Caffeine and Painkillers Don't Mix

For anyone taking acetaminophen for pain, or cold and allergy medications that include the pain relief medication, caffeine intake should be carefully monitored.

New research from the University of Washington in Seattle reveals that acetaminophen taken in combination with caffeine products can cause liver damage.

Over the counter medications for headaches, migraine headaches, sinus headaches, arthritis, menstrual cramps, and many other painful conditions, may all contain acetaminophen. Even children's cold and allergy formulas. In fact, caffeine is actually added to many of these medications as it increases the relief afforded by the acetaminophen.

While coffee is healthful it's consumption needs to be lowered when taking acetaminophen. Children need to reduce the amount of energy drinks and sodas consumed while taking any medication containing acetaminophen.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
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Green Grass Relieves Stress

Being out in the fresh air, and nature with it's flowers, trees and grass has always been known to be healthy. Now there is proof.

Researchers at the University of Queensland, Australia, have discovered that the scent of mowed grass can help beat stress. It's a physical fact.

When grass is cut, chemicals are released that produce the scent. Hexenol, a type of alcohol, and hexenal, a type of aldehyde are the two chemicals that cause the stress-relieving scent.

Stress can cause headaches, high blood pressure, heart attacks and cancer. So instead of dreading the weekend care of the lawn, bask in the feeling knowing that caring for the lawn just may add years to your life.

Or just go outside and smell the grass as your neighbor does all the work of mowing the lawn across the fence.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
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Tea Helps Prevent Gallbladder Cancer

A study in China shows that green tea has the benefits of preventing bile stones and cancer. Women in particular had more protection than men.

According to the study one cup of green tea daily for six months helped lower the risk of gallbladder cancer by 44 percent, bile duct cancer by 33 percent and reduced the risk of bile stones by 27 percent. Antioxidants, especially EGCG, seems to be the one that shows promise.

Green tea has many healthful benefits in addition to preventing cancer.

When drinking tea on a regular basis, brewing your own, as compared to bottled, is much more healthful because it's fresh and the health giving properties are at full strength.


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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Nutrition For Healthy Hair

To have healthy hair on the outside, good nutrition must nourish the hair form the inside.

A stressful environment and an unhealthy diet are the two most common reasons for dull, drab, and unhealthy hair.

Vitamins A, C, E, Biotin, Inositol, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B-6 and Vitamin B-12 are all especially important for strong, healthy hair.

Protein is also important to building healthy hair as well as skin and long, beautiful nails.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Herbs For Fall

For fall celebrations herbs make one of the best food, tea, and decorative items.

Herbs have been used since ancient times in the celebration of autumn. In particular, they were used to flavor the foods and drinks of the autumnal equinox celebrations. They were also thrown on bon fires to send up messages of thanks to the gods for the crops for which the people were thankful.

Today, we still use herbs for flavorings and herbal teas. A stick of cinnamon in a cup of hot apple cider can be very comforting on a cool autumn evening.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Fall Is For Lawn Care

Fall is the time to plant a new lawn or revitalize an old one.

To begin a new lawn or to improve an existing one do it in the fall. Mow the grass, aerate and dethatch. Then sow new grass seed or scatter grass seed into the existing lawn. Add mulch for a new lawn. Water with one inch of water a week until the seed begins to grow.

Organic lawns can be just as lush and beautiful as those grown with synthetic chemicals. Use compost, earthworm castings, and natural fertilizers instead to protect groundwater, rivers, lakes etc.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
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Life Lessons From A Tree

With the coming of autumn the beautiful colored leaves of trees catch our eye. But the feeling goes much deeper than that. We could all learn to be better Earth citizens if we lived like a tree.

No two trees are alike and yet all trees live in balance with each other.

Trees take pollutants from the air and produce clean oxygen.

Trees take from the soil only what they need. Trees use leaves and other organic matter in the soil to produce compost which they feed upon only to return the favor with more falling leaves in the autumn.

This clever idea was founded by the director of Eretz Carmel, a non-profit organization to promote economic growth and to preserve the natural environment.

You can help by planting a tree or having a tree planted for a loved one, a loved pet, a sentimental occasion, or simply to help the environment.

*****************************************
Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Life Lessons From A Tree

With the coming of autumn the beautiful colored leaves of trees catch our eye. But the feeling goes much deeper than that. We could all learn to be better Earth citizens if we lived like a tree.

No two trees are alike and yet all trees live in balance with each other.

Trees take pollutants from the air and produce clean oxygen.

Trees take from the soil only what they need. Trees use leaves and other organic matter in the soil to produce compost which they feed upon only to return the favor with more falling leaves in the autumn.

This clever idea was founded by the director of Eretz Carmel, a non-profit organization to promote economic growth and to preserve the natural environment.

You can help by planting a tree or having a tree planted for a loved one, a loved pet, a sentimental occasion, or simply to help the environment.

*****************************************
Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Mosquito Topples Bullfighter

A mosquito is more dangerous than a bull. That is what a Spanish bullfighter discovered.

Besides West Nile Fever, mosquitoes, especially in Latin America and Asia, spread a disease called Dengue Fever.

A bullfighter, that had won the battle with 57 bulls, became ill with a mild form of Dengue Fever. The fever lowers the immune system making the victim more susceptible to all viruses. But the fever does kill hundreds of people annually.

Mosquitoes can be controlled with chemical sprays but organic controls are safer for humans and pets.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Winterize Your Yard For Birds

If you attract birds to your yard in the summer, be sure to make it welcome
for them in the wintertime too.

First, learn what kinds of birds you have. Many of them will be satisfied with sunflower or safflower seeds. Finches love thistleseed. Bird that eat on the ground will like corn, millet and other grains. Woodpeckers like suet hung in trees.

But the most important thing for birds is water. Make sure to have a birdbath and, if you live in an area where it gets below freezing, a heater to keep the water from turning to ice.

Your feathered friends will thank you with many hours of pleasure.

*****************************************
Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Sins Of Chocolate

While the saying that liking chocolate is a sin is just a comment borne out of the craving for chocolate there is, in fact, a basis for it.

In the eighteenth century Catholic women drank chocolate to get them through fasting periods. The church leaders then called it a pleasure and consuming chocolate became a sin.

By the way, men crave chocolate almost as much as women do. A recent survey found that 86% of men admit to craving chocolate.

Studies showed that drinking chocolate milk, instead of common sports drinks, improved the performance of bicyclists 49 and 54 percent.

Chocolate is actually very healthful when eaten in small quantities. It helps the heart, eases diarrhea, and a multitude of other health benefits.

Additionally, to catch pesky mice that enter the home, chocolate is one of the best baits there is to use.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
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Growing The Perfect Tomato

Tomatoes are susceptible to the environment and can be affected by the environment.

Many tomato gardeners complain about tomatoes that fail to mature perfectly. The cause is usually caused by the temperatures and moisture in the atmosphere. It's nothing that the gardener did or didn't do caused the problem.

One common problem is a hard white core. High temperatures, dry conditions and over fertilizing are usually the problem.

There are many excellent tips to grow delicious tomatoes.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
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Fuel Additives And Gas Mileage

Fuel additives are luxury items your vehicle doesn't need.

Many of the gadgets and being touted today can harm your vehicle and just simply don't work.

Most experts agree that slower driving, proper air pressure in the tires, and less weight on the vehicle are the secrets to better gas mileage.

There are many tips that can truly help your car to make more miles to the gallon.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Termites Help To Produce Biofuel

Termites, which can eat one out of house and home, just may be the answer to more effective biofuels to replace high-priced oil-based gasoline.

While corn is an excellent source of ethanol, miscanthus, a tropical grass may be a better choice. Miscanthus grows 14 feet tall in just one year, and produces enough mass to produce three times as much biofuel as corn in the same acreage. Miscanthus can be grown in the temperate climate of the corn belt in the United States.

The only thing stopping the production is that miscanthus contains a different type of cellulose than corn does. Scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California are studying termites, which can easily digest the cellulose, in order to learn how to do what termites do naturally.

In the meantime, here is a pet and human safe product to kill termites in your home.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
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Drugged Potato Chips

Your next bag of potato chips just may contain caffeine, a drug.

Potato chips are one of the most popular fast food items sold in supermarkets and fast food outlets today.

And now........... potato chips doused with caffeine may just be able to replace that morning cup of coffee or can of soda at lunch or a mid afternoon pick-me-up. One 3.5 ounce bag of chips will contain as much caffeine as 3.5 cups of coffee with the added bonus of not staining teeth.

Birmingham-based Golden Flake Snack Foods Inc. is testing the new product in eleven southeastern states.

In the future it seems, growing and making your own potato chips will be the only way to get pure, healthy potato chips without added chemicals and other additives.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
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