tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545639600113687262012-01-07T18:20:23.177-05:00A Diary of Health ChallengesLinillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.comBlogger1451100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-76649001236561542962012-01-07T18:20:00.000-05:002012-01-07T18:20:23.185-05:00

One more thing to worry about: fibers from polyester and acrylic are polluting the oceans. See Laundry Lint Pollutes the World's Oceans - ScienceNOW.I'm not a big fan of polyester or acrylic fabrics because they attract static unless you treat them with fabric softener, which to me has an unpleasant odor. But I didn't know that their fibers are showing up in sand all over the world!I guess if you

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-214258780446918442011-11-11T12:56:00.003-05:002011-11-11T13:05:21.514-05:00

I was browsing a wildflower book and came across this: the seeds of the dainty Queen Anne's Lace were used as a morning-after contraceptive! Wow, how did settlers know stuff like that? I looked it up in Wikipedia and sure enough: The crushed seeds were once thought to be a form of birth control ... first described by Hippocrates over 2,000 years ago. Research conducted on mice has offered a

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-39708553679832698332011-09-23T22:47:00.002-04:002011-09-23T23:02:29.067-04:00

I've seen xanthan gum listed as an ingredient but didn't think to look it up until recently. It is created by a fermentation process. This raises a red flag for me because many fermented foods don't agree with me due to my allergy to yeasts and molds. I haven't experimented with xanthan gum and I don't think it was included in any of the allergy tests I had. However, I see on the Wisegeek website

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-87312948649693177852011-08-14T19:32:00.003-04:002011-08-14T19:54:09.160-04:00

I discovered another yeast-related cause of itching: kimchee (also spelled kimchi). It contains yeast, so I'm allergic to it. Too bad, it's supposed to be good for you. In researching yeast allergies further, I found the following:Olives can contain yeasts of several varieties. (This explains my occasional coughing spells when trying to consume olive oil on salads.)Berries, grapes and citrus

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-12641211946241327062011-07-15T21:36:00.002-04:002011-07-15T21:50:13.218-04:00

CoQ10 seems to improve Gulf War Syndrome as well as Parkinson's.Teflon component linked to arthritisBroken CFL bulbs release mercury for up to 10 weeks.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-82295650896461730162011-07-08T09:32:00.002-04:002011-07-08T09:38:43.585-04:00

Triclosan kills "weak" bacteria but favors the tolerant, among them species of bacteria that eat triclosan.That's one of the facts you'll find in this disturbing report on antibacterial soaps on the Scientific American website.Most people who use antibiotic soap are no healthier than those who use normal soap. AND those individuals who are chronically sick and use antibiotic soap appear to get

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-29595619884679234572011-06-08T21:40:00.004-04:002011-06-08T21:48:19.191-04:00

My doctor recommended the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii to help with long-standing diarrhea. I took it for a while and recently read that it may cause a reaction if you are allergic to yeast. Which I am, both to baker's yeast and brewer's yeast, and even to candida yeast. So I stopped taking the Saccharomyces capsules to see what happened and the next day noticed that the itching that had

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-68406770692861978472011-04-08T22:48:00.003-04:002011-04-08T23:08:37.082-04:00

My dog bit me! He got his leash wrapped around one of his legs and could not get free and was barking furiously. I reached down to help him and he bit my hand! He looked startled as soon as he did it and I was able to finish freeing his leg. After I washed the wound on my hand, I decided it needed medical attention. Although not huge, it was a lot more than a scratch. Since my doctor's office was

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-46877757255425496442011-03-29T00:22:00.002-04:002011-03-29T00:31:01.652-04:00

Probably the most uncomfortable flight I ever had was one where I suffered bloating. As soon as the plane got up in the air, minor gas bubbles turned into severe bloating! I spent the entire 5-hour flight in severe pain. Finally when the plane descended the pain subsided.Read: Bloating and gas are part of air travel.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-31574004125994415562011-02-27T23:00:00.002-05:002011-02-27T23:23:57.768-05:00

Canker sores, fever blisters, cold sores... whatever they are, they are painful when they erupt on you gums! One showed up a couple of weeks ago and I pretty much ignored it. (I tend to ignore pain unless it is pretty horrible.) Then a few days ago, another one erupted. That was a wake-up call that I need to do something different.I found some Gly-oxide in the bathroom cabinet but it was out of

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-2384482534514017182011-02-09T19:10:00.002-05:002011-02-09T19:13:47.302-05:00

After decades of telling people that eggs are high in cholesterol, experts are finally saying that they aren't! This is good news for egg farmers and for anyone who likes a nutritious breakfast. Read Dr. Katz's article about eggs in the Huffington Post.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-36272359927088710522011-02-05T21:36:00.003-05:002011-02-05T21:46:29.766-05:00

Recently I found this on a slip of paper. I wrote it many years ago, long before I learned that ivy is considered an invasive plant here. Before I toss out the slip of paper, I want to share this:Creeping inlike the ivy on the back door sill,the first doubts.Shall I cut them off?No, better to tug them gently,back to the rootswhere they get sustenance from the soil.Then cut them. Perhaps use the

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-55344011959498538802011-01-24T13:25:00.003-05:002011-01-24T13:57:29.718-05:00

I've been trying to figure out why my prescription medications for GERD (reflux) stop working after a week or two. Could it be the herbal teas I drink o some food? I'm allergic to regular tea (both black and green) and coffee contributes to heartburn, so I drink mild herb teas. Only a few kinds actually, because many herb teas give me heartburn too.I read that St. John's Wort might interact with

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-85362853128024423732011-01-20T00:19:00.004-05:002011-01-20T00:32:11.304-05:00

Two months ago I was diagnosed with GERD. It was a surprise to me but it showed up as irritation to the esophagus when I had an endoscopy.The doctor gave me samples of Nexium. For about three weeks it worked well. I was able to eat a small amount of spicy food without a problem. (Okay, I had a problem with spicy food for a long time, but I didn't think of it as reflux disorder; I just figured I

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-25755431416883310112011-01-13T22:26:00.002-05:002011-01-13T22:31:41.113-05:00

I came across a couple of websites of interest to people with "invisible" disabilities. One is the Invisible Disabilities Association. The other is But You Don't Look Sick. Thanks to this blog for the links.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-24816303336133849552011-01-13T12:46:00.002-05:002011-01-13T12:52:03.798-05:00

USA Today spotlights a hardworking gluten-detection service dog.I don't suppose my dog could do that... it would be useful. But my problem with hidden wheat is in restaurant food, and I can't imagine taking my dog into restaurants.Obviously gluten has a distinct odor that dogs can detect. Why can't someone develop an instrument that detects it? Of course, if this were practical, the customs

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-33736510624746098242011-01-07T19:27:00.003-05:002011-01-07T19:42:15.147-05:00

You probably saw the news: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is proposing a lowered limit on the amount of fluoride in drinking water because excessive fluoride is causing spots on the teeth of many children. Did you also see the story about fluoride in tea?A study presented at the 2010 International Association of Dental Research Conference in Spain reported that people who drink

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-24082265576474515612010-12-27T15:51:00.003-05:002010-12-27T15:56:05.887-05:00

This may offer a clue as to how placebos (and even regular meds) work: Fake Pills Can Work Even if Patients Know It.Personally I can see that the ritual is part of the cure. If a person spends time doing something that is intended to heal, it can be helpful. They are sending a positive message to the mind: "I am working on getting better. I want this illness to leave me."

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-59226943483749364762010-12-12T20:06:00.004-05:002010-12-12T20:23:20.489-05:00

Herbal medicine is an ancient tradition. Some herbs are pretty strong and we should be cautious with them. Pregnant women should be especially careful. Toxic doses of nutmeg are known to induce abortion in pregnant women (note the word toxic... do not try this at home). Saffron promotes production of gastric juices. Large doses cause contractions in the smooth muscle of the uterus and may induce

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-31103152802726117182010-11-29T19:39:00.001-05:002010-11-29T19:43:09.111-05:00

We signed up for a cruise. I was a little concerned about finding allergy-safe food but with assurances from Royal Caribbean personnel and a choice of three restaurants on board, I felt that I could find adequate food. (However, I did bring a bag filled with snacks just to be sure. ) Since I recently started on a heartburn medication, I was looking forward to being able to drinking decaf coffee

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-91232704962843713592010-11-20T19:18:00.002-05:002010-11-20T19:22:12.175-05:00

Wow, 60% of adults can't digest milk! If your ancestry is not northern European, the odds are that you can't handle lactose. "Somewhat less than 40% of people in the world retain the ability to digest lactose after childhood. The numbers are often given as close to 0% of Native Americans, 5% of Asians, 25% of African and Caribbean peoples, 50% of Mediterranean peoples and 90% of northern

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-86118756740234703112010-11-18T18:57:00.002-05:002010-11-18T19:10:23.471-05:00

I got the results from a recent endoscopy: I have GERD. That's Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. The usual symptom is heartburn, which I get once in a while but not so often that I expected it to show up on the examination. And I thought I was controlling it through diet, but apparently not that successfully.It turns out that there other symptoms of GERD. Ones that I often had were chest pain and

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-14842458828699356182010-11-16T20:10:00.002-05:002010-11-16T20:30:24.036-05:00

I had a lab test samples of our tap water just in case it was contributing to unresolved health issues. The results finally came back and in some ways they were good. Our water is clean. No significant contaminants or e. coli bacteria were found. The negative finding is that the water has a pH of 6.34 which is somewhat acid. It is quite low in minerals such as calcium which normally bring the pH

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-85734879427442161632010-10-22T20:23:00.003-04:002010-10-22T20:31:58.985-04:00

My chiropractor suggests that I increase my consumption of foods rich in manganese. He did not recommend a supplement because you can overdo it. HealthVitamins has an article on manganese which lists these foods:Good natural sources of manganese include avocados, nuts and seeds, seaweed, tea, raisins, pineapple, spinach, broccoli, oranges, beans, whole grains, blueberries, egg yolks, dried peas,

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-87084813460591083442010-10-15T00:46:00.002-04:002010-10-15T01:00:09.138-04:00

I received several large bruises when our car was hit from behind a few days ago. We had stopped behind a car which was turning when a vehicle behind us did not stop in time. My car was totaled but our injuries were not serious.I've decided to name my bruises Lucky, Caution, and Nagging.Lucky because I was really fortunate that I was not seriously hurt. Caution because I must remember to use

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-11431466219643405742010-09-21T20:23:00.003-04:002010-09-21T20:49:42.210-04:00

I've given up coffee again. This time it's decaf, even the morning cup I had with breakfast.Last week I had a cup of decaf in a local restaurant with lunch. About an hour later the pain hit me! It was in the upper abdomen and chest. I've had this reaction to restaurant coffee before, but it used to happen rarely and only last a few hours. Now it happens about a quarter of the time I drink

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-79109096743209785872010-09-19T22:44:00.001-04:002010-09-19T22:46:53.391-04:00

Weight loss can increase the level of pollutants in the blood according to a study. That explains why I feel so bad when losing weight!

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-70058219806031916202010-09-14T00:59:00.003-04:002010-09-14T01:07:48.459-04:00

Okay, I must have missed the report saying that ticks can cause food allergies! It seems weird to me but allergies can be pretty strange anyway.Read the story about the new test for IgE antibodies related to milk, meat and dander allergies that are caused by tick bites.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-68440266702089155512010-09-11T21:28:00.003-04:002010-09-11T21:45:36.730-04:00

The Huffington Post ran an article on Leaky Gut Syndrome by Leo Galland. It may be useful to some readers, but I find the link to Dr. Galland's article Breaking the Vicious Cycle to be more helpful. I've bookmarked it because there's so much information to consider. Three points that caught my eye are:"Following exposure to allergenic foods, permeability sharply increases. Most of this increase

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-76846833952400052952010-09-03T21:40:00.002-04:002010-09-03T21:45:32.317-04:00

I had minor foot surgery and the doctor used a local anesthetic called carbocaine. She said it was milder than some of the alternatives, which seemed like a good thing since I have had unpleasant reactions to novocaine. Well, I had the same reaction to the carbocaine injection. I got nauseous and light-headed. A nurse had to help me to the car. Fortunately my husband was with me and drove me

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-57019102712735281132010-08-24T16:21:00.001-04:002010-08-24T16:22:41.073-04:00

A virus has been linked to chronic fatigue. I hope this results in better treatments for CFS.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-63152834797373100752010-08-19T18:28:00.002-04:002010-08-19T18:33:52.933-04:00

I found an interesting article on diagnosing yourself on the internet. Amanda Stevens concludes in it that WebMD's Symptom Checker and the Mayo Clinic Symptom Checker are reliable sites for finding information on your condition. Sounds like solid advice.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-77152162729015538472010-08-17T20:26:00.000-04:002010-08-17T20:26:49.321-04:00

Excessive tea drinking linked to skeletal fluorosis: "New research conducted on four advanced skeletal fluorosis patients suggests that the fluoride in their tea could have been responsible for the condition."The people studied were drinking a gallon or more of tea daily!

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-21190695431768524492010-08-07T08:35:00.001-04:002010-08-07T08:39:55.714-04:00

Research could lead to non-antibiotic treatments for hospital infections tells how "Lack of an adequate amount of the mineral phosphate can turn a common bacterium into a killer, according to research to be published in the April 14, 2009, issue of the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science... Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of ...hundreds of bacteria that colonize the human intestinal

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-34283858059629677002010-08-07T08:23:00.003-04:002010-08-07T08:27:21.530-04:00

I just got back from a week-long trip. I'm not going to call it a vacation because we only had short periods of fun surrounded by stress and fatigue. My spouse broke our no-yelling-in-the-car rule so many times that I've come up with a new policy: separate vacations!

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-4687262964878671782010-08-02T15:39:00.002-04:002010-08-02T15:45:18.529-04:00

There was an interesting story on NPR about how a Meat-based Diet Made Us Smarter. It tells how eating calorie-packed meat freed our ancestors from having to eat all day long. It also required tools (like stone knives).Another point: cooking made food more digestible. (Raw-food faddists will find this as objectionable as vegans find the main point of the article.)

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-52406207491130442592010-07-25T21:58:00.003-04:002010-07-25T22:04:59.543-04:00

Just saw this on AOL Health:As a high-acid food, cocoa can cause bloating in sensitive individuals... Alcohol, fruit juice, coffee and tea are additional high-acid culprits, but the reaction may not be immediate: "It may take up to 48 hours for a sensitivity to appear," says Weatherwax. To find out if one of these foods is causing your bloating, cut out the suspected problem food or drink. Then

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-49251686381639826652010-07-19T23:56:00.003-04:002010-07-20T00:02:49.269-04:00

A lot of us have suspected this: Many foods that are considered gluten-free are actually contaminated with gluten. Researchers found that "seven of the 22 foods would fail the FDA's test" for being free of gluten. "One of the products they analyzed, a flour made with soy, contained 3,000 parts per million of gluten, they said. They also identified a millet grain and flour, a buckwheat flour and

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-31170213987563112032010-07-15T19:01:00.002-04:002010-07-15T19:09:03.719-04:00

Interesting article on Nightshades in Foods. I avoided nightshades for about three weeks but noticed no difference in my health. Avoiding potatoes is especially tricky for me because they are sometimes the only wheat-free starch served in restaurants. Did you know you should store potatoes in a dark place?

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-67342037666763796022010-07-11T12:19:00.003-04:002010-07-11T12:23:13.032-04:00

I took a nutritional typing test on Mercola.com. I've taken different self-quizzes on my nutritional type and they give slightly different results but they all agree that I should eat plenty of protein. This one differs in that the recommendations include eating the protein first before eating other foods. Interesting.Tips for Protein Types

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-60853963849770679232010-07-08T19:48:00.002-04:002010-07-08T19:58:26.163-04:00

I had a pelvic ultrasound to try to find a cause for abdominal pain I was having. It revealed a small cyst but the doctor says it is unlikely to cause pain and may shrink over time. My pain was probably caused by a digestive problem because it occurred after I ate in a restaurant and my abdomen was swollen for several days. Probably there was either a little dairy hidden in the food or else the

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-8312176172756449552010-07-07T22:30:00.002-04:002010-07-07T22:33:24.992-04:00

Newsweek's article on How Bacteria May Make You Fat is intriguing. It explores recent research on intestinal bacteria and how it effects weight gain.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-27334892357165668132010-06-15T11:07:00.003-04:002010-06-15T11:14:58.298-04:00

My doctor has changed my prescription for topical hormones based on blood test results. My estrogen was low and my progesterone was high. She said that could be contributing to the fatigue that I have been experiencing.I get the Rx as a cream from a compounding pharmacy.New Rx: E2= 1.25, E3= 1.5, P= 75, T= 0.1Old Rx: E2= 0.75, E3= 1, P= 100, T= 0.1

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-82195587690780458322010-05-31T23:52:00.002-04:002010-05-31T23:53:48.057-04:00

I saw Dr. Daniel Amen on PBS and went to his website and found the free questionnaire. The results are based on my stating that I have frequent fatigue and feel worse in the winter.Automated suggestions were provided for me including taking vitamin D and these:The following behavioral changes may boost mood to help SAD or emotional overeaters:Exercise to increase blood flow and multiple

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-28549919537658361262010-05-25T12:31:00.000-04:002010-05-25T12:31:31.492-04:00

"An analysis of 266 potential environmental contributors to type 2 diabetes published May 20, 2010 in the online edition of the journal PLoS ONE, links the disease to individuals who have higher levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and the pesticide heptachlor, as well a form of vitamin E found at high levels in soybean and corn oil, in their bodies compared to the general population.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-65036834021199867832010-05-11T10:52:00.002-04:002010-05-11T11:00:20.339-04:00

A recent article in the New York Times mentioned some of the shocking points you'll find on the Cancer Prevention Coalition's website. Some of the big "not-for-profit" organizations that are supposedly fighting cancer are actually in bed with the industries that contribute to the increase in cancer!Be sure to browse the site to learn more about cancer and how the ACS has actually opposed measures

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-65759290697207020972010-05-03T22:18:00.002-04:002010-05-03T22:36:43.632-04:00

I've used diatomaceous earth as a barrier against bugs, but when I found out some folks I know are taking a special grade of it as a supplement, I was surprised. The only information I can find on it is from companies that sell it (like EarthworksHealth) plus one scientific study that says it can lower high blood pressure. My holistically-inclined physician found the information and says it

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-4186149997979446812010-03-31T00:07:00.004-04:002010-03-31T00:46:56.242-04:00

I don't want to be the customer from hell. I'd like to treat everyone with respect and make them feel good. But sometimes people make it hard. And my frustration over food issues makes it difficult to maintain patience.Today we had our dog in the car because we had taken him to the vet. My husband did some shopping while I waited in the car and we both got hungry. I didn't want to leave the dog

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-48240243004712898262010-03-30T20:24:00.004-04:002010-03-30T20:46:08.162-04:00

Why is agave syrup NOT a good idea? It's very high in fructose... but there are other problems with it. Dr. Mercola writes that agave syrup is worse than HFCS.Well, I haven't tried this syrup and since I have a limited ability to handle sweets, I don't plan to try it. But I am concerned about insulin resistance and I was especially interested in some of the points Mercola makes in the article:

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-25753370518325330472010-03-25T21:57:00.005-04:002010-03-25T22:13:18.200-04:00

I hadn't heard of Senomyx until I saw it mentioned on Natural Health News blog. Senomyx is a food additive that got approved very quickly. It can enhance flavors and even block bitter flavors. I looked up Senomyx on Wikipedia and found no comfort there. Companies can include put it in food without saying so!"Senomyx has identified the receptors in the mouth responsible for sensing bitter taste (

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-65540889537097289312010-03-25T21:20:00.003-04:002010-03-25T21:32:06.001-04:00

VRP.com has an article explaining how antioxidants are helpful in fighting diabetes.Managing insulin resistance is not a single-step process. It’s clear that slowing the descent toward full-blown diabetes—not to mention the long list of other complications linked to insulin resistance—requires both superior antioxidant support and blood sugar control.VRP markets supplements so naturally the

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-38167216864545218972010-03-25T11:20:00.000-04:002010-05-11T11:00:39.218-04:00

New Study Fuels Bitter Debate Over Use of High-Fructose Corn Syrup - AOL NewsThe researchers found that rats fed HFCS were far more likely to gain weight and exhibit signs of obesity, even when their overall caloric intake was the same as the rats consuming table sugar. NOT ALL CALORIES ARE EQUAL! Evidence that our commonly-accepted knowledge on weight loss is false.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-30592932484063588662010-03-23T19:42:00.000-04:002010-05-11T11:00:39.218-04:00

Coffee researchers identify stomach friendly ingredient: Beverage Daily says "New research into the causes of stomach problems sometimes experienced by coffee drinkers has uncovered an ingredient that could pave the way for gentler brews."The article goes on to discuss how N-methylpyridium (NMP) in coffee seems to block the ability of the stomach cells to produce hydrochloric acid and could

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-38530187966533824292010-03-19T00:57:00.003-04:002010-03-19T01:04:02.749-04:00

I don't know what will happen with Congress and the health insurance debate but this is what I do know:Health insurance has become unaffordable for many working people. My own policy went up a hundred dollars last month and is now costing me over $400 monthly! Yet I have a $1200 deductible to meet before I collect anything.Executives at health insurance companies are paid huge amounts of money.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-42421158134596206652010-03-19T00:24:00.003-04:002010-03-19T00:51:30.551-04:00

A lab test for adrenal function shows that my adrenal glands are over-active. The doctor says they are pumping out too much cortisol and I should take vitamin B5 to support them. He believes I am under too much stress.I looked on the popular Mercola website and found these effects listed from excess cortisol:Diminished cellular utilization of glucoseIncreased blood sugar levelsDecreased protein

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-89866385005308675542010-03-09T20:07:00.000-05:002010-05-11T11:01:33.520-04:00

What is that bitter taste? Maybe it was those pine nuts you ate - San Jose Mercury News I've had that bitter taste but did not associate it with pine nuts... next time I will look back at what I've eaten. I wonder if other foods can cause this?I've heard of metal poisoning causes a bad taste, and have experience a bitter taste after taking Flagyl (yuck!). See also wrongdiagnosis.com's list of

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-18573199013801985692010-03-09T19:54:00.000-05:002010-03-09T19:54:43.037-05:00

The new study by researchers at the Channing Laboratory and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston published in the most recent issue of the American Journal of Medicine suggests that men under 50, in particular, who took acetaminophen two or more times weekly showed more than twice the risk for hearing loss when compared to men who are not regular pill poppers. The active ingredient in Tylenol

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-10465378193944807192010-03-04T22:43:00.002-05:002010-03-04T23:01:07.159-05:00

Sounds almost patriotic: Necator Americanus. Unfortunately the name refers to a parasite, a species of hookworm that infests people.When a laboratory sent test results to my doctor saying that I have this parasite, I was taken aback. I always associated hookworm with barefoot children walking in mud in warm climates. I don't fit that profile at all. I looked up hookworm on Wikipedia and other

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-76040589235309183512010-02-16T13:10:00.000-05:002010-02-16T13:10:40.463-05:00

Good grief! A study shows that the difference between condoms and withdrawal is 1% to 2% as far as preventing pregnancy, and goes on as though that makes withdrawal a smart choice! People, a difference of a percent or two does matter!Quote: "in perfect use -- meaning the man pulls out every time -- withdrawal has a 4 percent failure rate, as compared to condoms, which have a 2 percent failure

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-28265926433562859432010-02-06T20:03:00.002-05:002010-02-06T20:21:20.312-05:00

This is an ancient and important question. People try to debate the ethics of abortion but how can they have an intelligent discussion when there is no agreement on precisely when human life begins. Sure, there are philosophical opinions and religious ideas but those are not facts. I came across a fairly full discussion of this question at Development Biology Online. Read it if you want to be

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-566760312641865532010-02-06T12:37:00.002-05:002010-02-06T12:59:31.412-05:00

The post on Truvia and gastric distress has had 50 comments to date. I still don't know why so many people have had a reaction to the product. I suspect that my personal unpleasant experience was due to the erythritol but it could also be due to the unspecified "natural sweeteners."Since writing the original post, I have discovered that I no longer tolerate significant quantities of fructose.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-55417785573753536332010-01-31T23:52:00.003-05:002010-02-01T00:06:56.351-05:00

The Child Health Site provides help for children in need and all you have to do is Click. Another place where your click makes a donation is Click to Help Haiti. These sites work because they have advertisers who pay for donations in return for internet exposure.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-69955169319140306582010-01-24T21:28:00.002-05:002010-01-24T21:35:33.602-05:00

An amazing medical device is being tested and shows great promise as a non-surgical alternative for weight-loss surgery: The Endobarrier Gastrointestinal Liner. Read about it and see what you think.I'm a bit put-off by the fact that it's inserted through the mouth, but that's much safer than surgery. Also, the photo suggests a lengthy cellophane condom topped by barbed wire... they really need a

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-48318888594251863512010-01-24T20:57:00.001-05:002010-01-24T21:02:57.810-05:00

Nutritionist Jonny Bowden contends that low fat diets caused the obesity epidemic. I suspect he's right on some counts. He goes back to the start of the low-fat craze."The race was on to produce low-fat and no-fat foods, and to engineer the saturated fat out of everything. This, in turn, led to a slew of "food-like" products, manufactured and processed edible substances bearing little resemblance

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-26611576074658708312010-01-20T19:06:00.001-05:002010-01-24T21:04:21.002-05:00

This is heartening for those of us who crave a little beef: How Cows (Grass-Fed Only) Could Save the Planet - from TIME.com

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-48143883346054720132010-01-13T14:57:00.002-05:002010-01-13T15:02:39.642-05:00

Having a big bum, hips and thighs 'is healthy' reports on the BBC. Here are highlights from the report:Hip fat mops up harmful fatty acids and contains an anti-inflammatory agent Having too little fat around the hips can lead to serious metabolic problems, as occurs in Cushing's syndrome. "Fat around the hips and thighs is good for you but around the tummy is bad." Fat around the thighs and

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-77226754280702938602010-01-04T20:04:00.003-05:002010-01-24T21:04:21.002-05:00

A self-healing website published a page on stevia as a fighter against brittle bones. Japanese researchers have found that the herb stevia increases calcium density in animals. It also decreases body fat. Whether this translates to a medical use in humans remains to be proven. But as a stevia user, I find it intriguing.By the way, always read the labels on sugar substitutes. The inactive

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-10285646694001828452009-12-30T23:49:00.002-05:002010-01-24T21:04:21.002-05:00

Interesting article on how coffee can irritate the intestinal tract.All coffee beans, decaf included, contain an enzyme that irritates the entire digestive tract. Drinking coffee first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, offers absolutely no buffer for the acid, irritant, and stimulant effects of the beverage.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-90507571574212520622009-12-29T23:23:00.002-05:002010-01-24T21:04:21.003-05:00

An article from the McDougall Newsletter that summarizes some of the problems with coffee: Coffee Pleasure and Pain."Coffee contains several hundred different substances (in addition to well-known caffeine) and many of these have powerful pharmacological effects on the human body. Two cholesterol-raising substances – cafestol and kahweol – are found in coffee beans. Not only do they raise total

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-78872088922033965262009-12-13T18:48:00.002-05:002009-12-13T18:54:35.082-05:00

Many parents have claimed that their child's symptoms of autism showed up after receiving vaccinations. A theory was developed that mercury in vaccines causes autism. But researchers could not prove it, although mercury is a known neurological poison. Now some researchers have another theory: that hydrolyzed gelatin in the MMR vaccine may bring on autism. Read this report to find out about this

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-54181875063853381432009-12-04T22:24:00.002-05:002010-01-24T21:04:21.003-05:00

I came across a post about fructose in Vitamin Water that also had some interesting facts about erythritol, which is sometimes sold as a "natural" sweetener. Here are quotes from patents and scientific papers:The present method of producing erythritol by fed-batch and repeated fermentation of sugars by microorganisms which produce erythritol.By fed-batch fermentation is meant a fermentation in

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-78022790162551027242009-11-28T21:10:00.002-05:002009-11-28T21:15:21.860-05:00

This report is from Cairo: Gas fumes cause aggressive behavior in rats.After forced exposure to gasoline, "the rats were put into a cage and exhibited a variety of aggressive behavior, including gnashing of teeth and biting."

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-25611879083791024972009-11-18T18:50:00.003-05:002009-11-18T18:58:09.308-05:00

I saw a poster in the veterinarian's office about toxocara. It is one of the terms for a roundworm infection commonly found in dogs and cats. The poster pointed out that it is more common in humans than sometimes believed. So if you own a pet or are around animals (or their feces), be aware of this condition, which can cause eye infections, respiratory symptoms, and sometimes life-threatening

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-65741607253813052612009-10-30T23:06:00.000-04:002009-10-30T23:06:33.321-04:00

Lupus Linked to Insecticide UseBeyond Pesticides reports that a "study, which looked at more than 75,000 women, shows that those who spray insecticides at least six times per year have almost two and a half times the risk of developing lupus and rheumatoid arthritis versus those who do not use insecticides. The risk doubles if insecticides were used in the home for 20 years or more.""Hiring a

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-9041213028640539062009-10-28T00:13:00.003-04:002010-05-11T11:02:31.588-04:00

I heard an interview on NPR's Living on Earth about radiation and health. The worrisome part was that living near a nuclear power plant carries a significant risk of cancer for children. The speaker was Joseph Mangano, MPH, MBA, the Executive Director of the Radiation and Public Health Project.Even more information is at the Radiation.org (Radiation and Public Health) website.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-59473337899906541632009-10-17T00:21:00.003-04:002010-01-24T21:04:21.003-05:00

I'm benefitting from a low-fructose diet but it's hard to follow. Here's an article (in PDF) on Malabsorption of Fructose and "FODMAPS" that has good science to explain why some carbs cause digestive problems and how they interact with bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine.FODMAPS stands for Fermentable Oligo-, Di- and Mono-saccharides And Polyols. Authors Jacqueline S. Barrett and Peter R

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-71499060650213379242009-10-13T17:11:00.003-04:002009-10-13T17:20:48.425-04:00

Biofilm is formed by colonies of similar bacteria, usually on damp surfaces such as your sink. The germs cooperate to build and maintain a barrier that keeps even strong disinfectants such as bleach and iodine at bay.Yes, they can resist bleach and iodine! Read this: Killing Germs: Are You Winning the Battle with Biofilm? - HousekeepingChannel.com.Excerpt:Scientific American Magazine reports that

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-51859451564906347122009-10-08T21:51:00.005-04:002010-01-24T21:04:21.003-05:00

You've probably read that high-fructose corn syrup is supposedly not healthy. I just learned that some people can't handle regular fructose either. In the book, Why Doesn't My Doctor Know This? David Dahlman writes that for some of us, fructose contributes to irritable bowel syndrome. I'm going to stay off fructose for a week or so to see if that helps. I looked up fructose in Wikipedia to get

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-86579059494995177812009-09-02T00:46:00.002-04:002010-01-24T21:06:16.993-05:00

Newsjournalonline.com: reports that "Oral Allergic Syndrome (OAS), also called pollen-food allergy, is an allergic reaction to fruits (usually fresh), nuts and vegetables. OAS typically develops in hay fever sufferers. In adults, up to 60 percent of all food allergic reactions are due to cross-reactions between foods and inhalant allergens. Well-cooked, canned, pasteurized or frozen food usually

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-60445283917600723152009-08-06T19:01:00.002-04:002010-01-24T21:04:21.004-05:00

Omega-3 deficiency causes 96,000 US deaths per year, say researchers. Consuming too little of Omega-3 oils is more deadly than excess trans fat intake, according to a Harvard University study.Read the article here."Tobacco smoking ranked as the highest risk factor with 436,000 to 500,000 attributed preventable deaths, followed by high blood pressure (372,000 to 414,000), obesity (188,000 to

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-44294937227142319622009-06-17T20:37:00.002-04:002010-01-24T21:04:21.004-05:00

Interesting article here: Colonel's secret ingredient for KFC grilled chicken? Beef(Shared via AddThis)The list of ingredients for the Colonel's grilled chicken not only includes beef fat, but also MSG, maltodextrin, bleached wheat flower, partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oil, soy sauce, autolyzed yeast, and more. Since I don't tolerate wheat, yeast, or soy, I certainly won't try

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-69165982661959852222009-05-19T19:02:00.002-04:002009-05-19T19:18:37.197-04:00

Tongue and pharyngeal exercises may benefit patients with obstructive sleep apnea!Playing the didgeridoo may be helpful! Watch the video and be convinced.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-64006257599436312992009-05-05T00:52:00.002-04:002009-05-05T00:57:52.501-04:00

Chemsense.com has published a series of articles on concerns about spraying for gypsy moths and links to spray schedules for mid-Atlantic states. An item of current concern is a study linking Bt to a dangerous worsening of flu.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-15768431639945904002009-04-24T01:14:00.002-04:002009-04-24T01:20:22.031-04:00

Well, my husband spent a night in the hospital to have his sleep problems diagnosed. Unfortunately, the test was incomplete because he did not sleep long enough for them to make a diagnosis. He kept waking up and had trouble going back to sleep.At about 4 a.m., the technician came in and sent him home because there was no way they could get sufficient data to diagnose sleep apnea, even though he

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-35472988652720500882009-04-17T00:52:00.003-04:002009-04-17T01:08:34.107-04:00

I decided to try Ultraclear Sustain to see if it would help a  stubborn digestive problem. I used the product before but it was over a decade ago. It was helpful at the time. I had forgotten why I stopped taking it but figured the cost had something to do with it.I started with just a teaspoon in liquid and gradually increased to a tablespoon. Then I started coughing every time I drank the stuff.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-58626356789258468872009-04-07T18:59:00.003-04:002009-04-07T19:06:01.635-04:00

I already knew that heated Teflon was hazardous to birds, but self-cleaning ovens? Turns out that Petco and other pet resources are warning people to not use self-cleaning cycle when birds are in the house.Here's what I wonder: if Teflon and self-cleaning ovens produce fumes that kill birds, aren't they a teensy bit harmful to people too? And what about other pets?Petco caution about

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-55185392200195433642009-03-26T08:50:00.004-04:002009-03-26T09:11:22.838-04:00

Imagine waking up from a deep sleep because your spouse is hitting you in HIS sleep! This happened to me and after trying unsuccessfully to go back to sleep, I went to the computer and found that he may have parasomnia or RBD.Definition from MedicineNet:REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) People with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder act out dramatic and/or violent dreams during REM

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-25113928700584488052009-03-07T20:44:00.002-05:002009-03-07T20:48:36.011-05:00

I saw this mentioned on Mercola.com and searched (using Goodsearch) for more information on how zinc supplements can help fight diarrhea. I found summaries of various studies about zinc on Rehydrate.org, the Rehydration Project.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-5210731242455781902009-03-01T18:43:00.004-05:002010-01-24T21:05:33.743-05:00

I'm annoyed with a report from the Associated Press that lured me in with a false headline: "Low-fat, low-carb or high-protein? The kind of diet doesn't matter." It purports to summarize a New England Journal of Medicine study.Yet as I read the report, it was obvious that it did not really compare low-fat, low-carb or high-protein diets, at least not what most of us believe those terms mean.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-17623943788942270752009-02-23T18:16:00.002-05:002009-02-23T18:20:07.188-05:00

A few months back I wrote about bras that don't fit and how difficult it is to find a size 42 that does not have huge cups. I found another one: the Eezee Arthritis Bra . The cups stretch to fit B through DD cups, including a "true" B like I wear, not the oversized B that I usually find in sizes over 40. It's latex-free and contains cotton and spandex.It caught my eye in the National catalog

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-68976588545565555132009-02-02T15:35:00.003-05:002009-02-02T16:01:31.374-05:00

My dog was acting irritable and sometimes aggressive. I read that you can give tryptophan or 5-HTP to dogs to make them calmer, so I tried it.Then he started having "accidents" - needing to urinate more often and, if we didn't rush him outside immediately, piddling on the carpet. On the second day as I was cleaning up after him, I realized that the 5-HTP might be causing the problem. I stopped

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-41944702589262437022009-01-28T18:38:00.003-05:002010-01-24T21:05:33.743-05:00

I wrote about unpleasant reactions to decaf coffee before. I switched to organic brands at home, or sometimes Folger's, which did not bother me. I also started brewing through an unbleached filter instead of using the French Press, just in case the oils were a problem. I did okay with decaf for a while, except for a couple of less-than-pleasant cups when eating out. (Some I didn't drink; it was

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-30095376754646542132009-01-11T23:17:00.003-05:002009-01-11T23:34:55.433-05:00

SIBO stands for small intestine bacterial overgrowth. Sometimes the condition is called intestinal dysbiosis. Anyway, I had a 3-hour test called the H2 Breath Test and it shows I have this condition.The doctor sent my a prescription for an antibiotic, but unfortunately it's one I'm allergic to so I've got to get a different prescription. (Obviously this gastroenterologist does not read the forms

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-52897826192452149802009-01-01T18:57:00.001-05:002009-01-01T19:00:25.840-05:00

I read about webtribes in an article. The site features online support groups for depression, anxiety, and more. Might be worth checking out.

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-41719892776575005982008-12-30T22:20:00.002-05:002010-05-11T11:03:28.933-04:00

I just read a CNN article on food allergy travel telling us we can order cards from SelectWisely.com that will list our food allergies in a foreign language. They also have emergency cards for conditions like diabetes.Food allergy cards are also available at AllergyTranslation.com.Another good idea is to carry a Medical ID card. You can order them online (at ebay, for instance) or print one

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-72478534083165792512008-12-25T23:57:00.001-05:002008-12-25T23:59:14.346-05:00

I want to thank Linja dot com for linking to this blog!

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-37552209394725299662008-12-18T01:25:00.002-05:002008-12-18T01:31:31.088-05:00

Care2 has an interesting story on "The Trouble with Triclosan in Your Soap." Aside from the basic uselessness of antibacterials in hand soap, read this paragraph:"Antibacterial resistance is not the only health concern associated with triclosan. The increased use of antibacterials in general has been linked to increased allergies in children. Further studies specific to triclosan have shown that

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-22336026123806246892008-12-14T21:25:00.003-05:002008-12-14T21:33:02.377-05:00

In April, I wrote about my husband's PSA score going up a year after his prostatectomy. The rise in PSA slowed after that and this past quarter, it actually went down a little. His urologist said the decline is not significant; small changes in PSA may be due to lab test inconsistencies. Still, we are much encouraged that it is not rising quickly.Eventually it will probably reach a point where

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-91897774626443284372008-11-25T00:22:00.004-05:002008-11-25T01:03:21.372-05:00

"Finally, a Bra Collection Designed Exclusively for A&B Cups" reads the ad for a Glamorise bra. They listed some hard-to-find sizes, including 42A and 44A. I haven't seen these in the store but found it online and decided to order one.Well, it arrived today and I was disappointed. The cup is bigger than it should be. I'll send it back for a refund, and of course there is no smaller cup in a 44

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754563960011368726.post-90294870776885386092008-11-21T17:11:00.003-05:002010-01-24T21:05:33.743-05:00

I bought some Truvia at the supermarket. It's a new sugar-substitute made from stevia and erythritol.I use stevia regularly to sweeten cocoa with no apparent side-effects. I was a bit cautious about consuming erythritol because I generally do not tolerate sugar alcohols. So I only used one packet of Truvia at a time, and usually only once a day.Then I used it twice a day and the side-effects

Linillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07824646711714231423noreply@blogger.com77