Got Evidence- Man Made Chemicles?

In this series of Got Evidence we are going to look into the question "Are Chemicals good for your Body". One thing I have notice is the push for folks to buy Organic. Why is this are the Preservatives/ chemicals used in the others bad for our bodies?

I noticed that a skin problem I had a while back has returned. This got me thinking what is the cause. Thought I new what it was. Then I noticed that a product I had been using for a while had changed their ingredients to a Chemical produced sweetener. The Old one did not have it. If the Companies are changing ingredients from Natural to Man Made Chemicals, we should be looking into the Health of it.

I have stopped using the product and the skin problem is receding. Now in fairness of the companies I will not be mentioning names, only the chemicals themselves. The main question I am going to explore is, Are the Chemicals good for our Bodies. So, for the next few weeks in October I will be doing the research to find that out. Check back on Thursdays to see what I learned.

Now I have a question for you. Do you think the Man made chemicals are healthy for you? If you have a question on a certain chemical please leave it in the comments and I will certainly explore it.

A new Year with New Beginnings.

We all love to have New Beginnings. Back sometime ago, I always vowed to be a different person every start of a new year. Nice a quiet, hold my tongue and be one of those persons people call Sweet. Oh My Mother was that kind a person. As for Me, Not in your lifetime. I am a very strong willed person, a Perfectionist and one who love to know everything!

Now this can be bad or good. Have learned over the years to really accept myself. I am design like this for a purpose, just need to find that purpose.

Here we are entering a New Year, can you believe it 2011. Never thought I would live to this date. But then again what kid growing up in the sixties ever thought of the year 2000? It was just a song! Remember in the year 2000, folks thought we would not have computers and our cars would stop running , the government would shut down and Our world as we knew it would change. Ha.. that did not happen. Instead we got smaller Cell phone, devices to download and read books from, cars that can run on solar as well as electric and gas and most important the ability to put Solar and Geothermal in private homes. Wow I would say that the two thousands years has progressed fairly well.

Here we are eleven years later and still living on this earth. No solar flare, sun still in place, cars still running and the Government...well, that is still out there. So one thing I would like to encourage you to do this New Year is ; Find something that would be easy for you to change.
I will help you with some Ideas:

1. Change your laundry detergent to a more environmental friendly one.
2. Buy a Water collector barrel to harvest the water for Gardening.
3. Grow your own Vegetables
4. Cut back on the car mileage , take the train or carpool twice a week.
5. Add a solar product to your home or yard.
6. Replace flooring with an eco-friendly material
7. Learn to Read labels on food items
8. Exercise twice a week
9. Read one book a month
10. Learn something new monthly

There you have it ten ideas. All within reach. Let's begin this New Year 2011 with a plan to Make our Lives Healthy and Our Environment Healthier.

What is on your mind? Thinking of something else one can do, share it in the comments. Or add it to the list below. I can't wait to hear your view.

Now simply click on the "Click here to enter" button and type your idea in the space, click enter and it will appear below. Now let's get started.

A Better Weight Control Tool-L.G.I.

Finding a way to maintain your weight by using the Glycemic Index chart could be the answer for some people. This Index is based on the Glucose level in your body. When the levels are up and down that can cause Binge eating. Causing one to eat more food than they need and then causing the body to store fat.
Now what we want to do is eat some foods that are Low Glycemic in nature. These are foods that will keep the glucose level on a even line longer. Making it easier to feel full and making it to the next meal time.
What are some of these foods. There is a list of the Glycemic Index number of the food items. The numbers that are below 55 are considered the Low index ones. These will level your glucose and stop those cravings between meals. For example one could eat cereals based on oats and bran, bread with wholegrain and sourdough, eat some noodles, pasta and use Basmati rice. Vegetable are good also, like cooked Carrots, sweet potato, Yams, and most all other veggies other than root one like white and russett pototes, which are high on the G-Index.
Milk is low on the list so a glass of milk can help in the weight lost process. Even whole milk is low in the number about 27. In fruits you can have cherries, grapefruit, apricots, apple , pears plums, peaches, oranges, grapes and bananas. All are below the 55 number.
Just trying to incorporate some of these will help in the process of losing weight. If you have a food that you would like to know how it rates on this Index try visiting here and type the foods name in and check it out.

It's Still High Fructose Corn Syrup!

A new trend is happened and it's time to beware of name changes!

Heard something today that did not sit well. The manufacturers want to rename High Fructose Corn Syrup(HFCS), an ingredient name listed on the Nutrient list of food and drinks. The New name will be something like Corn Sugar. This change is because of the bad rap the Fructose syrup has been having on sales. With the nation now looking at the amount of HFCS and steering away from this ingredient, the sales of companies using this product as sweeteners has fallen down. It is used in a lot of foods from cereals and snacks to juices and sodas.

Oh, I see.. folks are now reading the labels and choosing healthier products with natural sweeteners. Good for them! The industries think by changing the name to Corn sugar it will imply that this is a natural sweetener. True it is made from corn, however it is processed into a chemically enhanced sweetener. Too Much of this product can cause excess weight. Which can lead to other health issue in the future. I think folks are choosing wisely and deciding to cut back on products with High Fructose Syrup in it. This is a good direction to go. Have you seen the commercials on this HFCS? The one with the lady serving a drink with HFCS? She states that it is good for you in moderation. Those were done to help the sales return to the upward trend. That did not seem to work , so now the name change in order to increase the sales of Products using High Fructose Syrup in them.

So, Be forewarned you might see a new ingredient name for an old ingredient. Also a new promotion of the new ingredient, which is the old ingredient. The product is still the same nothing has changed but the name of the ingredient.

Only the name has been change to protect the selling revenue of their products.

What do you think about this plan? Are you For or Against?
The FDA has not approved the name change as of today. So the debate is still out there. Also be advised that other companies have already done some fancy wording to make their product look healthier, however the product ingredients has not changed at all.

Wordful Wednesday- Our County Bee Keepers

Okay I have a hard time not sharing, so I thought I would make this post a Wordful Wednesday one.You can visit Seven Clown Circus for a look at more.

At the Fair we Visited.....

The Honey Table.
Look at all those ribbons.....
so many to choose from.....

Now Honey is a great tasting food. Everyone I know loves it. There are so many different flavored ones, some are produced by the flower bees, then you have the wild ones. In our area we have bee keepers. Every year the county Fair has entries.

Last year we purchased this one.

When we had a bad cough and could not shake it , the doctor told us to take a tablespoon of honey. The properties in the honey work wonders for coughs. So we open the Fair Honey and boy every one loved it. You know it worked wonders on that cough. After that I used it a lot in cooking and hot teas as well as a spoonful every now and then for medicinal reason.

This year there was a new honey from the wildflowers bees that took first place. So I had to purchase some.

Here it is.

I was able to get a 2 pound size of last years winner as well. I did not see any out, but then I saw the beekeeper put two jars out. Before one could say Bee, I was scooping it up. Now you know every year the taste changes. That the great thing about local fresh honey. We haven't opened the jar yet. However I know it will be just as good. The Bees had a great year.

Buying local also means it is fresh. Still supporting the local Bee Keepers and It's an all American products. The phone number and address are on the jars, you can call them and see if there is still some available. Hurry before they sell out, Tell them Auntie E sent you.

New Weight Scales

Time for a new scale. The old scales just refused to give a weight at times. We would step on it and it would just remain blank. Oh I liked it, that meant I was losing weight right? Whatever number you thought up would be good. Another Problem we had with it was, It weighed us 5 pounds heavier when it did give a number. That drove everyone mad as a Hatter. It made me feel great. I always knew I could deduct the 5 pounds or maybe more,if I had clothes on, from the number. Well to say the least I never really knew my true weight in the buff.
With My daughter having to lose the weight and her working with a nutritionist, it was time for a newer scale. More updated and a better motivator, one that will give more information on our body and can be set to each of us.
So off to the store we went. Oh boy so many types to choose from. There were ones that measure water composition, how do they do that? Another gives you all the facts... Your BMI, Calories and Weight. The one thing that drives me crazy is all these choices. I am never good at too many choices. Therefore we looked and then Walked the Mall. Thought about which one would suit our family's need.

This was our choice:
Health Station Sport Scale by Homedics.

Now this scale has four individual settings. Each one ask for your height, age, gender and athletic status. By inputting this information, it will be able to give a BMI and a suggestive Caloric intake to maintain that weight. If you are working to get to a desired caloric intake, this is a great choice. Even if you want to get to a desired weight with a healthier BMI. It will help one maintain that weight. Just knowing how many calories to consume can stop the Yo-Yo effect of loosing weight.
I have already lost 5 lbs using this scale, you know the five the other scale added. But seriously I have really lost 5 real pounds since using the scale. It was a great choice for the family and hopefully we are on our way to a fitter person. Oh what a new motivator scale can do.

Hot or Cold Water?

The other day Hubby was putting water on the stove for Pasta. Noticed he was using Hot water from the faucet . I was taught not to use Hot Faucet Water for cooking. Never told why just not to. Watching several Italian cooking shows they stated the same thing " Always use Cold water for your cooking.". So Why is that?

Well, I looked it up and found out a few things. First off Most homes built before 1986 have copper pipes and lead solder was used to connect the pipes. Some homes in the world still use this kind a piping. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) administration stated that hot water will bring with it the metals from the pipes to your faucet. They recommend that you do not consume Hot water for drink purposes. Always use cold water for food preparation and consumption.

Okay now here is the second reason. It's your Hot Water tank. You realize that the tank has corrosive metals in it. Over time it will weaken and burst. Just think that is where the hot water is coming from. The water sits in the tank for days, so when you call it up, by turning on one of the faucet the water has dissolved metals in it already.

Lead poisoning has been getting a lot of attention lately. Some believing it may be the cause of A.D.D.(Attention Deficit Disorder). Hubby stated he has always used Hot water in cooking. Then stated Maybe that is my Problem, now I have Poisoned by brain.
We laugh about it now, but in reality it could be very unhealthy. I always thought you should use Cold water just to make Good Pasta. However by hubby making me give him a Logical answer I learned a lot.

Shades for the Solarium

Our solarium is getting Insulated shades . We ordered some Hunter Douglas Honeycomb insulated shades. Our Solarium can get pretty hot in the summer. Deciding to put shades on the large windows and doors was hard. Wanting to have some light yet be able to control the room temperature.

For years we have wanted to do something to control the heat. We had an air conditioner in a window. That was very expensive and even on a auto setting it ran most of the time. We took it out one Winter and never put it back. I just put up with the summer heat. It would get 80-90 in there. Now that we use it more, we need to do something.

I think I will love these shades. These shades open from the top and bottom. Have a glide mechanism, so no cords hanging around. They are called Duette Architella Honeycomb Shades. The shades are a Greenguard Certified product. The UV protection is 99% and the shades have a R-value of 7.8 with a 3.5 R-value window. Can reduce your energy expense by 50%. Over all it has one of the highest ratings in the Window Coverings industry.

Our Shades....

Got Evidence- Part 3- Making a Healthy Decision.

In Part 1 we looked at the Sweeteners used in our markets. There were several different types. Most of them found or created in a lab by Accident. Stevia was the only Herb Plant used for centuries to sweeten the taste. It is fairly new to our Western Market. However to take it in pure form is not recommended for some people taking Blood Pressure or Heart Medication. It can as well cause problems for these folks in small amounts over a steady time. Since Herbs do have Medical properties, it is wise to talk to a Herbalist if you are taking Chemical Medications. Mixing of Herbs and Medicine can be dangerous to your health.
Learning about the FDA role in Part 2 gave us an idea of how the amounts are decided. The manufacturers stay within the regulated amounts that's for sure. The downside is that we, the consumer, do not know what amounts are used. For example if one drink has the regulated amount and we drink more than you should, you could be exceeding the safe ADI amount. Now with more Manufacturers using these sweeteners in other products, one can exceeded the ADI amount quickly. This can put our health in jeopardy.

Today we will look at some Research on our Bodies. All these studies are done looking at the effect of drinking diet drinks. How is at relevant to our health, can it contribute to our Diabetes risk? and what about Weight loss does it really help and keep our bodies healthy at the same time?

A nationwide study finished in 2007 concluded that drinking just one 8oz serving can raise your chance of developing Type 2 Diabetes by 67%. This percent is referring to those who contract diabetes to those would do not drink diet drinks. The Researchers do not say that drinking Diet drinks causes the diabetes. Rather it is suggested that the drinking of them Might have an indirect effect. Perhaps causing weight gain and Insulin problems.
Weight gain you say, how can that be? The word Diet is taken as Being healthy, however it is not necessarily so. Many of the Chemicals in the sweeteners cause an Insulin reaction, which in turn causes the body to crave more sugar or food. This can lead to gaining weight. Our Obesity is the number one cause for Type 2 Diabetes. Another factor is many folks believe that the Zero Calorie drink are a free food. So they tend to eat more Food. Whether it is a mindset or a chemical reaction, Our obsession with the diet drinks are great. It is making our risk greater for an unhealthy life style.

In 2009 there was a study done on Kidney disease. Kidney Disease is on the rise also. In this study 3,000 women(730 of them with Diabetes) where used. It showed drinking 2 or more 8oz servings a day effected the kidney functions. The decline in function was twice the rate of those who did not drink Diet drinks. All the other controlling factors were included, Age, Caloric intake and diabetes status as well as weight. Our Kidneys are a organ vital to our living. Their function is very important, if the function is impaired we are at greater risk of Health problems. Maybe even Kidney Failure at some point!

In conclusion of this 3 part Got Evidence post,I will pose a question to you. With all the research out there and many years of use, Do you still feel Diet drinks are a healthy choice?

Going Green together- Floors and Closets

We have been looking to replace our kitchen and dinning room floors. In looking at what type and trying to stay green I had found that there are so many choices. We are leaning toward a type of wood grain floor. I never really thought about some of the things like, allergies and air quality. We are also redoing a couple closets. I found this Program from PBS on Green floors and closets. It has some good info on it. Even though the cost is varied, I think it has some educational information on why these are green and how to be healthier in your home.
The running time is 26 minutes. There are a couple of commercials, hey they have the pay for the video somehow.

Got Evidence- Part 2- FDA's Role

So now what is the FDA's (Food Drug and Alcohol) role in deciding if and how much is safe?
Their role is to make sure there are enough rigorous testing on the product. Then they will list the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). This number is derived from the testing, if it's animal testing the number is set at 100 times lower than found safe for the animal.
Now I bet you what to know what the ADI for Diet Drinks are.

For a 12 oz drink of Diet soda ;

• containing Aspartame=18-19 cans
• containing Acesulfame K=30-32 can
• containing Sucralose= 6 cans
• for Saccharin it is 9-12 packets
• Stevia has not be determined yet, they have not set a ADI for it.

Even though these Number have been set, the manufacturers vary on the amounts used. therefore it is hard to determine the safe amount to consume in a day. Take for example the amounts in a 8 oz serving size of the following canned sodas;

Just containing Aspartame

• Diet coke has 125 milligrams of Aspartame,
• Diet Pepsi has 118 mg
  
• Diet Dr Pepper numbers are 123 mg.

If we look at the brands that mix the sweeteners,the Numbers are closer;

• Coke Zero has 58 mg Aspartame, and 31 mg of AcesulfameK
• Sprite Zero and Fresca has 50 mg Aspartame and 34 mg of AcesulfameK
• Barq's Diet Root Beer has 66mg of Aspartame and 41 mg of AcesulfameK

Diet Mountain Dew has 57mg Aspartame and 18 mg AcesulfameK as well as 18 mg Sucralose .
Tab is one with Saccharin and Aspartame, it contain 64mg of saccharin and 19mg aspartame.

Fountain drinks can have different amounts, for lables are not shown and they work on a more concentrated syrup, using a soda water to mix with the drink. That makes it hard to know due to the difference in restaurants equipment.

However you look at it the FDA's role is only to apply the facts for our safety of consumption. Some times the research is limited and the fact are not truly revealed until years later. Case in Point, Saccharine. A known carcinogenic today but in its' earlier time considered a healthy choice.
Today the consumer will have a hard time determining the amounts they consume. Making it difficult to stay within the ADI recommendation of the FDA. With all the sweeteners found in Baked goods, Snack, cereals and other Low calorie food we consume... one will not be able to discern the amounts. Our packaging does not (to date) have all the Milligrams used in the product. The Names are only listed in the ingredients.

So the question remains, do we drink the diet drink ? Or are we risking our health if we do? Research has shown that the consumption of these diet drink can actually contribute to Diabetes Type 2. One will have a 67% greater chance of developing it.
Monday we will look at some of the other studies and how they can effect our health. We all need to stay informed to live healthier lives.

Got Evidence- Diet Drinks-Part1

Got Evidence will be a new series on the evidence of Living healthy. It will appear when I get evidence on something that I feel is important to know for Living Healthy. Only the Facts will tell us and the research will tell all. So join me in this one on Our Diet Drinks. You decide your healthy direction in the life.

The Sweeteners Used.

This is a three part series on the Safety of the Diet Drinks we consume. We will be looking at the types of Sweeteners used in them, the FDA role in safety standard and finally our healthier choice.
With the rise in obesity, diabetes type 2 and cancer, can the diet drinks be a factor? Looking at the ingredients used to make them less in calories, mainly the Sweeteners, can give us a better mind to make the right choice. Today we will look at the types of sweeteners used by manufacturers.

Most diet drinks are sweetener with artificial sweetener. Diabetics often think of Diet drink as a health choice, Is it? People on diets often think of diet sodas like zero calories, are they in the long run? Let's take a look at the sweeteners used in the drinks.

The first one to come on board was Saccharin. Even though it was developed in the 1800, it did not become widely use until the 60's and 70's. Now saccharin is a chemical that was widely used in soft drinks. Introduced by the names Sweet 10, Sugar Twin, and Sweet-N-Low. It first came out in a little pill form, you just dropped 2 or3 in your drink. Then in Liquid form, one to two squirts should do it. Now sold in the granular form in little pink packages. It is 300 times sweeter than sugar. Because the body does not process saccharin, it runs through the digestive system and out. Noted as a free calorie food. The down side is it has been known to trigger insulin release.

Then in the 80's came Aspartame. used in Equal and Nutrasweet. These are about 200 times sweeter than sugar. They break down in the body into two chemicals properties. Phenylalanine and Aspartic acid. Phenylalanine is an amino acid found in the breast milk of mammals and is a known to have antidepressant and analgesic effects. Aspartic acid is also an amino acid found in wildlife meat and some vegetables such as avocados, oat flakes and spouting seeds. It can also be found in young sugarcane , molasses as well as sugar beets.
Both chemicals can be processed in the body easily.
Saccharine and Aspartame are widely used together as a sweetener. Mostly due to the way they work together. Saccharine does not break down, therefore it remains sweet. Aspartame has a shorter shelf life, therefore when it breaks down and saccharine holds the sweetest. Ever wonder why older sodas taste different, or that open bottle changes it taste after a day? This is why.

Now Sweet one and Sunett are sweetener products containing Acesulfame potassium(k). approved by USFDA in the 80's it is about 180 time sweeter than sugar. Although it does have an bitter aftertaste so it is usually mixed with other sweeteners. You will see it on the label as Acesufame K or Ace K. Discover in a German laboratory in the 60's be accident, it has become one of the safest sweetener being used. Ascesulfame is use in over 6,000 food products, ranging from cereal to drinks. It is also used in Pharmaceutical products. Produce from a potassium salt derivative. the chemical itself tends to be mixed with other sweeteners. Due to its ability to be heated and not break down, it has a longer shelf life.

Sucralose came out in the late 90's under the name Splenda. About 600 times sweeter than sugar and having a more stable life, as far as breakdown at high heat. This product has been a newer choice in diet drink makers. Still process be using chemicals, it has been noted that it is derived from sugar.There has not been enough studies on this product yet. Some studies link it to a potential causing more Migraines and some increase in blood sugar for Diabetics. One thing to remember, this is a chemically manufactured substance. In the Laboratories they do change the molecular structure of the sugar compound to achieved a lower sugar calorie product. Therefore there will be some side effects in certain people.

FDA has approved Stevia is a sweeter to be use safely in late 2008. Stevia is a plant that has been used for centuries in other countries as a natural sweetener and medicine. Being 300 times sweeter than sugar it is a good natural choice. it seem to be able to stabilize the blood sugar, curve ones sweet tooth and help lower blood pressure. there are some side effects but nothing that has been noted as life threatening at the present time. I have read some info on Cancer probabilities and problem with Male reproductive organs. However of all the info out there, there is nothing on this claims. A few things to keep in mind are; if you are on meds for blood pressure or a heart condition, it would probably not be a good idea to use Stevia. Due to the side effects known and stated above.

The newest one is Neotame. It is 6,000 to 13,000 sweeter than sugar, that's right in the thousands. This is is on the rise here in the USA. the USFDA has approved it as safe. Nutrasweet company is the maker. It is similar to aspartame, containing the same products used in it. Processed to be more stable in heating , it can be mix with other sweeteners and will have a longer self life. You will start to see it list more and more in products.


some information resources: Elmhurst college, Neotame.com , Wekipedia,Herbs Love to know

Tuesday Post It

I am always writing on Post it notes. I have a few in my house scattered around in rooms. Supahmommy thought it would be fun to do a post using the Post-It Notes. Supahmommy has a neat link system on her blog go check it out Here.




I have been working on the New Fitness Log blog for a week now. Posting food and exercise logs, as well as sharing some information I learn along the way. After much consideration decided to open it up to all. The process to invite and have people log in seemed too time consuming. My hubby helped me look into the process of someone visiting the page. I did not like the setup. So I will open it up, take a look see if it is something you would like to visit. I do post daily and some times more than once.

Answer to friday's Question

Yes, everyone was right! One should weight Weekly. The Calorie intake varies from day to day. At the end of the week one will loose about 1.5 lbs. Now with that said a better way is to step on the scales every two weeks. I know when we are trying to loose the weight we want to step on more. However, the real measurement is your clothes. One will notice that those pants feel better or your arm fell great not to tight in that shirt.
What is the desired method of loosing weight and inches? Take the weight goal you have, let's say 140 lbs, multiply that by ten. That will give you 1400, this is the amount of calories you should consume in one day.
The next thing to do is Log the calories you intake each day. If you are not eating that many calories in a day, you will need to get there. This is the key, one must eat the caloric amount to get the body out of the starvation mode. This will take about a week or two. At that time the brain will reprogram itself and stop storing fat, for that raining day it thinks you will have (no food). Our body is programed that way to get us through famines.
So the reprogramming of the mind and our changing in the thoughts of dieting will help one to succeed in our weight lose. Now one must continue to eat their caloric amount forever. Once you are doing that, when you get to your desired weight, and you will, you will be able to maintain it.
Next weeks Friday question will be on exercising.

Fitness Log- A Good Idea

I started a Fitness Log Blog. Decided to make it an invite only blog. One thing I like to share on "Living healthy with Auntie E" is the how tos' on getting healthy. Trying to change the pattern of eating habits and over all unhealthier ones is a personal thing. I have all the knowledge one needs to get on the wagon, however getting on and staying on is not easy.

Starting a Fitness log and daily logging your food and exercise can be a good start to changing patterns. If you want to support and follow my journey to a healthier me, E-mail me with your request. I will be glad to give you access to my Fitness Log Blog. All I need is your e-mail address and I will send you an invite.

However I want to make this clear, this invite is only for those who want to give support and advice to me in comments. Those who want to have a personal health relationship with me, who want to see someone succeed in getting healthier. If you are ready to get on the wagon, I also invited you to join me. This is a real struggle for many and it is not easy to do it alone. Who likes going to those meeting where you say " Hi I'm Auntie E and I have an eating problem".... I really do not like that kind of thing, too public for me.
However with that said.. I would love to step out of this house one day and have folks to say " Who is that".. A new healthier me that's who.

I little about Auntie E's Fitness Log. On the blog you will find, the stats on what my intake should be and how much exercising I need. There will be Daily food and exercise logging. I will journal about my ups and downs, new things that help me and my thoughts on daily struggles. Being honest is the key to getting healthy and some times the honesty is not pretty. I do want to be more open on the Log blog and share more of my struggles and how I think I got here.

So, Let me know if you want an invite. Leave your e-mail in the comments and your request. Thank you for your support.

Wednesday's Words-Drink Soda or Not?

I have been under the weather for about two weeks. It started out with a cold and then it went into my head and sinuses. I do not seemed to be able to shake it off, no fever..so I know it is not an infection. Just a miserable head cold. We seem to be passing it back and forth in this household.. I will need to start that spring cleaning now! I am starting to feel better and now my daughter is getting it. Hubby is getting better also.
I heard a statement on the News that children are getting the flu shot and now the Swine flu (H1N1) is on the decline. They believe by giving the vaccine to the children the spreading of the H1Ni flu has been effected. I guess that is good, however usually the kids bring the viruses home from school. So this is no big surprise to me.
I also heard a study on drinking wine instead of soda pop can help one loose weight.... Oh, now that was interesting. Let see if you replace the once a day soda with a glass of wine you will have cut you calorie intake down. Most people drink about 2 to 3 (12oz) sodas a day. Just having one can per day for 1 year a person will gain ten pounds and that was with exercise. Now if that won't get you to stop consuming soda how about this; soda has been linked to Pancreatic cancer. A new study has linked the drinking of 2 or more(12 oz) per day of the sugary drink to an 87% change of getting pancreatic cancer. It seems the sugar is the blame, since the pancreas work on supplying the body with the insulin. The sugar is thought to increase the cancer cell production in the pancreas.
Now we know that our children are the ones who consume the most sodas. Some time ago I stop buying soda and opt to drink water instead. It saved on money and now it seems to have saved on Health. The government is deciding whether to tax soda now. Their belief is if they tax it like tobacco then less people will buy it.
What do you think? Should soda pop be taxed, what about the cancer link and weight gain.
Info resources, Reuters , My Fox,

Sleepless in Maryland...

Some time I have these sleepless nights. this is one one those nights! Yesterday I started not feeling well.Think Hubby gave me his cold. I am drinking antioxidants and sucking zinc. Hope that will do the trick and shorten the time.
Yesterday I started the EA Sports 30 day challenge, boy I didn't know how it worked. I made it through the first day routine, not too bad. Each day I will be given a different routine that way I will not get bored, so they say. My trainer is female although I think at some point I would like the male, I wonder if I can change that?
Now I need to find a good food plan. I am a member of Sparks People, they have a menu plan. I think I will try a low carb for a while. At least til I can get on the downward spiral. I really do not like to do those types of diet plans, because they tend to always end up in failure. Learning how to eat within the caloric level is the best way to maintain your weight, in my eyes. I was raised on good wholesome food and would like to continue that way. Although as one ages the body tends to change the way it processes food. I am hoping by working out with the EA sports and controlling my caloric intake I will slim down. We'll see how it works.

Are you sleeping good?

As I stated before a good bed can approve you quality sleeping time. There is one thing that can steal it from you, Sleep Apnea. The term Apnea means Without Breathe. The causes can be a few things; Overweight, weakened throat muscle, fat deposits in the neck region and some times just aging. It can also be hereditary, who know that family they all snore and laugh about it. The percentage of people with Sleep Apnea has risen in this decade. Perhaps the main reason is our lifestyles. We will look as the symptom and treatments for sleep apnea.
There are several symptoms for sleep apnea. To list a few;

• (hypersomnia) You find yourself sleepy throughout the day more and more.
  
• Snoring loudly, this is a clue for sleep apnea caused by weakened throat muscles.
  
• Observed episodes of no breathing or quiet, no breath sounds, this is always seen by a mate.
  
• Waking up with shortness of breath or can't seem to catch your breathe, this is more likely with central sleep apnea
• Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
• Morning headache
• Insomnia and difficult staying asleep
  
• Having to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, Your body trying to get rid of fluid. The brain is trying to reduce pressure in the body.

As you can see there are several signs. some are more severe than others. My thought is in early decades people died in their sleep and the cause was documented as natural causes. In today's medical community we know much more. Now we have sleep clinics set up all over the nation to help in diagnosing this deadly condition, known as Sleep Apnea.

Let look at the treatments. Currently there are four treatments. Continuous positive airway pressure also known as CPAP,Adjustable airway pressure devices know as BiPAP,Oral appliances and Surgery.
My dad has Sleep Apnea and has used a CPAP for years. This device delivers a continuous air pressure to your throat, to keep the airway opened. In my fathers situation it is causing a dry throat. There are ones that also deliver moisture with the air. The air it uses in the home air. No added oxygen, so in my mind a house filter is a must and maybe a humidifier. The CPAP is the most common machine used for Sleep Apnea.
The BiPAP is another type of breathing device that delivers a different type of airway pressure. It automatically adjusts the pressure while you're sleeping. Providing more pressure when you inhale and less when you exhale. If one is having trouble with the CPAP, this is another alternative to try.
If you have mild sleep Apnea, the Dentist can make an Oral appliance that can bring the jaw forward and prevent the collapse of the airway. These are molded just for your mouth. In some cases these will work well while you are changing your lifestyle. For example if your is caused by a weight issue.
The fourth is surgery, this is a more invasive method. Sometimes removal of the epiglottis, tonsils and adenoids can help with the snoring. However, it may be less successful in treating sleep apnea because tissue farther down your throat may still block your air passage. Moving the jaw forward is another surgery. This one can be a success but requires several doctors working together and is a most costly one. The more permanent option is a tracheotomy. You may need this form of surgery if other treatments have failed and you have severe, life-threatening sleep apnea. In this procedure, your surgeon makes an opening in your neck and inserts a metal or plastic tube through which you breathe. You keep the opening covered during the day. But at night you uncover it to allow air to pass in and out of your lungs, bypassing the blocked air passage in your throat.

However you view Sleep Apnea it is rising in the world. Knowing that fact and seeking treatments is a healthy choice for longer life. Being tired can contribute to many more life's problems with work, home and fun. Let's get our quality rest we so much need.

informational source The Mayo Clinic

Winter Weather and Skin.

The winter weather is so bad for my skin. This year has been the worst. I have always had dry skin. In my teens I used products for dry skin on my face. Then in my twenties I had to lavish more lotions on my legs,they were so dry. In my thirties I notice my arms needed more moisture.The forties was the hands. Now in the fifties, well it all over, especially my feet. They are so dry they split and peel. This year seems to be the worst. I have tried all sorts of moisturizers, however it seems the more I use the more I need. Any suggestion for me? I will try it and see how the products work on my Dry Skin.

Changing Diet.

I have been hearing that soups can help one drop some weight. Okay, I am going to try it. went to the commissary and purchase some healthier soups. Checked the sodium, protein and carbs in them. Picked ones that are within the healthier margins. The plan is to replace one meal with soup for two weeks. Then I will post how I did. Changing my diet might help in losing those few pounds I would like to see off. I do not want to share the soup product I will be using yet. When the Two weeks are up I will share that with you. As well as why I chose that companies product.