The fumes that come from air fresheners, household cleaners, and laundry detergents that make your home and laundry smell so fresh contain dozens of toxic chemicals, and “volatile organic compounds”. You can research that term later. They have the ability to harm your health, and your pet’s health as well. None of these toxic chemicals will be listed on product labels so don’t even bother to look for them. The federal government does not require companies to disclose ingredients that are considered fragrances.

I’m only talking about household scents here. I can write an article every day for a year and not cover all the toxic chemicals in our environment. Most of us know to stay clear of cleaners that look dangerous and include warnings on the label, like “do not breathe”, but we may not think about fragrances as toxic chemicals.

Of course, the health effects of toxic chemicals in the home are “unclear”. I don’t want to be part of an experiment, do you? It seems the American way is to put the product out there and if a few too many people die or are hospitalized, then maybe they’ll consider taking it off the shelf. If product complaints include reports of dizziness, headaches, seizures, and shortness of breath, and asthma attacks, that’s enough for me to give it up!

If you don’t think I’m being straight with you, do your own research to become informed and to be able to make the right decisions for you. I wanted to share with you an article from National Geographic where an employee willingly allowed himself to be tested for toxic chemicals in his body. It is an eye-opener, even if you think this is a bunch of nonsense put together by women who have nothing better to do than report the sky is falling.

Some of you may already be taking measures to protect your family, and I applaud you. Your awareness may have started with the problem of lead in toys, or maybe you are in Health and Wellness like me, and watch out for these things. I do not think our health is the main concern amongst big businesses today. You will have to take your health into your own hands, even when it comes to laundry products. Seems ridiculous, doesn’t it?

So, what exactly is the problem this time? Not much is considered safe these days. The problem of toxic chemicals and volatile organic compounds in scents goes along with the finding of hormone disruptors in plastics, toiletries and other man made products. You can research “hormone disruptors” as well, and learn all you need to know about how these chemicals affect your body, and it’s not pretty!

The latest studies by the University of Washington focused on commonly used products: dryer sheets (women love the way they smell), fabric softeners, laundry detergents, and different types of air fresheners. All the products gave off major volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.

Many volatile organic compounds like paint and gasoline are known to be harmful. Of course, the safety of the rest are “unclear”. VOCs are compounds that vaporize easily. You may have heard about volatile organic compounds from interior house paint ads, or from your city’s water quality report. They are in there!

All of the products that were tested emitted at least one harmful, toxic chemical; classified by the federal government, not by me. There were 3 toxic chemicals emitted that the EPA considers hazards with no safe exposure levels, that have been linked to organ damage. I’m sure the rest is “unclear”.

Although certain groups have spoken up to assure you that these toxic chemical fragrances have been tested for safety and be used with confidence, I am “confidently” not using them and haven’t been for a long time. Knowledge is power here. I only mean to inform, although I’m sure you pick up on where I stand on the matter.

Children are very sensitive to toxic chemical exposure and their little bodies should be protected. Because of their size the toxic chemicals can affect them even more. Even healthy males, during a recent study, reported the side effects listed above, when they were exposed to volatile organic compounds.

Naturally, the products tested will not be named, because you guessed it: big money is involved. Even though we deserve the right to know what is in the products we use daily, manufacturers are not required to tell us.

So, how do you avoid toxic chemicals and volatile organic compounds in the home? Look for natural, plant-based products with fragrances disclosed on the label. They are out there if you look, and they are not always more expensive. Stop using laundry products with a fragrance; look for unscented. Use a fan in the bathroom! Be an “informed consumer” and remember, “Knowledge is Power” to make a difference in your health, and in those you love.

By:Becky Joubert

1. In addition to your sweating, are you also losing weight with an increased appetite? Are your eyes bulging? Is your heartbeat faster than normal and do you feel weak? If so, you may be suffering from an over-active thyroid.

2. Do you have a persistent cough and do you sweat a lot at night, even if you use lighter bed linens? These symptoms point to Hodgkin’s disease, a form of cancer, or tuberculosis.

3. Do you have a fever? Then your body may be trying to ward off illnesses such as the flu, pneumonia, a urinary tract infection, stomach flu or even meningitis.

If you answer yes to these questions be sure to see a doctor for a thorough examination. But don’t worry as excessive sweating can also signal a turning point in your life. For example, if you are a woman, are your periods becoming less regular? Then your excessive sweating is probably a sign of peri-menopause. If excessive sweating mainly occurs during your period, then don’t worry, most women sweat more at that time.

Teenagers also experience excessive sweating as they go through puberty. This is because the armpit sweat glands reach maturity at this time.

If you are going through a particularly stressful time, you may find yourself sweating excessively. If so, try to find a way to deal with your stress, such as through meditation, deep breathing exercises or yoga. As your anxiety diminishes, so will your sweating.

If those around you think you’re sweating is excessive, there are many ways to deal with it. For example, eat more zinc-rich foods, such as whole grains, beans, nuts and turkey. Stay away from fish, garlic and other odor-producing food.

Be sure to shower often and make sure to dry yourself thoroughly, especially between your toes, in the groin and in the arm pits. These areas are prime locations for bacterial growth.

Use an antiperspirant/deodorant that contains aluminum chlorohydrate, which is excellent at stopping body odor.

Wear natural fibers such as cotton that allow your skin to breath. Change your socks and clothing daily or even more often. Do not share your clothing with others, to avoid spreading bacteria.

If you think your sweating excessively, remember that it is mainly your body’s attempt to regulate its temperature. Pay attention to it to ward off more serious health problems.

By:Anthony J. Carter 

As you know, sweating is a natural bodily function and is produced by glands in the middle layer of your skin. When your body temperature rises, the sweat is brought to the skin’s surface and as the sweat evaporates, your body temperature decreases.

The amount of sweat produced varies depending on many circumstances. Of course physical activity plays a part as well as the climate but excessive sweating can also be a hereditary trait. If you are sweating night and day, ask a relative if heavy sweating runs in the family.

If you find you are having a problem with night sweats, it is possible that your body is responding to the ageing process. Teens going through puberty tend to sweat more as this is when their apocrine (underarm) sweat glands mature.

Likewise women entering menopause are more prone to night sweats as their hormone levels change. Medical experts are now becoming convinced that men also endure night sweats and other symptoms because of changing hormone levels later in life, in a process called andropause.

So what can you do if sweating night and day is getting you down? You can help eliminate the problem by:

1. Wearing natural fibers, such as cotton. Natural fibers tend to be lighter and they also allow your skin to breathe, wicking sweat away from you.

2. Avoiding spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol that tend to raise your body temperature.

3. Sleeping in a cool room.

4. Drinking a glass of cool water before bed and often during the day.

5. Bathing often, even morning and night and thoroughly scrubbing away the sweat with a loofah sponge rather than a washcloth.

6. Thoroughly drying yourself after you bathe. Pay special attention to your armpits, your groin and between your toes, which are ideal breeding areas for bacteria.

7. Changing and thoroughly washing your clothing, bed linens and towels after each use and not sharing them with others.

8. Using an antiperspirant/deodorant containing aluminum chloride or aluminum chlorohydrate. If these compounds irritate your skin, check your health food store or medical supply store for other varieties.

9. Using small amounts of talcum powder or cornstarch to blot away wetness as needed. Keep the powder away from your eyes, nose and mouth.

10. Seeing a doctor if these tips do not relieve the problem. Sweating night and day may be a sign of a more serious health problem.

Sweating night and day is an inconvenience but usually by following some simple tips, it’s nothing to get all hot and bothered about.

By:Anthony J. Carter 

Believe it or not, the best place to start when searching for specific data about drinking water purification systems is typically with the manufacturers. I understand that this approach might make you a little nervous. Of course the company’s going to tell you that their product is the best on the market, and that you absolutely have to have one.

You’re doubtlessly correct in assuming that they will try to convince you that their drinking water purification system is the cream of the crop. There is a way that you can find out for yourself if their claims are true. That would be by asking them to provide to you a Certified Performance Data Sheet.

Most reputable companies will eagerly provide you with one, which means that they probably believe in the quality of their drinking water purification systems.

Those companies who refuse to comply in providing you with the requested information are already giving you all of the information that you need. Acquiring these Certified Performance Data Sheets is an excellent way to be able to compare any number of models as to the benefits that they provide. These sheets will basically lay out for you which contaminants the drinking water purification system is capable of blocking and to what degree it is effective.

This information is of the utmost importance when comparing drinking water purification systems. Some companies will claim that they make a purifier, but in truth it will only block chlorine and odor. This makes the product a simple filter, and leaves your family vulnerable to a bevy of toxic substances.

The ability to effectively block chlorine is a very important feature for a drinking water purification system to have, but it must also do so much more. There are literally hundreds of other contaminants in our h20 that can do you just as much harm as chlorine can. You need a product that will protect you from all of them.

Today’s drinking water purification systems must be multi-faceted. We face health risks from pesticides, herbicides, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, toxic metals, parasites, spores and bacteria. There are quality systems available that can take care of this laundry list of toxin, but it takes some legwork to find them.

Your drinking water purification system should come fitted with both an activated carbon filter and a multi media block in order to stop chemicals. The model should also feature both a micron filter and an ion exchange unit. These filters will block bacterial organisms, heavy metals and will provide both mineral and pH balance.

The information gathered from the data sheets will provide you with all of the information that you need in order to decipher whether or not your chosen drinking water purification systems can meet the necessary criteria to keep your family health and happy.

By:Charles Harper

Our bodies are composed mostly of water, making up around 70% of our bodyweight.  All of our organs are mostly composed of the fluid.  Without clean drinking water, our bodies cannot continue to function properly.

We lose these fluids every day through perspiration, respiration, and through a variety of other bodily functions. In order for us to be able to avoid suffering through a myriad of health conditions, this lost fluid must be replenished.  We must have access to the purest drinking water possible.

Dehydration is suffered by most individuals to some degree or another every day.  Most of us walk around in an almost constant state of moderate dehydration without realizing it.  That’s because the symptoms that we suffer are considerably mild at that stage.  It’s not until the symptoms become acute, and potentially deadly, that we begin to realize the true importance of clean drinking water.

Many of the physical problems that we suffer from every day are the result of minor to moderate levels of dehydration.  Such things as headaches, backaches, and joint pain can be alleviated or avoided all together by simply keeping our bodies well hydrated.  You need to drink the purest drinking water that you can throughout the day in order to keep these minor ailments at bay. 

The body’s nervous system is made up of what are almost like tiny waterways which flow throughout your entire body. When the body is in a minor to moderate state of dehydration these nerve endings will quite often respond by sending of signals of pain.   Keeping plenty of clean drinking water in your system is the best way to avoid this pain.

So, now you’re convinced that you need to have an ample supply of the purest drinking water, but you don’t know where to find it?  I can promise you right now that you’re not going to find it coming out of your kitchen tap. 

That is not because the hardworking people at your local treatment facility aren’t doing their best in order to provide you with clean drinking water, because they are.  They are simply overwhelmed by the number of different contaminants that they have to contend with every day.  Sadly, in order to deal with many of these contaminants they are forced to use chemicals disinfection.

In order to prevent the threat posed by waterborne bacteria such as E-coli, chlorine must be added to the water.  The problem is that even though it is necessary in order to save lives, the practice also adds yet another deadly chemical into the water system.  Hundreds of new cancer diagnosis every year can be traced directly back to chlorine.

If you want to enjoy the purest drinking water possible then my suggestion would be to install a quality home purification system.  One of these systems will be able from the harmful effects of all of the contaminants in the water.  That way you can peacefully enjoy the clean drinking water that your needs for proper health. 

by:Jesse Metzger 

Our technological advancements have allowed us to do many things that previous generations did not even dream about. But, those same advancements have threatened our ability to get clean drinking water.

Our Water is Polluted

Rivers, lakes and streams could easily become polluted. There was always the possibility of animal waste upstream and if someone unknowingly drank from the stream, they could become very ill.

The purest drinking water was found underground. It was protected from animal waste and the soil itself acted as a filter to remove debris and bacteria. So, we dug wells or drank from protected springs. But, as time went by, the soil that protected the groundwater became polluted.

The use of pesticides and herbicides has affected our ability to get clean drinking water, even from a well or spring. Chemical dumping, industrial waste, gasoline spills, leaks from underground storage tanks and even the pipelines use to transport the water are all sources of the contamination that we now face.

Losing Our Clean Water

I would venture to say that the purest drinking water no longer exists in a naturally occurring aquifer. There are simply too many people causing contamination. Even those of us who are very careful about polluting the environment must flush, shower, shave, do dishes and laundry.

Everything that goes down the drain ends up in the groundwater. Of course the public facilities make every effort to provide clean drinking water.

When something goes down the drain and into the sewer, it ends up a treatment facility where many steps are taken to remove solid waste and other contaminants, but eventually, the facilities dump the treated water back into a river or the ocean. The solid material that is left behind is often used as fertilizer. The rain falls and all of those contaminants filter through the soil and back into the groundwater.

Farm runoff ends up in the reservoirs carrying E coli and other bacteria, along with protozoan life forms and microscopic cysts. In an effort to provide the purest drinking water possible and protect citizens from waterborne illnesses, the facilities use chlorine to kill the bacteria and other life forms, but the microscopic cysts survive.

Technology caused a lot of our problems, but it has also given us the ability to clean drinking water right in our homes. The old purifiers were expensive and wasted lots of energy. The new ones are affordable and operate without electricity.

Getting Back to Clean Water

Today, the purest drinking water comes through a filtration device that removes chlorine and its byproducts, along with the cysts that are resistant to public disinfection methods. A single unit can remove all of the pesticides and herbicides, the industrial waste and chemical contaminants that cannot be removed by treatment facilities. It can even remove the lead that seeps in because of city pipelines.

Shop Carefully for an Efficient Water Filter System

Of course, you have to compare quality and contaminant removal. Businesses know that you have a need for clean drinking water and they sometimes take advantage of this need by supplying inferior products. So, be sure to shop wisely.

By:Larry L. Taylor 

1.Your shoes
Nearly half of all shin splints are due to a biomechanical inadequacy, usually caused by bad shoes. Look for something with good arch support. If you want to take a step in the right direction, you may have to spend a bit more money on the best shoes. It will help in the long run to prevent shin splints. If you have questions, and depending on the sport you play, you may need to consult a foot doctor to help you. Podiatrists can do a gait analysis and find the right shoe for you.

2.Warm up/Stretch
Although it is generally overlooked, stretching your muscles and tendons is a VITAL part of preventing shin splints. Get them loose and you will also get an increase in blood flow to that particular muscle group. As with stretching, when you loosen up the muscles they tend to move more freely, preventing sprains and injuries.

3.Strength training
With several different exercises at your disposal, weight training and strength training will help you exponentially if you are still wondering how to prevent shin splints. Stronger muscles don’t get fatigued as fast or as frequently as weaker ones.

With all this in mind, you now know the top 3 tips on how to prevent shin splints. Although there still is a chance that you can get them, you can simply follow the R.I.C.E.R. Method as soon as possible and you should recover within 48 to 72 hours. Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevation. Referral.

By:Danny Orsen

The company says their program is simple - they sell TENS to doctors for $29.00 (when 2 or more are purchased) EMS for $38 (when 2 or more purchased) and instruct the doctor on billing procedures for the TENS and fitting fee where the profits range from $200.00 to $600.00 per unit depending on the type of insurance coverage and amount charged for the unit/fitting fee. Next, the company indicates that they provide the patient with necessary supplies (batteries, pads & wires) and will bill the insurance company direct.

Good deal? Maybe.

Many state regulatory boards have prohibitions against excessive charges for health care services rendered - could the billing insurers $200 to $600 for providing a patient with a TENS the doctor purchased for $29 be considered excessive? What would the involved payer think of this activity - are they going to knowingly pay $200 to $600 for your providing the patient with a $29 TENS unit? And, what happens when insurance doesn’t pay - is the patient going to be billed the higher rates for the $29 unit?

I would recommend that doctors ensure that this practice activity is consistent with their administrative laws, third-party payer rules and to check it out first with their attorney prior to use.

By:Daniel J Osborne

PFC’s are found in the linings of fast food packaging and most microwave popcorn bags to keep grease from leaking through it. Pop popcorn on the stove or use an air popper. It is also best to take your takeout food out of the container and put it on plates. Don’t preheat an empty pan and keep the burner on medium. Replace scraped, peeling pans or switch to old fashioned cast iron cook ware.

There are pollutants in tap water you should be aware of but it is surprisingly more regulated than bottled water. Check your water with the Environmental Protection Agency and use a filter either on the faucet or an alternate approved system. On that note, there have been debates on how well these filtration systems actually work. We know they taste better but do they really get rid of all those nasty germs and chemicals found in the water. When I was living out West in a major metropolitan area, one of my friends told me there was a report about a one eyed fish found in the city’s drinking water. After that, I made it a point to never drink any other water besides bottled water.

If you have children, you may want to check for lead poisoning found in toys by subscribing to an email alert online. PBDE is a chemical found in household products which slows the rate in which something burns. It likes to stick to dust particles, so be sure to dust often. The problem is that it interferes with a child’s developing nervous system the causes problems with memory and attention. In addition, it contaminates the environment and bodies.

by:Lyla Feldman 

But you should understand that having a big fat belly is not just an issue about self confidence or not being able to show off your body at the beach. The very visible lump of fat found in your belly can unnecessarily increase your risks to serious health conditions. Medical experts have even confirmed that excess abdominal fat is not only unhealthy; it can be very dangerous as well.

The Dangers Of Having Big Fat Belly

You already know that having excess fat in the abdomen area can cause health risks. But knowing how such risks are triggered should begin with knowing the basics about fat in the belly. And to start it off, you need to know the types of fat that can develop in your middle.

If you are thinking that the lump in front of you is made up of just one type of fat, you are dead wrong. What brings about that protuberance which prevents you from seeing your toes without you stooping down is actually made up of two types of fat, namely: subcutaneous and visceral fats.

Looking in the mirror and not finding your six pack abs means that you have a lot of subcutaneous fat directly underneath the skin surrounding your stomach area. Subcutaneous fat tends to form on top of your abdominal muscles and below your skin.

Meanwhile, if you try touching your belly and it feels hard as a rock, then you do have too much visceral fat. This type of fat tends to develop deep beneath your abdominal muscles. Visceral fat can be dangerous because it can wrap around your organs and prevent them from functioning at their peak. Experts believe that this type of fat is the main cause of beer bellies in men. The bad news is, visceral fat may prove to be difficult to eliminate compared to subcutaneous fat.

Many think that visceral fat can be more dangerous. But despite their differing characteristics, both subcutaneous and visceral fats can cause serious health implications. Both can raise your odds of having heart and lung diseases, diabetes, stroke, hypertension, and several types of cancer. Recent studies have shown that having excess abdominal fat can increase the presence of harmful types of protein that can trigger inflammation inside the body which can lead to conditions like heart ailments.

Dealing With Excess Belly Fat

If you want to look good, attain a more ripped body, and ensure your health, you need to do something about the excess fat in your belly. As a matter of fact, this should be on top of your priority list. But seeing so many folks who fail to flatten out their abdomens makes you wonder how you will be going about reducing fat in that area.

Well, in reality, there is no other way to do it but through healthy diet and regular workout. There are no miracle potions that can reduce excess belly fat in a snap. Although there are products available that can boost the results of dieting and exercise. But the most important thing to learn on your way to becoming a sexier man is to never go back to your old habits.

On top of cleaning up on the foods that you eat and working out rigorously, you can jumpstart your dream of having a more ripped body by using products like Dermacut.

by:Janet Martin