Archive for the 'Health' Category

February 20, 2008 | Health, Essential oils, Cleaning products

One of the things I love to do when I clean is to add essential oils to natural cleaning products. For example, in my mop bucket I’ll do about 1/2 cup of cider vinegar, fill half full with water, and add 3-4 drops of essential oils, depending on what suits my mood. There are lots to choose from at my local health food store, and I tend to go for things that have good aromatherapy benefits, smell nice in my home, and fulfill some other cleaning and maintenance purpose. Peppermint oil is a great choice lately, for me at least. (more…)

February 7, 2008 | Health, Shopping, Lifestyle

A new study was released that links the use of baby lotions, powders, and shampoos to reproductive disorder and endocrine disruption. The culprit? Phthalates. It’s a category of chemical that is used to stabilize artificial fragrances and does not need to be disclosed on the labeled ingredients of personal care products. It’s in most things with artificial fragrance, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is now advising against it. (more…)

January 31, 2008 | Food & drink, Pregnancy

Okay, so there are 2 writers here at Broom Huggers - Kathy (a.k.a., mudlark) and Jeana (a.k.a., well, Jeana). As of right now, Kathy is 7 months pregnant and Jeana is newly pregnant, so forgive us if there’s a sudden wave of pregnancy-related posts. It’s kind of what’s on our minds. And don’t worry - we’ll get it out of our system (and eventually we’ll give birth and raise our families’ carbon emissions too…), but in the meantime, here is yet another post on health during pregnancy.

NPR had a great story this morning on mercury in fish - what to eat, what not to eat, how to get information - the whole shabang. Basically, if you’re not pregnant, and if you’re old enough to be reading this yourself, you don’t need to worry about your mercury levels. Your body can cope with it just fine. But children and pregnant and nursing moms need to use a little bit of caution when choosing fish. That’s not to say you should avoid fish - you’ll find all sorts of nutrients in fish that your body needs. The key is in finding balance. 4 fish to avoid:

• Swordfish
• King Mackerel
• Tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico (why do we have to discriminate against the Latino tilefish?)
• Shark

As for tuna, the canned type is usually best in terms of mercury levels, because they use smaller, younger fish who have less time to accumulate toxins. Still, limit it to 12 oz. a week, and limit albacore to 6 oz. a week. (If you’re anything like me, that won’t be a problem…)

Good choices that are notably low in mercury are mackerel (though not King Mackerel) and tilapia. I was disappointed that the story didn’t cover my 2 favorite fishies - salmon and shrimp. After doing some more research though, I found that my favorites are on the low mercury side as well, to be limited to 12 oz. a week (or the equivalent of 2 meals per week - I think I’m safe since I only have fish once a month or so…). There’s a nice chart here from the FDA that gives more specific information about mercury levels in fish.

January 26, 2008 | Food & drink, Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an amazing adventure! One that is filled with so many “do’s and don’t’s” that it can make your head spin (or wait, maybe that’s the nausea?). One of the big discussions on the table right now is how caffeine affects your pregnancy. CNN posted an article on a recent study showing that caffeine may boost your chance of miscarriage. Miscarriage is one of those things that nobody wants to think about happening to them, yet it happens to so many. (Sidenote from Mudlark: I don’t know about you, but since I found out recently that I’ve got another little baby on the way I will do just about anything I can to avoid being one of those statistics!)

The study found that pregnant women who consumed more than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day, equivalent to about two cups of coffee, had twice the risk of miscarriage as the women who consumed no caffeine at all.

The study looked at 1,063 women in the early stage of pregnancy. Among women who consumed no caffeine, the miscarriage rate was 12.5 percent. In comparison, 25.5 percent of women who consumed more than 200 mg of caffeine a day miscarried. Although there was an increased risk for women who consumed fewer than 200 mg of caffeine a day, the lead investigator says the increase is not statistically significant.

We now know that drinking caffeine can DOUBLE your chances of having a miscarriage. It doesn’t matter whether the caffeine comes from coffee, tea, soda or chocolate. Recommendations from the March of Dimes warn women not to exceed 300 milligrams of caffeine a day.

But what about that last part? There was still an increase in women who consumed less than the recommended amount of caffeine in a day! Although I cannot find as much information on this subject as I would like but I did find a few things that can be connected to miscarriages.

Smoking - Women who smoke have an increased chance of miscarriage. The risk also increases if the father is a smoker. The husband study observed a 4% increased risk for husbands who smoke less than 20 cigarettes/day, and an 81% increased risk for husbands who smoke 20 or more cigarettes/day.

Exercise - A study of over 92,000 pregnant women showed that most types of exercise, with the exception of swimming, correlated with a higher rate of miscarriage before 18 weeks. Increasing time spent on exercise was associated with a greater risk of miscarriage: an approximately 10% increased risk was seen with up to 1.5 hours per week of exercise, and a 200% increased risk was seen with over 7 hours per week of exercise. High-impact exercise was especially associated with the increased risk. No relationship was found between exercise and miscarriage rates after the 18th week of pregnancy.

Obviously the key thing is to take care of yourself, eat a healthy balanced diet (watch the caffeine!) and take it easy for a while!

I know that’s what I’ll be doing!

Updated, 2/6/08, by Kathy (not Jeana, who expertly crafted the rest of the post): I had my 31 week check-up today with the midwife, and this time when I complained about dizzy spells (which I’ve complained about at every single appointment) my midwife suggested that I should increase my caffeine intake. Apparently the dangers later in the pregnancy aren’t as severe, and for people with excessively low blood pressure (like me), the suitable amount of caffeine is a bit higher. Need I mention that I’m anxiously looking forward to allowing myself to indulge in 2 cups of c0fffee tomorrow, guilt-free and worry-free?

January 25, 2008 | asthma, Health, Cleaning products

Rates of asthma are rising in children and adults alike. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that 9 million US children under the age of 18 (that is, 12.5% of all US children) have been diagnosed with asthma at some point. It’s the third ranking cause of hospitalization in children under the age of 15. (more…)

January 14, 2008 | Bleach alternatives, Health, Essential oils, Cleaning products

What can cure a fungal infection? What can stop a drug-resistant strain of of staphylococcus (”staph infection”)? What can kill E. Coli and Salmonela on your countertops? Or clean just about any bacteria found in your bathroom? What can take care of gastrointestinal and bronchial infections? What can kill and prevent yeast infections faster than you can say Candida (that is, the bacteria that causes them)?

Oregano oil! (more…)

January 13, 2008 | Outdoors, Health, Lifestyle

Of all the places to come across a fascinating, well-thought out argument, I was surprised to see one in “Drive” - the Subaru magazine. It talks about how the way children see and experience nature has changed drastically within the space of a few decades.

“Well-meaning public school systems, media, and parents are effectively scaring children straight out of the woods and fields.”

(more…)

December 30, 2007 | Allergies, asthma, Cleaning tips

Christmas has come and gone, but New Year is just around the corner, and that means parties! More cleaning to be done, plans to be made, appetizers to prepare, and desserts to bake. The fun of the holidays is far from over!

But in another few days we’ll be putting away holiday decorations and putting our homes back in order - the way they are the rest of the year (or at least the way we want them to be for Superbowl parties).

A few things to remember as you’re doing your cleaning this week and next:

• As you put away your holiday decorations, remember that the regular decor that’s been boxed up may have collected dust and other allergens. Unpack them outside if possible, and dust them before you bring them in - especially if anyone in your home has asthma.
• Now is a great time to replace your air filters. All the changing of home decor probably created more dust in your home, and while you’re cleaning you might as well change those filters.
• Don’t forget to sweep your entry ways (even outside the home) and give your door mats a good clean. With the extra traffic of the holidays, you’ll want to make sure what remains is memories, not dirt to be tracked in!
• Have leftover candy canes? Throw them in a food processor, melt your favorite chocolate and spread it over a cookie sheet. Sprinkle the candy cane dust over the top, and refrigerate. Voila! Peppermint bark! Add a drop or two of peppermint oil to the melted chocolate to make it extra minty.
•  If you have silk plants and trees in your home, now would be a great time to spray them down. Again, the activity of the holidays brings extra things into your home, and that means extra dust. Either put the plants in the shower and use a detachable shower head to spray them down, or take them outside and use a garden hose and sprayer attachment to wash the dust away.
• A feather duster is a great way to go over your home quickly for dust. Just remember to wear a mask if you have severe allergies, do it when others are away, and an hour or two after you dust each room run the vacuum to collect any dust that will have settled into your floors.
• Don’t forget to clean out your refrigerator and freezer after the parties have finished. You’d rather toss it now than in a month when it’s become a science project!
• Does your oven need a good scrub after all your holiday baking? Mine sure does! Good for you if you have a self-cleaning oven. If not, you don’t need a harsh oven cleaner. Just grab a good degreaser (Simple Green works well, as does Bon Ami and Bar Keepers’ Friend). Spray or sprinkle on, let sit a while, and then scrub away. It may take a few rounds, but it’ll be well worth it.

And may the New Year bring you renewed organization, healthy motivation, and a good balance of relaxation and good times with good friends!

December 22, 2007 | Health, Essential oils

I have always loved Tea Tree Oil and I’ve seen a few of it’s different uses listed here on Broomhuggers! I was first introduced to it when I got my belly button pierced (Ahh.. the teen years!) and it got slightly infected. The guy that did the piercing for me suggested I try this oil and it helped me heal amazingly fast. Ever since then I’ve been singing the praises of Tea Tree Oil!

I learned one of it’s newest uses this week. A relative of mine called me up to ask me if she could use Tea Tree Oil on a fever blister since she was out of the usual product she used. I told her that it wasn’t going to hurt her and long as she was careful not to actually ingest it and she should give it a shot. Now, if you’ve never had a fever blister (also known as a cold sore) you might not know that they can take weeks to heal. The over the counter products help them heal faster but still a good 4 - 5 days for most people. Well, she called me back the next day saying that the blister was almost gone! The Tea Tree Oil strikes again! There are so many other uses for this handy, easy to find, essential oil. Type Tea Tree Oil into your favorite search engine to see it’s many other helpful uses and then run to your local grocery store (Walmart, Kroger and Target should all carry it) and pick some up!

Usage: dab a bit on, or dilute it with water and use as mouthwash.

Note: Tea Tree Oil is not intended for ingestion. Specifically, limit oral exposure in children, pregnant women, or anyone who would be prone to swallow it.  Tea tree oil can also be an irritant to those with sensitive skin. Try dabbing a small amount on your hand or shoulder, and if your skin doesn’t react than you can use it more liberally. For more information on the safety of tea tree oil, see the National Institute of Health.

December 21, 2007 | Health, Essential oils

A simple addition to your weekly baths – that takes only seconds and costs only pennies – could restore vital magnesium levels in the body, improving health in a number of ways.  Scientific studies have shown that magnesium, the primary component of Epsom Salt, performs more functions in the human body than almost any other mineral. Plus, magnesium is easily absorbed through the skin, which means improving health is as easy as relaxing in the tub.

The National Academy of Sciences reports that the average American female gets just 70% of the magnesium required for good health, which can lead to heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, arthritis and joint pain, stress-related illnesses, chronic fatigue and more.

Magnesium is easily absorbed through the skin, which means bathing in Epsom Salt can help:
• Reduce inflammation
• Relieve sore muscles and aching joints
• Improve heart and circulatory health
• Flush toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances.
• Improve the body’s ability to use insulin
• Improve nerve function by regulating electrolytes. Also, calcium is the main conductor for electrical current in the body, and magnesium is necessary to maintain proper calcium levels in the blood.
• Reduce stress. Excess adrenaline and stress are believed to drain magnesium, a natural stress reliever, from the body.

Magnesium is necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well being and relaxation.

A study by Dr. R.H. Waring at the University of Birmingham reports that bathing in Epsom Salt (magnesium sulfate) is a safe and easy way to increase magnesium levels in the body. Study participants soaked in Epsom Salt baths for 12 minutes for seven days. Blood and urine samples were recorded at intervals after the baths. All but two subjects showed an increase in magnesium levels in the body, with the two most likely already having optimum levels of magnesium. The study concluded that most people would benefit from two to three weekly baths in 500-600 grams of Epsom Salt, roughly 2.5 cups.

Now, here’s the trick… want a great hostess gift that won’t cost you a bundle? Something elegant but easy on the wallet? Pick up some essential oils at your local natural foods store, and mix a few drops with a couple cups of epsom salts. Put it in a cute container, and voila!

For Christmas: Mix several cups Epsom salt 1 drop each per cup of salt: frankincense  and myrrh.

For headache relief: Mix same proportions above, using eucalyptus, lavender, and mint.

For cough and cold relief: Mix same proportions above, using eucalyptus, tea tree oil, and rosemary essential oil.

The possibilities are endless, and the staff at your health foods store can help you find even more combinations to suit your mood - be it for relaxation, concentration, or sensuality…