This spring, make your house a healthier place to live. With these simple steps, you can minimize germs and infections, reduce allergens and prevent aches and strains. Choose one or two ideas to get started. When they become regular habits, add a new routine.
TO FIGHT GERMS AND BACTERIA
Regularly clean telephones, computer keyboards, doorknobs and light switches with disinfecting solution or wipe .
Scrub your tub with disinfectant weekly, as germs thrive in moisture and soap scum.
Microwave kitchen sponges while damp (dry sponges can burst into flames) for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, (I only use my microwave for the purpose) or place sponges in each dishwasher load to kill bacteria.
Twice a week, disinfect you sink with a solution of disinfectant. (chlorine bleach is not recommended)
Before and after preparing food, clean kitchen counters and surfaces with a disinfecting product.
TO REDUCE DUST AND MOLD
Use an air purifier to remove pollen and dust from your home.
Reduce moisture and prevent mold by running a dehumidifier and opening windows for ventilation.
Frequently wash bedding in hot water.
Vacuum regularly, at least once each week.
Dust furniture and polish with dusting spray and cleaning oil
Store clothing in zippered plastic bags.
Keep pets out of the bedroom or out of the house entirely if you are allergic to pet danders
For severe allergies, remove carpets, drapes, upholstered furniture, items with feathers or wool and stuffed animals from the home to reduce dust.
TO PREVENT INJURY
Slide plywood between the mattress and box spring to firm up a soft bed.
For proper alignment, sleep with a pillow under your knees (back sleepers), between your knees (side sleepers) or under your hips (stomach sleepers).
When vacuuming, step forward and back, rather than standing in place and pushing.
When cleaning, use handle extenders, Don’t strain to reach high windows or deep corners.
There are three major types of arthritis: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteo-Arthritis, and Gouty Arthritis. Anyone with symptoms of arthritis should be examined by a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis.Why?Some arthritis symptoms may be caused by another disease process such as Lupus, Lyme disease, Sjogren’s syndrome, Fibromyalgia, etc.There is a growing body of research examining the role of digestive enzymes, hormonal imbalances, and inflammation-causing foods in the development of arthritis.A specialist in this area can help you if you begin to experience chronic arthritic symptoms.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a crippling inflammatory joint disease in which the immune system attacks the synovial membranes of all the body’s joints.The synovial membranes produce the joint-lubricating fluids; their destruction reduces or eliminates lubrication, making the movement of joints very painful.When symptoms are ignored or left untreated early in the process, crippling or permanent damage to the joints may result.Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis afflicts children under the age of 18 and should always be treated by a healthcare professional.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis caused by degenerative changes in the joints.It differs from rheumatoid arthritis in that it involves the erosion of the cartilage where bones meet, especially in weight-bearing joints.This causes bone to hit bone with no padding in between, and the result is pain, inflammation, and joint stiffness.The symptoms become debilitating if the disease process is not stopped.This type of arthritis is common in athletes who incur severe or repetitive injury to joints.
Gouty arthritis is a disorder of purine metabolism that causes a buildup of uric acid in the body.Purines are found in meats, especially organ meats.The uric acid then forms crystals that are deposited in joint areas.Gouty arthritis has often times been referred to as “the rich man’s disease” because those who had wealth often developed this problem.The pain can develop rapidly after eating a rich, high-protein meal, especially when consuming alcohol with the meal.Correcting the body’s buildup of uric acid through diet, lifestyle changes such as stress reduction, and proper supplementation can alleviate symptoms in most individuals.However, in uncontrolled situations prescription medicine may be necessary.
Lifestyle Suggestions
Obtain an accurate diagnosis from a healthcare professional
Exercise regularly to keep the joints flexible and movable
Eat a healthy diet high in fiber, fresh fruits, lots of vegetables, lean meats and poultry
Eat seafood, especially those varieties high in omega-3 oils such as salmon, halibut, mackerel, and sardines
Check for food allergies, including relations to nightshade plant such as tomatoes, white potatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Some food allergies can aggravate the symptoms of arthritis
Avoid alcohol and tobacco products
Limit sugars and sugary foods
Drink plenty of filtered water and/or green tea.As a general rule: Drink one-half your body weight in ounces per day.
Daily Supplementation Plan for Arthritis
Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, 1,000-3,000 mg, products should contain equal amounts of vitamin C and mixed bioflavonoids
Vitamin E, 400-800 IU, helps with muscle repair and antioxidant properties
Selenium, 100-200 mcg, also helps with muscle repair and antioxidant properties
*Glucosamine sulfate 1,500 - 2,500 mg or *Glucosamine hydrochloride 750-1,500 mg, helps reduce pain and provides a key component help stabilize cartilage loss
*Bromelain, 600-1,200 mg between meals helps reduce edema and inflammation.
*Omega-3 fatty acids such as fish oil 2-3 g or flaxseed oil 1 tablespoon. Begin with up to 6 g fish oil or 6 tablespoons flaxseed oil, then reduce to 2-3 g or 1 tablespoon after 30 days
Calcium 1,000-1,500 mg, use one that is synergistic with magnesium
Magnesium 400 -600 mg, use up to 1,000 mg for 30 days if recommended by your healthcare professional.
*Boswellia, 35-50 mg helps with inflammation reduction, and reduces cartilage loss.
*These supplements can have anti-inflammatory properties and help with normalizing joint health. Which one or which combination of products works best depends on your specific condition. Always check with a healthcare professional before beginning any supplementation regimen - they can be of great assistance in monitoring progress and tailoring your program.
Long-term use of conventional medications to control arthritis may be necessary in extreme or unresponsive situations. The problem with most of these drugs, including OTC products like aspirin and NSAIDs like ibuprofen, is that they can cause stomach ulcerations or bleeding, and kidney or liver dysfunction, especially when taken over a long period of time.
An allergy is a hypersensitive response by the body’s immune system normally attributed to environmental, substances, foods, or drugs.The typical allergic response can include some or all of the following: runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, dark circles under the eyes (especially in children), congestion, asthma, rashes, stomach aches, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, headaches fatigue, fever, or anaphylactic shock, a serious allergic reaction which can result in breathing, should be reported to a healthcare practitioner; if it’s accompanied by hives, call the doctor immediately.
While difficult cases may take time, proper diagnosis and tracking of allergic responses can often lead to control prevention of undesirable symptoms.Some allergies are simple, such as cat dander, while others occur only if a combination of allergens is present.Confounding the effort to identify allergens are the multiple points of entry to the body; allergens may enter via the eyes, nose, mouth, or skin.Identifying the allergen and the point of entry can be challenging for the healthcare professional, but it’s necessary for diagnosis and treatment.
Diagnosis may be further complicated by a viral, bacterial, or yeast infection that can mimic symptoms of allergens.In some cases, both problems may be causing symptoms.Because knowledge of the various immune and non-immune system triggers are still far from complete, it may be necessary to try various treatments in combination before the right treatment for any individual can be identified.Severe allergies that can cause serious health problems should be documented in you medical records.
Here are the four general categories of allergens that affect people most:
Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) products:Drug allergies and drug reactions are fairly commonplace today with the advent of so many new types of drugs.While most drug reactions are not life threatening, some individuals experience an anaphylactic reaction (generalized swelling, breathing difficulties, and a drop in blood pressure), which can be fatal.Most individuals and parents of children older than seven generally know if they have allergies to medications.The obvious solution is avoiding drugs and the family of similar drugs when medical attention is required.It’s especially important that a drug or sensitivity is recorded in your permanent medical chart.
Chemicals:Environmental chemicals and foods additives, including pesticide residues, are two major sources of chemical allergies.Some chemicals may actually weaken the immune system’s ability to function optimally, further complicating allergic symptoms.
Foods:Allergens include dairy (lactose, a mile sugar, or tyramine from aged cheeses), eggs, shellfish, nuts, corn, yeast, wheat-and gluten-containing grains, and chocolate (theobromine).These types of allergies can run in families, so knowing your relatives can help with diagnosis. Most food allergies are minor, but some individuals experience severe life-threatening reactions.Since most of the trigger foods are so prevalent, determining which food or foods are the anaphylactic requires diagnosis by a knowledgeable healthcare professional.
Environmental allergens:Pollen, mold spores, fungus, grass, poison ivy, dust mites, animal dander and hair or the protein residue from salivary licking of hair, and insect bites are hard to pin down and eliminate.Most of these triggers produce reactions that affect the respiratory system and are quite bothersome.
The obvious way to avoid allergic reactions is to reduce exposure to the triggers.However, that’s not always possible.There are a number of healthcare processionals who believe that a combination of detoxification and immune system rebuilding or support can reduce or eliminate allergic relations.Eating a healthier diet while limiting troublesome foods and supporting the immune system and digestive system can have dramatic positive effects.
Lifestyle suggestions:
Do not smoke or use other tobacco products.Avoid airborne triggers including pollution and chemicals, and stay away from smoking areas.
Consume a healthy diet that supports the immune system.Don’t eat highly refined foods, wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating, reduce saturated and hydrogenated fats and replace with olive oil, high-oleic safflower oil, and omega-3 oils
Drink plenty of purified water: one-half your body weight in ounces per day.If you weight 100 lbs., then drink 50 oz. Or more every day to help flush allergens out of your system.
Remove any blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, drapes, or rugs that can be dust catchers or harbor dust mites.Replace with good-quality hypoallergenic products.If removal or replacement isn’t possible, wash frequently I hot water, or occasionally put the stuffed animal the freezer overnight to kill dust mites.
Change air filters regularly and have heating and air conditioning ducts professionally cleaned.
Use chemical cleaners carefully and cautiously.It may be prudent to use gloves and a respiratory mask when using cleaners; if latex gloves irritate your skin, use vinyl.
If the dog or cat is a problem, get rid of the animal.If that’s not possible, do what you can – stay away from the animal, or at least keep it out of the rooms you spend the most time in.
During allergy seasons, stay indoors, especially on windy days, and away from any areas with a dense plant growth.
Invest in an air-purifier system for your office, home, and especially your bedroom.
Daily supplementation plan for allergies (adults age 14 and up)
Note: please do not be intimidated by this, the longest table of supplements, and don’t add all these supplements at once.Start with the highlighted supplements, then add more until condition improves.
·Vitamin C with bioflavonoids: Begin with 1,500 – 5,000 mg per day for 7-10 days; then reduce by 500-1,000 mg per day for 7 – 10 days; then reduce to 500 – 1,000 mg. Per day.
·Whole garlic extracts: 700 – 1,400 mg/day.***Anyone taking a blood thinner such as Coumadin must not take garlic supplement***
·Echinacea: 150 – 900 mg. For 45 days. ***Do not take more than 8 weeks***
·Nettle root: 1,000 - 1,500 mg to reduce inflammation and mucus.
·MSM (methylsulfonylmethane): 500 – 2,000 mg: Especially good for skin, inflammation, and arthritic conditions.
·Omega–3 fatty acids: take at least 3 g (3,000mg) fish oil or 1 tablespoon flaxseed oil at bedtime with calcium and magnesium supplements.
·Vitamin B complex: Take as directed on label.Natural and/or phosphorylated B complex containing 100% of the RDI.(Use a B complex with 25 mg of each of the primary B vitamins: Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, and Pantothenic Acid.Higher amounts of certain B’s may be needed in certain cases and should only be taken when suggested by a qualified healthcare professional.)
·Vitamin B6: up to 25 mg
·Vitamin B12: 50-2,000 mcg.For amounts over 600 mcg, injections may be administered by a healthcare professional.
·Vitamin A (retinal): 5,00-25,000 IU; or Natural beta-or multi-carotene: 25,000-50,000 IU.Caution:Take no more than 5,000 IU of retinal if pregnant, lactating, or there is a potential to become pregnant.Use 15,000-25,000 of a natural beta- or multi-carotene product instead.
·Fiber: 25-40 grams from all sources.Most people need 5-15 grams per day in addition to dietary intake.
·Mixed bioflavonoids: 250-500 mg.Start with 250-1,500 mg.Reduce to 250 – 500 mg per day after 2 weeks.Should include Quercetin and Catechin.
·Calcium: 800-1,200 mg. Use one that synergistic with magnesium.
·Magnesium: 300-600 mg.Note: Increase calcium intake to keep a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio of calcium to magnesium (2 or 3 times as much calcium as magnesium).If loose stools occur, reduce magnesium until problem stabilizes.
·Zinc: 15-30 mg.Start with up to 50 mg.Reduce to 15-30 mg after 30 days.
·Digestive enzymes: Take as directed on label.For digestive problems.Product should include: Amylase, Lipase, Protease, and Alphagalactosidase. Caution: Do not take a product containing HCL or betaine if you have digestive ulcers or bleeding.
·Thymus gland supplement: As directed by your healthcare professional.For frequent immune system problems.See your healthcare professional for testing.
Daily Supplementation Plan for Allergies (Children age 6 to 14)
Mutivitamin-multimineral: Take as directed on label.Designed especially for a child’s needs according to age.Product should include vitamin D, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and manganese.
Echinacea: 150-250 mg, or according to a healthcare professional’s recommendations.Do not exceed 8 weeks.
Vitamin B complex: Take as directed on label.Use natural and / or phosphorylated B complex containing 100% of the RDI of all B vitamins.
Odor-free garlic extract: 100-350 mg or as recommended by a health care professional. Caution:anyone taking a blood thinner such as Coumadin must not take garlic supplements.
My husband recently took some of these Clear Guard (video below) and it helped clear up his allergy quite a bit.
High cholesterol is a top risk factor for heart disease, the leading killer of man and women in this country.
And it’s not only older men and women who should be concerned; many develop high cholesterol way before age 45. Here are a few things you can do to control that level right.
Eat more “good” fats.
Monounsaturated fats, which are found in avocados and some nuts, as well as olive and canola oils, lower “bad” cholesterol - LDLs (low -density lipoproteins) - where they are substituted for saturated fats. What’s is more, they don’t bring down HDLs (high-density lipoproteins), the “good” cholesterol. Replace butter with olive oil; use skim milk instead of whole milk and try low-fat cuts of meat will help. Never use margarine or vegetable shortening and cut down in deep-fried fast food.
Enjoy eggs again.
Though eating cholesterol does raise blood cholesterol, eating saturated fat is what raises it the most. Therefore, eggs, which are higher in cholesterol than in saturated fat, are okay for most people. (The AHA’s recommendation allows people to eat up to four eggs a week). But at-risk groups should be more careful and should limit to two eggs per week.
Limit “Bad” fats
Reducing your intake of saturated fat is the most important step in lowering cholesterol. More than any other food component, saturated fat, found mainly in meat and dairy products, stimulated the liver to produce artery-clogging LDLs.
Another bad fat: trans-fatty acids (TFAs). They are produced when unsaturated fat is hydrogenated or chemically processed t turn into a solid. Not only do TFAs raise LDLs and total cholesterol, but in high amounts they may actually lower HDLs. Labels don’t list TFAs, which are found in a large number of solid-stick-margarine brands, shortenings, and deep-fried fast foods, as well as in many packaged pastries, crackers and cookies.
Check your thyroid.
Hypo-thyroidism (having an under active thyroid) is surprisingly common, especially in women. Left untreated, the condition can raise cholesterol levels significantly. Symptoms are subtle: tiredness, increased sensitivity to cold, hair loss, weight gain, joint stiff-ness and depression.
A blood test can diagnose the condition, which is easily corrected by taking daily medication.
Keep your weight down and get moving
Raising HDLs (the good cholesterol) by diet alone is tricky, but a combination of exercise and strategic eating gets them up. Exercise also lowers triglycerides, the other blood fat linked to heart disease.
Stop smoking.
Cigarette smoking depresses HDLs nearly 6% on average, with an even greater drop for heavy smokers. Second hand smoke may also lower HDLs and the AHA says it is a cause of heart and blood-vessel disease, killing as many as 40,000 people every year.
Manage Your Stress.
Many studies indicate that stress may increase the risk of heart disease. People who always expressed their anger toward others or consistently stifled it had elevated LDLs. Those who let out their feelings when appropriate but held in their anger at other times had as much as 10% lower LDLs levels.
Supplement with vitamins.
Taking 400 Ius of vitamin E a day to combine with LDLs in the blood-stream may help prevent artery-clogging plaque. Niacin is also useful when HDLs are low or triglycerides high. It has side effects, however, if you are taking the synthetic formulation of vitamin and medical supervision is important.
Eat more
Soluble fiber. Abundant in oat bran, rice bran, beans, peas, barley, citrus fruits, strawberries, carrots and apples, this fiber brings down LDLs without lowering HDLs. Some cereals are fortified with psyllium, a concentrated source of soluble fiber also found in laxatives. People with high cholesterol who regularly consume 12 grams of psyllium a day can lower total cholesterol about 5%.
Soybeans. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that eating three to four tablespoons of soy protein a day lower LDLs by nearly 13% and triglycerides by more than 10%.
Omega-3 fatty acids. Found in salmon, mackerel and other fish. This fat can lower triglycerides. And since fish is low in saturated fat, it’s a great way to cut total cholesterol and LDLs too. Eat three to four ounces several times a week.
After menopause, many women experience bone loss that can eventually lead to osteoporosis. Today, about 1 in 3 women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis, and many more are at risk for developing the disease. Yet, only a relatively small number of women with osteoporosis have been diagnosed or treated.
Why is this? Few women experience symptoms in the early stages of this bone-thinning disease. Also, many women believe that if they simply watch their diet and exercise regularly, they won’t be affected.
Since everyone is different, you should talk to your doctor about your particular situation and what is best for you.
What is Osteoporosis?
It is a disease that causes bones to become more porous, gradually making them weaker and more brittle.
Normal bone is dense and strong. Bone with osteoporosis has thinned out and become more porous, making it more likely to break.
Who is at risk?
Women who have gone through menopause are most at risk. Menopause usually begins when a woman is about 50, though it can occur earlier if a woman has surgery to remove her ovaries.
Other Factors that may contribute to risk include:
Family history of osteoporosis
Caucasian or Asian descent
Thin or small build
Smoking
Too much alcohol
Too little exercise
Too little calcium (now or as a child)
Certain medications, such as steroids (commonly used to treat asthma and arthritis) and thyroid hormone (if the dose is too high)
Early menopause (before age 45)
Remember: Menopause is a key factor contributing to the development of osteoporosis. Even if none of these factors applies to you, if you’re a woman past menopause, you may still have or develop osteoporosis.
What causes osteoporosis?
Our bodies go through a continuous bone-building cycle, where old bone is broken down and new bone is formed. Osteoporosis is caused by an imbalance in this cycle, where too much bone is broken down and incompletely rebuilt.
The single most important factor contributing to this imbalance is menopause. Until their mid-30s, most women gain more bone than they lose. After that, the process usually balances out, so that bone is lost and replaced in equal amount. However, during menopause, hormonal changes - namely, decreasing levels of estrogen- speed up bone loss. When this bone loss becomes severe, a person will develop osteoporosis.
What are the effects?
In the early stages, osteoporosis may have few, if any, physical signs that are noticeable. However, as the disease progresses, broken bones caused by osteoporosis can occur, especially in the spine (or backbone), wrists, and hip bones.
This can lead to pain, loss of height, restricted mobility, or a humped back. In later stages of the disease, patients may break their hips. Approximately half of the patients with hip fracture will be disabled, many of them permanently; and many may require long-term nursing home care.
These physical effects can result in a loss of confidence and strength. They can also mean a loss of freedom, including the ability to lead a health active lifestyle.
But there are ways to combat the effects of osteoporosis. One is early detection. Another is treatment.
Your doctor may be able to tell from certain signs and symptoms if you have osteoporosis. Ask you doctor about bone density testing because osteoporosis can be difficult to detect. It is the most practical way to accurately measure the density of your bones and can be useful in helping your doctor diagnose the disease, especially early on.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking there’s nothing you can do or that taking calcium and exercising regularly are enough to cure osteoporosis. THERE IS something you can do to prevent or treat osteoporosis. Besides watching your diet and exercise, taking bone supplement can help prevent osteoporosis by preventing bone loss and rebuilding thinning bone in post menopausal women at risk
Ok, just in case you don’t know the different between good and bad cholesterol; cholesterol and triglyceride, here is it:
Cholesterol
LDLs (Low-Density Lipoproteins): The “bad” cholesterol that clogs arteries.
Desirable: less than 130 mg./dl
High: 160 mg./dl or more
HDLs(High-Density Lipoproteins): The “good” cholesterol that transports LDLs away from artery walls.
Desirable: the higher the better; 35mg./dl. or less in creases heart-disease risk. Triglycerides
A blood fat linked to heart disease.
Desirable: Less than 200 mg./dl
Hight: Over 400 mg./dl
Total Cholesterol
A combined measure of all blood cholesterol.
Desirable: Less than 200 mg./dl.
Hight: 240 mg./dl. and up
What are the real benefits of drinking water? And what kind of water is good for us?
Through out our lives, we heard the phrase: “to maintain your health, drink 6-8 cups of water”. “What? I’ll be visiting the restroom every 15 minutes!” You might be thinking to yourself. That was the very first thing that came to my mind when I heard that. And when I was growing up, I could go through a whole day without drinking water, didn’t feel too bad then, but later on in life, I developed a severe case of constipation as a result.
So, if I had known how important it is to drink enough of water every day to avoid many illnesses, I wouldn’t mind going to the restroom often to flush out whatever my body doesn’t need.
Did you know exactly what and how water can affect our well-being?
Water plays an important role in our body. There are 92% of water in the blood, 22% in the bones, 75% of the brain and the muscles are water. So there is an average of 65-75% of our body’s weight is water! Water makes up the majority of every cell in our bodies. It helps flush out the toxic substances in the kidneys. It helps control the blood pressure by balance the electrolytes. It helps moisten the eyes, mouth and nasal passages. It helps keep the body cool when it is hot and insulates the body when it is cold. It also acts as a shock absorber that cushion the body’s organs and it helps lubricate joints and is part of sweat, tears, and saliva.
Now can you see why drinking enough water has major benefits to maintain a healthy body?
·Water helps maintain blood volume, which maintains your energy
·Proper hydration improves your concentration and reaction time, especially during exercise
·Water increases the number of calories you burn during regular daily activities, helps body reduce fat deposits
·Water can help prevent the stomach distress concentrated medicines can cause
·Water helps rid the body of excess sodium that can cause fluid retention
Water also helps protect against a variety of ailments. There may be links between high water consumption and a reduced risk of: cold, constipation, urinary track infections, kidney stones, and bladder cancer.
Did you know that drinking enough good quality water may improve your appearance? Because water reaches the skin last; if your body doesn’t get enough water, your skin will feel the effects more than any other organ. Water can help hydrate the skin, leaving it:
·smoother
·softer
·more supple
·less wrinkles
Ah… It may even help you lose weight. People often mistake thirst for hunger pangs, so we tend to eat snacks, when in reality, our bodies just need some water to drink. Drinking water can also help you feeling full, thus lessening your desire to eat.
How much water do you drink a day? It really depends on several things: the size of your body, how physically active you are, under what condition do you work, and even the climate you are in because your body works hard to keep you warm or cool. As a general guideline, the average person should drink between 1.5 to 2.5 liter (about 1.5 - 2.5 quarts) or 6 to 10 8 oz. cups. For example, if you weight 120 pounds, and exercise 20 minutes a day, then you need to drink at least 8 cups of clean water to replace the bodily fluids normally lost throughout the day. We loose body fluid every day through urinating, sweating and even breathing.
Do not get dehydrated. Dehydration occurs when your body has less water than it needs, and it is a very serious condition. When your body is just 1% below normal, you feel extremely thirsty, when you are 5% below, you will have a mild fever, and if you are 10% low on water, you will turn blue and not able to walk!
Fresh, clean purified water is the best way to keep hydrated. Caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and colas actually dehydrate the body, using more water to process than they provide; alcoholic beverage do the same.
To maintain the optimum health from the inside of our bodies, drink plenty of freshly purified water is the best way to stay hydrated. A healthy body reflects in beautiful, supple skin.
If you don’t trust (and you shouldn’t) tap water, use a combination of carbon-block and ultraviolet water purifier; you can rest assured that your drinking and cooking water is as safe as it can be.
Most people don’t like tap water for various reasons: it tastes bad, it smell like rotten egg, there might be (and there are plenty) of some stuff that shouldn’t be there such as heavy metal, chlorine or chloramines and its by products, bacteria and viruses, trace of drugs…., just to name a few. So they turn to bottled water. Sadly, many of the bottled waters are filled from the same source: tap water with some kind of treatment. It may taste better but studies show that some bottled water has the same amount of bacteria or even more.
If you are using the 5 gallons and have a dispenser, the next time you change the bottle, check the bottom of the dispenser and you might find that it is kind of slimy, which means there are plenty of bacteria in the water. Bottled water is often stored in plastic bottle, plastic bottle release harmful chemical into the water if it is under sunlight. I have seen large grocery stores with pile of bottled water outside the store right under sunlight for hours. When recycling the big bottle, you don’t know how well it is rinsed before being filled again.
Yes, there might be microorganisms in your tap, by installing ultraviolet water purifier will easily correct the problem and it is less costly comparing to buying bottled water in the long run. Let’s do the math. Even taking the bottle to the water store and fill it yourself will cost you anywhere from $1.75 to $3.00 for a 5 gallons bottle (depend on where you live), this has not include your time, your transportation and your effort of carrying it to the house. It would cost more if you add all those up. Ultraviolet water purifiers price range from a few hundreds dollars to a couple thousand dollars, depending on the size and the brand. And you shouldn’t use just the ultraviolet water purifier alone because it only sterilize bacteria, viruses and cysts in the water but will not filter other contaminants. Your best bet is to use it in conjunction with an activated carbon filter. I use a unit that cost about $600; it includes a dual cartridge with the ultraviolet bulb inside a carbon-block filter. The activated carbon-block filter will absorb and filter out the bad stuff that we don’t want in our bodies such as mercury, lead, dirt ect? The ultraviolet light will destroy the waterborne microbes if any are present in the water.
Each year just replace the cartridge that cost about $175 and it will purify 1320 gallons of water, bringing the cost down to just about 13 cents per gallon. It’s cheap, it’s convenient, it saves your time and trouble, but most important, it provides fresh, clean, clear and bacteria free water for you and your family. Just turn on the faucet and enjoy quality water for your drinking and cooking.
Use a refillable bottle to carry water with you when you are on the go. I’m staying away from any kind of plastic since there are reports of plastic bottle leaching harmful substance into the water. Buy a glass or stainless steel bottle is best.
Saw this statement somewhere “Refill not Landfill”, it is just everybody should consider doing to curb global warming. If you are concerned about tap water quality, investing in a good carbon-block and ultraviolet water purifier is the best thing you can do to protect harmful contaminants entering your body. Water is good for you, but only if it is good and clean water.
Ultraviolet water purifier is known to be effective in destroying waterborne microorganisms. Activated Carbon-block is proven to be the best way to filter other contaminants such as lead, mercury, radon….The use of some kind of water filtration is becoming more and more popular since there are rising concerns about drinking water safety.
Do you know what is in you water before it is in you? We live in a polluted world. Air, water, soil pollution are all around us, especially in industrial cities and countries. Unsafe drinking water is no longer just a third world problem. It’s a threat even to the most civilized countries. All sources of our drinking water including municipal, wells, lakes, rivers, streams, even glaciers contain some level of contamination. We cannot take clean, safe drinking water for granted any longer. While many contaminants are found in very low level to make any immediate health impact among adult and healthy people, they do post a risk to the infant, young children, pregnant women, older people and people with compromised-immune system. However, over time, these contaminants can build up in the body and cause liver damage, kidney damage, cancer and other serious ailments. Many bacteria and viruses are found in tap water. Some species are resistant to chlorine or chloramines, the most popular form of water disinfectant, such as the Cryptosporidium parvum and the Giardia lamblia.
Is turning to bottled water a solution? According to a four-year study, the NRDC (Natural Resource Defense Council) examined 103 brands of bottled water, one-third of those contain some levels of contaminants. Because bottled water are considered food product and is subject to the same sanitation and preparation as other foods, therefore, there are certain percentage of contaminants or bacteria allowed as long as it is not exceeding the limit. Unlike municipal water, water bottlers are not required to disclose what is in the water. While most bottled water are of high quality, some do have microbes, arsenic, lead, aluminum卛n them. NRDC also found that the contents of some bottled water labeled “Spring Water” was filled with tap water right next to a hazardous waste site!
You might think bottled water still tastes better than tap, but is it safer? Probably not. Still want to buy bottled water and feed to your body? That’s your call. If you want to fill your multi-million dollars machine only the best, then you should think twice. Would you fill you expensive car with low-grade gasoline? May be not.
Using an effective carbon-block and ultraviolet water purifier will ensure you have the freshest, cleanest, clearest, best tasting water right from your kitchen. Ultraviolet water purifier is EPA approved technology to destroying waterborne disease-causing microorganisms. Activated carbon-block is proven to traps over 140 contaminants. Together, they are the best combination in water treatment technology. I bought mine about 5 years ago for about $600 and nerve regret it. Each year after I only need to change the filter cartridge once that costs about $175 and we are good for a whole year or 1300 gallon of water, that comes to about 13 cents/gallon, much cheaper than buying bottle. Our children are drinking water instead of soft drink or sugar loaded juice (because they taste better than un-filter tap). I feel secured knowing I’m feeding my family the cleanest possible water. I save money on not having to buy bottled water. A few stainless steel bottles will last a lifetime and are safe for use, easy to clean. We just fill the bottles if we need to take water with us. We do our share to curb global warming by cutting down on plastic bottles end up in landfill. It is totally a win-win-win solution. Ready to join us to save the earth and save your wallet and more importantly, save your health? Get a carbon-block and ultraviolet water purifier.
Ultraviolet water purifiers are widely used by people who enjoy outdoor activities to purify lake or stream water for drinking. Ultraviolet water purifiers should be used at home also, it is an effective way to get rid of waterborne disease-causing microorganisms that might be in, yes, your tap water!
Even though most municipal water is treated with chlorine as a form of disinfectant at the water plant, bacteria, viruses and cysts may still be present in tap water. These microorganisms are in the water due to aging, cracked pipe and many other means. It is possible that cross connections, such as sewage lines crossing water lines, may increase the risk of water becoming contaminated. Scientists estimate that each year up to 7 million Americans become sick from contaminated tap water, especially among children, pregnant women, the elders and those with weak immune system. Many people have turned away from tap water for this reason, but unfortunately, many bottled water are not so safe for drinking either beside the cost measure.
If you are concerned about the bacteria, the parasites, the algae, and the fungus…. in your tap water, ultraviolet purification is an EPA approved technology to protect your family from waterborne disease-causing microorganisms. Ultraviolet (or UV) light has a wavelength shorter than visible light (such as daylight); it is destructive to the RNA and DNA of microorganisms. The ultraviolet water purifier unit I use has a UV bulb in the center of the cartridge, it puts out up to 80 millijoules (units of measure) of UV light - enough to destroy more than 99.99% of waterborne, disease-causing bacteria and viruses in drinking water.
Getting your water tested may give you a good idea of what type of contaminants might be in your water. You can also ask your water utility (the company that sends you your water bill) for a copy of their annual water quality report that shows what are or might be in your water supply. In general, whether your water source is from ground or from surface, there is some form of water pollution no matter where you live. Choosing a good water filter, preferably with an ultraviolet water purifier not only gives you the peace of mind, but it does a good job protecting you and your family from any unforeseen outbreak. Did you know that waterborne diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms which are directly transmitted when contaminant water is consumed? People may have symptoms such as fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, gas pain, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fever, muscle aches….
My family enjoys our ultraviolet water purifier, which has a dual technology cartridge that not only destroy 99.99% of waterborne microorganisms but also effectively filter out over 140 health effect contaminants that might be found in city tap water. Protect your health and the health of those you love, invest in a good quality water filtration device and you will never regret it. Just remember, up to 70% of our body weight is water, making sure it is clean and bacteria free is crucial to your health and well-being.
