gallagher, director of wellness programs at NYU Langone Health, tells Fox News. “We might feel closer to someone when we know they are confiding in us with information and vice versa.”

And gossiping can also build empathy. For example, if you get wind that someone else is dealing with something (divorce, a sick parent, etc.) you can relate to, you may feel more connected to that person and be even more likely to open up to them in the future.

The key to making sure gossip never becomes malicious or catty is to ensure it’s coming from a place of curiosity, rather than to harm someone’s reputation through the spread of mean-spirited comments.

💪 Foam roll after you exercise

May 11 is National Foam Rolling Day, which should be your reminder to break out your roller after an intense exercise session. Foam rolling is a practice in which you use a foam cylinder (or sometimes even something spherical, like a hard rubber ball) to apply pressure to sore or tight muscles. This targets fascia, aka the connective tissue surrounding muscles and organs. It helps increase blood flow, reduce muscle tension and improve flexibility, making it an excellent way to aid in recovery, not to mention prevent injury next time you work out.

Need help getting started? Try these two easy exercises from Men’s Fitness. And make sure to skip foam rolling your neck, joint areas or anywhere that you’re already injured; you could do more harm than good.

🍵 Sip dandelion tea

In the mood to try a new tea? Try dandelion tea — especially if you deal with digestive discomfort. Dandelion tea can help relieve bloating, which can potentially come from eating a high-sodium diet, thanks to its natural diuretic properties, helping to flush excess fluid from the body.

But that’s not the only reason to try this herbal tea: Dandelion tea is packed with antioxidants, including beta-carotene, in addition to being a good source of vitamin A.

You may have seen the “okra water” trend making its rounds on TikTok, with some claiming that this drink — which is made by soaking sliced raw okra pods overnight and straining out the solids — helps with blood sugar control. While there haven’t been studies confirming this, there is still a good reason to eat okra, which is packed with fiber, minerals and antioxidants. It’s specifically a great source of magnesium and folate, which support muscle and heart health. Try pickling it, using shorter pods and patting them dry before brining to avoid a slimy texture.

⚽ Exercise with a medicine ball

Resistance training is so important for maintaining muscle mass and bone health. This week, change things up by picking up a medicine ball. Training with a medicine ball helps build “explosive power, increases body strength, increases speed and provides more versatile movement in different planes,” fitness coach Tatiana Lampa tells Women’s Health.

You can slam a medicine ball, toss it or twist with it beyond what you could do with a traditional weight. Plus, the shape and feel of a medicine ball means it mimics real-world activities — like, say, lifting a toddler or carrying a bag of groceries — which helps build functional strength.

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