Tips To Keep Your Ticker Ticking

(Information courtesy of AARP Magazine)

The old saying that a wounded heart never heals just doesn’t apply anymore. Diet, exercise and a positive mental outlook can help prevent and even reverse years of poor heart habits. In fact, small lifestyle changes can go a long way towards attaining and maintaining a healthy heart. Start today with these tips:

STAY CALM
A recent study by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology finds that the chronically anxious may see a significant increase in the risk of a heart attack. Lower stress by starting a daily meditation practice or simply work on a puzzle or hobby that helps you relax.

LIMIT FAT INTAKE
Trans fats and hydrogenated oils raise blood levels of LDL (bad cholesterol), increasing your risk of coronary heart disease. But eating healthier doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite snacks. Many potato, corn, and tortilla chips and even cookies are now made with healthier oils that don’t affect taste.

GET MOVING
Regular exercise prevents heart attack and stroke by lowering inflammation, reducing blood pressure, maintaining weight, and reducing stress. Even 90 minutes to 2 hours spread out over a week can lower risk, according to a 2007 Harvard University study.

CONTROL BLOOD PRESSURE
High blood pressure forces your heart to work harder, which is why it’s a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Get your blood pressure checked often and, if it’s high, talk to your doctor about ways to bring it down.

SUPPLEMENT
Adding natural, food-based supplements to a healthy diet may allow you to avoid medications. Learn how to choose a good supplement here.

Eczema: A Natural Approach

I read a disturbing article in USA Today last week which said that a study conducted by Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine found that giving children with moderate to severe eczema diluted bleach baths reduced the severity of the disease. Source: USA Today

BLEACH ?? “Did you know that a pesticide is added to your washing machine to help keep your white clothes white? This pesticide is also found in many household cleaning products that contain a "disinfectant" to kill germs. And it is found in household products used to clean mold and mildew from your shower or tub. Can you guess what this pesticide is? Chlorine Bleach!

You wouldn't think that ordinary chlorine bleach is a pesticide - but it is. Because it kills bacteria- and viruses it is called a disinfectant or an antimicrobial pesticide. And because it kills fungi and molds it is also known as a fungicide.”
EPA.gov

“Breathing in the fumes of cleaners containing a high concentration of chlorine can irritate the lungs. This is particularly dangerous for people suffering from heart conditions or chronic respiratory problems such as asthma or emphysema. And the risks are compounded when the cleaners are used in small, poorly ventilated rooms, such as the bathroom. Chlorine is also a highly corrosive substance, capable of damaging skin, eyes, and other membranes. Chlorine was listed as a hazardous air pollutant in the 1990 Clean Air Act, and exposure to chlorine in the workplace is regulated by federal standards. (Source: care2)

Knowing that bleach isn’t something we really want to mess with, I started researching other safer means for dealing with the intense itching that can accompany eczema and also a natural approach to dealing with eczema in general. I thought about Epsom salts soaks and found the following information:

Relieve Eczema Skin Symptoms With An Epsom Salt Bath
By Evelyn Lym

It is hard not to go crazy with all that intense itching and scratching of your irritated eczema skin. Short of using strong steroids, there is one treatment that you can try to alleviate the itchy symptoms. You may wish to consider taking an Epsom salt bath.

An Epsom salt bath is not just any salt bath. There are actually different kinds of bath salts in the market today and you really need to choose the correct ones to treat your eczema. Solar salt, koshers salts are just like any rock salts that you use in your kitchen and offer no helpful benefits to your skin. Be careful not to use them as normal salts contain sodium chloride that can actually cause a drying out of your skin. A bath using normal salts is therefore not a good idea for an already dry skin prone to eczema outbreaks.

Epsom salts are basically made up of magnesium sulphate, a type of naturally occurring mineral. Magnesium is responsible in regulating the body enzymes. Since it is an electrolyte, magnesium sulphate can improve the function of the muscles and nerves. It also ensures the proper usage of calcium in our body's cells. As an eczema treatment, it helps to reduce skin inflammation and alleviate pain.
An Epsom salt bath is a great way to acquire magnesium in the body because the skin can easily absorb it. More importantly, an Epsom salt bath is becoming popular in treating eczema because it assists in removing unwanted acids out of your skin. Soaking yourself in the bath is therapeutic as it also helps reduce stress and muscular pains.


Here is a simple recipe on getting started with your own soothing Epsom salt bath:
450 grams Epsom salts, 1 tsp. Calendula oil, 5 drops patchouli oil,
7-10 drops lavender oil

You can actually do without the oils if you are unable to find them. Simply add a cup of Epsom salts in to a tub with warm water. Avoid using soaps when taking an Epsom salt bath or else it would obstruct the healing action of the salts. You can soak for about 15 minutes and gently give your skin a good gentle rub. (Take note: Gentle rub not scrub!) Try not to get chilled and over dried. A warning to people who are diagnosed with edema, heart problems or high blood pressure- soaking in a bath salt may prove to be harmful. Frail people, like aged people, are advised not to use salt baths at all.
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Shaklee has introduced a wonderful line of Baby Care products that you might be interested in too.

Four Simple Ways To Clean Up At Home

1. Educate yourself about what you're bringing into your home. For more information, check out the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Household Products Database. http://www.householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/

2. Out with the old... Once you know what's safe & healthy for your home and your environment, it's time to get rid of the harmful stuff. You'll want to be careful with cleaning agents containing harmful chemicals and compounds, though... your local waste collection service should be able to advise you on how to properly dispose of these hazardous wastes from abrasive cleaning agents to batteries, paint, and other household chemicals.

3. Before bringing an item into your home, consider the impact it will have on you, your family, your home, and your planet. A good rule of thumb is to keep your home environment as natural as possible-- this will also help keep your house- AND THOSE YOU LOVE- safe and healthy. Keep fresh air abundant by opening windows, using indoor plants, and freshening with essential oils instead of chemical-containing air fresheners. Use organic, recycled, and renewable home furnishings, furniture, and other household goods whenever possible. And, of course, when cleaning your home look for products that are all natural, non-toxic, biodegradable, and hypo-allergenic. If these products are also concentrated, they'll save you money and last longer.

4. Save your energy bill - and the planet! Saving energy won't just impact you and your family but the whole planet. If everyone did all they could in their home to save energy, the changes would really add up. Unplug appliances when they're not in use to prevent use of "phantom energy," and turn off lights when you're not in a room. Save water by using low-flush toilets, low-flow toilets and shower heads, and a tank-less water heater in your home.

There is so much we can do right at home to make a difference. Even if you made just one change, the long-term effects would be tremendous!

Earth Day Tip #3

#3 START USING NON-TOXIC CLEANERS AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS. How soon can you switch brands to safe alternatives? I am talking about cleaners & laundry products, skin care, cosmetics, shampoo & conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, baby care products…all the things you use every day. Switch to products that will give you and your family peace of mind.

Earth Day Tip #2

#2 GO THROUGH YOUR BATHROOM, KITCHEN, LAUNDRY, GARAGE, AND YARD. As you go, dump Febreze, Clorox, Listerine and other toxic products.

This information may shock you! This is not from a "kook" source! To find out what's lurking on your shelves, click here: the National Institutes of Health Library of Medicine Household Products Database.

You can search almost any brand of product you use daily, find out what's in it, and uncover its links to health effects.

Or search by chemical ingredients (see list below for some examples) and discover what brands contain it. Chemical ingredients to look out for: (Click on each) Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrochloric acid, Butyl cellosolve (2-Butoxyethanol), Formaldehyde, Bleach (sodium hypochlorite), Ammonia, Sulfamic Acid, Petroleum distillates, Sulfuric acid, Lye (potassium hydroxide), Morpholine.

One or even a thousand exposures may not be "that" harmful...but millions of exposures over time from hundreds of products is. Did you know that women at home have a 54% higher risk of cancer? And that a study linked that statistic to harmful household cleaners? Let's turn that around NOW!

SAVE THIS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE: http://www.householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/products.htm

Earth Day Tips

Earth Day is just around the corner (April 22).
Over the next few days, I am going to share with you some quick and simple things you can do right away to make your surroundings healthier for you and those you love.

Remember just ONE SMALL ACTION can make a REALLY BIG DIFFERENCE!

#1 Watch TOXIC BREW. Invest just 20 minutes of your time for this Canadian "MarketPlace" TV show. It's shocking to see name brand cleaners full of harmful hidden chemicals--which especially affect the health of kids and pets in your home. Go to, Watch Toxic Brew then scroll down and on the right side you will see “Watch the Story.” Click on RealVideo.

5 Things Women Can Do For A Healthy Heart

This morning Good Morning America had a wonderful segment about women and heart health. This is stuff we all, as women, need to know. February is heart health month, so please go to this link: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=6850404&page=1 and then do whatever it takes to make sure YOU have a healthy heart! Everyone who loves you will say THANKS!