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ASPARTAME HEALTH EFFECTS
The Food & Drug Administration has approved Aspartame as a chemical additive in foods consumed by humans. Before you decide to add it to your diet, there are some things you should know.
Aspartame will break down into a chemical known as Diketopiperazine when stored for long periods of time. This reaction can also occur after Aspartame has been ingested. Diketopiperazine is believed to be causative in the incidence of brain tumors and cancer in humans and animals.
In the body, three primary components emerge as Aspartame is broken down.
PHENYLALANINE
Because the body does not recognize Phenylalanine as a natural food substance, it is difficult for the human digestive system to metabolize and remove this substance. In large doses, this chemical can build up in the brain and cause damage that results in difficulties such as depression, schizophrenia and seizures.
ASPARTIC ACID
Aspartic Acid makes up about half of Aspartame. Another name for Aspartic Acid is Aspartate. The brain can be over stimulated by high levels of Aspartic Acid and this can result in a loss of cells. Long term damage to the neurons can result in neurological conditions such as memory loss and Parkinson’s Disease.
METHANOL
Methanol, A Naturally Occurring Substance
Methanol occurs naturally in fruit. Yet, fruit was also created with pectin that binds itself to Methanol. Because the human body was not created with the enzyme necessary to break Methanol off from pectin, Methanol in this form is passed harmlessly out of the body.
Methanol, Part of Aspartame
Ten percent of Aspartame is unbound Methanol. When Methanol is not bound, it is considered a toxic substance. The process by which the human body tries to metabolize Methanol results in the production of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is stored indefinitely in the human body, making it a cumulative toxic substance.
If Aspartame is exposed to temperatures above 86 degrees Fahrenheit, Methanol is released. This reaction can also be caused when Aspartame is used in hot foods and cooking. Many believe that symptoms of Desert Storm Syndrome can be traced back to formaldehyde poisoning resulting from heavy consumption of sodas containing Aspartame which were stored in hot temperatures. A loss of coordination, nausea, confusion, dizziness, headache, blindness, depression of the central nervous system and in large doses, loss of consciousness and death can result from Methanol poisoning.
The list of possible side effects resulting from the consumption of aspartame can be found by typing ‘aspartame side effects’ into your internet search engine.
I’VE CONSUMED ASPARTAME! NOW WHAT?
* Stop consuming sugar-free products and products that contain Aspartame.
* Begin to use natural sweeteners moderately like honey and stevia leaf.
* Record changes in your health in a journal and understand this is the way your body communicates important information.
* Detoxify.
* Work up a sweat every day in order to help your body flush toxins.
* Eat nutrient dense foods to replenish your body’s stores.
* Sleep in total darkness.
* Drink lots of CLEAN water.
This article is no substitute for medical advice and is only intended for information. The reader bears the responsibility to carefully consider and weigh the risks of decisions that are related to health.
PARENTS PREPARING FOR UNEXPECTED CIRCUMSTANCES
When the unexpected happens, a parent will want to protect children. Whether utility service has been interrupted or you’ve been unexpectedly stranded, there are ways to be prepared.
PLAN NOT TO PANIC
Panic is a great danger in an emergency – as mentioned in the article: RULE OF 3'S TO SURVIVE. Children will pick up on your emotion. Your preparation will make you confident so that your children will draw strength from you. (see RULE OF 3'S TO SURVIVE)
ROUTINES ARE IMPORTANT
Look for ways to create a routine for children in the upheaval of the unexpected. This will give them a sense of stability and show that you are still able to function as parent and protector.
ENTERTAINMENT
Entertainment is a must when you are stranded for a time. Batteries and generators won’t likely be available for games. Keep craft supplies on hand: crayons, markers, paper, play dough, scissors, tape, etc. Spend time with your children working puzzles, board games, dolls, blocks, toy cars, and reading books so that they have an appreciation for ‘low-tech’ entertainment. Have educational materials (workbooks, etc.) on hand in case organized schooling is not an option.
PREPARE FOR GOOD HEALTH
While you have access to treatments, make sure you are maintaining your health and dental care. By taking preventive measures now, you can meet the unexpected without neglected physical ailments. If you require certain medicines, be sure that you have a supply in stock. Observe closely the eating, sleeping and toilet patterns of your loved ones in order to catch and treat illness early and decisively. Train yourself to take note of the impact of circumstances on those around you. It is easy to become consumed with your own difficulties and overlook warning signals that others may need help.
EAT REAL FOODS
Today’s diet is in an investment in tomorrow’s health. Picky eaters can become ill if they refuse nutritious foods. A pallet can be taught to appreciate the taste and texture of REAL foods, but the exercise is complicated by taste buds dulled on sugars and processed foods. Take the time to introduce children to a wide spectrum of foods. Now is the time to learn about nutrition and food preparation.
BABIES AND INFANTS
Babies don’t require a lot of equipment in order to be healthy and safe In an emergency.. Contrary to advertisements, babies can thrive without cribs, bouncy chairs, carriers, disposable diapers, pacifiers, music boxes, and other assorted gadgets. What babies DO require is nourishment, and to be kept warm and dry.
Breastfeeding is a learned skill. Even if you should choose to give your infant bottled formula, it is in mother and baby’s best interest to invest the time to breastfeed during those crucial first months. This insures that the littlest members of your family will have a ready (and mobile) supply of nourishment if you aren’t able to secure formula. Keep a good supply of formula stocked and on hand for bottle-fed babies.
Infants need help regulating body temperature and should be protected from extremes of heat and cold. In summer, protect babies from direct sun. An umbrella is a good tool for this. In the winter, dressing little ones in layers protects them from the cold. Long-sleeved thermal underwear can be worn beneath zippered fleece sleepers for nighttime warmth. Sharing a bed with 2 or 3 others helps everyone stay warm at night. During the day, wool socks and a hat help little ones keep warm along with a zippered fleece jacket.
HYGIENE
When water is in short supply or the temperature becomes very cool, it isn’t necessary to enjoy the luxury of a daily bath. Find the warmest spot in your living quarters and teach your children that they should wash their faces, hands, feet and privates every day. Before meals, have them wash their hands. This is important for healthy hygiene in rustic conditions. Explain to older children the importance of a well positioned latrine and show them how to dispose of waste well away from living areas.
SKILLS
Children become more confident as they gain life skills. Give your children the gift of learning how to do such things as shop wisely, stock a pantry, pitch a tent, build a camp fire, cook, sew, garden, repair small engines, perform first aid, CPR, and swim. Knowing self defense, what to do in a fire drill and practicing other scenarios builds confidence. A prepared child is also less likely to panic.
Making preparedness a part of your life will help your children avoid panic when moments are crucial. Rather than face the unknown with desperation, you will have a plan and your little ones will know what to expect. These measures help families face uncertainty with strength.
MAKING WIPES – ECONOMICAL & HEALTHY
Rather than pay retail, I started making my own baby wipes. Even after my kids were all out of diapers, I found it useful to keep these wipes on hand. Whether you are going on a picnic, camping or traveling, these are most helpful to have on hand.
Making my own wipes allowed me the luxury of avoiding the chemical soup mixes sold as baby care items in stores. I’ve found that the precaution of cleaning the container with a vinegar rinse and using distilled or filtered water makes it unnecessary to add preservatives.
This is a bare bones recipe. Many other wipes utilize fragrances, oils, preservatives and lotions. Without using those ingredients, I am still able to have mold-free wipes.
Find a gallon-sized buck with a tight-fitting lid for this project. Use something sharp to poke a small hole into the lid’s center. Wash the bucket completely with soap and water. Rinse with vinegar and water. Mold will be discouraged by rinsing with vinegar. Moldy wipes will have a foul odor.
You will need to purchase a roll of Bounty Big Roll, the select-a-size variety. Other brands fall apart when used for wipes. Halve the roll of paper towels into two equal rolls. A long knife with a serrated edge works best for this. Two large buckets of wipes can be made from a single roll of paper towels.
Add a couple tablespoons hypoallergenic bath soap to a couple of cups distilled or filtered water. Once blended, pour the liquids into the bucket.
Extract the center cardboard tube from the ½ roll of paper towels. Set the cut side of one of the paper towel halves into the container, pull up a corner of one sheet and thread it through the lid before closing tightly. Your wipes will be ready for use in 5-10 minutes, when the towels have absorbed the liquid.
This solution doesn’t leave a sticky or slimy residue on the skin. My babies avoided rashes with the use of these wipes. My doctor couldn’t figure out how this was possible. My theory is that because it was so economical to use, I wasn’t trying to stretch time between diaper changes and my babies stayed clean and dry. In the long run, I saved even more because I didn’t have to invest in over-the-counter remedies for diaper rash. These wipes can be used for makeup removal. I also used my wipes as a gentle substitute for personal hand sanitizers.
THAT BUCKET WON’T FIT IN MY BAG!
Place several wipes into a smaller, re-sealable waterproof container. You could use a lidded container or a zippered plastic bag. Use a vinegar and water solution to clean and dry the container between uses.
HOMEMADE LIQUID SOAP
Grate Fels-Naptha or homemade bar soap (4 – 6 ounces). Bring about 4 cups of distilled or filtered water to a boil. Add your soap in small increments and stir between each handful to keep the soap from clumping. When melted, continue stirring and begin adding more filtered (or distilled) water until the volume is one gallon. When cool, the mixture will be thicker. This is a good substitute for baby bath soap and it also works in your soap dispenser.
GENTLE ALTERNATIVES TO BABY OILS
Coconut oil is a soothing application for skin irritations. It should be applied to skin that is both dry and clean. Manufactured products often are made from petroleum, and contain chemicals and fragrances. This isn’t a problem with coconut oil. Another choice oil for baby’s skin is EVOO (extra virgin olive oil).
This article is written to inform and designed for the benefit of the reader. Use good judgment and discretion when utilizing these methods. Readers bear the responsibility to be informed and reach their own conclusions.<br/>
AVOIDING THE ITCH OF POISON SUMAC, POISON OAK AND POISON IVY
Many individuals have severe allergic reactions to poison sumac, poison oak, and poison ivy. A skin-penetrating oil which binds to cells deep within the dermis, called urushiol, is found in all of these plants. When the stems or leaves are crushed or bruied, the oil is released. Learning to identify the plants will enable you to avoid a painful rash.
POISON OAK
Growing as a shrub, poison oak can often be found growing with oak and pine trees. Commonly, it is found in sandy soils. Deep green leaves are common in the spring and summer months. In the spring, flowers of yellowish green hang in clusters and turn to greenish white berries. The fall foliage of the plant changes color in the fall and can vary from red, yellow, orange or reddish black. Native peoples were known to use the plant to make black dye. In the early spring and winter, there are no leaves. The stems can be up to five feet in length and are colored gray to light brown.
A single stalk supports leaves that grow in groups of three. One leaf grows off of the end of the stalk and the other two are at 90 degree angles. Resembling the white oak tree leaf, the leaves are lobed randomly along the edges and have a rounded tip. While groups of three leaves are most common on a stalk, occasionally there will be groupings of as many as five.
POISON IVY
Most often, poison ivy is seen growing as a vine, but there are shrub varieties. The groups of leaves grow in groups of three, but can be found to have as many as 5 or even 7 per stem. These leaves are sometimes notched, not lobed, and they narrow to a point.
POISON SUMAC
This plant thrives in swampy habitats and can reach heights of 15 to 20 feet. Each leaf has a reddish stem with seven to thirty smooth-edged leaflets.
In the spring, sweet-fragranced flowers bloom that turn to cream-colored berries. The leaves turn yellow and bright red in the fall.
Avoiding contact with the plant is your next line of defense. Cover your skin with garments that shield your arms and legs, wear gloves and wear shoes that cover your feet when you plant to be around plants outdoors. Try not to rub against plants or crush them with your body.
Stay away from piles of burning brush. The urushiol oil becomes airborn when poison ivy, sumak or poison oak are burned and can be taken into the lungs. The result can be a serious lung inflammation with rash that spreads all over the body. The inflammation to the lungs can sometimes be fatal.
SKIN BARRIER CREAMS CAN HELP
Before you come in contact with a plant, some topical creams* can be applied to prevent outbreaks. Several of these have the ingredient bentoquatam which is a type of bentonite clay. By forming a protective barrier on the skin, these over-the-counter claylike lotions keep urushiol from binding with oils in the skin. Apply these to exposed skin before going out.
*These include Hylands Ivy Block Lotion, Ivy Block Lotion, and Enviroderm Ivy Block.
By penetrating the top layer of skin, urushiol is then able to bind to cells deep within the epidermis. Usually, this process takes close to 30 minutes, but it can occur within as little as 3 minutes after exposure. If used before bonding, almost any solvent will remove urushiol oil from the skin.
UPON EXPOSURE
When you've gotten urushiol on your skin (or think you might have), you should rinse the area with plain water immediately.
Find a fine grained soil, similar to what you'd find on a footpath, and use it like a powder on your skin. The soil will help absorb the oil. Gently pat your skin with the soil to neutralize the urushiol. Take care to use a patting motion as rubbing the soil into the skin could spread the oils.
As soon as you are able, wash the exposed area using properly made lye soap and lukewarm or cool water. The better choice is lye soap as it has the ability to clean without stripping the skin of its naturally protective oils. Other soaps remove this protection and can actually speed the skin's allergic response. Remember to carefully clean hands and nails. Urushiol remaining on the hands could transfer to any other skin you touch. Soap your skin a second time and allow the area to dry naturally.
Rubbing alcohol, mineral spirits, and witch hazel are organic solvents that can be utilized. Don't ever use petroleum based products such as kerosene, or gasoline on the skin. Products such as these will damage the skin and make it easier for urushiol to penetrate the skin.
Bath soaks, paste applications, topical liquid applications and poultices are ways to treat the allergic rash reaction to urushiol. The rash isn't spread by scratching unless you have urushiol on your hands. Scratching will however cause the itching to be more severe and increase your discomfort.
BATH APPLICATIONS
A few tablespoons of oatmeal ground in a blender can be added to a warm bath. This is drying to a blistered rash and relieving to the itch. Protect your pipes from clogging by using a strainer or cloth over the drain. Take care when exiting the tube as oatmeal makes the surface slippery.
Another good ingredient for bath soaks is Epsom salts as this will help dry the rash. Follow the instructions on the label.
PASTES FOR THE SKIN
Various ingredients can be utilized to produce pastes that will speed healing, lessen itching and reduce blistering & inflammation.
A common weed called plantain (also known as Plantago Major) reduces, itch, inflammation and pain. This plant speeds healing of the skin. The leaves and stems can be gound into a paste by using your mouth or a blender; then apply the goo to your skin.
The root of Hydrastis Canadensis, also known as Goldenseal root is an anti-inflammatory. This can be ground into a paste and applied to the skin. Aloe vera gel is added to the mixture by some.
Near the growing habitat of most poison ivy patches, you will find jewelweed, or Impatiens aurea. The juice from the leaves and stem are a traditional herbal treatment for plant rashes and other types of dermatitis. The juice has the ability to help neutralize the chemicals from plants that cause skin rashes. If you are in the field and are exposed to poison oak, ivy or even stinging nettle, find a jewelweed plant, slice the stem and rub the inside of the plant against your skin. This stops the discomfort and can prevent rashes in most individuals. Because jewelweed leaves have a high moisture and oil content, they don't lend themselves to drying.
One way to keep jewelweed is to make a strong tea of the chopped leaves, letting it steep until the liquid is dark orange in color. If you don't see the orange color (usually because you've used yellow jewelweed) the liquid won't be as effective. When cooled, strain the liquid and freeze into cubes. Use the jewelweed cubes to rub onto irritated skin to speed healing. In the freezer, these will maintain their potency up to a year. The fresh leaves work well as an ingredient in homemade soap. It is not recommended to make an alcohol tincture using jewelweed as the combination can cause a bad reaction in some individuals.
Three parts of a blend of baking soda and alum can be added to one part water to form a paste. The alum increases the styptic properties of this paste.
SOOTHING LIQUIDS
To relieve the itching and dry the rash a white vinegar compress is helpful. Add 1 1/2 cups of water to 1/2 cup vinegar. Chill this in your refrigerator. Use a cloth moistened in the solution and then place it onto your rash for cooling relief.
Other ingredients to add to this solution:
The juice of a lemon
A cooled tea made from honey suckle leaves
Use a cotton ball dipped into witch hazel to soothe your skin. Use the kind that comes in an alcohol solution as the evaporation of the alcohol will cool your skin.
Hold a cloth soaked in cold milk against your skin. This is more soothing to irritated skin than cold water. It isn't known why this is more effective, but it could be because of the milk fat.
TEA POULTICE
Apply moistened tea bags (green or black) to a skin rash. Tea's tannic acid is an astringent and causes infamed tissue to contract, relieving itching.
ADDITIONAL TREATMENTS
Dab calamine lotion onto the rash. This lotion will help to dry blisters and relieve the itch. Should the lotion prove too runny it can be thickened with cornstarch.
Whichever application(s) you utilize, acting quickly is important. These ideas are presented for only for your information. Using any of these suggestions must be done with good judgment at the risk of the reader.
LEARNING OF THE MAKER
Explorers thrill with the discovery of intricate processes which work in concert to produce order in the natural world. Both the spectacular sunset and the dramatic rainbow have exact atmospheric ingredients. Those that investigate these processes no longer engage in passive observation of these things. It is with a depth of understanding and a profound appreciation that these individuals encounter these things. God's fingerprints are seen by those who carefully observe.
It is unfortunate that students of faith have often separated from students of science. As though fearful that their faith will be weakened, many avoid such investigation. This exchanges faith for an ignorant, superstitious belief.
Refreshingly, there are those that enjoy learning of the intricacies of nature as it reflects God's creative design. With such a perspective, viewing the detail of cellular structure or the far reaches of space will bring forth praise. God's glory is truly reflected in nature.
THE VISION is Debi Pearl's latest book written from the perspective of someone that is glad to see God's workmanship reflected in nature. Readers of THE VISION are treated to a story with an appreciation of creation's design. Plants, animals and humans are portrayed by Debi Pearl as the result of a Master Designer whom she is delighted to know. The characters are refreshing in that they are not portrayed without flaws or difficulties. Life and relationships are presented as something that can be delicate and tenuous. Even so, it is this weakness which drives her characters to seek the help and hope that comes from one single Source.
Debi Pearl presents extraordinary events through the lens of the commonplace while offering glimpses of the miraculous in that which is ordinary. Debi presents her characters as very human and flawed, but demonstrates how they respond in faith to their difficulties, prodding the reader to follow their examples.
In THE VISION, Mrs. Pearl seems to take the reader on a pleasant stroll that is also educational. Readers may get the feeling they've been invited to walk a while with the author and discover some things. Current headlines and pertinent information are sprinkled throughout the saga, causing the reader to become curious about the topics. However, THE VISION is no droll lecture. THE VISION does more than just inform the reader; THE VISION exhorts the reader to become a student. Debi Pearl artfully whets readers' appetites for more in this first of a series. Don't wait to purchase a copy of THE VISION!
The music video below echoes this theme.
