Q:   There is this housefly that seems to be bothering me every day.  I think it is the same one everyday but my daughter says they only live a few days to a week……………..Christine, Douglas

A:   You are correct -- the average adult house fly lives 2 to 4 weeks in the home, less if living outdoors. If your fly is a female, it has the opportunity to create around 500 new eggs in her lifetime with only one breeding shortly after she is hatched.

Q: Is it really safe to drink the water?  Should I consider filtering the water we use and drink? ………… Jane, Webster

A:   Now there is a really loaded question.  The answer is dependent on what your main source of water supply is.   Private water sources can have a full range of ’natural’ minerals and elements in them as well as contaminants from seeping ground water.  For example, in New England there is a fairly high concentration of arsenic in the water, so homeowners would benefit from having their private Well water tested at a reliable laboratory and if necessary, using a whole house filtering system..

Public water however is theoretically controlled by set standards and tested regularly.  The problem comes when only 80 or so items are tested for and there can be hundreds of potential contaminants in any one source of drinking water.  And then there are the intentionally added substances that are supposed to be beneficial for human consumption, for example, chlorine and fluoride.

For over 50 years, Americans have been forced to drink a drug that causes serious health problems.  The drug is fluoride and was introduced in the DDT and asbestos era.  Officials hoped that mass fluoridation of public water supplies would be an effective way to reduce tooth decay.  Now, many years later the effects of this non-researched, un- proven decision making public policy are being observed.  Excess fluoride exposure causes dental fluorosis (staining and pitting of teeth), fatal bone cancer, weakened bones, lowered thyroid function, arthritic symptoms, chronic fatigue, kidney issues, just to name a few.

Basically it is like eating suntan lotion to get sun protection on your skin.  Everyone knows it works topically.  The same is true for fluoride, it works topically not internally.  If you’ve ever read the toothpaste label you will notice it says not to swallow it and yet the water we drink has as much if not more fluoride in it than the toothpaste.

I find it interesting that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends to mothers to use non-fluoridated water when making infant formula and juices. Studies show that the average glass of treated tap water has 250 times more fluoride than breast milk.

It’s time to educate ourselves and take a stand.  Let’s clean up the water we take baths in, shower in and ingest. If it’s not safe for infants is it safe for YOU?

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Q:  What Can I Do To Make A Difference In the World?

A:  Many of my Ask Madalyn columns have answered this question in a very specific way addressing a particular question or area of interest.  Today’s column will focus on a program I recently learned about called Embracing the World—InDeed.  Many times we pay lip service to our concerns and do not follow through.  The InDeed program identifies six small things each of us can do to make a big difference for our planet.  These practical suggestions were suggested by Amma, a world renowned saint whose extraordinary acts of love and self sacrifice have given rise to a network of spiritual and charitable activities. She is widely respected for her humanitarian activities worldwide.

The following is a list of the six ways you can contribute in a personal way.  Click on the website below to get more details and actually commit.

1. CONSERVE WATER-The water shortage crisis is not somewhere off in the distant future, it has arrived. Saving water is easy and there are opportunities all around us.

2. REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT-Become part of the solution instead of the problem.

3. PLANT A TREE– Scientists estimate there’s about 200 billion tons of excess CO2 in the atmosphere.  Planting a tree is a positive response to a growing problem.

4. GROW YOUR OWN VEGGIES– Growing your own organic vegetables in gardens, window boxes or on the windowsill will help you access a healthier lifestyle and greater self reliance.

5. CARPOOL– Save money, time and CO2 emissions by sharing a ride to work, gatherings, church or shopping.

6. BUILD A HOUSE FOR BIRDS OR BUGS-Every 20 minutes another species disappears.  While species extinction is a normal process, it is happening 100 times faster than it should.

To learn how YOU can make a difference and make a real commitment to change log on to www.embracingtheworld.org.

“Where there is real love, there is no selfishness”…… Amma

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Q: When is the best time to floss, before or after brushing your teeth. Also is there any reason to floss more than once a day? ……………….Daisy. S

A: According to the American Dental Association it doesn’t matter what order you do it in as long as you do a good job on both.

There appear to be benefits either way, so personal preference is the best choice, because there is more likelihood that you will actually brush.

Aside from the obvious benefit of having cleaner teeth, flossing decreases the risk of gum disease, polishes the tooth surfaces and improves your breath. Brushing only cleans three fourths of your teeth, flossing does the rest. Since it takes up to 48 hrs for bacteria to begin attacking your mouth, it is a good idea to floss at least once a day, preferably at night so you will go to sleep with as clean a mouth as possible.

If you are really into healthy clean teeth don’t forget to brush and floss your pet’s teeth. If getting in there to keep them clean is too difficult, I saw a product online recently that sprayed on the dog’s teeth and dissolved the plaque and buildup without brushing.

Q: I found a caterpillar crawling up inside my pants leg and brushed it away. Shortly after I noticed a bunch of small red bumps on my leg exactly where the caterpillar was.  Are there species of caterpillars that we can have allergic reactions to?

A: Yes there are more than 50 varieties of those pretty caterpillars in North America. Anyone of them can cause a reaction from a slight contact dermatitis to a severe reaction similar to an insect sting. The furry bodies actually release the hairs when you touch them and can get imbedded in your skin. If you notice the tiny hairs use tape to remove it, then treat the area.

As with most allergies the range of reaction to the caterpillar can be none to very extreme. Normal antihistamines do not appear to have any effect on the symptoms. Thoroughly cleanse the area with soap and water and use ice packs or cold cloths if the area is swelling. A mild analgesic cream will help to alleviate the pain and itching. Avoid scratching the rash as it will cause it to spread.

An interesting note in nature, often brightly colored or hairy species tend to be more poisonous. Teach your children to avoid picking them up and use great care in removing them from your body.

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Q: I have Keratosis pilaris pretty much all over my body. This past year it has spread to my lower legs. I was told to exfoliate with a loofah. Is using a loofah too drying on the skin? It appears as my KP has reddened since exfoliating. Any suggestions would be helpful. I have used the exfoliating lotion for KP and developed a rash, so that is not good. Thanks……...Stacey K

A: Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a very common skin disorder affecting as much as 40% of the adult population and slightly higher in adolescents. KP is a harmless genetic follicular condition that causes small bumps on the skin surface of the back and outer sides of the upper arms and sometimes on the thighs, tops of legs and buttocks. Most people who have it are not bothered by it or perhaps are not even aware that it is an actual skin condition.

There are a few prescription remedies that work with varied success, but the general consensus is that it is a dry skin condition and should be treated with moisture. Some people have results clearing the rash using prescription skin creams that contain urea, lactic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid or vitamin D. Gentle exfoliation to take off the dead skin is encouraged. A loofah might be too rough for the skin but an exfoliating cloth made of microfiber might be a good alternative.

If traditional remedies do not work there are also some natural remedies you can try. Melt together 4 oz. of organic coconut oil, 4 oz. of apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon of soy lecithin as an emulsifier. Spread the mixture on the skin as you would any moisturizer and use whenever you have the rash.

KP tends to run in family groups but is not contagious. It is often better in the summer and reappears in the dryer winter weather.

Q: Is there any reason to buy organic or cage free eggs. Are they any better than store brands? ………………..Candy, F

A: According to the Humane Society and other animal welfare groups, buying eggs anywhere is risky. No matter what the box says, very few chickens are actually cage free, and even if they were the floor they are on is so crowded and full that they can not do the typical chicken things that make better and healthier eggs.

Healthy eggs are best purchased at a farm nearby you from a grower who actually conforms to the highest standards. Free range chickens who can forage, exercise and perch produce the most nutrient filled eggs, Those purchased in most grocery stores do not meet the highest criteria for truly organic or healthy eggs.

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We eat 50% more snacks if we eat them out of the package.  So use a plate or napkin for your snack and really enjoy it, while saving you 50% of the calories.

Up to 99.9% of flu viruses are reduced by cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces every day.  So with the start of a new school season and winter following right after, keeping down the germs and viruses becomes more important.  Look into microfiber  cleaning cloths with imbedded colloidal silver that clean all surfaces without chemicals.  They leave no chemical residue, are portable  and safe to use, even to pack in a lunch box. For a link to see examples, log on to the online version of this article.

It takes two vacations a year to maintain a healthy stress level.  Even long weekends will do according to the Wisconsin Medical Journal.  Women who go on at least two vacations a year are far more mellow than those who take off once every two or three years.

People who make their beds everyday say they sleep better. According to a recent survey 19% of the people who make their beds reported sleeping well.

It takes 30 seconds to kill harmful germs on used sponges.   If you use those nasty sponges at the sink, replace them once a week or zap them in the microwave on high for 30 seconds every three days  to kill the bacteria.

Meditation reduces the severity of hot flashes.  According to Prevention Magazine  there is a growing body of new research that indicates that just a few minutes of meditation can do everything from curing a backache to putting out hot flashes.

You save 9.75 teaspoons of sugar when you trade a 12-ounce can of soda for a can of seltzer.  It gives you the bubbles and convenience without all the sugar and artificial sweeteners.  The AHA recommends that we take in no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar per day to reduce the risk of heart disease, so one can of soda would put you over.

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Q: Are there any benefits to drinking lemon and warm water? One of my friends drinks it instead of coffee in the morning and swears by it. But she can’t tell me why it’s good. ………………………. Jean, Douglas

A: The short answer is yes, there are a lot of benefits to drinking lemon water. The answer that most people who drink it daily tell me is that they do it for cleansing the liver. It apparently helps liquefy the bile and control excess bile production.

In his book Biological Inonization, author Beddoe writes that the liver can make more enzymes out of fresh lemons than from any other food. It can also help relieve symptoms of indigestion, heartburn, belching and bloating.

In his book Back To Eden, Jethro Kloss explains: It helps prevent growth of pathogenic bacteria and decomposition of tissue, it assists in “cleansing the system of impurities,” helps to dissolve uric acid, the cause of many joint issues…..

Drinking lemon water has an alkalizing effect on the body and according to Kloss and Beddoe helps purify the blood, assists in lowering blood pressure, relieves symptoms of astma and allergies, helps prevents gallstones and kidney stones and provides potassium to brain and nerve cells.

Here’s the technique if you are interested in trying it out. Use clean, purified non-chlorinated water. Then, using a lemon/lime squeezer, squeeze one half lemon or lime into the warm water, without sweetener. Drink it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, long before ingesting anything else.

“The warm lemon/lime water daily habit is as cheap and easy as it gets to help you improve and maintain your health. Bottoms up!”

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Q: There are signs all over the highway telling people to “Keep Firewood Local, avoid harmful insects.” What is the story behind that? ………….. Loves Campfires

A: These signs are a reminder of the ongoing battle the Worcester area has with the Asian Longhorn beetles that was first identified in 2008. More than 25,000 Maple trees have been cut down since then in Worcester County in the efforts to keep it from spreading to more of the area.

We can do our part by following the new regulations regarding firewood. The laws state that any firewood we use should be harvested and used locally, with 50 miles of where it was cut.

Check out the movie “Lurking in the Trees” available on Utube for more details on the beetle invasion in Worcester.

Q: There seem to be a lot of Dragonflies in my garden this summer . There are so many different kinds, colors, shapes and textures. What attracts them to the gardens? ………...Mesmerized

A: I love Dragonflies too. As a child I remember being somewhat less fond of them though, it probably had something to do with my brother telling me they were going to bite me and put stitches in my mouth. And with a name like dragonfly it would be easy to imagine the possibility.

Dragonflies and their cousins Damselflies have a mythology all their own. In Native American cultures the dragonfly spirit means one must consciously make an effort to express hopes, dreams, needs and wishes. It is the spirit of the winds of change bringing wisdom and enlightenment. It is the guide leading us through the mists of illusion on the pathway of enlightenment.

Dragonflies have amazing abilities being able to move in all six directions, move at an amazing 45mph, hover like a helicopter, fly backwards like a hummingbird, fly up, down and sideways all while flapping their wings only 30 times a minute while mosquitos and houseflies flap their wings 600 and 1000 times a minute respectively.

Although Dragonflies look like they have long stingers, they do not. The part that looks like a stinger is actually a clasper and the male uses it to hold onto the female when they are mating.

The Dragonfly uses 80% of its brain function to support its eyes. It has 30.000 lenses so they can see all the way around, bit it’s actual vision is not as good as the human eye.l

So if you are like me and like to have them come to the gardens here are a few things you can do to encourage them to come to you. Dragonflies love the water and can skit along the top of it very easily, every phase of their life revolves around the water. Place light colored stones to the edge of the pond to give them a place to sit in the sun and bake.

Each time you see one flying around, remember they help us adjust to change and are symbols good fortune.

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Q: Is chicken a healthier choice. What is a smart chicken? ……….. Diet Overload

A: That might be a loaded question or questions. When you see the average recommended food choices for people trying to eat healthy, chicken is definitely on the list. And within certain limits it can be very healthy.

A large number of questions we get for Ask Madalyn are concerned with the food we eat and the health issues related to it. The chicken question seems pretty benign and a no-brainer, but a little research shows that it is not quite that simple. The fear-mongers and avid vegetarians among us would throw all meat out, throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Consumer Reports’ most recent study of chicken indicates that the contamination of chicken and how it is processed has improved little since their 2007 study when eight out of ten chickens were shown to harbor pathogens like salmonella and/or campylobacter. While proper handling and cooking of chicken when you get it home will help minimize the risks, there are also other things that can’t be cooked out. Instead of grossing you out with the types of contaminants and cancers prevalent in a high percentage of chicken widely available, I will give you Consumer Reports’ recommendations. The large name-brand chicken distributors need to be avoided, some registering more than 80 percent testing positive for one or both pathogens. Consumer Reports indicated that Perdue’s numbers were best among the big growers with a 56% clean product. Read—the best of them had a 44% contaminated rate.

Among the cleanest overall were air-chilled broilers (a slaughterhouse process in which carcasses are refrigerated and may be misted, rather than dunked into cold chlorinated water.) Also known as smart chickens, this process seems to help keep down the exterior contaminants.

Chicken is filled with selenium, Vitamin B3 and Vitamin B6, all very healthy nutrients. The trick is to get the benefits without the bad effects. Organic seems to be the most reliable way to eat chicken more safely and has been shown to have more of the nutrients and fewer contaminants. Organic-chicken growers are legally prohibited from using sewage sludge as fertilizer, synthentic chemicals not approved by the National Organic Program of the USDA, or generically modified organisms (GMOs)- any plant, animal or microorganism that has been altered through genetic engineering—the production process. Chicken labeled as ’natural’ don’t meet those standards.

As far as being healthy, be aware that most chicken is still 56% fat, about the same as a piece of broiled lean steak. So if eating a lower fat diet is your goal there will be other less fattening choices.

You ask, is there anything left that is safe to eat? Do I have to grow everything myself? Personally I am so impressed with our body’s ability to function as well as it does given all the junk and poisons we put in there on a regular basis. But it is taking its toll, the accumulation of toxins is aging us prematurely, increasing our cancer rate exponentially and who knows what is left to be discovered.

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Q: “When I use regular soap in the shower my skin feels dry and itchy. How can I get clean without getting itchy skin?”

A: Most soap, especially bar soaps dry the skin out. Dr. Oz says that “soap can remove the natural oils produced by glands as natural protection for your skin and can leave it feeling dry and itchy.” The protective layer of outer skin is held together by lipids, fatty compounds that naturally moisturize the skin.

The main ingredient in most soap is lye, a product derived from burned wood ash and combined with other products in a process called sapponation. In it’s natural state lye is a toxic cleaner used for metal cleaning . When it is made into soap for human use it must be aged to let the toxins escape and morph into the product we know.

The soap itself has no cleaning properties as such, it is the soapy lather that removes contaminates from the skin and traps bacteria and debris.

The general recommendation for the use of soap is, when you are not sweaty or dirty, apply a mild cleanser to armpits, genitals, hands and feet only. Avoid using abrasive, drying or irritating soaps, since they might lead to breakouts or dry, flaky skin. The American Academy of Family Physicians suggest switching to hypoallergenic, unscented bath soaps and laundry detergents and if you use a deodorant soap us it only on body parts that can develop odor, such as armpits, genitals and feet.

Studies have shown that emollient rich cleansers dry the skin out the least and add moisture to the skin. Limit showers to under 15 minutes and use warm water, not hot. Hot water dissolves the lipids faster hastening the drying process. Towel dry gently, not vigorously with a soft towel and use a water based moisturizer to capture the moisture in the skin. Avoid any products with petrolatum or petroleum as they seal the skin but do not moisturize it.

The skin on your face is particularly sensitive to irritants and ordinary soap can leave it looking dull, dry and old. The normal pH of the skin is between 5.0 and 5.6, making it between the acidic and neutral range. The alkaline nature of soap is not good for the face, drying it out and producing wrinkles. The proper pH of the skin protects it, killing bacteria and keeping it healthy. Dryness and dehydration causes the development of fine lines which will turn into wrinkles.

Bottom line, use a liquid moisturizing cleanser or soap with glycerin. Wash with soap no more than once a day, and only the parts that need it, with warm, not hot water. Pat dry with a soft towel or air dry, and follow up with a good moisturizer that doesn’t clog the pores.

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Q:  Do you think hair dyes are safe?  I have dark brown hair and have colored it for many years.  Should I consider using more natural coloring agents or going grey? ..Curiously Colored

A:  The fast answer to the question is that it’s not as dangerous as it used to be, but there are still way too many chemicals in it to use regularly.

A few years ago I was at a seminar with Peter Lamas, well known celebrity hairdresser to the stars.  He is quoted “…….And then there was Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, a client for whom I did hair and frequently applied hair dye. Ms. Kennedy died too young from Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cancer. Her doctors have stated publicly they believe her hair dye probably contributed to causing her cancer. “

According to Martha Stewart, seven out of every ten women use coloring products. Current research says that the darker the hair dye the worse it is for you, due to the amount of tars and ammonia in the dye. The permanent dye is worse than the semi- permanent.  The top of your head is very vulnerable to toxins and if the product touches your skin the toxins will be absorbed into your body.

  
So the alternatives would be to give it up all together, to lighten your color, put in streaks rather than a whole color, go blonde or choose a product that doesn’t have the chemicals in it.

There are some excellent hair technicians out there, so if you go to a salon, talk with your colorist.  They do it all day long and  should be able to minimize the risk.  There are salons that advertise non toxic products so check out their internet pages.

Due to consumer demand, many of the major hair dye companies now offer products that have less toxic, or non-toxic ingredients.  Natural food stores such as Whole Foods and The Natural Market have a selection of products to choose from.

If you are a DIYer, then be sure to use caution while dying your hair, wear gloves, don’t overdo the time and check for expiration dates on the box.  If the color turns black as soon as you put it on, it’s bad.  Don’t breathe in the fumes and use a well ventilated room.

As a final note, there is no federal regulation on hair dye.  A recent study showed that 400 out of 456 products tested for toxic chemicals ranked as high hazard, which means they contain toxic ingredients linked to cancer, developmental and reproductive issues, neurotoxicity, organ toxicity, allergies of the eyes, skin or lungs.  
Whether you have obvious symptoms or irritation or not, it’s a good idea to find out what’s being put into your body when you are being beautified.  


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