March Madness

What a month this has been. A very expensive month. The travel, the plumber and today the vacuum - motor started smoking.

When you have 2 dogs and a cat a vacuum is an absolute necessity.

We have certainly done our share to improve the economy.

Here are five food safety tips from a Business Week article titled "The Truth About Food Expiration Dates."

1) "Sell by" is generally a guide for grocers (potentially confusing for shoppers who might regard it as an expiration date)

2) "Best if used by" or "best before" usually refers to optimum food flavor or quality – it's not necessarily an indication that the food will be spoiled on or after that date

3) "Use by" is an expiration date – if the date has passed, pass on it

4) Milk products generally stay fresh for up to five days after their "sell by" date – provided they've been properly refrigerated

5) Eggs store very well – refrigerated eggs are usually good for more than a month after their "sell by" date

Super foods for Super Bones

Many people believe that the primary cause of osteoporosis is the lack of calcium in their diet. However, in the overall picture, calcium is only a small piece of the puzzle. Though calcium supplements can certainly help, there are other dietary concerns that need to be examined.

Actually, the primary dietary cause of osteoporosis is the eating foods that are highly acidic in nature, such as refined white sugar, refined white flour, high-fructose corn syrup, soft drinks, cookies, candies, sweets, desserts, and anything containing sweeteners. The over-consumption of these products causes the pH level in your blood to become very acidic. In an attempt to counterbalance this, your body reaches out for any calcium and magnesium it can find, and releases those into your bloodstream in an attempt to keep the pH level at a healthy balance.

Therefore, with every soft drink, candy, cake and goodie you indulge in, you are robbing your skeleton of its bone density. The calcium and magnesium the body harvests in an attempt to counteract this acidic environment gets passed through your kidneys, where it can also contribute to kidney stones and exits your body through your urine. To prevent losing your bone mass to dietary causes, simply avoid consuming any white flour, processed sugars, added sugars, soft drinks, sweets, candies, breads, or any other ingredients that are made with refined carbohydrates.

In addition, certain super foods, like broccoli, cabbage, celery and other dark green leafy vegetables help keep the pH balance in a healthy equilibrium. You need to get plenty of calcium and magnesium from healthy sources such as organic, plant-based vitamins. You also need to supplement your diet with various sea vegetables, which are naturally alkaline. Those include seaweed, kelp, and many others. Sprouts are also an awesome super food choice.

until next time - smile
Sharon
Answers For Your Health

Ageing Parents

I've been visiting relatives. We just got back from Hobbs, NM visiting my husband's parents. Two different houses so we had to shift back and forth for visits and sleeping on air mattresses. Both parents are not in good health but his dad is really getting bad. We went specifically for his 77th birthday.

It is so hard to see your parents failing health. It is even more difficult trying to convince them that they need help on a daily or weekly basis. They are both determined to be independent. It falls to my sister in law to be caregiver to both. We help out financially but we are 8hrs one way from them.

I sympathize with any of you who are facing this with your parents. So few of us live close to where our parents live and must rely on others for their care and safety. They can even tell their physician not to talk with us.

It breaks my heart to see their unhealthy diets and total lack of exercise. They are both at risk for falls but refuse to use a walker or move the scatter rugs.

On the other hand seeing all the nieces and nephews and sisters was very nice.

Now it is time for me to get back on the healthy diet and exercise program. It is so easy to live on fast food and sit talking all day and night, getting little sleep and just let the pounds pile on.

Did you catch the last episode of Biggest Loser? One girl has stopped losing weight even though she is on a strict diet and working out hours a day. The trainer told her to stop - she has told her before she is doing too much on too little. Now her body has shut down and is refusing to give up any more weight.

Every action has a re-action.

Do you dye your hair? Check out this tidbit in the news.

Gray hair, according to new findings, is caused by a massive build up of hydrogen peroxide due to wear and tear on hair follicles. The peroxide winds up blocking the normal synthesis of melanin, your hair's natural pigment.

All hair cells make a tiny bit of hydrogen peroxide, but as you age, the amount increases. Essentially, you bleach your hair pigment from within, and your hair turns gray and then white.

Researchers made this discovery by examining cell cultures of human hair follicles. They found that the build up of hydrogen peroxide was caused by a reduction of an enzyme that breaks up hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.

read the whole thing at

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/03/17/Why-Your-Hair-Turns-Gray-as-You-Age.aspx

I like the Touch of Grey commercials -- just grey enough to show knowledge and wisdom but not grey enough to indicate physical inability. Of course they have a catchier phrasing.

Just like the laugh lines around your eyes, grey hair is a badge of honor and living life.

until next time - and it will not be so long a time - smile
Sharon
Answers For Your Health