Competitive swimmers are always in fantastic shape but even those who just swim for leisure and for pleasure know that they not only look great on the outside but feel just as good on the inside. The health benefits of swimming are almost unmatched by just about any other sport or exercise.  I have enjoyed swimming all my life – whenever and wherever I can.

Swimming is a great workout because you need to move your whole body against the resistance of the water. Swimming helps to exercise the whole body including the heart, lungs and muscles but with very little joint strain. It conditions the whole body and the best strokes for this are freestyle, breast stroke and backstroke. And don’t forget that even if laps are not your forte, there are plenty of other good swimming exercises. Try walking or running in water, which many people find easier to do than on land. Treading can be exhausting but it will help tone your legs and arms.

Here are many more health benefits:

1.  Swimming is a relaxing and peaceful form of exercise, helping to alleviate stress. You can let your mind wander, focusing on nothing but the rhythm of your stroke, helping you gain a feeling of well-being so that you leave the water refreshed and ready to go on with the rest of your day. Swimming is so relaxing because it allows more oxygen to flow to your muscles and forces you to regulate your breathing. A pleasant side effect is the release of feel-good chemicals known as endorphins. Apart from the metaphysical benefits of swimming, research has shown that it can actually change the brain for the better through a process, known as hippocampal neurogenesis, in which the brain replaces cells lost through stress.

2.  Swimming provides a good low-impact therapy for some injuries and conditions because there is no stress on your bones, joints or connective tissues due to buoyancy and the fact that you weigh 1/10^th less in water. You can carry out a rigorous work out with a reduced chance of swimming injuries, putting the body through a broad range of motion that help joint and ligaments stay loose and flexible. With every stroke, as you reach forward, you lengthen the body making it more efficient in the water and helping to give you a good stretch from head to toe.

3.  Pregnant women benefit from swimming because it helps strengthen the shoulder and abdominal muscles, which can be strained when carrying a baby. Many people with certain health conditions such as arthritis find swimming particularly helpful because it is low impact, relaxes stiff muscles and isn’t weight-bearing. Swimming also increases circulation. When the human body is submerged in water, it automatically becomes lighter. When immersed to the waist, your body bears just 50% of its weight; dip down to the to the chest and that number reduces to around 25-35% while with water all the way to the neck, you only have to bear 10% of your own weight.

4.  Swimming can improve your blood pressure because studies have shown that a workout routine that includes swimming can reduce and possibly prevent high blood pressure, which in turn lowers your risk for heart disease and stroke.

5.  Swimming can even rectify your cholesterol levels because of its aerobic power, ensuring higher levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL) and lower levels of LDL or “bad” cholesterol.

6. Swimming keeps your heart rate up because it is an aerobic exercise. Swimming strengthens the heart by helping it to become larger and more efficient in pumping, leading to better blood flow throughout your body. The American Heart Association reports that just 30 minutes of exercise per day, such as swimming, can reduce coronary heart disease in women by 30-40%. In addition,swimming can also keep your endothelium in good shape. The endothelium is the thin layer of cells that lines the arteries but which tends to lose flexibility as you age.

7.  Swimming is now recognized as one of the biggest calorie burners around, and it’s great for keeping weight under control. Of course the number of calories burned would depend on your make up and how hard you exercise but every bit helps.

8.  While swimming does not help with bone density, because you need weight bearing exercises for that, it does improve bone strength - especially in post-menopausal women. Every kick and every arm stroke becomes a resistance exercise, helping to build muscle tone and strength.

9.  Swimming improves coordination, balance and posture.

10. Swimming provides the perfect way to cool down on a hot day whether in a pool, lake, ocean, dam or river. Just make sure the environment you choose is safe. And when the weather is no longer hot, find a way to use a heated pool for year round exercise.

Swimming is a healthy activity that can be continued for a lifetime – so make swimming part of your regular exercise routine.

]]> http://www.amoils.com/health-blog/swim-as-often-as-you-can-for-at-least-10-health-benefits/feed/ 0 http://www.amoils.com/health-blog/6-homemade-cleaning-solutions-for-a-safer-home/ http://www.amoils.com/health-blog/6-homemade-cleaning-solutions-for-a-safer-home/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:34:40 +0000 Jane Chitty http://www.amoils.com/health-blog/?p=5927 Tired of buying and using chemical-laden commercial cleaning products or paying out extra for more natural ones? Then here are some formulas for you that can easily be made at home and, as well as helping to cause less damage to your environment, they save you money too.

1. Washing machine laundry soap – use just 1 tablespoon per light load or 2 tbs for an extra heavy load and, for the average family, this amount will last approximately 9 months and can be used in HE washers too. It will have a mild scent but you can add a few drops of essential oil if you want something more fragrant but please avoid artificial fragrances.

Ingredients:

1 x 4lb 12oz box Borax

1 x 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda

1 x 3lb 7oz box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz

3 x bars of Fels-naptha soap (or you can use Ivory soap or Zote soap)

Optional 2 x small containers of oxyclean or store brand oxyclean (total 3.5lbs)

Method – grate all the soap – you can even use a food processor and put with the rest of the ingredients in a 5 gallon bucket lined with a garbage bag. Mix it all up and store in a large container along with a tablespoon size scoop to make it easier to use when adding to your washer’s dispenser. In the case of a HE washer, add to the barrel instead of the dispenser.

2. Natural fabric softener – use 1/3 cup of white vinegar which you can pop into the softener dispenser of your washer. Once the clothes are dry, there is absolutely no smell of vinegar.

3. Dishwasher detergent

Ingredients:

1 x 4lbs 12oz box Borax

1 x 3lbs 7oz box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

24 small packets of unsweetened lemonade drink mix, like kool-aid – (the lemonade will stain soap dispenser yellow so an alternative option is to use ½ to ¾ cup of citric acid instead which you can usually find along with canning supplies at your local store)

3 x cups Epsom salts

1 x Lemi Shine rinse aid – sprinkle a tablespoon in the bottom of the dishwasher

Method

Mix Borax, washing soda, salt and lemonade together in a very large bowl and put into a container large enough to hold whole batch if required. A pouring spout will make life easier and you just need 1 tablespoon per wash cycle.

These three recipes come from www.beingcreativetokeepmysanity.blogspot.com while Shayla Groves of www.designfinch.com has the following suggestions;

4. All-purpose Cleaner

Ingredients:

¼ cup white vinegar

2 tablespoons baking soda

¼ gallon hot water

a few drops of essential oil (optional)

Method – combine ingredients in a bucket, stir and let the mixture cool before pouring into a suitable spray bottle.

5. Glass Cleaner

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons white vinegar

1/4 gallon water

Few drops of lemon essential oil (optional)

Method – combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake. Wipe the glass surfaces with crumpled newspaper.

6. Furniture Polish

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil

4 tablespoons white vinegar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Method – combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well before use. Remember to store extra in the refrigerator to prevent lemon juice from souring.

Safer for the environment but also easier for sensitive skins, eyes and noses.

In fact, many academics, scientists, environmentalists and even the man in the street believe urban farming could be the green solution to future food shortages instead of relying on the worrying and downright dangerous GMOs as a way to resolve such shortages. It is all about trying to become more self sufficient and less reliant on others to provide for you. It is also about eating a more health-promoting and organic diet and even caring for a few chickens who will reward your devotion with a regular supply of free range eggs. Urban farming could be the answer to so many modern problems.

Only last year, there was a huge outcry on the internet when Julie Bass of Oak Park, Michigan was facing 93 days in jail after being charged with a misdemeanor. Her crime was planting a vegetable garden in the front yard. Julie explained that she planted the garden after her front yard was torn up for some sewer repairs. Rather than wasting the opportunity to start with a clean slate by planting a lawn, she decided to really put the area to use, and plant a vegetable garden. Her garden consists of 5 raised beds, where she grows a mix of squashes, corn, tomatoes, flowers, and other veggies. She was threatened and persecuted by her local council but in the face of such opposition, the council soon backed down. In her own small way, Julie was instrumental in sowing the seed (pun intended) whereby people were encouraged to start their own vegetable gardens or fruit orchards in place of water guzzling and labour intensive lawns.

Urban farming is generally practised for income-earning or food-producing activities, though in many communities the main impetus is recreation and relaxation. In the UK, town and village allotments have been popular for decades. An area of land is divided up into small plots and rented to interested people to grow veggies and fruit. Such urban farming can contribute to food security and safety in two ways: firstly, it increases the amount of food available to people living in cities and secondly, it allows fresh vegetables fruits, eggs and even meat products to be made available to urban consumers.

While there many urban farming schemes, you can also benefit from growing your own city vegetable garden. All you need is a window, balcony, patio, deck or roof that receives six or more hours of sun together with a few containers. These can produce an adequate supple of produce for you without the need for a large garden plot. With containers, you can grow anything from lettuce and tomatoes to beans and peppers. You can even grow potatoes and vine crops, such as squash and cucumbers. As long as there is adequate drainage, nearly anything can be used to grow vegetables.

Just remember that:

1. Smaller containers are used for more shallow-rooted crops like carrots, lettuce, and radishes. Vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, and beans will benefit from using containers that are big enough to accommodate their larger root systems. In fact, the use of five-gallon buckets is not uncommon. To make use of all available space, consider growing vegetable plants in hanging baskets too.

2. In order to help improve drainage and airflow, it may be a good idea to raise your containers about an inch or two off the ground with blocks. Place vegetables in a sunny area that is well protected from wind, which can dry out plants. Container plants usually require daily watering particularly when it is dry, hot and sunny.

I live in a mostly warm and sunny climate but only have a small city courtyard garden. In spite of this, we manage to have a successful urban mini farm! We have 4 blueberry bushes in containers, raspberry and gooseberry canes, a prolific lemon tree plus newly planted grapefruit and tangerine trees. We have a container garden for herbs plus two large deep containers for growing spinach, carrots, shallots, lettuce, cucumbers, radishes, bell peppers and cabbages. The tomato plants have their own 5 gallon pots. Everything is organic including compost (we make our own in 2 compost bins) and fertilizer. It is great fun and very satisfying. The image for this post is our very own first cucumber!  The image for the front page of the blog shows the wonderful veggie garden of my friend in Maine.

If you plan on starting your own city vegetable garden, you will find so much help and advice on the internet. There are even specialist web sites and magazines devoted to the urban farmer so there is no excuse not to get going.

Only honey actually bottled, tested and authenticated in New Zealand can use the UMF label (standing for “unique manuka factor”) and an 8 oz jar or bottle will probably cost you about $37 in a US health store. So genuine UMF New Zealand honey can be rather expensive. There is an American alternative available that is still from New Zealand but bottled in the US but for the very best results, Manuka honey should have at very least a 12+ UMF/”Active” rating but preferably 15+ or higher.

This important UMF rating will only be known if the honey has been tested. If a producer has gone to the expense of testing, they will definitely display it on the container. The testing is expensive and accounts for a reasonable amount of the cost of tested honey.

I know you have been waiting to read about these healing properties and here they are:

1. Use as a natural antibiotic for nasty infections, such as in the chest, by taking a couple of mouthfuls of the honey several times a day, between meals.

2. Use as a natural cough treatment by taking ¾ teaspoon of the honey every time you start to cough. It should resolve in about 24 hours.

3. This raw honey can be used effectively in the treatment of abrasions, acne, bacterial infections (including MRSA), eczema, leg ulcers, puncture wounds, psoriasis, septic wounds and surgical wounds. Manuka honey will kill h-Pylori bacteria that is known to cause ulcers.

4. For abscesses or deep wounds that have been cleaned, the honey can be packed into the cavity before applying an adhesive dressing. According to an article recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, honey provides a moist healing environment, deodorizes, rapidly clears infection while reducing inflammation, edema and any oozing.

5. Apply to the face for a few minutes (or as long as you can take it) before showering, to soften and condition the skin.

6. Use when troubled with mouth sores by swishing a teaspoon of the honey in your mouth for several minutes 3 times a day until the sores are gone (usually within a day).

7. Very effective when used in the treatment of burns. According to Professor Keith Scott-Mumbly “Many clinical studies have demonstrated honey’s effectiveness in treating burns. An article in the British Journal of Surgery compared the topical use of honey with silver sulfadiazine (SSD)— one of the most widely-used, common treatments for burns—in 104 cases of superficial burn injuries. In the honey-treated group of 52 patients, 91% of the burns were infection free within 7 days, compared to only 7% of the 52 patients in the SSD group. Pain was also significantly reduced.”

The more recent emergence of dangerous antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria has sounded a wake up call to many in the medical community to consider natural substances with proven medical uses as a means to fighting such strains.

Active manuka honey is one such natural substance and of course it lasts forever.

Dr Deepak Chopra has his insomnia protocol which I thought was well worth passing on to anyone who suffers from insomnia – however infrequently. His protocol tips are in bold. I have added my comments afterwards:

The natural human biorhythm is to sleep between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. For many this means the unusual fact of being in bed with the lights out by 10 pim. So many people are sleep deprived because they go to bed too late but still have to get up early the next morning for work. So they never catch up though they may try to do so at weekends which is when they then put the biorhythm even more out of sync.

Decrease your mental activity after dinner. This means not too much TV or computer activity but perhaps a little light reading just before turning out the light.

Make preparations for the next day. To avoid the early morning rush the next day, get things ready the night before such as laying the breakfast table, putting out clothes to be worn, packing lunches and popping in the refrigerator and more. If you keep a diary, you can make a note of what you hope to accomplish the next day whether at home or at work.  You will rest more easy if you know that everything is ready for the morning.

Take a hot bath for up to an hour with calming fragrances. Use a drop or two of natural essential oils in your bath water and use the soaking time to let go of any daily stress. Healing Natural Oils can provide the natural aid you need to help with sleeping problems. H-Insomnia is a product that is perfect for a safe way to enjoy a full night’s sleep. This should be your goal.

Use your bed for sleep and sex only.

Turn all lights off. Make sure you are comfortable – not too hot and not too cold – relax and concentrate on your breathing while you start to relax.

Try reciting a mantra for five minutes. If you are religious, this could be the time for a prayer or if not, make this the opportunity to listen to soothing music like the sound of oceans waves breaking on the shore.

Something warm, like a hot water bottle, may help soothe your anxieties. It will also keep you warm in cold weather and soothe any painful areas of the body.

If you wake during the night, try repeating some of the techniques above or massaging your head or feet.

If you find it difficult to sleep in your bed, pick another area of the house to sleep in. And get to the root of the problem that might be causing the difficulty such a partner who snores, a room that is too hot or cold, a room that is too light, or the presences of electro-magnetic fields. All cell phones, cordless phones, laptops and other superfluous appliances should be put into another room at night along with their chargers etc.

In addition to Dr Chopra’s tips, remember:

1. When you wake up in the morning, strip back your bed to air it the old fashioned way while you are getting ready for the day. At the same time, open the windows wide (it is best to have windows open at least slightly at night anyway) to keep the air supply fresh and full of oxygen. Once you are ready, come back and make your bed. I am afraid that dust mites love it when you make you bed the minute your jump out of it so that they stay warm and snug!

2. Change your bed linen at least every 5 to 7 days and wash on a high temperature, using a natural laundry detergent and softener. It is a good idea to hang your duvet or blankets together with the pillows out in the sun for at least 3 hours on a regular basis. This helps to to get rid of dust mites, mould and mildew.

3. When changing your sheets, leave the new set off for a while and let your mattress air. Run the vacuum over it to get rid of dust mites and a good tip is to spritz with eucalyptus oil.

4. Keep the bedroom as minimalistic as possible to provide a clean and dust-free environment in which to relax and sleep. Always use natural and non toxic materials to clean and care for your bedroom area.

5. Melatonin is vital to ensure good sleeping habits and this is only produced during darkness so make sure your room is darkened when it is time to sleep. During the day, light stimulates that part of the brain that tells the pineal gland to decrease the melatonin level when it is daytime and light, and to increase it when it is night time and dark. The brighter the light, the bigger the decrease and the darker the dark, the bigger the increase of melatonin. If you find it difficult to sleep without some light, reduce any light source gradually to improve both the quality of your sleep and the amount of time it takes you to fall asleep.

When your bedroom is environmentally friendly, you will awake refreshed and energized so that your day will go so much better and your health and immune system will benefit.

Most of us have had experience of pink eye or conjunctivits and know how highly contagious it can be. It is alarming for parents the first time they see this condition on a young child because it may make the eyes extremely red and even spread rapidly. The good news is that it usually causes no long term damage either to the vision or the eyes themselves.

Some types of pink eye go away on their own while other require treatment.

The symptoms of pink eye are:

-   Redness or swelling of the white of the eye or inside the eyelid

-  Increased amount of tears

-  White, yellow or green eye discharge

-  Itchy eyes

-  Burning eyes

-  Increased sensitivity to light

-  Gritty feeling in the eye

-  Crusting of eyelids or lashes

Pink eye can be caused by:

-  The bacteria and viruses that are responsible for colds and other infections such as ear, sinus or throat infections.

-  The same bacteria that can lead to sexually transmitted diseases – known as chlamydia and gonorrhea.

-  Allergies – although this is more likely when a child has other allergic reactions such as hay fever.

-  Irritants in the environment such as chemicals in chlorine or soaps or air pollutants such as smoke or fumes.

Chlorine in higher concentrations such as in public swimming kpools can be the culprit if your child experiences frequent bouts of conjunctivitis. The chlorine can break down the protective layers of lubrication that cover the eyes so that they become more vulnerable to getting infected if they are rubbed. Triggers of this type of allergic conjunctivitis include grass, ragweed pollen, animal dander and dust mites.

Fortunately, most cases of conjunctivitis resolve on their own within a week or so but when the pink eye produces a green or yellow discharge, using an over-the-counter antibiotic eye drop can be very helpful. Even if the pink eye appears in just one eye, it is safer to put one drop in each eye because it is so easy for the conjunctivitis to spread. Continue the treatment daily for at least two days after all signs of the redness have gone.

Image via Wikipedia

Popular opinion has always carried a lot of weight and when combined with the fact that money talks, it should not be impossible for consumers to convince both themselves and their main food suppliers that a healthier diet is needed by everyone. A growing rate of a 70% overweight and obese population in the US just cannot continue – it is unsustainable. To become a healthier person while putting less strain on the environment can and should be the goal of us all.

Here are 6 ways in which you can help

1. By cutting your meat consumption. At present, US meat eaters swallow 4 times as much meat as the rest of the world does. If you can cut your consumption in half, you can then easily afford to buy healthy grass fed organic beef or free range chicken and you will be cutting any damage to the environment by at least 50%. Factory farmed meat is very damaging both to the environment and to our health with 90% of meat currently coming from CAFOS and factory farms. Move away from all factory farmed meat, eggs and dairy and create a new demand for grass fed beef and free range chicken and eggs along with raw or at the very least organic milk, butter and other dairy products and farmers will change from dangerous, unhealthy industrial agriculture practices to sustainable organic techniques with more local production.

2. By avoiding so much waste in our food supply from start to finish in the food chain. More than a third of all food in the US gets thrown away. This is a terrible indictment on us all when others in the word are starving.

3. By ditching all the processed and refined foodstuffs too. That means white bread, white flour pastas, corn, processed salts instead of healthy natural salt, sugar, sodas and artificial sweeteners. With the US diet comprising more than than 80% processed, junk and fake foods, a natural, wholefood diet would vastly improve both our heath and our negative impact on the environment.

4. By supporting and buying local and seasonal produce wherever and whenever we can. Food supply transport equals 20% of food-based greenhouse gas emissions so consumers can greatly reduce the CO2 emissions they are responsible for by purchasing their food from local organic growers. Local food from a farmers’ market or a veggie box scheme travels a much shorter distance than supermarket food from all over the world. Remember that even when supermarkets display “local” food, it has often travelled further than you might think because it still gets packaged centrally. Genuine local food often has a lot less packaging and if it’s from a market, it can often go straight into your bag.

5. By showing concern about the number of bees that have been dying off around the world for a decade now from a phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder or CCD. A third of the US food supply depends on the honeybee. The collapse of bee colonies is probably multifactorial rather than a response to one type of toxic assault but one major factor is the toxicity of systemic pesticides such as Clothianidin (made by Bayer). Do your bit to raise awareness of this worrying trend.

6. By learning to cook from scratch instead of relying on convenience ready-to-eat meals or take outs. Remember that the more ingredients in a meal, the higher the emissions from processing the food. This means it is better to cook your meals from scratch – something everyone would have done automatically in the past. This is where eating local food really wins out as most processed and ready-to-eat meals have ingredients that come from all over the world. If we want to be sure of eating local food, we need to cook more from scratch. We should also consider including more raw food in our diet – I try to have at east one raw meal per day.

Support the organic food and farming movement and at the same time drastically reduce your carbon foot print by changing the way you shop and eat with these 6 tips. Become part of a mass consumer demand for farm products that are organic, locally or regionally-produced and of course also climate friendly.

The expert in the case of canned tomatoes is Fredrick vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri, who studies bisphenol-A.  He quotes the problem as being that the resin linings of tin cans contain Bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

Most of us have heard of BPA in plastics.

Unfortunately, and because tomatoes are high in acidity, this causes BPA to leach from the resin lining of the tin can into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people’s bodies now exceeds the amount that can suppress sperm production or cause chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals.

Fredrick vom Saal says: “You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that’s a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young,” says vom Saal. “I won’t go near canned tomatoes.”

http://www.ecokaren.com/2010/02/7-foods-even-food-safety-experts-won-t-eat/

So what is the solution?

Change from canned tomatoes to buying those in glass bottles or jars (or if you get a large crop of tomatoes in your own garden, how about preserving your own?). Brands such as Bionaturae and Coluccio supply jars of tomatoes while Trader Joe’s and Pomi provide tomotoes in Tretra Pak boxes as an alternative.

For the cream of the crop, both in product and packaging, you can go to Eden Foods. They have recently announced the launch of their protective amber glass 14 and 25 ounce jars of organic crushed tomatoes and sauces in their line of shelf stable organic tomatoes. Apparently, they are the only tomatoes in the USA packed in amber glass to protect both the flavor and nutrients from light damage.

These products include:

- Organic Spaghetti Sauce
- No Salt Spaghetti Sauce
- Pizza Pasta Sauce
- Crushed Tomatoes
- Crushed Tomatoes with Sweet Basil and
- Crushed Tomatoes with Roasted Onion & Garlic

They are all now available in these new, protective amber glass containers.

Eden Foods decided to change to amber glass jars in order to avoid the presence of bisphenol-A (BPA) in high acid food cans because of the failure of the can manufacturers to make BPA-free cans specially for tomatoes.

Evidently, light can cause discoloration and affect the flavor of the tomatoes through chemical changes in food when they are in plain glass. Photo-oxidation (light damage) is systemic in food stores. This is because fluorescent lighting, in particular, reduces food quality. Amber glass is difficult to get and more costly, but offers the best protection for food. Of course, amber glass is also free of the endocrine disrupter chemical bisphenol-A (BPA).

And to add to your enjoyment, Eden Foods tell us that their organic crushed tomatoes and sauces are made exclusively from fresh, red, ripe, unpeeled Midwestern organic Roma tomatoes (also known as Italian plum) along with 100% organic herbs and spices – some with no salt added. While most sauces are made from tomato concentrates, Eden tomatoes only have to travel 45 miles before they are washed, hand sorted, cooked and jarred (all within hours of harvest) ensuring maximum flavor, aroma and nutrients. And of course it goes without saying that no processing aids or additives are used. All ingredients are listed on the label.

Roma tomatoes are ideal for canning and using in delicious sauces because they have few seeds. Worldwide, Romas are prized for their deep color, rich mild sweet flavor and low acidity while their dense, meaty flesh and low moisture content make them feel heavy for their size.  Added health benefits to enjoy are that they are the highest in the antioxidant lycopene. Organic versions are higher still in lycopene, giving the customer up to 14.4 milligrams of this highly acclaimed and protective antioxidant per serving.

Don’t forget to look out for fresh organic Roma tomatoes too as they are usually available in the USA from early November to the end of May from your local Farmers Market or the fresh produce department of your local store. The sweeter varieties are perfect for eating fresh or adding to salads or recipes.

These 14 signs are:

1. Often fidgeting with hands or feet, or squirming while seated.
2. Having difficulty remaining seated when required to do so.
3. Being easily distracted by extraneous stimuli.
4. Having difficulty awaiting turn in games or group activities.
5. Often blurting out answers before questions are completed.
6. Having difficulty in following instructions.
7. Having difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities.
8. Often shifting from one uncompleted task to another.
9. Having difficulty playing quietly.
10. Often talking excessively.
11. Often interrupting or intruding on others.
12. Often not listening to what is being said.
13. Often forgetting things necessary for tasks or activities.
14. Often engaging in physically dangerous activities without considering possible consequences.

While there are children who struggle with serious inattention and hyperactive or impulsive behaviors around the clock, so that they might be considered definitely ADD or ADHD, this label is frequently given to many other children as well without just cause.

In spite of the trend for several past decades to prescribe drugs for treating this disorder, it has been found that such stimulant drugs provide no lasting improvement.

Many parents, concerned about the long term use of prescription drugs on their children, look for other ways to help them.

Dr Mercola has this to say to parents on this subject:

“Drugging children with narcotics to treat behavioral problems should be a very last resort, only implemented after all other options have been exhausted – if they are regarded as an option at all. Other options exist that are far safer, and involve no drugs whatsoever! So before you consider drugs, please consider implementing the following strategies first, in addition to making sure that your child is assessed in an age-appropriate manner before labeling him or her with ADHD:

-  Eliminate most grains and sugars from your child’s diet. Grains and sugars both tend to cause allergies in sensitive individuals. Even organic, whole grain can cause problems in many children so it would be wise to give them a grain holiday and see if their behavior improves. A 2006 study showed that ADHD is markedly over represented in those with untreated celiac disease, indicating that wheat may be an especially problematic grain worth eliminating as a precaution.

-  Replace soft drinks (whether diet and regular), fruit juices, and pasteurized milk with pure, clean non-fluoridated water.

-  Increase omega-3 fats by taking a high quality animal-based omega-3 fat such as krill oil. Research has confirmed that animal-based omega-3 fat can improve the symptoms of ADHD more effectively than drugs like Ritalin and Concerta.

-  Consider a natural drug alternative such as the pine bark extract known as pycnogenol. It is one of over a dozen natural substances that have been studied to reduce the symptoms of ADHD in children.

-  Minimize your use of nearly all processed fats, especially trans fats as they disrupt nerve cell intercommunication.
Avoid all processed foods, especially those containing artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, which may trigger or worsen symptoms.

-  Clear your house of dangerous pesticides and other commercial chemicals. Pesticide exposure has been linked with ADHD.

-  Avoid commercial washing detergents and cleaning products used on clothes, and replace them with naturally derived cleaning products with no added perfumes, softeners, etc. Permanent press or stain-resistant products also contain chemicals that can initiate ADHD-like reactions in sensitive individuals.

-  Spend more time in nature. Researchers have found that exposing ADHD children to nature is an affordable, healthy way of controlling symptoms.

-  Investigate sensory therapy and emotional wellness tools. Instead of looking for a quick fix, encourage ADHD sufferers to talk, and find out what emotions are causing issues. Stress is the frequently unappreciated and overlooked variable that can easily worsen ADHD. If the parents are having trouble in their relationship this can easily influence the child’s behavior.”

A recent study in Holland put half of the ADHD children on a strict diet while the other half ate their normal diet. The strict diet comprised: rice, turkey, pear, vegetables and water only for 2 weaks. Then one food was added back every week. Some 67% of those children on the strict diet were back to normal after just 5 weeks. It was found that different children could not eat different foodstuffs. The trial is published at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/…/21296237

“Phosphatidylserine” is a supplement worth investigating (which includes natural amino and fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid) and could be helpful in cases of ADHD as it seems to strengthen memory, increase vigilance and attention, boost learning, increase mental acuity, intensify concentration, relieve depression and improve mood as well as decrease stress. It has also been found to work on adults and children alike.

Nail polish, polish removers and artificial nail products contain a host of toxic chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer, reproductive harm, asthma and other negative health effects.   But at least some nail polish manufacturers have now reformulated their products to remove the “toxic trio” of  ingredients: namely, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde and toluene.

1. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) adds flexibility and a moisturizing sheen, and helps dissolve other cosmetic ingredients. But the downside is that it is a a reproductive and developmental toxin that has been linked to feminizing effects in baby boys.

2. Toluene helps suspend the color in nail polish and form a smooth finish across the nail. But it also affects the central nervous system and can cause headaches, dizziness and fatigue. It is thought to be a possible reproductive and developmental toxin.

3. Formaldehyde is found in some nail products such as nail hardener and is a well known human carcinogen. Plus it is an irritant to the eyes, nose and throat, possibly leading to skin irritation and an allergic rash called dermatitis or eczema.

In addition to the toxic trio, nail care products can also contain a host of other toxic chemicals, including organic solvents like xylene, methyl ethyl ketone and acetone, as well as acrylic polymers such as methyl methylacrylate and ethyl methylacrylate.

But do not despair, there is a safer alternative to nail polish and it is called nail buffing which can create an attractive and smooth sheen to your nails while helping your nails grow stronger and longer because of increased circulation.

Here is how to nail buff.

Equipment:

- Medium to fine buffing block
- Fine to superfine buffing block
- Chamois leather
- Beeswax

Method: 

1. Take off that old nail polish for the last time using your existing bottle of nail polish remover before conditioning your fingernails with a good quality natural cream or oil while pushing back the cuticles. Then file your fingernails carefully to the desired shape.  At the same time look out for any signs of nail fungus.

2. Stroke each fingernail a few times with a medium/fine buffing block to take off any ridges on the surface. Be extra careful not to buff too long or too hard because of the risk of thinning out the fingernail, weakening it and making it vulnerable to injury or infection.

3. Stroke each fingernail with a fine/superfine buffing block to shine them. Go in one direction only. This is to make sure you don’t move the buffing block back and forth over the fingernail so quickly that you cause damage without realizing it.

4. Shine your fingernails with a small piece of chamois leather. If you wish, you can use a buffing cream or a little beeswax to give your fingernails a high sheen.

5. Your fingernails will look natural and attractive so you can now skip that nail polish with its toxic chemicals which you would absorb through your nails and your skin. Apart from any toxic and harmful ingredients, polish remover dries out and ultimately damages your fingernails.

Just one word of warning – don’t use the buffer for smoothing out ridges on your nails more often than once a month. You can buff the nails themselves as often as you like as long as the product is minus any abrasives.

Image via Wikipedia

WD-40 is a nationally renowned product in the US and has been for many years. There are loads of uses and I will list many of these later in this post. However, some of these suggested applications involve putting WD-40 on your skin to prevent arthritis pain in the joints or using as a lure when fishing. I would not be happy about recommending such practices for a product that is petroleum based.

Although WD-40′s formula is a actually a trade secret and the product is not patented in order to avoid completely disclosing its ingredients, WD-40′s main ingredients (according to U.S. Material Safety Data Sheet Information) are:

-  50%: Stoddard solvent (ie mineral spirits – primarly hexane which is somewhat similar to kerosne)
-  25%: Liquefied petroleum gas (presumably as a propellant – carbon dioxide is now used instead to reduce WD-40′s      considerable flammability)
-  15+% Mineral oil (light lubricating oil)
-  10-%: Inert ingredients

The German version of the mandatory EU safety sheet lists the following safety-relevant ingredients:

-  60-80%: Heavy Naphtha (petroleum product), hydrogen treated
-  1-5%: Carbon dioxide

It further lists flammability and effects to the human skin when repeatedly exposed to WD-40 as risks when using WD-40. Nitrile rubber gloves and safety glasses should be used. Water is unsuitable for extinguishing burning WD-40.

So you can see from this that WD-40 is certainly not green and should be handled with care. The State of California does not require a Proposition 65 (cancer warning) label on it.

Here are all the different things for which you can use WD-40:

1. Protecting silver from tarnishing.

2. Removing road tar and grime from cars.

3. Cleaning and lubricateing guitar strings.

4. Restoreing and cleaning chalkboards.

5. Removing lipstick stains.

6. Loosening stubborn zippers.

7. Untangleing jewellery chains.

8. Removing stains from stainless steel sinks.

9. Removing dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.

10. Removing tomato stains from clothing.

11. Keeping glass shower doors free of water spots.

12. Camouflaging scratches in ceramic and marble floors.

13. Keeping scissors working smoothly.

14. Lubricating noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.

15. Removing black scuff marks from the kitchen floor.

16. Removing bug guts from the finish on your car.

17. Giving a children’s playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.

18. Lubricating gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers.

19. Lubricating tracks in sticking home windows, making them easier to open.

20. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.

21. Restoring and cleaning padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.

22. Restoring and cleaning roof racks on vehicles.

23. Lubricating and stopping squeaks in electric fans.

24. Lubricating wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.

25. Lubricating fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.

26. Keeping rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.

27. Removes splattered grease on stove.

28. Keeping bathroom mirror from fogging.

29. Lubricating prosthetic limbs.

30. Removing all traces of duct tape.

31. Removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.

32. Spraying on the distributor cap to displace the moisture and allow the car to start.

Please remember that this is a petroleum based lubricant and you should wear gloves, safety goggles and be in a well ventilated area when using it.

Have you ever suffered from a moth infestation eating your woollen clothes? Well, help is at hand because there are lots of ways to combat this problem. In general, you won’t even be aware of the presence of moths until it is too late. And the babies are the culprits as they eat their way through your sweaters, jackets and pants or wool rugs and needlework as they mature. Their mothers and fathers do no damage except to leave behind their eggs from which the hungry larvae hatch.

Mature insects deposit eggs in a variety of locations such as clothing, upholstery, rugs, carpets, toys, animal skins or trophies, and even natural-bristle brushes. As the eggs hatch, the larvae begin to feed on animal-based materials including silk, wool, feathers and leather. They also have been known to eat fabrics blended with wool and items soiled with food stains or body oils.

Eggs and larvae of moths and beetles can be carried into homes on articles containing wool or other animal fibers. Items such as secondhand furniture, upholstered furniture and other home furnishings can provide the perfect home for these pests. Clothes moth eggs or larvae can also hide in woolen fabrics or rugs.

Adult clothes moths prefer darkness and quickly hide when they are disturbed. Clothes moths are not the moths seen flitting about lights. Quite the opposite. Adult clothes moths are about 1/2 inch long and light tan in color.

Firstly, actual prevention:

1.  You can invest in an expensive chest with a cedar lining to protect your sweaters and other woollen items. It is not the cedar lining that actually prevents the moth infestation but the fact that cedar chests are tight fitting and therefore air tight so that nothing can survive.

2.  You can use natural repellents. Dried lavender, cloves and thyme all help to repel moths and smell lovely as well in your closet. Put the herbs in a small sachet and hang or store in the closet to keep bugs at bay .

3.  Keep your closet clean and have any holes or cracks (where moths might hide) filled or sealed. Don’t put away any clothes that need washing or dry cleaning as moths thrive by eating wool as well as any dirt that might be on an item such as a ring of dirt on the collar.

4.  Moths can be on items that you have been given or perhaps bought from a used source. Place any such items in your freezer to ensure you get rid of any moths (method set out later in the article) or if appropriate, have them dry cleaned.

5.  Moth balls are highly toxic and should only be used in and on items such as valuable antiques where nothing else is possible. Put in a sealed container with the moth balls for at least a month before removing and airing for another two months.

6.  Take a tip from owners of vintage clothing shops and use pheromone moth traps which are made of thin cardboard with the interior coated with the scent of the female moth so that male moths enter, become trapped and never leave. These traps cost approximately $20 each and need to replaced every 3 months but are worth it to avoid the hassle and expense of moth infestation.

Secondly, actual infestation:

7.  Moth damage is not really visible until items are cleaned. So once you are aware of an infestation, you need to go into action. Be aware that those toxic chemicals used in conventional dry cleaning like perchloroethylene are bad for your body, your clothes and the environment. In fact most items that say “dry clean only” can be carefully hand-washed and air-dried giving you a considerable cost saving. If you must dry-clean, go to a legitimate “green” cleaner that uses wet cleaning or carbon dioxide cleaning instead of harsh chemicals.

8.  If you are lucky you may be successful by freezing all items in a very cold freezer for at least 3 weeks. Remember to use a freezer as a holding place for any items that you buy when travelling or flea market finds before having them cleaned. To be effective, store items at 0°F for a minimum of 48 to 72 hours. This method works best for small items such as stuffed animals, feather accessories or items difficult to launder or dry-clean.  When freezing items, place them in polyethylene bags, squeeze out excess air, and seal tightly. After the prescribed amount of time in the freezer, remove the item to the refrigerator to thaw slowly. Items can be removed from the bag after coming to room temperature. Or store the items in the polyethylene bag. To guarantee a complete insect kill, it is recommended that you immediately repeat the process before removing contents from the bag.

9.  If you have an infestation in your closet, everything must be removed and dealt with and the closet repaired to ensure there are no cracks or holes. You may need to get an exterminator who knows how to handle moths to come in monthly for at least three months. Once you think you are free of moths, buy those pheromone traps to catch any strays. If no moths appear in the traps, you will know you are moth free.

10.  If you have a moth infestation, it is also important to clean bed linens, table linens, towels, pet beds, mattress covers, rugs, knitting or sewing baskets, soft toys and anything they might like to nest in. Just because they won’t eat it doesn’t mean they won’t live on or hide in it.

If you have damaged woollen items they are usually difficult or impossible to repair. But they can be re-purposed into lovely crafts made from sweaters such as felting.

Be vigilant and practice good housekeeping habits so the insects do not have a chance to lay eggs.

1. Increasing our intake of vitamins C and E are important for our skin because they help reduce the damage caused by free radicals (those unstable molecules in our body). Such free radicals destroy both collagen and elastin. Although vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits and lots of veggies such as peppers, broccoli and cauliflower, you can do yourself a great favor, and additional health benefits, by adding a generous dosage vitamin C supplement to your daily diet too. Lots of leafy greens, nuts, olives and asparagus will give you a good source of vitamin E.

2. Another nutrient to add to your daily diet is zinc with its anti-inflammatory and healing properties to help keep any skin blemishes at bay. Seeds are a good source, apart from supplements, so include a tablespoon daily with your food.

3. Moisture is so vital for a healthy skin but did you know that sleeping in a room that is too hot or too dry will mean that your skin loses valuable moisture while becoming redder because of an increased blood flow. Whatever the weather, allow fresh air to come in through an open window and don’t set the temperature artificially high or low. If dry skin is a real problem for you, install a humidifier next to your bed. Our skin does its restoration work during the night so this makes the quality of air around us even more important. Look for a natural night cream for your face and choose one that includes peptides and anti-oxidants to restore moisture and nutrients to your skin while you sleep. Don’t forget to include a natural eye cream too.

4. If your skin is fair, you could be more prone to irritations resulting in deeper damage and earlier wrinkles. Pale skin has a weaker moisture barrier than darker skin. Keep your skin well moisturized with a natural moisturizer and while we all need some sunlight to top up our “more than likely vitamin D deficiency levels”, those with pale skin need less sun exposure than those with darker skin. You can safely stay in the sun (minus any sun block) until it your skin starts to change to a light pink shade. The two hours either side of 12 noon are best for absorbing vitamin D and expose as much of the skin area as possible. Don’t go rushing to the shower and slather on lots of soap for a couple of hours afterwards as this can then undo the good of the sunlight.

5. Acne is a common skin condition and studies have pointed out that milk or lactose intolerance could be a link to adult acne. This is worth looking into if acne is a problem with you. Look for dairy-free alternatives such as coconut oil instead of butter and almond or rice milk instead of cow’s milk.

6. Our lips can be especially vulnerable to dryness as they have no melanin. The first sign of dehydration in the lips is flakiness, meaning there is insufficient fatty acids and omegas in your diet. Remedy this with a suitable supplement and protect your lips with a product such as natural lip balm.

7. Part of eating a healthy diet for a clear and blemish free skin is to include lots of fresh vegetables and fruit (eat as many of these in their raw state if possible), free range chicken and eggs, grass-fed beef, and of course sustainable, safe fish. Know your fish because unfortunately many are full of toxins. It is probably safer to stick to Alaskan salmon and small fish like sardines and mackerel. 8 glasses of filtered water is also a given!

8. Whether it is winter or summer, you should be looking after your skin both on your face and of course all over your body. Keep it cleansed, moisturized and fed on a daily basis.

9. Exfoliating is a good thing to get rid of dead skin cells but be careful not to over do it as you can end up stripping the skin. Papaya is an excellent ingredient to look out for because it exfoliates enzymatically rather than mechanically as a gritty scrub would do. If you notice any milia (those tiny white bumps on the skin) this is a sure sign that you could be over-exfoiatiing.

10. We all want to avoid and/or get rid of  Circulation is an all important way to flush out all those toxins and unwanted fats. At the same time we need lots of regular exercise to help our lymphatic system – walking, swimming, cycling and just about any form of exercise is good. In addition, another method is to regularly massage the buttocks, legs and thigh areas of the body. You can use an essential oils product such as H-Cellulite to great effect. Use a body brush to aid circulation or try alternating hot and cold bursts kjof water. Diet plays a huge role in cellulite prevention and/or treatment so give up all sugar, processed salt, dairy products, meat, sodas and alcohol and eat nothing but raw food for a week and see the difference.

Here’s wishing you a new and improved skin for the rest of the year.

Here are some suggestions:

Medical Emergencies which can arise at any time

- A spoon of cayenne pepper mixed in a glass of water will often bring a person out of a heart attack.

-  Learn to do chest compressions instead of the now outdated mouth to mouth resuscitation.

-  Learn the Heimlich manoeuvre for choking.

-  Broken bones need care. For a compound fracture (where the bone is sticking out) you need to stabilize the bone and not let it go back into the body. When not a compound fracture, you can safely reset the bone or put a splint on it so it cannot move.

-  First and second degree burns respond well to Aloe Vera which is a very useful home remedy to keep handy.  Third degree burns should be covered to keep the air off while at the same time watching out for shock and the chance of secondary infections. Third degree burns often do not hurt because the nerve cells have been so affected.

-  Bee stings can cause anaphylactic shock in rare cases when medical attention becomes crucial. Scrape the stinger out using a credit card rather than tweezers that can further inject more poison into the body. Those who have a history of an allergic reaction to bee stings should always carry emergency allergy medication which should be injectable as swallowing may be impossible.

-  If shock is a symptom, lay the person flat while elevating the feet by about 12 inches and keep the patient warm (not too hot or too cold).

-  Learn how to suture a bad cut. You can practise on a thawed chicken using a steady hand (and a strong stomach!). When faced with the real thing, clean the wound with 2-3% food grade H²0² or flood with ionic silver before stitching.

Supplies on hand which should be stored in a cool, dry place

-  At least two weeks’ supply of drinking water in addition to a Berkley system to convert water, a water purifier or water filters.

-  Plenty of food such as cans with a can opener; specialist dehydrated meal packs; dried foods such as oatmeal, rice, grains, organic cereals; long life milk; packets of raw nuts; several jars of peanut butter; raw honey and molasses; tea bags; Ketchup; olive oil and coconut oil (for their lasting qualities); dried fruits; protein drinks (eg large jar of whey); granola/energy bars, large container of vinegar (white distilled – useful for cooking, preserving, first-aid and/or cleaning).

-  Kerosene lamps with fuel supply.

-  Distilled spirits (vodka, rum etc) which can be used for medicine and even for bartering in times of emergency.

-  Batteries, matches (waterproof) and candles.

-  Wind-up radio/cell phone charger.

-  Basic toiletries, medical supplies and first aid supplies.

-  Basic camping gear, sleeping bags and blankets.

-  Emergency bag packed ready for sudden evacuation if absolutely necessary for your own safety.

-  Keeping vehicles always at least ¾ gassed up.

Although sometimes in a disaster it is necessary to flee (and be suitably prepared for such flight), remember it is often safer to stay where you are in the place and community you know. Even with a vehicle you cannot possibly carry everything you need to stay safe and prepared while gasoline supplies might become non existent for a time. At home you can store your food, emergency first aid supplies, communications equipment, self-defence items of your own choice, solar battery chargers, cooking gear, instructional books, garden seeds and whatever else you might need to survive an economic collapse or a natural disaster.

This is just a taste of how you can start to be prepared. There is much more you can learn if you read, research and put into practice.

Just as with smiling and kindness, most people find that laughter is contagious, so if you bring more laughter into your life, you can most likely help others around you to laugh more, and realize these benefits as well. By elevating the mood of those around you and in particular other members of your family, you can reduce their stress levels and raise your interaction with them to new heights.,

Laughter produces a chemical reaction that instantly elevates your mood, reduces pain and stress while boosting immunity. Much, much better than any medication you could take. Laughter reduces stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine. At the same time it goes to work to increase health-enhancing hormones like endorphins and neurotransmitters. Laughter increases the number of antibody-producing cells and enhances the effectiveness of T cells. All this means a stronger immune system, as well as fewer physical effects of stress.

Laughter also increases your level of oxytocin to help you feel fulfilled and in touch with both yourself and others. Oxytocin is associated with the ability to maintain healthy interpersonal relationships and healthy psychological boundaries with other people. Oxytocin is a hormone that helps relax and reduce blood pressure and cortisol levels. Oxytocin increases pain thresholds, has anti anxiety effects, and stimulates various types of positive social interaction. In addition, it promotes growth and healing.

While you do not want to force fun and laughter on to your family over the coming holidays, look for opportunities when you can enjoy yourselves naturally. Perhaps you could learn from the yoga laughter tradition of the Indian physician Madan Kataria. He started a tecnique (which you may well have seen on TV) where playful exercises encouraged eye contact that soon grew into hilarious giggle sessions. You might need some outside help in the form of U-tube clips to get the laughter going although if there are any young children in the family, they can usually be relied upon to cause plenty of laughter. Be careful to laugh with them and not at them.

Some healthy competition amongst family members will often cause a lot of amusement so organize some board games, physical games or even charades. A good belly laugh exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out the shoulders so that the muscles feel way more relaxed afterwards and the heart gets a good work out too. Get your family members moving and laughing and they will feel so much healthier and happier!

A giant puzzle set out in a spacious area can get the whole family involved whatever their age. Few people can resist searching for that missing piece of the puzzle and there is a great sense of achievement and teamwork by everyone involved when it the puzzle is finally complete.

Another way to have fun is to all dress up for a special photo shoot. These days, everyone has a camera so there is no excuse! Decide on a theme or a color and give everyone a certain length of time to get ready for the photo shoot. Once you have all finished laughing and enjoying the occasion, choose the best shot and print out a copy for everyone in the family to keep as a momento.

Let this be the year that everyone remembers what a fun time they had.

You might not have heard of spelt – but it is a grain and really a whole lot better for you than many other grains.  Although it was popular up until the 19th century (before going out of favor), spelt is making a come back now that more information is available as to its value as a food source and the fact that it is better tolerated by many people who have wheat sensitivities. Spelt is a wonderfully nutritious grain with a deep nutlike flavor and can be found year round at your local health food store.

Native to Iran and South Eastern Europe, spelt has a heritage that dates back some seven thousand years as it was one of the first grains to be used to make bread and played an important role in ancient civilizations such as those in Greece and Rome. Spelt was so well regarded that it even took on symbolic importance being used as a gift to the “pagan gods of agriculture” to encourage harvest and fertility. As populations migrated throughout Europe, they brought spelt with them so that it became popular in other countries with healers in the Middle Ages regarding spelt as a panacea for different illnesses. Moderately cultivated in the US, spelt lost ground when wheat became the grain of choice for most farmers at the beginning of the 20th century.

There are so many health benefits from this ancient grain:

-  Spelt contains more proteins, amino acids, B vitamins and minerals all-in-one when compared with hybridized wheat.

-  Spelt contains non-allergenic properties.

-  Spelt is compatible with all blood types when you “Eat Right for Your Blood Type”.

-  Spelt’s high water solubility enables its vital substances to be absorbed quickly into the body while the minimum amount of digestive work is needed for the nutrients in spelt to nourish and strengthen the body cells for optimum performance. At the same time, the body is flooded with vitamins and other nutritional substances such as thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, magnesium, as well as B vitamins.

-  Spelt contains more protein, fats and crude fibre than wheat and is rich in vitamin B17 which is well known as being anti-carcinoma.

-  Spelt contains special carbohydrates which play a decisive role in blood clotting and stimulating the body’s immune system, increasing its resistance to infection.

-  White spelt flour is higher in protein, making the white flour products nutritionally beneficial which is not the case with wheat flour.

-  Spelt is rich in protein, and these proteins contain all of the nine essential amino acids needed by the human body. These amino acids are called “essential” because the body cannot manufacture them. If you don’t eat them, you don’t get them.

-  Spelt does contain a fragile gluten and should not be used when on a strict gluten-free diet.

The growing of spelt as a crop is kinder to the environment:

-  Spelt is hardy as it has a protective husk as it grows so that it can withstand pollutants and even insect invasions. It does not require any pesticides to be used as it grows.

-  Spelt is a relatively low yielding crop so it takes less nutrients and moisture from the soil that more modern crops. It is a more sustainable crop on a long term basis. It does well even on a relatively poor soil and can thrive without the need for fertilizers.

-  Spelt is also very resistant to frosts and other extreme weather conditions and the grain’s exceptionally thick husk protects it from pollutants and insects.

-  Spelt is a pure, original grain and not biologically modified in any way so it is very resistant to the crop diseases that often plague modern crop varieties, growing without the need for herbicides, pesticides or fungicides.

Spelt is stored with the husk intact so it remains fresher over a much longer period than other grains. It has been claimed that spelt’s hull is so strong that it can protect the grain from virtually every type of pollutant, even radioactive fallout.

A survival food if ever there was one.

6 olive oil tips for your personal use:

1.  Use olive oil to give yourself a relaxing scalp massage before combing the oil through your hair. Then leave for an hour. This is a good time to relax with some ME time – perhaps soaking in the bath or doing a manicure or pedicure while you are waiting. A drop of olive oil will moisturize cuticles or you can mix  some oil and water and soak your hands before a manicure. After an hour, wash out the oil in your hair with your natural shampoo. Olive oil provides a nourishing treat for your hair from all the good fats in the olive oil. Another tip for your hair is to comb through a drop or two of olive oil when it is dry to tame the frizz and flyaways on humid days or during winter.

2.  Olive oil makes an excellent natural and rich moisturiser for your hands, feet or elbows especially after a shower. If using for your feet, then put on some soft socks and leave for a while. Keeping your feet moisturized in this way helps to prevent cracked heels whether in the hot summer months or the cold, dry winter months. Olive oil is also good to use on areas of the skin after shaving or waxing.

3.  A mixture of sugar, a few drops of essential oils together with olive oil wll give you a scrub for exfoliating dry skin and dead cells while moisturizing at the same time. A bonus is the great smell from the essential oils. Alternatively,rub your skin with olive oil, then scrub with sugar or coarse salt, and rinse.

4.  Olive oil makes a safe and natural make up remover including taking off stubborn eye make up. An alternative to olive oil which I often use is a natural baby oil. I also add a few squirts of the baby oil into the bath water to keep my skin soft and moisturized.  You can put some drops of olive oil into the tub for the same result.

5.  If you ever find you get a bit too much sun, and there is evidence of some sunburn on your skin, massage olive oil into the area for a couple of days afterwards to speed up the healing process and to prevent peeling.

6.  Olive oil may help to fade the appearance of scars but H-Scars from Healing Natural Oils will give you the best result for any scarring problems.

And now 6 domestic uses:

1.  Your cat will thank you for adding a quarter teaspoonful of olive oil to his food daily, helping to prevent hair balls and making his coat shiny.

2.  Apply a drop or two of olive oil to a Q-tip for first aid on a  zip that just won’t move whether it is on clothing, luggage or anything else.

3.  Wooden furniture will eagerly soak up this homemade olive oil and lemon juice polish (mix 2 parts olive oil to 1 part lemon juice) when you apply to a soft cloth and wipe down your furniture before giving it a going over with a polishing cloth.

4.  Rub or spray olive oil on your measuring tools in the kitchen for an easy clean-up of sticky substances like honey, grain mustards or sugary syrups.

5.  You can remove paint from your skin with olive oil too. Rub onto messy hands and arms (or faces) and allow the oil to soak into the skin for five minutes before rinsing off with soap and water.

6.  You can even use some olive oil on a rag or cloth and apply to the top of a squeaky hinge either in the house or the car to stop that irritating sound.

Try some or all of these great tips on using olive oil at home to make your life that much easier.

There are many beautiful plants, flowers and trees that are indigenous to South Africa and some adapt very well to being grown in gardens around the world. One such variety is the Spekboom. The Spekboom (Portulacaria Afra) has other common names too – the Porkbush and Elephant’s food. The literal translation of Porkbush, from Afrikaans, is the Bacon Tree.

The Spekboom is an interesting and very environmental friendly plant that is making headlines because of its enormous carbon-storing capabilities. The potential for sequestering carbon credits for South Africa from this plant on the international carbon trading market is considerable. The Spekboom apparently has the capacity to offset harmful carbon emissions equivalent to that of moist, subtropical forest. But it is an evergreen succulent that can reach a height of between 2 and 5 meters and is perfectly happy growing in rocky dry areas.

While other plants have to shut down and wait for sufficient rain to fall, the Spekboom switches to a different pathway called CAM (Crassulaean Acid Metabolism) so that it can continue to grow and carry on with its carbon emission collection. In other words, in wet conditions it uses the same system as rainforest plants and in dry conditions it switches to a system used by desert cacti. This switching enables it to grow and capture carbon much faster than other plants that occur naturally in semi-arid environments, allowing the Spekboom to excel in arid or semi-arid conditions. It can also tolerate moderate frosts while small pink flowers appear in late winter encouraging insects (including bees) and birds. In a good flowering season, the scenery takes on a pink haze when there is a great abundance of its small flowers. There are also small berry like fruit with a pinkish color so that when the tree is full of fruit, it has the appearance of a second flowering.

In addition to its carbon-storing capabilities, this plant can be potted, grown indoors, used for Bonsai, used as thatching or for fencing, has medicinal properties, can be grown in home gardens and can be used as ground cover.

The Spekboom is being used extensively in South Africa to restore habitats that have been over-utilized and stripped bare particularly by goat herds. The large spreading branches shade the soil from the sun so as to create a great environment underneath for insects and other wildlife while the organic matter accumulating under the bush enriches the soil and improves its water-holding capacity.

In some areas, the Spekboom is a natural food to herds of elephant but even their rampaging eating habits do not demolish the plant entirely because any branches or clusters of leaves left lying on the ground start to take root and carry on growing to replenish the area once more. The leaves are also enjoyed by tortoises.

Known elsewhere as the Jade plant, the Spekboom has been used as an exotic house plant in the US as well as a garden shrub in warmer areas of the US. Even though it is more than happy in drought prone areas, it has no objection to living in a well-watered flower bed either!

Image via Wikipedia

I have always worried about fireworks and how they torment and frighten pets and wildlife alike, but not given much thought to their effect on the environment. However, it seems their impact is considerable and not only on our environment but on our health too.

There are so many drawbacks to using fireworks:

-  The explosion of fireworks releases poisonous chemicals and particle-laden smoke.

-  Fireworks produce light pollution, noise pollution, debris and litter.

-  Gunpowder fuels their flight. Metallic compounds and chemicals color their explosions.

-  If you attend a pyrotechnic display or are just situated downwind of such a display, you can be subjected to high levels of metals. Fireworks get their showy colors, bangs, whistles and more from a variety of chemicals, many of which are toxic to humans.

-  Fireworks often contain carcinogenic or hormone-disrupting substances that can seep into soil and water.

-  Fireworks release lung-clogging smoke and studies have shown that asthma attacks are more likely during a fireworks display.

In addition:

-  The color green in fireworks is provided by barium which has been linked to gastrointestinal tract as well as heart problems. Barium is poisonous and radioactive

-  The white color is provided by antimony which can harm your lungs and stomach as well as other organs.

-  Copper compounds are used to produce blue colors, even though they contain dioxin, which has been linked to cancer.

-  Cadmium, lithium, rubidium, strontium, lead and potassium nitrate are also commonly used to produce different effects, even though they can cause a host of respiratory and other health problems.

All these chemicals end up on the ground after fireworks displays where they can run off and pollute water sources. Firework displays are often held over large bodies of water where they spray out a toxic concoction that rains down on to lakes, rivers and bays. Many of the chemicals in fireworks are also persistent in the environment where they can sit instead of breaking down, raising concern in many communities that are affected.

4th of July in the USA, Guy Fawkes in the UK, Diwali in India and the ringing in of New Year world wide are all celebrated with fireworks. Many countries do not even have strict air pollution standards. For example, the millennium celebrations around the world in 2000 filled skies over populated areas with “carcinogenic sulphur compounds and airborne arsenic.” according to the Ecologist.

So what are the alternatives?

-  The best is a laser light show which can wow a crowd with dazzling displays of color without launching dangerous chemicals in the air and all the other negative environmental side effects.

-  Perchlorate-free fireworks are available although they cost more than traditional fireworks.  Perchlorate is only one of the harmful components in fireworks with implications for our health.

-  In an effort to green up pyrotechnics, Disney has pioneered new technology that uses environmentally benign compressed air instead of gunpowder as the propellant. Encourage your town to look into the technology for its displays.

-  Beautiful sky lanterns can be used to light up the night for your celebrations. They last longer than fireworks, are safer and are even made from biodegradable paper.

-  On a much smaller scale, use glow sticks and bracelets.

It is not going to happen any time soon but the more people realize the toxic burden of fireworks and the health hazards to their families (including the risk of injuries), the impact on animals and birds, the risk of fires and the cost to the environment, hopefully the less that fireworks will be used.

Image via Wikipedia

No one can be the perfect parent, or even come close, but we can all try by teaching our children to be independent while helping them to feel secure and loved.

Here are a few guidelines to achieve this goal:

1. Learn to listen and not while you are concentrating on something else. Sometimes children really need your undivided attention and of course they will soon learn to know when you are not really listening.

2. Take care to boost their self esteem by giving praise for something positive instead of criticising something negative.

3. Set parameters of what they can and cannot do – children really do feel more secure when they know what is and what is not allowed.

4. Don’t be tempted to give in on questions of healthy eating. Apart from their health, your child’s intelligent quotient and emotional quotient as well as the all important weight can be influenced by what they eat. Be a good role model and cut out the sugar, the sodas, the refined and processed foods for you and your children and change to healthier whole foods.

5. From the earliest age, encourage a love of drinking water by your child and do not offer anything else other than milk. Drinking plenty of water (minus the fluoroide and other chemicals) flushes out toxins in the system, strengthens the immune system and keeps the organs (including the skin) hydrated and healthy.

6. Do your children get enough sleep? Young children need 10 – 12 hours of sleep every night and of course lack of sleep will affect their performance at school, their behavior and generally make them feel exhausted and grumpy. Insufficient sleep also weakens the immune system, making your child more likely to get sick.

7. Let your children be children with lots of outdoor activities, fresh air and plenty of sunlight. Whether summer or winter, children should be outside for at least some time every day. In summer, don’t rush to slather on the sun screen. The majority of people including children are vitamin D deficient, leading to all sorts of health problems. Let your child have direct sunlight every day until the skin starts to turn pink and then move him or her into the shade or put on a NATURAL sunscreen.   Pay a little bit more and go organic; otherwise you are smearing harmful chemicals into their skin, chemicals that can cause other types of cancer and hormone imbalances. Look for a sunscreen that spreads easily so you don’t have to use so much. Although we are constantly told to stay out of the sun between 10h00 and 14h00, that is actually the optimum time for vitamin D conversion. Just don’t let your children get burned by the sun.

8. Without smothering your children, always be aware of where they are and who they are with, while avoiding any potentially dangerous situations and places such as the internet, public toilets, play areas in restaurants and more. It goes without saying that you have to educate and protect your child from stranger danger (and it is not always strangers either).

9. Instil a love of reading in your children from the earliest age. You can sit a baby of a just a few months old on your lap and look at a book every day to start good habits and enjoy a cuddle at the same time. The child that enjoys reading will have that skill for life and never be bored or lonely. Always include books among Christmas or birthday presents for children.

10. Although it is great to be able to buy your child special toys, they also enjoy simple playtime pleasures where they use their imagination and develop skills. Let them enjoy the real world rather than a virtual world. Build up a supply of craft materials where you can do something together. Pocket money can be a very good idea to instil a lesson in money management and to learn how to save up for something special.

Finally, give loads of love and a childhood that is free of the responsibilities and burdens of adulthood. That will come all too soon, With a bit of luck your children will grow up to be happy, stable and secure.