Recently in Health Category

This Friday, October 24th, is Take Back Your Time Day--don't you just like the sound of that?  It also happens to be the 70th anniversary of signing the Fair Labor Standards Act.

With nothing against work just against overwork, the people at Take Back Your Time want you to break the cycle of working and working and buying and working and not having time for play, community, nature, family, friends, creativity, and most importantly, health.  Instead of time poverty, they call for time abundance, a concept antithetical to the current m.o. of overbooked schedules, running around, and running ragged.

And while our friends in Western Europe get five to six weeks of paid vacation every year, according to them, only 14% of American workers will get a paid vacation this year.  They want you to have three weeks guaranteed.  I'm sure you're thinking you want to be friends with them now for sure.

I imagine there are a lot of people having trouble sleeping these days be they congresspeople or Wall Street traders or small business owners or those of us watching a hold-your-breath election and hearing about the 700 billion dollar bail out plan. 

(If getting a handle on what's really going on out there in the financial market helps you get a good night's sleep, I highly recommend the most recent This American Life episode.)

While I find that deep breathing and sleep balm do a world of good, the right dinner can also go a long way in soothing stress and promoting sleep, too. 

According to the Organic Consumers Association, our bodies need to eat Tryptophan (an amino acid) in order to produce serotonin, that feel good, relaxing, anesthetizing chemical that helps us calm down.

So, by eating some for dinner, you might be well on your way to rest.  Among the foods that contain it:

*beans, lentils, and chickpeas

*whole grains (like rice, millet, and barley)

*eggs

*sesame and sunflower seeds

*miso soup

These folks say figs and dates have the big T, too. And, for poultry eaters, I hear that turkey has Tryptophan as well (hence those languid Thanksgiving naps).

more (blooms in your cup)

Chrysanthemum, beautiful dried yellow and white flowers, is one such tea.

Heralded in China for actually ridding the body of heat, as in a fever or illness and detoxifying the liver, it is a perfect summer treat--sweet and full and a little bit tingly.  Traditional Chinese Medicine also says that, like green tea, it's excellent for dispelling tension headaches.

One of my favorite summertime treats is throwing a handful of fresh spearmint in my teapot, letting it steep a few minutes and enjoying an afternoon of sipping (hot or cool) fresh, tingly tea.

It tastes even better when it comes from your own garden.

In recently buying what looked and smelled like chamomile flowers from my farmers' market, I got to thinking: What else can I grow for my teapot?

Enter Herbal Tea Gardens.  It goes beyond mint and chamomile to help you design healing tea gardens to suit your needs.  Marietta Marcin includes growing and brewing recipes for herbs to help with headaches, colds, arthritis, and a multitude (100 to be exact) of pains (and pleasures!).

I am a huge tea-drinker and have recently switched to all loose tea bought in bulk at a local bulk bin where I can fill old apple sauce jars with my favorites.  At home, green, white, chamomile, or a huge bunch of mint leaves steeped in water are known to be in my cup at any given time. 

We all know about the amazing health benefits of drinking tea, namely its antioxidant, cancer fighting potency. Another huge benefit is slowing down and sipping, what happens when you get in touch with the roots of ritual in the Japanese tea ceremony.

So, by using a teapot and some pretty (non-toxic, no lead allowed) cups, you can make tea time more of a practice when alone or serving friends.  It makes the whole process more earthy and mindful--no manufactured tea bags for starters, and a connection to to process.

Plus, if you use an electric kettle (the most efficient option), you can heat it up fewer times in a day because your pot will keep your tea warm for longer--an added eco-benefit.

I really like the offerings from Beehouse, some traditional some modern.

The Healer Within is a life-changing book.  It gives the basic principles of Qigong, the thousands year old Chinese art of moving meditation (of which Tai Chi is a form) for a Western audience.  The book shows how with meditation, breathing, movement, and self-massage, you can stay calm, relaxed, and healthy--free of charge.  And, if you do have compromised health, Qi Gong can help you heal yourself.  

It's not magic though it may feel like it when you feel the results.  Instead, Qigong relies on both ancient and current (more scientifically quantifiable) modalities for healing power that's in your own hands.  This practice is sort of like the opposite of fight or flight--it calms your mind and body so that you can feel better and deal better with everything going on.

I've found the most significant changes in my ability to heal headaches by slowing down and using some of Jahnke's breathing techniques to get the qi (life energy) going to the places it's blocked.  

It's a revolutionary seat that preserves the natural lumbar curve of the spine, keeps alignment going, and helps with circulation.  Plus, it only weighs two pounds, so it's easy to carry to an event or around the house for meditation, talking, or tea-drinking anywhere you like.

My favorite combinations:

A bunch of carrots and a wee bit of ginger.

Two apples, a handful of parsley, and one large or several small cucumbers (this one is great for skin).

And, my friend A got me turned on to a combination of kale and apple in wintertime.

But really the options are endless.

While Nalgenes do limit one's consumption of disposable plastic bottles, make an inspiring statement to others, and make you feel like you're on a hiking trip even if you're just going to work, they're still made of plastic, which raises some concerns.

According to this article from Eartheasy, there may be some leaching of Bisephenol-A (BPA) from Nalgene's #7 plastic.  And, while it's not been exactly proven, it may be a good idea to take some precautions like not washing yours in a dishwasher or using harsh detergents.  But, hey, anything is better than washing out a flimsy plastic Aquafina bottle over and over after it's melted in the sun for months.

And, if you're ready to make a switch, Kleen Kanteen has some excellent, safe, non-plastic alternatives that will last for years.  No plastic.  Totally safe.  Recyclable.

How?  One problem is drug disposal--flushing them down the toilet.  But, even by just taking prescription pills and then going to the bathroom, some percentage of the pills' contents end up going down the drain as well, without you consciously disposing of them there.  The effect on aquatic life is, well, not good, and though we don't know the full effect on humans,

the Environmental Working Group has found that:

But, if you're thinking that bottled water is the way to avoid chemicals ending up in the water YOU drink, think again.  Bottled water is usually just tap water, in a bottle.  And, bottled water has way, way fewer regulations than the stuff piped into your home or apartment.

If you'd like to find out what's in your tap water, visit EWG's tap water database here.

The best solution is to drink your tap water, which often tastes better and, being more regulated, is safer than bottled.  But, getting a tap purifier is a great, great idea.  Then, you can fill your reusable bottles with filtered water that's cheaper and cleaner than what you'd buy at a store on the go, and it doesn't come with a helping of petroleum-based plastic to house it.

And, here you can find out here from Earth 911 how to dispose of drugs when you have excess you don't need (the gist is that you don't ever flush them, but take them to a hazardous household waste roundup in your area, which you can also locate here.)

This headache balm is my new special favorite.  If you're prone to tension headaches, this stuff works.  I've felt a few headaches coming on in the last couple of busy weeks and every time when I dabbed some of this stuff on my temples, jaw, forehead and neck, it subsided completely, no Ibuprofen required.

Made with all natural ingredients like olive and castor oil with a few helpings of aromatherapeutic oils like peppermint, lavender, and calendula, this balm is soothing, cooling and really helps a headache.

Thousands of pet birds have died from Teflon pans!  Pretty crazy.  The report is saying that if birds are dying, this stuff can't be good for bird-owners either.

(110.00)

For those who stay indoors at this time of year, especially in a windowless office most of the day, it may be hard to ever get some sunshine on your skin.

(199.00)

This is like one of those rolling machines at the chiropractor or physical therapist, but simpler and doesn't require making an appointment or leaving the house.

Here are some things you can do to improve the air you breath inside:

Open a window when you can to get some fresh air.

Don't use chemical pesticides inside the house.

Take off your shoes when you come in the door so as not to track in pet waste or pesticides from the streets.

Use all-natural cleaners so you don't breath in the harsh chemicals in so many products (this sometimes helps allergies, especially in children, immensely).

Use a ventilation fan when cooking.

Use a bathroom fan when showering.

Don't smoke inside.

Get rid of carpet, or at least avoid getting it damp and vacuum with a HEPA filter machine.

Formaldehyde is a common ingredient in many pressed wood items like dressers and cabinets.  If you can, buy items made from solid wood (Forest Stewardship Council certified) to avoid formaldehyde exposure.

You can also opt to get an air purifier.  There's been some press that many of those studied actually create ozone instead of cleaning the air.  This one, Allerair 5000, is one that was not found to do that and is even used in the Mayo clinic. It cleans airborne particles (dander, mites, dust) as well as mold and chemicals with its four-stage filtration system.

It covers up to 1500 square feet and is perfect for those with allergies or known allergens in their homes.

And, specially for H3 Environmental, these are made with shielded cables so they don't emit electro-magnetic frequencies--even safer, especially so as not to disturb your sleep.

It breaks down the harmful chemicals in a can of Diet Coke, fourth on the list of most favored drinks in the world.  The news is not good: these sweeteners and other ingredients can cause thyroid problems, tooth decay (that's a no-brainer), dizziness and headaches, and some are even linked to increased risk for cancer.  Not to mention all those aluminum cans cluttering up the world!

This one is filled with essential oils that help clear your mind in order to fall sleep.  With rosemary for clarity, ginger for confidence (anti-worry), bergamot to uplift, and lavender to clam, it can be rubbed on temples or pulse points to get you breathing deeply and ready for rest.

This one comes with non-iodized kosher-certified salt and you can also get some special wash to add that has an extra splash of herbs and zinc.

Check it out (22.00 for the pot, 15.00 for the salt jar) here.

So, that's what I've been using the last couple of years.  However, I recently noticed some gunky, scary black stuff at the bottom of mine that gave me the heebie jeebies and made my tea taste bad.  So, I did some research and when you buy many a kettle, metals can build up, affecting the taste and your health.

Here's a kettle that will do the job safely.  This Chef's Choice model separates the water you're going to drink from the heating mechanism, eliminating mineral deposits and making it easy to clean.  It also has a safety auto-off feature and gets rave reviews from users.

Get a healthy kettle (49.99 and free shipping) here.

And, read about what to look for in kettles and cookware from National Geographic's Green Guide  here.

(on sale for 70.00)

Here is an article from Yoga Journal about how many women have found yoga as their path to self-acceptance.  It is definitely exercise, but one doesn't have to be a super athlete to do it, and the whole emphasis is to go at your own pace and be most concerned with stillness and breathing.  Not only that, since it is all about connecting with yourself, it helps you connect to your power and strength.

(on sale for 48.00)

Are you, like me, wary of the dry, stifling air on planes? Do you cringe when other passengers cough in your direction?

This article from Delicious Living gives the skinny on Vitamin D supplements.

One doctor/researcher believes it's the olive oil.  In studying Ibuprofen, he knew that that pharmacological anti-inflammatory creates a burning sensation if it's chewed up.  At an olive oil tasting somewhere in Italy, he realized that fresh, virgin olive oil produces that same tingling burn at the back of the throat.

And it turns out that the lovely golden stuff has similar anti-inflammatory properties.

It's not a great idea to drink a glass if you have a headache, but consistent small servings over long periods of time have an overall anti-inflammatory effect, and inflammation is getting a lot of attention as a big causer of all sorts of diseases.

Listen to an interview with the doctor (scroll down the page a bit) here.

And, get some organic olive oil here.

If you're looking for crafty paper, Paperworks has an envrionmental line that makes thick cardstock out of alternative fibers, some of which are post-consumer recycled fibers.  Many of its varieties use no new trees!

Check out the whole line (starting at 22.20 for 250 sheets) here.

Some studies show that they actually make people sick--stomach problems, headaches, or worse.  I know from personal experience that they make me woozy and nauseated.  This makes sense--they're full of toxic chemicals including formaldahyde. 

What to do?

Here is an article with some indoor fresh air tips.  

Some of my favorite:

Burn beeswax candles.  They skip the chemicals in the candle and lead in the wicks for a clean, cozy burn that actually cleans the air and helps your mood and mindset.  You can buy great ones here.  Consider beeswax tea lights for your jack-o-lanterns.

Use the leaves from your green tea bag to freshen yoga mats, litter boxes, refrigerators.  Read how here.

I use a spray bottle filled with distilled water and a few drops of lavender essential oil to refresh rooms and for me to absorb the scent of pure calm.  You can read other ideas here, including how to make your stove a natural incense generator by putting cloves or other spices around the burner.

 

Last week when I had my first cold in a couple of years, my acupuncturist told me one can also crush it and, without ingesting it, just breath it in to help both prevent and treat sinus infections.

Be warned that it worked (and smelled up the apartment). It definitely made the juices flow.  In a good way.

One reason its so popular is the USDA's claim that 25 grams of it a day may reduce the risk of heart disease.  That claim has led Americans to consume it like never before.  And, American farmers are growing it at an unprecendented rate (especially given the fact that it's not native to the N. American continent).  

This in-depth article from Utne, "The Dark Side of Soy," gives readers warning about this substance and its many, many derivatives (soybean oil, soy flour, soy protein isolate--some of these were originally developed to be used in products like cardboard and glue) that are all over fast foods and even processed health foods.

It's balanced, but gives good reason to be cautious about a food that may cause digestive problems and even endocrine disruption, especially for children.

You can read it for yourself here.

Developed by a chiropractor, it keeps your core tight and your back naturally straight.

There's even a companion pamphlet of stretches and exercises you can do on the ball when you need a typing break.

I highly recommend this; it's done wonders in my household.

But, I recently found myself feeling uncomfortable with the number of miniature plastic bottles I was going through every couple of months.  Plus, most of them contain triclosan, a strong antibacterial agent that's appropriate for hospitals, but is going way overboard in a regular setting.  It could possibly cause super-bacterias to build up in the environment and has potential health risks for humans, especially little ones.

So, I did some digging and came up with a safe, wonderful smelling concoction that I hope will work for you.

Add distilled water, alcohol, and your favorite essential oil (I've used peppermint in all of mine).  It's so simple.  Just make sure that your mixture is at least 60% alcohol as the experts say that's how much you need to kill germs when you don't have good old soap and water. (The only caveat: keep the solution, like any sanitzer or cleaning agent, away from kids.)

The greatest part is that you can use glass bottles to house your solution any place you need clean hands, and they'll last through endless refills without sending anything to the trash.

You can buy glass bottles here.  (I recommend spray tops for a nice mist of good-smelling clean.)