Archive for the ‘HealthTips’ Category

• Health TIPS for Kids

  Date: 2010.05.25 | Category: HealthTips | Response: 0

  Featuring: Tropical Waters; Swimming & Beach Safety. 

  In a recent trip to Central America, I observed that many travelers unknowingly put themselves and their loved ones at risk by not being more cautious of the potential dangers lurking in tropical waters. If you are going on a trip with your kids to a tropical beach, before you take off may I suggest that you take the time to learn that water used for recreation can also pose dangers.

  There are a few precautions that one should be aware of when traveling beaches in the tropics. Many people don’t realize that these waters often contain poisonous plants and animals which disguise themselves to look like rocks or seaweed. For example, a lionfish is a poisonous fish that looks like seaweed. They have dangerous spines that can inflict painful puncture wounds. Other things to look out for are jellyfish, stingrays and sea urchins, as well as many other abundant forms of aquatic life. To avoid getting stung, it is advisable to teach your children to watch where they take a step. For stingrays, apparently if one shuffles, rather than take steps through the tropical waters it will warn the stingray to move away as you approach.

  Parents should also be aware that walking barefoot in the tropics, both in the water and on the beach exposes their children not only to the risk of puncture wounds such as these but also to the risk of parasites and fungal infections. To avoid this, parents should encourage their children to wear shoes at all times, especially when wading in the water.

   As well, you need to really check out what lies below the surface before swimming or diving into unfamiliar waters. Submerged objects and strong currents are very dangerous and can cause injuries and drowning. Throughout my travels I have observed numerous situations where swimmers and surfers were caught in very strong ocean currents. Parents should be aware of the very strong currents and riptides that may be present along costal beaches. To add to this, there are usually no lifeguards at beaches in tropical and developing countries. So, parents cannot be cautious enough about warning their kids to stay close to shore and also keeping an eye on them. A good rule of thumb is that if the beach is deserted or there is an obvious absence of locals swimming, then swimming could be dangerous and probably should be avoided.

  Travelers should also be aware that in many developing countries, water at ocean beaches (especially near cities and river mouths) is heavily polluted with sewage and other wastes. It is best for parents to avoid letting their children swim in these areas. However if you do decide to swim in these areas, keep your head about water at all times to prevent ear infections and avoid swallowing bacteria laden water. If possible, try to stick to chlorinated pools.

  Plan ahead or ask the locals and know the risks associated with your destination. You owe it to your kids to be prepared!

  By Esther Briner March 2010  Health TIPS For Kids. Compliments of www.totalKIDS.org and www.watertweeter.com        ~connecting you to the world on water topics that relate to your child’s future, health, well-being and development.

• Health TIPS for Kids

  Date: 2010.05.25 | Category: HealthTips | Response: 0

  Featuring: Safe Water Consumption When Traveling.  

  In a recent trip to Central America, I observed that many travelers unknowingly put themselves and their loved ones at risk of contracting food and water borne illnesses such as Hepatitis A, Typhoid Fever and Traveler’s Diarrhea.  Are you going on a trip with your kids? If so, before you take off may I suggest that you take the time to learn the health risks associated with contaminated food and water consumption at your destination.

  Many countries around the world including those in Latin America, Asia and Africa still have problems maintaining safe food and water supplies.  If you are traveling or on vacation in another country, it is still important for the sake of yourself and your kids, to be aware of the potential health risks associated with water consumption and to protect yourselves from waterborne illnesses.  I’ve observed that most travelers seem to make a food or water mistake within the first few hours or days of their trip.  What most people don’t realize is that when it comes to food and water, there are a few small common sense pre-cautions, which seem to make a world of difference.

   No. 1 – Stick with bottled beverages; Avoid tap water and ice in beverages, unless it is made with safe water.

   No. 2 – Drink only pasteurized, properly refrigerated milk and dairy products.

   No. 3 – Eat only fruits or vegetables that have been freshly peeled or cooked. Avoid fruits that don’t need peeling.

   No. 4 – Eat only foods, which have been recently cooked and are being served piping hot. Avoid uncooked vegetables and salads, raw or undercooked meat or fish.

   No. 5 – Avoid street vendors and fly-infested restaurants.

   The bottom line is that if you have any doubts or are in question about the water you are drinking, just boil it!  Boiling water for at least one minute is generally the most effective way to remove parasite contamination.  

  Let’s face it. Nothing ruins a good trip like getting sick! The rules for a healthy vacation are really simple. Plan ahead and know the risks, choose your food and drink carefully!  Contaminated drinking water is one of the leading sources of health problems for travelers, and can cause anything from mild gastro-intestinal distress to serious bacterial diseases! So, You owe it to your kids to be prepared!

   By Esther Briner March 2010 Health TIPS For Kids. Compliments of www.totalKIDS.org and www.watertweeter.com ~ connecting you to the world on water topics that relate to your child’s future, health, well-being and development.

• Our Water == Our World

  Date: 2010.01.01 | Category: Global Water Issues, HealthTips, HomeTips, Local Water Issues | Response: 0

  This website is helpful to consumers in managing home and garden pests in a way that helps protect OUR WATER. Among other things, this site offers an assorted fact sheets on specific pests and methods to manage them without using hazardous materials, a pocket guide to managing 10 common pests, information on where to buysafer alternatives to pesticides, including fungicides and herbicides. and an alphabetized list of suggestged products that are considered safer alternatives to more conventional pesticides.  LINK: our water our world

  Also the site that allows you to ask a specific question and receive a personal reply, from The expert!

• Recipe: How to make rose water

  Date: 2009.12.03 | Category: HealthTips | Response: 0

  Rose water can be used in cooking as well as a rich beauty aid, such as a facial toner, in your bath water or as a facial refresher. For step by step guide on how to prepare rose water LINK: Rosewater

• Health Tip: Drink more water every day

  Date: 2009.11.16 | Category: HealthTips | Response: 0

  There are a variety of reasons to drink plenty of water each day. Adequate water intake prevents dehydration, cleans out the body, and promotes healing processes. Substituting water for beverages high in calories can also help control weight. Follow the steps below to make sure you’re getting enough of this most basic necessity.
  Here is how to help you get started.

  1. Determine how much water you need. You’ve probably heard the “drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day” rule. But the amount of water a person needs varies depending on his or her weight, activity level and climate. Another way to determine your specific recommended water intake is to divide your weight (in pounds) by two. The resulting number is the number of ounces of water you need each day. Please note that these are only recommended intake numbers.

  2. Measure your daily intake of water. Do this for a few days. This will help you keep track of whether you’re drinking less than the recommended quantity.

  3. Carry water with you everywhere. You can put it in a bottle or other container. Keep a glass or cup of water next to you whenever you’ll be sitting down for a long time, such as when you’re at your desk at work. Drink from it regularly as you’re working.

  4.Try wearing a digital watch that beeps at the beginning of each hour. Use that as a reminder to pour yourself a glass of water. Vow to drink that water before the next beep.

  5. Get a water purification system. Purified water tastes very good and may help make drinking water more appealing to you. Be aware, though, that as you grow accustomed to purified water, you may find that tap water leaves a bad taste in your mouth, even though it may be better for your teeth.

  6. Add lemons or limes to your water. This makes it taste better and makes you want to drink more of it. Be careful not to make it too sour; just a splash of sourness should do the trick. Some mint leaves can be added to a pitcher of water which should be allowed to sit overnight. These are cheap alternatives to the bottled flavored water.

  7. Eat water rich foods, such as fruits like watermelon, which is 92% water by weight.

  8. Keep water cold if it tastes better for you. Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator at home. Add ice or freeze water in a sports bottle before taking it with you, it will eventually melt and stay cold.
  (Bear in mind that cold water takes energy for your body to regulate the temperature, and does burn some calories.) Room temperature water is better if you’re dehydrated. Your body can absorb the room temperature water immediately, instead of the body having to raise the temperature of the water first in order to process it.

  Climate can drastically change how much water you need. On hot days that require you to be outside, you should drink more water to counteract the fluids you lose when you sweat. This not only keeps your body hydrated, it can prevent heat-related illness.

  Consuming enough fluids in cold or wet weather is often overlooked but just as important. The human body works much more efficiently when properly hydrated. Inadequate water intake affects the brain’s function first, which can become very dangerous, especially in extreme conditions.

  Warnings: While adequate water is essential to health, it is possible to drink too much water or any other beverage, and there has been considerable scientific debate surrounding how much water a person really needs per day. It is possible to “overdose” on water. Water intoxication occurs when the electrolytes in the body are so diluted that they have trouble keeping the balance of water even inside and outside of individual cells. If you plan on doing heavy prolonged exercise, be sure to alternate sports drinks with regular water to keep your electrolytes in balance.