Vitamin D

The winter sun is low in the sky here in the northeast.

It stays below the tree line for almost two months before it starts it's climb back up, and the day light hours begin to  increase.

Vitamin D deficiency is common in the northern climates as the main source of this vitamin is delivered to the body by the sun through the skin.

And we keep our skin well covered against the cold during the winter months.

Vitamin D doesn't occur naturally in many foods.  It can be found in fatty fish, egg yolks, mushrooms, and liver.

Dairy, most cereals, and some juices have been fortified with it, but for those who want to obtain this vitamin naturally from the sun it is important to do so with care.

As we know, too much sun comes with it's own risks, and using a high SPF sunscreen can prevent the skin from producing the vitamin.

Short spurts of time, about 15-20 minutes, 3 days a week, should be enough to get what we need according to recent studies. 

Vitamin D works to help calcium be absorbed by our bones.

Bone health is important to help prevent osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Vitamin D also supports the immune and nervous systems.

 Signs of Vitamin D deficiency include: fatigue, bone pain, muscle weakness or aches, and mood changes such as depression.

Supplements are available if the doctor thinks they are necessary, but care needs to be taken to not overdo them. Too much Vitamin D comes with its own host of problems.

What is good to know, though, you cannot get too much Vitamin D from the sun.  

Once again, Mother Nature takes care of us if we pay attention.

 

An Apple a Day

Is there any truth to the old saying: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away"?

Before we get to that answer, let's take a look at the benefits that apples have to offer.

Apples contain the vitamins C & K.

They also contain potassium, copper, and several various antioxidants and flavonoids.

The skin contains soluble fiber which comes with it's own host of benefits.

As a whole, an apple can contribute to heart health, lung health, and bone health.

Along with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, apples can help lower the risk of stroke, reduce blood pressure, inflammation, and the risk of cancer.

Getting back to the skin, it's the most nutritious part of the apple.

It contains those important antioxidants that fight free radicals which lead to various health problems.

The fiber helps keep the colon healthy.

Apple juice and applesauce are missing this important part of the fruit and they lack the nutritional benefits of the whole apple.

The skin of the Red Delicious contains the most antioxidants of all the different variety of apples.

They're one of my favorites and I have always thought they were very appropriately named.

Crisp and sweet, they are a perfect, portable snack that easily fits into the daily routine.

So back to the question, I did find this piece of information by Harvard Health:

One study done in 2015 found that:  “Evidence does not support that an apple a day keeps the doctor away; however, the small fraction of US adults who eat an apple a day do appear to use fewer prescription medications.”

That's good enough for me - less prescriptions means less health issues and less visits to the doctor.

 

Oh Those Ticks

Just thinking about ticks makes me itch.

And when I find one actually on me, I can feel the borderline hysteria bubbling up on the inside.

If I were to find one biting me - I would probably pass right out.

I really despise them.

And we seem to have an abundance of them around this year.

You would think the extra cold winter we had this year would have made them scarce - but they are an extremely hardy pest.

We are diligent in searching each other for them when we come in the house.

The clothes and shoes get searched too.

Lighter colored clothes help them show up better.

Tucking in loose pant legs helps.

And as I found out - the swinging pony tail isn't enough - the hair needs to be contained more than that.

We use the spray with DEET - which I hate - but I think it works to keep them from biting.

It doesn't stop them from climbing aboard even though we spray our clothes.

The best defense with these bugs is diligence in checking for them.

It's a pain, but it's more of a pain to contract one of the many diseases that ticks pass on when they bite.

Watching the Sugars

It comes in many different colors and forms and even has many different names.

But unless it is naturally occurring in the food that is eaten, it is considered an "added sugar" in any of it's forms.

Back in 2008, sugar consumption in the US was 136 pounds per person per year.

That's above and beyond the natural sugars already in our fruits, vegetables, and milk.

And the rest of the world is not far behind us in their consumption too.

Heck, I have even seen our cat eating the sweet-eating ants in the summer, and everyone knows how much bears love honey.

Sugar is just too good and all the Earth's creatures love it.

Even though it is considered "empty calories" it is necessary in supplying the brain with energy.

But being human, it is easy to let our love of something get too far out of hand.

Too much sugar contributes to many health problems, the most widespread being, obesity.

And that leads to many other diseases and ailments which can all be avoided.

So, I have been carefully watching my "added sugar" intake over the last six weeks.

According to my weight and calorie intake, it is recommended that I get 25 grams of added sugar a day.

Man, I was getting over that in just my breakfast alone.

And that iced tea that we always prided on making ourselves - that needed a serious makeover too.

That added sugar is everywhere and in everything.

And I am not one who will substitute those no calorie sweeteners to take the place of the real thing.

Don't need those fake chemicals that do their own damages in other ways.

When I first cut out the sugar, I was eating none, even the naturally occurring ones in the fruits.

But after reading more, I realized that those ones don't count.

I needed to only count the added sugars.

And when it comes down to it, it really isn't all that bad after all.

Even during the holidays with all the goodies, I could get by on just a nibble.

And that is still all that is needed now - it really does work.

And all my tea has been sugar free as well, and I enjoy it just the same.

And the weird thing, I can even taste the sugars in the lettuce now.

Who would have thought that?

Raw Honey

We have always enjoyed honey - especially in our tea.

It gives it a smooth flavor with just the right amount of sweetness.

I never really paid too much attention to the different kinds of honey though.

As long as it looked clear with a golden color, I figured that was how it was supposed to be.

And when it begins to crystallize and look cloudy, as it tends to do over time, that is something that is easily remedied.

By setting the jar in a warm pan of water it will go back to it's clear, smooth condition.

But my daughter told me about the raw honey that she has been using these last few weeks.

I checked it out, and there is a difference between it and the one I usually buy.

The raw honey is completely unprocessed.

No pasteurizing or heating it to destroy the natural yeast cells in the liquid.

It's not filtered to remove the pollen grains or small particles from the comb.

Nor has it been strained either.

It contains all the minerals, enzymes, and propolis which all work together as an antiseptic with antibiotic properties.

An all natural product that tastes good too.

It must be used in moderation though as the unprocessed variety may contain toxins from certain flowers that the bees gather the pollen from.

There is no way of controlling the way the bees work.

But when used in small amounts, the health benefits of the raw honey far outweigh the risks.

No GMOs

Our favorite local farm stand is now open for the summer season.

It is our favorite place to get our sweet corn that we love so much.

Granted, it is more expensive than what the supermarket has to offer, but it tastes oh so much better.

And fresher, and sweeter too!

I had noticed when we walked into the barn that there was a sign on the wall that stated:

No GMOs used here.

Now, I know that was a good thing, as I had been reading  about how many of the seeds have been changed genetically - supposedly for our benefit.

 But I wasn't aware of what the letters stood for.

GMO = Genetically Modified Organism

The DNA molecules in the food are altered with different organisms that usually come from different species.

More and more this is being done to our food supply in order to make it more disease and pest resistant  from inside the seed itself.

It is my thought that if the bugs cannot eat it, how can we?

How will our insides cope with it after years of eating it?

I do know that the corn I had from the market earlier this year played havoc with my intestines.

I wonder if it was GMO corn.

I was almost afraid to eat my favorite local treat when it became available this season.

But it was fine.

And with the assurance of no GMOs, it was even finer! 

Sweet Cantaloupe

They are on sale this week at the market.

Those delicious sweet cantaloupe melons.


Two of them went into the cart, and we are enjoying the second one with our dinner.


The orange flesh is loaded with vitamin C and they also provide a healthy dose of antioxidants.


One word of caution though, they need to be thoroughly washed before any slices are made into the skin.


Their irregular, bumpy skin hides and carries bacteria, especially the salmonella kind.


Washing and drying it helps to reduce contamination, and consuming the fruit within a couple days of cutting it is best.

A healthy sweet treat to be sure, and a good deal this week too!

 

Bad Joints and Exercise

Osteo-arthritis hurts.

And moving around seems to only make it hurt more.

So we don't.

And according to a new study, as reported on the news tonight, moving is the best thing for it.

Most individuals with this condition don't get ten minutes of exercise a week because it hurts too much to do it.

From what they have found, persisting through the pain will pay off in the long run.

The joints will move more readily with less pain as the muscles strengthen to help them.

This is even more motivation to keep up with a good exercise plan.

Use it or loose it.

It sounds so hard and painful to get it back - it is a shame to loose it at all!

 

Keeping Out the Bugs

They seem to be more numerous this year.

The bugs, that is.

The battle with the ants began just about as soon as the snow was gone - they didn't waste any time coming in.

The black flies were not too bad this year though - I think it gone too warm too early, and that just did them in.

The mosquitoes are worse than ever and from what I have been reading about them, using repellent has become a must to avoid what they carry in our area.

We picked up some of the sprays and dry granules that we spread around the house perimeter.

I am not a big fan of these chemicals, but the bugs will be all through the house if we don't use them.

And they are so expensive.

We were lucky enough to find some rebates on the dry ones.

On sale a three pound bag was $9.99, and after the rebate, it cost $2.99.

We usually go through two to three bags each season, so that certainly helps with the costs.

We are trying a boric acid mixture with the ants this year.

It takes time for it to work, but it beats all those poison sprays in the house.

Don't really like using bug repellent on the skin, but since we need it, we picked up a can of the good stuff for .99 cents after the rebate.

Might as well do ourselves in as cheaply as we can!

 
 

Dreadful Kidneystones

They have hit my husband again - those ugly kidney stones.

The first time was 11 months ago, and he passed it in a day.

This time it took two day to pass.

 And they were very painful ones at that.

85% of the time, the stones pass by themselves, and that was the case both of these times.

Avoiding them in the first place seems the obvious plan of action, but since there are no real "causes" of them, that is a hard order to fill.

 
But it has been found that the lack of fluid intake plays a very important part.

It is recommended to drink between 2-3 quarts of water a day to keep the kidneys working.

The fluid doesn't allow the stones to build up in size and become impassable.

It is said that most of the stones are composed of calcium-oxalate.

The oxalate compounds bond with calcium in the kidneys causing these stones to form when it mixes with the urine.

This usually happens when there is too little calcium in the bloodstream for the oxalates to bond to while they are in the gastrointestinal tract.

It seems such a delicate balance of all the chemicals in the body, and everyone's body each has it's own way of handling them.

So, we will be increasing the fluids - making sure to get what we need to keep everything working correctly for our innards.

 
 

Humidifier for Dry Air

Winter air - it is so dry.

Especially in the areas that have to keep the heat on constantly.

Most of the cold and flu sicknesses are caught during this time of year.

And one thing that doesn't help with keeping them at bay is the dry indoor air.

Our bodies are wondrous machines, but they need our help sometimes to keep fighting and working correctly.

Many winter sicknesses are breathed in through our mouth and nose, and the mucous membranes that line these cavities work hard to move those germs out fast.

But the dry air causes these membranes to shrink which makes it pretty hard for them to perform their job.

Using a humidifier to add moisture to the air can help.

And anything that helps to ward off sickness is worth a try.

This is the second year that we have used a warm moist humidifier.

And even with it on high, I can only get the humidity to about 32 in the house.

The recommended indoor humidity is be between 40-50 for the most comfortable and healthy level.

Without the humidifier, the level is 19, which is very dry indeed!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is the month designated as Breast Cancer Awareness month.

It has been so since 1985, and it is used to promote mammograms which are the best tool we have for finding and fighting this disease.

In 1993, the pink ribbon was made the official symbol for this cause.

I have already scheduled my mammogram, have you?

Cold Season Has Arrived

They are starting to succumb all around us.

One by one each family member has caught their first cold of the season.

It is closing in, and my fingers are crossed that my husband and I do not get it too.

Our little grandson has been with us all weekend, and I hope he is also immune.

Tried to keep the little hands clean the best we could.

We added some extra garlic and onions in the rice at lunch in hopes of some additional protection.

Meanwhile, we will supply the sickos with cough drops and decongestants and whatever else they need to get well.

Of course, we all know that they are most contagious before they even get sick.

Fingers are now doubly crossed!

Free Sample for Baby

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

Free is always good.

And when it comes to babies, it is even better.

Babies are a great gift and joy in our lives, but one must admit, they certainly are expensive.

We strive to give them everything they need and keeping them in good health certainly keeps us breathing a sigh of relief.

Many things are preventable for these little guys, and one such thing is diaper rash.

If you have ever seen one on a poor little one's bum, then you understand why they are so miserable and tearful.

Using Boudreaux's Butt Paste on a little one's behind when regularly changing a diaper will prevent it from even breaking out with a rash.

Now that is worth it for everyone.

Keeping the baby happy is ultimately keeping the parents happy.

This ointment comes in several different sizes - a big 16 oz tub, several flip top tube sizes, and my favorite, a single use foil pack.

That single use pack is perfect for the diaper bag - how I wish they made these when I had my babies.

By going to the website for this product you will find the instructions for obtaining a free sample of this handy ointment.

Free is good, happy parents is really good, and a happy baby is the best.

The Benefits of Bananas

Mom always said they were good for you, but just how good are they?

Here are some of the major health benefits to eating a banana each day:

Bananas are fairly high in iron - that is something I didn't know - which helps to reduce anemia.

They may not look it, but they are also a good source of fiber - 2 to 4 grams depending on the size.

Their high potassium content helps prevent high blood pressure and strokes.

They are also considered a natural antacid and can help prevent heartburn and stomach ulcers.

They also contribute to healthy bones and kidneys and nerves.

All of these are great reasons for making a banana a part of your daily routine.

And I forgot the best part - they taste so good!













Have you noticed how many anodynes there are laying around on the floor

Benefits of Yogurt

No matter how much I proclaim it's benefits, my husband will not let even a small taste of yogurt past his lips.

Even with all the varieties and flavors available, he just can't bring himself to eat those live bacteria or "worms" as he puts it.

Since we are filled with tons of bacteria on the outside and the inside, I figure adding a few more good ones to help out the ones on the inside has got to be a good thing.

Several other reasons to eat this "health food":

The calcium and vitamin D in the milk that is used to make yogurt is good for strong bones and will help prevent osteoporosis.

It may help to reduce high blood pressure as some studies have found with certain dairy products.

The proteins in the yogurt make you feel fuller quicker and longer, which makes it a great for a healthy snack.

The live cultures stay in the gut and help prevent a variety of ailments such as constipation, lactose intolerance, and colon cancer.

They also enhance the body's immune system to ward off infections.

Some pretty strong reasons to make yogurt a part of a healthy diet.

It lasts for a while in the refrigerator, so stocking up when it is on sale is a wise thing for your pocket and your innards.

Love That Baby

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hard to believe that my new little grandson is almost five months old.

His joyful smiles and laughing eyes certainly warm his Grammy's heart, and giving him a big hug is the best!

He is recognizing people and things now and watching him grow is as much fun as it was watching his Mom grow all those years ago.

He has been a pretty healthy baby, just as his Mom was, and that is always a relief for new parents.

He has even managed to avoid a diaper rash so far.

From what I have been reading though, if a baby has any food allergies, it can show up as a diaper rash.

And he is just beginning to try some foods in his diet.

I will have to tell my daughter about Boudreaux's Butt Paste, as it is a new product that works really well in the treatment and prevention of diaper rash.

It is a zinc based product which creates a barrier that protects the tender skin.

It comes in a convenient foil pack as well as tubes and a big 16 oz. jar.

On their website, they offer a free sample.

The frugal Grammy in me will be requesting one of those for sure.

Gotta keep that little baby happy if a diaper rash should appear!

Poison Ivy Still Spreading

I had hoped that by the time a week had gone by I would be seeing the end of my poison ivy breakout.

The first run has now turned into dried, yet still itchy, spots, but over these last two weeks, new patches keep cropping up all over my skin.

All the clothes have been carefully washed, and I have not been outside working around the yard - I wanted my skin to clear up before I headed back out.

It is frustrating to keep breaking out with it and not being around it.

I will say though, the Calagel that I put on it really helps a lot with drying it out.

I didn't get it until I was well into the weeping stage with the first break out, but it seems to prevent the new batches from getting to that stage.

Certainly worth a little more to get the good stuff. Of course, absolutely nothing helps with the itching, and I am anxious for it all to pass.

Poison Ivy = Nasty Stuff

It hasn't happened for a couple of years.

That itch from the evil poison ivy plant.

It is in full force right now - all over me, and can you believe it hasn't even started growing yet this season?

It's not just the leaves that contain that ugly oil called urushiol.

We have been doing a lot of cleaning and raking around our yard, and I am well aware that we are surrounded by poison ivy on all four sides.

I stay far away once it begins to grow - I swear the wind blows the oil on my skin as I never touch the plant but get the rash anyway.

Well, the roots also contains that itchy oil.

And from what I am guessing, that oil must contaminate the soil and anything else it touches also, such as dried leaves.

I always give this plant a wide berth and avoid the roots too - I know the dormant plants are there.

The raking disturbed the soil and leaves, and since it was a windy day, it kept blowing it around me as I ignorantly kept working.

The rash is even on places that were well undercover and not exposed.

Man, I really despise this plant, and all the years I have been here, nothing has worked to get rid of it.

It should take about a week for the rash to subside, but stupid me, I will be out there again.

There is much more raking to do and a garden to prepare for too.

But I will take care to work on less windy days - hopefully that will help!

Watch Those Trans Fats

Watching what we consume for trans fats has become quite a chore these days.

There are many labels that proclaim "No Trans Fats" on the packaging, but when you read the ingredients list, there they are, usually listed right near the top.

And we all know that the ingredients are listed by the highest quantity first.

I really don't know how the companies can get away with these practices.

We need to really pay attention when consuming these fats - the body cannot process these artificial fats, and after years of putting them into our systems we begin to feel the consequences.

If I eat any product that contains partially hydrogenated fats, I feel it and the discomfort is just not worth the tasty morsel that contains it.

It is quite surprising where this fat shows up, so I am very careful to read the ingredients.

It doesn't seem to bother anyone else in my family, but I do my best to make sure they don't consume them either.

Eventually they will catch up with them, but the lesser amount they consume now the better on the other end.