Can One Cleaner Do It All?

I have discovered a new website that has all kinds of interesting tidbits.

(Consumer Reports Greener Choices)

The answer is a qualified "yes". Of the 16 all-purpose cleaners tested by Consumer Reports, most eventually removed a variety of difficult dirt and soils although it took some elbow grease and repeated applications.

But the tests also showed that some "green" products worked more easily than others and claim to be plant-based and biodegrable as well—claims that the manufacturers will have to back up under new FTC green marketing guidelines.

Among the best all-purpose cleaners overall were Nature’s Source and Seventh Generation, each 12 cents per ounce. Both were gentle on most surfaces except yellow brass and paint. Ecover Natural cleaned well but marred more surfaces than most when left overnight.

Buying advice
• Skip antibacterial ingredients
Antibacterial products might help create forms of bacteria that are harder to kill, and the government says they aren’t better at preventing the spread of household germs.

• Don’t buy just by price
Some products that cost 12 or 14 cents per ounce didn’t do very well.

• Biodegradable claims vs. facts
Makers of cleaners touted as biodegradable don’t have to back up their claim with a time frame, but they will soon have to do so if new green guides proposed by the Federal Trade Commission are adopted.

 For more information go to this link.
http://www.greenerchoices.org/products.cfm?product=greencleaning&pcat=homegarden

Pet Tidbits

I thought this might be a fun bit of information...

Your Dog May Be Smarter Than You Know

Border collie learned names of more than 1,000 objects, researchers say

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_107599.html (*this news item will not be available after 04/12/2011)

By Robert Preidt

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Related MedlinePlus Page

• Pet Health

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 12 (HealthDay News) -- So you think your dog is smart? A Border collie named Chaser managed to learn the names of 1,022 objects over three years, say U.S. researchers.
It's likely she could have learned the names of more objects, but the training was stopped because of time constraints, said the team at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C.
Chaser's ability to learn and remember the names of so many objects was tested repeatedly under carefully controlled conditions. She understands that the names refer to specific objects, independent of commands such as fetch.
The study is published online in the journal Behavioural Processes.
"This research is important because it demonstrates that dogs, like children, can develop extensive vocabularies and understand that certain words represent individual objects and other words represent categories of objects, independent in meaning of what one is asked to do with those objects," researcher Alliston Reid said in a journal news release.
Further research is needed to find out if other breeds of dogs have similar language capacity.

SOURCE: Behavioural Processes, news release, Jan. 6, 2011

Moisturizers

 (WebMD)

Here are some helpful hints for dry skin.

Ingredients to Look for in a Moisturizer

It’s not necessary to pay a fortune for a good, rich moisturizer. Read the label. Ingredients that may be helpful for dry skin include:

• Ceramides. Ceramides help the skin hold water and soothe dry skin. Synthetic ceramides may mimic the natural substances in the outermost layer of skin that help keep moisture in.
• Hyaluronic acid. Like ceramides, hyaluronic acid helps skin hold water.
• Lanolin, mineral oil, and petroleum jelly. These keep water in the skin that has been absorbed during bathing.
• Dimethicone and glycerine. These draw water to the skin and retain it there.

Be sure to apply sunscreen to areas of your body that are exposed to the sun during the day. Look for a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more.

 A product that I use for dry skin, my dermatologist recommended many years ago called 'Amlactin' which you can find at Walgreens or Longs. Don't laugh but good 'ol diaper creams work well too, such as 'A & D' ointment and the clear diaper ointments on the market.  A & D was the only ointment that soothed my children's faces when they had too much exposure to sun and water. It does not sting!
If you don't mind being a bit greasy try pure coconut oil. Slather it on before you get out of the shower and pat dry.

Food Pyramid

Here is a cool link to a USDA government site. MyPyramid offers personalized eating plans and interactive tools to help you plan/ assess your food choices based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
http://www.mypyramid.gov/
There is all kinds of helpful guidelines in this website.

Healthy Tidbits

 Helpful cold remedies...
(Prevention Magazine)

Omega-3 Pill

If you don't like or eat a lot of fish, pop an omega-3 supplement daily to reap the fatty acid's impressive immune-fortifying properties. Omega-3s increase the activity of phagocytes—cells that fight flu by eating up bacteria—according to a study by Britain's Institute of Human Nutrition and School of Medicine. Other research shows that omega-3s increase airflow and protect lungs from colds and respiratory infections.

Look for purified fish oil capsules that contain at least 1 g combined of EPA and DHA. 

 

 Astragalus

This Chinese root is shown to stimulate the white blood cells that fight infection, says Prevention advisor Andrew Weil, MD. A study published in 2007 found that astragalus appears to boost immunity in mice. And a pilot study suggests that the herb may have similar effects in people. However, keep in mind that astragalus may take 6 to 8 weeks to reach its full effect.

 

Vitamin D

This power nutrient may effectively boost immunity and help prevent colds, a Harvard study shows. People with the lowest vitamin D levels were 36% more likely to have upper respiratory infections, compared with those with the most D. (Asthma patients with low levels of D were nearly 6 times as likely to get sick as those with the greatest amounts.) Adequate amounts of D help produce cathelicidin, a protein with virus-killing qualities.

Since it's tough to get enough from sunlight or diet (fish and fortified dairy are the best sources), you'll need a supplement to attain optimal levels, says study author Carlos A. Camargo Jr., MD. Aim for at least 1,000 IU daily. 

 

Cold-fX

Consider taking this supplement, which contains North American ginseng extract, when you feel a cold coming on. Subjects who took two daily capsules of Cold-fX (available online) caught half as many colds as a group taking a placebo, according to a study by the Center for Immunotherapy of Cancer and Infectious Diseases at the University of Connecticut. When they did get sick, their symptoms lasted less than half as long. This particular ginseng variety contains compounds that increase white blood cells and interleukins, proteins the immune system relies on. 

 

 This is an interesting change of thoughts...

HYPE

 

Echinacea

If taken at the start of a cold, this herb might shorten duration and severity of symptoms. But some brands don't contain the amount of echinacea listed on the label—and some formulas have none at all. Possible side effects include wheezing, rash, and diarrhea.

 

 Airborne

Experts say this supplement, a blend of blend of Zinc, Ginger, Echinacea and other vitamins, minerals, and herbs, does nothing to repel germs on an airplane or anywhere else. It also contains large amounts of vitamin A, which could be toxic if taken several times a day. 

 

 Vitamin C

There's certainly no downside to eating a lot of C-rich foods, such as red peppers and citrus fruits. But taking a vitamin for extra protection won't help. A 2007 review of 30 studies found no evidence that vitamin C supplementation prevents colds in the normal population. Plus, megadoses can cause kidney stones, upset stomach, and even internal bleeding in children.

 

 

 

 

 

Lactose Intolerance

I substitute the one of the many milk products such as Oat Milk, Almond Milk, Rice Milk or Soy Milk. It is probably a good idea to mix it up. The vanilla lowfat versions are great.

(Berkeley Wellness)

Lactose intolerance—the reduced ability to digest milk sugar (lactose)—is not as hard to cope with as many people think.

Lactose can be digested only with the aid of lactase, an intestinal enzyme that virtually all human infants produce. That’s how babies digest breast milk. Many people, usually those whose ancestors came from northern Europe, around the Mediterranean, and some parts of Africa, manufacture sufficient lactase all their lives. Generally they are the descendants of herders, for whom milk and milk products were staples of the diet.

But the majority of other people gradually lose the ability to make lactase starting at about age two. This is called “lactase nonpersistence” and can lead to lactose intolerance, which is characterized by gas, cramps, bloating, and diarrhea after consuming dairy products. It’s estimated that 15% of white Americans, 70% of black Americans, 90% of Asian Americans, and almost all Native Americans have trouble digesting lactose. People may begin noticing symptoms early or late in life; there is no way to predict when and how much lactase production will be reduced.

Keep these points in mind:

• There are at least two fairly simple tests for lactose intolerance, one a blood test, the other a breath test. A few people have an allergy to milk, which is different from lactose intolerance.

• If you are lactose intolerant, you may still be able to consume some dairy. Studies have shown that most lactose “maldigesters” can drink a cup or two of milk daily without symptoms, particularly if they drink a small amount at a time and drink it with meals. They can also eat ice cream, cheese, and other dairy products in small amounts with other foods. It’s a myth, by the way, that goat’s milk is lactose-free.

• Yogurt usually causes no symptoms. Buy brands with live cultures, since the bacteria help digest lactose.

• Severe lactose intolerance is rare, but people with severe symptoms may need to watch for small amounts of lactose hidden in many foods. Check labels for words like whey, curds, and dry milk solids. A few prescription drugs, including some birth control pills and heartburn drugs, contain tiny amounts of lactose.

• The marketers of lactose-reduced milk have convinced a lot of people that they need these products, which can be expensive. Generic lactase drops, which you add to milk in advance, and lactase pills, taken just before eating dairy, cost less.

• Dairy foods are good sources of calcium, vitamin D, and other nutrients important for health, especially bone health and blood pressure. If you don’t eat any dairy, you will need to make up for shortfalls of these nutrients. Calcium and vitamin D supplements are a good idea for many people, even those who do consume dairy.

Pomegranates

Personally I would drink the juice...

(Dr. Weil)
The pomegranate is an extraordinary fruit, steeped in history: the number of seeds (roughly 613) found in a single fruit was said by ancient scholars to correspond to the 613 commands of the Hebrew Torah. Renowned herbalist James Duke, a former ecologist with the USDA, has published (in the April, 2008 issue of Alternative & Complementary Therapies) an exhaustive review of the scientific literature on the pomegranate. His conclusion: it is "one of the most promising of health foods" with "a dozen known anti-inflammatory phytochemicals and some three dozen antioxidants." Duke found studies that suggest pomegranate fruit and/or juice may help prevent or alleviate:

1. Heart disease and atherosclerosis
2. High cholesterol
3. Prostate cancer
4. Alzheimer's disease

If you have access to inexpensive pomegranates (as many in the southern U.S. do as the trees grow prolifically with little tending), by all means indulge. And if you can't, remember that deep-colored fruits such as cherries, blueberries, raspberries and deep-colored vegetables all offer similar benefits. Enjoy!