Food By Franz

Its proving to be a banner pest and insect year here in Utah. Grasshoppers, bed bugs, japanese beetles and of course mosquitoes are making there numbers known here in our little four letter state. Your local abatement districts have all kinds of information, but are asking Utahan’s to eliminate any extra standing water as its becomes a haven mosquito larva. West Nile virus (or WNV) is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread WNV to humans and other animals when they bite.

Here’s the Good News! Most people who are infected by the the virus experience no symptoms or mild, flu-like symptoms. Those at higher risk of developing potentially serious conditions are the elderly and those with lowered immune systems. However in some cases, particularly among persons 50 years of age and older, it can cause serious neurological diseases such as encephalitis, meningitis, or acute flaccid paralysis.

The West Nile virus (WNV) was first detected in the Western Hemisphere in 1999 and has since rapidly spread across the North Americcan continent into all 48 continental states, seven Canadian provinces, and throughout Mexico. In addition, WNV activity has been detected in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Guadeloupe and El Salvador.According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 15,000 people in the U.S. have tested positive for WNV infection since 1999, including over 500 deaths. Many more people have likely been infected with WNV, but have experienced mild or no symptoms. Statistically, a person’s risk of contracting West Nile is low, and less than 1% of those infected develop serious illness from the virus.

Five Common Myths about West Nile Virus

Myth #1: There’s not much I can do about West Nile virus.

Truth: There is a lot that you, personally, can do to reduce your chance of West Nile virus infection.* Reduce the number of mosquito bites you get. Make a habit of using insect repellent with DEET when outdoors. Spray repellent on exposed skin and clothing. Get the details about safe repellent use.
* Prime mosquito-biting hours are usually dusk to dawn. Pay special attention to protection during these hours, or avoid being outdoors.
* You can reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so check your yard once a week: get rid of containers that aren’t being used, empty water from flower pots, change water in bird baths and maintain clean gutters.
* Make sure window and door screens are in good condition. Have an older neighbor or family member? See if they need help installing or repairing screens.

Myth #2: Kids are at the most danger of getting sick from West Nile virus.

Truth: People over 50 are at the highest risk for developing severe West Nile disease.

* Relatively few children have been reported with severe West Nile Virus disease. By contrast, most of the deaths due to WNV during 2002 were among people over 50 years old. Half of those deaths were among people over 77 years old.
* It is always a good idea for children to avoid mosquito bites, but it’s also important for adults – especially older adults – to take steps to avoid mosquito bites. Click here for suggestions on how to avoid mosquito bites.

Myth #3: It’s only people who are already in poor health who have to worry about West Nile virus.
Truth: Healthy, active older adults who spend time working and exercising outdoors have been affected by severe West Nile virus infection.

* Being over 50 is a risk factor for developing severe West Nile disease if infected with the virus. There is a risk of getting mosquito bites while leading an active life outdoors. This doesn’t mean you have to stay inside – it does mean that it’s important to use repellent when you go outside.

Myth #4: Repellents containing DEET are not safe.
Truth: Repellents containing DEET are very safe when used according to directions.

* Because DEET is so widely used, a great deal of testing has been done. When manufacturers seek registration with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for products such as DEET, laboratory testing regarding both short-term and long-term health effects must be carried out.
* There are products with different strengths (percentage of DEET) available. The longer the protection you need the higher percent of DEET needed.
* Repellent with DEET can be used for both adults and children, according to directions
* Click here for much more information on using repellents safely.

Myth #5: As long as my area has a mosquito control program, I don’t have to worry about using repellent.
Truth: Mosquito control activities don’t eliminate every mosquito, so personal protection is still important.

* Public activities, such as using products to kill mosquito larvae and adult mosquitoes, are one part of control. Personal protection, such as using repellent, keeping window screens in good condition, and control of household breeding sites are other important steps.
* Collaboration between the community, the family and the individual is needed to achieve the best prevention of West Nile virus infection.

Common Questions and Common Sense

Q. How does mosquito repellent work?
A. Female mosquitoes bite people and animals because they need the protein found in blood to help develop their eggs. Mosquitoes are attracted to people by skin odors and carbon dioxide from breath. The active ingredients in repellents make the person unattractive for feeding. Repellents do not kill mosquitoes. Repellents are effective only at short distances from the treated surface, so you may still see mosquitoes flying nearby.

Q. Which mosquito repellents work best?
A. CDC recommends using products that have been shown to work in scientific trials and that contain active ingredients which have been registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as insect repellents on skin or clothing. When EPA registers a repellent, they evaluate the product for efficacy and potential effects on human beings and the environment. EPA registration means that EPA does not expect a product, when used according to the instructions on the label, to cause unreasonable adverse effects to human health or the environment.
Of the active ingredients registered with the EPA, CDC believes that these have demonstrated a higher degree of efficacy in the peer-reviewed, scientific literature. Products containing these active ingredients typically provide longer-lasting protection than others:

DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)
Picaridin (KBR 3023)
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD – p-menthane, 3,8 diol)

If you are of the Organic Preference you might be interested to note this:

Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil 4 fl oz: C

Oil of lemon eucalyptus [active ingredient: p-menthane 3,8-diol (PMD)], a plant- based repellent, is also registered with EPA. In two recent scientific publications, when oil of lemon eucalyptus was tested against mosquitoes found in the US it provided protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET. Note that the label for products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus specifies that they should not to be used on children under the age of three years. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is a sustainable resource.

EPA recommends the following precautions when using insect repellents:

* Apply repellents only to exposed skin and/or clothing (as directed on the product label.) Do not use repellents under clothing.
* Never use repellents over cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
* Do not apply to eyes or mouth, and apply sparingly around ears. When using sprays, do not spray directly on face—spray on hands first and then apply to face.
* Do not allow children to handle the product. When using on children, apply to your own hands first and then put it on the child. You may not want to apply to children’s hands.
* Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing. Heavy application and saturation are generally unnecessary for effectiveness. If biting insects do not respond to a thin film of repellent, then apply a bit more.
* After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water or bathe. This is particularly important when repellents are used repeatedly in a day or on consecutive days. Also, wash treated clothing before wearing it again. (This precaution may vary with different repellents—check the product label.)
* If you or your child get a rash or other bad reaction from an insect repellent, stop using the repellent, wash the repellent off with mild soap and water, and call a local poison control center for further guidance. If you go to a doctor because of the repellent, take the repellent with you to show the doctor.

The Importance of Calcium

More and more our children are being left behind when it comes to health. They’re getting fatter, lazier, and now, according to new research, they’re not getting enough calcium. This according to the study: Increased Calcium Improves Children’s Bone Health Sunday, February 01st, 2009 | Author: Organic Health News

New findings, published in the August edition of the journal Bone, came to the conclusion that “Increased dietary calcium/dairy products, with and without vitamin D, significantly increases total body and lumbar spine BMC in children with low base-line intakes.”

In this latest research, Michael Huncharek, Joshua Muscat and Bruce Kupelnickb analyzed the data from a total of 21 clinical trials. Totaling more than 3,800 children, the researchers set out to determine how the intake of dietary calcium would affect bone mineral content in children.

The information revealed that those children, who were not taking enough calcium at the beginning of these studies, saw a substantial increase in their total body bone mineral content (BMC). This increase measured out to be about 25x greater than that of children who had already been on a healthy diet of calcium.

Many of us would have encountered advertising on television and elsewhere, warning us of consuming a healthy diet high in calcium to ensure that we stemmed the possibility of osteoporosis. A disease of the bone, osteoporosis leads to an increased rate of bone fracture through a diminishing of our bone mineral density.

Given the possibility that there is a way to stem the risk of osteoporosis from an early age, one would imagine just why there are so many children not getting the right amount. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests that each individual should consume at least 3 servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy foods each day as part of their diet.

“The good news is that you are never too old or too young to improve your bone health.” There are many things you can do to keep bones strong and prevent fractures. At all ages, a diet with enough calcium and vitamin D, together with weight-bearing physical activity every day, can prevent problems later. You can work with your doctor to check out warning signs or risk factors. When you are older, you can have your bones tested and take medicine to strengthen them.
The Benefits of Calcium Supplements
According to work done by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 7 out of 10 boys and 9 out of 10 girls are not consuming enough calcium needed to maintain a healthy bone density. However not everyone is able to rely entirely on dairy products for their calcium intake. That is where calcium supplements come in to the equation. If you are unable to get the recommended amount of calcium from your diet, it may be wise to supplement your diet with added calcium.

Things to consider when buying a Calcium Supplement:

When purchasing calcium supplements, ensure to look for the elemental calcium content, not the total content. For instance, a pill containing 500mg of Calcium Carbonate provides 200mg of elemental calcium. Hence one pill in this example only provides 200mg of calcium, not 500mg.

Calcium is absorbed in small intestines. Not all calcium we consume will be absorbed. The amount of calcium absorbed is dependent on a number of factors such as the acidic condition in our intestines, Vitamin D level, estrogen level and the type of calcium supplement.
Different Types of Calcium Supplements

* One important factor affecting calcium absorption is how well the pill dissolves. Try buying calcium pills of US Pharmacopeia’s standards. The “USP” on the label indicates that the calcium pill meets the USP standards of supplying adequate elemental calcium and how well it dissolves in our intestines.

* Calcium Citrate e.g. Citracal or Solgar: Calcium is best absorbed in an acidic environment, hence calcium citrate is the best absorbed supplemental form of calcium. It does not require extra stomach acid for absorption; hence we may take it anytime in a day, even on an empty stomach. However Calcium Citrate usually provides less elemental calcium per pill, therefore one may need to take a relatively more numbers of pills per day depending to the needs. Cautions: people with acid reflux may not be able to tolerate calcium citrate

* Calcium Carbonate e.g. Tums or Caltrate: Most calcium pills in the market are in the form of calcium carbonate. It requires extra stomach acid for better absorption, hence it is best taken after meals.

* Dolomite, Bone Meal or Oyster Shell: These naturally occurring calcium pills may contain heavy metal or lead. At the moment, calcium supplements are not tested by any regulatory agency for lead content. Therefore, it’s best to avoid.

* Calcium Gluconate and Calcium Lactate: These types of calcium pills contain low content of elemental calcium. Hence, one may need to take a large amount of tablets to meet the calcium requirement!

* Coral Calcium: This type of calcium is marketed for more than bone health. Its infomercial claimed that it can cure 200 human

Learn about how to help common conditions & ailments using natural methods at our Health A-Z Index!

How To Relieve Stress the Organic Way
Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 | Author: Organic Blogger

Between our jobs, our family and the daily news, we all tend to experience some amounts of stress during our day. Here are some natural ways to relieve stress, sleep better and feel more refreshed.

1. Swap the coffee for some organic Green Tea. Coffee is full of caffeine which raises your heart rate and is a diuretic. It also can be over stimulating. If you still need a caffeine fix in the morning, try drinking Green Tea – it’s full of anti oxidants, rich in flavor, and contains half the caffeine that coffee does.

2. Get rid of the anger. Whether through Yoga, exercises, gardening or whatever activity you choose, find a physical activity to relieve tension and anger. Exercise, in any form, is one of the greatest natural drugs known to humankind. No over the counter relaxant can beat a good dose of endorphins.

3. Practice proper eating. Besides an obvious organic diet, make sure you’re getting the right amount of carbohydrates, protein and fat for your level of activity. If you’re sedentary, cut back on empty calories. If you work out or do a lot of physical activity, make sure that you are getting the right amount of protein to feed your growing muscles.

4. Drink a cup of chamomile. Before bed, try to have a cup of chamomile tea. The best option is brewing it yourself with actual tea leaves, as opposed to tea bags. Chamomile is a natural relaxant – it helps settle your stomach as well, and will lead you to a great nights sleep. Just below is a great deal on chamomile tea.

Chamomile Cert. Organic Tea 16 tea bags: C

Stress has become a natural part of our lives, unfortunately. With a little bit of planning and a little bit of effort, you should be able to relieve at least parts of your stress via simple, healthy and effective methods.

This post was written by Maya Richard, who is currently writing about cell Phones . She can be emailed by combining her name gmail.com.

Our Health – Archive Post#1
Posted on 02/17/2009 04:12 pm by manx

Go for Garlic – Some Amazing Statistics

Garlic (Allium sativum) is an herbal mainstay for heart health. In a classic study, researchers at New York Medical College in Valhalla analyzed five previous studies and found that one clove a day reduces cholesterol by 9 percent. Other studies show similar reductions. For every 1 percent decrease in total cholesterol, the risk of heart attack drops 2 percent.
The issue isn’t cut and dried, however. Some studies show no cholesterol-lowering effect of garlic, notably a recent Stanford report published in Archives of Internal Medicine that used raw cloves and a garlic supplement. But right now the weight of evidence still favors using garlic as a cholesterol reducer.

Garlic reduces the volume of the atherosclerotic plaques that narrow the arteries. German researchers measured plaque volume in 152 people with heart disease, then gave them garlic (900 mg a day). After four years, their plaque volume was reduced by up to 18 percent, resulting in a substantial increase in blood flow and significantly less risk for heart attack and stroke.
Garlic also helps prevent the formation of internal blood clots that trigger heart attacks and most strokes.

To get the most of garlic’s cholesterol-lowering benefits, chop, mince or smash it to release its heart-protective compounds. Cook lightly or eat raw. (Remember, this is a clove, not an entire garlic bulb, which might make you healthy, but might also limit your social life – LOL!)