Tag Archives: Keeping It Healthy

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Avoid The Flu Epidemic – What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

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fluTurn on the news and you will hear how the flu is spreading rapidly. The New Year opened with this horrible flu now spreading into 47 states and killing at least 18 children. As of today 2,257 people have gone to the hospital and Boston, Mass has declared a public health emergency

Here is some advice and information for you to take care of yourself and your family from the flu.

According to Dr.Sanjay Gupta who appeared on Anderson Cooper 360 a few days ago,  says the flu has gotten worse then before. Dr. Sanjay Gupta encourages the flu shot and also adds that many people believe they get the flu from the flu shot and this is not true, he went on to say that the flu shot takes up to two weeks to get into to your system give your an immunity to the flu.  See a video of that interview here.

Symptoms include, sore throat, headache, body aches and for more information on symptoms please go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Looking to get a flu shot – check out Flu Shot Health Map and find out where in your area the flu vaccine is , how bad the out break in your area may be and more. You can even register for this free site with your facebook account.

A few things you can do in your everyday life to prevent getting the flu:

Try to stay away from anyone with the flu. I could take a few weeks before you will feel the symptoms from having  contact with someone with the flu.

Wash your hands often  and keep them away from your face. Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and use when ever you come into contact with anyone, in a restaurant, grocery store, at work, etc.

Shopping -   Use the handy-wipes near the carts of any store if available or carry a pack on you to wipe down the cart handle before shopping.  Always use hand sanitizer after using the check out credit card machine.

Cell Phone – Disinfect your cell phone at least once a week to keep the germs down and more often when we are in flu season like now. Cell phones are warm and a breeding ground for bacteria. Use on of your handy wipes to disinfect. Do not spray anything directly onto your phone or you could risk damaging your phone.

At Work -  Wipe down your phone, desk, chair, keyboard, mouse and anything else that you use even if you are the only one.

Drink plenty of water. Not everyone is a fan of water, but it is so good for dehydration. Coffee, tea and soda’s contribute to dehydration.

Stay home from work or school if you are sick, to prevent getting others sick too.

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Cardio Tip – Climbing Stairs – The Chew Daphne Oz

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Keeping It Healthy – Coconut Oil Wonders

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Coconut oil can strengthen your immune system and help fight bacteria and viruses in your digestive tract according to Michigan State University researchers.

The research also brings to light that coconut oil’s lauric acid helps with food poisoning, hepatitis C, and also boosts the absorption of calcium and magnesium.

In the South Pacific the Javenese use coconut oil like many people use vegetable oil to cook with. It even comes in an extra virgin version in most heath food stores.

Coconut Oil

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Counting Calories and Planning Your Meals Made Easy

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Do you plan your meals around calories? Looking to shed a few pounds or stay in shape keeping an eye on your calorie intake in important. Not sure of how many calories your meals contain can throw off your diet. You can easily track your calorie intake and even eat the foods you love.

Check out Swole.me
Enter your calorie goal, how many meals a day you would like to eat and pick foods you like or a healthier foods. They also give you options for Vegan, Vegetarian, Atkins/Keto diets and general. Not only do they offer the calorie count but also how much fat, carbs and more you are taking in with the foods available.

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Keeping It Healthy – Health Danger BPA and Food Storage

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Have you heard of BPA (bisphenola-A)? This is a chemical used in many product such as plastic food containers and the lining for canned foods. This chemical in high levels in your blood stream has the potential to double the risk of diabetes and heart related problems. A recent study from the California Pacific Medical Center suggest that BPA can also speed up the growth of breast cancer cells.

This is a chemical that you can ingest from the food containers you choose, water bottles, to the canned soup you eat. It has already been banned in baby bottles and on March 31st the Food and Drug Administration is going to announce if BPA will be banned from all food packaging.

Here are a few tips to help you right now to help you understand what this chemical is already in and how it could be effecting you and your family.

Plastic Storage Food Containers
Easy and convenient, these storage container are a culprit of a lot of BPA contributors to your blood stream. Well worn, cracked or well used containers can be more harmful and leak BPA. Very porous containers that soak up say a sauce and leave a stain should be thrown away. An alternative would be to use glass, porcelain, ceramic or stainless steel bowls and cut your BPA levels by 67% in three days. Look for storage containers that have a label saying BPA free.

Using plastic storage bags or plastic wrap? These also have BPA with the exception of Ziploc brand and Saran Plastic Wrap which are BPA free.

Love My Soup
That convenient can of soup that you can now pop open the can, put into a bowl, add water or not and microwave for 60 seconds is wonderful. Only problem is that yes, BPA is laced in the lining of many metal cans. BPA levels can shoot up 1200% in five days if you eat a 12oz can daily. The BPA leaks into the soup, especially into soups like tomato which are acidic and fatty soups made with cream during storage. Go for the Box soup or hey, make it homemade.

Wash Those Hands
According to John C Warner Ph.D author of Green Chemistry Theory and Practice, the thermal receipts from an ATM or Cash Register are coated with BPA that can be absorbed through the skin. You now have this on your finger tips and go to eat something and passed BPA into your system. Always wash your hands after handling these receipts.

Water Bottles
Another convenience and easy to carry anywhere is the water bottle. Be careful and check to see that the one you choose is BPA free. If you are using a metal bottle that is lined with a plastic coating, more then likely it contains BPA. Check out stainless steel bottles without the lining.

Oh No NotThe Non Stick Pans!
No is right. Despite rumors, the coating on no stick pans and cookware is not made with BPA. There are other hazards though if your not careful while cooking with this cookware. If the coating is giving off fumes, and who wants that in there meals, you are cooking with the pans on too high of a heat. Cook at a moderate to medium heat on the stove top and no higher then 450 degrees in the oven. If you pan or non stick cookware is scratched, better to throw it out and get new. Avoid scratching this cookware by using non metal utensils and cleaning with anything abrasive.

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Potato’s Are More Then Just Good Eats

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The American Hear Association has declared that potatoes are a heart healthy source of food. I guess my grandmother knew what she was doing, because she served boiled potatoes for just about every supper.

Here are some healthy facts about the good ole potato.

Antioxidants
Potatoes contain more antioxidants then broccoli.

Rare Nutrients
They have rare nutrients called kukamines which my help lower blood pressure.

Vitamin C
Not really a fruit lover? Then grab a potato. One potato has 45% of the awesome fat burning and disease fighting Vitamin C.

Get Your Fiber
Don’t peel off the skin and you will get 7 grams of fiber from just on large potato.

If you are watching your diet, add a dollop of plain yogurt instead of sour cream and cut out the butter by adding a flavored olive oil or Earth Balance which is a soy based type margarine that is good for you.

Looking for healthy recipes?
Healthy Cooking Cookbooks

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Keeping The Air In Your Home Fresh

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In the south we have the heat in the summer which means most homes are running the Air Conditioner 24/7. Winters up North mean most likely you are running your heat as much as the south runs their AC in the summer. With your home closed up for such a length of time, cooking odor,s pet odors and more build up. A stuffy home can lead to colds, flu potential, headaches, allergy flare ups and more.

Here are some tips to help keep the air fresh and clean and cut down on illness.

Breath In The Fresh Air
I you can catch a few days or as often as possible when weather permits, pop open a few window for a least 10 minutes and give the house a good airing.

The Dreaded Dander
If you are a pet owner you know that dander had to exist in your home. For people that are allergic to animals, cats, dogs, are more likely to have reactions because of the dander. Dander is the shedding of old skin cells similar to humans with dandruff. It is very small and circulates in the air, clings to furniture, draperies and wall coverings. You can help keep down the dander with an air purifier and even the smaller ones can filter as much as 99% air in a small room. They also help keep up on mold and dust.

Green Plants Are Your Friend
Plants not only look fabulous in the home but also clean up the air by balancing the ozone levels. Eucalyptus plants minimize odors and gives out a refreshing odor. Try putting a stalk of this plant in your car and leave for a day, natural purifier for odors and your car will smell fresh.

No Aerosol, Grab the Pump
Why use aerosol when just about everything now comes in a pump bottle. When an aerosol product goes into the air it can cause mild to moderate lung irritation, including asthma like symptoms.

Don’t Push the Dust Around
Keeping down the dust helps tremendously. Just by dusting with a damp cloth, you can get 93% more allergy particles then with a dry towel or feather duster. Tip: Always dust before you vacuum that way your cleaning up the dust instead of spreading it around.

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