"Life is too short to be little." We are only here for such a short time yet we lose irreplaceable hours worrying over little things that in a years time won't be remembered by us or anyone else. Instead we should be devoting our time to worth-while undertakings, real relationships and great thinking. Everyday is a day the Lord hath made: let us rejoice and be glad in it. So the next time you let yourself get down in the dumps about really nothing at all, remember the battles won and lost by a giant of the forest:
On a slope in Colorado lies the ruin of a gigantic tree. Some people estimate the tree stood for some 400 years. It was a seedling when Columbus landed and half grown when the Pilgrims settled at Plymouth Rock. During its lifetime it had been struck by lightening 14 times and survived countless avalanches and storms across four centuries. With all its age it never withered. In the end, however, the giant was brought down by an army of beetles who ate their way through its bark to destroy its inner strength with their tiny but incessant attacks. Something so small did what no storm or lightening blast could ever do.
Aren't many of us like the giant of the forest? Surviving the storms of life only to be brought down by little beetles of worry in our hearts. Let us not allow ourselves to be upset by small things but remember that "Life is too short to be little"~Disraeli
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Formaldehyde and You!
What comes to mind when you think of the word Formaldehyde? Dead bodies maybe? Well, you would be right but it goes so much further than that. Formaldehyde ( a recognized cancer causing agent) has been used for decades to embalm bodies for open casket burials but it is also in your everyday items. Producers use Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde releasing agents in our personal care items to ensure a longer shelf life especially in creams and lotions that can spoil due to bacterial and fungal growth. (National Cancer Institute)
On average, the normal household contains at least 150 Formaldehyde tainted products in the home. But not only is Formaldehyde in our personal care, cleaning and beauty products.........it can also actually be IN our home....... as in the materials that your house is made out of such as plywood, glue, fiberboard, particleboard and timber paneling.
As far as cleaning products go, look for labels that say "Non-toxic to humans and aquatic life," or "Biodegradable." While reading labels is great, beware of the tricky manufactures synonyms that don't usually call attention to the fact that they do contain Formaldehyde or Formaldehyde releasing agents. For a list of products check out the Household Products Database at the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services at
http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm. From there you can look up a specific item such as Dawn Dish Liquid and see what the exact ingredients are and the harmful effects that may occur.
While there you can also browse other categories such as pesticides which have been linked to ADHD in children. Exposure to pesticides in kid-friendly foods like strawberries, blueberries and celery appears to increase chances that children will be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. Kids with high levels of pesticide residue in their urine, like the widely used insecticide Malathion, were more likely to have ADHD. An estimated 4-5 million U.S. children are affected by ADHA and about 2.5 million kids take meds for the condition according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Pesticides prey on the nervous system of insects and have a similar effect on mammals, including humans. The best advice for parents is to buy organic whenever possible. The Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocacy organization, advises shoppers buy organic versions of fruits and veggies that grow in the ground or are normally eaten with the skin on, because they are most likely to be contaminated. Wash all fruits and vegetables with a produce brush and rinse frozen versions as well.
On average, the normal household contains at least 150 Formaldehyde tainted products in the home. But not only is Formaldehyde in our personal care, cleaning and beauty products.........it can also actually be IN our home....... as in the materials that your house is made out of such as plywood, glue, fiberboard, particleboard and timber paneling.
As far as cleaning products go, look for labels that say "Non-toxic to humans and aquatic life," or "Biodegradable." While reading labels is great, beware of the tricky manufactures synonyms that don't usually call attention to the fact that they do contain Formaldehyde or Formaldehyde releasing agents. For a list of products check out the Household Products Database at the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services at
http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm. From there you can look up a specific item such as Dawn Dish Liquid and see what the exact ingredients are and the harmful effects that may occur.
While there you can also browse other categories such as pesticides which have been linked to ADHD in children. Exposure to pesticides in kid-friendly foods like strawberries, blueberries and celery appears to increase chances that children will be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. Kids with high levels of pesticide residue in their urine, like the widely used insecticide Malathion, were more likely to have ADHD. An estimated 4-5 million U.S. children are affected by ADHA and about 2.5 million kids take meds for the condition according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Pesticides prey on the nervous system of insects and have a similar effect on mammals, including humans. The best advice for parents is to buy organic whenever possible. The Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocacy organization, advises shoppers buy organic versions of fruits and veggies that grow in the ground or are normally eaten with the skin on, because they are most likely to be contaminated. Wash all fruits and vegetables with a produce brush and rinse frozen versions as well.
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