Article Index
15) What? No More BBQ's, Ribs or Roasts?
14) Being Health-Smart Isn't Preventing Obesity. What's the Disconnect? How Do We Fix It?
13) The Secret Joys Of Later Life - They All Start With Proper Nutrition and Exercise
12) Ten Challenges of Getting Old - They Can Be Minimized!
11) Is Your Health And Wellness Really That Important To You? Then Do Something About It!
10) Eco-Friendly, Eco-Safe, Naturally Pure? Let's Clarify the "Green" Terminology Out There Today.
9) 21 Key Questions To Ask Before Starting A Home-Based Business - They Do Need Answering
8) Caustic, Chloric and Corrosive - Are These Words On Your Welcome Mat? Care About What's in Your Home
7) Why Can't I Just Eat What I Want, When I Want? You Can and Still Care For Your Body
6) You Can Run From Healthy Eating, But You Shouldn't Hide From It - Healthy Eating Is A Must Lifestyle
5) Our "Daily Bread" Should Be More Than Just Daily Bread - So, What Should We Be Eating?
4) Junk Foods: They Are Not Limited To Fast-Food Restaurants - They May Be In Your Daily Supplements!
3) Family Health and Wellness. It Is Often Easier To Buy Cheaper Than To Buy Wiser
2) Your Home - Is It Clean and Healthy or Clean, But Toxic? Cleanliness Can Harm You!
1) Health and Wellness - Are You Really Addressing Your Family's Health and Wellness Needs?
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15) What? No More BBQ's, Ribs or Roasts?
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reconfirmed that red meat is bad for us. It is'poisonous' to our bodies - it causes all sorts of cancers and should be'avoided at all costs'. They are almost saying that ANY amount of red meat -beef, pork and especially processed versions - will cause our premature demise.
What?
I think we are intelligent enough to know that too much of anything is 'bad' for us - our mother's told us that. But, over the past years, we seem to have been inundated with new information that makes almost any food, in some way, bad for us.
It seems that the vegans are right - well almost right. Fruits and vegetables do contain nearly all the nutrients, proteins and minerals that we need. But, what quantities of these would we need to consume to get ALL those nutrients that our body needs? Why do we have dental structures that are deigned to chew and breakdown meaty fibers?
I don't know about others, but I wonder why we were created with the ability to eat, chew,swallow, digest and metabolize non-plant materials. I always thought that we were omnivores by design. Even the Bible says that in the beginning, we had every plant at our disposal and they were good. Then, we had animals that were created for not only food, but clothing - and that was good.
So, where does that leave us? I believe we can and should have a variety of foods as we were designed to enjoy. It is also true that too much of anything is indeed bad for us - too much alcohol, too much pop, too much sugar, too much starch, too much fish, too much meat and more. Where do we balance the nutritional benefits (and maybe even any nutritional detriments), to the human desire to enjoy the culinary delights of this world?
Well, I believe we must look to substitutes. Most nutrients, minerals and proteins can be obtained from safer alternatives. There has been much written about supplementing 'real' food with proven nutritional supplements that in proper combination can produce health-positive effects without the detrimental effects of certain food groups such as red meats.
I love meat! I love having some steak at times, pork chops, ribs as well as chicken and fish. I don't think I really want to never again have a BBQ and I don't think I really want to never again have a hamburger.
I believe we can have some of nearly anything that is considered food fit for humans. Perhaps, we should do a review of our dietary intake of protein and see from where we are getting it. Then, look at the alternatives that will give us the same quantity and quality and substitute them for daily health.
There are many health and wellness products that are aimed specifically at areas of nutrition such as protein. You will benefit by using proven, effective and safe nutritional supplements to obtain the overall requirements of good nutrition for our bodies.
Yes, Virginia, you may have a BBQ and a pot roast and a chop - but just not every day.
Thank you for reading this article! If you found it interesting and would like to have more information about Protein Supplements and to find out about business opportunities in that field through the A1 Entrepreneur Team, please visit our website at:www.a1entrepreneurteam.com.
"We are Success in Motion!"
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14) Being Health Smart Isn't Preventing Obesity. What's The Disconnect? How Do We Fix It?
By Ian Ridpath
– August 25, 2015
14) Being Health Smart Isn't Preventing Obesity. What's The Disconnect? How Do We Fix It?
By Ian Ridpath – August 25, 2015Putting aside verified medical reasons, we are a society of overweight people because we eat excessively and are basically lazy.
There, I said what I think. Whether it is politically correct or not or whether it is offensive to some or not, the truth is that most obesity is caused by poor lifestyle choices.
There is a huge disconnect between knowing what is good for us and doing something about preventing obesity. I want to look at the two causes that I believe are responsible for this.
We have ample knowledge about health and wellness and nutrition and the need for physical exercise, but lack the willpower to do anything about it. Knowledge does not bring wisdom - only experience and good judgment results in us being wise.
We eat excessively and for the most part, we eat wrongly. The very nature of the abundance in our society resulting in the nearly unlimited availability of food, lead many to make poor nutritional choices. It is not because we don't know any better but because we live in a society that demands 'instant gratification' regardless of consequences.
This lackadaisical and sometimes cavalier approach leads many people to actually give up doing anything to improve their health and wellness. It is almost as if they don't realize that they are potentially cutting short their life or at a minimum, severely reducing their quality of life. I daresay that some would not even care about the latter and convince themselves that "this is as good as it gets."
This could even be classified as a sickness of the mind that fortunately can be reversed. Sometimes people have to be faced with their own imminent death or at least a drastic change in their, or a loved one's life before they take any action.
It is possible to prevent all of this if one has the courage to ask themselves some tough questions and to not only seek the answers but put action to them. Truth needs to be separated from fiction and inaction needs to be transformed into action.
Here are seven simple realities.
1. Fat accumulation is usually due to greater calories in than calories out.
2. Heart health is usually proportional to physical fitness.
3. Proper nutrition is usually not gained from food alone.
4. Nothing usually gets done without effort.
5. Default behavior usually originates from wrong or misguided thinking.
6. People, unless challenged to change, will usually not change.
7. People don't want to be told what to do.
Knowing these 'realities' will mean nothing to those who choose to do nothing to prevent or reduce their obesity. This is where wisdom is needed and since wisdom is often referred to as knowledge put into action, things will only change with an action plan that is followed.
Here is how I am 'fixing' my own situation. I was never classified as obese but came close and am still overweight. I am a senior, all but retired and live a pretty sedentary life.
Based on the seven 'realities' above, here are some things I have done to overcome the disconnect.
1. I have reduced my daily caloric intake from about 2700 to 1700 and yet still eat much of what I used to, only smaller quantities and have made some small food-choice changes.
2. I have started attending a twice-weekly 'senior's boot camp' that entails cardio exercises that are age-appropriate.
3. Knowing that I was not getting 100% of nutrients from the food I was eating, I am now taking a packaged combination of supplements that include vitamins, minerals and essential fatty-acids.
4. I am tracking my calories, exercise and nutrition using a widely available, online website.
5. I always thought that weight problems were about someone else. I also thought that just not eating really bad food would be enough. But, decade by decade the pounds just kept coming.
6. I was never challenged to change. After a few blood test reports and other diagnosis, my doctor gave me a few scary scenarios that could happen if I did nothing. Therefore... I did something!
7. I am a man and I know better. I was resistant to anyone telling me what to do. As in reality 6, it took a loved one to encourage and convict me (not condemn me) to change. Thank you!
In addition, I have gained more knowledge and I hope wisdom about general health and wellness issues and have tried to apply them to my own situation and have done something about fixing as many as I can.
Obesity is for most a lifestyle choice but with proper nutrition, that includes both better food choices and taking the correct supplements, in combination with moderate physical activity, can be reduced and even eliminated or what I would call fixed.
Thank you for reading this article! If you found it interesting and would like to have more information about health and wellness products and find out about business opportunities in that field through the A1 Entrepreneur Team, please visit our website at: http://www.a1entrepreneurteam.com.
"We are Success in Motion!"
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13) The Secret Joys Of Later Life - They All Start With Proper Nutrition and Exercise
There is no secret to getting old, it just happens. But in that very process there are secret joys.
Aging has its challenges and many times the aging process involves health issues that are really never planned for. We get sick more easily, we get diseases that are age related, we lose some of our physical abilities and can even lose many our thought processes.
I have had age-related challenges in my 'three-score-plus' years as have many others and they all fall into similar categories - less energy, post-retirement challenges, social involvement, memory issues and the like.
In all of these though, I have realized there are indeed secret 'joys'. There really can be a joy (not just happiness) in later life and it is a joy that comes because of the aging process itself.
Here is my list of ten 'secret' joyful categories as I get older.
1) Energy. This may seem like a negative and perhaps it is for many but it allows me to back out of doing heavy lifting, moving furniture, repairing cars and appliances like I used to. There is a joy in that. But, we all need a level of energy that can only come from good nutrition.
2) Retirement. Let me count the ways that this is a joy. To many (myself included), retirement came too soon and not in a pleasant manner - it was called down-sizing. Since then I have found more things to do and more people to help and more activities to pursue than I ever did working. Now, that is a joy.
3) Empty Nest. I admit this has been a struggle at times - seeing my children branch out in life and follow their own dreams - while making mistakes like I did. The joy comes from having the grandchildren they produce over, a few at a time. I often say that we need to have grandchildren first to know how to love and appreciate little ones.
4) Vacations and Holidays. If one can afford an annual or semi-annual vacation, then one's financial planning has paid off and there is joy in that for sure. Even if the financial situation calls for a somewhat frugal holiday, there is joy in that because in either case, it is only you and your significant other that is going on the holiday. The planning is so much simpler and there is a freedom and joy in making instant changes that affect no one else.
5) Weight. We all struggle with weight and I believe, also with body image. We are either too fat, too slim or too-something. I firmly believe that with proper nutrition and exercise, we can find joy in our present circumstance. The key is to realize that if we take care of the simpler things like basic nutrition, proper supplementation and a realistic exercise plan, our physical status can be a joy to us.
6) Afternoon Naps. We are allowed and expected to have daily naps of at least 20 minutes. This is a universal law for any one over 40 (maybe 50). Since it is a law and an expectation of older people there is great joy in saying "I'm just going to lie down for a few minutes". Often the 'few minutes' turns out to be an hour but we have earned that luxury and it does make the rest of the day go so much better.
7) Socialization. The good news is that you don't have to go everywhere you are asked or to every party you are invited to. You can be selective because of your age and maturity. It is still important to be involved in as much as you can but the ability to say 'no' is a joy in itself.
8) Medicines. How can there be joy in taking medications and nutritional supplements? Well, for many, common medications and supplements control the most common age-related illnesses such as hypertension, cholesterol and even gout. And that makes us feel better and gives us great joy. The key is to strive for the minimum, non-cross reactive medicines and the best combination of nutritional supplements so that your body can function well.
9) Memory Expectation. Unfortunately memory loss comes with the territory. In sever cases it is sad that many have 'lost' loved ones to diseases like Alzheimer's and other dementia-like afflictions. For the majority, a small amount of memory loss is a joy. You don't have to remember to take out the garbage. You are not expected to remember the address of where you are going - that's why we GPS isn't it? There is a subtle joy in memory loss - it is more a reduction of responsibility.
10) Responsibilities As in 9), responsibilities diminish for the most part with age. You are not expected to be totally responsible for anything anymore. You have earned a break from responsibility. Sure, you still need to do chores and provide some fun for your spouse and grandchildren but, you are not responsible even if they are not 100% happy.
There is a mix of seriousness and humor in these ten 'joys' as there is in all aspects of life. We can choose our mind's attitude and we can also choose what we are going to do to make sure we have the physical ability to enjoy these 'joys'.
There is indeed joy in aging and it is not really a secret - it has to do with proper attitude, proper food, proper nutrition and exercise and you are in control of all of these.
"We are Success in Motion!"
To find out more information about this topic, please visit our website: http://www.a1entrepreneurteam.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Ridpath
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12) Ten Challenges of Getting Old - They Can Be Minimized!
Getting old - well, it sucks!
It happens to all of us and for the most part, we don't like it. No matter our present age, we see all around us the effects of aging on parents, friends and other people. We may even dread the thought of getting old.
Unless you have been there or are presently close to being there (whatever age 'there' is), you don't really know the feelings of aging to the same degree as someone who has traveled life further than you.
So now, what am I going to do about this body and mind that are getting old all too quickly?
What are the challenges that we all perhaps will face as we age. Here are ten that come to mind. Some have an element of humor and some are more serious.
Here goes...
1) Not having the energy that you used to. Without a doubt this is number one on the list. Aging saps our strength and for the most part limits are endurance even in mundane activities. It is a rare individual indeed who has the same energy level at 50 as he or she did at 30. The best way to counter this is to get enough sleep, exercise often, eat healthily and take the proper supplements.
2) Not being fully involved in a career. For men especially, this is a big one. Most of us spend 40+ years in one or more careers, but we have always worked as it seems. Now, as full or partial retirement approaches (by choice or not), we need to be involved in meaningful, although many times unpaid, activities such as volunteering or helping in our sphere of influence. Indeed taking on a part-time job if possible, is a great way to keep life's flow.
3) Seeing children leave the nest and make 'mistakes'. We can vicariously live our lives through our children and when we see them make what we consider unwise choices, we are greatly affected. As hard as it seems, releasing them to their own-made future lifts a great weight off of parents and grandparents.
4) Having to cut back on vacations and going out. Depending of course on one's financial situation and planning, this may or may not be a big issue. If it is, one answer is to scale back expectations about these events. Plan simpler, closer to home trips. I am fortunate in that I did all my air travel during my career and the last thing I want to do in this present 'anti-terror' era is to get on an airplane.
5) Putting on the pounds. Okay, this is one of the hardest parts of aging. I think I can safely say that for every decade you live, you will put on 10 pounds! Am I wrong? Perhaps when you reach three-score and ten or four-score years you may begin to lose those pounds by attrition. The answer is... if you want to lose weight, eat less and eat better. I have gone from a 2500+ calorie a day intake to 1600+ calories a day - and I am on a slow ramp down in weight and still feel great.
6) Staying awake and alert all day. I have always been a good sleeper and yet I still get weary about mid-afternoon. I know my body and I know that a 20 minute nap is all need to get through the rest of the day and the evening. Nap - it is good for you. I call it a 'battery-boost'. Schedule your activities around this and you and any significant other will appreciate your attentiveness later in the day.
7) Being socially active. For many people as they age, they choose to withdraw from social activities for the most part - especially if they find themselves alone after many years of marriage. My wife and I are in a condo building and chose to be involved in EVERYTHING that goes on. If you don't participate, then don't complain that you are lonely and left out. If you physically can, join in and live better!
8) Keeping track of the medications. In this day and age of medications for everything, including medications to counteract the effect on another medication, it is easy to get to the point where you can forget what pill must be taken when. For many years there have been neat, little holders even with the day and tine on them for your medications. Use them and relax about your medicines.
9) Remembering where you parked the car. Believe it or not, GPS can be used here. Failing that, park where there is a sign or billboard or some identifiable marker. I love places like Disneyland where you can park near the Blue Monkey and get back to your car. There are even activities and games that can exercise your brain and help memory.
10) Remembering anything! Like number 9, this becomes problematic with age. Much study is being done but I know for myself, keeping an active calendar on my smartphone is the best way to remember things and appointments. I have also realized that nutrition plays a big role in memory - I don't know how but I do know that being nutritionally fit is as important as being physically fit.
For me, I have chosen to exercise more, eat better and take a regime of nutritional supplements that are formulated to improve nearly every aspect of my health.
Your aging can be challenging but the effects can be minimized through good nutrition and active living.
"We are Success in Motion!"
To find out more information about this topic, please visit our website: http://www.a1entrepreneurteam.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Ridpath
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11) Is Your Health And Wellness Really That Important To You? Then Do Something About It!
I think it is safe to say that we all want a healthier life and we want to make better lifestyle choices that will improve our overall health and wellness. That is perhaps why so many are flocking to anyone or anything that offers 'instant' health and wellness at virtually no effort or cost. The maxim 'Too good to be true' usually means just that, somethings are too good to be true.
How much time and treasure has been poured into gym memberships or newly discovered tonics, drinks and 'potions' that have sometimes wild and unfounded claims or even 'magic' one-a-day pills that promise incredible results?
Gyms are great and if you are in need of physical strengthening or cardiovascular improvement, they are a good way to go. Gym activity may often be prescribed by a physician. Usually though, building up the physical body alone without building up the nutrients that the body needs, in the long-term just doesn't work.
Conversely, doing nothing about increasing your physical activity but simply eating 'healthy' foods alone also doesn't work for most people either.
Being either physically 'lazy' or nutritionally 'lazy' will not give you a healthier lifestyle as you may want.
Some people it is sad to say are both.
What then is the answer for total health and total wellness? Unfortunately there is no one answer. It is by methodical and purposeful decisions and steps, one at a time, that we can achieve improvement in our health.
Easy to say but maybe difficult to implement. Total health and total wellness involves what I will term a whole approach. A whole approach with anything in life is rewarded in the end.
To that end, I am not going to advise you about joining a gym, I am not going advise you about eating only hydroponic foods. (Try finding an 'organic' chicken these days).
What I am advising is to do an inventory of your lifestyle, health-wise, at least. This inventory should include the following:
Daily Food Intake: that includes categories such as fat, carbs, fiber, sugar and such. (there are some great online websites that provide free nutritional calculations and totaling of the food you eat)
Daily Liquid Intake: check how much water, coffee, tea, sweetened beverages, alcoholic beverages you are drinking.
Nutritional Supplements: Include all vitamins, minerals, combinations, multi-purpose supplements etc.
Physical Activity: Show all the activities you do in a day whether they are purposefully done for exercise or just for day-to-day living.
Stress Contributors: List all those things in your present lifestyle that add stress and strain to you physically, emotionally and relationally. These could include illness or disability, separation or divorce or loss of a loved one and more.
I would love to be able to quantify each of the above, assign a number to them and put them on a 'healthier lifestyle' matrix so that you could see exactly where you are and where you want to be.
It isn't that simple. I believe we all know the basics of how to improve our health and wellness but perhaps lack the will or the detailed knowledge in certain areas in order to make better decisions.
Look for areas that you know are lacking in or you are exceeding in and decide to change them - one step at a time, one item at a time.
I know that since I have started to make small-step changes in all those areas, my overall health and wellness has improved. I am a senior, I am semi-retired and don't do a lot of physical exertion in my daily walk.
But, I have joined a 'senior's boot-camp for one hour twice a week, changed my eating significantly and am regularly taking a proven combination of supplements that have measurably reduced my dependence on some of my medications and I have benefited from all the above.
Of course, check with your Doctor, check with your Naturopath but ultimately take it upon yourself to 'get off the couch' and improve your health and wellness, if it is really important to you.
"We are Success in Motion!"
(Note: No medical claims are being made in this article and you are advised to check with your health practitioner before altering the taking of any prescribed drugs)
We thank you so much for reading this article! If you found it interesting and want to get more information about our products and opportunities through the A1 Entrepreneur Team, please visit our website at: http://www.a1entrepreneurteam.com.
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10) Eco-Friendly, Eco-Safe, Naturally Pure? Let's Clarify the "Green" Terminology Out There Today
There are many over used and often misused words and phrases that have to do with products and services lumped under the umbrella-term 'green'.
Nearly everyone associates 'green' with good and many manufacturers apply similar terms to describe their products and services. There is even some confusion as to what exactly is good in terms of the environment and ecology.
Let's look at some of the familiar terms used in the 'green' world.
Environment: Our (natural) environment encompasses and surrounds all living and non-living things on Earth. It affects the interaction of all living things between themselves and their surroundings. Such things include climate, weather, and other natural phenomenon that affect human survival and economic activity.
Ecology: The branch of biology that deals with the relationships of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
Eco: An abbreviation of the noun ecology or it can be an abbreviation for the adjective ecological or the adverb ecologically.
Note that Environment or Environmental and Ecology or Ecological are not exactly the same but are linked by the fact that one has to do with physical presence or surrounding and the other has to do with the relationship to that physical presence.
Environmentally-friendly: Means that a product or service when used correctly will not harm or affect the environment in a negative manner. It may be best compounded as 'enviro-friendly' but is often mistakenly compounded as 'eco-friendly'.
Eco-friendly: This means that a product or service will not affect the relationship between organisms and their environment in a negative way. 'Eco-friendly' and 'enviro-friendly' have two slightly different meanings but 'eco friendly' is used almost exclusively for both.
Eco-safe: As above, this term can mean both environmentally safe or ecologically safe.
Naturally Pure: If something is 'naturally pure' then it is understood to be made from the finest, purest, cleanest ingredients and is safe, and benign and will not affect nature in any negative way.
Nature-Friendly: Like 'naturally pure', this compound word is understood to mean that the product or service will not harm the environment or will at least work with environment in such a way that there would be minimal negative impact.
We may think that things like volcanoes, hurricanes, tidal waves and forest fires can not be 'nature friendly' since they kill and destroy and uproot and demolish natural and man-made structures. But in reality they are often nature-friendly and necessary for the overall environment since they often cause regeneration and regrowth.
Green: In the context of the topic, 'green' is used to describe products or processes that are 'friendly' or safe for the environment. Environmental groups and businesses have used the word in their names such as "Green Peace", "Green Alliance" and "Green Key". When we see the word 'green' used in such names, we automatically think that the product or service is a benefit to the environment.
So, what is to be made of all this 'green' terminology that we are inundated with to describe or to market products and services that unless we use them, we are considered 'earth-destroyers'?
Reading a label or a manufacturer's claim about a product or service requires education as well as common sense.
Most manufacturers mean well when they use the terms 'eco-friendly' and 'eco-safe' and 'green' but it behooves us to look a little closer and see whether or not their claims are first of all true, and second of all, can they prove what they say.
It does require a bit of 'rocket science' to decipher the claims made by some manufacturers but all is not lost for mere consumers. There are many online sources of information available to us all. It will help immensely though to know what the terms they use really mean.
"We are Success in Motion!"
To find out more information about this topic, please visit our website: http://www.a1entrepreneurteam.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Ridpath
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9) 21 Key Questions To Ask Before Starting A Home-Based Business - They Do Need Answering
Before starting any home-based business it's imperative to ask yourself a few key questions.
The questions have to do with three main areas of business - the business type itself, the products themselves and the services offered. For this article, the home-based business will be one that is focused on health and wellness products, although most of the questions will equally apply to any product sector.
In terms of the business itself, you may have already decided, after researching the vast amount of data online about home-based businesses, that this is what you really want. Home-based businesses are viable but do require planning and work.
In terms of the products themselves, you may have stumbled across or been told about some amazing new product or discovery or you may have been a user for many years. In either case, you want to share all this 'good news' with as many others as possible.
In terms of the services offered, you may be in a position to offer home-delivery, no-question, money-back guarantees or even be the money collector for the supplier.
Let's look at the first area - the BUSINESS itself. Here are some must-ask questions.
Will I be able to...
1. Earn residual income as well as make money up-front?
2. Be my own boss or CEO? Maybe this is important because you have always worked for someone else and have never been boss. Be careful here - being boss means doing 'bosses' kind of work.
3. Do the work from home? This may be the most important thing because of physical circumstances, transportation limitations and more.
4. Get sufficient business training when I need it?
5. Avoid direct selling because I am not a salesperson! That is, will I be using warm and/or cold marketing techniques?
6. Earn the income while genuinely helping others? This may or may not be important to you. Do you want to just provide products or do you genuinely want to help people improve their health, wellness, lifestyle or whatever by these products?
Will I have to...
1. Lay out a lot of 'start up' money? How much and when in the start-up process?
2. Carry inventory? Do I have space and do I want to keep boxes of product in my home?
3. Offer personal satisfaction guarantees? For example, will I be offering the return policy or will the manufacturer be offering the robust return policy?
4. Purchase the products for my customers and then have to deliver them'?
5. Be involved in the money exchange?
Now, let's look at some PRODUCT questions.
Will the product(s) that I am involved with...
1. Provide a healthier home, body, skin, nutrition etc
2. Be environmentally 'friendly'?
3. Be safe to use for adults, children and even pets?
4. Use scientifically tested and verified ingredients?
5. Have a proven track record?
Lastly, I want to look at the area of SERVICES. If you are putting yourself out there as an expert and the CEO of your own, established and creditable business, you should ask yourself the following questions.
Will I or should I be offering...
1. Membership Protection (if there is a continual membership required) such as auto re-ordering?
2. Online ordering?
3. Door to door delivery?
4. Strong product support from the manufacturer or his representatives?
5. Strong team support if this is a type of business structure that involves up-links and down-links?
It seems like a lot to think about, but I assure you that these are all important questions to ask no matter what business area you are contemplating.
I have personally found in the health and wellness arena, that these are critical questions to ask yourself. And, it is important that you be satisfied with the answers before heading into the world of home-based business.
Slow down, take some time and ask these tough questions. You will be the better off for it.
"We are Success in Motion!"
If you found it interesting and want to find out more information please visit our website at: http://www.a1entrepreneurteam.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Ridpath
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8) Caustic, Chloric and Corrosive - Are These Words On Your Welcome Mat? Care About What's in Your Home
I doubt whether you or I would put anything on our homes' 'Welcome' mat that would indicate anything less than saying 'you are most welcome in our home'. We want people to feel welcome, to be safe and to enjoy our abode.
I don't know of anyone who would intentionally put anything harmful or dangerous or unwelcoming in the path of their guests. That would be so counter to providing the kind of atmosphere that we would want for them.
However, there may be substances in our homes that could potentially be dangerous and unsafe for our guests and indeed our own family, both persons and pets.
Even though we would never put out a warming pot of chlorine bleach or calcium, lime, rust remover or glass and window cleaner to greet them at the front door, if we have recently used these compounds, then there may be residue on surfaces that they touch or airborne molecules that they breathe.
Before, being dismissed as a 'scare monger', I want to review some of the obvious and not so obvious danger-related items that we may use and also store in areas of homes where our family and friends frequent.
The obvious areas that come to mind where family and perhaps guests may frequent are the kitchen and the bathrooms. However, airborne contaminants can find their way into any areas such as living rooms and dining rooms.
Let's look at the four basic states of materials; solid, liquid, gas and plasma and see whether or not any materials used in our homes exist in one or more state and how these could affect the health and wellness of people and pets.
SOLIDS: Can be caustic, corrosive or abrasive and can harm skin and cells when contacted
LIQUIDS: When they are highly acidic or highly basic they can cause burning and irreversible cell damage.
GASES: Because they are airborne, they can be breathed in causing nose and lung damage.
PLASMAS: These are a unique case of GASES and are under electrical stress and many times are at elevated temperatures and can cause burning and other skin/cell damage. Plasmas are further defined as a state in which a gas is illuminated under a potential difference or high temperature. In the case of a plasma being created under a potential difference, typical household examples are a plasma-screen TV or a fluorescent light fixture. They are only a problem when the structure enclosing the plasma is damaged.
Some Obvious Problematic Materials:
• Chlorine bleach - LIQUID - very dangerous to touch - fumes are extremely dangerous.
• Calcium, lime, rust removers - LIQUID, ditto fumes
• Toilet bowl cleaners - LIQUID - ditto fumes
• Drain un-blockers and cleaners SOLID and LIQUID - corrosive and ditto fumes.
• Petroleum-based cleaning solvents - LIQUID - dangerous and ditto fumes
Some Not So Obvious Materials:
• Window/glass cleaner - LIQUID - can contain Isopropanol, 2-Butoxyethanol and Ethylene glycol n-hexyl ether.
• Furniture polishes - LIQUID - often contain Hydrocarbons (waxes, oils, organic solvents)
• Many laundry detergents - SOLID and LIQUID - may contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)/Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) 1,4-dioxane, NPE (nonylphenol ethoxylate) and even Phosphates.
• 'gritty' stove-top surface cleaners - LIQUID - may contain Limestone (Calcium carbonate), Feldspar, Soda ash (Sodium carbonate) and Baking soda (Sodium bicarbonate)
• Bathroom and toilet bowl cleaners - LIQUID - may contain Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hypochlorite and bleach.
The lists go on. Some of the above agents are not a serious threat to health but some certainly are.
There is no end of information on how to eliminate or minimize some of these agents and even how to make your own, safer cleaners. Most of don't want to go that far. It is too easy to buy our cleaning agents at the grocery store.
There are alternatives thought that fall between the 'really bad' and the 'really good' home-made products. It may have crossed your mind that even though you use some 'nasty' agents in your home, by the time your friends and family are around them, they will have dried up, evaporated or otherwise disappeared.
Anything that 'dries' will leave a residue, anything that dries means some portion of it has evaporated - not left the Earth, but has gone into the air we breathe. That 'clean' smell that we smell after cleaning simply means that esters are present in the air.
We know all too well the smell of petroleum-based products long after they have been used. There are always cautions about using these in well-ventilated areas. Do we always follow that advice?
Certainly, dried residue left by many bathroom and kitchen cleaners is still on the surfaces we clean many hours after being applied - and we touch them, and our family and friends touch them. Have you ever noticed the 'film' that is left cleaning? It may not be obvious but take a light shone at an angle to the surface and the presence of residue will be obvious.
Thinking about what we use to clean and what may be left on surfaces or in the air and doing something about them will assure that when we put out our 'Welcome' mat that is will indeed say "Welcome to our safe and eco-friendly Home".
"We are Success in Motion!"
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7) Why Can't I Just Eat What I Want, When I Want? You Can and Still Care For Your Body
By Ian Ridpath June 27, 2015
I am virtually able to eat what I want, when I want. For all my life I have been able to do that because I was raised in a large family whose parents provided well even though we were what would now be called lower-middle class. Dad worked, mom stayed home and raised the six boys and cooked. My, did she cook!
There were not a lot of gadgets back then nor an abundance of anything that was not needed but food was a pleasure for us who consumed it. Not so much I think, for mom whose 'meat and potatoes' cooking and her wonderful deserts filled our stomachs on a daily basis.
You may be saying 'Wow, he must be a balloon by now'. No, but I am overweight with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 28. Well, I was 28 about 150 days ago. Now my BMI is 25.7 and I am targeting 24 from here on out.
This article however, is not about weight loss but is about making healthy choices of what we consume and how much we consume along with making wise choices about how to get all the nutrients we need.
Here are lists of what my usual eating day was like and what it is now - I am not claiming anything about a diet - as a matter of fact, I hate the word diet! I am a realist when it comes to eating - I do not eat the best foods everyday but I do try to keep my caloric intake to a level that is sustaining a gentle weight loss while maintaining body tone and a fitness level appropriate to my age.
Past Daily Food Consumption:
Breakfast: Coffee, toast and jam and hot cereal or bacon and eggs (mainly in the winter) or pancakes or waffles and syrup. Caloric intake ~ between 500 and 700
Morning Snack: Cookies and coffee Caloric intake ~ 250
Lunch (when working): Meat and cheese sandwich or peanut putter and jam sandwich or frozen pasta entree (lasagna, spaghetti, ravioli), pudding cup, cookies and a soda drink. Caloric intake ~ 500 - 700
Afternoon Snack: Chocolate bar and coffee or diet soda. Caloric intake ~ 300
Dinner: 2 Pork chops or 2 slices of roast beef or 2 breaded chicken breasts or a fillet of battered fish with roast or baked potato or oven baked french fries as main dishes or a chicken pot pie or plate of spaghetti or lasagna, followed by a fruit pie or cake desert. My drink was usually a can of diet soda. Caloric intake ~ 800 - 1000
'Midnight Snack': Coffee or Tea and cookies or the last slice of pie! Caloric intake ~ 200
Supplements/Vitamins/Minerals: none
Exercise: none
The numbers:
Total Calories: between 2550 - 3250
Total Fats: ~ 30g to 40g
Total Fibers: ~ 5g to 10g
Total Proteins: ~ 40g to 50g
Present Weekday Food Consumption:
Breakfast: Coffee, cold fiber cereal with 1% milk and sometimes along with toast and jam or a muffin. Fiber drink. Caloric intake ~ between 400 and 500
Morning Snack: 1 cup of Kettle corn and sugar-free juice. Caloric intake ~ 200
Lunch (not working): Half a cup of maple brown beans and crackers and cheese and soup. Half a cup of sugar-free peach slices. Caloric intake ~ 300 - 500
Afternoon Snack: Chocolate fiber/protein bar and coffee. Caloric intake ~ 150
Dinner: 1 Pork Chop or 1 slice of roast beef or 1 plain chicken breast or 1 fillet of baked fish as main dishes, an undressed baked potato or oven baked french fries, followed by a light pudding cup or half a cup of sliced peaches. My drink is a sugar-free fruit juice. Caloric intake ~ 400 - 600
'Midnight Snack': Cup of low fat hot chocolate. Caloric intake ~ 100
Supplements/Vitamins/Minerals: a daily blend optimized for my gender and age.
Exercise: 2 x 1 hour per week
The numbers:
Total Calories: between 1650 - 2050
Total Fats: ~ 17g to 20g
Total Fibers: ~ 30g to 35g
Total Proteins: ~ 80g to 100g
You may notice that I am eating basically the same types of food but just less of them and have cut out my pies and cakes (ouch!). But I do allow myself those luxuries now and then. I have cut out all sodas (diet or not) and simply cut down the quantities of food I ingest. I still don't like my veggies as my mom told me to do and will try to get more of them!
I have added a regime of targeted nutritional supplements and vitamins and as well, I now attend a bi-weekly 'senior's' workout class at our local church. That burns up a few calories and helps maintain my muscle tone and agility.
The bottom line for me personally is that yes, I can eat what I want, when I want because I now don't WANT to eat so much and I don't WANT to eat junk-type foods like I used to. I want to take care of my body without going crazy on diets and drugs.
Does this resonate with you? I trust it does.
"We are Success in Motion!"
To find out more information about this topic, please visit our website: http://www.a1entrepreneurteam.com
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6) You Can Run From Healthy Eating, But You Shouldn't Hide From It - Healthy Eating Is A Must Lifestyle
Stick a stack of butter milk pancakes with maple syrup, bacon, home fries and toast in front of many people and their day will be made - all 1,500 calories of it.
Stick a double bacon cheeseburger, with fries, pop and soft-freeze in front of many people and their day will be made - all 1,000+ calories of it!
Later, stick a bowl of spaghetti Bolognaise with garlic bread on the side in front of the same people, and their day will be made - all 500+ calories of it.
Have you done the math? That's a whopping 3,000+ calories not including any desert or 'midnight' snack.
Now, not everyone eats out 'three squares' like the meals above but many eat over 2,500 calories a day and yet live a relatively sedate lifestyle. Many national and local health authorities say that a calorie intake between 1,800 and 2,000 is quite ample in these cases.
And, what about the cost? Prices of food of course vary widely throughout states and provinces and especially in cities but being conservative, let's say that the eating-out pancake breakfast comes to about $8.00, the burger lunch with fries and soft-freeze comes to about $10.00 and the spaghetti with garlic bread meal is another $12.00. That totals $30.00.
Let's do some math. There was $30.00 spent in order to get those 3,000 'fatty' calories. That's about 1.0c per calorie ($30.00/3000). Not much at all is it?
How about getting some good calories and counting the cost?
Let's say that an eating out breakfast consists of the following; two pieces of brown toast with low-salt butter and jam, a cup of coffee, a bowl of high fiber cereal and a glass of orange juice. (Total calories are about 500 and the eating out cost is about $8.00)
Let's say lunch out consists of a grilled cheese sandwich with bacon, a cup of chicken noodle soup and a piece of fruit along with a bowl of yogurt and coffee. (Total calories are about 600 and the cost is about $10,00)
Let's further say that dinner out is a small sirloin steak (8oz), an unloaded baked potato, some greens and a slice of apple pie. (Total calories are about 800 and the eating out cost again is about $12.00)
The total calories for these three meals would be approximately 2000 and the total cost would be $30.00.
Doing the math again, would yield a cost per 'good' calorie of about 1.5c per calorie ($30.00/2000).
One observation is that the total amount spent on going out to eat is not at times different whether we eat healthily or unhealthily. Sometimes the 'junk' foods do cost more.
But, a second observation is that the cost of 'good' calories versus the cost of 'bad' calories is quite different (1.5c per calorie versus 1.0c per calorie or a 50% increase).
A simple question comes to mind. Do we want to spend the same money on getting fat or on remaining healthy? Seems like the simple and correct answer is - spend money on remaining healthy.
Unfortunately using the cost per calorie number is not at all beneficial if the calories are 'bad' calories, no matter how much less they cost per calorie.
We really must analyze the 'goodness' and 'badness' of the food choices above. They are two quite different diets for sure. Cost aside, calories aside, what is so bad about the one and so good about the other in terms of nutrients and overall health goodness?
It would require quite an extensive analysis of each food item individually on how each food item is metabolized by the body, what happens to excessive calories derived from things like fats versus carbohydrates versus proteins.
I think it goes without saying that excessive amounts of fats and carbohydrates eventually translate into stored fat unless burned off through physical exercise. I think it is also safe to say that excessive amounts of fats and carbohydrates do not provide a balance nutritional diet in terms of minerals, electrolytes, proteins and other nutrients required for a healthy body.
Even when consuming 'good' calories, it is not always true that we are receiving the proper balance of nutrients and it is imperative that we supplement our diets.
I am not aware of any diet that supplies 100% of the nutrients we need in the proper ratios we need them. We usually all need more vitamins (A,B,C,D etc) than we get from our food. We often need a better way to absorb these vitamins and need to know that some foods we eat and things we drink can counteract and even nullify the vitamin we are trying to take.
Supplements are more than vitamins. They should have targeted ingredients for our organs and body systems. For example, men should take supplements for their Prostate health and women for better, overall hormone balance.
There are no excuses for running from healthy eating. Healthy eating is a must lifestyle choice. We need to choose healthy eating so that we are getting all the 'good' calories and the proper nutrients that we can.
"We are Success in Motion!"
To find out more information about this topic, please visit our website: http://www.a1entrepreneurteam.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Ridpath
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5) Our "Daily Bread" Should Be More Than Just Daily Bread - So, What Should We Be Eating?
Many of us will know or have heard the prayer "Give us this day our daily bread". Indeed, we all need daily sustenance at least once or twice but better still, three times a day. Most animals, birds and fish continually intake food. Many spend their entire waking hours foraging and hunting and seeking food. Nocturnal creatures of course spend the hours of darkness in a similar pursuit.
Think of the everyday sight of birds, squirrels and other creatures scurrying, pecking or digging around for food constantly.
Think of us humans. Many seem to spend a majority of their time eating and snacking or at least thinking about food. Think of the advertising we see. Probably the second most prevalent advertising theme is food and is in front of us every moment on T.V., radio, the internet, bill-boards, newspaper and magazine ads, bus-side ads and more.
FOOD, FOOD, FOOD! Is that all we ever think about?
Food is necessary, good tasting food is a bonus, but healthy food is a must to continue living healthily as our bodies were designed to be.
Is it possible to have good looking, good tasting and nutritional food all together? Well, of course it is. That is why we have world-renown and not so famous chefs and food preparers writing a plethora of cooking guides and cook books and recipe books for us to see and eventually smell and taste these culinary delights.
The bad news is that many times, the third food criteria, nutritional goodness, is not always met by the delightful sights and smells of what we eat. Are we brave enough to look past the first two and concentrate on the third? Then, are we even more brave to change our diets so that we can have healthy, delight-to-the-eye and tasty food?
The good news is that yes, we can have it all but we must dig into the nutritional value of food before the culinary 'value'. They are not mutually exclusive!
Balancing the ratios of food nutrients, vitamins and minerals in foods has been greatly simplified with internet tools. I personally use the website at www.myfitnesspal.com * that I find is a great way to track my daily intake. It allows me to fine-tune the ratios of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins to fit my dietary goals. It also tracks up to six nutrients at once and generates reports from which I can easily see the trends in my eating.
It is imperative to first determine your caloric intake to match your age, weight, required weight changes (if any) and then find the foods that meet those goals. I personally have not changed, to any great degree, what I eat but have altered how much I eat at any one meal and how often I do eat something.
A good rule that has been circulating lately is the 'rule-of-thirds' whereby you separate (physically if you want) your plate into thirds and assure that you have one-third for protein, one-third for vegetable (salad) and one-third for carbs. It is the size of plate and size of portion (total calories) that will determine if you lose weight, gain weight or maintain weight.
Even though we live by having our daily bread, we ought to look at what that daily 'bread' offers us in terms of nutrition and food value. If there are lacks, then we should consider supplementing our actual food with readily available nutritional supplements.
Eat your daily bread more wisely, not more abundantly.
"We are Success in Motion!"
Note: * We do not derive any gain whatsoever, from the above mentioned website but offer it only as a suggested tool to use to track your foods) IR
To find out more information about this topic, please visit our website: http://www.a1entrepreneurteam.com
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4) Junk Foods: They Are Not Limited To Fast-Food Restaurants - They May Be In Your Daily Supplements!
It should be no surprise that junk foods are not good for us. It should be no surprise to know where we can get junk food whether it be at fast-food restaurants, local corner stores, grocery stores, candy shops or even in our own homes.
It should be no mystery on how to identify junk foods. Just look at the nutritional information labels. Look for high sugar (check sugar substitutes), high fat (check mono, saturated, unsaturated, poly, trans etc), low fiber, high calorie foods.
Junk foods are staring at us on every shelf in the store and on every brightly lit video display screen in our favorite fast food restaurants. Fortunately nowadays, most establishments are required by law, to publish their nutritional values in their offerings.
I dare say that one can get the required calories for an entire day by downing one or two big-sized, cheese-y, bacon-y burgers with up-sized fries and gigantic pop followed by a soft freeze offering.
These can add up to nearly 2000 calories on one sitting.
Calories themselves are not bad - but the source and 'goodness' of them matter immensely! National Food Guides always specify not only the required caloric intake but the percentages of calories derived from such sources as fats, carbohydrates and others.
Even though we may disregard them, junk food ingredients in foods are quite easy to identify but what about 'junk food' ingredients in things that appear to be beneficial to us? What about any 'bad' things in our daily nutritional supplements? Are they as easy to identify? Can we do something about them?
Most ingredients in nutritional supplements are designed of course, to be good for us and beneficial to certain areas of our body, metabolism and overall health. They are usually mentioned first on any label. But... most supplements require fillers to help in the manufacturing process or the 'swallowability' or even the metabolism of the supplement itself.
Manufacturers are a little more reluctant to be specific about these fillers. And, even if they are clearly specified, it is not always evident as to the effect they may have on our bodies. Indeed, could any of them actually be harmful or even counter the effects of the good stuff?
A brief search of the internet has revealed a list of standard fillers used in many supplements. Some manufacturers have gone out of their way to assure that none of these fillers are actually in their products.
This may be true, nonetheless, it behooves the customer to read, read and read again the labels and then do a thorough search on EVERY ingredient shown on the label.
Here are some fillers that are not always bad for everyone, but may be detrimental to those who could have issues with things like gluten intolerance, a very common allergy. Some fillers may seem innocuous but care should be taken to know what's inside the bottle!
Some Standard Fillers Used in Nutritional Supplements
• Hydrogenated Oils,
• Artificial Colors
FD&C Blue No. 1 (brilliant blue FCF)
FD&C Blue No. 2 (indigotine)
FD&C Green No. 3 (fast green FCF)
FD&C Red No. 40 (allura red AC)
FD&C Red No. 3 (erythrosine)
FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine)
FD&C Yellow No. 6 (sunset yellow)
• Magnesium Stearate,
• Silicon dioxide (silica)
• Titanium dioxide (titania),
• Starch,
• Microcrystalline cellulose,
• Stearic acid,
• Simethicone,
• Vegetable gum,
• Talc,
• Propylene glycol,
• MSG,
• Lactose,
• Gelatin,
• Gellan gum,
• Parabens
Some sound terrible and further research shows that they are. Some sound not so bad, but they are.
Whatever we put into our bodies, some things come under the category of 'good food' and somethings are 'junk food'. With the same diligence we make ourselves aware of the ingredients in the foods we eat, we ought to also practice the same diligence in the nutritional supplements we ingest.
Are you ingesting junk food when you didn't realize you were?
"We are Success in Motion!"
More information is available on our website at http://www.a1entrepreneurteam.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Ridpath
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3) Family Health and Wellness. It Is Often Easier To Buy Cheaper Than To Buy Wiser
"How do I buy thee, let me count the ways". Excuse the parody on Shakespeare, but in today's tougher economic climate, we all feel the necessity to cut back, scale back or just not purchase those items that we more readily used to.
There is no lack of ways to buy things - at a store, at a flea market, at a garage sale, at an on-line store, at an on-line swap and save.
There is no lack of ways of paying for our purchases - cash, debit cards, credit cards and through payment-based websites.
There is no lack of ways to be parted from our money - direct purchases, get-rich-quick schemes, buy-now-pay-later purchases, land/vacation deals and more.
Regardless of what we buy and how we pay, we must choose with a greater degree of wisdom how we are going to be better stewards of our resources.
With health and wellness purchasing it is no different. Indeed, with the plethora of product offerings and fantastic health claims, it becomes even more important to buy with wisdom combined with frugality.
How do we know the real value of something? How do we judge the cost-effectiveness of something? How do we assure that we are being prudent in caring for our family's health and wellness? Good questions deserve good answers.
Assessing the real value of any purchase is fraught with problems. Buying something is a physical activity but more importantly, it is an emotional activity.
That is why buying only what we can afford and what is most beneficial and having control of our emotions in doing so is still the best policy. We generally do not like 'sales people' because they 'toy' with our emotions. Think of when you were buying an automobile, an appliance, some furniture, a vacation time-share.
A wise purchaser asses not only the properties, the features and the benefits of the physical product but must also asses the emotions tied to that product. That would eliminate a whole lot of impulse buying and reduce the 'buyers-remorse' instances to nearly zero.
Specifically, when it comes to health and wellness products, my advice is to study, study and study some more, the offerings from the manufacturers, the suppliers, and the distributors before buying any nutritional supplement.
Why in the recent past have so many 'juices', 'concentrates', oils and such become so popular. Is it the claims put forward or is it because real scientific data supports these products? The maxim 'If it's too good to be true, then it probably is' certainly should be applied here.
With the internet literally at our finger tips, there should be no excuse for not being informed. Be aware, of course, that all that is written is not necessarily true! My advice is to list all the facts that you have heard or read about a product and categorize them in terms of the following.
1) Scientific Validity (actual physical and chemical truth).
Ask these questions - Is this a 'new' element or a new discovery? Why has science take so long to discover it? Are there scientific-journal articles available? What does the science community say about it?)
2) Practicality of any Claim.
Ask these questions - Is it indeed too good to be true? Does it really make any sense? Why hasn't anyone else heard of this? Why is this only now coming to light? Who is making the claim? What are their credentials?
3) Manufacturer and Process.
Ask these questions - Who is making the product? Where is it being made? (sorry, but there are some areas of the world from which I would never buy anything!) What are the processes involved in making the product? Is it a natural or man-made product and process?
4) The Cost-Effectiveness Ratio.
Ask the following questions - What is the primary cost determinant - the product, the process or the profit? What ingredient is the most costly and why? Are there other ingredients that will do the same but are much less costly?
These certainly are not the only things to consider when buying health and wellness products but they do help in reducing the stress in deciding what to buy.
Do you tend to buy cheaper or will you now buy wiser?
"We are Success in Motion!"
More information is available on our website at: http://www.a1entrepreneurteam.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Ridpath
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2) Your Home - Is It Clean and Healthy or Clean, But Toxic? Cleanliness Can Harm You!
We all hate to clean, don't we? We especially hate to clean places in our home that get particularly soiled by day-to-day family use. I am thinking of bathrooms and kitchens. They get the dirtiest and usually harbor the most germs.
But what about basements and garages? Stored materials, perhaps even gasoline and other flammable materials are often found in these two areas. The living room and dining room and even the bedrooms are not immune to uncleanliness.
Therefore, all rooms in our home must be cleaned and some much more than others. Many a home keeper (man or woman) has said that cleaning is the least liked chore on par with doing the weekly laundry.
We cannot eliminate these chores but we certainly can make sure that when cleaning is done, the area is truly clean and free from toxicants and corrosive substances that may either be contacted or breathed in.
Do we really understand the cleaning agents that we daily use in our homes? Do we read the labels and follow any safety precautions. Probably not to the degree required to assure our and our family's health, wellness and safety.
Most products used in the household are not held to the same standard as industrial products that require a WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) certificate before they can be used.
So, should our homes not be held to the same standard as where we work? We spend more time in our homes than we do at our place of work (or so we should). Now, it may be argued that in some work environments there is much more opportunity to find harmful chemicals and compounds; but is that always true?
We want to look at a few cases where we may find equally harmful materials in our homes as in some workplaces. But first, we need to define two key words and phrases - toxicants and corrosive substances.
Toxicants: Are synthetic substances that present a risk of death, disease or injury in living organisms through absorption, ingestion, inhalation, or by altering the organism's environment.
Corrosive Substances: Are substances that cause visible discoloration, destruction, or irreversible changes in living tissue.
What are we using in our homes right now that may contain toxicants or corrosive substances?
Many floor, counter top, appliance and bathroom cleaners contain both toxicants and corrosive substances. Some strong laundry detergents contain toxicants as do some glass cleaners.
Here is a list of some of the more common toxicants. (Some of these chemical names may be masked or referred to by brand names. Check them carefully)
• Bisphenol A (BPA)
• Oxybenzone
• Fluoride
• Parabens
• Phthalates
• Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)
• Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
• Perchlorate
• Decabromodiphenyl Ether (DECA)
• Asbestos
Here is a list of some corrosive liquid substances.
• Hydrochloric Acid (sometimes called Muriatic Acid). Used for cleaning metal surfaces.
• Sulfuric Acid. Used in automobile batteries. Very corrosive.
• Phosphoric Acid. Used in some tarnish removal liquids, for cleaning glassware and silverware.
• Sodium Hydroxide (caustic soda). Used in powdered drain cleaners.
• Potassium Hydroxide Used in some dish washing powders.
• Ammonium chloride. The 'paste' in zinc-manganese dry cell batteries (non-alkali batteries).
• Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach). Found in some bleaches, and mold removal sprays.
Certainly nearly all rust removers, calcium removers, lime removers and drain cleaners are of high toxicity and most are extremely corrosive.
If you haven't already done so, please get every cleaning product you have in your home and read every label, jot down the chemicals and compounds in them and note any warning labels.
Tally this information and then discuss the findings with family members and discuss whether or not these products should continue to be used in your home. Use the internet and others sources of information to find out if there are safer, yet effective alternatives.
Does this mean you have to throw out 90% of your cleaning products? Not necessarily but if so, you and your family will be better off for the choice you make.
You do have a choice to have a clean and safe home without having a 'clean' but toxic home.
"We are Success in Motion!"
More information is available on our website at http://www.a1entrepreneurteam.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Ridpath
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1) Health and Wellness - Are You Really Addressing Your Family's Health and Wellness Needs?
We more often than not take for granted or perhaps don't even consider at all, what we are putting inside our bodies and what foods and other products are in our home that negatively affect our health and wellness because we have been consuming the same things for years and years.
In our home, breakfast, lunch and dinner were often all too similar week-in and week-out. Variety is not a high priority!
Recently we have become acutely aware of the effects on our bodies of what we have been consuming in terms of the foods themselves as well as the nutritional supplements that we are taking.
We have considered, to a degree, our general health and wellness for much of our lives but not to the degree that now, at our present age (50+), we should. Everyone, at any age, should be more aware of their health and wellness and take stock and address any deficiencies.
A large portion of the foods we eat today do contain the necessary nutrients that the human body needs but it is very evident in today's 'fast-food feeding' that there is ample opportunity to be well fed but poorly nourished.
To this end, it is imperative that we consider augmenting our daily diet with proper nutritional supplements. There is no lack of information about supplements and we could fill our cupboards with bottle after bottle of the offerings by hundreds of suppliers.
But, have we considered to any degree, the actual chemicals, compounds, mixtures and combinatorial effects of their contents? Have we considered the absorption rates and percentages of these products or even how our bodies metabolize them?
Some nutritional supplements fall short of their claims and do not indeed offer all the benefits claimed. In fact, taking several individual supplements may not be as effective as taking a carefully selected grouping of them all at once.
We are not all called to be dietitians or nutritional experts but others are and in order to address our family's health and wellness needs properly, we ought to draw on their expertise, especially when it comes to nutritional supplements. Not all supplements are created equal nor do they always achieve their desired goals.
When considering the dietary health and wellness of family members, a total approach is best. What actual foods are all members of your family consuming? What quantities and proportions of carbohydrates, fats and fibers are being consumed? Most importantly, what nutritive value is being realized?
In answering these questions, our family's health and wellness needs will be properly addressed.
"We are Success in Motion!"
More information is available on our website at: http://www.a1entrepreneurteam.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Ridpath
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