WATER OR COKE? Eye Opening Information!

November 2006

This is really an eye opener.... Water or Coke? We all know that water is important but I've never seen it written down like this before.

WATER
75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.
Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.
One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.
Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.
If you have chronic headaches or migraines, suck down a 20oz bottle of water at the onset!!! It helps to lessen the pain (if you follow that with Gatorade or Pedialite it will help even more!!)

And now for the properties of Coke:
In many states (in the USA) the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the truck to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.
You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of Coke and it will be gone in two days.
To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and let the "real thing" sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from porcelain and China.
To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.
To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.
To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.
To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for sumptuous brown gravy.
To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of Coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains.
It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

For Your Info:
1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase in osteoporosis.
2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the Hazardous material place cards reserved for highly corrosive materials.
3. The distributors of Coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!
Now the question is...Would you like a Coke or a glass of water? Have A Great Day and Share It With Others!

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Placencia & Seine Bight Dental Clinics

October  2006

For the third year in a row a group of dentists from the United States has visited the Placencia peninsula to give a few days of their time for free dental clinics to residents of Placencia and Seine Bight Villages. In mid October the teams spent 2 days in Placencia and another 2 in Seine Bight performing check ups, fillings and extractions for those that needed it. They also spoke with children about the importance of good dental hygiene.
Several peninsula businesses helped to make these visits a success through their kind donations of accommodation, meals, and/or transportation. These include Seaspray Hotel, Crow’s Nest Restaurant & Bar, Barefoot Beach Bar, BJ’s Restaurant, Nautical Inn, Western Horizon Restaurant & Bar, Adolph William’s Restaurant, the Inn at Robert’s Grove, Seine Bight Water Board, Placencia Water Board, Tropic Air, Professional Building Supplies and the Placencia BTIA. The Placencia Worship Center made their church available for use once again. Thanks to all of those that assisted and of course to the dental teams that made it the success it was. Others that offered assistance were the Bistro at the Maya Beach Hotel and Cozy Corner Restaurant and Bar - we’ll take you up on it the next time!!!!

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What Is My Reason ?

By: James Cleve Westby  November 2006

Does any of this life really matter
Where are we to go from here…
Time goes by like whispers in the wind
No limit as to how far we will go
Sad or happy, Richer or poor
I gaze up on the star
And I know they have been there forever
What is this purpose
This purpose of reason
Is life my reason, but with life
I know I am to grow old. and die
Ashes to ashes and dust to dust
Is there more to this world we call home
I guess our time will come
It like a game you’ll wait your turn
Just go with time moving,
But yet it is odd that time stand still
That the naked eye’s just does not see it.
What ever the reason
Let reasoning be
I am sure it will fall in to Place
What ever this reason may be

© James Cleeve Westby

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Mother Nature's Medicine Chest

What Is A Noni??  A not so new Health Discovery

November 2006

Noni comes from the plant family Rubaiceae (comprised of 80 plant species). Noni is found mainly in South Pacific (Tahiti), but is also found in Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Africa, Fiji, Guam, the Hawaiian Islands, and the West Indies (including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands). Belize
Noni has large leaves and small white flowers that bloom year-round
Noni flwers become a bumpy, pitted fruit several inches long
Upon ripening, noni's yellow skin thins and becomes translucent and an
offensive odor develops
Noni contains numerous brown seeds that float and can be transported in water; thus the plant is found all over the world
Noni can grow as high as 20 feet
Morinda citrifolia grows in many different parts of the world in mainly tropical environments and produces a strong-tasting fruit that has innumerable health benefits.
History A Secret is Revealed
Thousands of years ago, ancient sea-going people journeyed across the oceans in great outrigger canoes to settle what is now known as French Polynesia. Space in the canoes was limited; they brought only what they needed to survive. Noni was prized cargo in these canoes because of its healthful properties and was considered queen of the 'canoe plants' used to establish new villages.
The story of the Morinda citrifolia plant is also told among the people of the tropics worldwide. In Malaysia, it is called MENGKUDU. In Southeast Asia it is known as NHAU. The plant is recognized among all peoples of the South Pacific. It is called NONU in Samoa and Tonga, NONO in Raratonga and Tahiti, and NONI in the Marquesas Islands and Hawaii.
The fruit of the Morinda citrifolia plant was an important source of food for the early Polynesians, who consumed it in times of famine. Australian aborigines were fond of the fruit, and people in Burma cooked unripe fruits in curries and ate the ripened fruit raw with salt. The seeds, leaves, bark, and roots were also eaten by people versed in the healing properties of this odd plant. Amazingly, every part of the Morinda citrifolia plant is used.
Traditional Uses:
Polynesians picked the noni fruit before it was ripe, and place it in a jar in the direct sunlight. When fully ripe, the noni fruit was mashed into a puree and the juice was extracted through a cloth. The juice was then ready for use. People traditionally took the juice during times of rest, when the body was under the least amount of stress. Noni was also served as a food dish.
Noni juice is now available locally. If you are interested in it contact Anthony Eiley - 523-3156.

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Learn to Love A.M. Exercise

November 2006

(Even if You're NOT A Morning Person) By Rebecca Pratt, Staff Writer - www.sparkpeople.com

I am not a morning person. This confession will come as no surprise to my friends and family, most of whom have spent many glorious years making merry over my tendency to nod off over breakfast, my need for copious amounts of coffee before noon, and my late-night bursts of productivity.
For years I’ve tried to pretend I’m one of “them”—those chirpy, cheerful folks who rise effortlessly at dawn to go after that proverbial worm. I’ve also spent many years suppressing the urge to complain bitterly about a world where night owls like me suffer grievous discrimination at the hands of those ubiquitous “normal” people.
So those who know me best are always startled—no, make that shocked—to find out that I do most of my exercising in the early hours of the day, anywhere from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. They’re even more astonished, after an initial double take, to discover that I actually like to get my exercise in early. Really.
And though my morning-exercise regimen started out as a concession to the practical constraints of my life, I have since discovered that there are some very good benefits to learning to love exercise in the morning—so I’ll share with you my “Top Ten Reasons” for getting up with the early birds to get moving:
Exercising early in the morning "jump starts" your metabolism, keeping it elevated for hours, sometimes for up to 24 hours! As a result, you’ll be burning more calories all day long—just because you exercised in the morning.
Exercising in the morning energizes you for the day—not to mention that gratifying feeling of virtue you have knowing you’ve done something disciplined and good for you. (Much better than a worm!)
Studies have shown that exercise significantly increases mental acuity—a benefit that lasts four to ten hours after your workout ends. Exercising in the a.m. means you get to harness that brainpower, instead of wasting it while you’re snoozing.
Assuming you make exercise a true priority, it shouldn’t be a major problem to get up 30 to 60 minutes earlier—especially since regular exercise generally means a higher quality of sleep, which in turn means you’ll probably require less sleep. (If getting up 30 to 60 minutes earlier each day seems too daunting, you can ease into it with 10 to 20 minutes at first.)
When you exercise at about the same time every morning—especially if you wake up regularly at about the same time—you’re regulating your body's endocrine system and circadian rhythms. Your body learns that you do the same thing just about every day, and it begins to prepare for waking and exercise several hours before you actually open your eyes. That’s beneficial because:
o Your body’s not “confused” by wildly changing wake-up times, which means waking up is much less painful. (You may even find that you don’t need an alarm clock most days.)
o Hormones prepare your body for exercise by regulating blood pressure, heart rate, blood flow to muscles, etc.
o Your metabolism, along with all the hormones involved in activity and exercise, begin to elevate while you're sleeping. As a result, you’ll feel more alert, energized, and ready to exercise when you do wake up.
Many people find that morning exercise has a tendency to regulate their appetite for the rest of the day. Not only do they eat less (since activity causes the release of endorphins, which in turn diminishes appetite), they also choose healthier portions of healthier foods.
People who consistently exercise find, sometimes to their great surprise, that the appointed time every morning evolves into something they look forward to. Besides the satisfaction of taking care of themselves, they find it’s a great time to plan their day, pray, or just think more clearly—things most of us often don’t get to do otherwise.
Exercising first thing in the morning is the most foolproof way to ensure that other things don’t overtake your fitness commitment, particularly if you have a hectic family life. (It’s so easy to wimp out in the evening, when we’re tired or faced with such tasks as rustling up dinner and helping with homework.)
More than 90% of those who exercise consistently have a morning fitness routine. If you want to exercise on a regular basis, the odds are in your favor if you squeeze your workout into the a.m.
Non-morning people can always trick themselves in the a.m. Having trouble psyching yourself up for a sunrise jog? Do what I did—tell yourself that you’ll still be so fast asleep that you won’t even remember—much less mind!

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Quick Tips for Parents

November 2006

Homework Time Made Easier……And More Effective ...................
Homework helps kids learn important lessons. It can help them do better in school. It can also help them develop responsibility. But homework can be a hassle for parents. You may feel that you are constantly nagging your child to do homework. You may not find out that there is homework until it is almost time for bed. Or you may wonder whether the time spent on homework is helping your child.
Here are some answers to parent’s questions about homework…. And some parent-tested tips that will help you make the most of your child’s study time.
Why do teachers assign homework?
Teachers give homework because they strongly believe it reinforces what they are teaching in class and helps students learn. Teachers say:
Homework boosts achievement. If a student is having trouble with a subject, time spent on homework can often make the difference between mastering a subject and just getting by.
Homework builds self-discipline, independence, responsibility and time management skills.
Homework helps teachers see which students need help.
Homework helps parents know what’s going on in school. If you check your child’s homework regularly, you will have a good idea of what your child is learning.
What can parents do to help?
Set a regular homework time. A regular study time helps children develop responsibility. When children get in the habit of studying each day, they learn to use their time better. Help you child find a schedule that works for him and for the family. Write the homework schedule on your calendar, just as you write down practice, lessons or classes.
Let your child do the homework. If parents help too much, teachers can’t see what a child is – and isn’t – learning. - You may need to help your child get organized. - You may need to help you child get organized. You may need to sit nearby so you can answer a few questions. But let your child do the work.
When you child says “There is no homework.” Declare that there’s never a “no homework” Even if there is no assignment due the next day, your child can review for a quiz or a test, do extra reading or get more practice with math facts.
When your child doesn’t have time to do all the homework. If you feel that your child has to spend every free minute on homework, you may want to look more closely at what is going on.
Look at your child’s after school schedule. Some kids have schedules that are busier than a business executive’s. But school is your child’s most important job. Dropping an activity or two may give your child more time for homework.
Make sure “study time” is spent on homework. Some kids waste a lot of homework time daydreaming. Some play games on the internet. Stay nearby and check on your child for a few days. You may see ways to help put time to better use.
Limit TV time. Most children spend more hours watching television than they do on homework. You may want to set a rule that there’s no TV on school days – or that there’s no TV until all homework is done.
Share your concerns with the teacher. Changes may need to be made in your child’s classroom as well as at home. Her class schedule may need to be changed. Your school wants to work with you find solutions. You may also want to talk with a school PTA member or your school principal.
Help Stop Homework Hassles
Here are some tips to end the worst homework hassles:
Check on supplies. Does your child have paper, pens and panicles at home? How about a dictionary and an atlas?
Respect your child’s study time. That means no interruptions from you, no phone calls, and no visits from friends.
Work on your own projects during homework time. Pay bills, write letters or do some of your own work. You’ll send your child a message that you think homework time is important.
Break it up. For many children, “divide & conquer” is a good way to plan homework time. It often helps to work for 15 to 20 minutes and then take five minutes to relax. Break up longer projects into manageable chunks.
When your child always asks for help… Of course you want your child to child to ask for homework help when she really needs it, but not with every single problem. Make it clear that you’ll help when it is really necessary. But encourage your child to try to figure things out before asking for help.

Get the Homework Habit in just 21 days. Experts say that if we consistently do something for just 21 days, it will probably become a habit. Talk with your child and decide on some good homework habits to work toward for 21 days. It won’t be long until homework time is easier, more effective – and your child is learning more!!!

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