Should You Concern Yourself Over the Safety of Our Food?

How safe is your food source?

Unlike years ago when farmers grew food the old-fashioned way, what was served on our tables was healthier and closer to what nature intended.  Of course, technology does not stand still and changed lives for all of us.  While better for maximizing profits, our high-tech agribusiness is hardly better for the average consumer with all the outbreaks of foodborne illness and contamination that keeps happening on a regular basis with an estimated 76 million illnesses per average year.  Therefore, how worried should each of us be?

The Safety Relationship Between Global and Domestic Food Production

You might want to remember that we have a global food supply and trade with countries of all sizes and economic conditions.  Quite a few of our trading partners are poor countries with unhealthy conditions whereas diarrhoea affects about a third of their population.  Those microorganisms can pass directly onto us, making a domestic grown problem worse.  This is just one example.

Technology and Convenience Linked to Food Safety

In addressing the need for convenience for busy working families, a few major players in the farming business devised bagged salads for lettuce and spinach.  These are prewashed greens that are meant to be safer, but are they really?  The reason this method of preparation may be dangerous is because the greens are harvested at a much younger stage.  Lettuce, spinach or other greens mature  the traditional way and have longer leaves that limit the passage of Listeria, salmonella or E. coli compared to a more vulnerable leaf from an immature plant.

All it takes is just a couple of heads of contaminated lettuce, chopped and then distributed through other bags to cause an outbreak or even death.  Once contaminated, these harmful bacteria cannot always be cleaned.  However, you can wash your greens in a basin with water and a tablespoon or two of vinegar.  Afterwards, wash your hands carefully for least twenty seconds before touching your greens and rinsing them with fresh water a second time.

A Helpful Idea for Safer Locally Grown Food

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a community garden where you lived?  Many people don’t have the space or the need to grow their own fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs.  Yet, many others may like to have a hobby and tend the garden.  It would be a great way to meet your neighbors and share food and expenses for planting the garden.

The Safety of Growth Promoting  Hormones and  Antibiotics in Meats

Factory farming of livestock means more animals crammed together to maximize profits.  In order to ward off infections and stimulate growth faster, the industry has widely used antibiotics in our meats.  The problem is that the animals are receiving the same penicillin or tetracycline that humans also depend on when prescribed, which can later come back to haunt us.  How feeding antibiotics to animals can hurt us is that bacteria have a tendency to survive and mutate.  There is always a possibility that a strain of bacteria can become resistant to those antibiotics that might be one day end up in your grocery stores or market.  If you happen to cook meat that is resistant to those antibiotics from a sick animal, then the antibiotics you might be given could fail.

Cooking Meats Thoroughly Can Lower Your Chances of Potential Illness

Unless the animal is sick, you can normally avoid illness from consuming meats when cooked at the proper temperatures.  Therefore, it is extremely important to use a thermometer to check temperatures first before serving.  

According to the USDA, meats basically need an internal temperature of between 145-160 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the variety. For example, ground beef and eggs need to be cooked to 160-degrees Fahrenheit.  Poultry should register at 165-degrees Fahrenheit.  Steaks, pork chops and roasts must be cooked to 145-degrees.

National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System Is  Hope for the Future 

There is still a lot of lead way for those that raise cattle, hogs, poultry when it comes to the amounts of antibiotics and hormones the animals are fed.  The reason for this is because those business owners are not required to disclose by law what drugs and dosage were used before going to market.  Therefore, data of the precise effect of health and the link to those drugs are still being studied.  Nonetheless, the government established an agency called the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System just to regularly test bacteria from animals, people and the meats we consume for resistance to some common drugs, which is a hopeful beginning.

What We May Be Risking With Genetically Modified Plants

Corn and soy were big crops that are now genetically modified for their added value for the manufacturing of processed foods.  After all, the chemical engineers can alter the plants old DNA and make it stronger from insects feeding and other chemicals it may usually be subject to.  When you change the plant’s structure, you also change how a body will respond to the altered food.  This modification could spur new allergies in certain people.

Though as alarming as that thought may be, it is even worse when seeds are modified not to be grown again just for the sake of profits.  With all the hunger in the world, why would anyone think of such a thing?  

Does This Mean Organic Offers the Safest Food?

Turning to foods labeled “organic” does not necessarily mean that they are totally healthy alternatives.  All that label promises is that the food is not grown with commonly used pesticides, antibiotics or fertilizers.  What you want to do is to dig deeper and search for more than just organic with sustainable farming when researching.

Why I Value a Hot Sauce Subscription Like Fuego Box

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

The artisan hot sauces in each Fuego Box have a lot to offer.

Some people are turned off at the mention of hot and spicy foods.  I am not one of those people!  Hot sauce has a lot of value.

Hot Sauce Heightens Taste and Has Health Benefits

I use it freely on a lot of dishes for intensifying flavors is one reason that I am so drawn to hot sauces.  Another is for helping the body burn through a bit more calories.  

I also use hot sauce in a DIY remedy for a sore throat or a cough by adding a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a teaspoon of hot sauce in a glass of warm water.  You gargle and then swallow this drink every two hours and it really helps the pain and control a minor cough.  

A Hot Sauce Subscription Has Advantages

With all that you can do and experience through hot sauces, it is only natural that I am a big fan.  This is why I really enjoy a Fuego Box Hot Sauce subscription because my tastebuds are always treated to unique flavors that you would be hard pressed to find locally.       

 A subscription is convenient and reasonable at $29.95 per quarter for three different artisan sauces that includes free USA shipping.  The company also provides an informational card about food suggestions and details on these small batch sauces.  

For instance, March 2018 box brought Dashelito’s Bourbonaro, a mix of bourbon, habanero peppers  in a sweet potato base.  The result is a sweet-savory blend that has a medium sort of heat that was great on fried fish or what you normally might use hot sauce on.  

The second bottle I sampled this month was Fool’s Paradise from Merfs Condiments.  This is a perky number with peaches to play off the haberno peppers that has about a medium heat.  I love this one when I poured some on my chicken breast.

The third was Frankie V’s Kitchen with their Green Label Jalapeno Hot Sauce.  This was milder heat with just enough kick.  I thought it tasted delicious on my hot dog yesterday.  

Fuego Box Gives Variety With Artisan Hot Sauces

There are a lot of benefits to using hot sauces for what it can bring to food, speeding up your metabolism to using as a DIY sore throat or cough cure.  Of course, you go to your grocery store and pick up hot sauce from a very limited range unlike the interesting variety from Fuego Box.  Check this hot sauce subscription box out because you’ll love it!

How to Improve Your Disposition When in a Bad Mood

This beauty may eventually regret her bad day.

I don’t care who you are or what you do. The fact is that we all have bad days when we aren’t the most pleasant to be around for one reason or another.  Chances are there are days that others may see you differently regardless of how you see yourself.   Unless you want to jeopardize relationships and offend your friends and coworkers, then do yourself a favor by finding the cause in a timely fashion before you do or say something that you’ll eventually regret.

Ask Yourself What Brought Out This Nasty Mood

The easiest way to understand why you are suddenly hard to be around is by trying to figure out what triggered this change in your mood.   Did something happen at work that you deem as unfair like the boss piling on more work than usual or taking credit for your work as his?  Of course, this would make you angry. Without realizing it, you could be alienating those closest to you and damaging relationships over time that could alter your life.  Nonetheless, you need to accept this or begin searching for another job because harboring all this resentment will only deepen and follow you home, if you let this crabby mood continue. 

Redirect bad energy into other things that need done helps.

Maybe your husband or boyfriend forgot your birthday or something else important to you when you always remembered his.  Your first inclination might be to rip into him for his negligence and make him feel guilty, which as the injured party, you feel have every right to do.  However, what are you accomplishing by demeaning him?  Wouldn’t it be better for your relationship to talk and express your feelings openly instead of jumping to conclusions on why he purposely hurt you like that?  After all, there could be a legitimate reason he forgot that he had no control over.  Even if he did forget “your” birthday, we all make mistakes.  Let go of that pent-in anger and forgive because it is in the past unless you want that resentment to fester in you and grow.

The point that I am making is finding the cause of your sudden bad mood is the first step to improving a bad disposition.  You can change your mood once you understand why it is making you feel that way.

Channel Bad Energy Productively to Your Advantage 

Anger and frustration can overwhelm the best of us at times.  Yet, it gets us nowhere to dwell on our problems.  On the other hand, physical energy directed at what you have to do anyway such as cleaning, errands, bill paying, etc. can distract your mind and give it a break from the current situation.  Sometimes, the best solutions come to an open mind instead of a stressed one where the answer can't come through.  

Give Yourself a Break 

When you’re in your least most likeable moods, do take time to watch a movie, read a book, play a game, start a puzzle where you can stay silent and concentrate on nothing but that activity.  Your mind can retreat from the problems and have more time to recoup without accidentally doing or saying  what you really didn't mean to say from your heart.

Did you ever hear the song, "Smile" (though your heart is breaking) by Nat King Cole?  You may not feel able to smile, but forcing a smile at times can help generate a real one and others that respond positively to that smile.  This will help salvage a bad mood better than continued nastiness any day.  

Mistakes You Could Be Making to Risk Those Beautiful Eyes

This beauty is already saving her eyes from one risk--the damaging UVA and UVB rays.

Not only are the eyes how we express emotion to convey our feelings, they also are what we depend on for so many tasks.  Therefore, we should never knowingly take them for granted. Otherwise, we could  jeopardize their health and beauty.  The best way to keep those eyes in gorgeous shape and condition are changing some of our current habits.

Wearing Contact Lenses to Bed Is Bad for Your Eyes

Regardless if you have a brand of contacts that is FDA-approved for overnight wear, it still comes with a risk.  After all, your eyes have less protective enzymes and antibodies due to the contacts that could make them vulnerable to infection because of lack of sufficient oxygen, especially after a normal day in the environment.  

Never Go to Bed Still Wearing Your Makeup. 

Besides, leaving traces of makeup behind on your pillow that can stain, you risk clogging your pores and developing pimples.  Any eye makeup that is left on can result in styes, those tiny bumps inside or around the outer eyelids. The reason they have a tendency to cause pain is because that lump is actually a developing abscess in the process of becoming infected from staphylococcus bacteria.

Skip Applying Eyeliner to Your Waterline

The danger is whatever chemicals are in the eyeliner are in contact with your tear ducts, especially if you wear contact lenses.  Even the smallest amount of that makeup could mix with your tears and travel deeper into the eyes to deprive them of oxygen.  

If you don’t wear contacts, using eyeliner on your waterline can also invite germs inside the eyes and cause an ugly, but possibly risky eye infection.  Liquid eyeliners, gels and pens that comes out of a tube are the worst culprits because the applicator tip could be housed in a growing cesspool of bacteria.  The safest practice for lining your eyes is staying on the outside and sticking with a pencil.   The reason that a soft pencil eyeliner is safer is because you can always sharpen the rim to constantly clean it unlike the liquid forms.

Touching Your Eyes Too Much Is Risky

Everyone is guilty of touching their eyes whether wiping an inner crust from the eye or itching.  The problem is the fingers introduce tons of bacteria into the eye from all that you touch.  Bacteria delivery is bad, but the amount of pressure you use is also something you should be concerned about.  Often, we touch or rub our eyes without thinking of how hard we might be rubbing, which could cause broken blood vessels.

Eye Drops Also Can Play a Role in the Mistakes You Make With Your Eyes

Look for the expiration date before you put any drops in your eye.  The dates are printed for your safety.  Using an eye product even shortly after it expires can be dangerous because the formula is now unstable.

If you have been habitually using eye drops to get the red out of your eyes, then you might be over constricting your blood vessels and subjecting them to rebound inflammation.  A safer alternative if you need to use eye drops regularly are artificial tears.   

Sunglasses Aren’t Just for Summer But Protective as Well as Fashionable for All Year

Making it a habit to pull out a pair of  sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection before you walk out the door can later save the eyes from future problems.  You’ll keep your corneas safer from any sun-related burning as well as possible skin cancer of the eyelids.

By taking proper precautions, your eyes have the best chance of staying beautiful and healthy for a lifetime.

How Lighting Can Affect Your Mood

How much or little light can translate how you feel for the day.

Have you ever noticed how you feel when the sun is shining compared to a gloomy day of a gray sky and rain?  The reason for those changes in our moods has everything to do with light and its route from the back of the eyeballs to specific parts of the brain and the pineal gland, which releases the sleep hormone, melatonin.  However, you can fool mother nature by using some lighting strategies to better your mood.

Morning Wake Up Tricks

If you’re not lucky enough to live where your mornings are usually bright and sunny, then you need to try some artificial light through low input LED that can mimic natural sunlight.  This source of artificial sun can send the same messages to the brain as the real deal to make you feel more cheery in the morning.    

As soon as you wake up, you can also try opening the blinds or drapes to let more light into your room.  This simple action can help improve how you start your day.  If you want to speed that uplifting feeling, then  try taking a short walk or run.  This activity will stimulate those mood boosting endorphins, not to mention the advantages of direct exposure to natural sunlight, which is far more powerful than what pours from windows indoors.

Beating the After Lunch Energy Drain Through Lighting

Then again, you could lose your gusto around mid way through the day after lunch.  Blue light can help because of its short wavelength in how it translates to the brain.  On the same note, your LED screen or television won’t be able to transmit enough to energize you unlike the benefits of  using a special lamp such as Phillips goLITE Blu Energy Light that delivers pure blue light like a perfect sunny day for just 15-45 minutes a day. 

Getting to Drift Off Sooner 

Of course, you might have a hard time falling asleep.  The best way around this is to start undwinding from computer activity at least two hours before bedtime.  Another thing to consider is the lighting in your room.  Any blue light like moonlight coming into your bedroom can distract and make you mellow.  Block out that light by drawing your blinds or drapes.  You could also try red light, which works on a deeper level.  However, the evidence of how helpful red light is for fatigue and depression is inconclusive.  

How to Fire Up Your Memory and Increase Brain Power

A clear mind functions better without distractions.

Forgetting what you may have remembered only a few minutes earlier does not mean that you are automatically losing it or developing dementia.  Since the brain operates much like a computer through its neural networks, it also can misfire.  As information is coming in, the signal occasionally may be delayed in routing.  However, it usually is temporary because of other distracting factors.  

Causes of Poor Memory 

You might be preoccupied with another problem or task that causes a disruption of the signal to its new home.  

Outside influences like a phone ringing, loud music or voices to a television blaring could dominate your attention in why that thought never registered.

Some people have sharper response time than others to retrieve new brain signals.  Researchers are still uncertain as to why their brains are wired differently.  Perhaps, genetics and diet play a part to explain what is going on, but nothing is conclusive yet.  More studies need to be done.

Never Stop Giving Your Brain Something to Do  

Anyone can fire up brain cells for a sharper memory by giving the brain mental tasks.

Instead of taking an easy way out by writing something down like a grocery list, try to make a mental note of what you need.  

If names are hard to remember, try associating them with an object.  For example, Joe Carlyski could be Car.  Narrow it further and you could think of a particular model of a car that starts with J like Joe such as Jeep.  Joe Carlyski a.k.a. Jeep Car could help trigger that correct name in your memory. 

Learn something fresh whether exploring a new hobby or through a class.  This can help the brain expand into new territories as those neurons branch out in fresh networks.

Read more instead of just vegging out in front of a television.  

Challenge yourself with crossword puzzles, brain teasers, riddles, mind-twister games, complicated puzzles to word finder games like Scrabble can make the brain work harder.

Get social and spend time talking more with friends fuels the brain to expand its network.

Go out and meet new people that share your interests in various groups such as a library book group, volunteer group, sewing club, an investment club, etc.

Speak the words out loud when reading has more brain value than when doing it in silence.  If you feel uncomfortable doing that in case you might disturb others, you could always read to sick patients, your own children or grandchildren, children waiting for story time at your local library or Sunday school.   

Boosting Brain Power Is Further Enhanced Through Physical Exertion

You might not run a marathon, but taking a walk, run, or doing some gardening can help the brain function more efficiently.  Physical activity brings oxygen to the brain while stimulating the brain’s hippocampus where all learning and memory reside to grow new cells.

Diet Also Can Play a Role to Power Up the Brain and Memory

Eat more oily fish such as wild salmon, mackerel, trout, herring, and sardines due to their ample abundance of omega-3 fatty acids for improving memory retention.  

Load up on foods that are rich in vitamin C, B vitamins especially B-12, and antioxidants. 

A cup of coffee can assist mental alertness.

Regardless of age, anyone is subject to memory loss.  It is up to us to do what we can to keep active in both mind and body to keep the brain fit and healthy.  

Why Is the World So Full of Anger and Hatred These Days?

A bullet can't solve a problem.  

It seems almost every day you turn on the news and see a shooting or another hideous murder such as one family member killing another?  The sad part is unspeakable crimes keep occurring each year. Yet, have you ever asked yourself what is happening to suddenly bring out so much hatred and anger in people?

I am no psychologist or psychiatrist.  However, I do have my own theories about why this unfortunate change can be occurring in our society.  Look at the world we live in. 

People Are Under More Pressure Than Ever

Anymore, you need two paychecks just to survive whereas in the old days one paycheck would be enough to keep a family housed, fed, and clothed.  Today, women have the same amount of stress as men in the old days, but most likely more with juggling household work and tending the family.  Of course, this same working woman has to look good with enough energy left for her guy.  This is one kind of frustrating pressure that can change attitudes of people.

Wages are another reason to fuel the anger.  Have you noticed that the prices of groceries, clothes, utilities, taxes, transportation, etc. go up too fast to keep up?

 Ask yourself why the big shots at the top, despite bad performance like what happened with the banking industry to corporate executives that may have lost your private data get big bonuses?  On the other hand, the regular worker is lucky if a yearly bonus will still be given, an IRA won’t be touched to worrying about the safety of their health insurance and retirement.

Regardless of where you work or what your position may be, employers these days may pile more to your workload without any additional compensation.  Perhaps, you are now doing the job of someone that was recently let go.  You may have the option of leaving, but in reality jobs aren’t plentiful in your field so you stay on.  Resentment at this unfair treatment can only build.  After all, you are a worthy employee that deserves respect and consideration for what you bring to that position.  Therefore, this also may contribute to some causes of this anger.

Speaking of the workplace, how would you feel as a boss suddenly being forced to train your replacement?  The replacement was hired because the employer could get away with paying him far below your salary since the replacement was not even a citizen.  

Disney World let go employees in favor of hiring lower-wage people with H1B visas. Don’t you get a charge out of the companies always saying they need to bring in all these replacements with H1B visas because there’s not enough skilled workers to fill those same positions?  How is working at Disney World quality for specialized skills maybe operating rides, reception desks, etc.?  The real reason is corporate greed.  This is another reason that many people can become more angry.

Technology Adds to Anger 

If it’s not another worker to replace you, then it’s a machine.  Have you noticed how the stores where you shop, especially grocery stores are starting to encourage self-checkouts instead of hiring a cashier?  I think that is horrible.  I always like to go to a cashier because everyone deserves to have a job.  A machine does not need to support anyone.  For example, I went to the grocery store and noticed only two cashiers and all the other aisles were self-checkout.  This frustrated me, not to mention those other people that had to give up their hours or cashier job completely to a machine.

People are wound so tight anymore that if you accidently bump into another at a bus stop, apologies aren’t enough.  I was nearly stabbed by a woman after apologizing when I tried to catch a bus a few years ago.  How sad is that when someone feels it is easier to physically hurt another person than accept a sincere apology?  

Another one that is happening too often is road rage.  One summer morning I had my car loaded with stuff to take to our local flea to set up.  It was very early, still not all light yet, when I was driving up this winding road.  A mother raccoon crossed to the other side and her three babies were left on the other.  Anyway, I didn’t want to run them over.  Instead, I slowed down to let them pass, but behind me this car speeded up to pass me.  If another car came down this narrow road, I wouldn’t be writing this for you today.  The funny thing was this crazy man that gave me the finger and shouted obscenities didn’t get to his destination any sooner because he landed up at the same light that I was.  What makes people resort to foul language and gestures to finding joy in perhaps running over those baby raccoons?  Perhaps, he was late for his job, which spurred that hatred that was broiling within him.

Families Spend Less Time Together 

How about all those “dreamers” and families they want to tear apart?  Where are compassion and the hearts of people?  I can’t imagine being raised here since you were a child and have to return to a country where you may not speak the language or have any real connection to.  I can understand frustration and anger at the thought of an uncertain future.  Those that want to send these people back probably believe so many new jobs will open up once they’re gone.  Is that really what will happen or just an excuse?

These things don’t help our society and this anger is just at home.  Throw in what is happening around the world and who might nuke the other first  is another reason for dimming the light out of people’s hearts to blacken them with anger and despair. 
  
People are walking around on eggshells and can crack at any minute just on these domestic and world issues.  Unfortunately, adults are not the only ones affected.  Frustrated parents often can miss signs in their children like what may have led to the mass shooting yesterday in Florida.

Experts blame yesterday’s school murders on mental illness.  Yet, the weapon was purchased legally by a 19-year-old man.  How do you recognize mental illness before such a sale?

More control of selling guns is important.  If you need registration for your car and insurance, then it should be mandatory, not just in 36 states, but in all states.

I wonder how many times are we going to have to see mass killings before anything is done?  We need to protect everyone.  More police and more mental health professionals cannot be the answers.  Change has to come deeper for this to be effective.

How do you feel about what is going on with the world?  

Tis the Season for the Sneezing So Here Are Some Tips to Help Keep Seasonal Allergies in Check!

This post may help cut down the number of tissues you need this season.

Having a seasonal allergy can make a person miserable.  Besides sneezing, your eyes can water and itch along with skin.  Yet, headaches also can be frequent and cause suffering to make the season even more memorable for those afflicted.  If you happen to be battling this condition, there is something else that you may want to think about around your own home that could help lessen your suffering.

Some Simple Changes in Your Daily Routine That Can Help Make You Healthier!

It's easier to be happy when you're healthier.

Regardless of all our good intentions, we always don’t act in our body’s best interests.  We can eat wrong and make bad food choices, miss sleep, shrug off exercise and let stress often consume us.  After all, we are only human and can only try our best.  Sometimes it feels impossible to make healthy changes in our lives, but often it seems more doable when you start with small goals.

For instance, drinking that six to eight glasses of water a day that is recommended as what your body needs is hard for a lot of people.  For a devout coffee, tea or soda drinker, this can be difficult. Therefore, you might find it easier to substitute one glass of water when you have the urge for a soda, tea or coffee break a day. In time, you could always try replacing two cups of coffee, tea or a soda for two glasses of water and so forth. If not, one glass of water is still an improvement over your normal beverage.

Spoonk Sleep Induction and Pain Control Acupressure Massage Combo Mat Set Review + ($87) Giveaway!–Ends May 17, 2017

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

You even get a carrying/storage case for your mat.

Whether you are too stressed to sleep or suffering from muscular pain, it’s horrible to suffer and just lay waiting for your meds or morning to kick in.  However, I was recently introduced to a helpful product through this review and giveaway called the Spoonk Acupressure Mat that works by stimulating those targeted painful spots on your nervous system much like the pressure of fingers to bring on relief through acupressure.

There is a lot of help in this Spoonk mat.

This mat is made of all natural materials in the USA from CertiPur-US ECO foam that is non-toxic as well as fire resistant with stimulation points out of ABS and hemp plastic.  The company was gracious enough to send me two of their regular size mats and a groove ball for this review for myself and my mother to try for own unique issues.

Here's what the stimulation points look like close up.

Doubters may think that acupressure can’t possibly be effective, but I firmly believe in the difference it can make.  I have used Bonnie’s Prudden’s method of acupressure for erasing muscles that have gone into spasms to become trigger points ever since I had a TMJ problem to get rid of pain, which it does quite well.   The Spoonk mat has 6210 acupressure stimulation points that once you lay down help increase circulation enough to relax tight muscles and lessen pain.  

You can’t press a sore bone forcefully against this mat, the Spoonk needs to work through the padding that makes the skin to reach those points. 

Spoonk mats come in a variety of colors!

I’m going to tell you something funny about the first time we used our Spoonk mats.  After we finished photographing the products, I unrolled those mats out for us to test.  My mother decided she was just going to start laying on hers while I was putting the camera and things away.  All of a sudden, she commented how her back area was starting to feel wonderfully warm.  She kept repeating how soothing the warmth felt for her arthritis compared to rubbing with a pain cream.  Anyway, I hear her tell me to hurry and come try this, but I said that I will get there as soon as I finish with my task.  The next thing I knew, I was hearing snoring. My mother fell asleep on the Spoonk within no more than twenty minutes!

When I tried the Spoonk, I didn’t feel the heat as soon as my mother did.  Instead, I felt a slight tingling initially and then a few minutes later, and I understood what she meant by that wonderful warmth from laying on top of those stimulation points.  It really did ease a stiff back and relax not just sore muscles, but the body and mind as a whole.  

Spoonk Grove Ball is good help for hands or feet.

We also got a Spoonk groove ball that has those stimulation points all over it like a man-made blue porcupine.  These points are sharp but are soft once your body is positioned against them like the mat, but target pain better than you may ever believe.  My mother has arthritis in her hands and squeezing that ball was so much more comforting than another squeeze ball that her doctor recommended.  

Spoonk Grove Ball really does better than the smooth squeeze balls.

You are advised to use the Spoonk for as little as five minutes if you want to recharge your tired body for some extra energy during your day.  Those times when you’re under a lot of stress or the pain starts to kick in, a 25 minute break can help since those stimulation points can release happy endorphins.  Before bed, try 35-45 minutes to bring on deeper sleep.

Anyone can use the Spoonk, but if you’re pregnant, have high blood pressure, take blood thinners, have a heart problem or sensitive skin, you may want to check with your physician first before using.

With deepest sincerity, if you hurt or under stress, feel exhausted, I can’t tell you how much we love the Spoonk mat.  With Mother’s Day’s almost here and Father’s Day just around the corner, you couldn’t give a more helpful gift to mother, dad as well as yourself than Spoonk.   Once you try this yourself, you will be a believer too.  This I am certain.

Thanks to Spoonk, one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader in the continental United States wins 
a Spoonk combo mat set of a large size mat, a travel mat, carrying bag, and a groove ball ($86.98 total value)!


Giveaway details and how to enter–


Prize: One (1) winner from the continental USA will win a Spoonk Combo mat set that includes a large size mat, a travel mat, carrying bag, and a groove ball ($86.98 value!)

Dates of entry: 04/30/17–05/17/17 at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time

Eligibility: Open to the continental USA.  No PO Boxes.  The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.  

How to Enter:  Please use the Rafflecopter widget if it works.  You can also enter by clicking this link or try to enter using another browser. You can return daily and log in again with your email to tweet or to vote daily for Nuts 4 Stuff on Picket Fence Blogs.



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An Unbelievable Way to Curb Your Appetite That I Swear by!

Regardless of my love of baking on the weekends, I do try to behave myself and control my eating most of the time for those other five days.  Trying to cut back on those calories is never easy and can be a daily struggle, but I  found a way to help curb eating that honestly does work.  

You won't believe how beneficial a carrot can be until you read this post.

What I have been doing is eating fresh carrots one hour before dinner.  Believe it or not, I peel a fat carrot or several small carrots and then slit lengthwise into thinner strips.  I like to prepare them that way because it takes longer to eat.  

Timing my carrot break one hour before dinner allows me to eat a lot less.  Seriously, I’ve tried those nutrition bars and shakes that are meant to curb appetite, but nothing ever really helped as much as turning to carrots in their value to lose weight.  

I can almost hear you snickering through the computer as you read these words, but as you fill up on all that fiber, beta-carotene that converts into skin beneficial vitamin A and other antioxidants like vitamin E, C, and copper, you're also beautifying your skin along with improving the look of your body.  Carrots are also a great source of biotin (B7) for nail and hair health and other skin friendly B vitamins like pyridoxine and pyridoxamine (B6), riboflavin (B2), pantothenic acid (B5), and folate (B9) to keep it thriving.

Before you chalk this off, I hope that you try what I am suggesting here.  If so, I know that you will be amazed at the power of what the mere carrot can do to fill you up and improve your overall appearance. The only way that I can make a believer out of you is for you to try my method.  Trust me, but you will eat less and notice your weight drop once you step on your scale!

Here Is Some Unexpected Relief for Dry Eyes

Diet  plays a part in the health of our eyes.

Anyone with dry eyes knows how uncomfortable this condition can be.  The only recourse seems to be adding artificial tears.  However, there is something else that you may also want to try if you suffer.  

You may want to start adding more vitamin A to your diet.  The best sources are sweet potatoes, carrots, winter squashes, dark leafy green, bell peppers, fish, liver, tropical fruits, dried apricots, pumpkin, and cantaloupes.  You can also get more of this vitamin from eggs, plain yogurt, tomato juice, skim milk, and foods like ricotta cheese.

According to some studies, supplementing with high doses when supervised by your physician can bring relief.  Nonetheless, avoid self-medicating because Vitamin A can be toxic and accumulate in your system. It also can interfere with your current medications such as any cholesterol lowering drugs.  

Therefore, start incorporating more Vitamin A rich foods into your life and do ask your doctor about what amount of this vitamin is safe for you at your next visit.  

Another Reason and Relief for Your Sudden Dry Eye Discomfort!

You might be blaming the wrong things for your sudden bout of eye discomfort.

There are plenty of things that can make your eyes uncomfortable.  If they suddenly may be feeling irritated and somewhat drier than usual, especially when you stare at your computer for hours, an allergy could possibly play a part.  Chances are, though, it could also indicate dry eyes. 

Dry eyes affect more women than men.  Therefore, you may want to visit an optometrist or ophthalmologist if this feeling keeps up to determine if this is the cause. 

In the meantime, you might want to try blinking more.  This helps lubricate the eye somewhat to lessen the friction.

Another helpful tip is looking away for a few minutes from your computer screen every hour if possible.  

Play It Safe: How to Care for Bee or Wasp Stings

You could smell too sweet and be mistaken for a flower.

I don’t want to put a damper on your outdoor summer activities and picnics that you have planned, especially with the upcoming July Fourth holiday.  However, you’re not alone out there.  As you’re having fun with friends or family or just soaking up the sun, bees and wasps could spoil a day. Though I hate to be a pessimist, I just wanted to pass along some helpful tips on the best ways to treat a bee or wasp sting.  After all, it’s always better to be prepared with a little knowledge than suffering longer.

The first thing that you want to do is get that stinger out as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more that bee’s buried sac with venom continues to spread through your system. 

Nonetheless, you need to be careful in how you handle this. Try gently forcing the stinger up with something thin and flat like one of the cards from your wallet instead of squeezing it up with tweezers or fingers.  Too much pressure could make it that much worse by releasing more venom.

If you happen to be wearing jewelry in the area of that sting, take it off immediately because you may unable to remove it easily later like a ring on a finger.

Clean the area next to prevent an infection.  

Then apply ice, ice packs, or even a bag of frozen vegetables can do in a pinch for help numbing pain.  Keep icing from 15-30 minutes because it will bring down the swelling.

You could also try neutralizing that bee’s or wasp’s acidic venom by making a paste of baking soda and water to apply.  

A meat tenderizer is another that helps since it contains papain, which is ideal for breaking down the venom’s proteins.

On the other hand, call 911 to seek emergency medical treatment if breathing becomes difficult, hives develop, or your tongue swells. Don’t delay because serious allergies can be life-threatening so get to the emergency room.

The Most Effective Foods to Help Your Complexion Thrive

Your food choices play a definite role in the health of your skin.

Some people are born with great genes that give them a perfect complexion while others battle with skin conditions.  Though the body’s chemical makeup plays an important role, food choices also contribute a lot toward what the skin looks like.  If you want to give your complexion a fighting chance, then you need to start eating more of the following foods.

A small amount of protein at every meal is essential since it has amino acids of L-lysine and L-proline for collagen development.  When you don’t have enough protein, your skin suffers, losing that plumpness that leads to wrinkling.

An ideal portion size of a piece of meat is about three-ounces, a size that could fit in the palm of your hand. One egg would be enough or an eight-ounce cup of Greek yogurt or cottage cheese is just an example that you could get creative with. 

Fruits and vegetables are also very critical because of all their antioxidants and help in fighting free radicals that our skin encounters daily.  Try to eat five each day and your complexion will thank you.  Skin-boosting fruits are blueberries,  blackberries, strawberries, darker varieties of grapes are the best with the most phytochemicals and antioxidants. Citrus fruits, especially oranges also help firm up the skin’s outer layers as well as heal as it delivers oxygen and nutrients where needed.

You need to also add more yellow and green vegetables to your diet while reducing some starchier ones like potatoes, which can affect your blood sugar levels in how quickly your body breaks its down.  How sugar is regulated in your body can impact the appearance of the skin in addition to your health, mood and energy levels. 

Leafy, green vegetables like kale, which is rich in vitamin C, A, and K helps address aging.  Spinach is another winner, not only for its vitamin A, B vitamins but also for having anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats to keep skin flawless. Broccoli is another great source.  Avocado (though technically a fruit) is wonderful for its anti-inflammatory properties as well to improve the skin’s health with its bounty of vitamin C, A and K.

Tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene, lutein,  beta-carotene and minerals to feed the skin so it can thrive. 

Fish is a good choice.  Oily fish like tuna, salmon and mackerel with all their omega-3 fatty acids are ones that you might want to jot down on your grocery shopping list.  Try eating these at least twice a day.

Nuts are excellent for a beautiful complexion with all their protein, omega-3 and omega-6 fats, vitamin E and minerals.  However, you need to be careful of the amount you eat.  Otherwise, you will pack on pounds.  

Seeds are amazing with all the protein and nutrients they have for glowing skin. Sunflower, pumpkin, sesame seeds or the butters made from them are something you should start thinking about adding to your diet.

Make it a habit to start using healthier oils like olive oil and canola oil in your cooking and baking over margarine and butter.  I bake a lot with both of those oils and often substitute them in my recipes that called for margarine or butter without any problems. The extra virgin olive oil has the beneficial antioxidant ability due to its polyphenols.

Try to get enough of the right sort of grains into your life.  Oats, quinoa, brown over white rice, whole wheat instead of white bread has more nutrients, but also helps the skin in another way.  They provide needed extra fiber, which can help clean your system of toxins, lingering in your system to congest the skin.

Try a fiber-drink like Metamucil daily also is helpful for getting that fiber to clear your system.  The longer that you don’t move that old food out, the more it can ferment to affect the condition of your skin.

Dark chocolate is abundant with antioxidants like catechins and phenols to help skin’s circulation and defending against free radical damage.  Again, you need to watch your portions or prepare to buy larger size clothes because these can be hard to resist.  The higher the percentage of cocoa solids in a dark chocolate bar, the better it is for your skin and health.  A 70-percent is a good bet–-that is, if you can limit yourself to one square of the bar.

Though we all aren’t blessed with perfect genes, the right foods can tremendously help
renew a problem complexion into one that you might be surprised to see!