Stay healthy Live Long!

Health is the biggest gift God has given US. We should always be grateful to HIM for this blessing!

                                                                     

Menopause and Antidepressants

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

Antidepressants really aren’t very useful for combating menopausal complaints. But that hasn’t stopped a lot of people from trying them. But consider this: Even the Food and Drug Administration’s own panel of experts voted against the use of their newly approved antidepressant to treat hot flashes in menopausal women. The published data showed minimal benefits, and the risks of side effects and addiction are serious. In the 24-week study, it was reported that there were three cases of suicidal outlooks and one suicide attempt after only 12 weeks of treatment. But in an unusual override, the FDA approved the use of this drug, called Brisdelle, to treat moderate to severe hot…

Keep Your Muscles As You Age

Carl Lowe

Most people lose a great deal of muscle as they age. But you don’t have to if you follow some simple anti-aging measures. According to Swiss researchers, the most important factor for retain muscle is lifting weights. Resistance training keeps muscle tissue regenerating rather than deteriorating. The second measure you need to take is to eat plenty of protein. The scientists warn that protein intake plays an integral part in muscle preservation. The third consideration is vitamin D. The scientists note that vitamin D plays a crucial role in the development of muscle mass and function. They recommend getting plenty of sunshine to let the skin make vitamin D and/or supplementing…

Stumbling Senior: Are You One?

Bob Livingston

Many seniors are feeble, unstable, stumbling and dehydrated. We see this everywhere, beginning as young as age 60. No, you don’t need drugs. What you do need is to understand the cause and do something about it. You can. The many drugs that seniors are taking are accumulating in their bodies, as any toxic poison will do. Drugs deplete nutrition. This is one cause of weakening and unstable seniors. Let’s face it, most are addicted to drugs mostly because they are psychologically dependent on the doctors who prescribe them. They foolishly think that their medical doctors are helping them. Truthfully, seniors are cash cows for the medical cartel. Remember, the medical industry…

Telomeres: The New Key To Anti-Aging

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

DNA leads a precarious existence. Each cell contains several feet of genetic material that must be packed very tightly to fit the allotted space. When cells divide, the DNA strands have to split apart, with every piece creating a new strand for each of the two new cells. This process can be particularly treacherous and vulnerable to harmful mutations that distort the genetic material. Fortunately, the body has ways to protect the all-important DNA. One of the most important structures that safeguard DNA consists of what are called telomeres. Located at the tips of each of our 46 chromosomes, telomeres help protect DNA and are particularly important during cell division.

The Growing Pain Epidemic

Carl Lowe

Do you suffer chronic pain? You’re not alone. An expanding number of people are in almost continual pain. Why this problem is so prevalent seems to baffle medical researchers. The pain epidemic is increasing most significantly among children. Canadian research has found that the younger generation is growing up in a world of hurt. “We found that persistent and recurrent chronic pain is overwhelmingly prevalent in children and adolescents, with girls generally experiencing more pain than boys and prevalence rates increasing with age,” says lead investigator Sara King, Ph.D., with Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Turn Back The Aging Clock Without Moving A Muscle

Carl Lowe

As we age, our immune systems are more vulnerable to destructive inflammation. Inflammatory processes can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, stroke and other life-altering complications. But a study at Ohio State shows that you can fight this damage with an activity that doesn’t even require moving a muscle. The researchers found that posing in yoga stances can stymie the creation of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a central player in the body’s inflammatory reactions. The study also found that practicing yoga reduces people’s responses to stress. “In addition to having lower levels of inflammation before they were stressed, we also saw lower inflammatory responses.

Effects Of Low Testosterone

Dr. Geo Espinosa

The amount of testosterone produced by adults can drop as they age. When ranges fall out of normal, the effects of low testosterone can affect body functions. Low testosterone (also known as Low T) is often undiagnosed because people fail to recognize the symptoms and blame them on other causes. However, Low T is a very common condition that can be responsible for a variety of conditions from low sex drive to lack of energy to perform routine tasks at work or at home. You should suspect low testosterone if you notice any of the following: Weakened sexual appetite, difficulty getting or keeping erections, fertility problems. Physical fitness challenges such as a lack of strength & energy.

The Anti-Aging Supplement

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

There are lots of discussions about antioxidants, but not a lot of clarity. We often hear that antioxidants are a key to good health. While this is true, it’s only part of the story. Not all antioxidants are created equal. However, by better understanding oxidation (the damaging force that antioxidants combat), we can make the best possible choices to limit oxidative harm. Types Of Destruction To oversimplify a bit, oxidation is a form of destruction. Rust is a type of oxidation. In some cases, destruction is a good thing. For example, some immune cells use oxidative destruction to kill dangerous pathogens. However, the oxidation with which we’re concerned goes beyond normal limits..

 

The top ten worst questions commonly asked from someone with a chronic illness

So here it goes 🙂

1)Have you tried holistic options? (many. I’ll bring it back up with my doctor on my next visit, thanks.)
2) Could it be your stress? (My opinion is, it is my illness. I’ll bring it up with my doctor though, thanks.)
3) Could it have to do with the altitude? (I’ll bring it up with my doctor…thanks.)
4) I read in {insert any generic magazine here} about a new medication. Have you heard about it? (I was on it when it came out 17 years ago. but I’ll bring it up with my doctor. thank you.)
5) Have you thought about being in a trial study? (I’ll ask my doctor. thanks?)
6) WOW. If I were you, I don’t know what I would do. I might just kill myself. (Thanks?)
7) Have they found what is causing the problem? (no. my doctor is an idiot. I’ll remind him, thanks!)
8) Have you tried hypnosis? (I’m still sick, but when the phone rings I bark like a dog.)
9) Have you googled your illness? (….no! thanks!)
10) Have you ever thought you were getting sick because the aliens or magicians have been bugging people for years and in some cases, making people really sick.

Well these are a few out of many absurd suggestion and questions that  the people suffering from chronic illnesses have to come across but instead of taking them negatively my stance is that people give all of these suggestions only because they care. I don’t feel that complaining about people making these suggestions is appropriate or nice.

While i KNOW it’s not easy f to deal with an illness, it’s not easy for your loved ones either. However harsh this sounds, the reality is, it’s NOT all about you. They’re just trying to help. Be grateful you have such caring people in your life who are trying to help you, and not counting down the days until the illness wins.

 

Healthy Lungs are vital!

                                  How To Save Your Lungs Before It’s Too Late

We don’t put enough emphasis on protecting our lungs against harmful macro and microscopic particles; this is a huge mistake, as reduced lung capacity is more damaging to quality of life than say, sub-optimal digestion, mild to moderate liver dysfunction, or even reduced cardiac output.

 

Why are healthy lungs so vital to the rest of your organs and body parts?,fres

It’s within the very thinnest branches of tissue that line the base of your lungs where your body accepts oxygen from your environment and expels carbon dioxide. Without this ongoing exchange of gases, you can’t adequately convert nutrients from food into usable energy.

 How to measure lung dysfunction?

 Inspection

Look for signs of strained breathing.

Other obvious signs of lung dysfunction are slightly purple/blue lips or fingernails, and audible distress with breathing.

Palpation

Place your hands symmetrically on both sides of the posterior aspect of a person’s ribcage; see if your hands move about the same amount during deep inhalation. Asymmetrical movement might indicate abnormal presence of fluid or air in the space between the lungs and the chest wall.

Also feel the transmission of the person’s voice as vibration (called tactile fremitus) against your palms as they’re pressed up against his/her chest wall

Percussion

To help confirm palpatory findings, percussion is used, where you use your hands to steadily percuss against the chest wall while listening to how hollow or full the chest cavity sounds along different points.

Auscultation

Auscultation is the process of listening to lung sounds with a stethoscope. During auscultation, try to hear what they call “vesicular breath sounds,” which is to describe a mild influx of air with inhalation, and little sound during exhalation.

Whistling-type noises, scratchy sounds, noise that resembles what you hear when breathing through a snorkel, gurgling, and an abnormally quiet lung field all indicate some form of distress.

Here’s the thing: you don’t want to wait for your doctor to stumble upon an abnormal finding before becoming mindful of what you’re breathing in during everyday activities. In most cases, by the time of a significant finding using the screening procedures described above, chances are that dysfunction and disease have been at play for a good while.

Living in a neighborhood with good air quality is a huge plus.

The most important priority in preventing lung disease is to minimize exposure to concentrated sources of lung irritants, and where such exposure is near impossible to avoid.

It’s vital to take proper precaution with optimal ventilation and protective gear.

When sanding down minor repair jobs, drilling into wood, or doing any other basic chores that require being close to even a small cloud of dust, it’s well worth the effort to wear a respirator with a decent filter.

Wear a mask when landscaping or where there is regular cutting of fresh stone, which kicks up all sorts of lung irritants like fiberglass and carborundum grit.

To those who cut stone or sand drywall joints for a living and feel fine after taking a good long shower after work (all without wearing a respirator), remind them that repeated exposure to irritants can lead to numbing of our natural feedback mechanisms, kind of like how a smoker eventually learns to inhale tobacco smoke without experiencing much of a negative physiological reaction.

 Please remember that it’s not just visible dust that you should strive to avoid and protect yourself against. If chemicals that you work with give off strong smells that make you feel nauseous, you need to figure out how to avoid these substances – nausea that’s triggered by stimulation of your olfactory system is a strong sign that you’re in the presence of lung irritants that, over time, can create irreversible damage.

Here’s a look at six substances that are highly capable of causing lung damage:

1. Crystalline silica

Crystalline silica is a component of soil, sand, and rocks (like granite and quartzite). Only quartz and cristobalite silica that can be inhaled as particles are designated known carcinogens.

Where is it found?

• In the air during mining, cutting, and drilling.
• Drywall mud, household cleaners, paints, glass, brick, ceramics, silicon metals in electronics, plastics, paints, and abrasives in soaps.

 

Occupations most at risk:

Quarry workers, plasterers, drywallers, construction workers, brick workers, miners, stonecutters (including jewellery), workers involved in drilling, polishing, and crushing, pottery makers, glassmakers, soap or detergent manufacturers, farmers, dentists, and auto workers.

 

2. Wood dust

Wood dust is made up of particles of wood that are created by cutting and sanding.

 

Where is it found?

• Anywhere wood is chipped, turned, drilled, or sanded.

Occupations most at risk:

Those in the construction industry, and to some extent, those in the logging industry.

 

3. Asbestos

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals that form heat-resistant fibers.

 

Where is it found?

• Naturally in rock formations.
• In some auto parts like brakes, gaskets, and friction products.
• In some industrial textiles.
• In some safety clothing.

 

Occupations most at risk:

Asbestos miners, brake repair mechanics, building demolition or maintenance workers, carpenters, cabinetmakers, construction workers, electricians, plumbers, plaster and drywall installers, auto mechanics.

 

4. Chromium (hexavalent)

Chromium is a naturally occurring mineral that becomes carcinogenic when it is transformed into its hexavalent form through industrial processes.

 

Where is it found?

• In the manufacturing of stainless steel and other alloys.
• In the industrial wood preservative, CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate).
• Used in small amounts in printer ink toners, textile dyes, and during water treatment.

 

Occupations most at risk:

Welders while welding stainless steel, printing machine and press operators, machinists, and pipefitters.

 

5. Nickel and its compounds

Metallic nickel, a possible carcinogen, is a silver-like, hard metal or grey powder. Nickel compounds, known carcinogens, tend to be green to black, but yellow when heated.

 

Where is it found?

Used to make stainless steel, and also found in magnets, electrical contacts, batteries, spark plugs, and surgical/dental prostheses.

 

Occupations most at risk:

Welders, construction millwrights, industrial mechanics, metal spraying workers, machinists, machining/tooling inspectors, nickel refinery workers, iron/steel mill workers, metal ore miners, and manufacturers in structural metals, motor vehicle parts, boilers, and shipping containers.

 

6. Formaldehyde

Associated cancers:

Nasopharyngeal cancer, leukemia

What is it?

A colorless, combustible gas with a pungent odor.

 

Where is it found?

• Used in the manufacture of textiles, resins, wood products, and plastics.
• As a preservative, formaldehyde is found in embalming fluid.
• As a preservative and disinfectant, it’s used in soaps, shampoos, deodorants, mouthwash, and cosmetics.

 

Occupations most at risk:

Embalmers, pathology lab operators, wood and paper product workers, and health care professionals (nurses, dentists) exposed during use of medicinal products that contain formaldehyde. Also at risk are painters, manual laborers, product assemblers, foundry workers, and those who teach in cadaver laboratories.

 

How Important Are Your Lungs?

Consider that of the total amount of waste materials that your body eliminates via urine, stools, mucous, breath, and sweat, approximately 75 percent by volume is handled by your lungs. Put another way, your lungs are at least as important to your body’s ability to experience ongoing cleansing and detoxification as your digestive tract and kidneys. And to maintain healthy lungs, you have to minimize your exposure to the pollutants described above.

Beyond avoiding concentrated pollutants, here are a few tips to help ensure healthy gas exchange within your lungs:

 

1. First and most obviously, you need to be around fresh air. This means being outdoors often, and when you’re indoors for long stretches at a time, you should try to crack open a window or two whenever possible. Or at the very least, ensure that the ventilation system that controls the air quality in your work and living spaces is functioning properly – this includes making sure that furnace filters are replaced regularly.

It also means that while you sleep, when the weather permits, you should crack open a window so that your lungs are exposed to a steady stream of fresh oxygen, and that the air in your room doesn’t get dominated by carbon dioxide.

1. Second, you need to be mindful of how well you’re breathing. Respiratory rate – the number of cycles of inhalation and exhalation you experience per minute, is affected by a few different factors.

Emotional stress tends to promote shallow breathing. So being mindful of your emotional state and making a habit of taking purposeful, deep breaths in and out as often as possible make for a concrete strategy to ensure optimal intake of oxygen and elimination of carbon dioxide.

1. An often-overlooked determinant of respiratory rate is how healthy your spine and surrounding joints are. Together, your spine, ribcage, and sternum (breast bone) form a protective case that surrounds your heart and lungs. At every point of contact between your ribs and your spine and breast bone, there is some joint play – that is, built-in room to move, not a lot, but enough to allow for optimal expansion of your lungs as you inhale.

Also, from rib to rib, you have cartilage that helps keep your ribs in place, but that also provides just enough give to allow your ribs to slightly expand and contract as your breathe.

Over time, chronic stress, lack of exercise, and lack of mindful breathing can cause all of these moving parts to become somewhat brittle and unable to provide the flexibility that is essential to helping you breathe optimally.

This is one reason why regular stretching of your spine, ribcage, and surrounding tissues is important to your health. By keeping all of these joints moving properly, you ensure that you have the physical capacity to fill your lungs with ample amounts of oxygen throughout the day and night.

 

Beyond stretching these areas, please remember the importance of mindfully breathing in and out throughout the day – this seemingly trivial habit can be immensely helpful to your health.

And don’t forget to wear a protective mask or respirator the next time you have some sanding or drilling to do.

 

Please consider sharing this information with family and friends who may be incurring lung tissue damage without knowing it.

 

Thank you.

 

Hypochondria the fear of being sick

Hypochondria the fear of being sick.

 

Causes and Natural ways of Increasing Low Platelet Count

•   There are several reasons why some people have low platelet count:
• Medications: Aspirin is known to contribute to the reduction of platelet count. Ibuprofen is also known to lower platelet count, although the effect is not long lasting.
• Anemia: The effect of anemia is of particular concern to women, especially during their menstrual period, wherein their platelet count are severely low. Anemia demands special attention when it begins to rob the body of iron.  
• Chemotherapy and other similar medical treatments can also cause a reduction in the platelet count.
• Dengue: Common in tropical areas in Asia and Africa, dengue is a mosquito-borne disease and can severely dent the level of platelets in the body.
• Autoimmune: There are auto antibodies within the body which destroy the platelets, thus reducing platelet count.

How to Increase Platelet Count

Here are some ways that will help prevent platelet count from dropping:

• Take a lot of vitamin C supplements. You can obtain vitamin C from fruits and vegetables. Because vitamin C is water soluble, it can be easily absorbed by the body and will immediately help in restoring the body’s platelet count.
• Herbal medications are also helpful in restoring platelet count. Pound the herb with pestle and mortar to extract the juice. Although the juice is very bitter and requires a lot of effort downing them, it is worth it. Most people even add sugar to the juice to make it more palatable and easy to drink.
• However, the most common home remedy is to drink the bitter extract from a papaya leaf. Two leaves without the stalk can yield approximately two tablespoons of the extract.

Signs of Low Platelet Count

• Easy bruising                                          
• Purpura or red spots
• Gums or nose bleed
•  Prolonged and profuse menstruation
• A major hemorrhage occurs rarely.

Investigations

• A regular blood count must be done
• Sometimes a bone marrow aspirate is helpful.

Treatment for Low Platelet Count

• The initial treatment comprises of prednisolone. But you have to be extremely cautious and the treatment ought to be conducted under the supervision of a specialist. With this treatment, patients show a moderate response, requiring no other treatment.
• In a large number, surgically removing the spleen becomes necessary.
• A transfusion of platelets to bring back the count to normal.

Diet to Increase Platelet Count:

• Avoid all refined and processed foods – sugar, saturated fats, and aerated drinks to avoid low platelet count. Include fresh and organic foods. This will help in stimulating the body’s internal mechanism and increase platelet count.
• Red foods are your key. Tomatoes, plums, watermelons, cherries and berries are loaded with vitamins and minerals and have strong anti-oxidant properties which helps to raise platelet count.

 

 

Magical onions

In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this Doctor that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu..

Many of the farmers and their family had contracted it and many died.

The doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home, (probably only two rooms back then). The doctor couldn’t believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and place it under the microscope. She gave him one and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy.

Another thing I read in the article was that onions and garlic placed around the room saved many from the black plague years ago. They have powerful antibacterial, antiseptic properties.

Lots of times when we have stomach problems we don’t know what to blame. Maybe it’s the onions that are to blame. Onions absorb bacteria is the reason they are so good at preventing us from getting colds and flu’s and is the very reason we shouldn’t eat an onion that has been sitting for a time after it has been cut open. LEFT OVER ONIONS ARE POISONOUS.

He explained, onions are a huge magnet for bacteria, especially uncooked onions. You should never plan to keep a portion of a sliced onion.. He says it’s not even safe if you put it in a zip-lock bag and put it in your refrigerator. It’s already contaminated enough just by being cut open and out for a bit, that it can be a danger to you (and doubly watch out for those onions you put in your salad) Doctor says if you take the leftover onion and cook it like crazy you’! ll probably be okay, but if you slice that leftover onion and put on your sandwich, you’re asking for trouble. Both the onions and the moist potato in a potato salad, will attract and grow bacteria faster than any commercial mayonnaise will even begin to break down.

Please remember it is dangerous to cut an onion and try to use it to cook the next day, it becomes highly poisonous for even a single night and creates toxic bacteria which may cause adverse stomach infections because of excess bile secretions and even food poisoning.

 

Anti Ageing

An article I thought  I should share and would be interesting for the readers. Click the following links to read more.

STEP 1: Watch your fats

As a general guideline, you should hold your total fat intake to 25 to 30 percent of calories, and no more than 10 percent of total caloric intake should be from “bad” fats—saturated and trans fats. Trans fat should be held to 3% or less. The remaining 15 to 20 percent of total calories.

STEP 2: Be nuts about nuts

You should be nuts about nuts, and here’s why. Several very large studies that included tens of thousands of participants from the Nurses’ Health Study, the Physicians’ Health Study, and others, found that the risk of coronary heart disease is 37 percent lower among people who eat nuts more than four times per week.

STEP 3: Enjoy an abundance of antioxidants

 There is a huge impact that free radicals have on aging, so you need lots of antioxidants to fight off these nasty damaging molecules. The accumulated harm to cells, tissues, and organs caused by free radicals is a key contributor to aging and many diseases associated with growing older. Great sources of antioxidants are fresh fruits and vegetable

STEP 4: Stop inflammation with every meal

Inflammation doesn’t just affect the joints and cause arthritis; it can occur anywhere along the miles of blood vessels in the body. In fact, recent research shows that chronic inflammation of the blood vessels is an important factor in aging and age-related diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. Have lots of fish and green vegetables.

STEP 5: Make friends with fiber

It’s not hard to make friends with fiber if you follow steps 3 and 4, because they include plenty of fiber-rich foods. The Institutes of Medicine recommend the following daily fiber intake (soluble and insoluble) for adults: 19 to 50 years, 38 grams per day; older than 50 years, 30 grams.

STEP 6: Hydrate your body

Pure water is essential for hydration of the skin and muscles and to promote healthy circulation and organ system functioning, especially the gastrointestinal system. Keeping yourself properly hydrated can also significantly reduce your chances of getting cancer. Studies have shown that women who drank more water (eight glasses or more daily) had less than 50% risk of breast or cervical cancer.

STEP 7: Optimize your protein intake

Protein deficiency is one dietary problem most Americans do not have, but getting too much protein and suboptimal protein is. To this fact add another one: as you age your ability to create, transport, and break down proteins decreases. The combined result is a loss of muscle tone, the appearance of wrinkles, loss and graying of hair. So having protein and doing regular exercise to digest it will definitely contribute.

STEP 8: Cook the anti-aging way

It’s not always what you eat but how you prepare it that can subtract years from your life. That’s why you need to prepare your food in ways that do not promote the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), those nasty substances that accelerate aging, cause inflammation, and contribute to dozens of diseases. Eat fresh or sautéed food as much as possible.

STEP 9: Strive to be toxin free

You are surrounded by substances that cause and contribute to aging and disease, and that includes the food and beverages you consume every day. Fortunately there are ways you can avoid or minimize their harmful effects. Avoid sugar and sugary foods.

STEP 10: drink green tea

Unlike black and oolong tea, green tea is not fermented, so its active ingredients are not changed. Some of those ingredients include polyphenols, potent antioxidants that appear to help protect against various cancers. Green tea is also credited with helping regulate blood glucose levels, lowering cholesterol levels, and helping promote weight loss.

 

Where bacteria and germs thrive?

For a healthy home….. Look out for these 6 dirty places!

If you dropped a piece of fruit in your kitchen sink while rinsing it, would you think twice about popping it in your mouth? What if you dropped it in the toilet?

Germs like cold viruses and bacteria can live in some unexpected spots. Here are six surprisingly dirty places in your home — like your kitchen sink — and what you can do to protect yourself.

Dirty Places: The Kitchen Sink

Although the mere thought of retrieving anything from your toilet bowl may be enough to make you sick, your toilet may be cleaner than your kitchen sink, says Eileen Abruzzo, director of infection control at Long Island College Hospital of Brooklyn, New York. Food particles from plates left to soak or rinsed from dishes on their way to the dishwasher can serve as a breeding ground for illness-causing bacteria, including E. coli and
salmonella. They can get on your hands or spread to foods.

Although most people take steps to disinfect their toilet bowls, few give their kitchen sink the same consideration, Abruzzo tells WebMD. “They rinse their sinks with water and assume they are clean — but they’re not.”

Quick fix to banish bacteria:

To sanitize your sink and prevent the spread of bacteria, Abruzzo recommends washing it with a solution of bleach and water once a day and then letting the solution run down the drain. Remember to remove the drain plug and clean it, too, she says. Then wash your hands.

Dirty Places: Your Toothbrush

You put it in your mouth twice a day, but do you ever think of all the germs lurking on it? “You rinse it off after using it and put it away damp,” says Abruzzo. “Bacteria like the moist area and grow on it.”

If the germs from your own mouth weren’t enough to contaminate your toothbrush, the germs from your toilet certainly are. Research in the 1970s by Charles P. Gerba, PhD, of the University of Arizona Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, found that flushing the toilet sends a spray of bacteria- and virus-contaminated water droplets into air. These germs, he found, can float around in the bathroom for at least two hours after each flush before landing on surfaces — including your toothbrush.

Quick fix to banish bacteria:

Abruzzo recommends placing your toothbrush where it can air out and dry between uses — but not too close to the toilet. Also, replace your toothbrush often, particularly after you’ve been sick, and close your
toilet lid before flushing.

Dirty Places: Your Salt and Pepper Shaker

Could one of the dirtiest places in your home be right on the table where you eat?
Unfortunately, yes, according to a 2008 study by researchers at the University of Virginia. In the study, researchers asked 30 adults who were beginning to show signs of a cold, to name 10 places they’d touched in their homes over the previous 18 hours. The researchers then tested those areas for cold viruses. The tests found viruses on 41% of the surfaces tested, and every one of the salt and pepper shakers tested were positive for cold viruses.

Quick fix to banish bacteria:

When you wipe the kitchen table after eating, wipe off the salt and pepper shaker too. But your best protection against spreading or picking up germs when you reach for seasonings is to wash your hands — before and after.

Dirty Places: Your TV Remote Control

The remote control is dropped on the floor, stuffed between the sofa cushions, coughed on and sneezed at. Everyone in the house handles it.

“Anything people touch a lot has germs on it,” Abruzzo tells WebMD. A University of Virginia study of cold viruses on household surfaces showed the remote control’s surface is among the germiest. Researchers found that half of the remote controls tested were positive for cold viruses.

Quick fix to banish bacteria:

Abruzzo wipes her remote with a bleach or alcohol wipe — “that is, if I can ever find it or get it out my husband’s hands,” she says.. Aside from that, regular hand-washing is the best way to protect yourself against these germs.

Dirty Places: Your Computer Keyboard

If you eat at your computer, sneeze on your keyboard, or sit down to surf the Internet without first washing your hands, your computer keyboard could be a health hazard. In a recent study by a British consumer group, researchers swabbed keyboards for germs and found a host of potentially harmful bacteria, including E. coli and staph. Four of 33 sampled keyboards had enough germs to be considered health hazards. One had levels of germs five times higher than that found on a toilet seat.

Quick fix to banish bacteria:

Wash your hands before and after using your computer. If you must eat at your desk, don’t drop crumbs into your keyboard. To clean your keyboard, gently shake out the crumbs or vacuum it. Abruzzo recommends wiping the keys with alcohol or bleach wipes, but “nothing too wet,” she says. “And don’t forget to wipe the mouse.”

Dirty Places: Your Bathtub

The place where you clean yourself is not so clean itself. A recent study found staphylococcus bacteria in 26% of the tubs tested. A separate study had even worse findings for whirlpool tubs. When Texas A&M University microbiologist Rita Moyes, PhD tested 43 water samples from whirlpools, she found that all 43 had mild to dangerous bacterial growth. Almost all showed bacteria from fecal matter; 81% had fungi, and 34% contained staph bacteria.

According to Moyes, the main reason whirlpool tubs are so dirty has to do with the lining of the pipes. Water tends to get trapped in the pipes, providing a breeding ground for bacteria. When you turn on the jets, the
germy water spouts out into the tub where you’re soaking.

Quick fix to banish bacteria:

Experts recommend cleaning and disinfecting your tub with bleach or bathroom cleaner after bathing, then dry with a clean towel. For whirlpool tubs, the best way to prevent bacteria from accumulating is to clean out
the pipes.

Protecting Yourself from Germs

Lots of germs are harmless, many are even good for your health. But you can help protect yourself from those that aren’t by keeping your hands clean. Your hands transfer bacteria and viruses to your eyes, nose, and mouth. They can also transfer germs to others.

The CDC recommends regular hand washing with soap and water, washing your hands for 20 seconds — the time it takes you to sing Happy Birthday twice. “It doesn’t matter how warm the water is, what’s important is that you use friction,” says Abruzzo.

Hand sanitizer gels can be used to kill germs, but they should not replace hand washing. Hand sanitizers can build up on the hands, so you should wash your hands the regular way after every fourth use, Abruzzo advises.

Stay Clean Stay Safe!

 

BMI vs BVI

Body Volume Index: the New BMI?

By Carolyn Richardson

Numbers are a significant part of trying to lose weight. Be it pounds, inches, calories, or minutes, we’re all counting our way to a healthier lifestyle. While many of us have a goal weight, others are focused on a goal BMI. That is to say, we want to be healthy according to the standard measurement that screens for obesity, called Body Mass Index (BMI). A comparison of height and weight, BMI is meant to determine a person’s health risks for chronic disease such as heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. However, it doesn’t directly measure a person’s body fat, or account for an adults’ age or body composition, leaving many, including pregnant women, athletes, body builders, and the elderly, categorized incorrectly. Enter Body Volume Index (BVI), a newly proposed measurement that could replace BMI.

What is BVI?

Created by Select Research, BVI is an electronic measurement that, along with weight and body fat distribution, accounts for body composition, age, height, gender, and medical history. The process of getting your BVI is much like going through security at the airport. A 3D scanner takes the image of a person’s body and inputs it into computer software that calculates hundreds of measurements, including waist-to-hip ratio, body fat percentage, and even BMI. According to its website, the test takes less than 6 seconds and does not use radiation or lasers.

The Pros

Since its launch, BVI has been vetted by the Body Benchmark Project, a research study conducted by the manufacturer itself, and a number of other entities including The Mayo Clinic here in the US. For medical professionals, this machine may mean better accuracy for tracking patients over time. Instead of using a tape measure, weight scale, and taking other measurements each visit, using BVI could be more efficient in showing a patient’s progress. For those who know their BVI who are overweight or obese, it could mean a more personalized approach to treatment and a clearer wake up call for what getting in shape means.

The Cons

On the other hand, getting the BVI test may be too much information. Aside from feeling like you’re in an airport in your doctor’s office, seeing a 3D scan could send someone with body image issues on the wrong path. And while doctors do point out the importance of knowing how your weight is distributed, a person with too much abdominal fat for instance could become focused on losing weight in a certain spot, rather than focusing on getting healthier overall. Getting the hundreds of measurements the BVI calculates may be good to know, but practically speaking, many who need to lose weight may be uncomfortable with the possible cost of a doctor’s visit and the use of an expensive machine to get the info.

So who would be going for this BVI? I sure would if it is available in my country.

 

A Wholesome Salad

 A salad that satisfies your body and mind!

People often think of a salad as an appetizer, diet food or something that won’t fill them up for longer than an hour. This isn’t always the case. With a little planning you can make a nutritious salad that will satisfy your taste buds and keep you feeling full for hours. You don’t even need a recipe!

The key to building a meal-sized salad that won’t break the calorie bank is having about three-quarters of the salad be fresh vegetables and the other quarter protein and a healthy fat. Simply choose your favorite greens as a base and top with veggies, a protein and a healthy fat. Here’s a list of items to help you get started creating hearty, healthy and delicious salads:

Greens: • Spinach • Spring mix • Kale • Lettuce

Vegetables: (It’s best to choose veggies that are in season) • Tomatoes, fresh or sun-dried • Cucumbers • Zucchini or other squash • Mushrooms • Yellow, orange, red, or green bell peppers • Cabbage, sliced • Carrots • Beets, roasted or boiled • Radishes • Sweet corn • Sweet potatoes, roasted or steamed • Peas • Onion • Artichoke hearts • Roasted red peppers. 

Protein: • Lean cuts of grilled or baked meat – chicken, turkey or beef • Shrimp, crab meat, scallops or other seafood • Salmon, tuna or other fish • Tofu, plain or cooked • Beans – black beans, garbanzo beans, kidney beans • Crumbled veggie burger • Hard boiled eggs • Cottage cheese • Low-fat cheese • Healthy Fats: • Avocado • Nuts (I like almonds, walnuts and pine nuts) • Sunflower seeds • Sesame seeds • Olive oil based dressings • Flax seed oil or ground flax seeds  • Olive oil (and vinegar) • Olives Other Notes: • Don’t drench your salad in dressing. If the salad ingredients are fresh and in season they’re often very flavorful on their own. •

Throwing leftovers on salads is the best leftover grilled and roasted veggies (straight from the fridge) make great salad toppings. •

Complex carbs are a fun addition as well – wheat berries, whole grain are great options •

Fruits are also a great addition to salads in the summer time – try adding strawberries, blueberries, pears, and figs.

As for preparing the salad, simply toss the ingredients of your choice into a large bowl (or small bowl for a single salad) and enjoy.

You can plan ahead and prep some of the more time-consuming items early. For instance you can chop veggies and cook a pot of beans on Sunday evening so weekday lunches or dinners can be thrown together in a flash.

Have fun trying out the endless number of salad possibilities!