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1. HEALTH BYTES: Facts and Tips for Better Living!

2. FEATURED ARTICLE: "Calories, Fat, & Pounds Explained"

3. WELLNESS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

4. THE HERBAL CORNER: Chamomile

==================================================================== 1. HEALTH BYTES - * Facts and Tips for Better Living

THE WONDERS OF WATER -- Boosting your intake of water makes good sense, many experts concur, because water eases digestion and regulates body temperature. Water also bathes the cells and accounts for about sixty-percent of body weight. And it can help you exercise longer and more efficiently. Drinking water can ward off constipation and maybe even crankiness. And since it is a natural appetite suppressant, water can help us lose weight and keep it off. It also provides the necessary moisture that healthy skin requires.

Facts about water

75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated

Lack of water is the #1 cause of daytime fatigue

Even mild dehydration wil slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%

Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, breast cancer by 79% and bladder cancer by 50%

FACTS about Cola

To clean a toilet bowl, pour in a can of cola

To loosen a rusted bolt: apply a cloth soaked in cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

To remove grease from clothes, empty a can of cola into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent and run through a regular cycle.

The active ingredient in Cola is phosphoric acid.

Its pH is 2.8.

It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days.

Phosphoric acid leaches calcium from bones, and reported to significantly raise the risk of osteoporosis.

ASTHMA ATTACK ALERT -- According to researchers at the Mayo Clinic, it is important to prevent fatal asthma attacks by treating symptoms early. Do not wait. Although most people regard wheezing as an indication of severity, other symptoms, too, may signal danger. Seek assistance when: breathing becomes difficult; neck, chest, or ribs pull in with each breath; nostrils flare; walking or talking becomes difficult; fingernails or lips turn blue; peak airflow reading drops 50% below your normal level or keeps dropping even after you take your medication.

BABY TEETHING REMEDY -- Mix 1/2 teaspoon of powdered slippery elm with water and rub the paste on baby's gums. This will help to ease the discomfort.

NOSE BLEEDS? -- Here is what you should do: Sit and make sure your clothes around your neck are loose. Lean slightly forward. Let the blood flow out through your nose. Keep a soft towel under your nostrils to avoid dripping. Breathe through your mouth and apply pressure to the nose with your thumb and index finger just at the point where the soft and hard part meet. Hold for 5 minutes. If blood has not stopped after 5 minutes, repeat these steps. Do not blow your nose! If bleeding persists or nosebleeds are recurrent, or your nose is swollen, disfigured, or discolored, seek the advice of a physician.

LOOK OUT FOR MOLD -- Household mold can be the cause of chronic sinus infections and asthma. Be conscious of signs of mold in your home such as: leaks, discoloration of walls, condensation behind cabinets or pictures, damp crawlspace, basement, or attic, etc. If you suspect mold, contact the American Industrial Hygiene Association for a local referral.

GREEN TEA INFO -- All teas (green, black, and oolong) are derived from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The difference is in how the plucked leaves are prepared. Green tea, unlike black and oolong tea, is not fermented, so the active constituents remain unaltered in the herb. The leaves of the tea plant are used both as a social and a medicinal beverage. According to Chinese legend, tea was discovered accidentally by an emperor 4,000 years ago. Since then, Traditional Chinese Medicine has recommended green tea for headaches, body aches and pains, digestion, depression, immune enhancement, detoxification, as an energizer, and to prolong life. Green tea has been shown to mildly lower total cholesterol levels and improve the cholesterol profile in most, but not all, studies. Green tea may also promote cardiovascular health by making platelets in the blood less sticky.

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2. FEATURED ARTICLE - Weight Loss Tips/Weight Loss Myths and Truths
"Calories, Fat, & Pounds Explained"
More information - http://www.theolivebranch.com/news/weight.htm

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3. WELLNESS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

** Q & A #1:
I am a new homeowner. A friend suggested that I have my home tested for radon, but I do not know anything about it. Can you advise me on radon and on how to get my home tested?

Radon is a naturally-occurring, odorless, and colorless gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Because radon is a gas, it can enter buildings through openings or cracks in the foundation. The radon gas itself decays into radioactive solids, called radon daughters. The radon daughters attach to dust particles in the air, and can be inhaled. The inhalation of radon daughters has been linked to lung cancer. You can get radon detection devices at many hardware and home improvement stores, or by contacting the EPA's National Radon Hotline (1-800-SOS-RADON). These devices are left in the home for 2 to 90 days, and indicate whether there might be a radon problem in the home. If results indicate that your home has a level exceeding 4 picocuries (pC/L), you will want to test your home again with the short, 2 to 90 day test and then calculate the average of the two tests, or test your home with an alpha track detector, which measures the long term radon average for three to twelve months. If the radon level in your home exceeds 4 pC/L, there are several techniques available to lower levels.

** Q & A #2: What is Hypothyroidism?

Thyroid disorders affect women more often than men. The thyroid is a small gland, located in the neck. The purpose of the thyroid gland is to take up iodine from the body and produce hormones. These hormones are responsible for controlling how fast the body uses energy. This gland regulates your metabolism. Hypothyroidism is a disorder affecting the thyroid. It is not doing its job in a timely manner, making one feel slower and slower. The signs of hypothyroidism include weakness, fatigue, intolerance to cold, constipation, weight change, depression, heavy or prolonged menstrual flow, dry skin, and hoarseness. Diagnosis is made by checking the thyroid gland's ability to produce the hormones that regulate metabolism. The treatment for hypothyroidism includes thyroid hormones that supplement what the thyroid cannot produce. The medication needs to be monitored until a therapeutic level is achieved. Inform your health care professional if you experience heart palpitations, heat intolerance, sweating, nervousness, and irritability.

** Q & A #3:

I want to have new carpet installed in my home, but my husband seems to be allergic or at least very sensitive to the smell of new carpet. Can you offer some suggestions?

New carpet can be a source of chemical emissions. In addition to the carpet, the padding and adhesives all emit volatile organic compounds. Some people report symptoms such as upper respiratory irritations, headaches, skin rashes, shortness of breath or cough, any fatigue, which they associate with new carpet installation. The distinct odor of new carpet is usually attributed to the chemicals 4-phenylcyclohexene (4-PC). This chemical can be detected at very low levels, but does not result in an unpleasant odor for everyone. The odor dissipates within a few days. There are steps you can take that will make the carpet installation process easier for sensitive persons. First consult with your retailer. Ask for help in selecting carpet, padding, and adhesives that have lower emissions. Request that the carpet installer follow the Carpet and Rug Institute's installation guidelines. Before installing the carpet, ask the retailer to unroll and air out the carpet in a well ventilated area. If possible, have the sensitive person leave the premises during and immediately after carpet installation. An important way to reduce exposure to carpet emissions is to increase the ventilation in the area. Open the windows and doors, and also use fans to increase the amount of fresh air exchange. Use the building's ventilation system for two or three days after installation.

** Q & A #4: Can you provide me with information regarding Legionnaires' Disease?

Legionnaires' disease, which is also known as Legionellosis, is a form of pneumonia. It is often called Legionnaires' disease because the first known outbreak occurred in the Bellevue Stratford Hotel that was hosting a convention of the Pennsylvania Department of the American Legion. In that outbreak, approximately 221 people contracted this previously unknown type of bacterial pneumonia, and 34 people died. The source of the bacterium was found to be contaminated water used to cool the air in the hotel's air conditioning system. Legionnaires' disease is most often contracted by inhaling mist from water sources such as whirlpool baths, showers, and cooling towers that are contaminated with Legionella bacteria. There is no evidence for person-to-person spread of the disease. Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include fever, chills, and a cough that may or may not produce sputum. Other symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and confusion. This list of symptoms, however, does not readily distinguish Legionnaires' disease from other types of pneumonia. Legionnaires' disease is confirmed by laboratory tests that detect the presence of the bacterium, Legionella pnuemophila, or the presence of other bacteria in the family Legionellaceae. It is the most often treated with the antibiotic drug Erythromycin. Although Legionnaires' disease has a mortality rate of 5 to 15 percent, many people may be infected with the bacterium that causes the disease, yet not develop any symptoms. It is likely that many cases of Legionnaires' disease go undiagnosed. Legionnaires' disease can be viewed as an example of how our physical environment affects our health. Relative humidity, temperature, and other environmental factors can alter the incidence and the fatality rates of infectious diseases, including Legionnaires' disease. For example, cooling towers and evaporative condensers of large air conditioning systems have been associated with outbreaks of the disease, and the highest incidence of Legionnaires' disease occurs in the warmest months of the year, the time when air conditioning systems are used the most.

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4. THE HERBAL CORNER - * Chamomile

Did you know that the popular CHAMOMILE herb may be useful for:

soothing an upset stomach?

preventing stomach ulcers?

relieving menstrual cramps?

calming the nerves and fighting stress?

fighting arthritis, infections, headaches, and skin problems?

More Information on Chamomile

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For optimum health, your body NEEDS calcium AND magnesium daily!

Now get the best - try CALMAG PLUS Today! More information on Calcium and Magnesium

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Water Filters - Special Promotion Extended! Save Money! Filter your water for 7 cents per gallon!
More information on Water Filters

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Special News Topics

Herb Index

Recipes

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Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone you know that might benefit from any of the above information.

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Be Healthy! Be Happy!

The Culbreths

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Please note: the information contained herein has been compiled from various sources. The above statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. We make no claims, either expressed or implied, that any products mentioned in this newsletter will cure disease, replace prescription medication, or supersede sound medical advice.