This Is Kristin

~I don’t know about your kids, but my son screams like crazy if we try to remove a splinter. It scares him, hurts him, and he hates it. I had the doctor do it last time, and it took three of us to hold him, and I am not sure it was worth the $150 dollar “in office surgery fee.”

I found this way that may work for some not so deeply embedded splinters.

1. Wash area with soap and water

2. Apply some white glue over splinter opening and let dry.

3. Peel off, and most splinters will come out with the dried glue.

4. Apply some antibiotic ointment, and a band aid if needed. Then they’re off to play without feeling traumatized.

If you are a woman without Health Insurance….Go to this site to find information on getting low cost mammogram and pap tests.

Cancer Burden†

• In 2003*, 181,646 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 41,619 women died from breast cancer.

• In 2003*, 11,820 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 3,919 women died from cervical cancer.

†U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 2003 Incidence and Mortality. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2007.
*The most recent year for which statistics are currently available.

~Cabbage has been said in the past to have healing properties and be a stress buster, while today it is also claimed to have cancer prevention (cancers of the lung, colon, breast and uterus) added to it’s list. If cabbage is eaten raw, it can have a mild protection against radiation as well.

Ways to eat Cabbage:

~Coleslaw
~Added to soups, (one of my favorites)
~Chinese chicken salad… (also one of my favorites)
~cooked lightly with butter and a little nutmeg
~or cooked lightly with oil and lemon juice.

~Eat with Broccoli and Cauliflower for added cancer prevention!

*my boys won’t eat cabbage, they don’t like it, unless it’s sneaked in a soup. They can even pick shreds of it out of salads. Any creative ideas to make cabbage more appealing to kids? What is your favorite way to eat cabbage?

…. that is the question rolling around in a lot of people’s minds…. Is it a fad? Is it that much better for you? etc etc….?

Here are some things I found:

Going organic means~
~ Avoiding artificial additives that find their way into foods.
~ Avoiding agrochemical residues on foods.
~ Organic grown crops are higher in nutrient content. (higher content of vitamin A and C) due to the way the organic farmer nourishes the soil, before and after crops are planted and harvested.
~ Non organic produce has a much higher water content, and therefore contains less of the essential vitamins and minerals.
~ Organic foods have rich tastes and textures
~ You can decide to choose organic food for taste, safety, or for the environment, and choose even just a couple of things to buy organically, and it will be better for your health, and especially the health of your growing children.

Best things to start buying organic are:
~root vegetables, like carrots,
~salad greens, lettuce
~beef
~organic formula milk.

~What do you think about organic food, what have you found about it? What do you buy organic?

~ So, I was reading a very funny post on Brant’s blog about his addiction to coffee, and his attempt at quitting and then returning to drinking caffine. As I was quietly cheering him on for returning to drinking coffee, I read Shaun’s comment to Brant. He said, ” … put the mug down…or risk brain damage and colon cancer…”
Ususally I am a non confrontational person, until someone disses my morning beverage.
So Shaun and anyone else who thinks coffee is bad for you, here’s a recent excerpt from the Harvard health publication in which it states that moderate consumption is not bad for you, and may reduce the risk of Colon Cancer, among other things….. Ha!

“Coffee Health Risks: For the moderate drinker, coffee is safe says Harvard Women’s Health Watch

( Boston , MA ) Despite 20 years of reassuring research, many people still avoid caffeinated coffee because they worry about its health effects. However, current research reveals that in moderation—a few cups a day—coffee is a safe beverage that may even offer some health benefits. The September issue of Harvard Women’s Health Watch weighs the pros and cons of this popular beverage and eases the concerns of moderate coffee drinkers.

The latest research has not only confirmed that moderate coffee consumption doesn’t cause harm, it’s also uncovered possible benefits. Studies show that the risk for type 2 diabetes is lower among regular coffee drinkers than among those who don’t drink it. Also, coffee may reduce the risk of developing gallstones, discourage the development of colon cancer, improve cognitive function, reduce the risk of liver damage in people at high risk for liver disease, and reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Coffee has also been shown to improve endurance performance in long-duration physical activities.

For those who drink coffee to stay alert, new research suggests that you’ll stay more alert, particularly if you are fighting sleep deprivation, if you spread your coffee consumption over the course of the day. For instance, if you usually drink 16 ounces in the morning, try consuming a 2-3 ounce serving every hour or so. Again, moderation is the key.

However, as the September issue notes, coffee is not completely innocent. Caffeine, coffee’s main ingredient is a mild addictive stimulant. And coffee does have modest cardiovascular effects such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and occasional irregular heartbeat that should be considered. Studies have been largely inconclusive regarding coffee and its effect on women’s health issues such as breast health, cancer, and osteoporosis. But, the negative effects of coffee tend to emerge in excessive drinking so it is best to avoid heavy consumption.”

“Air quality inside our homes is often much worse than the air outside,” says Sierra Club’s Hattam. One way to cut down on indoor air pollution is to use nontoxic cleaning products. For starters, rid your house of ammonia and bleach, which are among the worst offenders. Then stock up on green cleaners or make your own. Other easy tips: Throw open the windows regularly to ventilate, and fill the house with plants — they absorb air pollutants.”

“Nontoxic cleaning can give you a deep feeling of gratification in knowing that your family’s health is protected, and that your home is a place for your bodies to rest and recuperate rather than promote harm.”

~Method products found at Target are a good choice, they smell good, and do the job. Also there are recipes to make your own cleaning solutions, which work very well, using the ingredients of baking soda, lemon juice and vinegar. Here are some recipes