EducatingWellness

We are continually hearing more and more about the failing health of our earth. When it comes to helping out and doing our part for this planet, most of us fall into one of three categories: Category one – We are too used to living life a certain way and refuse to change anything to help. Category two – We have completely dedicated our lives to “going green” and will do whatever it takes to save the earth.

Category three – (the majority of us fall here): Concerned and wanting to help, but unsure of how and or where to start.

Recently I decided that it was time for my family to dedicate a little more time and effort into doing our part for this earth. I personally wanted to find practical ways to help that were easy and quick to implement. Throughout my research I discovered what I think are wonderful ways for the average family to help out without completely reorganizing their lifestyle.

1. Shave one minute off your hot shower. By doing this, you can actually keep 170 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. Not to mention the water it saves.

2. Match up your pan size to

Along with the welcome advent of spring comes the reality of a new crop of ticks! As if the insect is not bad enough, the tiny critters can be carriers of the dreaded Lyme bacteria. Lyme disease is also transmitted by fleas, mosquitoes, and mites. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that there are nearly 325,000 new cases each year, making it an epidemic larger than AIDS, West Nile Virus, and Avian Flu combined.

Let’s start with a quick overview of the disease. It is named after the town of Lyme, Connecticut, where a number of cases were identified in 1975. It is a seriously complex multi-system inflammatory condition caused by a spirochete known as Borrelia Burgdorferi (Bb). The disease often spirals into chronic co-infections, which are usually parasitic (such as Babesia and Ehrlichia). Within less than a week of being infected, animal studies have shown the tiny spirochete can be embedded inside tendons, muscles, the heart, and it has the rare capability of crossing the blood/brain barrier. Studies are also showing that babies can be born with the disease because it can also cross the placenta.

The challenge with Lyme disease is in understanding and testing for it. It is often dismissed