Happy Columbus Day everyone!

Finally, I think our heat wave is leaving… the past 3 days it has been in the 90s here.. very stifling, especially since our window air conditioner has been broke.. And then, having hot heavy yarn on my lap trying to crochet… bleh it was just going so slow.. I do not know what it is, but humidity and heat just create havoc for my productivity level.

So… I found a really interesting article.. You know how when you were little, getting your tonsils out was pretty standard? People live fine without them. Same thing with your appendix… getting it out- especially when inflamed, is routine. But what are the purposes of these organs? For a long time scientists in the medical field did not really know for sure. But now.. I found an article on CNN. I am surprised that after one day it dropped from the front page.. to me it is a huge thing and very interesting.. How long has it been since a purpose for an organ has been found? One would thing that in this day and age and how advanced our medical technology is, we would know.. but alas, it has dropped from the front page. But here is the article.. how scientists believe they think they have found the purpose of the appendix:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/10/05/appendix.purpose.ap/index.html

Interesting isn’t?? I think it warrants being on the front page for at least a few weeks! But then, I am one of those few that finds a fascination with health, technology, the immune system.. yeah I am one of those that can plaster myself on the couch with some tomato juice and get absorbed with a graphic operation on the TV.

I remember when I used to donate my platelets.. If you have never donated platelets before, it is different than blood. You sit in a nice “comfy”- yes comfy is subjective, chair.. and it takes about 1.5 hours.. And they put one thick long needle into one arm, and another long thick needle into another arm. Your blood goes out in the one needle, and then gets cycled through a machine.. almost like a centrifuge.. to separate your platelets (clotting parts of the blood)from the rest of your blood (red blood cells etc.) Then, the blood (red blood cells and plasma etc) goes back into your body- oh goodness it is cold when it goes back in!!! Well, I do not know that the blood going back in is cold, I do think it is cooler, because I always get super cold when donating.

It is hard, that if you get an itch- you cannot bend your arms to scratch. Every single time I would get so super cold.. It could be 100 degrees out and I would need a blanket.. No wonder that with people suffering from hypothermia- it helps to warm the blood and such. Usually, they had a blanket for me or 5 .. lol…

There was one time that I had a phone call. There was a 6 year old boy who was going through a bone marrow transplant, and there was a man who was a match donating his platelets for this child. Well, the man broke his arm and could not do the donations. They called me, saying I was a match and if I would mind. I had to go in each week for a couple months and donate my platelets for this little guy. I do not know the outcome of this transplant, but it felt so good, knowing that I was able to help the little fellow, wherever he would be. And what is neat, is they gave me a certificate, and a license plate frame.

I still have that frame to this day and have it on my car. If anything it reminds me of that important time when I was 19 and I went in to donate for this little boy.. And well, maybe I secretly hope that if I am ever pulled over, the cop will have a little smile with mercy for me? (knock on wood!)

I really think it is so important what goes into our bodies. I try to buy organic when I can.. and I never buy anything that is high on the pesticide list. Some people may think I am a nut.. but I really think it is so important of what goes into our bodies, and how much exercise we get. Although following good nutrition and exercising as we should is not full proof, but I do believe it can prevent and maybe even help sickness. I really believe that it was Okinawan women have the longest lifespan- 85 and something years.. for men, it is 77 something years.. They eat a lot of seafood, so they are getting plenty of omega fatty acids.. along with much exercise.. of course, their nutrition and exercise may not be the main factor, but if anything I firmly believe it plays a large role.

For our milk, I buy from Heartland Creamery.. it is stocked in our grocery stores in town.. What is nice, is that it is a local creamery farm near us.. so the overhead is very low.. and it is competitive pricing to the regular milk.. Even a couple weeks ago there was a sale and all of the Heartland milk was cheaper than the regular milk! And normally, it is about the same or just a tad more than regular milk, less then 50 cents.. which I think makes it totally worth it.

The great thing about the milk, is that not only does it taste much much better than regular milk, it is grown without antibiotics or hormones. The chocolate flavor, oh my.. it is the best chocolate milk one has ever tasted, and has very little caffeine.. So it is great for the kids. They have 3 flavors, white, chocolate and strawberry. They also have goat milk.. and even eggnog! The class bottles require a deposit, but that deposit is fully refunded upon return of the glass bottle for recycling. At our stores, they do have the milk available in large plastic gallons- but only in white.. which is nice though because we go through milk in this house like crazy. If you have this milk available.. I would highly recommend it!!

Speaking of hormones and anitibiotics… we also try to buy organic fruits and veggies when we can.. and sometimes though I just go with regular.. but when I do go regular.. I make sure it is not something that is super high on the presiticde list (strawberries, peaches, green peppers, and NON U.S. grapes).. My kids are super big grape lovers.. but I do not buy between Jan and April, when grapes from outside the US dominate the grocery stores.. So since about May.. we have been buying grapes galore, the US ones.. Of course, they are not organic and pesticide free, but they are far less full of these carcinogens and such than the imported ones.

If you are looking for a list of fruits and veggies to avoid, and which ones are lower on the pesticide list.. here is a good list:

http://www.sdearthtimes.com/et0996/et0996s5.html

Ok.. so while I am on a blogging health kick.. may as well add some more into the mix.. Please remember though, I am NOT an expert.. I am just someone who is very curious about the world and our health and the environment.. I absorb articles and documentaries like there is no tomorrow (no wonder my first major in college was Microbiology- my dream was to go on to get a PhD and go into medical search!)..

Here is a phenomenal tea.. It is called Yerba Mate and I have been drinking it for a while. What else is great, is that this tea is Fair Trade.. that means that the farmers who cultivate are paid a fair amount, what they deserve.. so that not only do we in America get a high quality product, but these farmers can develop their economy and get paid what the work they are doing is worth.

There are also MORE antioxidants in Yerba Mate than black tea and even more than green tea! And even more than red wine. It is a natural energy booster.. Here are some photos of my Yerba Mate:

Check out the antioxidant chart:

First, here is a newscast on Yerba Mate and other energy drinks and natural things, and this was on CNN. See the newscast.

They even state on the CNN newscast that this is a great alternative to coffee- especially if coffee gives you the jitters!

Yerba Mate Ok so, where can you see more and read more about Yerba Mate.. ? I am lucky in that my sister and her fiance live in the city where they are able to get this tea for me.. otherwise, you can order from this site. There are many many websites out there with Yerba Mate, but to me, since my sister and her fiance are able to get it at a store near them and since this is a pretty well known website, this is the one I am listing: Yerba Mate: http://www.ecoteas.com.

And here is a place to see the FAQ on Yerba Mate tea!

Ok… well, I would like to say again, I am NO expert, and to always consult a doctor before making any changes in your diet or taking anything I say as fact. These are just another part of me, of things I am interested in and things I believe. You can visit the websites, and do your own research and come up with your own beliefs and opinions.

I am not one to “jam” my opinion down your throat.. I am not one to think “Oh my! That person is not buying an organic apple!” I just try, within my budget, to do things which I think are healthy for me and my family. I do prefer to go organic when I can, but that is not always feasible.. I try to incorporate lots of fruits and veggies into our diets, but yes, I still often succumb to the Chinese takeout..! (See, I am human!).. There are still times I hit the drive through. I am not perfect, nor am I an expert in the field of health and science.. Just like I said before, my only goal is to help people gain more information so they can make their own decisions for themselves, as I am doing for myself and my family.

On another Note.. have you all seen Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006) ? Well, we rented it.. and well, first I must say I loved it, and so did the kids. And my FAVORITE scene.. which I still cannot stop laughing- and I swear I am going to put this DVD and soundtrack on my wishlist solely for this scene here.. it is just soo funny.. It is the scene of the sloth dance.. first it starts out with a “simon says” sort of thing… and then it gets into the song.. I swear you can hear the drums of the rainforest.. it is awesome, and so funny to boot.. check out this clip on You Tube

EDIT: Seems Your Tube has removed this clip, so I am sorry you will not be able to see it. but if you have the movie.. pop it in and watch for the sloth dance- it is completely hilarious!

So, I leave you with a laugh to close.. Have some yummy yarns to shown you soon.. but alas this blog post has taken a while (I do not know how to find more time to devote to blogging!!) and there are things I need to do (ya, dishes.. laundry.. CROCHET!).. and of course, have fun with the kids since it is their day off of school.. well, my son will not be home till later this afternoon because he left at 6 AM for a choir competition.. lol maybe I will pop on Ice Age?!