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Dec. 15, 2023 - Dr. Oz Podcast
42:37
Should You Toss Your Over-the-Counter Meds | Dr. Oz | S6 | Ep 82 | Full Episode
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Time Text
Today on Oz.
240 million of you take them regularly.
We've all used over-the-counter meds.
You all think that you can take OTC meds because they're safe.
But can a typical dose equal three glasses of wine?
Dr. Oz sounds the alarm.
The new DUI. Driving while drugged.
Plus, you do everything right, but still get sick.
The secret weapon that could protect you from getting ill this winter.
Coming up next on Dr. Oz.
They're the most common medicines taken in America.
240 million of you take them regularly, and almost no one who takes an over-the-counter med thinks twice about driving.
But the typical recommended dose of OTCs, something like this, can have the equivalent effect of drinking three glasses of wine.
Now, the FDA has issued a new warning about over-the-counter medicines in driving, so we sent investigative reporter Elizabeth Leamy to look into the new DUI, driving while drugged.
That's Paula on the right.
She's driving impaired.
And it's perfectly legal in every state.
You destroyed it.
Alright.
Don't mess with me.
It's actually no laughing matter.
Paula is one of three women who participated in our blind test of some of the most popular over-the-counter medications.
Tablets?
We gave them the standard dose, then sent them to George Santa Maria.
I'm gonna put you guys to the test today.
George tests each woman on basic skills like parallel parking and essential skills like steering and braking.
Diane, how are you feeling?
I feel good.
You feel like you're safe to drive?
Yes.
I feel pretty good.
All of the women thought they were fine to drive, but were they?
First up, Becky.
You're going to go to the left of that cone, to your left, and you're going to start to serpentine through the cones.
Any questions?
Does it matter what side of that cone I go on?
Despite asking George to repeat the instructions several times, Becky goes right instead of left.
George, do you think the medication she's on could make it hard for her to understand your direction?
Without question.
So what was Becky on?
An allergy medication available at every drugstore in America.
Next up, Diane.
You are going to parallel park between those two items.
Are you ready?
I'm ready.
Easy, Diane, easy.
Did I hit it?
You don't even know if you hit it?
Diane knocks the sign several more times.
You hit it again.
Then hits a cone on the slalom test.
Ran over my cone.
The medication Diane took, a flu remedy.
And here's the real shocker.
She took it the night before.
No braking, no braking, no braking.
We wanted to see what would happen if our testers drove further longer.
But we didn't want anybody to get hurt.
So we turned to state-of-the-art driving simulators next.
How alert or sleepy do you feel?
I feel alert.
Dr. Gary Kaye at Cognitive Research Corporation has been studying drugged driving for 20 years.
It's very important that you maintain a steady position in your lane.
Remember Becky who took the allergy drug?
She spent four and a half of her 30 minutes on the simulator outside her own lane.
So we wanted to know what would happen if our testers combined an over-the-counter medication with alcohol.
Paula agreed to be our guinea pig.
Do you feel drunk?
Impaired?
I definitely feel impaired.
But when we give her a breathalyzer test, Paula's below the legal limit, so there's definitely something else going on.
On the simulator, we watch in astonishment as Paula falls asleep.
Her dangerous combo?
Alcohol and a commonly used antihistamine.
We're just glad Paula crashed on the simulator and not on the road.
Problem is, in real life, we don't have a dress rehearsal.
You get one shot.
Elizabeth Levy joins us in studio.
So what alarmed you the most about that fabulous experiment you conducted?
You know what blew me away?
These women didn't realize they were impaired.
They thought they were fine to drive, and our testing showed anything but.
I mean, on the simulator, they crashed multiple times.
It shows these drugs sabotage your judgment.
So, to me, the takeaway was you need to make a decision before you take these drugs that you're not going to drive.
Let me see some thoughts from the audience.
Who has comments?
What do you guys think about seeing people who are drugged not realizing it over-the-counter?
Hands up?
Thoughts?
Go ahead.
What was going through your mind as you saw that?
Well, I mean, me as a nurse practitioner, I know that it's very important for patients to always read the labels.
I mean, even if they're over-the-counter medications.
Thank you.
And then, let me ask you a question.
Would you think differently about how you take over-the-counter medications based on what you just saw?
I definitely would.
It makes me want to read the label and make sure I know exactly what's in there.
Not only for myself, but for my children.
I have two teenage drivers at home who take allergy medications and It makes me worry about them just taking the allergy medication alone without, you know, any other drugs involved.
It's a little scary.
Very scary.
Hold on to that.
Just to come back to you.
All right.
So many of you guys all think this.
You all think that you can take OTC meds because they're safe.
You know, you don't have a prescription for them.
They have to be safe.
But nothing could be further from the truth.
I'm joined by clinical pharmacist Dr. Nancy Inkansa.
So how big of a problem?
Thank you.
Do you think this drug the driving is?
It's a huge problem, and it's growing.
One of the issues is that, first of all, the label is buried halfway down, or you have to go to the second page of the drug facts to even see that there's a caution when driving for products.
The second issue...
See how small that label was?
It just came up on the screen.
Although it is on the label, it's not really there for us to read it.
It's there because it's required to be there.
Exactly, exactly.
And the second issue is that many people don't share with their doctors the different over-the-counter medicines they're taking when they're taking and sharing their other medicines.
So because of that, the doctors will then prescribe other medicines as well that have additive effects.
So when it comes to this issue of drug-to-driving, Dr. Inconstance says there are two OTC offenders that we all have to know about.
The first we've been talking about, antihistamines.
So if you can, we gave this example at the very start of the show.
These, you know, these pills are the equivalent of three glasses of wine.
What do folks have to look out for for antihistamines?
Well, first they need to look at the back of the product and look for the product named diphenhydramine.
That's in many different allergy medications and you'll find That antihistamines are common in allergy medications.
What many people don't know, unfortunately, is that taking two doses of thyphenhydramine is the equivalent of taking at least three glasses of wine.
And you mentioned it's found in a lot of products.
Again, this is shocking to me.
How many people don't realize all these products here, is that right?
Exactly.
You picked these out?
Yes.
These were examples I gave.
Oh my goodness.
So allergy relief, nighttime sleep aids, cough tablets, generally no relationship you would think to having a problem driving.
So what do you do?
How do you take a product if you've got allergies and avoid this drug driving scenario?
Usually we recommend for our patients to take non-sedating antihistamines.
And it will say on the top of the product, non-sedating.
So there are lots of ones we could take if we're smart about it.
Absolutely.
Why wouldn't we take those all the time?
Well, I mean, people don't know.
You're used to taking the allergy medicine.
You're used to taking the antihistamine.
You might want to sleep a little bit, so you just take a little bit of that one.
People just don't know.
In fact, when I did my research, there were over 30 products alone with diphenhydramine in them.
Had no clue before doing that research.
Oh my goodness.
If a pharmacist doesn't know, how could the rest of us?
Exactly.
Let's shift gears.
The next big OTC offender are the cold and flu meds.
Hugely beneficial.
Explain to us how these nighttime meds can really influence us.
Many of these nighttime meds have an agent called doxylamy in the exact same class as thiphonhydramine from a Strength standpoint with a sedative effect.
Not only that, but many of these agents also have 10% alcohol in them.
They have alcohol in them?
They have alcohol in them as well.
So having a drink plus getting the sedating effect.
Exactly, exactly.
And you don't even realize that, right?
But if you look down on the label, you'll see that these specific agents say do not drink alcohol while taking them.
And that's not always clear to people either.
So they have that added effect of both the alcohol and the antihistamine.
But they do work.
So what should folks do if they want to be able to get some relief, but they still want to be able to drive?
You can try starting out with half of the dose.
Initially, everyone reacts differently to different medicines.
So you can take half of the dose and then go to sleep afterwards, especially if you're taking a nighttime cold and flu medication.
Another option is to wait about 12 hours before getting on the road, because as you saw, this person took it the night before and she was still impaired the next day.
And give me one big takeaway.
If there's a smart tip you would give us about over-the-counter medications and driving, what would it be?
Well, I actually have three for you.
Oh, good.
Always a bonus of Dr. Incansa.
The bonus, exactly.
So the first issue is to make sure you read the labels on the back of the medicine so you're aware of what you're taking.
Second, make sure you know how your body's going to react to a medicine.
If you've never taken it before, give it a try.
Have a friend nearby to drive you if necessary so you can at least maybe predict the effect.
But as we know, even when you think you know what it will be, several times you're not even aware that you're impaired.
And last, speak with the pharmacist.
Let them know what other medicines you're taking and make sure the medicine you're taking as well will not have an added effect.
Lovely device.
Thank you very much.
We'll be right back.
Next, it's flu season.
You've done everything to keep your immune system strong, but you're still getting sick.
Find out the secret weapon that could protect you and your family from getting sick this winter.
It might even be more helpful than a flu shot.
Coming up...
Some of the healthiest options in your supermarket may actually be fake.
How to tell if you're being scammed and how to make sure you're getting the real deal.
Plus, world champion snowboarder Amy Purdy.
The illness that caused her to lose both her legs also inspired her to shoot for the stars.
I know people who have their legs who are a lot more disabled than I am.
That's coming up tomorrow.
It's the new year, and you want to lose weight.
I get it.
That's why I'm here to help you with the Total 10 Rapid Weight Loss Plan.
This has been a year in the making.
Over 2 million of you participated, and this new plan should give you the results you've been looking for.
In just a few weeks, you could lose up to 10 pounds.
No clubs, no fees, just medically sound, real advice.
Start the plan now.
What are you waiting for?
Join me all this January.
Happy EU Year.
During the cold winter months, you'll do anything to keep your immune system strong.
You wash your hands, you take multivitamins, you even get enough sleep.
So why are you still getting sick?
Well, it might be because you're missing the secret weapon in your gut that actually could protect you from getting sick this winter.
Robin is joining me.
Like so many of us, she fears getting sick in the winter.
How are you?
Hi, Dr. Oz.
How are you?
So how often do you and your family get sick during the winter?
I get sick quite often in the winter, and it's a domino effect.
If I get sick, my four boys get sick.
My four boys at home.
So they always say, you know, the adage, you know, your feet are cold, start with a fever, or maybe it's the opposite.
I can never remember.
Which one do you do?
When their boys are sick, they're on a liquid diet.
I do a lot of homemade soup, a lot of liquids for them, and a lot of hand sanitizing.
They're not allowed to come home from school in my kitchen, touch my fridge or drawers without washing, then Purelling.
So, what do you normally feed the kids?
What do you guys eat as a family?
Normally, my boys are carb addicts.
They love white bread, bagels, pizza, fries.
I know.
It's bad.
Chicken nuggets.
How about their mother?
I'm okay.
I like a lot of sugar and sweets.
I do.
Sorry.
All right.
Hold up, Mike.
You might need it.
You're giving me a lot of clues.
Just this little conversation that might be helpful.
So, I've got Robin Chucklin with you today.
She's the director of the Digestive Center for Women in Washington, D.C., The other Robin just told me a story that I hear so many times.
So what do these clues mean to you?
So there is a direct connection between the boys getting sick all the time and what's going on in their gut.
Now when most of us think about germs, we think about things that make us sick.
But bacteria in your digestive tract are actually the main thing that guard against infection and illness and keep us healthy.
And I'm concerned that she's not feeding the boys the right food.
She's giving them carbs and that's great when they're healthy, but the point is that gut bacteria need lots of plant fiber so that they can grow and flourish and crowd out the bad bacteria, the viruses, the flu.
So there's a direct connection there between what the boys are eating and the fact that they're getting sick.
And there's also a direct connection between all the sanitizing because what we're doing is we're scrubbing away all the essential bacteria that keep us healthy.
So we really need to Flip that whole idea on its head.
Germs are our friends, not our foes when it comes to keeping us healthy.
So we can be too clean.
Absolutely.
It sets us up for failure.
Absolutely.
It's a major part of what's going on in our society with all the antibiotics and the sanitizer.
We are super sanitizing ourselves into illness.
It's a big breakthrough in the thought process.
Absolutely.
And I think it explains why people trying to do the right thing like Robin are tripping up and not realizing they're actually causing the issues themselves.
All right.
So there's some secrets we're going to talk about right now Dr. Chuck has brought us.
It's going to help you from, at least prevent you, I hope, from getting sick at all this winter.
If you do get sick, make it a lot less significant.
The first are these over-the-counter digestive enzymes.
And Dr. Chuck feels passionately about these.
You think they're critical.
Why is that?
Well, there are three ways that our body gets digestive enzymes.
We make them ourselves.
Our digestive organs, the pancreas, the small intestine, can synthesize enzymes.
We get them from food, particularly raw fruits and vegetables.
Pineapple is full of an enzyme called bromelain.
Papaya has papain in it, which is actually the main ingredient in meat tenderizer.
And we can get them from supplements.
But digestive enzymes help to break down the food so that our gut bacteria can digest the food for us.
So they work synergistically to help us absorb nutrients from food.
We talk about bacteria in the gut a lot, and how do the enzymes, you've mentioned this, but I'm going to be clear about this for everybody.
Enzymes in the gut versus bacteria in the gut, how do they play together?
So again, they work in synergy to help us absorb nutrients.
The digestive enzymes break down the food into the constituent parts, and then the gut bacteria help us absorb the food so that it can transport all the energy from the food to our cells, so the cells can use it as energy.
So again, they work in combination.
So what do you tell your patients who want to take digestive enzymes?
There are three things to keep in mind.
You should try and get enzymes from a raw, natural food source.
Take the recommended amount on the bottle and look for three enzymes.
Proteases that digest protein, amylase that breaks down starch, and lipase that can help you digest fat.
So it's important to remember that as we age, we have less digestive enzymes.
We just produce them Less of them, naturally.
And that also, lots of the things we do every day that we don't think about, things like taking an antacid or antibiotics, those sorts of drugs can really affect the enzyme production.
So even if you're young, you can still be deficient in enzymes because, as we talked about, not eating the right food, taking drugs that interfere with them.
There are lots of ways you can get them naturally, and getting them from mushrooms is a really fantastic way.
Well, let's talk about it.
Raw foods, you heard it from the very beginning, raw foods have the enzymes in them.
It's one of the reasons that when you cook food, you take a little bit of a hit with your enzymes.
You might want to take advantage of the different kinds that are available.
Okay, talk about mushrooms a little bit.
This is a huge opportunity, I think, for a lot of folks.
Medicinal mushroom tea.
Yes.
So mushrooms are a great immune booster and they've been used actually for thousands of years to help people fight off bad bacteria that can take hold in the gut.
They can even fight off certain kinds of yeast and fungus in the body.
So they're a great way either getting them from a tea or naturally.
We have shiitake, we have reishi, we have maitake mushrooms.
You brew them up with a little bit of hot water.
If you feel a cold or viral illness coming on, drink a cup of this in the morning.
It can do wonders for your immune system.
What about a standard kind of treatment?
Is it a program that might work, that you take every day, that you believe might help us avoid some of the problems that Robin's been speaking about?
So I love getting all these nutrients from food.
I think it's a great way to get it from a natural food source.
This is turmeric, which is readily available in most grocery stores.
You can get it as the root that you grind up or you can get it as a powder.
And this is a turmeric latte.
It's delicious, especially this time of year.
It's very warming.
It's coconut milk, ground turmeric, a little bit of ginger, a little bit of cinnamon, some raw honey.
And having this every morning is a great way to boost your immune system and keep you healthy.
Folks, this is one of my favorite things I've ever tasted on this show.
It makes your tongue look weird.
But it's really good.
Robin, fantastic advice.
I appreciate it very much.
To Robin, the mom, I wish you the best as well with your kids.
Take some of this turmeric tea home to them.
With Dr. Chuckton's favorite turmeric recipes, go to DrRoz.com.
I'll be right back.
Tell us, how do you keep from getting sick in the winter?
I am a big fan of zinc.
The moment the weather gets cold, I start loading up on it.
I'm not sure if it really works, but it makes me feel healthy and happy.
Share your story on Facebook.com slash Dr. Oz.
Next, did you know that the secrets to curing your health complaints could be found in the palm of your hand?
From alleviating stress to head and back aches, find out how this ancient healing therapy can relieve your most common aches and pains.
Coming up next.
It's the new year, and you want to lose weight.
I get it.
That's why I'm here to help you with the Total 10 Rapid Weight Loss Plan.
This has been a year in the making.
Over 2 million of you participated.
And this new plan should give you the results you've been looking for.
In just a few weeks, you could lose up to 10 pounds.
No clubs.
No fees.
Just medically sound, real advice.
Start the plan now.
What are you waiting for?
Join me all this January.
Happy EU Year.
What if the secrets to curing your biggest health complaints were hidden in the palms of your hands?
An ancient healing practice says that's the case.
And today, reflexologist Michelle Eben is here to decode your palm and help relieve some of your most common aches and pains.
So if you can, please explain what reflexology is to everybody and help us understand why it might help with some of the pains we suffer.
Sure.
Well, reflexology is an ancient healing therapy that's based on the idea that every single part of your body, every system, every organ is related and connected through nerves to your hands, feet, and ears.
And by stimulating specific points, you can elicit a response from the nervous system that can not only relieve stress and relax your entire body, but can target specific ailments.
Best of all, you can do it anywhere.
Anytime.
You can do it to yourself.
And the hands are great because they're easily accessible.
You don't have to take your shoes off.
They're right here.
So it's a great thing to use.
Waiting in line is right there.
I've heard you can use reflexology as a diagnostic tool.
By figuring out where the pain is, you may actually identify something that's hidden to you.
Yes.
If you're feeling your hand and you feel anywhere where there's tenderness or kind of grains of sand, feels a little bit different than other areas, that may indicate that there's a problem with that organ or that system.
And then what you can do is you can look at a map and there's going to be one on DrOz.com and it'll show you where that part of your body is related to and it can indicate a problem.
Let's tackle some complaints.
Come on over here.
We'll deal with headaches first.
It's a very common complaint.
Carla is joining us.
How often do you get headaches, Carla?
About three times a week.
You can come stand next to me over here.
You're so tall, you'll look good next to me.
And how do you typically get rid of them?
I generally use over-the-counter medications, but I don't want to have to rely on that all the time.
So Michelle, show us what to do if you've got headaches.
It's a common issue.
Okay, great.
For headaches, the place to press is right on your thumb.
This is the reflex area to the brain.
And on your hand, it's on the fleshy part of both hands on the thumb, right behind the nail.
So what you want to do is squeeze with your thumb and your index finger of the other hand.
Hold it for a few seconds.
And then you can make small circles in one direction and then the other, keeping the pressure firm, but it should not hurt.
And this can relieve congestion and take headaches away.
You can use either hand?
You can use both hands.
The points are on both hands.
And it's most effective if you do the technique on both hands.
It's kind of like a massage.
You want both legs massaged.
So you want to do it with one hand and then later switch to the other hand.
And how long until you get results?
Some people feel results immediately.
Most often, the results are subtle.
They come on gradually.
But if you do this every single day, you'll have less headaches.
How does it feel?
It actually feels like there's something going on.
See, my wife pushes hard up that it hurts me.
That may not be related to reflexology, but...
Yeah, it is so interesting.
You're a little mushy there.
Yeah.
All right, thanks very much.
All right, the next big complaint we hear about is back pain.
How are you?
Tracy, what kind of back pain are you suffering from?
Lower back.
The common kind.
Yes.
And you do much to help it, or is it always there?
Creams, patches, it's always there.
It works.
All right, Michelle.
Okay, well the reflex area to the spine is actually right here.
It's in the crease below the thumb all the way to the wrist.
So what you want to do...
You guys should all do this.
I know you all have back pain.
Everyone does in America.
You can press with your thumb just below the crease where the thumb is.
Press and hold and make a few small circles and then move your thumb about a half an inch down and do it again and continue that all the way till you get to the wrist.
And this can relieve back pain.
Is that tender for you?
It is.
Yeah, a little tender.
Is it the same on both sides?
I'm just curious.
Yeah.
Yeah, it is.
You see, it doesn't hurt me, actually, but I don't have back pain right now.
That's great.
But if it does hurt, what you're doing is you want to keep doing it.
If it hurts or it's, you know, kind of grainy, you want to keep doing it, and it'll open up the energy and the pathways to the back and really help you.
Hope that's helpful.
Yes, thank you.
All right, the next health complaint that I wanted to address was digestive issues.
So Nancy's here representing this group.
What kinds of problems do you often have?
Well, it's kind of embarrassing, Dr. Oz, but I'm constantly nauseous.
I'm constantly bloated and definitely gassy.
Well, okay.
Well, that should be...
So how do we alleviate the stomach issues?
It can help you.
Okay, the first area to press is right here.
And this is the reflex area to the stomach.
And it's in the webbing between your thumb and your index finger.
You can do it this way or you can do it this way.
And you really want to press firmly and hold for a few seconds and then make small circles in one direction and then the other.
This can relax the stomach.
It can improve the circulation to the stomach and really help with nausea and tummy aches.
If you're traveling, if you're on a plane and you feel kind of sick, this is where you want to press.
Oh, perfect.
That's actually tender for me.
Maybe I have gas.
Next point.
We have more.
Colon and the intestines, right about here.
It's just below the center point.
So find the center and then go below it.
This is the reflex area to the intestines and the colon.
You want to press firmly, make small circles in one direction and then in the other direction.
And this can help with constipation, gas, IBS. Oh, yes.
Mine doesn't have tendons there, so I'm not having gas.
Just confirming.
It does feel good, though.
Good.
Let's teach the audience something.
There's a reflexology routine that apparently everyone can do for anxiety and stress.
We're all going to do this together.
Everyone at home, take two seconds.
Just stop what you're doing and do this with us.
You're going to teach us how to take care of our anxiety in life with reflexology.
Yes, this is a daily routine.
Okay, the first thing you want to do is place your thumb in the middle of the hand.
This is the reflex area to the solar plexus, which is the nerve switchboard to the body.
Press really firmly.
Make circles in one direction and then the other.
And then if you want to go a little deeper, what you can do is keep the pressure firm and then bring your hand forward.
And this is like instant stress relief.
You can do this anywhere.
You can do this on the subway, you know, at a stoplight, watching TV. And then the next area is we're going to finger walk the entire palm.
So see how my thumb kind of just digs in and moves forward a little bit?
You're moving from the wrist to the bottom of the fingers, and this is going to affect every single organ.
That feels good, doesn't it?
You already look comfortable up there.
Much less anxious than before I walked over here.
And you're going to hit the spine as well.
We talked about that.
The next thing is the fingers.
You're going to gently tug, rub and tug each finger and pull out.
And this is affecting the head, the eyes and the ears.
So do each finger, pull all the way up.
And your thumb, and you're gonna hit the brain, which is for headaches at the end there.
And the last, take the tips of your fingers and pinch and hold.
Some people actually like to put clothespins or those little things that hold bags onto their fingertips, and this affects the sinuses.
So for colds and flus, this is the sinuses.
So next time women go get their manicures done, insist they do reflexology on you, right?
Yeah.
They can teach you.
Yeah, and this is the way you do it for a partner.
So I'm going to take your hand, you kind of interlace your fingers, and this opens up the palm, and you just kind of press like that.
This feels really good.
And this?
We should keep doing that.
All my guests, thanks very much.
You can find reflexology hand maps on octoraz.com.
Be right back.
Keep going.
Thank you very much.
Next.
Is using public hand dryers safer than paper towels?
A Dr. Oz investigation.
Are they protecting you from bacteria or actually spreading them?
Find out what you can do to protect yourself.
Simple tips to stay germ-free.
Next.
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Thank you.
All new odds.
Counter-bit foods.
Some of the healthiest options in your supermarket may actually be fake.
How to tell if you're being scammed and how to make sure you're getting the real deal.
Plus, world champion snowboarder Amy Purdy.
The illness that caused her to lose both her legs also inspired her to shoot for the stars.
I know people who have their legs who are a lot more disabled than I am.
All new odds.
That's coming up tomorrow.
Let me ask you this question.
Given the choice between hand dryers and conventional paper towels, which ones would you use?
Audience?
I'm hearing a very big mix of opinion.
Well, if you thought hand dryers, and I heard some folks over here say that, you are wrong.
When I learned health experts now have doubts about the safety of hand dryers, I wanted to know why.
So I sent Peter DeLucia, who works at the Westchester County Department of Health, to find out.
If you choose hand dryers because you think they're the most hygienic choice at a public restroom, think again.
A new study says hand dryers are germ spreaders, responsible for spraying bacteria all over.
To see if that's true, or just a bunch of hot air, I conducted a little experiment.
But first, a few facts.
One reason dryers spread germs is because people have germs on their hands even after they wash them.
Why?
Because only 5% of people wash long enough to kill infection-causing germs and bacteria.
And only a third of hand washers use soap.
This means germs are often still on our hands when they go under the dryer.
Now back to the experiment.
You're probably wondering why I'm wearing this hazmat suit.
Well, to protect me from this paint.
Think of this paint as the bacteria and germs left on your hands after you wash them.
I'm going to put my hands in here and then we're going to go underneath the high-speed dryer and let's see what happens.
All on my pants, all over the wall.
What a bacteria mess.
Peter DeLucia joins me.
I've used several different types of public hand dryers.
You know, some of them sound a lot different than others.
So which is the worst, which is the best?
There's a study that was recently done.
The worst ones are those jet dryers.
They actually sound like a jet engine.
You put your hand underneath them and you feel like you're going to blow your skin off.
You see them now everywhere, right?
You see them in movie theaters, you see them at restaurants, at malls.
They feel like they work better.
They feel like they work better, but guess what?
They can spray germs up to six feet away from you.
So they're spraying germs all around.
Even the old-fashioned ones.
Remember the ones where you'd have to push the button and it'd feel like somebody was breathing heavy on you, you know?
Exactly, someone's really having some problems.
And it's like, well, wait a minute.
Nobody has the patience to adequately put their hands underneath there for a long enough time to dry their hands.
And moisture, as you know, it breeds bacteria.
So we go around with wet, germy hands touching everything.
So paper towels, they're your best answer.
Believe it or not, you're going to dry your hands better with them and quicker than using those machines, and the action of actually using the paper towels is going to take the leftover bacteria and germs on your hands that you didn't get from washing, you're going to get them on the paper towel.
I never thought about that.
And you can use that paper towel to open up the door to get out of the restroom so you're not touching it where someone touched it with their wet germy hands.
Okay.
So there was a study that was looking at this issue and bacterial levels around hand dryers are 27 times higher than around the paper towel dispensers, proving your point.
Now you say that these dryers are not the biggest problem by themselves.
They're also a problem because they cause germs to linger in the bathroom.
Exactly.
Now, you've talked about this on shows before.
When you flush a toilet in the restroom, everything aerosolizes.
You wind up having a fecal bacteria cloud in the restroom, and that's floating around the restroom for a while.
Now, you add to that the agitation from these hair dryers, especially these real strong hand dryers now that are recirculating that air, that fecal bacteria winds up in the mechanism.
Now you innocently go there to dry your hands.
Not only is the bacteria left on your hands blowing on your pants, you're getting the fecal bacteria blowing on your hands and in your face.
So you're breathing it in.
And now, you know, you wind up being like a walking petri dish around the bathroom and around your office.
Aren't you happy you tuned in today?
All right.
Eighty percent of germs that Peter's describing so vividly are spread through contact.
I mean, hand to hand contact, hand to mouth contact, hand to nose contact.
So I was curious.
And I asked Peter to do this for us, to show us just how easy bacteria and germs can spread.
So Peter conducted another experiment.
I got my hands on this powder, professionally made to simulate germs.
Here's how it works.
You take a little powder, you sprinkle it in your hands, and then you go about your business touching things as you normally would touch in your office.
The cool thing is, is this powder, when put under UV light, the would-be germs fluoresce blue.
I always like to start my day with a cup of coffee.
So I grabbed the pot, then I opened the door, picked up the phone, pushed an elevator button, and I even shook a co-worker's hand.
And now for the moment of truth, I have my UV light.
Let's go look.
Remember that coffee pot I touched?
The door handle and the elevator button?
These aren't real germs, but if they were, you could see how easily I spread them around.
Peter has scared us all.
Okay, so if you have to use the hand dryer, give us a couple tips to avoid catastrophe.
Well, look, the most important thing is you have to thoroughly wash your hands.
So that's it.
You want to get the bacteria off your hands.
So you've got to remember, running water, soap, and keep your hands moving underneath there for at least 15 to 20 seconds.
A good rule of thumb, sing the happy birthday song to yourself twice.
It's a lot longer than you think, that 15 to 20 seconds.
All right, next tip.
Next tip is you want to make sure you adequately get your hands dry.
We talked about that.
So if you only have those dryers in the bathroom, give them a good shake first in the sink to get some of that excess water off.
Then when you get underneath the dryer, be patient.
Wait for it to go through its whole cycle.
Most of the time when you put your hand underneath there is motion activated and it has a cycle length.
Make sure they get totally dry.
And you know, last but not least, the most important thing I want you to remember, and we all are culprits of doing this, don't take your hands and dry them on your pants.
What are you doing?
You're putting that bacteria in your pants.
And think about it.
You're getting bacteria from your pants.
You were just in the bathroom.
Where were your pants?
What are your pants running into?
Can't do that.
The most important thing is you want to have clean hands.
Too much.
All right.
We'll be right back.
Good seeing you.
Thanks for having me.
What step will you take to make your day a little bit healthier?
I'm going to drink water.
I'm a big soda drinker, and even though I enjoy it, I know it's not good for me.
Water from here on out.
Dr. Oz wants to hear about your healthy steps.
Tell him with hashtag OzStep.
Next, if you use this oven only to zap popcorn or heat up leftovers, prepare to be impressed.
Discover the versatility of your microwave.
From saving you time in the kitchen to saving you money, learn the surprising things you didn't know your microwave could do.
Next.
It's the new year, and you want to lose weight.
I get it.
That's why I'm here to help you with the Total 10 Rapid Weight Loss Plan.
This has been a year in the making.
Over 2 million of you participated, and this new plan should give you the results you've been looking for.
In just a few weeks, you can lose up to 10 pounds.
No clubs, no fees, just medically sound, real advice.
Start the plan now.
What are you waiting for?
Join me all this January.
Happy New Year.
The microwave, the microwave, Now, we all know its ability to reheat leftovers and make us popcorn, but did you know your microwave may be the most versatile kitchen appliance, and you're probably not using it to its fullest potential.
So today, the surprising things you didn't know your microwave can do.
Kurt's beauty blogger, Mariana, is here.
She uses her microwave to get extra life out of mascara.
It's a common problem.
So what do you do?
It is.
Well, first, you take a cup of water.
And you throw it in the microwave for a few minutes.
Actually, just a few seconds, depending on your microwave.
How'd you come up with this idea?
Well, you know, it was five minutes before I had to run out to a party, and I found out my mascara had gotten dried out and clumpy, and I googled the solution and found out that, you know, if you warm up your mascara a little bit, the waxes and the oils in it soften up.
Alright, so I've got warm water.
Yes.
Not boiling, just warm.
Uh-huh.
Then what do you do?
And then you put your mascara in it and let it kind of sit for about 30 seconds, and hopefully, you know, all the different waxes will start to melt down and be soft enough to use.
And it works?
It works.
It's not too hot to put on your eyes?
Well, that's the one thing you have to do is test it on the back of your hand before you put it on your eye.
Let me be the expert about this.
Okay.
I see all the women going like this and going like this.
Is that what you're doing usually?
Doing that, if you're a contact lens wearer, a few drops of your solution can also help.
It looks pretty good.
It looks pretty good.
Let me see here.
Oh, look at that.
There you go.
No clumping at all.
Nope.
Very good idea.
Great.
Thank you, Mariana.
Thank you.
All right, the next surprising use of the microwave comes from Sunny.
Are you okay?
You're crying.
Well, you know, I've been chopping this onion while you were speaking with Mariana.
I love to cook.
I think I chop seven and a half pounds of onions before Thanksgiving and put them in the freezer just to get them ready for recipes and that.
You know, recipes are fabulous with onions, but the problem is the tears when you try to cut.
And what's the solution?
Well, I have found one.
If you'll take a wet paper towel, put it in your microwave, pop your onion in the microwave, depending on the size onion, 20 to 30 seconds.
Take it out.
It's a little warm.
It is.
Do I need a napkin still?
No, you don't.
No, it's just to kind of help keep the moisture around.
And then start slicing.
Unfortunately, mine hasn't been heated.
No problems at all.
You don't have any problems with it once you've heated it up a little bit?
No, you don't.
It's really, really wonderful.
And I've got about seven and a half pounds of chopped onions to prove it.
I wonder why this works.
You know, I don't know.
You haven't figured it out?
I'm going to patent the idea.
I think you should.
All right.
The next surprising tip comes from Amy Hatton, otherwise known as the Cooking Mom.
She sent us this video of the way she uses her microwave.
It's very unique.
So you start out with some sweet potatoes, slice them up really thin, and then I'm just going to drizzle them with a tiny bit of olive oil and just season them with a little bit of sea salt.
Spread out the sweet potatoes onto the parchment paper.
You really want to spread them out so that they'll crisp up.
Pop these babies in the microwave.
They're so good!
You need to make these, you really do.
They look good, they look good.
We'll put Amy's recipe on DrOz.com.
Now Bridget posted on Facebook that she uses her microwave to get nearly double the juice out of her citrus fruits.
So I've got that in 20 seconds, I'm gonna start it.
Okay.
And explain the principle here.
Well, keeping lemons in the fridge is definitely the best idea to prolong freshness, but if you want to get the maximum juice out of a lemon or any citrus fruits, you really need a warm fruit.
So, by putting it in the microwave for 20 seconds, it really gets the juices flowing, makes it much easier to squeeze, and you get a lot more juice.
Yeah, I like this because it's our total 10 rapid weight loss plan.
This will help you use lemons because lemon water is how you start the day oftentimes.
Okay, so yours is warm.
All right.
Mine is cold.
Oh, I'm definitely gonna win this.
You just squeeze?
Look, mine comes right out.
Oh my goodness, it's bionic fingers.
Okay, put them next to each other.
Yeah.
Oh, you crushed me.
Let me see this.
Is it really a lemon?
Yes, it's a lemon.
It's softer, isn't it?
Much softer, yeah.
Who gave me the idea?
My grandmother, actually.
Grandmother.
She drank a lot of tea.
She could have been on a total 10 plan with all that tea, with lemon water.
Now, I seem the last surprise to use for the microwave to be a very personal one for me.
Here's what you want to do to get a stamp off an envelope.
You put some water on the stamp, like I'm doing here, and just cover the stamp like that.
Then, you toss this in the microwave for about 20 seconds.
I know it sounds crazy, but if you're a stamp collector like I was as a kid, and this is not to break the law, by the way, you know, you're allowed to take stamps that you had put on the envelope, and let's say you made a mistake when you're putting the address on, which happens all the time, then you can just take the stamp off and reuse it without having to waste it, which I love.
And I think this idea might be very appealing to many of you.
By the way, my Facebook followers, if you want to share different ways to use your microwave, and I've got a ton of comments from all of you already, please send them more to me.
I'm going to put all of them and my favorite responses on drroz.com.
Are you ready to see the magic happen, folks?
Stamp, moist, ah.
It's good enough.
That'll work.
It'll work.
We'll be right back.
Dr. Oz is bringing healthy back.
Ready to whip up one of his heart-healthy recipes?
Always eat fish.
It's delicious and healthy.
Plus, my kids eat it, so that's a plus.
But I love all your tips.
We'll give these a try.
Find a simple recipe for tonight's dinner on DrOz.com.
All new odds.
Counterfeit foods.
Some of the healthiest options in your supermarket may actually be fake.
How to tell if you're being scammed and how to make sure you're getting the real deal.
Plus, world champion snowboarder Amy Purdy.
The illness that caused her to lose both her legs also inspired her to shoot for the stars.
I know people who have their legs who are a lot more disabled than I am.
All new odds.
That's coming up tomorrow.
It's the new year, and you want to lose weight.
I get it.
That's why I'm here to help you with the Total 10 Rapid Weight Loss Plan.
This has been a year in the making.
Over 2 million of you participated, and this new plan should give you the results you've been looking for.
In just a few weeks, you could lose up to 10 pounds.
No clubs, no fees, just medically sound, real advice.
Start the plan now.
What are you waiting for?
Join me all this January.
Happy New Year.
All nuance, counterfeit foods.
Some of the healthiest options in your supermarket may actually be fake.
How to tell if you're being scammed and how to make sure you're getting the real deal.
Plus, world champion snowboarder Amy Purdy.
The illness that caused her to lose both her legs also inspired her to shoot for the stars.
I know people who have their legs who are a lot more disabled than I am.
All new odds.
That's coming up tomorrow.
A friend recently shared this great cartoon with me.
So you're in the freezer, and the ice cream cone's talking to the popsicle, and he says, maybe if you could relax and not act like you have a giant stick up your tush, more people would like you.
Is that good?
Come on, please!
I don't know if it's going to increase your popularity, but relaxation definitely has many health benefits.
It reduces your anxiety, depression, headaches, even your blood pressure.
Now it's time for in case you missed it.
First, a gut secret to keep you healthy this winter.
It's medicinal mushroom tea.
Mushrooms contain selenium.
It's a mineral that boosts the immune system.
They also help prevent bad bacteria from growing in your gut.
So if you feel a cold or viral illness coming on, then drink it up.
A cup of this tea every morning can help you fend off the illness all winter long.
And finally, we talked about surprising uses for your microwave.
So if you struggle with teary eyes when you're cutting onions, which so many of us have problems with, little tip here, all you're going to do is put the onion in your microwave for 30 seconds.
And then you can peel or chop your onions, and guess what?
No tears.
We actually proved it on the show.
Finally, please be careful of dubious people online that make it seem like I'm endorsing their products.
I don't.
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