October Tips: FRUITS AND NUTS
Smaller apples usually keep longer and bruise less.
Allow for air circulation when storing.
Prepare your soil now for planting raspberries in the spring. A pH of
5.8 to 6.5 and sandy-loam soil are best for raspberries. When
planting in a garden, avoid areas where tomatoes, eggplants, or
potatoes were planted to guard against verticillium wilt being in the
soil.
Nut trees are a fine addition to a large yard. They provide framing
and background for the house, shade in the summer, food for wildlife,
and a source of homegrown nuts.
Although most nut-producing trees grow tall and need plenty of room
to
expand, filberts (also called hazelnuts) are the exception. Without
pruning, they grow into large, suckering shrubs useful as an edible
hedge.
Alternatively, trim them into small landscape trees 15 to 25 feet
tall.
You can reduce the number of pests on fruit trees next year by
picking up and destroying all fallen fruit, branches, and leaves.
Worms and other pests feed on this fruit, overwinter in the soil, and
emerge in the spring to lay eggs and start the cycle all over again.
Many of the late-maturing apple varieties, such as Winesap, Yellow
Newton, Rome Beauty, and Northern Spy, are best for storage.
They can be stored outdoors in insulated boxes, straw-lined pits, or
buried containers. As long as outdoor temperatures are above 10F,
they should not freeze. They will, however, last longer and taste
better if kept in plastic bags or in plastic-lined, cardboard boxes
in a fruit cellar.
Cardboard boxes and plastic bags must be perforated to allow for air
circulation.
Most pears are grown on the West Coast, so to avoid bruising in
transit, they have to be shipped before they are ripe. Those hard
pears will become soft and juicy simply by putting the fruits in a
paper bag or a basket on top of the refrigerator or other warm place
for four to six days. The fruits will not ripen to a satisfactory
quality if they are kept in a plastic bag or in the refrigerator.
Strawberries covered in the fall with a spun-bonded polyester
material and uncovered in the spring just before bloom produced up to
60 percent more fruit than plants given the conventional straw or hay
mulch cover, reports Dr. James Pollard of the University of New
Hampshire.
Surround the trunks of fruit trees with hardware cloth or similar
wire, and bury the edges in the ground to prevent rodents from
chewing on them.
Clean up home orchard and small-fruit plantings.
Sanitation is essential for good maintenance. Dried fruits or
"mummies" carry disease organisms through the winter to attack next
year's crop.
Nut trees are a fine addition to the home landscape.
They may accent the house, provide shade in the summer, and even
become a good source of homegrown nuts.
To beat birds, squirrels, and other pests to your crops, prompt
harvesting is a must. This month harvest pecans, grapes, and pawpaws.
A final weeding of your strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries
will help keep weed problems down to a minimum. Start collecting
fresh pine needles or clean straw to mulch strawberries after the
ground has
frozen.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Breast Cancer: An Ounce of Prevention
An Ounce of Prevention
by Cherie Calbom MS
http://healthy.net/scr/column.asp?PageType=Column&id=551
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. People who keep track of
statistics tell us that by the end of this year 211,300 new cases of
breast cancer are expected to occur. We are reminded this month to
think about our health about exams, our lifestyle, our exercise
habits, our stress level, and about what we put in our mouth all the
things that can prevent cancer of the breast as well as a host of
other cancers.
My mother died of breast cancer when I was six years old. This is a
subject that perhaps never really leaves my mind. But this month,
more than usual, it's at the forefront of my thoughts.
I had a conversation several days ago with a woman who is on a
low-carbohydrate diet. You know, the one that really works to lose
weight, but doesn't allow much of the foods that prevent cancer,
particularly breast cancer. She asked me what I thought of the
program.
I agree with eating low-carb foods, omitting sugars in all forms,
from honey to desserts, fruit juice, high-sugar fruit, refined white
flour products such as rolls, pasta, pizza, bagels, and bread, junk
foods, alcohol, and even whole grains for a limited period of time.
But there's one category of omission I can't recommend, and that is
dark orange and yellow vegetables, even though most of them are a bit
higher in carbs.
Perhaps for the first week or two to give one�s body a jumpstart on
weight loss, omission is okay, but not for weeks at a time, as I know
many people are doing. It's an antioxidant-rich diet that has been
shown in studies all over the world to prevent cancer.
Pink is the ribbon color this month, but I think it should be
yellow-orange. A study was released this year showing there was a
reduced risk of breast cancer with increased consumption of dark
orange-yellow vegetables and fruit (Intl. J. Cancer, 2003). This
study confirms what scores of previous studies have found a diet rich
in carotenes (phytonutrients that give plants their yellow, orange,
and red color) is highly protective against many forms of cancer,
including breast cancer.
Many green vegetables are also high in carotenes, but their
chlorophyll, which is green in color, masks the carotene colors. Over
600 carotenes have been identified to date.
Beta-carotene has received the most press, but alpha-carotene is now
believed to be even more powerful in protecting our cells. It is
especially protective of the skin and may neutralize free radical
damage caused by the sun. It is known as nature's own sun blocker. It
appears to be very defensive when it comes to melanomas on the skin.
Our best sources of this vital nutrient include: carrots, pumpkin,
chlorella, squashes, wheatgrass, and yellow, orange, and red peppers.
Lycopene is responsible for the red color of tomatoes and berries and
is protective against prostate, lung, breast, stomach, pancreas,
colon, rectum, and cervix cancers. Other carotenes such as zeazanthin
and luetin are concentrated in carrots, squash, apricots, yams, red
beets, chard, wheatgrass, spinach, and kale. They protect our eyes
from cataracts and age-related retina problems.
Juicing vegetables is one way we can get a concentration of these
important carotenes. Can freshly made vegetable juice be a powerful
ally in our fight against cancer? Just ask a close family member of
mine.
She discovered an unfriendly looking mole, made a trip to her
dermatologist, waited a long, long time for results from a test, and
finally got an answer from one of the top labs in the nation that had
eventually received the specimen from another lab.
Her dermatologist said she had stupefied the experts! They said it
looked like a melanoma that had regressed to a pre-cancerous state.
Pondering the whole matter, the only thing she saw that could
possibly have made the difference, the only real health change she
had made in her lifestyle was to faithfully start juicing vegetables
and fruit every morning.
That is exactly what my husband and I do each day as well. We juice
organic cucumber, celery, parsley, beet with greens, carrots, lemon,
and ginger. Its a powerful antioxidant cocktail, one we know is
helping to protect the trillions of cells in our bodies from the
damaging effects of free radicals attacks and toxins.
Carotenes can reduce the risk of breast cancer and many other cancers
early in the game by helping normal cells communicate
growth-regulating signals to pre-malignant cells. They also inhibit
growth signals that stop cancer cells from growing. Additionally,
they boost immune cells that attack and destroy cancer cells.
Carotenes also help detoxify carcinogens such as cigarette smoke,
industrial wastes and fumes, and the effects of char-broiled meat.
They are potent quenchers of singlet oxygen (free radicals). And they
inhibit the effects of radiation.
My grandmother often said, An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
cure. Carbs or no carbs, we just cant live a life of high-level
wellness without orange, yellow, red, and green vegetables. You have
to ask:
What are a few ounces of yellow-orange vegetables and a little
low-sugar fruit worth? Perhaps your life! Whatever your lifestyle,
whether traveling, dieting, eating on-the-run, or just very busy, you
cant afford to omit the carotene-rich foods that add color to your
plate or glass and heaps of protection to your body.
The story of my family member's melanoma reversal is an excerpt from
The Complete Cancer Cleanse (Thomas Nelson, 2003). It is available at
http://www.cancercleanse.com or by calling 1-866-8GETWELL.
------------------------------------------------------
Cherie Calbom, M.S. is the author of eleven books including the
best-selling Juicing for Life (Avery, 1992) with nearly two million
books in print in the U.S. and published around the world in nineteen
countries.
Other best-selling books by Cherie include: George Foremans Knock Out
the Fat Barbecue & Grilling Cookbook, The Juice Lady�s Guide to
Juicing for Health, and The Ultimate Smoothie Book
(http://www.juicinginfo.com). Her latest book The Complete Cancer
Cleanse was released September, 2003 (http://www.cancercleanse.com).
Cherie earned a masters degree in nutrition from Bastyr University,
where she now serves on the Board of Regents. She has practiced as a
clinical nutritionist at St. Luke Medical Center, Bellevue,
Washington. Known as The Juice Lady for her work with juicing and
health, her juice therapy and cleansing programs have been popular
for a decade. She is also known as George Foremans nutritionist and
the other spokesperson for the George Foreman grills. She has
appeared regularly on QVC for the last eight years with the Juice
Lady juicer, Saltons Juiceman juicer, and the George Foreman grills.
Her Juice Lady juicer and books are available at 1-866-8GETWELL.
by Cherie Calbom MS
http://healthy.net/scr/column.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. People who keep track of
statistics tell us that by the end of this year 211,300 new cases of
breast cancer are expected to occur. We are reminded this month to
think about our health about exams, our lifestyle, our exercise
habits, our stress level, and about what we put in our mouth all the
things that can prevent cancer of the breast as well as a host of
other cancers.
My mother died of breast cancer when I was six years old. This is a
subject that perhaps never really leaves my mind. But this month,
more than usual, it's at the forefront of my thoughts.
I had a conversation several days ago with a woman who is on a
low-carbohydrate diet. You know, the one that really works to lose
weight, but doesn't allow much of the foods that prevent cancer,
particularly breast cancer. She asked me what I thought of the
program.
I agree with eating low-carb foods, omitting sugars in all forms,
from honey to desserts, fruit juice, high-sugar fruit, refined white
flour products such as rolls, pasta, pizza, bagels, and bread, junk
foods, alcohol, and even whole grains for a limited period of time.
But there's one category of omission I can't recommend, and that is
dark orange and yellow vegetables, even though most of them are a bit
higher in carbs.
Perhaps for the first week or two to give one�s body a jumpstart on
weight loss, omission is okay, but not for weeks at a time, as I know
many people are doing. It's an antioxidant-rich diet that has been
shown in studies all over the world to prevent cancer.
Pink is the ribbon color this month, but I think it should be
yellow-orange. A study was released this year showing there was a
reduced risk of breast cancer with increased consumption of dark
orange-yellow vegetables and fruit (Intl. J. Cancer, 2003). This
study confirms what scores of previous studies have found a diet rich
in carotenes (phytonutrients that give plants their yellow, orange,
and red color) is highly protective against many forms of cancer,
including breast cancer.
Many green vegetables are also high in carotenes, but their
chlorophyll, which is green in color, masks the carotene colors. Over
600 carotenes have been identified to date.
Beta-carotene has received the most press, but alpha-carotene is now
believed to be even more powerful in protecting our cells. It is
especially protective of the skin and may neutralize free radical
damage caused by the sun. It is known as nature's own sun blocker. It
appears to be very defensive when it comes to melanomas on the skin.
Our best sources of this vital nutrient include: carrots, pumpkin,
chlorella, squashes, wheatgrass, and yellow, orange, and red peppers.
Lycopene is responsible for the red color of tomatoes and berries and
is protective against prostate, lung, breast, stomach, pancreas,
colon, rectum, and cervix cancers. Other carotenes such as zeazanthin
and luetin are concentrated in carrots, squash, apricots, yams, red
beets, chard, wheatgrass, spinach, and kale. They protect our eyes
from cataracts and age-related retina problems.
Juicing vegetables is one way we can get a concentration of these
important carotenes. Can freshly made vegetable juice be a powerful
ally in our fight against cancer? Just ask a close family member of
mine.
She discovered an unfriendly looking mole, made a trip to her
dermatologist, waited a long, long time for results from a test, and
finally got an answer from one of the top labs in the nation that had
eventually received the specimen from another lab.
Her dermatologist said she had stupefied the experts! They said it
looked like a melanoma that had regressed to a pre-cancerous state.
Pondering the whole matter, the only thing she saw that could
possibly have made the difference, the only real health change she
had made in her lifestyle was to faithfully start juicing vegetables
and fruit every morning.
That is exactly what my husband and I do each day as well. We juice
organic cucumber, celery, parsley, beet with greens, carrots, lemon,
and ginger. Its a powerful antioxidant cocktail, one we know is
helping to protect the trillions of cells in our bodies from the
damaging effects of free radicals attacks and toxins.
Carotenes can reduce the risk of breast cancer and many other cancers
early in the game by helping normal cells communicate
growth-regulating signals to pre-malignant cells. They also inhibit
growth signals that stop cancer cells from growing. Additionally,
they boost immune cells that attack and destroy cancer cells.
Carotenes also help detoxify carcinogens such as cigarette smoke,
industrial wastes and fumes, and the effects of char-broiled meat.
They are potent quenchers of singlet oxygen (free radicals). And they
inhibit the effects of radiation.
My grandmother often said, An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
cure. Carbs or no carbs, we just cant live a life of high-level
wellness without orange, yellow, red, and green vegetables. You have
to ask:
What are a few ounces of yellow-orange vegetables and a little
low-sugar fruit worth? Perhaps your life! Whatever your lifestyle,
whether traveling, dieting, eating on-the-run, or just very busy, you
cant afford to omit the carotene-rich foods that add color to your
plate or glass and heaps of protection to your body.
The story of my family member's melanoma reversal is an excerpt from
The Complete Cancer Cleanse (Thomas Nelson, 2003). It is available at
http://www.cancercleanse.com or by calling 1-866-8GETWELL.
------------------------------
Cherie Calbom, M.S. is the author of eleven books including the
best-selling Juicing for Life (Avery, 1992) with nearly two million
books in print in the U.S. and published around the world in nineteen
countries.
Other best-selling books by Cherie include: George Foremans Knock Out
the Fat Barbecue & Grilling Cookbook, The Juice Lady�s Guide to
Juicing for Health, and The Ultimate Smoothie Book
(http://www.juicinginfo.com). Her latest book The Complete Cancer
Cleanse was released September, 2003 (http://www.cancercleanse.com)
Cherie earned a masters degree in nutrition from Bastyr University,
where she now serves on the Board of Regents. She has practiced as a
clinical nutritionist at St. Luke Medical Center, Bellevue,
Washington. Known as The Juice Lady for her work with juicing and
health, her juice therapy and cleansing programs have been popular
for a decade. She is also known as George Foremans nutritionist and
the other spokesperson for the George Foreman grills. She has
appeared regularly on QVC for the last eight years with the Juice
Lady juicer, Saltons Juiceman juicer, and the George Foreman grills.
Her Juice Lady juicer and books are available at 1-866-8GETWELL.
10/1 - World Vegetarian Day
World Vegetarian Day - 10/1
http://www.salagram.net/VegeWVD.html
EVU
http://www.european-vegetarian.org/lang/en/info/wvd.php
NAVS
http://www.worldvegetarianday.org/
MIT
http://web.mit.edu/thistle/www/v9/9.11/3veggie.html
http://www.nzgirl.co.nz/articles/2884
http://hicards.com/platinum/bizarre/10-1.html
HSUS
http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/celebrate_world_vegetarian_day_on_october_1.html
http://society.krishna.org/Articles/2002/05/035.html
http://www.answerpoint.org/columns2.asp?column_id=1419&column_type=feature
- - - - -
Greeting Cards
http://www.123greetings.com/events/world_vegetarian_day/
http://www.care2.com/send/catvegetarian1.html
http://www.dgreetings.com/vegetarianday/
http://www.salagram.net/
EVU
http://www.european-
NAVS
http://www.worldvegetarianday.
MIT
http://web.mit.edu/thistle/
http://www.nzgirl.co.nz/
http://hicards.com/platinum/
HSUS
http://www.hsus.org/press_and_
http://society.krishna.org/
http://www.answerpoint.org/
- - - - -
Greeting Cards
http://www.123greetings.com/
http://www.care2.com/send/
http://www.dgreetings.com/
October Gardening Tips: The South
October Gardening Tips: The South
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/rgt_south_oct_11272002.xml&catref=cat1480078
Whew! Temperatures have dropped and made working in the garden a
pleasure again. Time to get out there and plant!
Planting Trees and Shrubs -- Cooler weather means it's time to start
planting again. Plant perennials, container roses, and container or
balled-and-burlapped trees and shrubs now or in November. However,
since October can be dry in some areas, be sure to keep them
well-watered.
• Planting Trees and Shrubs >>
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/16346.xml&catref=cat1480078
* In all but the coldest portions of the South, October is also
the time to plant fall vegetable crops, which thrive in cooler
weather. These include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuces,
various greens, and radishes.
* You can also plant cool-season annual flowers, such as such as
pansies, calendula, candytuft, foxgloves, snapdragons, stock, and
sweet alyssum.
USDA Zone Maps -- Plant spring-blooming bulbs. In cooler regions
where winters get cold enough, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses
and others can be planted directly in the ground. In warmer regions
(usually Zones 8 and warmer), however, bulbs need more cold so you'll
need to chill them in a paper bag in the fridge for 10-12 weeks first
before planting outdoors. If you're unsure, ask at your local garden
center.
• USDA Zone Maps >>
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/category.jhtml?categoryid=/templatedata/bhg/category/data/garden_zonemaps_07032001.xml
Dividing Perennials -- Divide perennials as needed, especially
spring-blooming perennials that you shouldn't divide next spring
right before or during their bloom time.
• Dividing Perennials >>
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/perennials_dividingperennials_07012002.xml&catref=cat1480078
* As perennials fade or become ratty, cut them back nearly to the
ground.
Composting 101 -- If you haven't already, create a compost heap. It's
a great, eco-friendly way to get rid of yard waste and enrich your
soil besides. And if you do have a compost heap, fall is a great time
to take it apart and work the rich, black compost into your holes as
you plant.
• Composting 101 >>
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/GardenersGumbo.xml&catref=cat1480078
* "Winterize" your lawn with a fertilizer made especially for
application this time of year, and apply a pre-emergent herbicide as
well. Look for a product that combines both.
USDA Zone Maps -- Except in the warmest regions (Zones 9 and warmer),
halt fertilizing. It just encourages tender new growth that is likely
to get nipped by winter cold.
* Also halt pruning for the same reason. It encourages a new
flush of growth.
* Continue to water lawns as needed. As a rule, if there have
been no rains, don't go more than 10-14 days without giving your turf
a good soaking.
Repair the Lawn -- Now is an excellent time to reseed and repair
lawns. You'll need to water as often as daily until the seed has
sprouted and established. Wait to plant grass seed until October in
warmer regions, when there are cooler temperatures and rain.
• Repair the Lawn >>
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/14893.xml&catref=cat1480078
Deadheading 101 -- Keep deadheading. For the most flowers and tidiest
garden, deadhead daily.
• Deadheading 101 >>
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/16587.xml&catref=cat1480078
Fertilizing Plants and Pots -- Continue to fertilize containers
containing annuals.
• Fertilizing Plants and Pots >>
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/12455.xml&catref=cat1480078
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.
Whew! Temperatures have dropped and made working in the garden a
pleasure again. Time to get out there and plant!
Planting Trees and Shrubs -- Cooler weather means it's time to start
planting again. Plant perennials, container roses, and container or
balled-and-burlapped trees and shrubs now or in November. However,
since October can be dry in some areas, be sure to keep them
well-watered.
• Planting Trees and Shrubs >>
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.
* In all but the coldest portions of the South, October is also
the time to plant fall vegetable crops, which thrive in cooler
weather. These include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuces,
various greens, and radishes.
* You can also plant cool-season annual flowers, such as such as
pansies, calendula, candytuft, foxgloves, snapdragons, stock, and
sweet alyssum.
USDA Zone Maps -- Plant spring-blooming bulbs. In cooler regions
where winters get cold enough, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses
and others can be planted directly in the ground. In warmer regions
(usually Zones 8 and warmer), however, bulbs need more cold so you'll
need to chill them in a paper bag in the fridge for 10-12 weeks first
before planting outdoors. If you're unsure, ask at your local garden
center.
• USDA Zone Maps >>
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/
Dividing Perennials -- Divide perennials as needed, especially
spring-blooming perennials that you shouldn't divide next spring
right before or during their bloom time.
• Dividing Perennials >>
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.
* As perennials fade or become ratty, cut them back nearly to the
ground.
Composting 101 -- If you haven't already, create a compost heap. It's
a great, eco-friendly way to get rid of yard waste and enrich your
soil besides. And if you do have a compost heap, fall is a great time
to take it apart and work the rich, black compost into your holes as
you plant.
• Composting 101 >>
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.
* "Winterize" your lawn with a fertilizer made especially for
application this time of year, and apply a pre-emergent herbicide as
well. Look for a product that combines both.
USDA Zone Maps -- Except in the warmest regions (Zones 9 and warmer),
halt fertilizing. It just encourages tender new growth that is likely
to get nipped by winter cold.
* Also halt pruning for the same reason. It encourages a new
flush of growth.
* Continue to water lawns as needed. As a rule, if there have
been no rains, don't go more than 10-14 days without giving your turf
a good soaking.
Repair the Lawn -- Now is an excellent time to reseed and repair
lawns. You'll need to water as often as daily until the seed has
sprouted and established. Wait to plant grass seed until October in
warmer regions, when there are cooler temperatures and rain.
• Repair the Lawn >>
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.
Deadheading 101 -- Keep deadheading. For the most flowers and tidiest
garden, deadhead daily.
• Deadheading 101 >>
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.
Fertilizing Plants and Pots -- Continue to fertilize containers
containing annuals.
• Fertilizing Plants and Pots >>
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.
Communicate with your Cat
Communicating with Your Cat
Sept. 18, 2008
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/cat_care/communicating_with_your_cat.html?print=t
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/cat_care/communicating_with_your_cat.html
You and your cat may speak different languages, but that doesn't mean you can't communicate with each other.
While every cat is different, there is a common code of expression—a set of signals—that you can learn to read easily. Indicators such as the look in your cat's eyes, the tone of her voice, the position of her ears and the motion of her tail can provide important clues regarding your companion's feelings and intentions.
Talk to Your Cat
For starters, you can talk to your cat. Some people feel silly speaking to cats, because they think animals can't understand them. Yet these same people might feel comfortable carrying on long one-sided conversations with infants. Cats do receive information from your conversation: praise, comfort and a sense of security.
Listen
You can get information, too. The more cats are spoken to, the more they will speak back. You will learn a lot from your cat's wide vocabulary of chirps and meows. You will know when it is time to get up (at least in your cat's opinion), when your cat is feeling affectionate, or when your cat is feeling threatened or is in pain. Your cat doesn't necessarily have something urgent to tell you; a passing meow in the hallway may be a simple hello.
Body Language
You can also tell a great deal about what cats want or how they are feeling simply by the look in their eyes or their reaction to things. Are your cat's ears twitching in your direction like satellite dishes when you are speaking? He is absorbing everything you are saying.
Does your cat's back rise up to meet your hand when you pet him? This means your cat is enjoying this contact with you. Does his back seem to collapse away under your slightest touch? Your cat is on his way somewhere and doesn't want to be held up, even by a favorite person.
If your cat crouches low to the ground, he is feeling uneasy. If your cat stands on his toes, you are probably being asked to pick him up. Raised hair on the back and a puffed-out tail are universal signs of hostility or defensiveness. But how about a quivering tail? That is the greatest expression of adoration any cat can bestow upon a human. But a thrashing tail shows the mood has shifted to intense agitation.
Be Positive
Most kittens are eager to learn how to please you. You can easily correct behavior in a young cat with a gentle, but firm tone and a demonstration of the proper way to do things. Praise your kitten when you point out the litter box and scratching post.
Depending upon how happy and peaceful their former lives were, older cats can be a little more difficult to teach, but they are well worth the effort. Patience and kindness should help maintain most ground rules. Hitting your pet is cruel and accomplishes nothing—it will only teach your cat to be afraid of you. A good discipline tool is a spray bottle filled with water.
Catch the cat in the act of scratching the sofa or jumping on the sink and spritz the culprit with a gentle spray of water. (Your cat will associate the behavior with the unpleasant experience of water, but will not associate you with the unpleasant experience.) Then be sure to offer your cat an acceptable outlet for his behavior, and praise him when he does the right thing.
© istock.com
Look For Signals
Cats are not spiteful creatures—that's one of their most admirable qualities. Contrary to popular assumption, a cat who has a lapse in remembering ground rules or stops using the litter box is not trying to get even with or punish her owner. Your cat might be feeling out of balance, and these signs should alert you that your cat might be unwell or that something else is amiss. There probably is a good reason for this behavior, and it's up to you to figure out what it is.
A cat who stops using the litter box, for example, could be getting a bladder infection. Cats will associate the litter pan with the pain they feel upon urinating and avoid using the litter, or the cat might not like the brand of litter you've started using, or the cat might not feel comfortable using the box where it is kept.
Other things that might disturb your cat might have to do with your behavior: Have you changed your routine or are you under stress or feeling sad? Cats' behavior can alter with any alteration in their routine or environment, such as a new cat or a new home. If abnormal behavior persists, have your veterinarian check your cat for any medical problems. If no medical problems exist, your veterinarian might suggest an animal behavior specialist.
Sept. 18, 2008
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_
You and your cat may speak different languages, but that doesn't mean you can't communicate with each other.
While every cat is different, there is a common code of expression—a set of signals—that you can learn to read easily. Indicators such as the look in your cat's eyes, the tone of her voice, the position of her ears and the motion of her tail can provide important clues regarding your companion's feelings and intentions.
Talk to Your Cat
For starters, you can talk to your cat. Some people feel silly speaking to cats, because they think animals can't understand them. Yet these same people might feel comfortable carrying on long one-sided conversations with infants. Cats do receive information from your conversation: praise, comfort and a sense of security.
Listen
You can get information, too. The more cats are spoken to, the more they will speak back. You will learn a lot from your cat's wide vocabulary of chirps and meows. You will know when it is time to get up (at least in your cat's opinion), when your cat is feeling affectionate, or when your cat is feeling threatened or is in pain. Your cat doesn't necessarily have something urgent to tell you; a passing meow in the hallway may be a simple hello.
Body Language
You can also tell a great deal about what cats want or how they are feeling simply by the look in their eyes or their reaction to things. Are your cat's ears twitching in your direction like satellite dishes when you are speaking? He is absorbing everything you are saying.
Does your cat's back rise up to meet your hand when you pet him? This means your cat is enjoying this contact with you. Does his back seem to collapse away under your slightest touch? Your cat is on his way somewhere and doesn't want to be held up, even by a favorite person.
If your cat crouches low to the ground, he is feeling uneasy. If your cat stands on his toes, you are probably being asked to pick him up. Raised hair on the back and a puffed-out tail are universal signs of hostility or defensiveness. But how about a quivering tail? That is the greatest expression of adoration any cat can bestow upon a human. But a thrashing tail shows the mood has shifted to intense agitation.
Be Positive
Most kittens are eager to learn how to please you. You can easily correct behavior in a young cat with a gentle, but firm tone and a demonstration of the proper way to do things. Praise your kitten when you point out the litter box and scratching post.
Depending upon how happy and peaceful their former lives were, older cats can be a little more difficult to teach, but they are well worth the effort. Patience and kindness should help maintain most ground rules. Hitting your pet is cruel and accomplishes nothing—it will only teach your cat to be afraid of you. A good discipline tool is a spray bottle filled with water.
Catch the cat in the act of scratching the sofa or jumping on the sink and spritz the culprit with a gentle spray of water. (Your cat will associate the behavior with the unpleasant experience of water, but will not associate you with the unpleasant experience.) Then be sure to offer your cat an acceptable outlet for his behavior, and praise him when he does the right thing.
© istock.com
Look For Signals
Cats are not spiteful creatures—that's one of their most admirable qualities. Contrary to popular assumption, a cat who has a lapse in remembering ground rules or stops using the litter box is not trying to get even with or punish her owner. Your cat might be feeling out of balance, and these signs should alert you that your cat might be unwell or that something else is amiss. There probably is a good reason for this behavior, and it's up to you to figure out what it is.
A cat who stops using the litter box, for example, could be getting a bladder infection. Cats will associate the litter pan with the pain they feel upon urinating and avoid using the litter, or the cat might not like the brand of litter you've started using, or the cat might not feel comfortable using the box where it is kept.
Other things that might disturb your cat might have to do with your behavior: Have you changed your routine or are you under stress or feeling sad? Cats' behavior can alter with any alteration in their routine or environment, such as a new cat or a new home. If abnormal behavior persists, have your veterinarian check your cat for any medical problems. If no medical problems exist, your veterinarian might suggest an animal behavior specialist.
Most heart attacks caused by unhealthy lifestyle
Most heart attacks caused by an unhealthy lifestyle
By Steve Sternberg, USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2003-08-19-heart-riskfactors_x.htm
Two sweeping studies out today appear to explode the long-held myth
that half of heart attacks result from bad genes or bad luck.
The studies, focusing on different populations totaling about half a
million people, indicate that roughly 90% of people with severe heart
disease have one or more of four classic risk factors: smoking,
diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
That means the vast majority of the 650,000 new heart attacks each
year could be prevented or delayed for decades by quitting smoking,
reducing cholesterol and controlling hypertension and diabetes.
"If we could eliminate smoking and get people to be fit and trim we
could turn this thing around without unraveling the genes that cause
heart disease," says researcher Eric Topol of the Cleveland Clinic
Foundation, co-author of a study involving more than 120,000 heart
patients.
The research has major policy implications. It suggests that doctors
and patients should place even greater emphasis on prevention. The
American Heart Association and National Cholesterol Education Program
both have emphasized aggressively treating people who have not yet
had a heart attack if their "global risk" is high.
"I think these studies will wake people up and renew the emphasis on
traditional risk factors," says Philip Greenland of Northwestern
University, lead author of the study involving almost 400,000 people
enrolled in lifestyle studies and followed for up to 30 years.
The researchers analyzed data from previous major studies. The
reports appear in today's Journal of the American Medical
Association.
"These papers are just amazing. They're basically blowing away the
myth that only half of the people who have heart disease have
traditional risk factors," says John Canto of the University of
Alabama-Birmingham who co-wrote an accompanying editorial in the
journal.
None of the researchers could identify the source of the erroneous
assertion, cited by experts for years. "It's folklore," Greenland
says.
A separate analysis in the journal concludes that there isn't enough
evidence to conclude that so-called new risk factors for heart
disease, including inflammatory proteins called Lipoprotein-A,
C-reactive protein and homocysteine, add much to the predictive value
of the four classic risks.
By Steve Sternberg, USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/news/
Two sweeping studies out today appear to explode the long-held myth
that half of heart attacks result from bad genes or bad luck.
The studies, focusing on different populations totaling about half a
million people, indicate that roughly 90% of people with severe heart
disease have one or more of four classic risk factors: smoking,
diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
That means the vast majority of the 650,000 new heart attacks each
year could be prevented or delayed for decades by quitting smoking,
reducing cholesterol and controlling hypertension and diabetes.
"If we could eliminate smoking and get people to be fit and trim we
could turn this thing around without unraveling the genes that cause
heart disease," says researcher Eric Topol of the Cleveland Clinic
Foundation, co-author of a study involving more than 120,000 heart
patients.
The research has major policy implications. It suggests that doctors
and patients should place even greater emphasis on prevention. The
American Heart Association and National Cholesterol Education Program
both have emphasized aggressively treating people who have not yet
had a heart attack if their "global risk" is high.
"I think these studies will wake people up and renew the emphasis on
traditional risk factors," says Philip Greenland of Northwestern
University, lead author of the study involving almost 400,000 people
enrolled in lifestyle studies and followed for up to 30 years.
The researchers analyzed data from previous major studies. The
reports appear in today's Journal of the American Medical
Association.
"These papers are just amazing. They're basically blowing away the
myth that only half of the people who have heart disease have
traditional risk factors," says John Canto of the University of
Alabama-Birmingham who co-wrote an accompanying editorial in the
journal.
None of the researchers could identify the source of the erroneous
assertion, cited by experts for years. "It's folklore," Greenland
says.
A separate analysis in the journal concludes that there isn't enough
evidence to conclude that so-called new risk factors for heart
disease, including inflammatory proteins called Lipoprotein-A,
C-reactive protein and homocysteine, add much to the predictive value
of the four classic risks.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Bayer Pesticides Linked to Devastating Collapse of Honeybee Populations
Bayer Pesticide Chemicals Linked to Devastating Collapse of Honeybee Populations
by David GutierrezSource: http://www.naturalnews.com/z024362.html
(NaturalNews) German government researchers have concluded that a bestselling Bayer pesticide is responsible for the recent massive die-off of honeybees across the country's Baden-W�rttemberg region. In response, the government has banned an entire family of pesticides, fueling accusations that pesticides may be responsible for the current worldwide epidemic of honeybee die-offs.
Researchers found buildup of the pesticide clothianidin in the tissues of 99 percent of dead bees in Baden-W�rttemberg state. The German Research Center for Cultivated Plants concluded that nearly 97 percent of honeybee deaths had been caused directly by contact with the insecticide.
"It can unequivocally be concluded that a poisoning of the bees is due to the rub-off of the pesticide ingredient clothianidin from corn seeds," said the federal agricultural research agency, the Julius Kuehn Institute.
The pesticide was applied to rapeseed and sweet corn seeds along the Rhine River Valley, which borders Baden-W�rttemberg to the west and south.
"Beekeepers in the region started finding piles of dead bees at the entrance of hives in early May, right around the time corn seeding takes place," said Walter Haefeker, president of the European Professional Beekeepers Association.
A total of two-thirds of all bees in the entire state are believed to have been killed by the chemical.
"It's a real bee emergency," said Manfred Hederer, president of the German Professional Beekeepers' Association. "Fifty to 60 percent of the bees have died on average, and some beekeepers have lost all their hives."
Clothianidin, marketed in Europe under the brand name Poncho, is a widely used insecticide in the neonicotinoid family. Like all neonicotinoids, it is a systemic pesticide that is applied to the seeds of plants and then spreads itself throughout all plant tissues. Based on nicotine, the neonicotinoids function as neurotoxins that attack the nervous systems of insects such as honeybees.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified clothianidin as "highly toxic" to honeybees. The chemical was approved for U.S. use in 2003 and German use in 2004.
Clothianidin manufacturer Bayer CropScience, a subsidiary of chemical giant Bayer, blamed the honeybee deaths on incorrect application of the pesticide. Before seeds are sprayed, a fixative should be applied to keep the poison from spreading into the rest of the environment. In the current situation, Bayer says, the fixative was not applied and clothianidin spread into the air.
But beekeepers and pesticide critics rejected this explanation, calling for Germany to follow France's footsteps in banning the chemical - and indeed, all neonicotinoids.
"We have been pointing out the risks of neonicotinoids for almost 10 years now," said Philipp Mimkes, spokesman for the Coalition Against Bayer Dangers. "This proves without a doubt that the chemicals can come into contact with bees and kill them. These pesticides shouldn't be on the market."
While stopping short of a total ban, the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety acted quickly upon release of the study data, placing a provisional ban upon all seven pesticides in the neonicotinoid family. These chemicals may not be used in Germany until the manufacturers can supply enough data to convince the government that they are safe.
The seven provisionally banned pesticides are the clothianidin-based brands Poncho and Elado; the imidacloprid-based brands Antarc, Chinook and Faibell; methiocarb-based Mesurol; and thiamethoxam-based Cruiser
Six of the seven products are made by Bayer, while Mesurol is manufactured by Syngenta.
Bayer's neonicotinoids have been blamed for killing honeybees before, most notably in France. There the company's best-selling pesticide, imidacloprid, was banned from use on sunflower seeds in 1999 after being blamed for killing off a third of the country's honeybees. In 2004, France extended the ban to sweet corn seeds. The government rejected Bayer's application for clothianidin use in France only a few months ago.
In North Dakota, a group of beekeepers is suing Bayer, alleging that imidacloprid was responsible for Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in that state in 1995. One-third of North Dakota honeybees died that year after imidacloprid was applied to rapeseed there.
Imidacloprid is marketed in France under the brand name Gaucho, but is also sold as Admire, Advantage, Confidor, Hachikusan, Kohinor, Merit, Premise, Prothor, and Winner.
Around the world, honeybee stocks are in decline, which scientists have warned could have devastating impacts on global food supplies. A total of 80 percent of world food crops are primarily or exclusively pollinated by honeybees, amounting to 130 crops and $15 billion worth of food each year in the United States alone.
Yet two million honeybee colonies have been lost in the United States in recent years, with massive dieoffs also reported across Europe and in Taiwan, where 10 million bees recently disappeared over the course of only two weeks.
"If nothing is done about it, the [British] honeybee population could be wiped out in 10 years," warned U.K. Farming Minister Lord Rooker in 2007.
While in many cases bees have actually been found dead, as in the Baden-W�rttemberg incident, beekeepers have been particularly alarmed by CCD, in which the bees simply vanish, leaving empty hives behind them.
Neonicotinoid pesticides have been suggested as a possible cause of CCD, with advocates of this theory noting that since the pesticide spreads through all plant tissues, bees might be exposed through the pollen of treated plants. At least one study concluded that neonicotinoids are likely to become concentrated in bee hives in high levels, transported by contaminated pollen.
A number of studies have found that in low doses, neonicotinoids produce symptoms consistent with CCD. Termites exposed to imidacloprid experienced disorientation and immune system failure, while bees exposed to low levels of the chemical experienced impaired communication, homing and foraging ability, flight activity, and olfactory discrimination and learning.
Sources for this story include: www.guardian.co.uk. pubs.acs.org, www.allheadlinenews.com.
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