Toxic Noise

Honestly, I have never really put those two words together... "toxic" and "noise."

 

Until I read a great column by Dr. Bernadine Healy in US News & World Report last week.  It's titled, "Stop the Decibel Damage."

 

I've always been sensitive about noise - refusing to let my children wear headphones until they're at least teenagers, turning down the volume of my Bluetooth headset as low as possible.  I think it stemmed from reading something years ago about a man deep in the Asian jungles who had perfect hearing at an old age - 90's I think.  The author drew the conclusion that it was because he wasn't exposed to the noise of modern society.

 

But I've never thought of noise as toxic.

 

After reading her article, I thought about it when I vacuumed my basement last night with my four children in the room - shouting to be heard above the noise giving instructions on what to move where - I thought, "I'm killing my hearing, and theirs, by vacuuming here."  Yikes.

 

She does give some hope though.

 

She quotes Neurobiologist Josef Miller as saying a combination of vitamins A, C and E, plus magnesium taken before noise exposure protects the inner ear from damage for up to 72 hours after the exposure. 

 

I'm not going to remember to down some vitamins before my ears are assaulted - let alone remember to remind my children of the same.

 

I guess that prevention is the best medicine here.  Daily doses of antioxidants to protect my hearing - and my childrens' - certainly would be helpful - and probably protect a lot more than just our hearing.

Kids Come Up Short

Vitamin D deficiencies are all over the news these days.  I spotted another article in the paper about being outside for a bit without sunscreen in order to be able to make enough Vitamin D.  Then, I picked up my weekly US News & World Report and found yet another article about it.

This article focused on more than just vitamin D though.  It also mentions that "rates of asthma and related respiratory problems climb in kids who are short on other commonly missing essentials, including vitamins C and E and omega-3 fatty acids."

 

In short, even if your kids eat everything put in front of them, they are not going to be getting enough nutrition from food alone.  That's why we've chosen to supplement with a top-quality children's vitamin, which doesn't break the bank.  It's made from real food, the raw ingredients and final products are rigorously tested for impurities (better than organic!), it's made in the US, and my children love them.  What more could you ask for?

 

You can check it out for yourself here.

More Moms Want to Stay at Home

A recent study by the Pew Research Center says that more working moms say they would rather stay at home.

 

I can understand why.

 

My husband has a very stressful job that has required him to work many hours.  One of the people on his small team is a working mom. She has two little girls who she leaves with her mother-in-law.  I cannot imagine having to work that stressful job, then go home to make dinner and take care of a house and two girls.  I wonder how on earth she does it.

 

Many, many times I have been so thankful that I can stay at home and still contribute to the family finances.  Right now, it's a small contribution, but it's still a contribution, and will grow over time.

 

I have the privilege of homeschooling my four children, helping my family stay healthy, and contribute to family finances all at the same time.  It's a wonderful place to be.

 

If you'd like to know more - follow this link.

More info on the importance of Vitamin D

After I wrote earlier this month about the importance of Vitamin D and sun exposure, another article on the topic crossed my e-mail.  I thought you'd like to see it.

 

This article is about how low vitamin D levels put our children's bones at risk. 

 

In order to make sure my children are getting the nutrients they need - without worries about the quality and nasty, unknown extras - I give them this multi-vitamin and this calcium supplement.

 

It's a wonderful peace of mind for this mom!

Do you REALLY want to kill germs?

If you do, then don't use the stuff from the grocery store or Wal-Mart. 

 

This came from my friend, Harriet, who's an RN:

 

"Earlier this year, two of my friends, Joan & Sharon, taught a college level MicroBiology Lab for Nurses.   They tested the effectiveness of bleach, Isopropyl alcohol, Hydrogen peroxide, Lysol, Betadine, Listerine mouthwash, and Basic-G (diluted in a spray bottle) for killing Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis which are difficult-to-kill germs in hospitals. 

 

The agar plate treated with Lysol killed a few of the germs and the rest multiplied.  The other disinfectants had varied ineffective results EXCEPT FOR BASIC-G.   The germs were killed and did not grow on the agar plates sprayed with a dilute solution of Basic-G.   WOW!  Too bad I don't have a picture of the agar plates.  You'll have to use your imagination."

 

The bottom line is that Basic-G kills GERMS, it doesn't kill YOU.

(Thanks Harriet!)

Vitamin D Deficiency and Sunscreen

Vitamin D is essential for building healthy bones. Scientists are also discovering that vitamin D may play a role in preventing other diseases like:

• preventing breast cancer
• lowering risk in developing multiple sclerosis
• preventing other kinds of cancers including: colon, prostate, ovarian, pancreas, kidney
  
• preventing diseases including: heart disease, Alzheimer's, diabetes, arthritis, etc.

The problem is that we are chronically deficient in vitamin D. The body synthesizes vitamin D from exposure to the ultraviolet rays. Naturally, those of us who live in the northern climes have less exposure to vitamin D.

Also, the sunscreen we slather on our skin limits the UV absorption by our skin.

What to do?

• eat foods high in vitamin D (salmon, tuna, eggs, fortified milk)
• supplement with a high-quality multivitamin, high-quality calcium, high-quality fish oil
• go outside without sunscreen, for very brief times. Do not get sunburned - NEVER between 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• use a high-quality sunscreen product for days at the beach, the pool, or working outside for extended periods of time. Don't forget to protect your lips too.

partially sourced from "Packing a Punch", Daily Herald, Monday June 25, 2007

Soothing Bug Cream

Thanks to my good friend Harriet for this information!

The e-mail from Taralinda, (Harriet's) 20-year old daughter working in Madison for the summer, was very short:

Please send multi-purpose cream. Huge bug bite, no cream.

She is asking for Multi-Purpose cream in the tube. It's light green in color, cooling, mentholated, nongreasy and the BEST thing we've ever found for bug & mosquito bites. Much better than any cortisone cream and it's completely safe. I keep a tube in my purse year-round.

It was originally sold as a foot cream because it softens even hard, calloused skin on knees, elbows, and feet. It quickly gained the admiration of users who found a host of other uses for the product such as:

FACE…..for acne, skin rashes, pimples, blackheads, sunburn

LIPS…..for chapped, dry lips, canker sores, cracks at corner of mouth, cold sores

HAIR….for dandruff, head sores, scaly spots on scalp, perm burns

BACK….for backaches and tightness in neck

HANDS….for chapped, dry hands, warts, rashes, detergent burns, cuticles, hangnails

FEET….for athletes' feet, planters' warts, warts, corns, calluses, rashes, foot cramps, tired aching feet, bruises,

BLISTERS

LEGS….for charley horses, cramps, aching muscles, dry skin, rashes, cuts, bruises

BOTTOMS….for diaper rash, hemorrhoids, vaginal infections

SHAVING CREAM….Add some water to cream. Gives clean, smooth, cool shave

PSORIASIS….Relieves redness, itching and inflammation
"I cured seeping Psoriasis on our son's scalp when he was about 20 years old, by having him wash his head each night with Basic-H and every morning I rubbed Herbal Blend Multi-Purpose Cream on his scalp…IT WORKED!! For a long time he continued to bathe and wash his head in Basic-H.

POISON IVY…. Wash affected area immediately with Basic H and water. Dry and apply Multi Purpose Cream.

MOSQUITO BITES…Relieves itching better than Cortisone Cream or products sold for mosquito bite relief.

HOT PEPPER HANDS….Relieves burning and soreness caused by hot peppers.

HEADACHES….Rub on temples and forehead. Helps relieve ache.

DIAPER RASH….Has eliminated this problem in many infants.

ACNE….Wash with Basic-H and apply cream. Amazing results

WARTS….Has a tremendous healing effect and you can eliminate warts if you apply Herbal Blend to the area twice a day CONSISTENTLY!! It may take several weeks but eventually you will notice a separation around the perimeter of the wart and it will fall off leaving a crater like hole in the skin. Keep applying the Herbal Blend and the area will heal and fill in with new tissue.

CHICKEN POX….Applied at onset, pox marks heal quickly and disappear.

The above are not product claims…rather they are results that some people have experienced!

Care Packages for Soldiers

In May, my family said a very sad farwell to my dear cousin, who is now in training to go to Iraq with the Wisconsin National Guard.

Before our farewell, my sister gave us a great idea of giving him small gifts he could open here, but we would send in a care package once he got to Iraq. We scoured the internet, looking for ideas of what to send.

Here are some great ideas for care packages:

all-natural toothpaste
multi-purpose cream (for sore feets, dry skin, bug bites, chaffing boots)
rehydrating drink powder (easy to ship, plus the best stuff on the market)
muscle recovery shake powder (again, easy to ship; good for after workouts or long working days)
individually-wrapped protein bars
energy tea sticks (for hot or ice tea)
multi-vitamins (to keep them healthy!)
beneficial bacteria (to keep Montezuma's Revenge at bay)
individual all-natural cleaning wipes

Thanks to the men and women who are serving our country. I appreciate your sacrifice.