ⓒ iStockPhoto - ktaylorg

The barometer is showing fluctuations. The days may be hotter than the evenings and nights. At this particular time it is very likely that you catch cold and flu viruses. The cold and flu season typically begins as early as October and usually continues until April. Here are few self- care tips to help you and your family members prevent cold and flu, and recover from them sooner. Note: It is always a good idea to consult your physician in case you exhibit any of the symptoms of cold or flu.

Check symptoms for common cold like runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough and/or mild fatigue. It is usually caused by a virus. (continue reading…)

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I was recently going through the Los Angeles Times reporting of the increasing number of cases involving bed bugs all over Southern California. As many as 55 cases of bedbugs have been reported from apartments, hospitals, movie theaters, churches and clothing stores recently. New Yorkers really had a bad time during summer when a few people reported bedbugs crawling on their clothes! “It’s really all over the county,” said Angelo J. Bellomo, director of environmental health for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Bedbugs were common before World War II, but after that they were almost eradicated with improved hygiene and the usage of DDT pesticide. They are back again and the reason is given by Michael Potter, Ph.D., an entomologist at the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture. According to him, the various reasons include an increase in the number of international travelers and secondly greater movement of people in general. In addition to this there has been a change in pest control practices in recent times. The commonly used pesticides for bug control are less effective than DDT. (continue reading…)

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It is often thought that heart diseases occur more in men, but American Heart Association (AHA) states that heart disease kills more than 500,000 women annually. In 2001, over half of the people who died from coronary disease were women. The National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute claims that out of ten American women aged 45-64, one has some form of heart disease. In women over the age of 65, these numbers double.

Dr. Massimo Guisti of Cardiovascular Associates of Virginia, PC says that, “Women still think they cannot have coronary disease. Women are more afraid of ovarian or breast cancer, but coronary disease is the actually the leading cause of death in women.” (continue reading…)

ⓒ Janet Harriett

People are looking for organic as it is difficult to find any fruits and vegetables grown without a whole load of chemicals. But its not that you always have to look around and find all the organic food, which may be costlier than the non-organic one. Washing food items can only remove dirt, bacteria, insects and the pesticide residue, but not the whole of it because these chemicals are absorbed by the fruits and vegetables. Some other chemicals form bonds with either with its skin or core, thus washing does not help much in such a case. Peeling off may help a little bit but doesn’t eliminate the chemicals totally. By just switching to a few organic fruits and vegetables, you can reduce the amount of pesticides going into your body. The fruits and vegetables listed below are grown with so many chemicals that you pose a real thereat to your body by consuming them on a regular basis.

Strawberries

It is said that the strawberries grown with chemicals are so full of them that the fruit itself can be ground up and used as a pesticide!! An estimated 65 percent of various agro-chemicals including pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, weedicides, herbicides etc are used over strawberry crop. For example, for getting rid of fungus, methyl bromide, a chemical responsible for depleting the ozone, is used. This chemical can cause poisoning and neurological disorders. It has been kept in toxicity Category I compound by EPA classification. The strawberries plants are drip-fed on chemical fertilizers and the chemicals to kill all microorganisms and other living things in the soil. (continue reading…)

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I am here with a story of my friend, Nicole, who is my next door neighbor. This friend of mine had a perception that she is out of shape. During her routine check up, her physician told her that she has got just the perfect weight and BMI and she is good. But, the numbers on the scale never matched her expectations so she decided to cut back the fat from her diet altogether. The result was that within a few days she ended up having depression and a few other problems related to vitamin deficiencies.

Yes that’s true! Having a diet too low in fat can have a negative effect on your overall health. Consumption of less that 20% of the calories from fat from your food intake for a long a time can lead to some serious health issues. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend 20% to 35% of your daily calories should come from fat if you are a healthy adult. It is always a good idea to keep a check on the fat intake so as to mange weight and reduce the risk of heart disease but you should make sure that you are taking the minimum amount of healthy fat from food sources like almonds, avocado, tuna, salmon, flax seeds, olive oil, canola oil. (continue reading…)

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Just knowing your nutrients and nutrition facts is not enough. Health issues start at the farm and extend all the way to our tables. The concerns are endless, but the main concern is that foods are safe and loaded with full quota of nutrients.

Take, for example, some fresh organically grown zucchini, placed in cool conditions of the store, brought home in a cool bag, stored and prepared soon before lightly cooked. In another scenario, you buy the zucchini which has been sat too long in the store, carried in a overheated shopping bag and  kept around in the vegetable rack for more that a week before it is cooked. The first zucchini  is loaded with Vitamin A and other nutrients, but the second has lost almost all of them. (continue reading…)

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People continue to be sick even after following the gluten free diet scrupulously. Problem for those who are celiac can lurk in unexpected places, like the glue used on the envelopes and mailing labels, which is made from the wheat. You can use a damp sponge, self sticking envelopes and stamps, or simply let somebody else in the family do this job.

Some celiacs  are sensitive to gluten as well as to some chemicals. Those with dermatitis herpetiformis, a skin reaction to gluten, should be careful while using craft kits, paste and spray waxes and cleaners. If you cannot avoid using these, only do so wearing a mask and in well ventilated area. Celiacs with highly sensitive skin must avoid wheat germ oil in cosmetics and in personal care products like skin creams and lotions, toothpaste and false teeth fixatives. Ask your dentist which is the best toothpaste for you. (continue reading…)