We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar! Whether you’re going by boat, plane, train, or automobile, travel bugs are bound to greet you. Here, some cringe-worthy stats on germs and traveling – and tips on how you can take a trip unscathed. Stay Hydrated According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the air inside planes has anywhere from 10 to 20 percent humidity, which can dry out mucous membranes and make people more susceptible to germs. Staying hydrated throughout the trip can prevent nasal passages from being irritated, so load up on water and skip the carbonated beverages and booze. “Alcoholic and caffeinated drinks should be followed with water or fruit juice to rehydrate because they are diuretics and can cause water loss,” advise Ray Fillmore Garman, MD, MPH, and Susan Spengler, MD, both associate professors with the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Kentucky. Sipping on water assists with immune function – and in some cases even helps with jet lag. For longer, international trips pack electrolyte-friendly snacks like GU Energy Chomps , a banana, nuts, or a small bag of fortified cereal to keep drowsiness at bay. Move Seats During flu season, jet setters are justifiably concerned about getting sick while globetrotting long distances on airplanes. And those worries come well backed by research. “There are two ways that infectious disease spreads – one is by droplets in the air and the other is when we touch a surface that is contaminated,” says Larry Weiss, MD, cofounder and chief scientist at CleanWell, a company that makes sanitizers and household cleaning products to kill germs without the use of harsh chemicals. But breathe easy – the majority of modern commercial aircrafts have HEPA filters (similar to what hospitals use to keep the air clean) that introduce fresh air into the cabin and capture more than 99 percent of the airborne microbes. Even so, studies have shown that the chance for post-flight disease increases when seated in a “hot zone” (two seats to the front, side, and behind an ill passenger). Speak with a flight attendant about relocating if someone near you is sick and if you can’t use a saline spray like Flight Spray Nasal Hydration Spray to keep your nasal passages moist – it could help your health post-flight. Skip the Pillows and Blankets Who doesn’t want to create a comfy cocoon while soaring 30,000 feet above the ground? Feel free to nest, but bring you own fluff from home. “Airline pillows and blankets are meant to be changed after every use and flight, however there are no government rules regulating this as such,” says Bill Miller, SVP of the discount flight site CheapOair.com. Roughly once every couple of months, an aircraft interior will go through a thorough cleaning, but there’s no way to know whether the cover in your seat came straight from the dryer or the dirty hamper. “Per FAA guidelines, an airplane inspection, called a C check is done after a certain number of flying hours – usually every 18 to 24 months. During that C check, an airplane is overhauled and everything is examined and cleaned,” says Miller. Err on the side of caution and bring your own carry-on comforts, like the Cat Nap Transit Pillow . It comes with a removable ultra-soft and washable fleece cover so you can snooze without worrying about getting sick. Keep reading for more germ-free travel tips this season . More from FITNESS Magazine: QUIZ: Test Your Germ IQ The Summer Slim-Down Workout Make Over Your Morning Muffin: 12 Healthy Recipes

FitSugar reader (and certified trainer) JessicaSmithTV posted this knee-friendly thigh workout in our 10 Pounds Down! community group . Need a move to help slim down your hips and thighs but can’t do squats or lunges because of knee pain? Try this Pilates-inspired move from fitness expert  Jessica Smith to target your hips, thighs, and core muscles all at once. View Slideshow ›

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar! By Becky O’Neill Sage Steele, SportsCenter anchor, is preparing to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World on Feb. 26 and is hoping to fall in love with running in the process. Follow Sage’s journey on espnW.com . With less than two days until Steele’s first half marathon, elite distance runner Kara Goucher shares a few surprising secrets to combat “taper madness.” Lashinda Demus Clears Every Hurdle The athlete: Kara Goucher Running résumé: At her first Olympic appearance in Beijing in 2008, elite distance runner Kara Goucher competed in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter events for Team USA, taking ninth and 10th place, respectively. That same year, Goucher’s record-breaking debut marathon earned her third place in the New York City race and the first spot on the podium for an American woman in more than a decade. After a year off from competition to celebrate the birth of her son (she ran up to and including the day he was born), Goucher is back in fighting shape and headed to London. There, she’ll get a second shot at bronze, silver, glory, and gold. Read Kara’s advice after the break.

Gwyneth Paltrow was all arms at the 2012 Grammy Awards. Looking even more defined than we remember her, Gwyneth’s sleeveless Stella McCartney gown showed off her shapely shoulders and strong arms. Gwyneth is no stranger to working hard to look good: she and celeb trainer Tracy Anderson put a lot of time toward her fitness regimen. See some of the arm exercises Tracy and Gwyneth do together to achieve such award-worthy arms! Source: Getty View Slideshow ›

Three out of four people with HIV in the United States do not have their infection under control, even though anti-HIV drugs have been available for more than 15 years, according to a study released Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “That’s a very poor rate. We have to do much better than that,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Keeping HIV under control is crucial not only for the 1.2 million people in the United States who carry the infection, but also for their sexual partners. Suppressing the virus decreases the chances it will be transmitted to a sexual partner by more than 95%, Fauci said. “Treatment is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of HIV infection." There are many reasons why only 28% of people with HIV have the virus under control. According to the CDC, 20% of people with HIV don’t even know they have it, and among those who’ve been diagnosed, only half are receiving regular care for their disease. Many can’t afford treatment for their HIV, which totals about $367,000 over a lifetime, according to the CDC. Since testing is the first step in receiving the proper care, the CDC is targeting specific high-risk groups. The agency has a new program called “Testing Makes Us Stronger” that encourages gay and bisexual black men to get tested for the virus. “Black gay and bisexual men across the country are already doing many of the right things to protect themselves – but more need to make HIV testing a regular part of their lives,” Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention, said in a press release. The website HIVtest.org helps people find testing – including free testing – where they live. There were high hopes that women could use a gel to destroy the HIV virus, or at least reduce its chances of causing infections. But this week the National Institutes of Health announced that the gel, which contains the drug tenofovir, worked no better than a placebo, so this particular arm of  the study was shut down.   The gel is supposed to be applied to the vagina or rectum before sex, and Fauci said he suspects many of the women weren’t using it. “The fact that we didn’t see protection was a disappointment,” he added.  Researchers are still studying if tenofovir in pill form combined with another HIV drug, emtricitabine, can safely and effectively prevent HIV transmission in women.

Every so often, I’ll bring timely, worthwhile projects that I think can make a real difference to your attention. Today, I’d like to ask for your help in reshaping the new dietary recommendations put forth by the Harvard School of Public Health. On Tuesday, October 4th at 2:30 PM EST Dr. Eric Rimm will host No related posts.

Given this Summer heat, it’s likely you don’t need anyone telling you to drink more water. But here’s a quick reminder of all the benefits of H2O. Proper hydration is always important, but this is especially true before you exercise. Studies have shown that dehydrated people do fewer reps and tire more quickly . Sounds obvious, but the reason why it happens is interesting: dehydration lowers the hormone levels necessary for building muscles. So make sure you drink enough - find out just how much water you should be drinking here . Another reason why you should keep that water bottle handy: people who drink enough water end up eating fewer calories than those who don’t . If you’re looking to quench your thirst, opting for water is better than drinking high-calorie (and high fructose corn syrup laden) sodas. Think diet soda is a good water substitute? Think again – studies have found that people who drink diet sodas actually weigh more – and have waistlines that are 70 percent larger – than those who don’t. So reach for the water, and drink up!

After eating hard, tasteless, discolored tomatoes for the past eight months, I’m loving the fact that my knife is now sliding through juicy, ripe, and delicious tomatoes. Although tomatoes generally taste better toward the end of the Summer, the tomatoes that are now arriving in farmers markets and grocery stores shouldn’t be missed. Tomatoes are not only tasty, they are also good for us . In this month’s issue of Natural Health , it’s noted how tomatoes are better for us when they are cooked because they offer more antioxidants than raw ones. When tomatoes are heated, they release the antioxidant lycopene, which makes it easier for the body to absorb. Lycopene is good for us because it has cancer-fighting properties and helps fight free radicals that can damage cells . Find out more about how to maximize tomatoes’ health benefits.

Frosty Reception: The Obama administration’s proposed guidelines governing how hospitals and doctors can form accountable care organizations are unpopular with many health-care providers, who say they won’t participate in the program unless the financial incentives are improved and the regulatory burden reduced, the WSJ reports . ACOs are intended to coordinate care for Medicare patients, with an aim to improving quality while saving the government and providers money. MRSA in Cows: Researchers have discovered a new strain of MRSA — the nasty staph infection that is resistant to certain antibiotics — that can exist in cows as well as humans, the Washington Post’s Checkup blog reports . A researcher at the University of Cambridge said it’s unlikely the strain could be spread via pasteurized milk or dairy products, but that infection via unpasteurized milk is a possibility, the WP says. Lung Drug: Two late-stage studies of Relovair — an experimental inhaled drug for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — show the drug is more effective than a placebo, according to developers GlaxoSmithKline and Theravance, the WSJ reports . Detailed study results will be presented at a future medical conference, the companies said. Shares in both companies slid, however, as they said that in one particular analysis the drug didn’t show a “consistent” statistically significant benefit over one of its components alone. Unapproved Sales?: The man who invented the cold remedy Zicam was arrested after a federal grand jury indicted him on charges he sold an unapproved drug, Vira 38, to treat bird flu during the 2005 outbreak of the disease, the Los Angeles Times reports . The indictment alleges Charles Hensley marketed the remedy online as a treatment for flu; his attorney tells the paper that Vira 38 was a supplement made of four types of tea and that Hensley would plead not guilty. Image: iStockphoto

Jillian Michaels was on The Today Show to promote her new book, Unlimited , in which she maps out the three important steps to achieving a better life. The fitness expert and Biggest Loser trainer says it takes imagination, belief, and achievement.