Tag Archives: healthy living

Honey Cinnamon Rolls


This recipe leaves your rolls nice and moist. Adding a little brown sugar to the recipe can really change the structure of your dough.

Yeast Breads are Quick and Easy to make

  • For Bread Machine
  • Level: Simple / Easy
  • Prep Time: 2.5 hours
  • Video Below

Not only did I change the sugar. I also used evaporated milk instead of water. These rolls are slamming good. Your name will be having a thank you behind it.

For this recipe I will be using evaporated milk. It produces a moist, tender golden brown crust. You can use evaporated, whole, low-fat or skim milk based on your preference. You can also use nonfat dry milk instead of fresh milk and add water for the required liquid.

Reminder: Adjusting your liquid depending on the type of flour you use. If you will be using bread flour you will have to add 1/4 cup more liquid.

Dough Ingredients

  • 1 can Evaporated Milk
  • 1/4 cup Water
  • 3 tablespoons Butter
  • 4 cups Bread Flour
  • 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 2 teaspoons Yeast

Dough Directions

Set your machine on “DOUGH” and go do something else.

Once your timer goes off on your bread machine to signal your “DOUGH” is finished, remove pan of dough from machine and place it at work station.

On your work surface place your pans that you will use to cook your rolls.

Butter your pans lightly and add the honey.

Coat the sides with the honey

Remove a ball of dough place on table and roll the dough out very thin. If it’s to thick it will come out bread like. So thin is best.

Cover the dough in butter
Sprinkle some sugar
Sprinkle the cinnamon on
Add the nuts if you want them. Chopped finely
Roll the dough
Cut the dough halfway through for fancy look.

Cut 2” pieces for the rolls. Place your rolls 1\4″ apart in pan.

Set in warm area to rise for 25 to 45 minutes. Check after 25 minutes. Best if at least twice to 3 times original size or more.

Place the rolls in the pans
Rolls are rising

Remove from proofing. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees if convection and 375 regular.

Place your pan in the oven on the center rack. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes or until light brown tops.

Do Not Over Cook… Check through glass door of oven after 25 minutes see if tops are brown then remove them. If not, check at 30 minutes.

Remove from oven

Remove and let cool at least 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes slowly flip the pan onto another pan.
Cinnamon rolls flipped onto tray
Flip the rolls over
Spoon the hot honey on for 10 minutes

As you gain more confidence at baking bread you will be able to lightly knock on bread and rolls. Easy way to know they are done…

When the timer goes off knock lightly with your finger tip nail on top of rolls “FLICK” it in the center. They will be crispy on the crust. You will hear a clear tone when they are done.

Cooking is amazing once you get going. So every time you bake bread. Keep baking, you will see…

You can also freeze any extra dough. Just make the size of dough lay them on a cookie sheet and freeze and remove place in a baggie and take them out of freezer as you want. Easy simple.

Bon Appetit`

God’s Along For The Ride


God is always along for the ride #orgnatlifecom

Shutters For Lies


Shutters For Lies #orgnatlife

The Benefits of Organic Squash: How to Grow Your Own


Squash is a versatile and nutritious vegetable that can be used in a variety of dishes. It is also an easy vegetable to grow, making it an excellent …

The Benefits of Organic Squash: How to Grow Your Own

Visit Jersey, Channel Islands – Vacation Tips and Deals


Save Time and Money with a Jersey Package Deal! Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands, is a destination to discover at a leisurely pace. This …

Visit Jersey, Channel Islands – Vacation Tips and Deals

Love Bombing: grandiose attention/affection to influence/manipulate.


We met on Match.com. I was a serial first-dater; was in a good spot; loved my work (both jobs!); cherished motherhood and my little boy more; was the…

Love Bombing: grandiose attention/affection to influence/manipulate.

Creamy Garlic Chunky Vegetable Pasta


  • 3 cups Heavy Whipping Cream
  • 1 whole Garlic peeled and minced
  • 3 pieces Bacon crispy and chopped into small pieces.
  • Parmesano Cheese finely shredded
  • 8 tablespoons Butter
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Pepper
  • 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
  • 1/2 cup assorted Veggies (per person)
  • Pasta (your choice, I prefer a long thin noodle)

Steam your vegetables to al dente’. Remove and cool. Best if you have an ice bath to put the colander of hot vegetables in for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove and let drain completely.

#Creamy Garlic Chunky Vegetable Pasta with Shrimp

Peel your garlic. Smash and mince. I smash my garlic with my knife first and the skin comes off easily.

#garlic
#mincedgarlic

Cook your bacon till crispy. I cook my bacon in the microwave between paper towels. Chop into small pieces. Add 2/3 to sauce and 1/3 for finished garnish.

#choppedbacon

Start your pasta water add 1 teaspoon salt to water and bring to boil add pasta, cook to al dente, drain and place to the side.

#orgnatlifecom

Add 5 tablespoon butter to pan and turn heat on to medium.

Add garlic to melted butter and stir well to coat. Continue stirring, turn fire to low. Sauté the garlic. For 10 minutes. Add a pinch of salt and continue cooking on low for 15 minutes. You will smell the flora aroma of the garlic. It’s finished.

Roasted garlic

Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of Butter and 2 teaspoons of Italian Seasoning. Stir well.

Heavy whipping cream

Add cream, salt and pepper. Stir well on medium high heat until boils. Turn heat to medium. Turn heat to low as cream thickens. Continue reducing until you bring it to a creamy consistency. Remove from heat.

Garlic sauce

Quickly add the pasta to the hot creamy garlic sauce. Combine gently. Add pasta with sauce to the bowl of vegetables. Garnish with bacon.

Creamy Garlic Chunky Vegetable Pasta with Shrimp

You can choose to add chicken, shrimp or steak for protein.

Creamy Garlic Chunky Vegetable Pasta with Shrimp

Sweeten’ That Heart Attack


Thought you had gone the healthy route and cut almost all sugar out of your diet.

Sugar related obesity can lead to hidden health risks

Did you switch to a substitute sweetener?

BEWARE: warning heart risk and strokes

Everyone likes a sugary snack now and then. But if you often have foods and drinks with sugar substitutes you might be headed for the cardiologist sooner than later.

Added sugar can play a part in weight gain. But sugar substitutes may raise your risk of serious health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease.

You can use less table sugar by using less processed sweeteners such as honey and molasses.

After the new research has opened the door to new health risks with substitute sweeteners my mind no longer fears sugar.

According to Mayo Clinic’s research staff.

Safety of sugar substitutes

Government health agencies oversee ingredients that product-makers add to food. These agencies check ingredients, such as sugar substitutes, before foods or drinks that contain them can go on sale. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows the following sugar substitutes to be used:

• Acesulfame potassium (Sweet One, Sunett).

• Advantame.

• Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal).

• Neotame (Newtame).

• Saccharin (Sweet’N Low).

• Sucralose (Splenda).

• Luo han guo (Monk Fruit in the Raw).

• Purified stevia leaf extracts (Truvia, PureVia, others).

Other countries, such as those in the European Union, have more sugar substitute options than does the United States.

The FDA allows product-makers to use sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol and xylitol, too. The agency doesn’t consider sugar alcohols to be food additives.

The FDA and food safety agencies in other countries also suggest how much of a sugar substitute you can safely have each day. This amount is called the acceptable daily intake (ADI). It varies by a person’s weight and the type of sugar substitute used. Acceptable daily intakes aren’t the same everywhere. They’re different in the United States and Europe, for example.

In general, artificial sweeteners are safe in limited amounts for healthy people, including pregnant people. But limit or cut out sugar substitutes:

• If you’re living with a rare genetic disease called phenylketonuria. Foods and drinks with aspartame can lead to serious health problems.

• If you have a bowel disease. Using sugar substitutes might make your symptoms flare up.

Dietary guidelines for Americans say adults shouldn’t give sugar substitutes to children under 2 years old. In general, experts need to do more studies to learn what long-term health effects sugar substitutes might have on children. Most studies have looked at the effects in adults.

Health benefits linked to sugar substitutes

If you replace added sugar with sugar substitutes, it could lower your risk of getting tooth decay and cavities.

Sugar substitutes also don’t raise the level of sugar in the blood.

For adults and children with overweight or obesity, sugar substitutes also might help manage weight in the short term. That’s because sugar substitutes often are low in calories or have no calories. But it’s not clear whether sugar substitutes can help people manage their weight over the long term.

Over time, it’s most important to eat a healthy diet and get exercise.

Health concerns linked to sugar substitutes

Health agencies have clarified that sugar substitutes do not cause serious health problems.

Sugar substitutes also are not linked to a higher risk of cancer in people. Studies dating back to the 1970s linked the artificial sweetener saccharin to bladder cancer in rats. Since then, research has shown that those findings don’t apply to people.

Some research on long-term, daily use of artificial sweeteners suggests a link to a higher risk of stroke, heart disease and death overall. But other things people do, or healthy habits that people don’t do, may be the cause of the higher risk.

Other research is looking at long-term use of sugar substitutes and the gut. Many focus on how the gut and brain communicate. Researchers are checking to see if sugar substitutes affect cravings for sweets, the way people feel hunger and how the body manages blood sugar.

Sugar alcohols, stevia and luo han guo can cause bloating, gas and diarrhea. The amount of sugar alcohol that causes these symptoms varies from person to person.

In general, it is safest to take in small amounts of sugar substitutes. And it’s best to use sugar substitutes for a short time, or just every once in a while. So try to cut back if you use them a few times a day.

Sugary snacks

The bottom line

Artificial sweeteners can be a short-term way to help some people lessen their use of sugar and lose or manage weight. In general, sugar substitutes are safe for healthy adults.

But be aware of how sugar substitutes affect your food and drink choices. These ingredients may get your tastebuds used to sweetness. And that can make drinking enough water a challenge.

Products made with sugar substitutes also may give you the wrong message about processed foods. A snack labeled low sugar or no sugar may not be the most nutritious choice. Whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables, usually have the best mix of nutrients for the body.

But artificial sweeteners can help some people enjoy sweetness without excess calories. And if used in moderation, artificial sweeteners can be part of a healthy diet.

UPDATE: Mason Jar Fruit Experiment


Well I wanted to see if storing fruit in mason jars really worked. It does and better than I thought.

Started on Monday March 6th today is the 11th. Almost 6 days and the mason jar of bananas are still green. Just starting to ripen.

#banana #masonjarfruitexperiment

Do not do bananas. They look green and you take them out within an hour they start to sweat and turn black. Within 4 hours total glossed over black.

#banana #masonjarbananaexperimentfailure 1
#banana #masonjarbananaexperimentfailure 2
#banana #masonjarbananaexperimentfailure 3
#banana #masonjarbananaexperimentfailure 4

Im also trying the strawberries. 3 weeks ago I bought 16 ounce strawberries. Left them in the refrigerator for about a week or so. They were a little wilted and so I put them in the jar and it actually revived them for another week.

#MasonJarFruitExperiment #Strawberries

Today I bought 3 lbs of strawberries and I put them into the mason jars right away. Storing them in the refrigerator.

20 Minute Chocolate Pie


Wait till you get a hold of these 2 ingredients for this easy chocolate pie your family will enjoy.

#Chocolate Pudding Pie

You can make the pudding from a box or from scratch. It just needs to be hot when applied to your crust.

#Chocolate Pudding Pie
#Chocolate Pudding Pie
#Chocolate Pudding Pie
#Chocolate Pudding Pie

If your going to make the pudding from scratch here’s the Chocolate Cornstarch Pudding recipe.

Chocolate Cornstarch Pudding


My favorite pudding recipe. It’s rich and creamy texture deserves a special mention.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup White Sugar
  • 3 tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • 1/4 cup Cornstarch
  • 1/8 teaspoon Salt
  • 2 3/4 cup Milk
  • 2 tablespoons Butter
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla

Directions

  • Place dry ingredients in pan and mix together
  • Add milk, stir and leave it for 5 mins
  • Place pan on stove and turn heat to medium high and constantly stir until pudding is bubbling, turn heat to medium and continue stirring until pudding thickens
  • Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla and stir until ingredients are combined well
  • Pour pudding into containers or pie shell.
#Chocolate Cornstarch Pudding red
#Chocolate Cornstarch Pudding

BSB SMOOTHIE


Good Morning, wake up to tasty good day

Banana Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie, a delicious fresh fruit energy drink.

I love having this on days when your mornings are sweltering with heat. It is great anytime of the day.

Orange juice, strawberry, banana, blueberry smoothie
INGREDIENTS:
  • 2 Bananas
  • 1/2 cup Frozen Blueberries
  • 2 cups Frozen Strawberries
  • 1 cup Orange Juice
RECIPE:

Add orange juice, banana, frozen strawberries and frozen blueberries to the blender in that order. Turn it to smoothie setting if you have. If not pulsate the blender on and off. After a few minutes turn on medium and stop it. Turn on to high until smooth.

Help them one more time


Addiction needs a village for a cure

Apple Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies


Just trying out some new recipes for the fur babes. They love these cookies. So this week changing the fruit to apples. It’s healthy and nutritious.

Apple Peanut Butter Cookies

Apples, Peanut Butter Oatmeal cookies

INGREDIENTS

2 cups Oatmeal (soaked)

1/2” inch Water cover above oats

1 medium Green Apple

1 cup Peanut butter

2 cups All Purpose Flour

2 Tablespoon Turmeric Powder

1 teaspoon Black Pepper

1/4 to 1/2 cup Water (add slowly to thin mix batter out if needed)

DIRECTIONS

Place 2 cups oatmeal in container and cover 1/2 inch water over the top. Leave that set until almost all the water has been absorbed. About 1.5 hour

2 cups Oatmeal
1/2” inch water to cover oatmeal
1/2 “ inch or middle of the thumb of water over the oatmeal, leave soaking for 1 to 1.5 hours

Heat oven to 400 degree F. Grease 1” x 15”x 21” cookie sheet with the olive oil

1 1/2 cup sliced apples
Slice apples into small 1/2” inch pieces

Stir / Cream the ingredients together. Make sure everything is mixed together.

Stir in 1 cup Peanut Butter
Add 1 cup Peanut Butter to the Oatmeal

Place the sliced apples in the bowl

Add 1 1/2 cups Sliced Apples

After getting those ingredients mixed time to add the flour.

Add 2 cups Flour
Add extra water as needed to thin out batter

Place the dough onto the cookie sheet and smooth out to thin layer.

Smooth out evenly

Place in oven on center rack for 30 minutes

After 30 minutes remove the pan from the oven. The sides should be slightly pulled away from the pans edge and golden brown in color.

Get the pizza cutter and cut your squares. Wait until cookies are cool to touch.

Take the pizza cutter wheel and cut into squares

You can make the size of the cookie fit your dog.

Cut into 1” to 2” inch pieces

Remove from pan after completely cool.

Cookies can be removed from the pan after completely cooled

Put into an airtight container and place in the refrigerator or freezer. I have 4 dogs and this last 3 weeks. I also just take out what I need.

Place cookies in the air tight container

You can adjust this recipe to your dogs taste or yours. I ate one and I could taste the apples and peanut butter. My dogs on the other hand could really smell their treats baking and waited by the kitchen door in utter excitement. They smell something new.

Your dogs will love them until the last cookie…

Enjoy !!!

The Moment You Realize


When you realize what you have done 😮💩

BREAD: Just 5 Ingredients


Dr. Pradip Jamnadas talks about bread and the over use of non essential ingredients.

Dr. Pradip Jamnadas

Basic bread should have 5 ingredients. Flour, sugar, salt, water and yeast. Very little sugar equals 1 tablespoon maximum for 2 lbs of bread dough. Add all the butter and animal fat you want.

It’s what you buy that is adding the weight gain. Not what you are eating.

Have you forgotten to read labels. I know I sure did. Something we should be not be relaxed on. Now more than ever you need to read the ingredients list and ask yourself if all those extra ingredients really necessary. Seriously, some ingredients you can’t even pronounce. Why do you want that in your food?

So this is just what you need to listen to. Change your eating habits and see the difference. Feel the change in energy.

Check out more videos. Subscribe Today

Healthy Moms, Stronger Babies


PROTECT THE HEALTH OF ALL MOMS AND BABIES

March of Dimes is working for you.

DONATE NOW

Each year, one woman dies every 12 hours from pregnancy related causes, and 1 in 10 babies is born preterm.

Healthy Moms, Strong Babies

When you make a contribution, you’re supporting parents throughout their pregnancies and helping to end preventable maternal health risks and death, end preterm birth and close the health equity gap for every family.

DONATE TODAY

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Together we can take on the critical issues facing families, fight for their health and make the country more equitable for everyone.

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Leftovers: Strawberry Short Cake Compote


Take your leftover strawberry compote and turn it into something new.

Homemade Fresh Strawberry Shortcake Compote

You’ll find just how easy it is to make your own strawberry jam without all the extra sugar and junk your body does not need.

Yes trust me when I say less sugar and no preservatives does a body good.

I had some leftover frozen strawberries from this past season. So I added the frozen strawberries to my compote and 1” inch of water above the strawberries and turn on the heat under my pan to high.

Bring to a full boil and reduce the heat to a slow simmer. It’s more about the flavors you are bringing out with the slower simmer.

At this point the house is smelling like a strawberry field at picking time. The sweet undeniable smells of hot summer days come rushing through my senses. I just want to throw open the windows and let the world have a whiff.

Once your strawberries puff up (15 to 20 minutes) you can remove the lid and smash the strawberries with a fork or potato masher. Depending on how chunky you want your jam.

Make sure you continuously stir and watch the pot as they say. Jams are hard to clean up. Plus at this point you shouldn’t be using any heat that is going to make a boil. Simmer is tiny bubbles. Just like you see in champagne.

Tiny bubbles like champagne

Continue cooking without the lid on low heat to reduce the fluid. This might take up to an hour.

Still to much fluid. Keep reducing

During this time you need to taste it for sweetness. You can add sugar or vanilla at this time if needed. Depending on how sweet your strawberry short cake compote was.

Once it is semi thick and sticks to your spoon with just a little bit of slide to it. It’s ready, you can turn the heat off and let it rest. It will continue to thicken on its own.

Strawberry jam is sticking to the spoon. Remove from heat.

Believe it or not strawberries have a natural pectin. So it will thicken all by its self.

Strawberry Jam is cooling down

Add the cooled jam to your containers.

I put all my jams in 3 ounce containers with lids and I freeze them. That way I can have fresh strawberry jam or any other flavor anytime I want.

Check out all my jam recipe’s.

Enjoy 😊

5 Best Sugar Substitutes to Replace Processed Sugar and High Fructose Corn Syrup


Best Sugar Substitutes to Replace Processed Sugar Do you know what the best Sugar Substitutes to Replace Processed Sugar are? If you are trying to …

5 Best Sugar Substitutes to Replace Processed Sugar and High Fructose Corn Syrup

I Know Who I Am NOT…


By Chad Rhodes

When was the last time you took a long look into that mirror? When was the last time you have done the “Me Check”? And if you did, did you ask yourself what have I been thinking???? Mental Check Up is worth a million my friend… If You assume you are “Un-Breakable”, your not. We sometimes forget that we are all humans.

Stop consuming your life and live it

Stop feeling sorry for yourself and start living

Stop Playing the victim and start living

We all need to keep up with these small things that could change our life rapidly into the dark side . Don’t keep that door closed on the “I can’t” corner. Open up and let it go so you can dump off the excess.

Don’t you wonder why we all think that we can not do something. That small hesitation, that we all have right before we are about to board a “Risk”. Our fears take over, even when we know we can.

Don’t be fooled it happens to everyone. You just need the correct tools to combat the negative fields that seem to pile up at times..

Listen to a great inspirational speech by Matthew McConaughey

We all have that moment when we can change it to reflect the positive. Just remember we can all find ourselves on the positive side when we let go of the excess. You might ask what is excess. That you must ask yourself. What makes you crazy, your fears, the negative influences. You’ll find it when you start to look for it. Then You Can Open That Door and Throw It Away.

Need help for domestic violence? Call toll-free: 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE).

If you’re suicidal, we recommend contacting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Dr. Becker’s Bites


https://drbeckersbites.com/

We are excited to introduce Dr. Becker’s Forever Dog Bites. This unique one-of-a-kind treat was crafted by years of research that can be found in the newly released book, “The Forever Dog.”

Sloppy Joe’s


We are using spices and veggies instead of ketchup to flavor our yummy kid friendly and adult pleasing yummy homemade sloppy joes. No preservatives.

Add 1/4 of each green, red and yellow peppers 🫑 cut up into your choice of size and 1 onion. If your making this for kid’s you may want to dice the peppers and onion’s into very small pieces. I like 1” inch piece’s for adults. You can also purée in the blender for a smoother texture.

While the meat 🥩 is cooking cut up your veggies 🥗 and onions 🧅 .. Cook your meat 🥩 down and drain the grease.

Add your onion 🧅 and 🫑 peppers. Add 1 teaspoon salt.

Add 2 Teaspoons of garlic. I use 2 of the frozen 5 gram cubes. ( 1 Teaspoon each cube ). Continue cooking

Cook down until soft and onion’s are translucent.

  • 1 pound Hamburger
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 tablespoon White Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Celery Salt
  • 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 tablepoon All Spice
  • 1 can Tomato Paste 6 oz
  • 1 1/2 cups Water

Adding water 1/2 cup at a time. Mix it up until all the water is gone.

Simmer for 45 minutes

You can adjust the serving size by increasing all the ingredients. This makes approximately 6 to 8 sandwiches.

Yummy ready to go

I toasted some fresh baked garlic pepper Jack cheese bread. It paired wonderfully. So buns for the kids and add cheese or a different bread for the adults.

Enjoy

Growing Medical Cannabis. Step One


Your thinking about growing your own? Prescription in a natural plant.

Flowered Bud

Here are a few steps you can take to get started.

#1 You’ll need seeds

Before you start let’s get everything you’ll need to set up for success.

  • Seeds (There are several to choose from)
  • Containers ( seedlings can be planted in sprouting cubes or directly into big pots 5 gallon size).
  • Soil ( should be light fluffy non fertilized).
  • Lights ( depending on how many plants, lighting can be as simple as a regular light bulb for the seedlings to Full Spectrum lighting for growth of vegetation and flowering)
  • pH Tester ( very important pH balance of the water should be between: First weeks: 5.8 – 5.9. Pre-bloom: 6.0 – 6.2. Real bloom: 6.0 – 6.3
  • Water ( test your water. You can use bottled spring water with no additives.)

Starting your seeds. You’ll need 1 paper towel and a plastic bag or a plate. Good water is necessary for a healthy start.

Place the paper towel in the bowl, plate or plastic bag. Place your seed or seeds in the center. If more than one seed make sure to give plenty of space between the seeds. Gently pour the water over the paper towel and place in a dark place. Check every day. Should only take a couple of days till a little white root appears. Wait until it’s about 1/2 inch long.

Cover it up and water

After the seed germinates wait until it is 1/2” long. Make a hole about 1 inch deep. A pencil eraser is a measuring tool. Place the root down and the seed cap. Lightly place some fluffy dirt on top and water. Set under the lights about 1” inch above seedling. Don’t turn on the lights until the 2 green leaves appear. Then 18 to 20 hours of light per day.

DO YOU SUFFER FROM HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? SODIUM, IT’S IN EVERYTHING…


If you are suffering from High Blood Pressure the culprit could be sodium.

Have you been reading the labels lately?

I had stopped reading the labels for a couple of years knowing I had read the labels for the items I had chosen. I was shocked to see the changes. Today it seems all products contain some sort of sodium. If you are reading your labels as you shop you will notice SODIUM even when it says “NO ADDED SALT, LOW SALT and LOW SODIUM”.

For optimal heart-health, the American Heart Association recommends consuming no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium daily. Too much salt, says Dr. Pollak from MAYO Clinic, can increase your blood pressure, in turn, increasing your risk for a heart attack or stroke.

As you can see in the chart below the changes are constant. Today one slice of white bread has 130mg of sodium. Bottled Water has Calcium Chloride, Sodium Bicarbonate which equals to 5mg per 1 cup. More and more products are hiking up the sodium count so watch your labels.

What shocked me the most was milk and water!!!

I didn’t realize no matter what type of organic, fancy expensive or regular cheap cow milk the sodium levels were no less than 120mg of sodium in a one cup serving. WOW, I searched every label in the dairy section just to find that some milks went even higher.

Water, really!!! Adding sodium to every bottled water. Not only sodium, flavoring and natural minerals. Natural minerals, already known to be in water. Minerals are removed when reverse osmosis takes place to filter out the harmful additives. This is no joke. Next time you buy water check it out.

I always shy away from processed meats, processed cheeses and spreads, canned soups and frozen food as much as possible. These are products that can contain thousands of milligrams of sodium. The manufactures use sodium as a natural preservative. It is widely used in all foods.

ideal blood pressure chart 70

You can no longer trust the same brand to continue to have the same ingredients as weeks and months go by. It had only been 1 year since I had last read the labels on some of the staple products I buy each week. Big changes in those foods happened and I wasn’t paying attention. I was intaking so much sodium I had 6 heart attacks in 4 days thinking it was heart burn. Yeah it was heart burn alright. I thought I was doing my healthy life style eating habits but I slipped up and stopped paying attention.

So Remember… READ YOUR LABELS

WHAT IS THE PALEO DIET ALL ABOUT?


Seems everyone is moving toward diets on the lighter side. Gluten Free, Dairy Free and Plant Based products are all the rage for a healthy lifestyle for 2020. So todays review is on the Paleo Diet.

The Paleolithic diet, Paleo diet, caveman diet, or stone-age diet is a modern fad diet requiring the sole or predominant eating of foods presumed to have been available to humans during the Paleolithic era.

The digestive abilities of anatomically modern humans, however, are different from those of pre-Homo sapiens humans, which has been used to criticize the diet’s core premise. During the 2.6 million year-long Paleolithic era, the highly variable climate and worldwide spread of human populations meant that humans were, by necessity, nutritionally adaptable. Supporters of the diet mistakenly assume that human digestion has remained essentially unchanged over time.

While there is wide variability in the way the paleo diet is interpreted, the diet typically includes vegetables, fruits, nuts, roots, and meat and typically excludes foods such as dairy products, grains, sugar, legumes, processed oils, salt, alcohol, and coffee. [additional citation(s) needed]

The diet is based on avoiding not just processed foods, but rather the foods that humans began eating after the Neolithic Revolution when humans transitioned from hunter-gatherer lifestyles to settled agriculture. The ideas behind the diet can be traced to Walter L. Voegtlin

In the 21st century, the paleo diet was popularized in the best-selling books of Loren Cordain.

The paleo diet is promoted as a way of improving health. There is some evidence that following this diet may lead to improvements in terms of body composition and metabolic effects compared with the typical Western diet or compared with diets recommended by national nutritional guidelines. Following the paleo diet can lead to nutritional deficiencies such as an inadequate calcium intake, and side effects can include weakness, diarrhea, and headaches.

The diet advises eating only foods presumed to be available to Paleolithic humans, but there is wide variability in people’s understanding of what foods these were, and an accompanying ongoing debate. The diet is based on avoiding not just modern processed foods, but also the foods that humans began eating after the Neolithic Revolution.

The scientific literature generally uses the term “Paleo nutrition pattern”, which has been variously described as:

  • “vegetables, fruits, nuts, roots, meat, and organ meats”;
  • “vegetables (including root vegetables), fruit (including fruit oils, e.g., olive oil, coconut oil, and palm oil), nuts, fish, meat, and eggs, and it excluded dairy, grain-based foods, legumes, extra sugar, and nutritional products of industry (including refined fats and refined carbohydrates)”; and
  • “avoids processed foods, and emphasizes eating vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, eggs, and lean meats”.

The diet forbids the consumption of all dairy products. This is because milking did not exist until animals were domesticated after the Paleolithic era.

It has been thought that remaining on the Paleo diet can not sustain a healthy diet in 2020. Restricting certain food groups takes away many vitamins and minerals our bodies need to run a healthy life.

If you want to create a healthy lifestyle you can learn to consume healthy quanties of each food group with portion control.

If you sit down and eat a bag of greasy chips instead of eating some fruit, what do you think is going to happen? Your going to intake very little nutritional value. What we want to achieve is balance between all foods.

Now there are two ways of going about creating the perfect eating habits. You can eat small portions of healthy foods all day long and have a largeer meal of your choice or you can have 3 well balanced portioned meals and 2 snacks.

Have you ever noticed that your frozen meals at the store are portioned? Have you ever read the ingredients? Look at the sodium level. Anywhere from 800 to 1600 grams. That is a lot of salt. Simple solution make your own frozen meals. Cheaper and no preservatives.

Not sure if you have seen how much EXTRA yeast they are adding into processed foods. Yeast is no longer just in bread. All most every product has yeast in the ingredients. Sometimes more than once, because of another product in the ingredients has also added yeast to their products.

So if you feel you can no longer control your weight without some kind of pill or diet you still can, just by following a few easy steps. Sure it might seem a bit much until you get a routine down. That won’t take but a couple of times. You can take one day a month or a weekend and prepare meals and stick them in your freezer. All well balanced and healthy.

So think about what you are consuming before you buy it.

DASH DIET, Needs More Research, What’s your opinion?


healthlife-sign

SOURCED FROM: MAYO CLINIC, Wikipedia

IS THIS DIET HEART SMART?

DASH DIET:  MAYO CLINIC reports healthy eating to lower your blood pressure.
The DASH diet emphasizes the right portion sizes, variety of foods and nutrients. Discover how DASH can improve your health and lower your blood pressure.

DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The DASH diet is a lifelong approach to healthy eating that’s designed to help treat or prevent high blood pressure (hypertension). The DASH diet plan was developed to lower blood pressure without medication in research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

The DASH diet encourages you to reduce the sodium in your diet and eat a variety of foods rich in nutrients that help lower blood pressure, such as potassium, calcium and magnesium.
By following the DASH diet, you may be able to reduce your blood pressure by a few points in just two weeks. Over time, the top number of your blood pressure (systolic blood pressure) could drop by eight to 14 points, which can make a significant difference in your health risks.
Because the DASH diet is a healthy way of eating, it offers health benefits besides just lowering blood pressure. The DASH diet is also in line with dietary recommendations to prevent osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
DASH diet: Sodium levels

The DASH diet emphasizes vegetables, fruits and low-fat dairy foods — and moderate amounts of whole grains, fish, poultry and nuts.
In addition to the standard DASH diet, there is also a lower sodium version of the diet. You can choose the version of the diet that meets your health needs:

Standard DASH diet. You can consume up to 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium a day.
Lower sodium DASH diet. You can consume up to 1,500 mg of sodium a day.
Both versions of the DASH diet aim to reduce the amount of sodium in your diet compared with what you might get in a typical American diet, which can amount to a whopping 3,400 mg of sodium a day or more.
The standard DASH diet meets the recommendation from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to keep daily sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg a day.
The American Heart Association recommends 1,500 mg a day of sodium as an upper limit for all adults. If you aren’t sure what sodium level is right for you, talk to your doctor.
DASH diet: What to eat

Both versions of the DASH diet include lots of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products. The DASH diet also includes some fish, poultry and legumes, and encourages a small amount of nuts and seeds a few times a week.

You can eat red meat, sweets and fats in small amounts. The DASH diet is low in saturated fat, trans fat and total fat.
Here’s a look at the recommended servings from each food group for the 2,000-calorie-a-day DASH diet.
Grains: 6 to 8 servings a day
Grains include bread, cereal, rice and pasta. Examples of one serving of grains include 1 slice whole-wheat bread, 1 ounce dry cereal, or 1/2 cup cooked cereal, rice or pasta.
Focus on whole grains because they have more fiber and nutrients than do refined grains. For instance, use brown rice instead of white rice, whole-wheat pasta instead of regular pasta and whole-grain bread instead of white bread. Look for products labeled “100% whole grain” or “100% whole wheat.”
Grains are naturally low in fat. Keep them this way by avoiding butter, cream and cheese sauces.
Vegetables: 4 to 5 servings a day
Tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, greens and other vegetables are full of fiber, vitamins, and such minerals as potassium and magnesium. Examples of one serving include 1 cup raw leafy green vegetables or 1/2 cup cut-up raw or cooked vegetables.
Don’t think of vegetables only as side dishes — a hearty blend of vegetables served over brown rice or whole-wheat noodles can serve as the main dish for a meal.
Fresh and frozen vegetables are both good choices. When buying frozen and canned vegetables, choose those labeled as low sodium or without added salt.
To increase the number of servings you fit in daily, be creative. In a stir-fry, for instance, cut the amount of meat in half and double up on the vegetables.
Fruits: 4 to 5 servings a day
Many fruits need little preparation to become a healthy part of a meal or snack. Like vegetables, they’re packed with fiber, potassium and magnesium and are typically low in fat — coconuts are an exception.
Examples of one serving include one medium fruit, 1/2 cup fresh, frozen or canned fruit, or 4 ounces of juice.
Have a piece of fruit with meals and one as a snack, then round out your day with a dessert of fresh fruits topped with a dollop of low-fat yogurt.
Leave on edible peels whenever possible. The peels of apples, pears and most fruits add interesting texture to recipes and contain healthy nutrients and fiber.
Remember that citrus fruits and juices, such as grapefruit, can interact with certain medications, so check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if they’re OK for you.
If you choose canned fruit or juice, make sure no sugar is added.
Dairy: 2 to 3 servings a day
Milk, yogurt, cheese and other dairy products are major sources of calcium, vitamin D and protein. But the key is to make sure that you choose dairy products that are low-fat or fat-free because otherwise they can be a major source of fat — and most of it is saturated.
Examples of one serving include 1 cup skim or 1 percent milk, 1 cup low-fat yogurt, or 1 1/2 ounces part-skim cheese.
Low-fat or fat-free frozen yogurt can help you boost the amount of dairy products you eat while offering a sweet treat. Add fruit for a healthy twist.
If you have trouble digesting dairy products, choose lactose-free products or consider taking an over-the-counter product that contains the enzyme lactase, which can reduce or prevent the symptoms of lactose intolerance.
Go easy on regular and even fat-free cheeses because they are typically high in sodium.
Lean meat, poultry and fish: 6 one-ounce servings or fewer a day
Meat can be a rich source of protein, B vitamins, iron and zinc. Choose lean varieties and aim for no more than 6 one-ounce servings a day. Cutting back on your meat portion will allow room for more vegetables.
Examples of one serving include 1 egg or 1 ounce of cooked meat, poultry or fish.
Trim away skin and fat from poultry and meat and then bake, broil, grill or roast instead of frying in fat.
Eat heart-healthy fish, such as salmon, herring and tuna. These types of fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are healthy for your heart.
Nuts, seeds and legumes: 4 to 5 servings a week
Almonds, sunflower seeds, kidney beans, peas, lentils and other foods in this family are good sources of magnesium, potassium and protein.
They’re also full of fiber and phytochemicals, which are plant compounds that may protect against some cancers and cardiovascular disease.
Serving sizes are small and are intended to be consumed only a few times a week because these foods are higher in calories.
Examples of one serving include 1/3 cup nuts, 2 tablespoons seeds or nut butter, or 1/2 cup cooked beans or peas.
Nuts sometimes get a bad rap because of their fat content, but they contain healthy types of fat — monounsaturated fat and omega-3 fatty acids. Nuts are high in calories, however, so eat them in moderation. Try adding them to stir-fries, salads or cereals.
Soybean-based products, such as tofu and tempeh, can be a good alternative to meat because they contain all of the amino acids your body needs to make a complete protein, just like meat.
Fats and oils: 2 to 3 servings a day
Fat helps your body absorb essential vitamins and helps your body’s immune system. But too much fat increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes and obesity.
The DASH diet strives for a healthy balance by limiting total fat to less than 30 percent of daily calories from fat, with a focus on the healthier monounsaturated fats.
Examples of one serving include 1 teaspoon soft margarine, 1 tablespoon mayonnaise or 2 tablespoons salad dressing.
Saturated fat and trans fat are the main dietary culprits in increasing your risk of coronary artery disease. DASH helps keep your daily saturated fat to less than 6 percent of your total calories by limiting use of meat, butter, cheese, whole milk, cream and eggs in your diet, along with foods made from lard, solid shortenings, and palm and coconut oils.
Avoid trans fat, commonly found in such processed foods as crackers, baked goods and fried items.
Read food labels on margarine and salad dressing so that you can choose foods that are lowest in saturated fat and free of trans fat.
Sweets: 5 servings or fewer a week
You don’t have to banish sweets entirely while following the DASH diet — just go easy on them. Examples of one serving include 1 tablespoon sugar, jelly or jam, 1/2 cup sorbet, or 1 cup lemonade.
When you eat sweets, choose those that are fat-free or low-fat, such as sorbets, fruit ices, jelly beans, hard candy, graham crackers or low-fat cookies.
Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal) and sucralose (Splenda) may help satisfy your sweet tooth while sparing the sugar. But remember that you still must use them sensibly. It’s OK to swap a diet cola for a regular cola, but not in place of a more nutritious beverage such as low-fat milk or even plain water.
Cut back on added sugar, which has no nutritional value but can pack on calories.
DASH diet: Alcohol and caffeine

Drinking too much alcohol can increase blood pressure. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that men limit alcohol to no more than two drinks a day and women to one or less.
The DASH diet doesn’t address caffeine consumption. The influence of caffeine on blood pressure remains unclear. But caffeine can cause your blood pressure to rise at least temporarily.

If you already have high blood pressure or if you think caffeine is affecting your blood pressure, talk to your doctor about your caffeine consumption.
DASH diet and weight loss

While the DASH diet is not a weight-loss program, you may indeed lose unwanted pounds because it can help guide you toward healthier food choices.
The DASH diet generally includes about 2,000 calories a day. If you’re trying to lose weight, you may need to eat fewer calories. You may also need to adjust your serving goals based on your individual circumstances — something your health care team can help you decide.

Tips to cut back on sodium

The foods at the core of the DASH diet are naturally low in sodium. So just by following the DASH diet, you’re likely to reduce your sodium intake. You also reduce sodium further by:

Using sodium-free spices or flavorings with your food instead of salt
Not adding salt when cooking rice, pasta or hot cereal
Rinsing canned foods to remove some of the sodium
Buying foods labeled “no salt added,” “sodium-free,” “low sodium” or “very low sodium”
One teaspoon of table salt has 2,325 mg of sodium. When you read food labels, you may be surprised at just how much sodium some processed foods contain.
Even low-fat soups, canned vegetables, ready-to-eat cereals and sliced turkey from the local deli — foods you may have considered healthy — often have lots of sodium.
You may notice a difference in taste when you choose low-sodium food and beverages. If things seem too bland, gradually introduce low-sodium foods and cut back on table salt until you reach your sodium goal. That’ll give your palate time to adjust.
Using salt-free seasoning blends or herbs and spices may also ease the transition. It can take several weeks for your taste buds to get used to less salty foods.
Putting the pieces of the DASH diet together

Try these strategies to get started on the DASH diet:
Change gradually. If you now eat only one or two servings of fruits or vegetables a day, try to add a serving at lunch and one at dinner. Rather than switching to all whole grains, start by making one or two of your grain servings whole grains. Increasing fruits, vegetables and whole grains gradually can also help prevent bloating or diarrhea that may occur if you aren’t used to eating a diet with lots of fiber. You can also try over-the-counter products to help reduce gas from beans and vegetables.
Reward successes and forgive slip-ups. Reward yourself with a nonfood treat for your accomplishments — rent a movie, purchase a book or get together with a friend. Everyone slips, especially when learning something new. Remember that changing your lifestyle is a long-term process. Find out what triggered your setback and then just pick up where you left off with the DASH diet.
Add physical activity. To boost your blood pressure lowering efforts even more, consider increasing your physical activity in addition to following the DASH diet. Combining both the DASH diet and physical activity makes it more likely that you’ll reduce your blood pressure.
Get support if you need it. If you’re having trouble sticking to your diet, talk to your doctor or dietitian about it. You might get some tips that will help you stick to the DASH diet.

Remember, healthy eating isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition. What’s most important is that, on average, you eat healthier foods with plenty of variety — both to keep your diet nutritious and to avoid boredom or extremes. And with the DASH diet, you can have both.

 

 

Wikipedia Reports: DASH DIET needs more medical references for verification or relies too heavily on primary sources.

The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is a dietary pattern promoted by the U.S.-based National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services) to prevent and control hypertension. The DASH diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy foods. It includes meat, fish, poultry, nuts, and beans, and is limited in sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, red meat, and added fats. In addition to its effect on blood pressure, it is designed to be a well-balanced approach to eating for the general public. DASH is recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a healthy eating plan. The DASH diet is one of three healthy diets recommended in the 2015-2020 US Dietary Guidelines, which also include the Mediterranean diet or a vegetarian diet. The AHA considers the DASH diet «specific and well-documented across age, sex and ethnically diverse groups».
The DASH diet is based on NIH studies that examined three dietary plans and their results. None of the plans were vegetarian, but the DASH plan incorporated more fruits and vegetables, low fat or nonfat dairy, beans, and nuts than the others studied. The DASH diet reduced systolic blood pressure by 6 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 3 mm Hg in patients with high normal blood pressure (formerly called “pre-hypertension”). Those with hypertension dropped by 11 and 6 mm Hg, respectively. These changes in blood pressure occurred with no changes in body weight. The DASH dietary pattern is adjusted based on daily caloric intake ranging from 1,600 to 3,100 dietary calories. Although this diet is associated with a reduction of blood pressure and improvement of gout, there are uncertainties around whether its recommendation of low-fat dairy products is beneficial or detrimental. The diet is also advised to diabetic or obese individuals.
The DASH diet was further tested and developed in the Optimal Macronutrient Intake Trial for Heart Health (OmniHeart diet). “The DASH and DASH-sodium trials demonstrated that a carbohydrate-rich diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products and that is reduced in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol substantially lowered blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. OmniHeart demonstrated that partial replacement of carbohydrate with either protein (about half from plant sources) or with unsaturated fat (mostly monounsaturated fat) can further reduce blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and coronary heart disease risk.”
In January 2018, DASH was named the number 1 for “Best Diets Overall” for the eighth year in a row,, and also as “For Healthy Eating”, and “Best Heart-Healthy Diet”; and tied number 2 “For Diabetes”(out of 40 diets tested) in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Diets” rankings.
The DASH diet is similar to the Mediterranean diet and the AHA diet.

PROS and CONS

It’s Your Life, Take Care Of It…

PROS: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH, has been voted as the best overall diet for several years…(DASH) was developed by a panel of experts at the National Institutes of Health to help Americans lower their blood pressure, but as it turns out it is also effective at weight loss as well.

CONS: DASH is not a weight loss plan for those looking for a “quick fix” solution. In the aforementioned U.S. News and World Report Best Diets rankings, DASH only ranked number nine for “best weight loss diets”. As with other diets, it must be adopted as a long-term lifestyle change in order to work.

All the information in this article is found in MAYO CLINIC, Wikipedia.

We do not endorse any product or research. It is up to you to make your own conclusion which is right for you.

 

 

 

KETO DIET… Not all Hype


Keto Diet

The ketogenic diet is all about eating the right foods in the right proportions. When you get it right, it’ll trigger your body to start burning stored fat.

Is it a Diet or is it a Lifestyle change? That’s the question… Are you seeking to medically repair an illness or weight loss permantely.

In the 1920’s it was medically introduced to treat epilepsy in children. Today it helps diabetics regulate their blood sugar levels. It’s also being introduced to cancer patients for weight control.

Yes, you can use it as a diet method and loose the weight you need and go back to the same old lifestyle. But, by returning to sugar and yeast you are creating a YO-YO diet lifestyle. It’s better to try and balance a nutrious diet.

What foods can you eat?

Ewoldt says:

  • nuts
  • seeds
  • full-fat cheese and other dairy products
  • plain Greek yogurt
  • non-starchy and fibrous vegetables
  • oils
  • along with smaller amounts of meats, eggs and fish, become keto diet mainstays.


You’ll need to sharply limit carbohydrates

  • bread and baked goods
  • sweets
  • pasta
  • breakfast cereals
  • starchy vegetables like potatoes, sweet potatoes
  • corn and peas
  • beans
  • fruit
  • beer

Does it really work for weight loss?

Yes — but that answer comes with a qualifier. It takes two to three weeks on the diet to start fat burning (ketosis) in the body. So, don’t expect instant results. Some studies have shown that adhering to low- or very-low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets helps people lose weight. However, long term there is little difference between a ketogenic diet and a higher carbohydrate diet.

Ketogenic diet for Epilepsy

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that in medicine is used primarily to treat difficult-to-control epilepsy in children and now for adults.

The diet forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates. Normally, the carbohydrates contained in food are converted into glucose, which is then transported around the body and is particularly important in fueling brain function.

However, if little carbohydrate remains in the diet, the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies. The ketone bodies pass into the brain and replace glucose as an energy source.

An elevated level of ketone bodies in the blood, a state known as ketosis, leads to a reduction in the frequency of epileptic seizures.

Around half of children and young people with epilepsy who have tried some form of this diet saw the number of seizures drop by at least half, and the effect persists even after discontinuing the diet.

Some evidence indicates that adults with epilepsy may benefit from the diet, and that a less strict regimen, such as a modified Atkins diet, is similarly effective.

AGING: My Dying Wish


My dying wish is not to leave behind any burdens for anyone to deal with. Leaving the benefits, not the burdens is my motto.

As the aging process takes place it becomes more apparent that all the “T’s get crossed and paperwork signed.

We are living longer with medical conditions that require help of some sort. We need to be ready for the unfortunate medical events, death or living longer and needing care.

Not wanting to burden family members with the financial task there are insurances that you can purchase. Better to have everything prepared ahead of time.

There are many insurance policies that are geared towards long living with medical conditions like Alzheimer’s, dementia ALS or any other debilitating illness.

Long-Term Care Insurance Vs. Assisted Living Insurance these are 2 very different insurance plans.

Long-term care insurance is a policy designed to cover at least some of your expenses if you have a chronic but not life-threatening illness, long-term disability, or you are unable to live independently because you can’t perform a number of the activities of daily living. Those activities typically include bathing, dressing, feeding yourself, taking medication, using the bathroom, and being able to move from a sitting to a standing position. Most contracts also cover cognitive impairments, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Under the terms of most long-term care contracts, you can be cared for in a nursing home or at home. The insurance pays for custodial rather than skilled care, which must be provided by licensed professionals. Skilled care is covered in part by Medicare and Medigap.

Assisted living is a type of housing that seniors move into when they are fairly healthy but need a bit of extra help, says Colleen Dennis, case management team manager with Genworth Insurance. “They typically provide room and board, meals and some level of nursing oversight.

The type of facility will depend on the level of care needed. Plan pricing will depend on which type of facility you will be able to qualify for.

Final Expense Insurance is designed to cover the bills that your loved ones will face after your death. These costs will include medical bills and funeral expenses. … Final expense insurance is also known as burial insurance.

Life Insurance is another type. There are two basic types: term and permanent. Term insurance is less expensive and has a set timeframe. Permanent life insurance lasts your entire lifetime (assuming you continue to pay the premiums) and is divided into two sub-types: whole life and universal life. Picking which type is best for your family depends on several factors, including your budget and how the funds are accessed.

While permanent life insurance is generally more expensive than term life insurance, permanent policies can guarantee there is money for your kids and possibly your grandchildren. Benefit amounts range from $50,000 to more than $1 million and are paid even if you live past 100. A term life insurance policy, by comparison, covers you for a set amount of time.

There are many agencies to choose from. Just check the reputation of the insurance company. There are about 5 top insurance companies with excellent reputations.

Key Facts about Use of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products


Key Facts about Use of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products

  • Electronic cigarettes—or e-cigarettes—are also called vapes, e-hookahs, vape pens, tank systems, mods, and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).
  • Using an e-cigarette is commonly called vaping.
  • E-cigarettes work by heating a liquid to produce an aerosol that users inhale into their lungs.
  • The liquid can contain: nicotine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinoid (CBD) oils, and other substances, flavorings, and additives. THC is the psychoactive mind-altering compound of marijuana that produces the “high.”

Some of these products contain antifreeze / engine coolant. These products are harmful and can cause death if used improperly. Prolonged exposure or high concentrations of vapor or mist may cause mild irritation of the respiratory respiratory and headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, disturbances of the central nervous system, involuntary eye irritation. If swallowed may cause death if not given emergency services.

American Heart Association… 10 MYTHS Of HEART DISEASE


Top 10 Myths About Cardiovascular Disease

  • “I’m too young to worry about heart disease.” How you live now affects your risk for cardiovascular diseases later in life. As early as childhood and adolescence, plaque can start accumulating in the arteries and later lead to clogged arteries. One in three Americans has cardiovascular disease, but not all of them are senior citizens. Even young and middle-aged people can develop heart problems – especially now that obesity, type 2 diabetes and other risk factors are becoming more common at a younger age.
  • “I’d know if I had high blood pressure because there would be warning signs.” High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because you don’t usually know you have it. You may never experience symptoms, so don’t wait for your body to alert you that there’s a problem. The way to know if you have high blood pressure is to check your numbers with a simple blood pressure test. Early treatment of high blood pressure is critical because, if left untreated, it can cause heart attack, stroke, kidney damage and other serious health problems. Learn how high blood pressure is diagnosed.
  • “I’ll know when I’m having a heart attack because I’ll have chest pain.” Not necessarily. Although it’s common to have chest pain or discomfort, a heart attack may cause subtle symptoms. These include shortness of breath, nausea, feeling lightheaded, and pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the jaw, neck or back. Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Learn you risk of heart attack today!
  • “Diabetes won’t threaten my heart as long as I take my medication.” Treating diabetes can help reduce your risk for or delay the development of cardiovascular diseases. But even when blood sugar levels are under control, you’re still at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. That’s because the risk factors that contribute to diabetes onset also make you more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. These overlapping risk factors include high blood pressure, overweight and obesity, physical inactivity and smoking.
  • “Heart disease runs in my family, so there’s nothing I can do to prevent it.” Although people with a family history of heart disease are at higher risk, you can take steps to dramatically reduce your risk. Create an action plan to keep your heart healthy by tackling these to-dos: get active; control cholesterol; eat better; manage blood pressure; maintain a healthy weight; control blood sugar; and stop smoking.
  • “I don’t need to have my cholesterol checked until I’m middle-aged.” The American Heart Association recommends you start getting your cholesterol checked every 5 years starting at age 20. It’s a good idea to start having a cholesterol test even earlier if your family has a history of heart disease. Children in these families can have high cholesterol levels, putting them at increased risk for developing heart disease as adults. You can help yourself and your family by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
  • “Heart failure means the heart stops beating.” The heart suddenly stops beating during cardiac arrest, not heart failure. With heart failure, the heart keeps working, but it doesn’t pump blood as well as it should. It can cause shortness of breath, swelling in the feet and ankles or persistent coughing and wheezing. During cardiac arrest, a person loses consciousness and stops normal breathing.
  • “This pain in my legs must be a sign of aging. I’m sure it has nothing to do with my heart.” Leg pain felt in the muscles could be a sign of a condition called peripheral artery disease. PAD results from blocked arteries in the legs caused by plaque buildup. The risk for heart attack or stroke increases for people with PAD.
  • “My heart is beating really fast. I must be having a heart attack.” Some variation in your heart rate is normal. Your heart rate speeds up during exercise or when you get excited, and slows down when you’re sleeping. Most of the time, a change in your heartbeat is nothing to worry about. But sometimes, it can be a sign of arrhythmia, an abnormal or irregular heartbeat. Most arrhythmias are harmless, but some can last long enough to impact how well the heart works and require treatment.
  • “I should avoid exercise after having a heart attack.” No! As soon as possible, get moving with a plan approved for you! Research shows that heart attack survivors who are regularly physically active and make other heart-healthy changes live longer than those who don’t. People with chronic conditions typically find that moderate-intensity activity is safe and beneficial. The American Heart Association recommends at least two and a half hours of moderate intensity physical activity each week For Overall Cardiovascular Health. Find the help you need by joining a cardiac rehabilitation program, but first consult your healthcare provider for advice on developing a physical activity plan tailored to your needs.

DANGEROUS: Key Facts about Vitamin E Acetate


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Key Facts about Vitamin E Acetate

  • Vitamin E acetate is used as an additive, most notably as a thickening agent in THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products.
  • Vitamin E is a vitamin found in many foods, including vegetable oils, cereals, meat, fruits, and vegetables. It is also available as a dietary supplement and in many cosmetic products, like skin creams.
  • Vitamin E acetate usually does not cause harm when ingested as a vitamin supplement or applied to the skin. However, previous research suggests that when vitamin E acetate is inhaled, it may interfere with normal lung functioning.
Any of these products pictured here may contain dangerous substances that can kill you!!!

Latest Outbreak Information From The CDC:

  • This complex investigation spans all states, involves over 2,500 patients, and a wide variety of brands and substances and e-cigarette, or vaping, products.
  • As of December 3, 2019, CDC is only reporting hospitalized EVALI cases and EVALI deaths regardless of hospitalization status. CDC has removed non-hospitalized cases from previously reported case counts. See Public Health Reporting for more information.
  • As of December 17, 2019, a total of 2,506 cases of hospitalized e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) have been reported to CDC from 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands).
  • Fifty-four deaths have been confirmed in 27 states and the District of Columbia (as of December 17, 2019): Alabama, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia
  • The median age of deceased patients was 52 years and ranged from 17 through 75 years (as of December 17, 2019).
  • More deaths are currently under investigation.
  • Data suggest the outbreak peaked in September 2019. However, states continue to report new cases, including deaths, to CDC on a weekly basis.
  • Among cases of hospitalized EVALI patients reported to CDC with available data (as of December 3, 2019): 67% were male (among 2,155 patients with data on sex)
  • 78% were under 35 years old, with a median age of 24 years and age range from 13 to 77 years (among 2,159 patients with data on age)
  • By age group category: 16% of patients were under 18 years old;
  • 38% of patients were 18 to 24 years old;
  • 24% of patients were 25 to 34 years old; and
  • 23% of patients were 35 years or older.
  • 1,782 hospitalized patients had complete information* on substances used in e-cigarette, or vaping, products in the 3 months prior to symptom onset, of whom (as of December 3, 2019): 80% reported using THC-containing products; 35% reported exclusive use of THC-containing products.
  • 54% reported using nicotine-containing products; 13% reported exclusive use of nicotine-containing products.
  • 12% reported using cannabidiol (CBD)-containing products; 1% reported exclusive use of cannabidiol (CBD)-containing products.
  • 40% reported both THC- and nicotine-containing product use.
  • 5% reported no THC-, nicotine-, or CBD-containing product use.
  • Among hospitalized EVALI patients who reported using THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping product brands: The most commonly reported product brand included Dank vapes (56%), followed by TKO (15%), Smart Cart (13%), and Rove (12%). However, regional differences in THC-containing product use were noted.

CDC: WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT LUNG INJURY FROM VAPING OR E CIGARETTE?


CDC Laboratory Findings Reported November 8, 2019:

  • Analyses of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples (fluid samples collected from the lungs) of patients with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) identified vitamin E acetate, an additive in some THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products.
  • CDC laboratory test results of BAL fluid samples from 29 patients submitted to CDC from 10 states found vitamin E acetate in all of the samples.
    • THC was identified in 82% of the samples and nicotine was identified in 62% of the samples.
    • CDC tested for a range of other chemicals that might be found in e-cigarette, or vaping, products, including plant oils, petroleum distillates like mineral oil, MCT (medium chain triglyceride) oil, and terpenes (which are compounds found in or added to THC products). None of these chemicals of concern were detected in the BAL fluid samples tested.
    • This is the first time that we have detected a chemical of concern in biologic samples from patients with these lung injuries. These findings provide direct evidence of vitamin E acetate at the primary site of injury within the lungs.
    • These findings complement the ongoing work of FDAexternal icon and some state public health laboratories to characterize e-liquid exposures and inform the ongoing multistate outbreak.
Any of these products pictured here can kill you !!!

About the Outbreak:

  • CDC is only reporting hospitalized EVALI cases and EVALI deaths regardless of hospitalization status. CDC has removed nonhospitalized cases from previously reported case counts. See Public Health Reporting for more information.
  • As of December 17, 2019, a total of 2,506 hospitalized EVALI cases have been reported to CDC from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands).
    • Fifty-four deaths have been confirmed in 27 states and the District of Columbia (as of December 17, 2019).
  • Although the number of reported cases appears to be declining, states are still reporting new hospitalized EVALI cases to CDC on a weekly basis and should remain vigilant with EVALI case finding and reporting.

About Patient Exposure:

  • All EVALI patients have reported a history of using e-cigarette, or vaping, products.
    • Vitamin E acetate has been identified as a chemical of concern among people with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI).
    • THC is present in most of the samples tested by FDA to date, and most patients report a history of using THC-containing products.
    • The latest national and state findings suggest THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products, particularly from informal sources like friends, family, or in-person or online dealers, are linked to most of the cases and play a major role in the outbreak.
  • CDC has analyzed national data on use of THC-containing product brands by EVALI patients.
    • Overall, 152 different THC-containing product brands were reported by EVALI patients.
    • Dank Vapes, a class of largely counterfeit THC-containing products of unknown origin, was the most commonly reported product brand used by patients nationwide, although there are regional differences. While Dank Vapes was most commonly reported in the Northeast and South, TKO and Smart Cart brands were more commonly reported by patients in the West and Rove was more common in the Midwest.
    • The data further support that EVALI is associated with THC-containing products and that it is not likely associated with a single THC-containing product brand.

What We Don’t Know

  • While it appears that vitamin E acetate is associated with EVALI, there are many different substances and product sources that are being investigated, and there may be more than one cause.

What CDC Recommends

  • CDC and FDA recommend that people should not use THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products, particularly from informal sources like friends, family, or in-person or online sellers.
  • Vitamin E acetate should not be added to e-cigarette, or vaping, products. Additionally, people should not add any other substances not intended by the manufacturer to products, including products purchased through retail establishments.
  • While it appears that vitamin E acetate is associated with EVALI, there are many different substances and product sources that are being investigated, and there may be more than one cause. Therefore, the best way for people to ensure that they are not at risk while the investigation continues is to consider refraining from the use of all e-cigarette, or vaping, products.
  • Adults using e-cigarettes or vaping products as an alternative to cigarettes should not go back to smoking; they should weigh all available information and consider utilizing FDA-approved cessation medicationsexternal icon. They should contact their healthcare provider if they need help quitting tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
  • Adults who continue to use an e-cigarette, or vaping, product should carefully monitor themselves for symptoms and see a healthcare provider immediately if they develop symptoms like those reported in this outbreak.

If you are an adult trying to quit smoking:

If you are concerned about your health after using an e-cigarette, or vaping, product, contact your healthcare provider, or local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

Adults with ongoing cannabis (marijuana) use that leads to significant impairment or distress should seek out evidence-based behavioral treatment.

For adults currently using marijuana/THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products for medical use: We do not know if there are different health effects of using different forms of marijuana, such as smoking, vaping, and edibles, or whether transitioning from one form to another might reduce harm. Talk with your healthcare provider about other available treatment options for the conditions.

  • Regardless of the ongoing investigation:
    • E-cigarette, or vaping, products should never be used by youths, young adults, or women who are pregnant.
    • Adults who do not currently use tobacco products should not start using e-cigarette, or vaping, products. There is no safe tobacco product. All tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, carry a risk.
    • THC use has been associated with a wide range of health effects, particularly with prolonged frequent use. The best way to avoid potentially harmful effects is to not use THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products. Persons engaging in ongoing cannabis (marijuana) use that leads to significant impairment or distress should seek evidence-based treatment by a healthcare provider.

Protecting your Skin … Cleansing your pores…Fire… Smoke and Ash Fallout. What to Do.


BY: ORGNAT LIFE

MOST IMPORTANTLY: KEEP YOUR FACE, HANDS and EYES COVERED.

Always wash your hands and change clothes as soon as you get home.

Try and keep the contamination to one area.

If you are one of the few that come home to one of the burnt out neighborhoods make sure you exercise caution while out in the elements.

That means anytime you are outside make sure you follow these simple emergency instructions to cleansing your body.

  • You do not want to inhale any of the elements that is on fire or has been burnt out.
  • Respiratory infections and many other illness can be blamed on large burn out fires as these.
  • Think about how many toxic products that are in our homes. Make sure if moving one of these items you are prepared with emergency protection gear.
  • Refrigerator, microwaves, cars, carpet, wood flooring that has been treated and those are just a few things that every home may have.

Your home and residing in the neighborhood: Set up an area that you can seal off. If you have a separate hall way that you can close off with plastic or a separate entry, perhaps through the side garage door(not a big one)with door to house. Handy to change contaminated clothes.

Even though your area may not have flames crawling up your street or that you can actually see, remember embers and ash can float through the air. It will glide until it gets caught on a branch or something to cling onto.

Make sure you bath each night before you go to bed.

Open your pores with warm water and use a good scrubby or washcloth with loads of soap. Soap up really good. Use cold water after to wash the soap off and close your pores.

Keep all of your smoke clothes in a plastic bag in your sealed area until you wash them. You don’t want to spread the smell or contaminate any other area.

If you are in close vicinity of the devastated areas: Do Not run any fans or air conditioning that has a connetion to outdoors. Close all doors, windows and vents. Close blinds and curtains to keep sun out and temperatures down in the house.

I Know Who I Am NOT…


By Chad Rhodes

When was the last time you took a long look into that mirror? When was the last time you have done the “Me Check”? And if you did, did you ask yourself what have I been thinking???? Mental Check Up is worth a million my friend… If You assume you are “Un-Breakable”, your not. We sometimes forget that we are all humans.

Stop consuming your life and live it

Stop feeling sorry for yourself and start living

Stop Playing the victim and start living

We all need to keep up with these small things that could change our life rapidly into the dark side . Don’t keep that door closed on the “I can’t” corner. Open up and let it go so you can dump off the excess.

Don’t you wonder why we all think that we can not do something. That small hesitation, that we all have right before we are about to board a “Risk”. Our fears take over, even when we know we can.

Don’t be fooled it happens to everyone. You just need the correct tools to combat the negative fields that seem to pile up at times..

Listen to a great inspirational speech by Matthew McConaughey

We all have that moment when we can change it to reflect the positive. Just remember we can all find ourselves on the positive side when we let go of the excess. You might ask what is excess. That you must ask yourself. What makes you crazy, your fears, the negative influences. You’ll find it when you start to look for it. Then You Can Open That Door and Throw It Away.

If you’re suicidal, we recommend contacting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free at 800-273-8255. Additional crisis and suicide hotlines are available in the category below, Crises and Suicide. Need help for domestic violence? Call toll-free: 800-799-7233 (SAFE).

#VacationHawaii

Companion Planting In The Garden Makes “Good Neighbors”


Mr. Cucumber and Mrs.Tomatoes would make great Neighbors.

 

 On the other side of the fence from Mrs.Tomatoes is Miss.Potatoe. They really don’t play well together. But add a Mrs.Basil in with Mr. Cucumber and Mrs.Tomatoes, and this combination will sure to give you a bumper crop.They work as a 3 plant combo very well.

You want to make sure that your veggies are happy in their neighborhoods

Here is a chart to help you find the right “Good Neighbors”

Listed from A To Z

 

Companion Planting Chart Courteous of:

Here are combinations found to be beneficial over time

from Todd Weinmann of North Dakota State University Agriculture Extension:
Plant Plant Companions Plant Allies Plant Enemies
Asparagus Basil, parsley, tomato Pot marigold deters beetles.
Beans Beet (to bush beans only), cabbage family, carrot, celery, chard, corn, cucumber, eggplant, pea, potatoes, radish, strawberry. Marigold deters Mexican bean beetles. Nasturtium and rosemary deter bean beetles. Summer savory deters bean beetles, improves growth and flavor. Garlic, onion and shallot stunt the growth of beans.
Beets Bush beans, cabbage family, lettuce, onion. Garlic improves growth and flavor. Pole beans and beets stunt each other’s growth.
Carrots Bean, lettuce, onion, pea, pepper, radish, tomato. Chives improve growth and flavor. Rosemary and sage deter carrot fly. Dill retards growth.
Celery Bean, cabbage family and tomato. Chives and garlic deter aphids. Nasturtium deters bugs and aphids.
Chard Bean, cabbage family and onion
Corn Bean, cucumber, melon, parsley, pea, potato, pumpkin, squash. Odorless marigold and white geranium deter Japanese beetles. Pigweed raises nutrients from the subsoil to where the corn can reach them. Tomatoes and corn are attacked by the same worm.
Cucumber Bean, cabbage family, corn, pea, radish, tomato Marigold deters beetles. Nasturtium deters aphids, beetles and bugs, improves growth and flavor. Oregano deters pests in general. Tansy deters ants, beetles, bugs, flying insects. Sage is generally injurious to cucumber.
Eggplant Bean, pepper. Marigold deters nematodes.
Lettuce Beet, cabbage family, carrot, onion, radish, strawberry. Chives and garlic deter aphids.
Melons Corn, pumpkin, radish, squash. Marigold deters beetles. Nasturtium deters bugs and beetles. Oregano provides general pest protection.
Onions Beet, cabbage family, carrot, chard, lettuce, pepper, strawberry, tomato. Chamomile and summer savory improve growth and flavor. Pigweed raises nutrients from subsoil and makes them available to the onions. Sow thistle improves growth and health. Onions stunt bean, pea.
Parsley Asparagus, corn, tomato
Peas Bean, carrot, corn, cucumber, radish, turnip. Chives deter aphids. Mint improves health and flavor. Garlic and onion stunt the growth of peas.
Peppers Carrot, eggplant, onion and tomato
Potatoes Beans, cabbage family, corn, eggplant, pea. Horseradish, planted at the corners of the potato patch, provides general protection. Marigold deters beetles. Tomatoes and potatoes are attacked by the same blight.
Pumpkins Corn, melon, squash. Marigold deters beetles. Nasturtium deters bugs, beetles. Oregano provides general pest protection.
Radishes Bean, carrot, cucumber, lettuce, melon, pea. Chervil and nasturtium improve growth and flavor. Hyssop
Spinach Cabbage family, strawberry
Squash Corn, melon, pumpkin. Borage deters worms, improves growth and flavor. Marigold deters beetles. Nasturtium deters squash bugs and beetles. Oregano provides general pest protection.
Strawberry Bean, lettuce, onion, spinach, thyme. Cabbage. Borage strengthens resistance to insects and disease. Thyme, as a border, deters worms.
Tomatoes Asparagus, carrot, celery, cucumber, onion, parsley, pepper. Basil repels flies and mosquitoes, improves growth and flavor. Bee balm, chives and mint improve health and flavor. Borage deters tomato worm, improves growth and flavor. Dill, until mature, improves growth and health. Once mature, it stunts tomato growth. Marigold deters nematodes. Pot marigold deters tomato worm and general garden pests. Corn and tomato are attacked by the same worm. Mature dill retards tomato growth. Kohlrabi stunts tomato growth. Potatoes and tomatoes are attacked by the same blight.
Turnips Pea
Cabbage Family (Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chinese Cabbage, Kale, and Kohlrabi) Beet, celery, chard, cucumber, lettuce, onion, potato, spinach. Chamomile and garlic improve growth and flavor. Catnip, hyssop, rosemary and sage deter cabbage moth. Dill improves growth and health. Mint deters cabbage moth and ants, improves health and flavor. Nasturtium deters bugs, beetles, aphids. Southernwood deters cabbage moth, improves growth and flavor. Tansy deters cabbageworm and cutworm. Thyme deters cabbageworm. Kohlrabi and tomato stunt each other’s growth.

 

 

Companion Planting In The Garden Makes “Good Neighbors ”

 

AMERICA, CODE BLUE… Young Pregnant Women Down!


USA Reports: Cardiac Arrest In Younger Pregnant Women Is On The Rise

BY: Chad Rhodes

NYU – School Of Medicine has conducted a study for the past 12 years on Heart Disease in pregnant women. Between 2002 and 2014 Cardiac Arrest has been the leading cause of death for 25% of young pregnant women. Heart Disease has been the number one cause of death for women for many years, but for younger women this is a drastic change compared to earlier years.

The disease in young women has been increasing and raising great concerns not only for the mother, but for the health of the unborn child also.  The risk factors for heart disease continue to increase in the United States. “High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes are all higher in our younger women. Stress is another factor in High Risk pregnancy.

Rise in obesity in society plays a big part. Between more junk food available and the convenience of the “Drive Thru food”. Adding yeast to many packaged food and many drinks also.

Don’t get me started on Soda. This is a heart Killer, Diet KILLER.

You could ask if the younger women are getting enough “Quality” exercise, food and fluid intake. We all know with our busy lives exercise is the last thing we want to do after work all day. Making a wholesome meal for the family is about all the energy you can muster up. You end up asking yourself, where do I fit the time in?

The family entrees from the frozen section become your main staples. The concentrated amounts of sodium and preservatives is off the charts. Not only are you adding all this to your body that is creating it’s own voyage of problems to your heart risk factors.

Exercise does not have to mean Hitting the Gym 3 times a week. You can walk, band workout and create a new healthy diet. Include fresh home cooked meals that are lean, ending bad calorie intake.

IMG_4241
Healthy Ingredients

Get the kids to help you in the kitchen with dinner. Bringing your kids up with healthy choices makes their lifestyle an asset to their healthy future. Kids are great for washing the vegetables and mixing things up relieves you from 30 minutes of stress and time.

Most parents can not spend hours away from the kids, house or work. My solution is to incorporate the kids activities with yours.

Weekends are a good place to start. Take the kids for a walk every morning, that gets all of you on the road to increased blood flow through your body. As we all know the heart needs lots of exercise and if you sit for 8 hours a day, you need this more than those who stand up for work.

The U.K. Side

BJOG: UK Reports, Nearly one in four cardiac arrests in pregnancy are associated with complications of obstetric anesthesia.

Nearly one in four cardiac arrests in pregnancy are associated with complications of obstetric anesthesia, according to a new study published today (Friday 24 February) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (BJOG).

The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of cardiac arrest in the UK obstetric population, describe how cardiac arrest in pregnancy is managed and report maternal and fetal outcomes. Using the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS), researchers identified 66 women who had experienced a cardiac arrest in pregnancy among 2.3 million who gave birth between 2011 and 2014.

The three year study shows that maternal cardiac arrest in the UK is very rare (a 1 in 36,000 risk) and that maternal survival rates of 58% were possible due to timely resuscitation and rapid perimortem caesarean section (PMCS). In the 66 women involved in the study, cardiac output was restored in 48 and 49 women had a PMCS. The results also show that time from collapse to PMCS was significantly shorter in women who survived. 58 babies were delivered, 12 were stillborn.

Results found that the main association of collapse among antenatal women was obstetric anesthesia, given as an epidural, spinal or combined spinal-epidural. 16 (24%) of the women in the study had a cardiac arrest following obstetric anesthesia (all survived).

Meanwhile, 12 of the 16 women (75%) who had a cardiac arrest following obstetric anesthesia were obese (defined as having a Body Mass Index of 30kg/m2 or more). This supports the view that obese pregnant women are at a higher risk of complications of anesthesia, as the increased body fat makes procedures technically more difficult.

The study also shows that hypovolaemia (a decrease in blood volume), venous thromboembolism (a formation of blood clots in the vein) and amniotic fluid embolism (when amniotic fluid or other debris makes its way into the mother’s blood) are the main non-anaesthetic causes of cardiac arrest. As recommended in the most recent MBRRACE-UK report, there is a pressing need to improve systems focused on preventing and responding appropriately to these complications.”

In addition, of the 66 women who arrested in pregnancy, 27 had co-morbidities which may have contributed to maternal arrest. The most common problems reported were asthma, mental health problems, cardiac disease, hypertension, hematological, autoimmune and endocrine problems.

The researchers suggest a revision of multi-disciplinary training for healthcare professionals, and a revision of supervision and support on the labor ward.

Dr Virginia Beckett, lead author and consultant obstetrician and gynecologist at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“Our study shows that management of cardiac arrest in pregnancy in the UK, following the introduction of training such as the Managing Obstetric Emergencies and Trauma (MOET) course, has resulted in a 58% maternal survival rate. The main reasons for this appear to be the involvement of senior medical professionals and swift PMCS.

“American data shows that up to one third of women who arrest die with their baby still in utero. In the UK, we take a very different approach; in this study, PMCS was carried out in 49 (74%) of the 66 women involved (only two women remained undelivered when they should have had a PMCS). This is close to a five-fold improvement. Rapid PMCS saves women’s lives.

“However, our study shows that the single, biggest association of maternal cardiac arrest is a complication of anesthesia. Further research is needed into this finding which presents an opportunity to reduce the incidence of maternal cardiac in the UK.

Mr Edward Morris, Vice President for Clinical Quality at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG), said:

“This study demonstrates the importance of robust multi-disciplinary risk assessment processes in antenatal care, as well as team training to manage obstetric emergencies. It is also a great example of the value of collecting high quality data through UKOSS to improve outcomes for patients.

“Childbirth can be unpredictable and timely access to specialist care is critical; especially for those considered at higher risk due to per-existing health conditions. This data supports existing evidence that maternal cardiac arrest is becoming more common, and there may be opportunities to further improve survival rates through detailed analysis of this data.

“Obesity has reached pandemic proportions globally, with around one in five pregnant women in the UK considered obese. This increases their risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death as well gestational diabetes, blood clots, per-eclampsia, more complicated labors, and severe bleeding after the birth. Although they survived, a high proportion of the women who had cardiac arrests following obstetric anesthesia were obese.

“Maintaining a normal body weight can reduce the risk of complications for both mother and baby. Women should keep active and eat well prior to conception and limit weight gain during pregnancy in order to improve their own health and provide their baby with the best start in life.”

Mr Michael Masch, Deputy Editor-in-chief of BJOG, added:

“Although about 60 percent of women survived, and most received timely resuscitation and perimortem caesarean section, this study highlights the necessity for regular multi-disciplinary training in specific arrest management. Further research into the links between anesthesia and cardiac arrest is also warranted.”

Ends

For media inquiries or copies of the study please contact the RCOG press office on 020 7772 6357 or email .

Notes to editors:

VA Beckett, M Knight, and P Sharpe. The CAPS Study: Incidence, management and outcomes of cardiac arrest in pregnancy in the UK: a prospective, descriptive study. BJOG 2017: DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.14521

The article can be found here: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.14521/full

This study was funded by a grant from Wellbeing of Women.

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology is owned by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG) but is editorially independent and published monthly by Wiley. The journal features original, peer-reviewed, high-quality medical research in all areas of obstetrics and gynecology worldwide. Please quote ‘BJOG’ or ‘BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology’ when referring to the journal. To keep up to date with our latest papers, follow @BJOGTweets.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is a medical charity that champions the provision of high quality women’s healthcare in the UK and beyond. It is dedicated to encouraging the study and advancing the science and practice of obstetrics and gynecology. It does this through postgraduate medical education and training and the publication of clinical guidelines and reports on aspects of the specialty and service provision.

Healthy Affects of Walking.


Did you know that walking can help our bodies fight off the Common cold and Flu?

  • A Simple short brisk 5 minute walk after lunch can keep that bug away.
  • Walking every day for 5 or 10 minutes. If you have longer, even better. It keeps the circulation in your legs healthy. Healthy legs, Healthy Life.
  • Exercises your heart with lite cardio. No strenuous exercises.
  • Stanford researchers found that walking boosts creative inspiration. They examined creativity levels of people while they walked versus while they sat. A person’s creative output increased by an average of 60 percent when walking.

  • Walking improves cardiac risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, vascular stiffness and inflammation, and mental stress.
  • If cardiac protection and a lower death rate are not enough to get you moving, consider that walking and other moderate exercise programs also help protect against dementia, peripheral artery disease, obesity, diabetes, depression, colon cancer, and even erectile dysfunction.

ARE YOU READY… Living Healthy Pays off in The Long Run…..

Walking it off

Exercise burns calories. In the case of walking and running, the calories you burn depend much more on the distance you cover and your body weight than on your pace. This table shows calories burned per mile of walking or jogging on the level for people of varying weights:

A hundred or so calories a mile might not seem like much, but they can add up to better weight control. For example, a 2009 study of 4,995 men and women found that the average American gains about 2.2 pounds a year during middle age. But during the 15-year study, people who walked gained significantly less weight than those who didn’t; the more walking, the less weight gain. And the benefit was greatest in the heaviest individuals. For example, walking for just 35 minutes a day saved a 160-pound person about 18 pounds of flab over 15 years of aging.

Your weight

Approximate calories per mile

120 lbs 85
140 lbs 95
160 lbs 105
180 lbs 115
200 lbs 125
220 lbs 135
    • Regular daily walking has been found to trigger an anti-aging process and help repair old DNA
    • Those who engaged in daily moderate exercise, such as a brisk walk, experienced anti-aging benefits that could add an additional three to seven years to your life
    • Recommended 20-minute daily walk to reap these benefits, but try striving to walk 10,000 steps a day is a better goal
    • Walking is an essential movement that we all require, ideally in addition to a regular exercise program
    • Activities like running and working out can reduce anxiety and improve your mood. It’s not just vigorous exercise, however, that has these kinds of benefits. A new study published found that walking may be an effective way to alleviate depression.
    •  Endorphins are your body’s pain-inhibiting hormones, and exercise walking can spur their release. This means that walking not only helps you maintain your functional capabilities, but it can also reduce your chronic lower back pain.

 

Are We Losing Our Natural Vitamin Sources?

High Dose Vitamin C Therapy