Health and Harmony Blog

Why Fluorescent Bulbs or CFLs...

2011-04-20T09:42:25-07:00

Why Fluorescent anyway? Compact fluorescent lamps use approximately 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs because more energy is used for light rather than heat. CFLs do contain small amounts of mercury so they do require special handling and disposal. However, the amount of energy saved outweighs the dangers for most situations. If you leave the room for more than 15 minutes, turn a CFL bulb off.

We find these to be ideal for outdoor lights that are left on for long periods of time. One area that we have run into problems is when the socket is made that you can't hold the base of the bulb to put the bulb in the socket. It is when you are forced to actually grip the bulb itself. This can cause minute breakage or cracks between the bulb and the base. If this happens, it is not unusual for a strong smell that smells like burnt wires and smoke to emit from the crack. Immediately, shut off the light, air the room and remove the bulb properly. Because of this problem and the design of our light fixtures in our home, we can replace roughly 1/2 of our lights with CFLs.

But 1/2 is better than none.

Drought Survival for the Yard: Better to be Prepared

2011-04-17T15:17:16-07:00

Drought Survival for the Yard

Encourage deep root growth by watering more and less often. Water in the morning to reduce evaporation and reduce the risk of mold or fungal growth. Raise the height on the mower and keep the blades sharp, and leave clippings on the ground. Invest in a rain barrel to collect rainwater so that you do not have to use municipal water for your outdoor areas. Keep mosquitoes away by using a fine screen over the top, an overflow valve, and emptying the barrel every 7 days.

Even though we aren't in the drought period of our season, it is necessary to prepare. What good is a rain barrel if we wait till the drought season is here?

Have a great Spring.

I personally spray my yard with Basic H to help the soil absorb the rain water better.

Green-Cation: What is that?

2011-04-14T19:19:54-07:00

This is great information for any family that drives for their family vacations like we do. This year we are heading to Washington DC.

Considering a summer vacation? According to thegreenguide.com, reducing your car's speed to 55 mph from 65 mph may increase your fuel efficiency by as much as 15%. Filling your tires to the proper air pressure may even do far more than 15% too. Look into taking a bus or train if possible for your tours too. That is what we are going to do to site see once in DC. Less stress for my husband and much better for the environment.

We chose DC because our next Shaklee conference is there. However, if you are just looking for something fun for summer, look close to home. We have amazing things to do and see even here in Peoria. Plus Peoria is so well located that Chicago, St Louis and Indianapolis are all easy to travel too and have tons of things to do for all ages.

Have fun and protect our environment.

Interested in sharing with others a pathway to an awesome green lifestyle, just click here.

You've Got to See This: Vivix - Inflammation

2011-04-11T11:15:49-07:00

Inflammation – A Biological Response to Stress

In the past decade, inflammation has become one of the hottest topics in medical research because it is emerging as a possible cause of many of the chronic diseases that threaten the quality and the length of life. . If that’s true, then addressing inflammation could be a singular approach to targeting multiple health conditions and, perhaps, could simplify scientific and medical research strategies for fighting many of the most deadly chronic diseases.

We now know that there are many possible lifestyle and environmental triggers of inflammatory stress, including smoking; a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet; obesity; radiation; and even exposure to environmental toxins. Persistent, chronic, or uncontrolled low-grade inflammation has been linked to increased risk for the metabolic syndrome and heart disease, diabetes and insulin resistance, rheumatoid arthritis, certain cancers, asthma, allergies, and even Alzheimer’s disease.

Acute inflammation is a natural immune system response to injury or infection during which the body orchestrates a symphony of immune system signals, messages, and physiological actions to combat and neutralize foreign invaders that may be responsible for the injury. This inflammatory response can result in the characteristic redness, heat, swelling, and pain that you may see and feel at the site of a wound and is the beginning of the healing process as the body eventually brings nourishment to the site.

Most of the time, inflammation is an acute, on-demand function, a biological stress response that enables our body to fight off disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and parasites. But when inflammation doesn’t shut down on cue, or somehow persists with no particular purpose, it can attack normally healthy cells and cause damage at the cellular level. In autoimmune diseases, a continuously triggered inflammatory response causes damage to its own tissues—sometimes with disastrous health consequences

Recent research has uncovered the benefits of smoking cessation and even moderate exercise as sound approaches to battling inflammatory stress. A September 2010 laboratory study found that a three-week moderate exercise regimen reduced several biomarkers of inflammatory stress, including C-reactive protein (CRP) in diabetic rats, (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2249.2010.04240.x/abstract). The investigators concluded that moderate physical exercise had significant anti-inflammatory effects and that this may be a good strategy to protect against insulin resistance and vascular complications in diabetics.

Nutritional approaches to reducing inflammatory stress are also receiving more attention. Several studies have supported the benefits of a “Mediterranean” or an “anti-inflammatory” type diet, and spices such as ginger and turmeric are also showing promise. In the 2010 review Dietary polyphenols can modulate the intestinal inflammatory response, plant sources of dietary polyphenols—including green tea extract, various flavonoids, ellagic acid (found in muscadine grapes and pomegranates), and resveratrol (found in red wine and Japanese knotweed)—were shown to successfully modulate intestinal inflammatory response. The investigators concluded that the use of natural preventive treatments in early life could reduce or delay inflammatory bowel diseases, and that polyphenols could play an important role in modulating intestinal inflammation (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00210.x/abstract).

In February 2011, a new study, A resveratrol and polyphenol preparation suppresses oxidative and inflammatory stress response to a high-fat, high-carbohydrate meal, was published online in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. The researchers from the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY) showed that a resveratrol and muscadine grape polyphenol blend was able to suppress the oxidative and inflammatory stress response typically experienced after consumption of a high-fat fast food meal (jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/jc.2010-1812v1).

This peer-reviewed and published human study is even more compelling because it is one of the earliest placebo-controlled clinical research studies on resveratrol compounds. In fact, a January 2011 review of resveratrol research published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences found only six recently completed clinical trials on resveratrol supplementation, and only one other study employed a placebo-controlled design (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05853.x/abstract).

In the SUNY study, the researchers fed 10 healthy adults either the resveratrol-muscadine polyphenol blend or a placebo before the high-fat fast food meal, and markers of oxidative and inflammatory stress were measured for five hours following the meal. In the group consuming the polyphenol blend, there was a significant reduction in the oxidative stress response typically observed after consumption of a high-fat meal. At three hours, there was also a 150% increase in Nrf-2, an important regulator of the body’s antioxidant defense and detoxification systems.

The investigators also reported a significant blunting of the body’s inflammatory response to eating a high-fat fast food meal in the subjects who consumed the resveratrol-muscadine polyphenol blend. Induction of two well-known inflammatory biomarkers, plasma lipopolysaccharide and IL-1ß, were both significantly reduced after consuming the high-fat meal, but only in the supplement group.

So what are we to do to address the chronic low-grade inflammation that permeates our modern-day lifestyles? Fortunately, many of the same dietary and lifestyle behaviors we’ve recommended for decades to lower the risk for cardiovascular diseases and cancer can also help to reduce the risk for chronic inflammation:

Find an exercise you like and participate on a regular basis
Reduce stress and keep your blood pressure in check
Achieve and maintain a healthy weight, which can reduce inflammation, a biological stress response
Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke
Eat a healthful diet rich in plant foods, whole grains, legumes, leafy vegetables, colorful fruits, lean cuts of meats and poultry, and low-fat dairy products
Choose unprocessed foods low in trans fats, saturated fat, salt, and sugar
Seek out anti-inflammatory foods such as fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, as well as olive oil
Look for anti-inflammatory nutritional ingredients such as resveratrol, muscadine, and pomegranate polyphenols, as well as spices such as ginger and turmeric.
For information about inflammation and your health, talk with your doctor or health care professional to discuss the steps you can take maximize your anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle.

To your good health!
Shaklee Health Sciences
This message has been sent to all Shaklee Family Members

Vivix is an excellent way to find a high quality product that contains resveratrol and muscadine for an excellent value too (less than a latte a day). Get yours today here.

Compost Basics

2011-04-10T15:21:35-07:00

Composting Basics: Composting keeps excess waste out of landfills, returns vital nutrients to the earth, and is virtually free. Compost can improve poor quality soils by increasing water retention, controlling erosion, and helping plants build stronger root systems. Compost can be made from food scraps, lawn clippings, fall leaves, and most other organic material. Keep a good balance between high carbon items (twigs and newspapers) and high nitrogen items (coffee ground and food waste) to promote proper decomposition. Chop or shred larger items and turn the pile often to help speed decomposition.

We often use Basic H on our yard and garden to help it absorb water more efficiently and deter insects. For large areas, we recommend buying Basic H in a large 30 gallon drum.

Sugar: Is it Good or Bad?

2011-04-06T11:08:49-07:00

Sugar is not the problem in our diets.

It is the following that causes sugar to get a bad rep.

Unbalance of sugar such as eating too many processed foods, too many treat foods over necessary foods and choosing convenience over nutritional value.
Types of sugar such as simple sugars like donuts, white breads and pasta VS complex sugars like vegetables and fruits.

These are the things that are causing obesity to rise, triglycerides to rise, cholesterol to rise, and of course, diabetes to rise.

Don't be mislead by artificial sweeteners either. The are a vicious villain in the who process because they teach your body to crave a higher intensity of sugar, thereby, never really being satisfied by the natural sweetness of healthy sugars. Plus many of them have adverse side effects such as migraines, sores in the mouth, and even higher risk of cancer. Worse of all, your mind tells your body it's ok because it is reading the label that states '0' sugars. Well, that is not always best. By the time many realize that they have been deceived, their body has already started to feel the ill side-effects of these sneaky villains.

Yoga for Stress: Free and Simple Stress Relief

2011-04-04T07:57:02-07:00

Yoga doesn't have to be hard or expensive. A few simple tips can help reduce your stress for life. I even taught my children basic yoga techniques when they were 2 and 3 years old. Obviously, you would want to use caution when teaching anyone yoga that the type of yoga is age and ability appropriate.

Check out what Mayo Clinic has to offer on basic yoga or visit YouTube for other basic videos. If you live in the Peoria, Il Area, visit Lisa Nelson Raabe. She is outstanding! If you don't use Facebook, you can also contact her in the following ways: www.LisaNelsonRaabe.com, 309.472.6863, or Lisa@LisaNelsonRaabe.com. Whether you are battling cancer or want to relieve that office stress, she can help.

Don't forget that excellent nutrition is a key to reducing stress too. Big special with the #1 Natural Nutritional Company going on now through May 20, 2011. Spend $30 and get a FREE Discount Membership Card - 15% all Orders (current and future). So you can relieve your stress through better health and a bigger pocket book (or wallet)

Amazing Shaklee Earth Day- Oprah will be Running to This

2011-04-01T11:01:39-07:00

What an amazing special for anyone wishing to go a little or a lot greener this Earth Day. Check it out by clicking here.

To take advantage of this incredible deal, email Barb at healthandharmony@comcast.net or call 888-231-1463 (If lines are busy because they are helping other customers, please leave a message so you don't miss out on this amazing offer)

Hello Spring: A Beautiful Time of Change

2011-03-30T19:50:30-07:00

Spring is a Time of Change-Spring brings green grass, green leaves and ways to celebrate a "greener" Earth. Visit the following websites to learn more about Earth Day and National Arbor Day and how you can participate and make a difference:

www.epa.gov/earthday
www.arborday.org

Other helpful sites are as follows:

www.ExtremeHealthMakeovers.com (green products made by green companies)
www.thegreenguide.com
www.worldwatch.org/node/3915
www.eartheasy.com
www.earth911.com
www.ecocycle.org/index.cfm
www.energystart.gov
www.nrc-recycle.org
www.composting101.com

Green to the Bone - Tip How to Make Natural Cleaners Work

2011-03-28T08:08:26-07:00

Using Natural Cleaners

Tile and Grout = mix one part salt, one part baking soda, and one part vinegar to make a past
Soap Scum = borax, a little water and a scouring pad
Toilet Bowl = sprinkle in baking soda followed by white vinegar and scrub
Air Freshener - boil 1 cup vinegar in a pot of water
All purpose/grease cleaner= make a paste of baking soda and water, scrub and rinse

I found these suggestions while searching online but I also noticed that they use vinegar and baking soda frequently. I don't care for the strong smell of vinegar unless it is to dye Easter eggs plus baking soda can tend to be abrasive at times and the saltiness of it tends to dry and burn my hands.

Therefore, I did more research to see what others are using. Some said 7th Generation (but complained about in effectiveness); Simple Works or Green Works (but money still goes back to Clorox); Shaklee Get Clean where people were not only impressed with the nontoxic side but also were elated that it was so effective. In fact, Oprah, the Vice-President's house and President's house all use Shaklee cleaners.

You can find them by clicking here. Guaranteed too.

From Benita of Ohio

Know Your Recycling

2011-03-25T05:45:43-07:00

Know your recycling: While recycling paper products is a good thing, sometimes contaminates can ruin an entire batch of recycling, thus ending up in the landfill despite our efforts. Do not recycle if paper has: food waste or grease stains; paint stains; plastic or wax lining; (ice cream or juice box containers); pressure sensitive adhesive (sticky notes and stamps); been wet. Staples, paper clips and plastic windows in envelopes are typically okay since they can be caught when filtered.

We have reduced our general trash to just 1 can since we started recycling. We have a family of 5 in the home and do use a compactor. However, we do have to make it a conscious effort to remember what does not go in the recycle bin. Something that I didn't know what that paper that is wet shouldn't be in the recycle bin. So no matter how efficient you are at recycling, there still may be something that is new for you too.

Text: CleanAirNow at 90210 for a chance to win a FREE Flip camera Plus a FREE air purifier Ebook (limited to first smart 100 people).

Enter to Win!

2011-03-23T19:59:28-07:00

Interested in Clean Air? Win a FLIP Camera and Bonus!

2011-03-22T08:15:34-07:00

Hurry and enter to win a FREE Flip camera and a bonus gift (Air Purifier Ebook - retails for $67) for FREE while supplies last.

All you need to do is Text CleanAirNow at 90210

(Must be 18yrs of age and live within the United States)

It is that simple! Share with your friends - great way to win an awesome Flip Camera with no hassles or strings like those annoying ads online.

Is Success Happiness?

2011-03-22T05:39:16-07:00

“Success is not the key to happiness.

Happiness is the key to success.

If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”

Herman Cain

Rain Barrels: Why Use a Rain Barrel?

2011-03-20T11:00:16-07:00

The Benefits of Rain Barrels

Water conservation is a concern for many areas and using a rain barrel is a good first step. Using water captured in a rain barrel reduces the amount used from a municipal source, therefore, also reducing your water bill. Rain Barrels also catch water that would otherwise run off into creeks and storm systems. Rainwater is good for houseplants, flowers and gardens because it is free from the chemical additives in tap water.

Go a Little Greener for Less

2011-03-18T21:17:01-07:00

A Breath of Fresh Air

The air inside a house can be more toxic than outside air, partially due to products used for cleaning. Use natural cleaning products, baking soda and vinegar, instead of chemicals and artificial air fresheners, for everyday cleaning.
Houseplants, such as Boston ferns, philodendrons and peace lilies, are excellent at removing toxins and are easy to maintain.
Open the windows and air out the house, even in the winter.

Gotta Love it: What's in Your Future!

2011-03-17T04:41:28-07:00

"You see, it's never the environment;

it's never the events of our lives,

but the meaning we attach to the events

— how we interpret them

— that shapes who we are today and who we'll become tomorrow." — Tony Robbins

Happy St Patrick's Day: Enjoy Some Good Ol' Fashion Bread

2011-03-14T16:52:53-07:00

Whole-Wheat Irish Soda Bread

From EatingWell: April/May 2005, The EatingWell Diabetes Cookbook (2005) — Subscribe to EatingWell Magazine Today!

Soda breads are hearty Irish staples - wholemeal flour with large flakes of bran and wheat germ, or white flour or a mixture leavened with baking soda and moistened with buttermilk. The acid in the buttermilk reacts with the baking soda, which is an alkali, creating bubbles of carbon dioxide which rise the bread. Soda breads have the heft of a yeast bread but are made in minutes and the dough can be shaped into scones or a round loaf, depending on the occasion. Originally it would have been baked in a bastible (pot oven) over the open fire.

READER'S COMMENT:

"I love this bread. I use it mostly for toast and with soup meals. It is easy to make, hearty and healthy."

2-pound loaf (12 slices)

Active Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 1/2 hours (including cooling time)

Ingredients

2 cups whole-wheat flour
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups buttermilk

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450°F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray and sprinkle with a little flour.
Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in buttermilk. Using one hand, stir in full circles (starting in the center of the bowl working toward the outside of the bowl) until all the flour is incorporated. The dough should be soft but not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, in a matter of seconds, turn it out onto a well-floured surface. Clean dough off your hand.
Pat and roll the dough gently with floury hands, just enough to tidy it up and give it a round shape. Flip over and flatten slightly to about 2 inches. Transfer the loaf to the prepared baking sheet. Mark with a deep cross using a serrated knife and prick each of the four quadrants.
Bake the bread for 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 400° and continue to bake until the loaf is brown on top and sounds hollow when tapped, 30 to 35 minutes more. Transfer the loaf to a wire rack and let cool for about 30 minutes.

Nutrition

Per slice: 165 calories; 1 g fat ( 0 g sat , 0 g mono ); 2 mg cholesterol; 37 g carbohydrates; 8 g protein; 3 g fiber; 347 mg sodium; 179 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Fiber (13% daily value).

Carbohydrate Servings: 2

Exchanges: 2 starch

Must See: Next 30 Minutes Could Save Your Life (Plus Receive $100 Kit FREE)

2011-03-09T21:55:41-08:00

IN just 30 minutes you can see how to save thousands of dollars and thousands of heartaches by improving your health and reducing the chance of not only you but your entire family of getting sick - major and minor illnesses.

Are you concerned that change costs alot? Don't be because it is the lack of change that costs a lot. In fact, it may cost you your life or your child's life. By just purchasing $70 and a new membership, you qualify for a free $100 gift.

Yes, if you hurry now and commit to making a change that will protect you and your family, you will qualify for our free gift. Just to say thank you for helping keep the world safer and healthier.

Choose one below:
Multivitamin + Gift
Variety Pack
Nontoxic cleaners
Safe, Pure Water
Make Your Own

Hurry, though because the FREE $101 kit expires March 31st, 2011.

Urgent Peanut Butter Lovers: Skippy Recall

2011-03-06T07:36:27-08:00

Urgent Peanut Butter Lovers: Click Skippy Recall to learn more.

Skippy Peanut Butter Recall Caused By Salmonella Scare
By huffingtonpost.com

First Posted: 03/ 5/11 09:18 PM Updated: 03/ 5/11 09:20 PM

Are you a peanut butter fan? If so, you may want to check product labels to make sure you're not affected by the latest peanut butter recall.

The recall, announced Friday, involves Skippy peanut butter jars labeled "reduced fat," both the creamy and super chunk products.

The recall is due to possible Salmonella contamination. A press release, linked to on the Skippy website, explains:

Unilever United States, Inc. today announced a limited recall of Skippy® Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy® Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter Spread, because it may be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The recall is limited to retail stores in the following states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.

ABC News has more details to check if you may have one of the recalled products.