How to get rid of Fruit Flies and Other neat tricks!

Honey

It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month ... Which we know today as the honeymoon.

http://www.angelfire.com/az/sthurston/honeyandcinnamon.html

Cinnamon and Honey

Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot. It will do what some call turning to sugar. In reality honey is always honey. However, when left in a cool dark place for a long time it will do what I rather call "crystallizing". When this happens I loosen the lid, boil some water, and sit the honey container in the hot water, turn off the heat and let it liquefy. It is then as good as it ever was. Never boil honey or put it in a microwave. To do so will kill the enzymes in the honey.

Cinnamon and Honey
Bet the drug companies won't like this one getting around. Facts on Honey and Cinnamon: It is found that a mixture of honey and Cinnamon cures

Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients. Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada , in its issue dated 17 January,1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists:

most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a 'Ram Ban' (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases.

HEART DISEASES:
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, instead of jelly and jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also, those who have already had an attack, if they do this process daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack.. Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada , various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and veins.

ARTHRITIS:
Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week, out of the 200 people so treated, practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain, and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

BLADDER INFECTIONS:
Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

CHOLESTEROL:
Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol is cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS:
Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses.

UPSET STOMACH:
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach ulcers

GAS:
According to the studies done in India and Japan , it is revealed that if Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM:
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacterial and from the root.viral diseases.

INDIGESTION:
Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

INFLUENZA:
A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ' Ingredient' which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY:
Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Take four spoons of honey, one spoon of cinnamon powder, and three cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans also increase and even a 100 year old, starts performing the chores of a 20-year-old..

PIMPLES:
Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS:
Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.

WEIGHT LOSS:
Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast on an empty stomach, and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. If taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

CANCER:
Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a day.

FATIGUE:
Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts, are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M. when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week.

BAD BREATH:
People of South America , first thing in the morning, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

HEARING LOSS:
Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing. Remember when we were kids? We had toast with real butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it!

Thanks for this tip Lee! It is worth a try!

Become a BAC Fighter!

http://www.fightbac.org/
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Food Safety for Mothers and Babies
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Expectant mothers and those preparing food for them should be especially diligent when following safe food handling recommendations. Any illness a pregnant woman contracts can affect her unborn child, whose immune system is too immature to fight back.

FOOD SAFETY TIPS
Never eat raw meat — such as steak tartare (a raw hamburger dish) — poultry or seafood, especially raw oysters and clams.

Do not eat raw or undercooked eggs and any food containing them such as Caesar salad, mousse, some custards, homemade ice cream and homemade mayonnaise.

Do not drink raw or unpasteurized milk or foods made from raw milk.

Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue, and Mexican-style soft white types such as queso blanco and queso fresco.

Avoid food from deli counters and thoroughly reheat lunchmeats and hot dogs.

Make sure food is thoroughly cooked.

Before eating stuffing cooked inside whole poultry, be sure it has reached 165 °F.

LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES
These foodborne bacteria can cause miscarriage and illness in newborns. Listeria has been found in unpasteurized milk, imported soft cheese, hot dogs, lunchmeats and spreads. To control Listeria, refrigerate any food marked "refrigerate". Do not buy or use foods that are past their "use-by" dates. Do not keep sealed, unopened lunchmeats or spreads more than two weeks. Do not eat soft cheeses, refrigerated meat spreads or refrigerated smoked seafood (canned are safe). Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats or deli meats unless they are reheated until steaming hot.

METHYLMERCURY IN FISH
Seafood can be an important part of a balanced diet for pregnant women. It is a good source of high quality protein and other nutrients and is low in fat. However, methylmercury in fish, if eaten regularly, can harm an unborn child’s or a young child’s developing nervous system. Always follow the advice of your doctor or health care provider. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended the following guidelines for pregnant women and small children.

Avoid eating large fish that can possibly contain high levels of methylmercury (shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish).

Eat up to 12 ounces (two average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury. Five commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock and catfish.

Albacore ("white") tuna and tuna steaks have more mercury than canned light tuna. Limit albacore tuna and tuna steaks to six ounces (one average meal) per week.

Limit freshwater fish caught by family and friends to one meal (six ounces for an adult, two ounces for a young child) a week of cooked fish, and don’t consume any other fish that week.

For more information about the levels of mercury in specific types of fish, see the FDA food safety website at www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/sea-mehg.html. Special advisories on fish caught from local waters can be obtained from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (S.C. DHEC) at 1 (803) 898-4399 or 1 (888) 849-7241, or on the web at http://www.scdhec.net/eqc/admin/html/fishadv.html

SAFE FOOD HANDLING
Shopping: Do not buy cans or glass jars with dents, cracks or bulging lids.

Cold Storage: Choose perishable foods last at the grocery store and go straight home and refrigerate or freeze the food immediately. Use an appliance thermometer to be sure the refrigerator is 40 °F or lower and freezer is 0 °F to keep food at safe temperatures. Store canned goods in a cool, dry place for use within a year. Never put them above the stove, under the sink or in a garage or damp basement.

Thawing: Do not thaw food on the counter! Bacteria multiply quickly at room temperature. Defrost food in the refrigerator, in cold water or in the microwave just before cooking.

Food Preparation: Keep work areas clean. Wash hands, utensils and cutting boards in warm, soapy water before and after preparing food. Sanitize with a solution of 1 teaspoon chlorine bleach per quart of water after handling raw meat or poultry.

Cook Thoroughly: Use a thermometer to be sure foods reach proper temperatures to destroy any bacteria present. Cook beef, lamb and veal steaks, roasts and chops to 145 °F for medium rare or 160 °F for medium. Cook ground meats, pork and eggs to 160 °F, poultry, stuffing, casseroles and leftovers to 165 °F. Eggs should be cooked solid, both yolk and white.

Serving and Handling Food: Never leave food out at room temperature more than two hours. Divide food into shallow containers for quick cooling in the refrigerator and promptly refrigerate it. For buffets, keep cold food cold and hot food hot, and everything clean.

SAFE HANDLING OF BABY BOTTLES
Clean: Wash bottles, bottle caps and nipples in the dishwasher or hand wash, rinse and boil for five minutes or more just before refilling.

Refrigerate: Keep filled bottles of formula or breast milk in the refrigerator until just before feeding. Refrigerate open containers of ready-to-feed or concentrated formula.
Warming: Place bottles in hot (not boiling) water for 5 minutes. Shake well and test milk temperature by shaking a few drops on your wrist to make sure it is not too hot before feeding. The milk should barely feel warm.

Microwave: Never microwave baby bottles. Microwaves heat unevenly resulting in "hot spots" that can scald the baby’s mouth and throat.

SAFELY STORE BREAST MILK
Store breast milk in the refrigerator or a freezer in sterilized bottles.
Label each container with the name of the child, date and time milk was pumped.
Refrigerate promptly and use within two days, or freeze and use within two weeks.

SAFELY STORE BABY’S BOTTLES
Discard used milk from bottles immediately. Bacteria from the baby’s mouth contaminate the milk where it can grow and multiply.

Discard unused prepared formula after 24 hours and unused breast milk after 48 hours.
Discard open containers of ready-to-feed or concentrated formula after 48 hours.

SAFELY HANDLE JARS OF BABY FOOD
Throw out baby food jars if the "use-by" date has passed.
Check to see that the safety button in the lid is down. If the jar lid doesn’t "pop" when opened, or is not sealed completely, don’t use it.

Do not heat baby foods jars in the microwave. Follow instructions above for warming bottles. Or, spoon a portion into a microwave safe dish and heat on HIGH for about eight seconds. Stir, let stand briefly and stir again. Test for lukewarm temperature before feeding.

SAFELY STORE OPENED OR FRESHLY MADE BABY FOOD:
Store strained fruits and vegetables for two to three days in the refrigerator or for six to eight months in the freezer.

Store strained meats and eggs, and meat and vegetable combinations for a day in the refrigerator or for one to two months in freezer.

For individual servings, freeze strained foods in ice cube trays then place cubes in freezer bags.

CAN I FEED MY INFANT DIRECTLY FROM THE JAR OF BABY FOOD?
No, because the surface of the container has not been cleaned and may contain harmful bacteria. Also, bacteria from the baby’s mouth contaminate the food, where it can grow and multiply before being served again. Too many bacteria can make the baby sick.
For more information on safe handling of foods, request HGIC 3500, Basics of Safe Food Handling.

Food Safety
September is National Food Safety Education Month®
Salmonella Santpaul Outbreak Update August 28, 2008 (FDA)
Hurricanes, Power Outages & Floods (FDA)(including information for food industry and retailers)
Summer Food Safety
Consumer Advice — Store: Keep It Safe
Food Safety Hub (NAL)
Food Safety at Home Podcasts (USDA) USDA
Gives Advice for Safely Preparing Your Thanksgiving Meal November
14, 2007

FDA Food Protection Plan
Food Safety Training Videos (FDA)
Food Safety News from CDC / EPA / FSIS / FDA Recent Additions to the
FoodSafety.gov web site

Partnership for Food Safety Education (Fight BAC!) Food Safety Training and Education
Alliance

International

GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD LABEL STARTS WITH AN 8
- LEARN TO READ THE NUMBERS ON YOUR FOOD
Date: Wednesday, 10 September 2008

Genetically Modified starts with an 8! Read the Numbers on Your Fruit I learned that sticker labels on the fruits actually tell you how thefruits have been grown - whether they were organically grown or conventionally grown withpesticides and herbicides; oh, and let's not forget about the genetically engineered fruits.

Conventional Fruit Labels
Four digits (does not start with 9 )
**mostly starting with the digit 4
.........................................................
Organic Fruit Labels
Five digits and starts with number 9
........................................................

Genetically Modified
Fruit Start with the digit 8


If you come across an apple in the store and its label's 4922, it's a conventional apple grown with herbicides and harmful fertilizers.

If it has a sticker 99222, it's organic and safe to eat.

If it says 89222, then RUN!!!! It has been genetically modified(GMO).

** this is good to know because stores aren't obligated to tellyou if a fruit has been genetically modified.

So next time you go shopping, remember these critical numbersand know how to avoid purchasing inorganic and GMO fruits.

Green People
Safe Food

Be Safe Food

The Core Four Practices
Right now, there may be an invisible enemy ready to strike. He's called BAC (bacteria) and he can make people sick. In fact, even though consumers can't see BAC - or smell him, or feel him - he and millions more like him may already be invading food products, kitchen surfaces, knives and other utensils.
But consumers have the power to Fight BAC!® and to keep food safe from harmful bacteria. It's as easy as following these four simple steps:
CLEAN: Wash hands and surfaces often
SEPARATE: Don't cross-contaminate!
COOK: Cook to proper temperature
CHILL: Refrigerate promptly
Download the Be Food Safe Brochures for all the lessons and for a chart of safe cooking temperatures.

Be Food Safe is a joint program of the USDA and the Partnership for Food Safety Education.


Introducing: Be Food Safe
Research findings by the Partnership for Food Safety Education reveal that despite the fact that a majority of adults feel confident they understand and follow food handling procedures, a sizeable number do not consistently follow certain safe food handling practices.
Some examples:
Only about 15% of people consistently use a food thermometer. Using a food thermometer is important — you can't tell food is cooked safely by how it looks.
Suppliers
As a food or consumer products company you should consider joining with the more than 40 leading retailers that have already licensed Be Food Safe for in-store programming.
In Partnership testing of the platform, 70% of people surveyed said seeing the Be Food Safe logo on food products and in-store makes them feel more positive about the manufacturer or store.
Retailers
Over 75% of shoppers believe food-related illness is a serious threat to their health. Many believe the threat is greater today than in the past.
In a recent survey by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), shoppers saying they were mostly or completely confident in the food safety provided by the industry dropped 16 percentage points from 2006 to 2007.
The non-profit Partnership for Food Safety Education creates consumer and retailer tools that teach basic safe food handling and prevention of foodborne illness in the home. members



Be Food Safe Retail Produce Icon 6
For BE FOOD SAFE Licensees Only!
Activity Sheets 20
Here you will find coloring pages for kids and one-page downloadable activity sheets for young people developed by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Brochures and Flyers 19
Find and download the "greatest hits" Fight BAC!® documents here: the Fight BAC!® basic brochure (b&w or color); Ten Least Wanted Pathogens; Consumer Guide on Ground Meat and Poultry and many others.
E-cards 8
Are you a BAC Fighter? BAC Fighters teach that cook, clean, chill and separate are the first line of defense in fighting foodborne illness at home, work and school. When you sign up to be a BAC Fighter you will receive monthly e-cards like these. Cut and paste these e-cards into your emails or publications.
Graphics 0
Fact Sheets 10
Find the popular Fight BAC!® color and b&w fact sheets here: Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill are your first line of defense against foodborne illness!
Logos 7
Fight BAC!® campaign logos and graphics for use in your efforts to educate consumers about the importance of safe food handling.
Newsletters 1
Presentations 8
These PowerPoint presentations were developed by the Partnership for use by food safety educators, retailers, and others who need an off-the-shelf tool to teach about the importance of safe handling of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Audio 2
Video 6
Fight BAC!® public service announcements and television clips.
Spanish Resources 15

Health Tools

Measured Success: 50 Online Fitness and Nutrition Calculators
100 Tips, Tools, and Resources to Train for a Marathon the Healthy Way
100 Open Courseware Collections in Health and Medicine
50 Great Exercise Blogs That Will Get You Motivated
100 Tips and Resources to Prepare for the NCLEX

Measured Success: 50 Online Fitness and Nutrition Calculators
September 11th, 2008 by Site Administrator Print
By Alisa Miller
Whether you are trying to lose weight or just want to improve your overall health and fitness, there are plenty of online calculators that can help you achieve your goals. Find tools to assist with packing the most nutritious lunch, creating a overall health picture, eating the healthiest fast food, creating a great running plan, or telling you how strong a swimmer you are. These calculators will have you motivated and moving in the right direction when it comes to diet and fitness.
Nutrition
Everyone has to eat, but make sure you are eating a good balance of what you need and the most healthy food possible with these calculators.
Pack a Lunch. Use this tool to determine the calories and nutrition in the lunch you pack. Make combinations of entrees, sides, snacks, and drinks and you will see the total of calories and a breakdown of the vitamins you are getting with the entire lunch.
NAT Tool. Use this tool to determine the nutritional content of the food you eat. Just enter your age and gender and the food you want analyzed to receive a report.
CalorieKing Food Database. Find out serving size for popular foods and drinks as well as the calorie, fat, and carbohydrate information for each. This database includes everything from beer to fast food to snacks.
Nutrition Data Daily Needs Calculator. Scroll down this page to enter your information into this calculator to discover what your nutritional needs are. The breakdown includes specific amounts of vitamins and minerals you should be getting each day.
The Bored.com Nutrition Calculator. Whether you want to scroll through the list of types of food or do a search for a specific food, you can find all the nutritional data. This calculator even does fast food, so if you want to learn about that breakfast at McDonald’s, just type in the name of your food and get the nutritional value.
Workouts for Women Nutritional Calculator. Type in your information to discover your nutritional requirements. The results are categorized by caloric expenditure and requirements for carbohydrates, fat, protein, and calcium.
Your Health Your Way Nutrition Calculator. Search for a particular food or add in all of your foods for an entire meal to find out the nutritional data for what you are eating.
Fast Food Nutrition Facts Calculator. Designed for determining the amount of calories your child is getting from fast food, this calculator also works for adults. Select menu items from several popular fast food restaurants and find out the percentage of calories received in that meal as well as fat content.
KFC Nutrition Calculator. If you love KFC, then this calculator is for you. Select your menu items to discover the nutritional value of the food at KFC.
Nutritional Guideline Calculator. Not only can you find out how many calories a day you need with this calculator, but it will also give you a breakdown of how much protein, carbohydrates, and fats you need. You can select results for maintaining, losing, or gaining weight.
Health and Fitness
From finding out about your overall health to more specific information such as target heart rate, these calculators will help you with your general health and fitness needs.
Healthy Body Calculator. Plug in your age, height, weight, fitness levels, and any other information you may know about your body style to get a simple report about your overall health. You can also request nutrition facts to help you maintain or lose weight.
Activity Calorie Calculator. Tell your weight and the duration of your activity and this calculator will give you the amount of calories burned for 222 different activities.
Your Total Health. Choose from 11 different calculators (or choose all of them) to find out anything from your body mass index to daily calcium requirement to target heart rate.
Self.com Fitness Calculators. Use these calculators to find your BMI, ideal weight range, happy weight, and caloric needs. You can also select from 19 different activities to learn how many calories each one burns.
ExRx Fitness Calculators. This extensive list of calculators offers everything from body composition to male girth to risk class calculators. If you are looking for a fitness calculator, this is a great resource.
Health and Fitness Calculator v.1.0. Download this calculator to discover your BMI and what risks you have for size-related diseases. You will need your weight, height, and waist size to use this calculator.
Active.com Fitness Calculators. Calculate your pace, target heart rate, body fat index, body mass index, and more with these fitness calculators.
Weight Loss
These calculators will help you reach your weight loss goals with calorie calculators, body fat percentages, food tracking, and more.
Weight Loss Calculator. Based on calorie intake, calculate how long it will take you to lose your goal weight, daily calorie deficit needed, and weight loss over a period of time. This site also offers some food and calorie calculators as well.
What Does 200 Calories Look Like?. This visual tool helps you see a 200 calorie serving-size of particular foods. If you are trying to stay within a certain calorie intake, this tool can quickly help you know what you can eat and what you should stay away from.
Understanding Your Body Fat Percentage. Learn about the relationship of essential body fat to your health and use this chart to help determine what a healthy amount of weight you can lose may be. You will probably need your calculator to help you with the calculations here.
JournalToSuccess.com Tools . There are several health calculators to help you lose weight at this site including a body mass index, ideal body weight, ideal weight range, and more. They also offer an online journal to record your food, weight, and fitness activities.
Tweight.com. If you are a Twitter fan and are trying to lose weight, this tool is great. Just tweet your weight goal, send your updates, and check your history to see how much progress you are making.
TweetWhatYouEat.com. Another Twitter-based tool, this one lets you log your food intake and calories associated with each food. If you don’t know the calories for a particular food, this tool also offers a database to help you.
CRON-O-Meter. Download this free tool to help you lose weight on a Calorie Reduced diet. You can track your food, get diet advice, use a custom recipe editor so you can track the foods you make at home, and much more.
Free Weight Loss Calculators and Tools. With 12 different calculators and even a converter tool, you will find helpful tools to your weight loss goals. Check out the Pregnancy Calorie Calculator to maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy and the Waist to Hip Calculator to find out about a healthy body fat distribution.
Changing Shape Health and Fitness Calculators. These calculators range from food fat content to daily protein requirements to one-rep calculator to help you determine your strength.
Complete Fitness Programs
While not straightforward calculators, these online tools offer a way to combine your food and fitness goals, track data, and chart your progress. All are free, but some offer premium services for a charge.
Gyminee. Track your workouts, monitor your food intake, and connect with others with this tool that is designed for both those trying to lose weight or those just getting a handle on their fitness.
The Daily Plate. This tool allows you to track what you are eating each day and log fitness as well so you can determine how many calories you are eating and burning. They also have a handy search tool that will tell you how many calories are in a specific food or how many calories you can burn with a specific activity.
SparkPeople. Get meal plans, weight tracker, calorie counter, fitness log and more with these free tools. You can also connect with others, watch exercise videos, and get recipes.
traineo. Find motivation and support to change the way you eat and work out with this tool. set up a free profile and track you exercise and nutrition information to see your progress with graphs. You can also connect with others and find plenty of support to keep going toward your goal.
FitWatch. Create your profile and start tracking your fitness and nutrition data with this tool. You can also read articles about fitness and health, get popular diet plans, and learn about various exercise and workout programs.
Running
These calculators can help any kind of runner, no matter if you enjoy jogging around the neighborhood or are training for a marathon. Some are handy for cyclists and hikers too.
Smart Coach. This tools from Runner’s World allows you to enter information about your past runs and how you would like to start training to receive a training program that is individualized to your ability and goals.
MapMyRun. Use this tool to create a map of your runs, find a run, or log your training information.
Run the Nation. This site offers several tools to help with your running including a body fat calculator, race pace calculator, workout calorie counter, and more.
RunningAHEAD. With this tool, you can log and track your runs, and then analyze them to make sure you are staying on track with your goals.
Runworks Running Calculator. Enter the data from your last run into this calculator to find your level of fitness and help predict how you will do in longer races.
Runbayou: VDOT Calculator. Similar to the previous calculator, this one finds your level of fitness based on your last race. This calculator also provides paces for five different running zones to help you create the perfect training routine.
Runningmap.com. Use this tool to map your runs, plan for future runs, and even share your running maps with others. Cyclists, hikers, or any other outdoor fitness buff will also find this tool helpful.
Running4Women.com. This site offers lots of tools for women to use when training including a body mass index calculator, heart rate monitor, and a pace calculator.
MarathonGuide.com. This site offers running calculators, fitness calculators, and health/nutrition calculators. While written for those training for a marathon, anyone will find many of these calculators useful.
Track Lane Distance Calculator. If you run on a track, use this calculator to determine what the offset distance is for each of the lanes. You will need to know the specifics of the track and race details including lane width and distance of the race.
Other Sport Calculators
Whether walking, body building, or competing in a triathlon, these calculators will make your fitness program a bit easier.
About.com Walking Fitness Calculators. These calculators will help your walking program and overall health and fitness by assisting you with target heart rate, pace, calorie and distance, and much more.
Walk, Jog, or Run Pace Calculator. Use this calculator to determine your pace no matter which mode of moving you enjoy. Just enter the distance you went and the amount of time it took you to do so.
Stride Distance Calculator. If you can’t afford a pedometer, this calculator can help you find the same information. By measuring your stride distance, you can determine the distance traveled very accurately.
Bodybuilding.com Fitness Calculators. If you are into body building, this resource offers tons of calculators to help you discover anything from training to nutrition to supplements. There’s even a calculator to help you know how much alcohol you can drink before you would be drunk.
Bicycle Speed and Power Calculator. Enter the information about your bike and the conditions of the ride to determine the power and speed of your ride. Also, if you know the distance of your ride, you can determine the number of calories burned during that specific ride.
Gear Inch & Shifting Pattern Calculator. Whether you ride a multi-speed or single-speed bike, you can find out gear inches and shifting patterns based on your chain ring and freewheel specifics.
Academy Swimming Ready Reckoner. Select your stroke, distance, the time it took you to swim it, and find out if you are academy, bronze, silver, or gold standard. This is a great motivator if you are trying to improve your times.
Triathlon Conversion Calculators. If you are training for a triathlon, use these calculators to get your swim pace, bike speed, and running pace and convert your distances from metric to standard.
Triathlon Race Calculator Time Management Tool. Enter your information for your next triathlon as well as your pace for each event to find out how much time it will take you to complete the race.

Healthy Chocolate!

Yes! It is true! There is such a thing! Check out www.Johnnyschcocolate.com for more details.

Read my testimony about Healthy Chocolate not just any dark chocolate, but a special patented formula including the Acai Berry! Click Here for my testimony!

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Email: johnnyschocolate@comcast.net

Fast Food

Fast Food: Convenient and Healthy (article)
85 Tips & Strategies for Dining Out (article)
Healthy Restaurant Finds (article)
Quiz: Fast Food Showdown (link)
From Wallet to Waistline (article)
Diet and Nutrition (forum)

Fast Food for Kids
As a parent, you want to meet your children's needs as promptly as possible--when they're hungry, you want to feed them. But you want that food to be nutritious too, and unfortunately, most prepared and packaged foods that are ready-in-an-instant are also void of wholesome goodness. Here are some ideas for feeding those hungry kids, fast: Carrot sticks, apple wedges, celery spears--any fruit or vegetable dipped in peanut or almond butter. Fruit smoothie. Keep frozen banana chunks and berries in the freezer. Whir them in a blender with juice or soymilk to make a satisfying shake you can both enjoy. PB & J rollup. Spread a whole-wheat tortilla with a thin layer of nut butter and an even thinner layer of natural fruit preserves. Roll up, and serve. Quartered frozen grapes. Wash grapes, cut them, and freeze them. Keep them on hand and serve to ward off those pre-dinner hunger pangs. (Don't feed these to children under 3 because of the choking hazard they could pose!) Trail mix. Mix together raw sunflower seeds and raisins. Younger toddlers will enjoy the challenge of getting this from the bowl into their mouths. Chickpeas. Drain and serve these, or any beans, straight out of the can.*** Check with your Pediatrician regarding toddlers, nuts (nut butters), and food allergies.

Drive-Thru Nutrition
Food That's Fast and Healthy
-- By Liz Noelcke, Staff Writer
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Having spent a week on a road trip, I learned one thing along the way: Fast food is unavoidable, given time and budget constraints. You can’t beat a drive-thru for convenience and speed of service, although a bellyache later can quickly remind you of the excess calories, fat, cholesterol, and sodium you just put into your body.

While a super-sized value meal can give you a day’s worth of calories in one meal, you can exit the drive-thru with a healthier meal. Because sometimes there is nothing better than a hot French fries or a juicy burger, it’s important to learn how to make good choices.DrinksIt might cost a few dimes more to guzzle down a large soda instead of a small one, but your waistline will be paying the real price. Soda, diet or regular, isn't a healthy choice since it provides no nutrition at all. Soda is often filled with calories, sugar, artificial sweeteners, and other ingredients that fill you up without giving your body any benefits. One way to make a fast food meal healthier is to opt for a drink other than soda. Of course water is a great choice, hydrating your body and aiding in digestion. Unsweetened tea is virtually calorie-free if you want something other than water. Juice (100% fruit juice, not "fruit drinks") and low-fat milk are two alternatives that cut add nutrition to the calories you drink, making them healthier choices than soda and other sweet beverages. Fruits and VegetablesLike you would at any other meal, try to include at least one serving of fruits or vegetables with your order. And no, French fries do NOT count as a healthy vegetable! Load your burger with extra tomatoes, or enjoy a side of fresh fruit instead of fries or chips. If you are having a sandwich, load up on lettuce, peppers, even cucumbers. If they offer it, opt for a baked potato (nix the high-calorie fixin's like cheese and sour cream) instead of fries.

Most fast food chains now offer delicious side and entrée salads. Including these with your meal is a great way to add lots of vitamins for few calories. Just make sure not to smother your greens with cheese, eggs, bacon, fat-filled dressing, or fried toppings, such as chicken and croutons. Portion ControlOne of the biggest problems people face when eating fast food is out-of-control portions. You don’t have to get the value meal with the big burger, bigger fries and even bigger drink. Instead, try a child-sized meal. You still get the burger, fries, and drink, but consume about half of the fat of the full-sized version. Ordering small is automatic portion control—you won’t be tempted to overeat.
If a kiddie-sized meal with a toy on the side isn’t for you, split an order of fries with a friend. You’ll still enjoy that salty crunch without consuming all of the calories of a full order.ExtrasThe “extras” can add on the calories and fat. A tablespoon of mayo will add on an extra 57 calories. Make that another 106 calories for a single slice of cheese! Instead of smothering your burger with sauces, opt for mustard (about 10 calories). Forgo the sour cream and three kinds of cheese on your taco, and add flavor with low-calorie salsa. Go easy on the ranch dressing and salt shaker. These little substitutions can really add up! Your taste buds will be happy (and so will your waistline). Don’t be fooled by healthier sounding meats, either. While breaded chicken or fish may seem healthier than a beefy burger, these sandwiches often have just as many, if not more, calories than your average burger since they're fried. Try grilled versions of your favorite sandwiches instead, or opt for the low-cal veggie burger, which is becoming more widely available these days.BreakfastA healthy breakfast is the best way to start your day. But while hitting the drive-thru on the way to work may be convenient, it might put you at a calorie overload early in the day. Making healthy, nutritional choices comes into play again. Instead of a breakfast sandwich (English muffin with eggs, bacon, and cheese), order a bowl of fresh fruit, a fruit and yogurt parfait, oatmeal, or plain eggs. That way, you’ll be starting off the day with energy—not too many calories.ComparisonsSee how many calories and fat grams you can save just by trying different menu options at some of your favorite fast food restaurants. (All nutritional information was found on each restaurant’s website.)
Restaurant
Think Again
Better Choice
You Save
Arby's
Beef 'n Cheddar440 calories21 grams fat
Junior Roast Beef270 calories9 grams fat
170 calories12 grams fat
Burger King
Original Whopper700 calories39 grams fat
Hamburger310 calories12 grams fat
390 calories27 grams fat
Hardee's
Double Thickburger1240 calories90 grams fat
Thickburger850 calories57 grams fat
390 calories33 grams fat
McDonald's
Big Mac560 calories30 grams fat
Hamburger260 calories9 grams fat
300 calories21 grams fat
Sonic
SuperSonic Cheeseburger839 calories55 grams fat
Jr. Burger353 calories21 grams fat
486 calories34 grams fat
Wendy's
Big Bacon Classic580 calories29 grams fat
Jr. Hamburger280 calories9 grams fat
300 calories20 grams fat

Whats in your children's School Lunch?

To Buy or to Pack?
Current reports on the state of school lunches are disconcerting. According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, "menus in most school lunch programs are too high in saturated fat and cholesterol and too low in fiber- and nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes". PCRM states, "Major changes are needed to protect the health of our nation's youth and to reverse the growing trends of obesity and chronic disease among children and teens." To compound the problem, many schools operate school stores, where the students can buy fast food meals (shipped in daily from national fast-food chains), instant soup-in-a-cup (with a day's worth of sodium at no extra charge), and of course, candy and chips. These stores act as competitors to the school lunch programs.

The good news is that schools all over the country are modifying their menus voluntarily to include healthier options. In Madison County, Ala., students returned from summer break to find many changes in the cafeteria, including smaller portions, more whole grains, and low-fat milk options, all aimed at reducing the state's growing obesity epidemic. In Berkeley, Calif., cafeterias are sourcing their ingredients from local organic farms, increasing the foods' nutritional content as well as boosting the local economy and supporting sustainable agriculture. And in Crystal, Minn., one school excluded fast food vendors from the school store. While reports like this are encouraging to parents, these trends vary state by state and school by school.

Is your child's school more concerned with filling their pockets, or filling their students with wholesome, nutritious foods? Many of these school lunch changes come from a grassroots approach--parents getting involved and making a difference. Could you do something to make a difference to your child and his peers? Visit HealthySchoolLunches.org to get involved.
The School Lunch Dilemma (article)
How America Grew (article)
From Wallet to Waistline (article)
SparkTeam: IBS (link)
SparkPeople Cafe (forum)

6 Factors That Increase Your Child's Risk of Skin Cancer

By Hallie Levine Sklar

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Will your child get skin cancer? Watch out for these risk factors, and get tips on keeping your child safe in the sun, from Parents magazine and the American Academy of Dermatology.

Pages in this story

• A Family History
• Fair Skin and Light Hair

• Many Moles
• Living in a Southern Latitude or at a High Altitude

• Past Sunburns
• Being an Athlete

A Family History

About 10 percent of melanoma cases run in the family. If your child has a first-degree relative -- you, your spouse, or a sibling -- who develops melanoma, he has a 50 percent greater chance of getting this cancer than someone without a family history. (If the cancer occurs in a grandparent or an aunt or an uncle, there's still a risk but it's not as great.)

• Many Moles

Source: http://www.parents.com/baby/safety/outdoor/skin-cancer-risks/?sssdmh=dm17.320900&esrc=nwpce51&email=201779094

How to Tell If It's an Ear Infection

By Kristen Finello

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Learn the symptoms, causes, and treatments for this common childhood ailment.

Pages in this story

• How Common Are Ear Infections?
• Are Antibiotics Needed for Ear Infections?

• Why Are Kids Prone to Ear Infections?
• Are Ear Infections Preventable?

• How Can Parents Identify an Ear Infection?
• How Can I Ease My Child's Ear Infection Pain?

How Common Are Ear Infections?

Recently, I noticed my 8-month-old son tugging on his right ear. That, combined with his unusual crankiness, got my attention. Was he teething? Just discovering his ear? Or could he be signaling that he was suffering from an ear infection? He was just getting over a cold, so I decided to call the pediatrician's office. The nurse suggested bringing him in for a quick peek at his ears. The verdict: no ear infection! While I was relieved, the incident did get me thinking. Did I have to drag him in every time he pulled at his ear? That seemed a little extreme. But what if I was too laid back and missed a real ear infection? I decided it was time to learn a little bit more about this common childhood ailment. Here's what I found out.

How Common Are Ear Infections?

"Next to the common cold, ear infections are the most common disorder in children," says Margaretha Casselbrant, MD, PhD, chief of the division of pediatric otolaryngology at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. The painful facts are that more than 80 percent of children will be diagnosed with an ear infection by the time they celebrate their third birthday, almost half of these kids will have suffered from three or more ear infections by age 3, and the prime time for ear infections is between 6 and 24 months.

• Why Are Kids Prone to Ear Infections?

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What Is Stomach Flu?

Officially called gastroenteritis, stomach flu is an infection of the digestive system -- and is totally unrelated to the regular flu (influenza), which affects the respiratory system. Stomach flu is the second most common illness kids get, after respiratory infections like colds. Although unpleasant, stomach flu is usually not serious. It's usually caused by viruses, but can also come from bacteria like salmonella and E. coli, as well as some parasites.

Stomach flu causes inflammation of a child's stomach and digestive tract, usually triggering vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. "Babies and young children are especially prone to infection because their immune systems are still forming, so they haven't yet built up the antibodies to fight off germs," says Rita Steffen, MD, a pediatric gastroenterologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

What Are the Main Symptoms of Stomach Flu?

The early signs of stomach flu can be easy to miss, especially in babies and toddlers. Be on the lookout for these red flags:

Fever

Vomiting (more volume than usual everyday spit-up)

Watery diarrhea

Fussiness or irritability

Acting more tired and sluggish than usual

Decreased appetite

Older children may also complain of tummy cramps, muscle aches, and headaches. Symptoms generally set in one to three days after your kid's been exposed to the bug, and can last anywhere from a day or two up to 10. The main risks from stomach flu are not from the symptoms themselves (although unpleasant), but the fact that upset stomach can make your child very dehydrated.

For more information about the stomach flu including when to call the doctor, what medicines are safe, how long will it last, and when to start eating after the flu, go to:

www.parents.com

Immunization Schedule for All Ages

This schedule may vary depending upon where you live, your child's health, the type of vaccine, and the vaccines available. Ask your doctor about the vaccines your child should receive.

• Birth
• 1–4 months
• 2 months
• 4 months
• >6 months and annually
• 6 months
• 6–18 months
• 12–15 months
• 12–23 months
• 15–18 months
• 4–6 years
• 11–12 years
• College entrants

Birth

• Hep B: Hepatitis B vaccine; may be given at any age for those not previously immunized.

1–4 months

Hep B: Second dose should be administered 1 to 2 months after the first dose. If the first dose of Hep B vaccine is not given until a child is 2 months old, the second will be given when the child is 3 to 4 months old.

2 months

• DTaP: Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine
• Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine
• IPV: Inactivated poliovirus vaccine
• PCV: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
• RV: Rotavirus vaccine, recommended for infants at 2, 4, and 6 months of age

4 months

• DTaP
• Hib
• IPV
• PCV
• RV

>6 months and annually

• Influenza. Influenza vaccine is recommended every year for high-risk children older than 6 months. High-risk groups include, but aren't limited to, kids with asthma, heart problems, sickle cell anemia, diabetes, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends vaccinating all infants 6 to 59 months old against the influenza virus, and all those in contact with children in that age range. Annual vaccination is available for other children; but in times when the vaccine is in short supply, certain people need it more than others. You and your family's doctor(s) should determine who in your family should get the flu vaccine in a particular flu season. For kids under 9 who are getting a flu shot for the first time, it's given in two separate shots 1 month apart. It can take up to 1 or 2 weeks after the shot for the body to build up protection to the flu.

6 months

• DTaP
• Hib
• PCV
• RV

6–18 months

• Hep B
• IPV

12–15 months

• Hib
• MMR: Measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles) vaccine
• PCV
• Var: Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine; may be given at any visit after first birthday. A second dose should be given between 4 and 6 years of age.

12–23 months

• Hep A: Hepatitis A vaccine; recommended for kids 12–23 months old, given as two shots at least 6 months apart

15–18 months

• DTaP

4–6 years

• DTaP
• MMR
• IPV
• Var

11–12 years

• HPV: The AAP recommends the vaccine to prevent the human papillomavirus (HPV) be given to girls 11–12 years old, in addition to a catch-up immunization for girls ages 13–18. The vaccine prevents most cases of genital warts and cervical cancer.
• Tdap: Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis booster
• MCV: Meningitis vaccine; recommended for kids at age 11 years, and for kids age 15 who haven't had the vaccine or are entering high school, whichever comes first. Also recommended for kids age 11 or older with a chronic illness or HIV or traveling to countries where meningitis is common. Also recommended for college entrants who plan to live in dormitories.

College entrants

• MCV4: Meningitis vaccine; recommended for previously unvaccinated college entrants who will live in dormitories.

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: September 2007

Source: http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/growth/medical/immunization_chart.html