Hyvin
A Natural Health and Wellness Blog

OK, did you try the microwave sponge de-germing? I hope the sponge was wet!!! Apparently the researchers at the study site (Univ. of Florida) have received negative feedback from folks who have burned their sponges, smoked up their houses, and created, in short, a mess.

According to Reuters Health,

The university issued the following advisory: “To guard against the risk of fire, people who wish to sterilize their sponges at home must ensure the sponge is completely wet. Two minutes of microwaving is sufficient for most sterilization. Sponges should also have no metallic content. Last, people should be careful when removing the sponge from the microwave as it will be hot.”

Do you throw your kitchen sponge in the dishwasher to “clean” it? That’s what I’ve always done. I know sanitation is a good idea….the sponge never REALLY gets dry, and it’s gotta’ have all the germs that come into the house and land on the counters, in the sink, on hands, etc.

But I’ve never thought about whether I was really sterilizing thoroughly. Well, new research to the rescue. According to Reuters Health, the Journal of Environmental Health just published a study finding that two minutes on full power in the common household microwave is the way to eliminate 99 percent of the germy stuff on the ordinary kitchen sponge. That works for me!

Ready or not, we’re entering the holiday season. Stress is a huge health issue during the holidays. The body’s stress response (extra adrenaline, muscle tension, rising blood pressure) can help you get a lot accomplished! But, it can also take its toll on your health both short and long-term. There are a number of ways you can help the body deal with stress without losing the positive side of helping you through the additional demands of the holidays.

1) Take extra B-Complex. Known as the “happy vitamin”, B nutrients are rapidly depleted by stress, yet they are needed to convert food into energy, for brain function, learning & memory, digestion, and many other functions.

2) Breathe deeply. I’ve been trying this myself lately and notice that I normally do not fill my entire chest cavity when I breathe. When I DO breathe deeply enough to fill-’er-up, I can almost feel the oxygen push into the tips of my extremities

3) Sleep! Be sure to get enough of it. It’s truly a “wonder drug”… if only we would take enough of it! And if you’re having trouble sleeping, try a valeriarn supplement and/or some calcium, nature’s tranquilizer and a natural muscle relaxant.

4) Exercise - There are scientific reasons why it helps de-stress, but the best explanation is that it just does!

5) Lighten up - I know that I take myself and my to-do list way too seriously sometimes. That self-imposed stress rarely helps. Smile. Laugh. Count your blessings. Think about something pleasant for a few moments. Remember the “reason for the season.” Try it!

6) Try an herbal formula designed to relieve stress without causing drowsiness. Be sure, though, that the manufacturer can be trusted to use only ingredients that are completely safe and natural. Even better yet, use one that provides stress relief and also addresses the short-term and long-term damage to the body that stress can cause!

May you enjoy a stress-free, peaceful and blessed Thanksgiving!

There was a day when I never would have thought that my household cleaning products could be making me sick. That day, fortunately, was enlightened by an allergy clinic. I discovered that my cleaners WERE making me sick (and I thought I just didn’t like to clean!) Since then, I have learned a great deal about these commonly used products and their effects on our health.

Health Day News recently issued a health tip reminding consumers that bleach-based cleaning products can cause lung damage.

According to a May 2006 study by researchers at the Univ. of California Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, many common household cleaners emit toxins at levels that may lead to health risks.

To date, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 75,000 synthetic chemicals are registered. Only a fraction of them have been tested for human health concerns. We’re beginning to learn just how harmful exposure can be. One recent study, for example, conducted over 15 years, found that women who work at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than those who work outside the home. Scientists concluded this was a direct result of increased exposure to toxic chemicals, many of which are found in common household products.

And if these toxic chemicals are having this affect on adults, just think of the consequences to children! In fact, many household toxins have been linked to mental and physical developmental problems in children.

Scientists at the National Toxicology Program found 150 chemicals present in the home are associated with allergies, birth defects, cancer, and psychological disorders. Some of these chemicals may be in common household cleaners. They include:

* Ammonia: Glass Cleaners may contain ammonia. The fumes from ammonia can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory system.
* Aromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalene, organic solvents, trichloroethane): Used in degreasers, deodorizers, air fresheners, all-purpose cleaners, liquid laundry detergent and pesticides. Many are likely human carcinogens.
* Alkyphenols: Found in multisurface cleaners, liquid laundry detergent. May have hormone-disrupting effects.
* Butyl cellosolve: Found in metal polishes and grease removers, a petroleum-based solvent that can irritate nasal passages and cause liver and kidney damage.
* Phthalates: Found in air fresheners, multipurpose cleaners. May cause birth defects and reproductive disorders.
* Petroleum distillates: Found in floor waxes, furniture polishes, degreasers, all-purpose cleaners. Can damage lung tissues and dissolve fatty tissue around nerve cells.
* Chlorine: Found in sanitizing and bleaching agents, tub and tile cleaners, and pesticides. Ranks high in the causes of child poisonings in the U.S. and may cause reproductive, endocrine and immune disorders.

I cringe when I smell these chemicals in the homes or on the bodies and clothes of friends or their children! I am SO grateful to have found really effective, economical, safe cleaning products that are non-toxic. They are a huge part of my quest to be hyvin (well).

Fall is in the air and that means football, right?

I was so glad to see that the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) has issued guidelines for keeping those on the field safe and healthy.

Yes, those on the football field… but NOT the football players: the marching band members!

I’m tickled to see the physical demands of marching band recognized. The NATA recommends a variety of tactics to keep band members healthy, from light colored clothing to a healthy diet to hydration before and after routines. My family has loved this awesome hydration drink that has no artificial colors or preservatives, and much less sugar than the commercial brands.

Check out all the tips for “band-aid” here.

Want to be sure you’re getting an accurate blood pressure reading?

New research published this month in the American Journal of Hypertension suggests that you should be seated and at rest for at least 10 minutes prior to having it taken!

Read the full Reuters Health report here. And… please be seated!

Keeping well hydrated is one of the most important ways to maintain your health during the summer. Increased temperatures means increased sweating, which means increased water loss.

Here are some remarkable water facts from Nedra H. Sahr, M.S., C.N.S.:

• 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
• 37% of us think we’re hungry when we are thirsty.
• The Number One cause of fatigue is lack of water.
• Mild dehydration will slow metabolism as much as 3%.

A 2% drop in water stores leads to:

• Fuzzy short term memory.
• Trouble with basic math.
• Difficulty focusing on the computer screen or a printed page.

Can you drink too much water? Sure. Here are the top 3 ways you know you’ve been drinking too much water:

1. You have to empty water out of your shoes more than twice a day.
2. Mosquitoes start nesting on you.
3. You look at a picture of Niagara Falls and say, “Mama!”

What about juice? Can we use some juice in our quest to drink enough this summer?

Well, if you’re an adult, maybe. But In 2001, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued guidelines saying fruit juice should not be given to children younger than 6 months, and that there is no nutritional reason to give it to them before their first birthday. After that, juice is optional, though the group favors whole produce and urges parents to limit juice to 4 to 6 ounces a day for children up to 6 years old, and to no more than 8 to 12 ounces for older children. And even for adults, juice is not encouraged. It is essentially water and sugar (even the all-natural, no-sugar added varieties), and the new dietary guidelines discourage sugar intake, in food or beverages.

By now, most of us know the basics of summer sunscreen use. But here are a few reminders of some less well-known facts that your skin will appreciate:

• According to CBC News online, the biggest mistake people make about sunscreen is that they don’t use enough. Apply liberally. The recommended application for adequate protection is 35 to 40ml per person per session (a handful).
• Apply protection to every exposed area. People often forget the parts in their hair, the tops of their jaws and around their bodies’ corners and curves, but these areas are still vulnerable to sun damage.
• In figuring the length of your protection, you CANNOT add SPF numbers just because sunscreen was re-applied. While reapplication is encouraged after swimming or sweating, it does NOT extend time in the sun. So, for longer protection, you MUST use a larger SPF to start with. For example, if you apply SPF 15, then later in the day, apply SPF 30, you are protected ONLY by the length of time provided by the SPF 15.

If you know you should be using sunscreen, but dread dealing with greasy, sticky sunscreen that dries out the skin and seems to “sit” on the skin’s surface, try this great-for-sensitive-skin alternative.

Personal Spring Cleaning… on the Inside!
Detox the Detox Organ… Keep your Liver Healthy!

The liver plays many crucial roles in normal metabolism, including detoxification. This important internal organ may need some spring cleaning, and here’s why:

There is a wide range of foreign compounds the liver may be called upon to detoxify, including:

• Benzopyrenes (from tobacco smoke or smoke from grilling foods)
• Acetone (from nail polish remover, paints, varnishes, thinners)
• Heterocyclic amines (from lighter fluid, hydrocarbon solvents, barbecued or broiled meats)
• Nitrosamines (from processed foods)
• Polycyclic hydrocarbons (from car exhaust, fumes from burning fossil fuels)
• Insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers
• Ammonia and other household chemicals
• Alcoholic beverages
• Some over-the-counter and prescription drugs: antiulcer, analgesic, antiflammatory, anticonvulsant, antihyperlipidemic, etc.

When the structure of these compounds is changed in the liver, free radicals are released. Free radicals then attack the cell membranes of liver cells. If their attack is successful, the integrity of the cell is impaired leading to cell damage and even cell death. Despite the liver’s amazing ability to regenerate itself, if too many liver cells are destroyed or damaged by free radical-induced oxidation, the liver’s ability to perform important functions may be decreased.

And what, besides detoxification, are those important functions? Well, you could think of the liver as a kind of industrial processing plant for the body, performing a wide range of critical functions for physical maintenance and repair.

Let’s take a look at some of the different departmental functions of the amazing liver.

• Warehouse and Shipping Depot for Nutrients. When you eat, foods are broken down into component nutrients by the process of digestion, absorbed, and transported by the blood to the liver. The liver receives the nutrients and assigns some to the storage while others are “packaged” and shipped to parts of the body to fill their needs.

  As another kind of “shipping and receiving” function, the liver helps to regulate normal blood sugar levels in response to the action of hormones produced by the pancreas.

• Protein Manufacturing Plant. The liver assembles amino acids into essential proteins needed for the immune system’s antibodies, blood clotting, and many other bodily functions.
• Waste Treatment Plant. When blood enters the liver, it carries not only nutrients, but also a wide range of other substances absorbed through our skin, through our lungs, and through our digestive systems. Any compound the body doesn’t need for nutritional supplies is identified as “foreign” and targeted for “disassembly” and disposal. Specialized liver enzymes perform the function of changing the chemical structure of foreign compounds so they can be excreted.
• Hazardous Waste Transport and Disposal. Once the liver has broken down toxic substances, they can be excreted by the kidneys in urine or transported to the intestines in bile, which is manufactured by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. When needed, bile is released into the intestines where it works along with dietary fiber to bind toxins and facilitate their elimination from the body as part of fecal waste.

So, in order to ensure that all these functions are done to the best of the liver’s ability, we need to do our part in optimizing our liver function. Many natural health professionals recommend a periodic cleansing of the liver as a part of this. There are two primary strategies we can use to optimize liver function:

1. Antioxidant Protection. Research continues to identify nutrients that protect various cells and tissues in the body against the oxidation damage caused by free radicals. By supplying the body with herbal compounds that have antioxidant properties, the liver’s natural ability to regenerate itself after exposure to damaging oxidation reactions can be supported.
2. Improving Bile Flow. The longer toxic substances and their oxidative by-products are present in the liver and the gastrointestinal tract, the more damage they can do. By providing the body with compounds that help maintain normal bile flow, the body’s natural ability to eliminate toxins from the body can be supported.

What substances best provide these strategies?

• Milk thistle seed extract - supports the body’s normal ability to make proteins that help regenerate liver cells
• Schizandra and reishi mushrooms - herbs with antioxidant properties; schizandra has also been associated with the stimulation of protein synthesis, increasing the amount of detoxifying enzymes in the liver, and inhibiting the binding of toxins to cell membranes.
• Extracts of dandelion, turmeric, and artichoke - herbs that help maintain normal bile flow.

You can get all of these herbs in one formulation for a spring cleaning of your liver!

As the weather warms up, we head outdoors. Health Day online recently posted some warning signs that children are becoming dehydrated (”If your child complains of dizziness, lightheadedness or dry mouth, or notice that your child is not urinating as often as usual”). It can happen much more quickly and easily than we realize.

I am SO glad to have discovered an electrolyte replacement drink that does an even better job of hydrating than water, tastes great, has NO artificial ingredients and is very low in “sugars.” The kids love it! And it gives me great peace of mind.

And remember, if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.