Author Archives: Alison Palmer

Proper Hand Washing 101

Earlier today I waxed poetically about the evils of antibacterial soap. Sorry about that, it just happens sometimes. Essentially, research shows that what we wash with on a daily basis is less important than how we wash. So here’s your hand washing course for the day. It’s all about time, timing and friction. Those are the three most important things to remember about trying to get your hands clean. You need to wash long enough. You need to wash when it’s most needed. You need to scrub when you wash. Now that we’ve covered the basic rules, let’s talk specifics. … Continue reading →

Tip of the Day- Put away Your Antibacterial Soap

Ok, some of you are going to think I’m really off the wall with this one. Here it goes anyway. Do you remember that scene at the end of War of the Worlds (sorry I never could get through the book so I don’t know if it’s there as well) where the heroes are pontificating on the reasons why the robot monsters are suddenly imploding. The only line I remember from the whole movie is: “We’ve earned the right to be here.” I’m probably quoting it wrong. I didn’t like the movie much. Here’s the deal though, they were right. … Continue reading →

Lifestyle and “Healthstyle”

Two weeks ago my boys came home from school with notes from their Spanish teacher. She was asking each child in her classes to bring in five or more soda cans by a certain date. These were to be used in a class project. For our family that was a pretty hefty request. I have two boys in her class. This meant I had less than two weeks to come up with ten soda cans. My family’s lifestyle does not include soda cans. We can’t afford them and we don’t want that much sugar just hanging around the house. If … Continue reading →

Tip of the Day- Laugh!

There’s the belly laugh, the snicker, the chortle, the gurgle, the twitter, and the snort. Did I miss any? How many different ways are there to laugh? More importantly, how many times a day do you laugh? Do you consider yourself a happy person? A recent study found that children laugh about 100 times a day. Adults are lucky if they laugh three times a day. There is something very sad about that. Yes, I mean that literally. Health can really be broken down into three parts: physical, nutritional, and emotional. They all have to work together for your whole … Continue reading →

The Anti-Inflammatory Diet

If you have asthma, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, or even heart disease, someone may suggest you try an anti-inflammatory diet. What exactly is an anti-inflammatory diet and what is it supposed to do? Some researchers feel that the typical American diet, which is high in fat and processed foods, can actually cause our bodies to create inflammation. The body perceives that the foods we are eating are not what we should be eating. It then reacts as it would to any other invader. One of its best defenses our body has against foreign matter is inflammation. There is a blood … Continue reading →

Tip of the Day- Take a Commercial Break

If you sit down to watch a one hour TV show, you can expect that about 7-10 minutes of that time will be commercials. That’s 10 minutes that you are sitting there that you don’t need to be. Take a commercial break. Every time the show goes to a commercial, shift yourself into high gear. Make a run to the kitchen for a healthy snack instead of an unhealthy one. Can you peel and slice an apple before the next commercial is over? Instead of grumbling about the interruption, hop out of your chair and see if you can do … Continue reading →

The Dairy Debate

You know those milk ads with all the famous people drinking milk to lose weight? I just don’t trust them. It’s the mustaches really. It has nothing to do with the actual claim. I can’t get past the ridiculous looking milk ‘staches to make an intelligent decision about their claim. I mean really, what kind of milk leaves that kind of mark? If they’re going to tell me that’s what youre supposed to look like (the face, not the body) when you drink milk, I just can’t take them seriously. It turns out a lot of other people can’t take … Continue reading →

Tip of the Day- Have a Do Nothing Day

Maybe it was all the stairs yesterday, but today I’m feeling a little worn and tired. I’m finding it hard to get through the normal routine of my day. I’m sluggish and mentally drained, so today I’m scheduling a “Do Nothing Day”. It may not be today, but it needs to happen soon. It’s going on my calendar. I’m practicing my response: “No. I’m sorry, I’m busy that day.” I don’t have to tell them I’m busy doing nothing, but that’s exactly what I plan to do. Stress is a killer, and I mean that literally. Every once in a … Continue reading →

How Big is Your LDL?

I recently talked with you about the difference between good and bad cholesterol. Here’s a summary for you before I get started on this next part. LDL=Bad HDL=Good LDL represents the kind of cholesterol scientists associate with arterial plaque- build-up that causes blockages related to heart attacks and strokes. Well, now they’ve taken an even closer look at this sticky artery blocking stuff and determined that size matters. Apparently LDL molecules come in all different sizes from small to very large. The small molecules are more concentrated. They move more sluggishly through the blood stream. The larger ones seem to … Continue reading →

Tip of the Day- Take the Stairs

If you were to visit my home you’d notice something. Well, something other than the total disarray and the dishes in the sink. I make little piles of things on the stairs of my home. Little piles of things to go up the next time I have to go up. Little piles of things to go down the next time I go down. Some days this goes down in my book as time and labor saving. I cluster things together instead of distracting myself from the task at hand. Believe me; I’m easily distracted, especially when it comes to housework. … Continue reading →