It’s easy to create a negative belief. They come from so many sources, like first impressions, disappointment, failure, embarrassment, fear, exhaustion…
Your default may be to think something happened (or might happen). Our bad feeling becomes a negative belief: that bad things always happen.
Our negative belief changes how we act. Soon the voice in our head sounds like:
🔹”They are always difficult to be with.”
🔹“I can never get this right.”
🔹“Nobody wants to buy my stuff.”
🔹If I fail, I’ll lose everything.”
🔹“I never have enough energy.”
Dr. Martin Seligman, the father of positive psychology, tells us that when we create a negative belief, our problem goes from a small thing that happened once or twice to…
🔹PERMANENT (It isn’t going away)
🔹PERSONAL (It’s my fault)
🔹PERVASIVE (It always happens)
HERE IS WHAT I KNOW:
🔹NEGATIVE BELIEFS filter reality and filter good news out.
🔹NEGATIVE BELIEFS stomp out good thoughts before they can grow.
🔹NEGATIVE BELIEFS kill dreams and keep us small.
How do people get out of the funk?
Find something TODAY that you can be positive about, just because you can.
🔹Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) due to physical exercise reduces the ability to perform intensive physical training and participate in sports at high levels.
🔹Omega-3 fatty acids may provide a partial protective effect against development of DOMS and may accelerate recovery after damaging exercise.
🔹Because cod oil produced through fermentation contains natural bioactive compounds such as Vitamins A and D along with omega-3 fatty acids, it may assist in the recovery from DOMS.
Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Muscle Recovery After Strenuous Exercise
By Dr. Subramaniam Sathivel
Physical exercise, particularly resistance exercise, often results in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) that peaks 1-2 days after the exercise and takes up to 5-6 days to get resolved.
DOMS has shown to reduce the ability to perform intensive physical training and to play sports at high levels.
There is evidence to suggest that omega-3 fatty acids could provide a partial protective effect against development of DOMS and may even accelerate recovery after damaging exercise.
The main omega-3 fatty acids are alpha linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
EPA and DHA, in particular, may reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines while raising anti-inflammatory markers. Some researchers have reported that omega-3 supplementation decreases the soreness after exercise. They found that individuals are able to perform a specific type of exercise at increased levels after omega-3 supplementation, and concluded that omega-3 supplementation could decrease the severe localized soreness due to this type of exercise.
Based on these findings they believe that omega-3 supplements could be beneficial to athletes, especially athletes involved with high-intensity strength training. Other researchers have suggested that fish oil containing omega-3 fatty acids could be a natural anti-inflammatory.
Researchers have investigated the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on muscle soreness over three days in competitive soccer players. Their findings showed that the soccer players experience muscle damage due to the high demand of physical activities during soccer games and were able to show that combining omega-3 fatty acids with a multi-ingredient supplement resulted in protection of the muscles from damage during exercise and reduced muscle soreness in recovery.
They speculated that a possible reason for these desirable effects is that the omega-3 fatty acids improve the structural integrity of the muscle cell membrane before exercising. This could lead to protection of the muscle fibers in the active muscles from developing DOMS.
In a study done by a group of researchers the effect of a high dose and low dose of EPA on the recovery from muscle damage induced by exercise was looked at.
Twenty-seven physically active males participated in this study. They used 100 plyometric drop jumps to induce muscle damage. The participants were tested for muscle soreness and isokinetic muscle squat jump performance.
The researchers found that those who took the high EPA dose were able to return to their baseline performance faster.
Another group of researchers investigated how muscle soreness in 20 professional Rugby players was affected by the consumption of a protein-based supplement containing omega-3 fatty acids. They observed a moderate beneficial effect of omega-3 fatty acids in reducing fatigue.
The researchers concluded, “The moderate beneficial effect of adding fish oil to a protein-based supplement on muscle soreness translated into the better maintenance of explosive power in elite Rugby Union players during pre-season training.”
Fish oils, including cod liver oil, contain these beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. With that in mind, cod liver oil may be useful for muscle recovery from intensive exercise.
‘Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else. You are the one who gets burned.’
Powerful Winning Hacks That Take Venom Out of Angry People
During a job performance review in the 1990s, my boss, H-E-B Food-Drugs Vice President Ralph Mehringer said something that I remember to this day.
“You have the unique ability to take the venom out of angry people,” he noted. “You quickly de-fang them.”
I liked that.
Ralph is a keen observer and calls it as he sees it. His words were motivating, so of course, it reinforced my learning and practicing.
I became interested in studying Neuro Linguistic Programming, or NLP for short. Eventually I became a certified NLP Practitioner.
It helped immensely in leadership and dealing with others through powerful techniques such as “anchoring,” reading body language and facial expressions, “reframing thoughts” and building rapport.
As the years progressed, “de-fanging” became natural and automatic-like.
Here are some tips I learned along the way and continue to use today:
1. When someone is angry and confrontational, stand next to them, rather than in front of them. You want to appear not to be much of a threat, after all you’re physically on their side, and they eventually calm down.
2. Slow the pace of speech.They are likely to be yelling or talking rapidly. It’s critical not to engage in a like manner. When it’s your turn to reply, do so in a deliberate, kind, quiet and slower tone.
4. Rephrase what the other person says and repeat it back to them. In that slower, quieter voice, this helps you understand their concern. This makes them feel you care and are listening to them. It shows your genuine interest in them. It validates them and helps you. Note: Don’t overdo it. You don’t want to appear condescending.
3. Open with “I need your help.” Most people don’t like the guilt of not helping someone out. When asking for a favor from someone, begin with “I need your help.” It GREATLY increases the chances of getting the favor done. But best of all, it can be used as an opening line to someone very irritated about something. Usually I act innocently not knowing why they’re upset. It’s a good precursor to leading them out of their anger towards a better outlook.
5. If you want someone to agree with you, nod while you talk. I learned this as a door-to-door insurance salesman in the early 1980s and discovered it works well with group presentations too. When you notice them beginning to change their attitude, or better yet nod back, you’re on the right track. They are beginning to subconsciously agree with you.
6. If someone doesn’t like you, ask to borrow a pencil or pen. This is called the Benjamin Franklin Effect. It’s just a small favor that actually helps nudge them to like you. Not as effective, but still good, is to subtly touch someone’s upper arm when you ask for a favor.
7. Mimic them without them realizing it. It’s called mirroring and takes some practice. It has to be subtle and with finesse. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it try folding your arms in a non-threatening way. It helps to determine their interest. If someone is observing you, they will likely mimic you.
8. Repeat a person’s name many times in the conversation. Don’t overdo it, but it helps you remember their name, and makes them like you more.
9. If the person is a child, bring bubbles. Hint: this can work for adults too. Bubbles are magical mood changers.
Please note this article begins a series on posts offered to help our readers understand how NLP can not only help you in everyday life and business practice, but reveals the ways politicians, propagandists and others can manipulate your thought process to change your beliefs.
Acetylsalicylic acid, better known as aspirin, is one of the most consumed over-the-counter drugs in the world because of its powerful anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-coagulant properties.
Since ancient times, common aspirin uses have included pain relief, like relieving headaches, as well as muscle aches and some cold symptoms.
There are other uses for aspirin besides a headache or pain relief. We usually buy uncoated aspirin, and the following aspirin-hacks all use the uncoatedtablets.
Caution!If you are allergic to aspirin, you should not take it internally or apply it externally.
🔹Insect bite or sting.
Aspirin is most often used as a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory medicine. That’s because one of aspirin’s ingredients is salicylic acid. If you get a bee sting or an insect bite, you can wet an aspirin and hold it directly on the sting/bite. Alternatively, you can crush the tablet and add a drop or two of water to make a paste. Apply the aspirin paste to the irritation, and it will relieve the pain.
🔹Rejuvenate skin by eliminating blemishes and dead skin.
Although this is generally done with professional cosmetic products, it can also be made at home using aspirin.
Ingredients
5 aspirin
2 Tbsp. lemon juice (20 mL)
1 Tbsp. baking soda (10 grams)
What to do
First, prepare a thick mixture from the aspirin and lemon juice.
Then, rub it over a clean face. Let it set for 20 minutes.
After that time, gently massage in a circle, then rinse with cold water.
Apply a bit of baking soda to neutralize the acid from the lemon, then rinse again.
Finish by moisturizing your skin.
Use once a week.
🔹Treat discolored hair.
Too much chlorine in a swimming pool might make your blonde hair look green. This may be one of the weirdest uses for aspirin, but you can restore your hair color with aspirin.
Dissolve six or seven crushed aspirin in a glass of warm water. Apply the mixture to your hair and let it soak for fifteen minutes. Then wash your hair like you normally would. The greenish tint should disappear.
🔹Treat dandruff.
Crush two aspirin and add them to a capful of shampoo. Wash hair as you normally do. Repeat the treatment as needed.
🔹Remove rust.
For rust stains (from razors, can of shaving cream, etc.) on a bath or sink, first dampen the stain with water. Then apply several crushed aspirin tablets directly to the stain marks. After ten minutes, simply wipe the rust away.
🔹Revive a dead car battery.
Don’t despair! Aspirin can help. Drop two aspirin into the battery cell. The battery’s sulfuric acid will react with the aspirin to create a charge. It should be enough to jump-start the battery—and enable you to drive to the nearest gas station or auto parts store.
🔹Eliminate sweat stains.
Grab the aspirin. Crush three or four aspirin and mix with warm water to form a paste. Evenly rub the paste over the stains and allow it to soak for a couple of hours. Then launder as normal.
🔹Garden assistant. We grow vegetables in various sized potted containers. We love enjoying fresh tomatoes, green beans, peppers, and onion. By adding one crushed aspirin to one gallon of water, just spray the mixture on vegetables. The aspirin will improve growth, increase production, and combat fungal diseases.
🔹Fresh flowers extender.
A crushed aspirin mixed with water and added to a vase of cut flowers will keep them looking fresher longer
🔹Hangover treatment.
Many scientific experts, like Dr. Michael L. Oshinsky from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, have studied various hangover treatments. One of the most effective solutions to combat the results of drinking too much is the combination of aspirin and caffeine (coffee or tea).
Take two aspirin with coffee a few hours after “too much partying,” and you should feel no ill effects the next day.
The content of this article is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified health care professional before acting on any information presented herein. Any statements about the possible health benefits of any subject discussed have not been evaluated by medical professionals or the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or illness.
Today, many people are suffering just to make ends meet. Once, I was considered somewhat wealthy compared to most. Life experiences changed that.
Not many know this, but I was actually homeless for a while. I took a retirement job at a golf resort. This allowed me to sleep safely in my pickup, shower in the locker room, eat healthy and make wonderful friends. Homeless was only temporary, but I learned plenty about life and happiness. Each day at work for 9 years my goal was to make 100 people smile or laugh. I counted them daily.
For many years it has been a personal ambition to make others feel better about themselves and have a positive outlook when they walk away. It makes me happy.
After a long successful and busy career, I counted on my investigation and writing skills to earn more money. It became natural to just look around for every little thing I could be grateful for in my life. The main secret to happiness is to appreciate what we have. I became rich in my own way.
There are many ways to live a happy life. These are things that make me the happiest I have ever been:
🔹Stay creative.
🔹Help others.
🔹Do free or low cost activities. For us it means enjoying a walk, swim, bike ride, library, community center, attending classes, hiking, camping, gardening, and picnics. We don’t watch TV or spend hours on social media. It is similar to being a child again, full of wonderment and discovery.
🔹We made changes. Instead of spending every night in an expensive hotel, we take our tent and gear to ocassionally camp out overnight. It’s healthy and beautiful outdoors. We have no Internet at home. I don’t even know what internet and cable/satellite TV costs these days. We take our garbage to the local dump less than two miles away. We average $18 a month. Our nearest neighbor spends $45 to have someone pick their trash up.
It’s a simple and awesome existence. Less stress.
I learned that you can be happy when you don’t have the means and money you once had. In fact, some of the saddest people I know have plenty of money. They pay taxes on their homes and real estate. Their lives are complex. Ours is simple and cheap. We don’t spend and accumulate “things” much anymore. We survive and accumulate memories. We laugh and smile a lot.
We live in a rural area miles away from fast food restaurants, but do enjoy the convenience of such dining when we are on a roadtrip or pressed for time in a city.
Fast food has a reputation for being unhealthy and high in calories, salt and fat.
Thankfully, there are exceptions. Although many fast foods have been processed, refined or deep-fried, some fast food restaurants now offer healthy options.
To make a healthier selection, look for items that include vegetables, lean sources of protein or whole grains. Additionally, opting for foods that are grilled or baked rather than fried can significantly reduce the calories and fat in your meal.
Here are the top best menu meals for healthier eating.
6. KFC Grilled Breast and Sides. Most of Kentucky Fried menu items are filled with grease and loads of sodium. This is not too surprising since the word “Fried” is in the fast food restaurant’s name.
5. Wendy’s Ultimate Chicken Grilled Sandwich. While many of their burgers are high in calories, this Wendy’s offering is relatively low in calories.
4. Baja Fresh Wahoo Fish Taco. At just 230 calories, this taco is a good way to include some seafood in your diet. You can even add avocado.
3. Taco Bell Grilled Steak Soft Tacos. They have added a more lightened variety of menu items for healthier options for their customers. These are the healthiest from these menus.
2. Chipotle’s Salad Bowl. With a good reputation for fast healthy food, they are good about using organic meats and vegetables. They offer build-your-own options too.
1. Chic-fil-A Grilled Market Salad. They have a variety of meal options most of us would enjoy, but this is their healthiest option.
Bonus Options
Although not in the top six, here are some healthy choices at other fast food chains:
🔹Culver’s: Beef Pot Roast Dinner.
Healthy eating doesn’t have to be all salads and chicken breast. If you enjoy pot roast, opt for the beef pot roast dinner option from Culver’s, then choose steamed broccoli and a side salad (or a double portion of either) as your two sides.
🔹Jack in the Box: Chicken Fajita Pita
This Jack in the Box pick is basically a handheld salad—fresh veggies, flame-grilled chicken, and zesty salsa are all nestled into a whole grain pita pocket.
Lack of sleep isn’t good for you, in fact, it is harmful. It affects your body.
Dodie is a retired RN with close to 40 years of experience.
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“We certainly know that a lack of sleep will actually prevent your brain from being able to initially make new memories, so it’s almost as though without sleep the memory inbox of the brain shuts down and you can’t commit new experiences to memory,” said sleep expert Matthew Walker, professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California and author of the book Why We Sleep.
“After just one night of four to five hours of sleep, there is a 70 percent reduction in critical anticancer-fighting immune cells called natural killer cells,” he wrote.
“And that’s the reason that we know that short sleep duration predicts your risk for developing numerous forms of cancer.”
Professor Matthew Walker
Lack of sleep can slow down our thought process
Scientists who measure sleepiness have found that lack of sleep reduces alertness and concentration. You’re more likely to be confused because it’s harder to concentrate and pay attention. Avoid completing tasks that require logical thinking or complex thinking. Lack of sleep also impairs judgment. Making decisions will be more complicated because you can’t assess the situation and take the right actions.
Excessive Sleepiness affects our brain
Research shows that the neural connections that create our memories are strengthened during sleep. “Sleep consolidates in short-term memory what we learn and experience during the day.”
It turns out that different sleep stages play different roles in storing new information in memory. When sleep is disturbed or disrupted, these cycles are disrupted.
When you are tired, you often forget and do things wrong. The inability to focus due to sleepiness further weakens memory. If you can’t focus on what’s nearby, it doesn’t stay in your short-term and long-term memory.
Lack of Sleep can make learning difficult
Lack of sleep affects your ability to learn in two ways. Since it is difficult to concentrate, it is difficult to obtain information, making it difficult to study effectively. It also affects memory, which is essential for learning.
Sleepiness can cause hyperactivity in children, which can also interfere with learning. Teens can lose focus, hard work, and the memory to do well in school.
Sleeplessness Slows Down Reaction Time
Drowsiness slows reaction times, which is especially problematic if you drive, work, or engage in other activities that require quick reactions. You don’t have to fall asleep while driving to be dangerous.
Drowsiness itself can be as tricky as drunk driving. Sleepiness driving is equivalent to driving a car with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%, which exceeds the legal limit in many states.
Adolescents and young adults, especially men, are at higher risk of fatigue-related traffic accidents. Shift workers who work long or irregular night shifts or hours and people with untreated sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and narcolepsy are also at increased risk.
How do you know if “lack of sleep” is a problem?
Because everyone’s sleep needs are different, experts say the best way to ensure you’re getting enough sleep is to know how you’re feeling. “You shouldn’t wake up.” “You should feel energized throughout the day and gradually calm down as you get closer to your normal bedtime.”
How can you improve sleep and mental health?
Mental health can affect sleep, and. lack of sleep can affect your mental health. This multifaceted relationship creates a complex link between sleep and mental health disorder, but it also means that treating both issues can go hand-in-hand. Taking steps to improve sleep can also be part of a preventative mental health strategy.
Your doctor or psychiatrist can consider different treatments’ potential benefits and risks, including prescription pharmaceuticals. They can provide personalized care, including in situations with multiple underlying physical or mental health issues.
It’s no secret Bidenflation has forced millions to seek out ways to reduce food, travel and living expenses.
In 2020, we moved to a rural area in the Texas Hill Country away from congestion, traffic and rising crime. We have no regrets about living a far less expensive and peaceful life. It allows us to work and write from home or on occasional road trips.
Due to the high cost of just about everything, including rentals and housing, more Americans are:
🔹Living in RVs and Campers.
🔹Using tents instead of hotel rooms.
🔹Taking “staycations” and limiting travel closer to home.
🔹Working remotely on the internet from home instead of commuting to and from a work location.
🔹Becoming Digital Nomads, wandering the country taking miscellaneous work and temporary employment.
We loved Guadalupe River State Park in April 2022
In 2022, the United States should break records with over 305 million internet users within its borders, which accounts for this rise in numbers of digital nomads and remote workers all over the country.
Unfortunately, as practical as this may sound, these remote workers and digital nomads, along with over 25 million Americans, continue to struggle with slow internet speeds and lack access to high-speed internet facilities due to the rural locations they may find themselves in.
Slow internet speeds can affect work deliverables, hamper productivity, and even jeopardize employability, especially if the job requires high internet speeds for effectiveness.
These tips may improve your internet connection if you are living in a rural area, are on the road, or just camping out.
Tips for Rural Residents
Turn off your router for some time. Giving your router a break can help refresh your internet connection and improve your speed issues. Doing this daily stimulates your internet connection, especially when experiencing a lag. This fix won’t take your speeds to NASA levels, but it should help.
What’s your Data Capacity? A data cap may be responsible for slowing your home speeds. Your ISP allocates the amount of data you can use every month. Once exceeded, your internet speed drops drastically. The cap limit is outlined in your bill.
Move your Router. Where is your router positioned? That may be why your internet speed sucks. Moving the position of your router to a higher point or more central location in your home will ensure the Wifi signal from your router reaches every corner of your building. With most wireless modems, the closer you are, the higher your internet speed.
Get Wired. Ditch wireless connections and get wired to eliminate any lags in speed you may be experiencing. Many people don’t know this, but cabled connections like Ethernet are safer, more reliable, and faster than most wireless connections.
Ads are a Drag. Literally. Every time you are online, you see ads. It’s everywhere, on every website; you can’t escape it. Or can you? Ads slow down your internet speeds, especially those heavy, annoying auto-play videos. You can fix this by installing an ad blocker in your browsers.
Scan regularly for Viruses and Malware. Viruses and malware may also be responsible for your crawling internet speeds. Install software that scan your device and connections for viruses and malware, set it up to scan regularly, and you should be fine.
Tips for Campers
Stay centered. Or as close to the center of the camp as you possibly can. The range for RV parks and Campground Wifi signals, thanks to FCC regulations, is limited to just under 300 feet. The closer you are to the camp router, which is often set up in the center of the camp, the better your internet connection.
The less green, the better. Dense trees, foliage, and even high walls can reduce your internet connection quality. For the signal to get to you uninterrupted, you must ensure you are not being obstructed by greenery or other natural or artificial fixtures. Set up your camp in an open space to improve your connection quality.
Upgrade your receiver. A Wi-Fi reception booster or antenna can improve your internet connection and reduce lags. Both instruments can receive and upgrade your internet signals on all your devices. They are easy to install and set up, and you should get sorted out quickly.
Look before you Camp. Different RV parks and Camps use different ISPs for internet access. Do some research before you camp in that park or hotspot. Check reviews for internet speeds and plan accordingly.
Tips for RVers
Choose your equipment carefully. The right equipment can mean the difference between consistent high internet speeds and slower speeds. Pick the right cellular equipment for your needs, the more powerful your router, the more powerful your internet connection will be.
X marks the Spot. Using a coverage map will help you navigate areas with spotty coverage and keep you informed about signal strength so you are never caught in the lurch. These maps are not always accurate but are still great tools for planning your travels.
Avoid Congestions. Areas with many internet users can experience low internet speeds due to heavy data traffic. Congested areas like festivals, concerts, and even football games have tended to experience an overload on the internet infrastructure, resulting in slow connection speeds.
Less is good: The fewer devices connected to your network, the better. Make sure your devices are connected to the devices you are using at the moment. It is easy to lose track of background devices, leading to an increased lag in your internet speed as they update regularly.
He snacked on a small bag of delicious H-E-B brand potato chips Monday evening after such a healthy day of eating.
So how much sodium is in the average small bag of chips? In his bag, H-E-B noted 170 mg (with 150 calories). We looked at the sodium content in a small bag of chips of three leading brands: Lay’s (170mg), Ruffles (160mg), and Kettle Brand (210mg).
By taking the average of these three, we estimate that the average small bag of chips has about 178mg of salt. Here’s how other popular foods compare:
🔹One serving of Bumble Bee White Crabmeat has 260mg of sodium.
Buy the Solid White Albacore Tuna In Water with more protein and 140mg of sodium.
🔹Canned, packaged, and restaurant-prepared soups often pack a lot of sodium, though you can find reduced-sodium options for some canned varieties.
On average, canned soup has 700 mg of sodium, or 30% of the Recommend Daily Intake, per 1-cup (245-gram) serving.
Here’s a tip to save costs and reduce sodium intake: Just add rice and water to any can of soup to double or triple it for almost free. Note: This same hack can be used on other high sodium consumables like tomato sauces, chili, etc.
🔹Making a sandwich? Two slices of Oroweat’s Whole Wheat bread contains 270mg of sodium. Instead, try an Oroweat Whole Wheat Sandwich Thin Roll with just 170mg.
🔹Ham is full of salt. A 3-ounce (85-gram) serving of roasted ham averages 1,117 mg of sodium, or 48% of the RDI.
🔹One Serving of Grape-Nuts Original Cereal has 270mg of sodium so opt for Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds with 135mg instead.
🔹Instant Pudding. A 25-gram portion of instant vanilla pudding mix — used to make a 1/2-cup serving — has 350 mg of sodium, or 15% of the RDI.
🔹Jerky. A 1-ounce (28-gram) serving of beef jerky packs 620 mg of sodium, or 27% of the RDI.
🔹A serving size of V8 Original Vegetable Juice contains a whopping 640mg of sodium but the V8’s Purple Power Veggie Blend contains just 100mg instead. Some brands offer low-sodium versions, which means they can have no more than 140 mg of sodium per serving according to FDA rules.
🔹One Serving of Organic Valley’s Cottage Cheese contains 450mg of sodium so replace it with a Grassmilk Plain Yogurt which contains 120mg per serving. Note that one study found that rinsing cottage cheese under running water for 3 minutes, then draining it, reduces sodium content by 63%.
🔹Pizza. Yikes!A large, 140-gram slice of store-bought, frozen pizza averages 765 mg of sodium, or 33% of the RDI. A restaurant-prepared slice of the same size packs even more — averaging 957 mg of sodium, or 41% of the RDI.
Jack and I agree that since going as salt free as possible, we’ve noticed the original tastes of vegetables, fruits and other food are far more naturally flavorful.
SALT FACTS
🔹Salt is an essential part of a healthy diet. It helps our nerves and muscles function properly and help us control blood pressure and volume. But too much may lead to hypertension, a leading cause of heart disease and stroke. The FDA recommends no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day, but Jack aims for under 1,000 at home.
🔹The Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for sodium of 2,300 mg — is about 1 teaspoon of salt.
🔹Table salt, known chemically as sodium chloride, is made up of 40% sodium.
🔹It’s estimated that at least half of people with hypertension have blood pressure that’s affected by sodium consumption — meaning they’re salt sensitive. In addition, your risk for salt sensitivity increases with age.
🔹The average daily sodium intake in the United States is 3,400 mg — much higher than the recommended upper limit.
This mainly comes from packaged and restaurant foods, rather than from overusing your salt shaker.
The legendary cowboy, Kent Doyle, of Bandera County, Texas, recently told me how to get rid of some ants using bottled dishwashing soap. It worked.
So I took on another project of searching out more tips and hacks with Dawn dishwashing soap.
Eliminate fruit flies. Pour white vinegar into a small container. Add a drop of Dawn. Fruit flies will be attracted to the vinegar, but cannot escape the Dawn.
Make your own ice pack. Partially fill a plastic, zipper-type bag with Dawn dish soap. Squeeze out the air and seal the bag closed. Place the ice pack into the RV freezer. The Dawn will become a gel which will flex to fit the shape of the injury site.
Remove grease stains from clothing. Apply Dawn directly onto greasy stains from that yummy BBQ meal. Rub it in a bit and launder as usual.
Clean carpet stains. Mix together equal parts Dawn and warm water. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray the stain. Use a microfiber cloth to gently clean the stain away. Use another microfiber cloth dipped into clear water to rinse the area. Blot the cleaned and rinsed area with a towel. Allow to air dry.
Clean windows. Just one drop of Dawn into a quart of water makes a great glass cleaner. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and get to work on those windows.
Clean hairbrush and comb. Begin by removing hair from the utensils. Then pour a cup of hot water into a shallow bowl. Add one tablespoon borax and one tablespoon Dawn. Gently swirl to mix. Soak the comb and hairbrush in the mixture until you see they are clean. Use an old toothbrush to scrub away any residue. Rinse thoroughly with clear water.
Prevent eyeglass “fog.” Rub a small drop of Dawn on each lens of your eyeglasses, both sides. Then use a microfiber cloth to dry and polish each lens. This is especially helpful when temperature differences cause the lens to fog, such as transitioning from an air-conditioned car to the steamy, outside summer weather.
Eliminate squeaks. Apply Dawn detergent to a squeaky hinge and the squeak will disappear.
Soothe poison ivy. Gently wash the affected area with Dawn and cool water. (Dawn’s oil-fighting formula will help to eliminate oil from the poison ivy plant.) Follow the first application with a second round of Dawn and warm water, which will help soothe the blisters and itch.
Clean the tub and shower. Fill a plastic spray bottle halfway with white vinegar. Heat the vinegar in the microwave until warm. Then fill the remainder of the spray bottle with Dawn. Put the lid on and shake to mix thoroughly. Spray the mixture all over your shower walls, floor, and that disgusting ring around the tub. Let it sit for ten minutes and then scrub stubborn places clean. Rinse thoroughly.
Outdoors
Stop ants. Put two teaspoons of Dawn into a spray bottle of water. Spray the ant trail or any suspected ant entry point into your home. (Hint: This recipe also works to kill fleas. Spray the affected area. Let sit for half an hour. Then vacuum up the dead critters.)
Kill weeds. Mix together 1/2 cup of salt, 1/2 gallon white vinegar, and two tablespoons of Dawn. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray the resulting solution on weeds. This should take care of them—even poison ivy!
.Clean outdoor furniture. Mix water with Dawn detergent. Using a sponge or brush, dip into the soapy water and scrub off furniture. Use your hose to rinse and set furniture in the sun to dry.
Oil/grease spill on concrete driveways. If you spill grease onto the concrete pad, you can clean it off with Dawn. First, remove as much of the spill as possible by sprinkling kitty litter over it. Use a paper towel to pick up the oil-soaked kitty litter. Then mix a generous squirt of Dawn with warm water. Use a scrub brush or old towel to apply the treated water to the spill. Scrub to remove the stain.
Find leaks. Spray Dawn soapy water over the hose (water or gas). If you see bubbles, you have a leak.
Clean your BBQ grill. Put 1/2 cup of Dawn dish soap into a gallon of water. Stir gently to mix. Pour the solution into a large tub or sealable trash bag. Then put cooled grill grates into the mixture. Soak the grill grates in the solution overnight. You should be able to easily scrub them clean the next morning.
Scrub tires. Begin by hosing loose dirt and grime off tires. Put Dawn directly onto a rag or heavy-duty sponge and scrub the tires. Rinse thoroughly.
Clean greasy tools. Put one tablespoon of Dawn into a gallon of water. Dip a sponge into the solution and use it to clean greasy tools. Avoid rust by drying the clean tools immediately with old towels.
Remove stickers. Apply Dawn right to the stickers and let it sit for several minutes. Dawn cut through the glue and the stickers were easily removed. Note: Be sure to rinse thoroughly afterwards.
Hunters must remember that areas where they leave game animal remains will attract bears.
🔹This carrion is an easy meal that bears will eagerly consume.
🔹No matter what time of year you hunt, it is possible you could encounter a bear. Although contact is minimal in the winter, due to hibernation, be aware of your surroundings, especially in remote locations that may contain dens with sleeping bears.
🔹Bear-proofing wildlife feeding stations, such as deer feeders, can be difficult. Because hunters want game to have access to feed, but want to exclude black bears, the best options involve limiting access. Unless they are protected by an electric fence that deer can jump, gravity feeders should likely be removed in favor of spin-cast feeders.
🔹The base of spin-cast feeders should be at least 10 feet off the ground, and suspended from a cross-member that is least 4 feet from the post that supports it. Alternatively, hunters may electrify tripod spin-cast or gravity feeders, as well as providing electric fencing.
🔹Electric fencing may be permanent, similar to systems designed for livestock, or be portable, such as “back-country bear fencing” often used to secure camp sites. These portable systems are available from many outdoor companies. They are powered by D-cell batteries and use lightweight posts and wire. Whether suspending feed or electrifying, take care to prevent damage and the loss of feed.
CAMPING
🔹Campers should collect trash nightly and hang it high enough from a tree or other structure that a bear cannot reach it, or climb to it. Ten feet off ground level and four feet from any branches is generally sufficient.
🔹Sweet-smelling items such as perfumes, insect repellants, and candy attract bears.
🔹The smell of camp cooking can also attract bears. It is wise to locate your cooking site 100 yards from your sleeping area. Even the smell of food on clothes can attract bears, so change clothes before sleeping if you cook for the camp.
🔹Coolers of food are easy targets for bears—keep them inside vehicles or otherwise inaccessible. Although some coolers are rated as bear-safe, black bears will still cause damage trying to get in them.
HIKING
🔹Hikers should be noisy in areas where black bears are present.
🔹A startled bear is a dangerous bear, and will have the same reaction as any animal when frightened. Although they might flee, they might also display defensive behaviors such as bluff charges or teeth clacking. This is especially possible for a female with cubs.
Bear-proofing around the house
Human-bear relations are most problematic around private homes.
🔹Bears, like raccoons, are opportunistic omnivores who enjoy human garbage. Homeowners should minimize exposing garbage to bears.
🔹A good first step is to secure trash cans with certified bear-proof covers. You can also contact your waste disposal company to request that they upgrade community dumpsters to be bear-proof.
🔹Minimize areas where you dump cooking grease, scraps, and reduce access to compost piles.
🔹Other food sources include bird feeders and other wildlife feed, fallen fruit from trees, pet foods, and barbecue pits.
🔹Wood piles attract rodents, which can be a food source. Bears will quickly assess these sources come to them for food. If you choose to feed wildlife in “bear country,” move the feed frequently to prevent bears from becoming habituated to one area.
🔹It may be surprising, but a closed door, high window, or low wall often will not deter bears. Livestock and pet feed stored in outbuildings are easy, high-energy sources of nutrition for black bears.
Being a registered nurse for 40 years, as soon as we heard about the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, I did extensive research to find the right foods and supplements for Jack and me to fight it. (Shown at the bottom of this article).
Both of us agreed we would not be taking any so-called experimental vaccines that were rushed into development and not adequately proven.
We elected to support our God-given immune systems by modifying our vitamin, mineral, and food intake instead.
Hard to get.
Hydroxychloroquine, which has been around since 1946, has been used to treat autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, in addition to malaria and other conditions.
The more research I did, talking with and learning from physicans, nurses and researchers, I decided on a regimen for Jack and me.
Let me just say, we have taken road trips through Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada and Colorado since June 2020. These were during so-called “lockdowns.”
Some of the crowds we’ve been in included Graceland, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, D.C., Ark Encounter, Branson, Royal Gorge, Sea World, various zoos, museums and theaters.
We have relatives that had COVID, some twice, even after taking the jab. We know more people who have died from COVID and some after being recently inoculated. We also know many nurses and even doctors who refuse to take the shots. We are respectful to any individual for whatever their choice is, but we refuse to be used as guinea pigs for their harmful gene therapy injections.
We are not fond of wearing masks, but out of respect for others, we do so only in medical offices, hospitals, and businesses that require it (usually we go somewhere else).
We know our body wears out over time, but why? Exactly what drives this process that slowly robs us of our health and vigor?
Our body ages because our cells become damaged, and our body can’t repair them fast enough. There are many different reasons for this damage, and scientists don’t agree on which one is the main cause. But most agree on this: The long term effect of this wear and tear on the cells in our tissues is the main factor in aging.
This gradual damage reduces the number of brain cells we have, allows some of the cells in our body to become cancerous, destroys the part of our cells that produces energy, limits blood flow by clogging our arteries, and weakens our heart.
Free Radicals
In the mid 1950s, Denham Harman was toiling in a science lab at the University of Nebraska. His hard work paid off when he proposed the free radical theory of aging. His name is famous in the research world, and the free radical theory is more widely accepted today than any other in the scientific and medical communities.
Take a deep breath. Feel refreshed?. As you breathe, you take in invigorating oxygen; it also produces chemicals called free radicals. These free radicals are molecules that are unstable because they lack an electron. They travel through your body like a band of pickpockets, trying to steal electrons from healthy cells. When they succeed, they leave the cell irreversibly damaged.
One damaged cell will not usually cause your body much distress. But over time, lots of these pickpocket molecules can cause so much damage that your body becomes weak and more likely to fall prey to cancer and heart disease. This cell damage is called oxidation, and it is similar to the oxidation of metal that produces rust.
Don’t feel betrayed by your body because it creates these roving thieves. Luckily, your body also produces antioxidants, which neutralize free radicals.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants fight oxidation by combining with free radicals to form a harmless substance or by contributing an electron to the free radical, making it stable. However, when free radical levels get too high, these protective processes can’t keep up.
Cigarette smoke, pollution, radiation, stress, excessive sun exposure, and other factors can increase your level of free radicals, causing you to use up your store of antioxidants more quickly. In addition, as you get older, your body’s production of antioxidants slows down, allowing free radicals to damage more and more of your cells.
How can you stop free radicals from slowly taking over your body, overpowering and outnumbering your antioxidant protectors?
You can help your body manufacture antioxidants like glutathione, and you can get other antioxidants, like vitamins E and C, from your diet. As far as protecting ourselves from COVID-19, here is the well researched regimen we’ve successfully used since early March 2020.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Health information articles provide general health information and are not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a physician or other health professionals. We advise you to contact a health care professional with any questions or concerns about specific health care needs.
OUR ANTI-COVID REGIMEN
Today we eat a low sodium (under 2,000 mgs a day) diet. We emphasize more vegetables and fruit, and smaller entrees of meat, chicken, seafood, etc. We do prefer chicken (not fried) over meat.
🔹The #1 thing we take every evening is zinc with tonic water. It’s the closest thing to hydroxychloroquine that we know of. It’s inexpensive and doesn’t require a prescription.
🔹Tonic water contains quinine, which has been used for centuries to treat malaria. Chloroquine is a relative of quinine — both are extracted from the bark of the cinchona tree. Quinine has been around for centuries, discovered by Peruvian natives in the 1820s.
There are a few reasons why quinine and chloroquine work as an anti-viral. First they can change the pH in the cells, making them more alkaline (thus impairing virus’s ability to replicate).
Second, quinine and chloroquine help bring otherwise bio-unavailable zinc into your cells, and the zinc inhibits the virus’s ability to replicate inside your cells.
🔹Sunlight (vitamin D) also minimizes the effects of viruses. A 2020 study found that people with lower levels of vitamin D were more likely to die from coronavirus.
🔹Vitamin C is used to help our God-given immune systems fight off any viruses we come in contact with. We take Emergen-C containing 1000 mg of Vitamin C as well as B Vitamins and other antioxidants.
🔹We also take a proprietary blend of CoQ-10, Citicoline, and refined fish oil.
🔹In addition, we consume Green Pasture Products such as fermented Cod Liver Oil along with their Concentrated Butter Oil.
Concentrated Butter Oil is made from milk produced by rapidly growing greengrass fed cows. It is extracted and concentrated through centrifugation. The speed of grass growth, timing of grazing, species of grass, climate, and extraction method are all-important factors in making real Concentrated Butter Oil.
Their blend contains naturally occurring Vitamins A and D. It’s a natural source of Omega Fatty Acids.
🔹This cod liver oil is so good for your heart, brain and joints. I’ve tried many brands over the years (as a former national champion volleyball player) and Green Pasture helped me in just a matter of days like no other.
Clever Journeys 