Archive for December 11th, 2008

Getting rid of cockroaches in the house

Thursday, December 11th, 2008

Cockroaches are amazing insects. They can cover 50 times their body length in 1 second. That is like a human being running 180 miles per hour. German cockroaches will consume just about anything from crumbs to cardboard to droppings of other roaches and if there is a serious food shortage, they will eat each other, so they prefer to stay close to a food and water source. They can go for long periods of time without intake and if separated from its head, the roach body can go on living for even a couple of months until it finally dies of dehydration.

They have followed human population wherever they have traveled and now the urban jungle is their natural habitat. If they just stayed in the sewers, that would almost be bearable, but their nature keeps them exploring new territories. In all honesty, not even the cleanest house is immune.

In the US, the German cockroach is the most common roach found in homes and hotels. German cockroaches and their eggs, are imported into the house, usually on man’s belongings, luggage, boxes or packages. All it takes, is bringing in one egg capsule, and you can go from one to infinity in just a couple of weeks.

There is an urban legend that they will be the only thing to survive a nuclear war, and that they can survive being cooked in a microwave oven. Actually they are no better than other insects, most of which are about 15 times more resistant to radiation than humans. Still, they make great test subjects for insecticides, because if a product can kill a roach, it can take out anything on 6 legs, and nobody cares what happens to the test roaches.

So, how do we get rid of cockroaches? We use the same thing that professionals will charge you a fortune to apply. Avert Roach Bait is the cheapest and easiest product on the market.

Many times roaches are not the only problem in the home. To control dog fleas the only way to go is with Insect Growth Regulators that also work on the juvenile stages of the roach. A combination of IGR’s and Avert will solve the roach problem in your home for months at a time.

Are Aromatherapy Candles And Scented Potpourri Safe?

Thursday, December 11th, 2008

Do you love the scent of aromatherapy candles and potpourri, but worry about the artificial fragrances and toxic ingredients that go into them?

There is plenty of reason for concern…

While the sweet scents and mood enhancing ability of aromatherapy candles may be charming and alluring, their by-products are lethal. Most aromatherapy candles contain chemical fragrances. When burned, they are converted into toxins such as acetone (an ingredient in nail polish remover and paint thinner), benezene, toluene, particulate matter and soot. Not only do the soot and chemicals get all over your home, but they get into your nose and lungs where they can do serious harm.

Even burning pure essential oils drastically alters their delicate constituents into potentially harmful substances.

Paraffin candles are as dangerous to the lungs as second-hand smoke. The more you candles you burn, the more the harmful effect is multiplied. That’s because when burned, paraffin releases benzene and toluene - known carcinogens. These toxic substances are inhaled into you and your family’s lungs and leave residue on walls, ceilings and fabrics. It’s may be hard to believe the soot from paraffin candles contains many of the same toxins found in diesel fuel, but it’s true.

Candles from China, South America and other developing countries often contain lead in the wicks. These countries lack the resources to monitor the safety of products. Burning a few leaded wicks for only a few hours will increase lead levels 9 to 11 times over acceptable limits. Just burning 4 metal-wick candles for two hours can result in enough airborne lead concentrations to pose a threat to human health. Some homes where leaded wick candles are burned frequently become so toxic, they cannot be sold.

Slow-burning candles often contain harmful additives. Gel candles contain petroleum with butylated hydroxyl toluene, not exactly healthy substances. Plus, they have a tendency to explode when overheaded.

“Candles are fast becoming one of the most common unrecognized causes of poor indoor air quality,” says Diane Walsh Astry, Executive Director of the Health House Project, an American Lung Association education project in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Soy candles are less toxic, if you don’t mind burning genetically modified plant matter. Frankly, I don’t want to support the GMO industry in any way, shape or form, nor do I want any GMO residue floating around my air space.

The bottom line is, burning any kind of aromatherapy candle or scented candle is essentially poisoning yourself and your family.

What can you do? How can you enjoy the fragrances of the season without releasing toxic and sometimes lethal substances into the air?

First, if you must burn a candle, make sure it’s beeswax. Beeswax candles are considerably safer than paraffin and metal-wicked. But they are expensive, and not as readily available.

Secondly, try diffusing essential oils instead. Rather than burning essential oils, diffusers work like atomizers, breaking up molecules into a microscopic mist and sending them out into the room. When you diffuse with therapeutic-grade essential oils, you are actually benefiting your body and lungs. Diffusing is a safe, easy and healthy way to infuse your favorite fragrance into your home.

The Ultrasonic Diffuser is a brand-new, state-of-the-art system that can diffuse even the thickest of oils.

Our olefactory sense is an important part of life and should be enjoyed. Harmful and toxic fragrances can be easily avoided. There’s no need to forego infusing your home and life with wonderful scents. Simply diffuse natural fragrances and essential oils instead of burning dangerous aromatherapy candles.

Loose Weight Fast

Thursday, December 11th, 2008

Many people need to lose some weight, that’s a fact.  Look around where people gather, you’ll notice the fat.  Don’t laugh.  Unfortunately you’re likely to see it in the mirror too.  If your goal is fast weight loss, keep these simple things in mind to take off the pounds quickly and safely.

Skipping meals is one of the first things people often try when they want to lose weight.  Hey, if eating fewer calories is the goal then why not skip breakfast or lunch.  Fewer calories means losing weight, right?  That’s right but skipping meals isn’t the right way to reduce calories.  Your body thinks it’s being starved when you skip meals.  It goes into “starvation” mode.  It starts to retain fat to counteract what it perceives as a shortage of food.  Another problem with skipping meals is that when you finally eat you’ll be a lot more hungry.  The result is binge eating.  Skipping a meal plus binge eating, then, will likely result in eating more calories and the body gaining even more weight from those calories than normally.  It’s the worst of both worlds.  Don’t do it. You can find more information regarding how to boost your metabolism here.

Know how much to eat.  It’s called portion control and it’s as important as eating the right foods.  Too much of even a healthy food will still result in weight gain.  Portion control isn’t easy when large portions are so common.  Restaurants and even most people in home cooking serve portions far larger than needed.  The FDA and other sources list recommended daily allowances.  If you must eat out, keep portion size in mind.  You’ll likely have to cut down on what a restaurant serves.

Eat more whole grain foods, skip the white grains such as white bread, sugar and white rice.  Whole grains are rich in nutrients and low in fat.  The fiber in whole grains helps you become full faster, and feel fuller longer.  Finally, whole grains add nutrients that many people lack in their diet.

Drink more water.  Replace juice and soda with water since that juice and soda adds 90,000 calories to an average person’s diet every year.  Drink it between meals too.  In fact, the goal is 8 glasses of water each day.  It seems like a lot, but it’s not.  Drinking water also promotes health in general by keeping you well hydrated and cool. Learn a good tip in how to boost your metabolism.

Eat healthy snacks between meals.  The body needs food every three to four hours to maintain proper blood sugar.  Eating healthy snacks, such as fruits, helps control eating at meal times.

With some knowledge and planning, fast weight loss is easily possible.  It won’t be long before you’re slimmer and trimmer.

Learn how to boost your metabolism.

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