Fruit and Veggie Safe Handling

Handle All Produce Properly
Before Consumption

When was the last time you came home from the produce market and put the melon on the kitchen counter along with the other produce items that you take out of your bags? Well this is what you and a million others do on the regular.

Have you given any thought to the germs and pesticides that came home with you? Just in case you haven't entertained this thought now is a good time to start thinking about this and don't stop there act on this, become accountable to yourself and your loved ones.

One of the first things I do when I get in from grocery shopping and put my bags down is wash my hands. A good rule of thumb is to use hot soapy water and sing happy birthday before rinsing. Yeah, I know this may sound pretty juvenile but guess what, some nursing schools have taught this to their first year nursing students.

Do you think about where your fruit and vegetables are grown? Be it your local farms, Mexico or other countries. Have you wondered about the content of the soil? Maybe you’ve pondered what types of pesticides were used if you didn’t purchase organic fruits and vegetables.

These are all reasons to show concern and to become diligent seekers educating ourselves and asking our legislators to step in and propose bills that will ensure better health & safety codes for pesticides used for agriculture.

Pesticides

Let's take a look at pesticides for a moment, here is a list I am sure you will find a bit alarming. Based on information and studies by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Consumer Reports, and the Environmental Working Group, the fruits and vegetables in this list have been found to contain the most amounts of pesticides.

• Nectarines – 97.3% of nectarines sampled were found to contain pesticides.
• Celery – 94.5% of celery sampled were found to contain pesticides.
• Pears – 94.4% of pears sampled were found to contain pesticides.
• Peaches – 93.7% of peaches sampled were found to contain pesticides.
• Apples – 91% of apples sampled were found to contain pesticides.
• Cherries – 91% of cherries sampled were found to contain pesticides.
• Strawberries – 90% of strawberries sampled were found to contain pesticides.
• Imported Grapes – 86% of imported grapes (i.e. Chile) sampled were found to contain pesticides.
• Spinach – 83.4% of spinach sampled were found to contain pesticides.
• Potatoes – 79.3% of potatoes sampled were found to contain pesticides.
• Bell Peppers – 68% of bell peppers sampled were found to contain pesticides.
• Red Raspberries – 59% of red raspberries sampled were found to contain pesticides.

Knowing how to clean properly is key

Now here is a list of fruits & veggies with the least amount of pesticides. Also notice that many of these have thick inedible skins which protect the fruit.

• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Corn (almost all corn is genetically modified or GMO)
• Kiwi
• Mangoes
• Onions
• Papaya
• Pineapples
• Sweet Peas
• Any of the large or medium melons

Source: http://gourmetfood.about.com/od/slowfoodorganiclocal/a/organicproduce_3.htm

Safety Tips

Here are some helpful hints to assure better safety for you and your loved ones:

1. Wash your hands with hot soapy water before and after preparing food.
2. Clean your counter top, cutting boards and utensils after peeling produce and before cutting or chopping. Bacteria from the outside of raw produce can be transferred to the inside when it is cut or peeled. Wash kitchen surfaces and utensils with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item.
3. For produce with thick skin, use a vegetable brush to help wash away hard-to-remove chemicals.
4. Produce with a lot of nooks and crannies like cauliflower, broccoli or greens, cabbage & lettuce should be soaked for 1 to 2 minutes in cold distilled water.
5. I would not recommend soaking raspberries, blackberries or strawberries in water because they are just too fragile.
• Place these delicate fruits in a colander and spray them with distilled water.
• After washing, I lay them out on a dry clean paper towel.
6. There are many times I will pick up a small apple or tangerine while on the go and it has become a practice for me to fill a biodegradable spray bottle with distilled water and keep in my car, avoid the temptation of sampling produce in the store without properly washing before eating.
7. Do not rewash packaged products labeled “ready-to-eat,” “washed” or “triple washed.”
8. Once you cut or peel any produce refrigerate as soon as possible at 40ºF or below.
9. It is not a safe practice to purchase cut produce that is not refrigerated.

More options to consider

Use of distilled water, white vinegar, fresh squeezed lemon and baking soda are also effective ways to reduce the amount of chemicals found on our produce.

Wash even thick hard skinned

Veggie Wash is a product I tend to use most often it is safe and effective in removing wax, soil and chemicals from produce. Keep in mind that firmer produce should be sprayed thoroughly and rubbed with a vegetable brush for 20-30 seconds, and then rinsed thoroughly with water before eating. Softer or less manageable produce can be dipped, agitated and rinsed in a diluted mixture and water (approximately 1/4 cup wash to 1 gallon of water).

Bear in mind produce such as apples and colorful peppers have the heaviest wax coatings. This increases the likelihood of pesticide residues residing beneath that wax coating which require the use of a brush or some type of cleansing agent that will remove the wax and ultimately the residue. Mushrooms are highly porous and will absorb and retain the taste of Veggie Wash so for this reason it is not recommended.

Please note that most non-organic produce contain residual pesticides even after washing. One practice I continually follow, is blessing my food before consuming.

Terrye

Stress and Anxiety

Avoid "The Stress Mess"

Are you suffering with anxiety or just stressed out?

Often when we are under pressure and going through stressful events in our lives, we will reach for foods that don't have any nutritional value, foods that turn out to be more harmful than useful to our bodies. You know the foods I'm talking about all too well. The little sugary snacks like candy bars, donuts and don't forget about the salty stuff, like potato chips and French fries.

Did you know that our bodies release a hormone known as cortisol?  This stress hormone at high levels can cause our bodies to crave the foods that can do the most harm to us. The next time you feel stress coming on give this serious thought and choose a healthier substitute.

Take a deep breath and in the moment think about the negative that stress does to the body, then move in a positive manner. Now take a few minutes to just continue breathing deeply and I don't mean hyperventilating. Just take a deep breath hold it for about 5 seconds and breathe out slowly.  Wait a few seconds between taking another deep breath. Do this perhaps 5 times and this will help your body to slow down the release of cortisol.

Are you anxious?

You may even take a walk...yep a brisk walk around the block will help reduce anxiousness and stress. When you find yourself reaching for something to put in your mouth, don't reach for cigarettes, booze, coffee, sweets or salty stuff because all of these things will simply do nothing but increase your anxiety & stress levels causing a spike in cortisol.

Here are a few more tips to take into consideration:

Antioxidants are extremely helpful to our bodies when dealing with anxiety and stress, so reach for an orange, tangerine, grapefruit or berries. You might even want to implement a vitamin C supplement.  Studies have shown time and time again the effectiveness this vitamin has in assisting the body to bounce back into shape from stressful events thereby reducing cortisol levels.

Think fish the next time you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed out or anxious. Have a dish of tuna or a salmon salad the omega-3 fatty acid that is in tuna fish and salmon is a slap in face to high levels of cortisol. Now that's a healthy alternative.

Try implementing oatmeal in your daily diet.  This will aid in helping your body to better achieve optimal mood stimulation over a period of time thereby warding off anxiousness, but stimulating serotonin production in your brain.  As a result helping you to feel better and deal with your issues so that stress and anxiety don't get the best of you.

One last thing before I go, think H2O. I have found being near a lake, a pond, the ocean or even a waterfall can be very therapeutic. Therefore creating a since of wellness, isn't that what it's really all about?

Make the right choices!

Terrye

Safety in the Home

Safety in the Home

There are many things to consider when you think about making your home a safe place particularly when you are caring for children, seniors, individuals with disabilities and of course you should also include yourself. Since this is such a broad topic and there are far too many potential hazards we will focus on two rooms that are considered the most dangerous, the bathroom and the kitchen.

It is unfortunate that we tend to be more reactive than preventive in many areas of our lives. With that in mind let’s change that pattern and think “PREVENTION” first. Have you asked yourself "what are some things we can or should do to prevent accidents in my home?" Instead of pondering over what can or should be done let's take a few steps towards prevention by creating a checklist and taking care of what is deemed in need of ensuring a safer environment.

My disclaimer: by no means am I saying this list is complete but let it serve as a start as they are merely suggestions to assist in the creation of a checklist / action list.

After performing a little research and taking my own living space into consideration, let’s begin with the bathroom which is considered the most hazardous room in the home. Now that I think about it I have actually fallen twice in the bathroom i.e., the bathtub / shower in the last three years. I did not slip I just lost my balance and both times the shower curtains helped break the fall. Fortunately, I was not injured but grab bars would have served a purpose in both instances. Well, enough about my experiences, let’s get started with the list of ideas, tips and things to consider:

Safety in the Bathroom

• Water temperature should be less than 120 degrees, of course this is not restricted to the bathroom but throughout the house.
• Grab bars – if needed, they should be placed near the toilet and in the tub / shower.
• Also consider towel bars being used as a grab bar (make sure they can support the weight of the heaviest person in the home).
• If using a shower curtain (think safety first and for those who want that  “cute” or “pretty” look use a thick shower liner behind the sheer or decorative outer curtain).
• NOTE: I recommend having the towel bars and curtain rod installed by a professional.
• Area rugs and floor mats – consider removing them (wow, I am just on the third item and find that I am having dialogue with myself, I hear some of you asking "why should I get rid of my rugs / mats...?" and presenting alternatives such as using rugs / mats that have non-slip backing … hmmm I will need input from my wife, so I will put this on hold until she can add another perspective. I realize sometimes we do not take into consideration the time and effort that goes into coordinating and getting the right items to create that certain look, the perfect decor…so to just get rid of something that may have taken weeks of planning and searching to find is not always that simple or easy to DO).
  
  OK, I consulted with my wife, the more experienced caregiver who has over 20 years of experience, her advice is if you do not want to remove the rugs / mats use double-sided tape to secure the edges to lessen the risk of tripping on the edge and potentially having the rug skid.

Another note: from this point forward I will just provide a list (big smile) so that we can get this blog posted today. The engineering / technical side of me tends to analyze things to death and that is not the purpose, so I will allow you to determine what is right for your environment, I hope that is acceptable.

• Personal tip: If you are caring for a senior or someone with Alzheimer's consider purchasing toothpaste with non-removable flip-top. I observed a loved one, who had Alzheimer's, spend nearly a half hour searching for her toothpaste top, but also keep in mind the toothpaste top could potentially wind up on the floor and become the cause of an injury from a fall. Try not to overlook simple things.
• Non-slip mat for tub or shower floor.
• Make it easy to identify hot and cold faucet handles by using colored labels normally blue represents cold and red represents hot.
• Is there a need for elevated or raised toilet seat?
• Do you have non-slip footwear available for slippery surfaces? Or consider professionally installed carpeting to cover slippery floors. OMGoodness, I had no idea how difficult it would be to not elaborate on each of these.
• If you are not alone slow down and make sure the water in the tub / shower has drained completely before exiting.
• Is it difficult for someone in the residence to step into or out of the tub? Consider grab bars (sorry for being redundant), a bench, bath chair or installing an easy access tub / shower.

Hopefully, that was enough to get you started in the bathroom now let’s proceed to the kitchen:

Safety in the Kitchen

• Smoke detectors – are they working, test them regularly, please.
• Fire extinguishers – a good source for information is the National Fire Protection Association.
• Avoid putting flammable objects near open flame.
• Ovens particularly electric can be very hazardous, use caution when inserting and removing especially if you use the broiler.
• Hot grease can be a serious hazard, be extremely careful and take steps to avoid splatters or unsupervised access to the area.
• Do not leave the kitchen unattended while cooking, even when using the microwave.
• Knives – keep them sharp, sharpened knives are better than dull knives; kitchen tips from life hacker. 
• Check for items that are unstable, such as table or chair legs that screw in, make sure they are securely screwed in.
• Use of step stools or step ladders.
• Door levers vs. door knobs and other tips: http://www.ilresources.org/assist.php.
• Stoves – consider safety stove and oven control covers.

For more tips I recommend that you use your internet browsers search feature; enter phrases like “home safety tips” or “safety at home”. Remember with search engines you can enter the information and word it as if you were talking to an individual or you can simply use the topic "safety in the home". Think prevention but keep in mind the best method of taking care of those whom you love is being there and providing attentive loving care. Accidents will happen to we can do what we can to prevent them from happening.

One helpful source: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control


Contact the Caregivers to arrange a home safety assessment from a professional point of view.

Caregiver Tim

Top 5 Food Trends for 2013

Quality, health and diet dominate the forecast

Courtesy of  AARP, by Christina Ianzito, February 15, 2013

kale - Andrew Scrivani/Corbis

Some food trends come and go quicker than you can learn to spell "quinoa," but we found five for 2013 that we think have staying power.

Less meat-eating but better butchers

We're eating less meat — the USDA predicts that the average American will eat 200.2 pounds of red meat and poultry this year, down from 221.6 pounds in 2007. But when we do eat it, we want it to be top-notch. Quality-conscious carnivores are fueling a trend in upscale butcheries, which tend to be stocked with hormone-free, locally raised, grass-fed meats, artisanal sausage and fancy charcuterie.

Veggies dominating the menu

As people cut back on meat, vegetables are becoming the main event. The government's new "MyPlate" illustration of recommended food groups calls for half your plate (read: half your diet) to be fruits and vegetables. Consumers seem to be taking the advice to heart, while starting to cook with some formerly under-appreciated greens, such as vitamin-rich kale, sea vegetables (nori and kelp) and brussels sprouts — which, we must say, are scrumptious roasted.

Juicing

Veggies are also being sipped. The hottest kitchen accessory these days is the juicer — an appliance that separates the liquids in raw fruits and vegetables from their slimy pulp, with the idea that the body can absorb more vitamins from food in this drinkable form. New juicer recipes abound, including one of our favorites, "Get-Up-and-Go Juice," a blend of carrots, apples, cucumbers, beets and ginger. Yum.

Ancient seeds as alternatives to wheat

As more people go gluten-free, they're turning to seeds that taste like grains ("pseudo-cereals," they're called), especially quinoa: Slightly bitter, protein-packed and revered by the ancient Aztecs, quinoa is increasingly being used in place of rice or as a central part of a meal. Chia, meanwhile, formerly famous only as the green "fur" on those jokey Chia Pets, has seeds that are touted for their health-boosting antioxidants, protein and omega-3 fatty acids. You can now buy chia pasta, chia snack bars and chia-seed drinks — and make your own chocolate chip chia cookies.

Popcorn: the super snack

Every trend tracker in the country is going gaga over popcorn: Americans already gobble down about 16 billion quarts a year of the puffy treat, which is now far more than just a greasy movie theater munchie. You can find popcorn on dessert buffets at wedding receptions, in gourmet shops (with flavors such as wasabi, beer and Indian curry) and in natural food stores. It is, after all, a whole grain, and air-popped it's only 31 calories a cup. (Of course that's before it's smothered in bacon and blue cheese sauce.)

9 Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

Courtesy of AARP Health Conditions-Treatments

You wake up one morning with a fever. Or maybe you have a really bad neck ache. How do you know if a symptom is serious or not? "The things that we doctors are most concerned about are new symptoms that develop quickly, rather than things that develop over a long period of time," says Keith L. Black, M.D., chair of neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Another warning sign? That uh-oh feeling that tells you something's not quite right. "You know your body best," says Len Lichtenfeld, M.D., deputy chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society. "When you see or feel something different or just feel 'off,' pay attention; don't dismiss it."

Here are nine symptoms and what they might mean.

1. Sudden Intense Headache

The big worries: If you experience head pain unlike any you've had before, especially if it peaks in seconds to minutes in any part of the head, it could signal a ruptured aneurysm, a blood vessel in your brain that suddenly bursts, requiring immediate attention.

In addition, your doctor will want to rule out three other conditions:

• Cardiac cephalgia: A rare disorder in which reduced blood supply to the heart manifests as a headache and can also cause chest pain and exhaustion with exertion.
• Meningitis: A headache often accompanied by a stiff neck, fever and confusion or other changes in mental status.
• Temporal Arteritis: A rare illness in which a person's immune cells invade the walls of the arteries that carry blood to the head, causing headache, low-grade fever or pain upon speaking or chewing. "The reason temporal arteritis is such a concern is that it can result in the temporary or permanent loss of vision in one or both eyes," says Brian Grosberg, M.D., codirector of the Montefiore Headache Center in the Bronx, New York. Steroids usually take care of the problem if treatment is prompt.

2. Chest Pain

The big worries: Any intense discomfort, heaviness or pressure — like an elephant sitting on your chest — could spell heart attack. It may be combined with pain radiating down an arm, nausea and vomiting, sweating, and shortness of breath. Women can experience more subtle symptoms, like fatigue, a burning sensation or upper abdominal pain. In any case, call 911. "If it is a heart attack, a delay could cause the heart muscle to be damaged," says Eric Topol, M.D., a cardiologist at the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California. If these symptoms occur only during exertion, it could also be angina, which happens when the heart muscle temporarily doesn't get enough blood.

Sudden severe chest or upper-back pain (often described as a ripping sensation) can be caused by a tear in the aorta, known as aortic dissection, which requires immediate attention. Fortunately, this life-threatening condition occurs in only about three out of 100,000 people.

3. Unexplained Weight Loss

The big worries: Losing more than 5 percent of your body weight — without trying — over a period of six months could mean cancer: Weight loss is a symptom in up to 36 percent of cancers in older people. "If you or a family member is suddenly losing weight after trying 400 times before, you have to ask, 'Why is this time the charm?' " says Lichtenfeld.

4. Unusual Bleeding

The big worries: Ulcers and colon cancer can cause rectal bleeding or black or tarry stools, says Andres Pardo-Agila, M.D., a family medicine physician at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. If you haven't had a colonoscopy recently, talk to your physician. Vaginal bleeding can be linked to gynecologic cancers. Bloody vomit can result from stomach or esophageal cancer, and people with lung cancer can cough up blood. "Whenever you see blood where it shouldn't be, see a doctor," says Lichtenfeld.

5. High or Persistent Fever

The big worries: Fever is your body's way of fighting infection. But "fever of 103 degrees and higher warrants a trip to the doctor — period," says David Bronson, M.D., president of the American College of Physicians. It may indicate a urinary tract infection, pneumonia, endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart chambers and valves) or meningitis, which may require antibiotics to clear up. A persistent low-grade fever — for several weeks — with no obvious cause is characteristic of some infections, including a sinus infection, and some cancers, like lymphoma and leukemia. "Cancer is on the list of things we think about, but it is usually not the first thing," says Ronan Factora, M.D., a geriatrician at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

6. Shortness of Breath

The big worries: Sudden shortness of breath can indicate a pulmonary embolism — when a blood clot forms in the body's deep veins (usually in the legs), travels to the lungs and gets lodged in the lung's blood vessels. Suspect an embolism if you've recently traveled, have undergone surgery or have been immobile, and/or your shortness of breath is accompanied by chest pain and coughing up blood. If you find yourself gasping after climbing two or three stairs or getting tired sooner than you used to, doctors will want to rule out chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), especially if it's accompanied by a cough and fatigue and you have a history of smoking. Irregular heart rhythm, congestive heart failure and other types of heart disease are additional possibilities. When organs aren't getting enough oxygen, breathlessness can result. See a doctor — stat.

7. Sudden Confusion

The big worries: If you're experiencing sudden confusion, personality changes, aggression or an inability to concentrate, it's important to see a doctor right away. "The mortality rate for severe confusion is pretty high. You have to figure out what's going on," says Bronson. In the worst case, a brain tumor or bleeding in the brain could be behind the delirium. If you're also experiencing slurred speech, difficulty finding the right words, or numbness or weakness in the face, hand or leg, stroke is a strong possibility. "You have a window of about two to three hours to get to the hospital," says Cedars-Sinai's Black. Beyond that, brain loss may be irreversible.

8. Swelling in the Legs

The big worries: An accumulation of fluid (called edema) in the extremities can be caused by a number of conditions, but the one that most concerns doctors is heart failure, when the heart cannot pump as much blood as the body needs. When that happens, blood backs up in the veins, causing fluid to accumulate in the body's tissues. "Swelling of the legs, especially if it is persistent, should never be ignored," says Gordon F. Tomaselli, M.D., director of the division of cardiology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. Heart failure is suspected when both legs are affected and the patient also has shortness of breath, fatigue and chest tightness.

9. Sudden or severe abdominal pain

The big worries: Sudden abdominal pain could signal that an aortic aneurysm — a bulge that develops in the aorta, frequently in the abdominal area — has ruptured. "If the aneurysm ruptures, the pain tends to be sudden and severe and typically centralized around the belly button," says Richard Desi, M.D., a gastroenterologist with Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. Alternatively, sudden pain can indicate a perforated viscus (a hole in the stomach, intestine or other hollow organ), often due to an ulcer. Intestinal ischemia, which happens when blood flow to the intestines slows or stops, starving tissues of oxygen, can be a culprit, too. "It's more common in older, sicker patients who have heart failure or atrial fibrillation," says Brian Putka, M.D., a gastroenterologist with the Cleveland Clinic. Each of these conditions is life threatening, requiring emergency surgery.

To see the complete article click on the following link AARP

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD)

Did you know that an estimated 15 million Americans have this disease that is now considered the third leading cause of death in the US and was sixth worldwide (in 1990)? COPD is also known as:

• chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD)
• chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD)
• chronic airflow limitation (CAL)
• chronic obstructive respiratory disease (CORD)

I will refer to it as COPD which is considered a major cause of disability as it does gradually get worse, ultimately limiting your Activities of Daily Living also known as ADL (see our blog on ADL) and many people could possibly have COPD but are not aware of it, ever heard the saying “information is knowledge”. We live in the information age and have access to good resources filled with information. It is extremely important to stay informed of all health concerns / issues so that you can take good care of yourself.

What you should know about COPD

Healthy lungs

This disease was once called emphysema or chronic obstructive bronchitis. This slow progressive lung disease is caused by damage to the lungs, usually from smoking and long-term exposure to lung and airway damaging irritants. COPD causes shortness of breath (dyspnea), coughing, wheezing, and a buildup of mucus in the lungs.

Approximately 12 million people go undiagnosed or develop COPD. It is imperative that you visit your doctor if any of these symptoms occur and linger for more than several weeks, ask for a lung function test.

Lungs with COPD

It is more common for those 40 and older to develop COPD, it is not contagious and in other words you won’t get it if you come in contact with someone who has it, but if someone in your family has had COPD you are more likely to develop the disease if you smoke. Currently there is no cure however, medical treatments and changes to your lifestyle can slow its progression.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has developed a national campaign called COPD Learn More Breathe Better®. It is highly recommended that you read this series of articles for more detailed information, be sure to click next at the end of each section: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/copd/

Other reference articles:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/copd/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_obstructive_pulmonary_disease

The Benefits of Spinach

Spinach, a healthy choice

Spinach has a high nutritional value and is extremely rich in antioxidants. The calcium content in spinach is good for bones. The A and C vitamins in spinach plus the fiber, folic acid, magnesium and other nutrients help control cancer, especially colon, lung and breast cancers. Folate also lowers the blood levels of something called homocysteine, a protein that damages arteries.

So spinach also helps protect against heart disease. The flavonoids in spinach help protect against age related memory loss. Spinach's secret weapon, lutein, makes it one of the best foods in the world to prevent cataracts, as well as age related macular degeneration, the leading cause of preventable blindness in the elderly.

The next time you want a salad, make it with spinach and imange how healthy your body will be.

- Terrye