Do you look at your office or home and feel totally overwhelmed by the clutter, piles, and stuff? Do you wonder where to start? Do you want to run out in terror?!

I know what it’s like to feel like your home or office is totally out of control instead of you being in control. I know that this feeling causes stress and anxiety. And, can make you a not very nice person to live or work with!

There’s hope. I work with overwhelmed people every day and help them get focused, organized, and productive in their home and office. But, you need a plan.

Step 1: Get Ready

Take out your calendar and pick the date you are going to go through your entire home or office. This will take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Have a clean sheet for each room and write the name of the room down on top of each page.

Step 2: Identify the Areas to Organize

Begin at the front door and imagine a big clock imposed on the floor. Choose where you want 12:00 and start there. Now, look around the room clockwise writing down any area that you’re tolerating or that bothers you. Before you leave each room put a * by the area that bothers you the most in each room. Go through each room in the home or office.

Step 3: Prioritize

Take a clean sheet of paper and title it “Priority Form”. Now, transfer each priority from all the room sheets onto this paper. Look at each area and decide which one you want to tackle first. You may want to pick an easy area to have a quick success story or you may want to pick a large task to get the worst out of the way right away.

Step 4: Choose a Date

Set a date to organize this area and put it in your calendar.

Step 5: Get Ready to Take Action

Look at the task that you’ve chosen to do first and decide what supplies that you’ll need. If needed, break this task down into smaller tasks and number in what order you’ll do them. Write down a reward that you’re going to give yourself when you’re done. Make it a GREAT reward!

Step 6: Do It!

The day is here and you’re ready to get started. Put on some fun music, some comfortable clothes and start organizing the area. Use my S.T.A.R.T. ™ method to get organized:

Sort

Throw

Appoint a Home

Restrict to a Container

Take back control

Take everything out of the area that you want to organize and START. Sort though and decide what belongs there and what doesn’t. Put the items that don’t belong there in a box and bring that away later. You need to stay focused on the area that you are working on. As you’re sorting you’ll also be throwing away items and/or putting in a box for donation or a garage sale. After you’ve sorted through everything whatever is left belongs in that area. You’ve just appointed a home for those items. Now, restrict them to container if possible. Use baskets in a closet, drawer divider bins in a drawer, etc. to get ‘like’ items together into a container. Step back and look at what you’ve done! You’ve just taken control back of that area of your life and it feels great!

Step 7: Reward, Relax, and Repeat

Well done! Acknowledge yourself and enjoy what you’ve just accomplished and cross this task off your Priority Form. Be sure and enjoy your reward and when ready – tackle the next task!

It’s amazing what happens when you start to get organized in your life. You’re going to feel better about yourself, have increased self confidence, and get so much more done each day. You’ll love getting organized – I guarantee it!

About the Author:

Elizabeth Hagen is a dynamic and inspiring productivity expert and speaker who has motivated thousands to take action and get organized. She is President of ElizabethHagen.com and works with overwhelmed people to help them get focused, organized, and more productive. She helps clients by working on site or virtually! Her newest book and manual “Organize with Confidence” will change your life! Subscribe to Elizabeth’s free ezine “Extraordinary Results” at http://www.ElizabethHagen.com and receive “31 Tips to Simplify Your Life” as her gift to you.

I don’t know how most people do it, but when I brush my teeth I like to rinse using a cup. I prefer the little dixie paper cups because I can toss it and there’s no mess. As a mom, I love disposable items - no washing necessary. Sounds harmless enough, right? I thought so, until recently when my husband began giving me little “hints” about throwing away so many paper cups. He finally won me over when he explained that he and the guys at work had been discussing what they could do to be more ‘green’ and this was one of the ways they’d come up with.

Now that I knew my husband and ‘the guys’ were discussing the topic at work, I knew it was something I needed to take more seriously. As I began to take a look at our lifestyle I found many things that I could change to make our home a more eco-friendly place. I also realized that overall, working from home may be one of the best eco-friendly decision one can make.

Less Gas - Other than the occasional errand running, telecommuters use their cars much less frequently than their counterparts in the workplace. This, of course translates into less gas usage, less fumes and smog produced, etc. Simply by staying home, they are making the world a cleaner, healthier place.

Less Paper - Businesses today make it very easy to save paper by allowing home-based workers to do most everything online. When my husband does work from home, he’s able to log in securely to his corporate email account, log his time and even download his pay stubs online. I’m fortunate that as a website owner, very rarely do I make use of paper. The occasional document needs printed, but other than that my work-life takes place entirely on my computer.

Less Grease - Home-based workers tend to eat more meals at home than than employees in the corporate world. My lunches usually consist of something simple and easy to make - fruit, a quick sandwich, etc. Compared to the fat and grease of a fast-food meal, a healthy meal at home goes a long way in becoming ‘green.’

More Choice - As the manager of my home, I have the ability to choose the products that are used throughout. Instead of being at the mercy of a large, cost-cutting corporation, I can choose products that are eco-friendly. As a result, our cleaning products are non-toxic; our laundry detergent is “free” from all dyes and colors; and yes, we even have a reusable cup in the bathroom now.

More Time - By avoiding the commute time, home-based workers save themselves a large amount of time. This extra time can be transferred into activities such as recycling - something that people avoid simply because of the time it takes. You may even have extra time for a nap - in which case you can turn the lights off and save electricity.

The St. Petersburg Times agrees. In a recent column titled, 5 things you can do to combat climate change, author Ann-Gayl Ellis notes five things ways that you can take action and become more eco-friendly. Ellis’ second action step states, “Leave the car at home one day and take public transportation instead. Walk or bike. If you need to drive, carpool. If you can, telecommute.”

Once you begin to look at the benefits of telecommuting, especially in a ‘green’ home, it becomes clear that is an eco-friendly choice. You have more control over each aspect of your life as well as the authority to purchase the necessary products. The additional benefit of living a green lifestyle as a home-based worker is the example set for your children. Our kids model what they hear and see. The healthier our lives, the better chance they’ll grow up to environmentally conscious as well.

About The Author:
Jill Hart is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com. Jill is a contributing author in Laundry Tales, The Business Mom Guide Book, I’ll Be Home For Christmas and Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement For Military Wives. Jill’s articles can be found across the internet and her articles have been featured on websites like DrLaura.com, ClubMom.com, and she is an expert author on EzineArticles.com. Jill is the host of the podcast, Christian Work at Home Moment and co-host of the LIVE internet radio show, MomCast LIVE. Jill is also the co-editor of RadiantLit.com. Jill and her husband, Allen of CWAHD.com (Christian Work at Home Dads) reside in Nebraska with their two children.

That’s the trouble… so many people with different opinions about what to do. Who do you to listen to, who do you believe, who do you trust? One thing that I have learned as a Christian is that I should listen to my wife. It’s a humbling experience, but most of the time, I would have been way ahead listening to Donna. When we got married we became one.
Of course we have two different personalities with different skills and tastes, different likes and dislikes… but we are still one as God has
made us one.

Have I always listened to my wife? Are you kidding? Of course not. Have I gotten into trouble by not listening to her? Of course I have. On the other hand, have I ever gotten off track by listening to her? I suppose that I have done that too… but the difference is that when I listen to her and act accordingly, we stand or we fall together… and I would rather fall with her than to stand alone.  Somewhere along the way, I had been told that God gives women a special sense to protect their husbands from making bad decisions in business, but that’s not always easy to accept.

I have been in network marketing for quite some time. My first adventure was with Destiny Telecom. I got involved right before it started to fall apart… but I was hooked. The idea of residual income made sense to me, but I had chosen the wrong vehicle… and I continued to make some poor choices. I would take a look at an opportunity, enroll as an independent associate, and then tell my wife. Her response was always the same "That’s what you said about the last opportunity!"

I started wondering why I couldn’t succeed and when I prayed about it, the Lord laid it on my heart that I had acted on my own without my wife’s council. If I didn’t have her support, how could I with a good conscious become successful? Yes, I know that there are successful people that don’t have their spouses support, but they don’t believe that they need it… but I do.

In February of 2007, a friend of mine asked me what I was doing in network marketing. I told him that I wasn’t actively promoting any business. So, he asked me to take a look at a business opportunity with Isagenix. At the time, I thought to myself "Not another health and wellness company", but what I said was "Sure, I’ll take a look." As far as knowing who to trust, this was a person that had previously built a business by sponsoring 9 people and ending up with a downline of over 80,000 associates with a nutritional company.

When I looked at the Isagenix website, I reviewed the key aspects of the business, and I couldn’t find anything that I didn’t like. The company wasn’t a start-up. The management was sound. The products were unique with proven studies and lots of testimonials. The compensation plan was easy to understand and very fair. The enrollment fee was less than $50. I wanted to go forward… so I prayed about it… and I knew that I must talk to Donna before I made a decision to proceed.

"Donna, how about taking a look at this website and tell me what you think. OK?" and she did. She focused on the nutritional cleansing products and and the weight loss testimonials. She had done a simple colon cleanse before, but not with any weight loss expectations… and I had never wanted to have anything to do with them. However, these products were very different.

The timing was right. Our daughter was getting married in four months and Donna wanted to look her best as the mother of the bride, so she asked me "Would you do this with me?"…and that’s how it all began.

Children require proper nourishment to be healthy-including eating vegetables. Unfortunately, faux food (fast food and junk food) have replaced whole food. Public health officials warn that unless there is a change in the way our children eat, health problems are sure to plague them. Increasing at alarming rates are heart disease, cancer, and Type 2 diabetes. In addition, childhood obesity has more than tippled over the last forty years.

Even the most resistant child can learn to love healthy foods. Kids discover that whole foods (including veggies) are yummy when you engage all their senses. By making a few simple changes, you can teach your child to love veggies!

1. Stock Healthful Foods

It’ll be difficult to convince your picky eater to eat nutritious foods, if sugar, white flour, and trans fat are common ingredients found in your kitchen. To effectively encourage children to eat whole foods, whole foods must be readily available. Read labels! When you purchase crackers, chips, and cookies, look for items made from whole grains and without hydrogenated oils (trans fat). Even better is to replace processed snack items with nuts, fruit and veggies slices. Obviously, you must control your kid’s snacking. A child who has eaten less than two hours before a meal will not eagerly eat a food predetermined to be "yucky!"

2. Involve All Senses

A common misconception is that a veggie is rejected because of its taste. But according to current research, dislike of various foods most often results from the texture, smell, or even the color of what is to be eaten. Eating vegetables doesn’t usually come naturally: it’s a learning process. Learning involves all the senses. Discuss the attributes of various foods with your child. Pick up and feel its texture. What is the aroma? How does it feel in the mouth? What color is it?

3. Make It Fun

Involve your child with grocery shopping and meal preparation. Have your toddler hold an item from the produce department while you’re in the store. Discuss the value of the foods you’re purchasing with your child. Give your youngster a job to do such as reading the nutrition facts on labels (i.e.: look for the sugar content) and placing items in your cart. Encourage your kid to pick one item from the produce department, which he has never tasted. Then prepare and eat it together.

4. Make Mealtime a Happy Family Time

The table should be a stress-free zone. It’s vital that both dad and mom keep the conversation around the table happy. A good way to transition from a hectic day is to begin the meal by thanking God for what he has done. Always discuss how wonderful the food smells and tastes. Take every opportunity during the meal to educate your child about healthful foods.

5. Be Positive

All family members (including older siblings or even Daddy) may make only affirmative comments about the food at the table. Negative remarks cement the idea that some food tastes bad. Phrases such as "I don’t like that" "It’s disgusting" and "It’s yucky" are forbidden. In addition, praise for eating whole foods and vegetables is vital for success.

6. Employ Stealth Health

Stealth health is changing from an inferior brand of bread to a nutritionally packed one. It’s adding spinach to casseroles and soups. It’s making pancakes with whole-wheat flour and topping with applesauce or peanut butter. Use brown rice in casseroles and slip flax seed oil and barely green into a breakfast fruit smoothie. Other times, it’s making a healthful puréed vegetable soup for the vegetable-challenged child.

7. Don’t Give Up

Be patient. Food, which your child has previously refused, most likely will be sampled between ten and twenty times before acceptance. Don’t rush the process. Explore all the food’s attributes with your child. Give your youngster time to learn how the food feels and smells. Tiny bites of formerly rejected foods are steps in the right direction.

About the Author:

Nonna Joann Bruso is a speaker and the author of Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater. She offers practical solutions for picky eaters. Her simple-to-follow Baby Bite Steps open the door to healthy eating by incorporating directed-play with positive discipline and nutritious foods. For details see www.babybites.info

3) Enjoy the company.  Are you getting together with family and/or friends?  Celebrate relationships, take pleasure in the conversations, play games, start a new tradition…. just be together.

4) Recognize the food-love connection you have.  Does your family have the same connection?  Does you mom show love by preparing tasty, yet high-fat meals?  Understand that food is a substance and love is an emotion- they are not the same thing.

5) Practice your refusal skills.  What will you say to turn Aunt Edna’s gravy soaked butter biscuits down?  What will you say when you are subject to peer pressure to eat?  How will you handle comments like “I worked so hard to cook this!” and “Is that all you’re going to eat?!”  Practice your responses.  If you don’t feel comfortable telling people that you are trying to trim up, maybe a health-related excuse will be more comfortable.  Someone may argue with “I want to look better,” but who’s going to argue with “I want to reduce my cholesterol so I don’t have a heart attack.”?

6) If you are helping to prepare the food, chew gum.  This will help you avoid nibbling enough calories to make a meal while you cook.  If you are worried about how something tastes, have someone else (preferably the thinnest family member) sample it!

7) Remember, it takes the stomach about 15-20 minutes to signal the brain that it is full. By then, we’ve usually overeaten- especially during the holidays.

Yes, you can gorge yourself like a gluttonous pig, but you don’t want to!  You have the right to eat to your heart’s content- and then some.  You can pile your plate as high as your chin and dig in!  You CAN eat until you make yourself sick.  BUT, you don’t WANT to.  Remind yourself of this continuously.

9) Want to taste it all?  Then do just that- taste it.  Just because you want to enjoy all of the foods served during your family’s dinner, doesn’t mean you need a full serving of each dish.  Take enough to allow yourself one or two bites of each item.  Serve yourself slightly larger portions for low fat items and for the turkey.  Eat slowly, savoring every bite.  Tell yourself that if you are still hungry 15-20 minutes after you finish what is on your plate, you can have more- again, in moderation.

10) Don’t skip dessert.  If you deprive yourself, you may be setting yourself up for greater temptation.  Have dessert.  But, have a small portion.  Again, savor every bite.  When you are done, say “That was delicious!” instead of “I wish I could have more.”

11) Don’t hang out by the food.  If you park yourself in front of the hors d’oeuvres, you just may graze yourself an extra 300- 1000 calories before you even sit down to dinner.  If you must eat before the meal, pick a few low-cal items, put them on your plate, and move far, far away from the food.

12) Drink water.  Make sure you always have a glass of water in your hand.  Your hands and mouth will be occupied and it will help to fill up your stomach a bit so you don’t overeat.

13) Limit your alcohol consumption.  Alcohol provides “empty calories.”  They offer no nutritional value.  Think of it in these terms: every drink should equal a serving of carbohydrates.  If you must get drunk in order to handle your family, make other holiday arrangements!  If they must get drunk to handle you, seek therapy- fast!

14) One day’s worth of indulgence – especially during the holidays- has the potential to balance out one to two week’s worth of workouts.  (Think about it: 3,500 calories per pound.) Remember all of that sweat?  Make sure it was for a good reason.  Think of all of your progress and hard work while you are serving out your portion sizes onto your plate.  What you put into your body during Thanksgiving just may make the difference of what dress size you will wear for that Christmas party.

15) Look for more tips online at www.SuccessfulFitness.com

About the Author:

Melinda Rice is a lifestyle fitness consultant,
speaker, and the founder of Successful Fitness (www.SuccessfulFitness.com).  She works with individuals,
organizations and businesses who want to increase their physical, emotional
and spiritual fitness with positive lifestyle changes.

Pay attention to your significant other.
Take the
initiative to schedule a babysitter for a date night with your significant
other. Make a point of steering the conversation away from bills or household
issues and focus on having fun.

Submitted by:

Marcia S. Chumbley, Director II
Team2Succeed

The problem is that we want something but then we tell
ourselves of all the things that could go wrong or what might not work out. We
fill our minds with all the negative things and its little wonder that we then
don’t take the leap of faith.

If all you do is dream but you don’t have the faith to
believe then you aren’t going to get anywhere. Sure quitting a job can be a leap
of faith but why stay in a situation that you aren’t happy with. Instead of
choosing one or the other why not start to make steps towards your dream of
starting a business.

The reality is that the right time to make your move is
never going to arrive with a big sign with "Go For It" written on it. The right
time to do anything was yesterday, the second best time is today. You never have
any control over tomorrow, the only time you do have control is right now. If
you have dared to dream and you dare to believe then what are you waiting for.

Learn to realize that all great men and women who have ever
achieved greatness weren’t born great. In fact many chose to just take the leap
of faith and grew wings on the way down. You aren’t ever going to be perfectly
ready so why not just get started and learn as you go. You will find that
learning practically in the real world situation will provide you with your
greatest lessons in life that you would not be able to get anywhere else in
books or theory.

Submitted by:

Marcia S. Chumbley, Director II
Team2Succeed

Do you know what threatens your life the most? The
list is surprisingly short.

In 2002, 1,199,264 American men died. Nearly 80 percent of them died of heart
disease or one of the nine other leading causes of death among American men.

Here’s a snapshot of the 10 leading killers of American men in 2002:

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004

All but one of these causes of death — stroke — claim proportionately more
men’s lives than women’s lives at all ages. As a result, the average American
man lives 5.4 years fewer than does the average woman. In 2002, male life expectancy
was 74.5 years. Female life expectancy was 79.9 years.

It’s unclear why men — statistically speaking — are the weaker sex. Heredity
and male sex hormones may play a role, affecting such characteristics as body
fat distribution. Specifically, men are more likely to accumulate fat around
the abdomen (apple-shape obesity), which is associated with an increased risk
of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and stroke. Women, on the other hand, are
more likely to put on extra weight around the hips. This pear-shape obesity,
while unhealthy, is not linked as closely to potentially fatal conditions.

Socially sanctioned "male" behavior may also predispose men to premature
death. Men are more likely to smoke, drink, use illicit drugs and engage in
casual sex — all of which can increase their risk of serious diseases. They’re
also conditioned from an early age to take risks and behave aggressively, which
may partly explain why they have a higher risk of dying from accidents, suicide
and homicide.

One thing is clear, though: You don’t have to become a statistic. By recognizing
the leading threats to your life, you can take steps to reduce your risks.

No. 1 — Heart disease

In 2002, 429,682 men died of heart disease, the leading cause of death in both
sexes. Because men usually develop heart disease 10 to 15 years earlier than
women do, they’re more likely to die of it in the prime of life. About one-fourth
of all heart-disease-related deaths occur in men ages 35 to 65. Only after age
80 do men and women have an equal risk of developing heart disease.

You can reduce your risk of heart disease by making healthier lifestyle choices
and getting appropriate treatment for other conditions that can damage your
heart, such as high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure. Some preventive
measures you can take:

- Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products.
-
Eat a varied diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat foods.
-
Maintain a healthy weight.
-
Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
-
Keep your cholesterol levels in normal ranges.
-
Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes.
-
Control your blood pressure.
-
Talk to your doctor about a low daily dose of aspirin.

No. 2 — Cancer

In 2002, 288,768 men died of cancer, the second-leading cause of death for
both sexes. Lung cancer — 90 percent of it caused by cigarette smoking — is
the most common cause of cancer death in both sexes. In 2002, it killed 90,171
men.

Prostate cancer and colorectal cancer — both of which are associated with a
high-fat diet — are the second- and third-leading causes of cancer death in
men. In 2002, they claimed 30,466 and 28,501 men’s lives, respectively.

Some preventive measures you can take:

- Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products.
-
Eat a varied diet, rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods.
-
Maintain a healthy weight.
-
Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
-
Limit your exposure to sun and use sunscreen.
-
Drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all.
-
Be aware of potential cancer-causing substances (carcinogens) in your home
and workplace, and take steps to reduce your exposure to these substances.

-Have regular preventive health screenings.
-
Know your family medical history and review it with your doctor.

No. 3 — Accidents (unintentional injuries)

In 2002, accidents killed 69,257 men. Motor vehicle crashes were the leading
cause. More than twice as many men (31,064) as women (14,316) died in traffic
accidents. Male drivers involved in such accidents were almost twice as likely
as female drivers to be intoxicated. To reduce your chances of a fatal crash:

-Use your seat belt.
- Keep your speed down.
- Don’t drive while sleepy or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Poisoning was the second-leading cause of fatal injury to men. In 2002, 12,059
men died of poisoning. In comparison, 5,491 women died of poisoning that year.
To reduce your risk of poisoning:

- Place carbon monoxide and smoke detectors near bedrooms in your house.
-
Have fuel-burning appliances inspected each year.
-
Store household products in their original containers.
-
Read and follow label instructions for household products.
-
Turn on a light when giving or taking medicine and follow label instructions.

-
Ventilate areas in which you use chemical products.
-
Post the poison control number, (800) 222-1222, by each telephone in your
home.

Falls and drowning were the third- and fourth-leading causes of fatal injury
to men. In 2002, falls caused 8,463 deaths among men, compared with 7,794 deaths
among women. Drowning accounted for 2,761 deaths among men and 686 deaths among
women.

Common-sense precautions such as using a safety ladder, placing nonskid mats
in showers and tubs, and never swimming alone in a large or unfamiliar body
of water can reduce the risks.

Workplace accidents — which include some vehicle crashes, poisonings, falls
and drownings — are a significant cause of fatal injury to men, partly because
men are concentrated in dangerous occupations such as agriculture, mining and
construction. Although men hold 53.7 percent of all American jobs, they account
for 92 percent of workplace fatalities. In 2002, workplace injuries killed 5,081
men and 443 women.

No. 4 — Stroke

In 2002, 62,622 men died of stroke. Although stroke occurs in equal proportions
of men and women, men have better chances of surviving than women do. You can’t
control some stroke risks, such as family history, age and race, but you can
control the leading cause — high blood pressure — as well as contributing factors
such as smoking and diabetes.

Additional preventive measures:

- Lower your intake of cholesterol and saturated fat.
-
Don’t smoke.
-
Control diabetes.
-
Maintain a healthy weight.
-
Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
-
Manage stress.
-
Limit alcohol consumption.
-
Talk with your doctor about taking a daily dose of aspirin.

No. 5 — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

In 2002, 60,713 men died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a
group of chronic lung conditions that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
It’s strongly associated with lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths
among men. The main cause is smoking. Men who smoke are 12 times as likely to
die of COPD as are men who’ve never smoked.

Some preventive measures you can take:

- Don’t smoke.
- Avoid secondhand smoke.
- Minimize exposure to workplace chemicals.

No. 6 — Diabetes

In 2002, 34,301 men died of diabetes, a disease that affects the way the body
uses blood sugar (glucose). Excess body fat, especially around the middle, is
an important risk factor for diabetes. About 80 percent of people who have the
disease are either overweight or obese.

The diabetes complications most likely to be fatal are heart disease and stroke,
which occur at two to four times the average rate in people with diabetes. Men
with diabetes haven’t benefited as much from recent advances in heart disease
treatment as have men without diabetes. During the past 30 years, deaths from
heart disease have fallen 36 percent in men without diabetes, as compared with
only 13 percent in men who have diabetes.

An estimated one-third of men with the most common form of diabetes don’t know
they have it. Many are unaware of the disease until they develop complications
such as impotence (erectile dysfunction), nerve damage causing pain or loss
of sensation in the hands or feet, vision loss or kidney disease.

Some preventive measures you can take:

- Maintain a healthy weight.
-
Eat a varied diet, rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods.
-
Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
-
Get your fasting blood sugar level checked periodically.
-
Know your family’s diabetes history and discuss it with your doctor.

No. 7 — Pneumonia and influenza

In 2002, 28,918 men died of pneumonia and influenza. These lung infections
are especially life-threatening to people whose lungs have already been damaged
by COPD, asthma or smoking. The risk of death from pneumonia or influenza is
also higher among people with heart disease, diabetes or a weakened immune system
due to AIDS or immunosuppressive drugs.

You can reduce your risk of complications and death from pneumonia and influenza
by getting immunized. A yearly flu shot is up to 90 percent effective in preventing
influenza in healthy adults. The pneumococcal vaccine can reduce the risk of
getting pneumonia by more than half.

No. 8 — Suicide

In 2002, 25,409 men committed suicide. Men commit suicide four times as often
as women do, partly because they’re more likely to use deadlier means — such
as firearms — when they set out to take their own lives. Depression — which
is estimated to affect 7 percent of men in any given year — is an important
risk factor for suicide. But male depression may be underdiagnosed, partly because
men are less likely than women are to seek treatment for it. In addition, men
don’t always develop standard symptoms such as sadness, worthlessness and excessive
guilt. Instead, they may be more likely to complain of fatigue, irritability,
sleep disturbances and loss of interest in work or hobbies. Substance abuse
— which is more common in men — can mask depression and make it more difficult
to diagnose.

People at risk of suicide may:

- Be depressed, moody, socially withdrawn or aggressive
-
Have suffered a recent life crisis
-
Show changes in personality
-
Feel worthless
-
Abuse alcohol or drugs
-
Have frequent thoughts about death
-
Talk about death and self-destruction

If you find yourself avoiding others, feeling hostile and worthless, thinking
about death and using alcohol and drugs to numb your pain, talk with your doctor.
In an urgent situation, an emergency room or crisis center can help. Friends
or family members may be the first to notice your uncharacteristic behavior.
Take their advice and seek help.

No. 9 — Kidney disease

Kidney failure, most often a complication of diabetes or high blood pressure,
took the lives of 19,695 men in 2002. Control of diabetes and high blood pressure
can prevent or slow the progression of kidney disease. Another cause of kidney
failure is overuse of medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin,
others) that are toxic to the kidneys.

Some preventive measures you can take:

- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Exercise regularly.
- Maintain your proper weight.
- Don’t smoke.
- Get checked regularly for diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Limit your use of over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Take all medications only as directed.

No. 10 — Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis

In 2002, 17,401 men died of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. The leading
cause is alcoholism, which takes a heavy toll on men in general. Men account
for more than 70 percent of the 75,000 alcohol-attributable deaths that occur
each year in the United States. Other leading causes of chronic liver disease
and cirrhosis include hepatitis B and C and certain inherited diseases such
as hemochromatosis, in which abnormal amounts of iron accumulate in the liver.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which is associated with obesity, also sometimes
leads to cirrhosis.

Some preventive measures you can take:

- Don’t drink alcohol to excess.
- Take precautions when using possibly hazardous chemicals.
- Practice safe sex.
- Don’t inject street drugs.
- Take medications only as directed.
- Get a hepatitis B vaccination if you’re at risk.
- If you develop viral hepatitis, remain under the care of your doctor until you’ve
recovered.
- Maintain a healthy weight.

Putting health risks into perspective

It’s important to understand that this ranking of health risks applies to the
entire population of American men, no matter what their age. Although heart
disease is the No. 1 lifetime health threat to men, it tops all other causes
of death among men in only two age groups: ages 45 to 54, and age 65 and over.
From childhood until age 44, accidents are the most significant threat to men’s
lives. Cancer emerges as the leading killer only in men ages 55 to 64.

Consider, too, what the numbers mean in real terms. For example, it seems staggering
to think that nearly half a million men died of heart disease in 2002. But when
you consider how many men lived in the United States that year — about 138 million
— the number represents just a small fraction of the total male population.

The bottom line: Be concerned about health risks, but don’t panic. Do all you
can to lead a healthy lifestyle — eat healthy foods, stay physically active,
don’t smoke, get regular checkups and guard against accidents. By making these
preventive measures a way of life, you’ll increase your chances of staying vital
and active into your 80s and 90s — well beyond the statistical average of 74.5.

    Cosmetics
    Deodorants
    Perfumes
     Drain Cleaners
    Oven Cleaners
    Bleach
    Hair Sprays
    Dishwashing Detergents
    Laundry Detergents
    Air fresheners
    Mouthwash

Did you know that cosmetics are second only to household cleaners in poisonings of children?

We’ve addressed the risks involved when swallowing or ingesting a toxic household product.  Did you realize that inhalation and absorption through the skin are two more ways that toxins enter the body?  Many experts believe that absorption and inhalation can be more debilitating than ingestion of atoxic substance.  When toxins are ingested the stomach immediately begins to break them down.  When a hazardous chemical is absorbed or inhaled the toxins travel directly to the major organs through the blood stream within minutes.

CHILDREN ARE VULNERABLE TO TOXIC SUBSTANCES IN THE ENVIRONMENT

The US has seen a worrisome increase in certain childhood diseases, and researchers are working hard to determine whether this increase is linked to environmental exposures.

· As noted, childhood asthma has increased by more than 40% since 1980, affecting more than 4.2 million children under the age of 18 nationwide.

· The incidence of two types of childhood cancers has risen significantly over the past 15 years: acute lymphocytic leukemia is up 10% and brain tumors are up more than 30%.

· Although there are no registries for learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders among children, there has been growing attention in recent years to an apparent increase in both.

· In 1997, President Clinton issued an Executive Order addressing protection of children from environmental health risks.

· The Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 and the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996 both require consideration of infants and children in risk assessments used to determine acceptable levels of environmental contaminants in food and drinking water.

· In 1996, Administrator Browner issued a report entitled Environmental Health Threats to Children and set a Children’s Agenda for EPA, calling for consideration of children’s risks in all Agency actions and a greater emphasis on research to support children’s risk assessments." (Children’s Vulnerability To Toxic Substances In The Environment Science to Achieve Results Program: 1999 Research Grants National Center for Environmental Research and Quality Assurance/ US EPA.)

A child’s system is continually developing. The ratio of child intake rate to child body size is greater than that for adults for some routes, including the skin.

EPA states:
Physiological differences influence the amount of chemical absorbed into the body. Children have a greater surface area to body weight ratio than adults, which may lead to increased dermal absorption. Comparisons of absorption through the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract between children and adults are complex and could lead to either increased or decreased risk depending on the physicochemical properties of the toxic chemical.

There are several interconnected factors that may contribute to increased vulnerability for children, depending on the toxic substance under consideration and the age of the child. Children’s tissues, organs, and biological systems are still developing, with several stages of rapid growth and development occurring from infancy to adolescence.

This rapid development and immaturity of body organs & systems predisposes children to potentially more severe consequences within certain age ranges and windows of vulnerability. Another factor that can influence a child’s vulnerability is that circulatory flow rates are generally higher in children, which may increase a child’s susceptibility to toxic effects.  A child is not an adult, but most toxicological data are based on occupational exposures for adults. More and more, scientists and doctors are discovering that there is a connection between toxic chemicals found in our households and chronic conditions such as attention deficit disorder (ADD), asthma, cancer, central nervous system (CNS) disorders, birth defects, infertility and others. Birth defects are the leading cause of death in children one to four years old. Cancer is the leading cause of death in children over the age of five. Asthma afflicts three times as many victims than just 20 years ago. And the number of children diagnosed with ADD runs in the millions, but according to Dr. Doris Rapp, as many as 2/3 of these cases may be environmentally related and removal of certain chemicals or a change in diet would show dramatic improvements…without the need for powerful narcotics.

It’s important to repeat, again, that only 10% of the chemicals found in household products have been tested to determine their effect on the nervous system. And nothing is known about the effects of long-term exposure.

Submitted by:

Marcia S. Chumbley, Director II
Team2Succeed

* We always buckle them into car seats or use seatbelts in the car.
* We are aware of the dangers of lead paint.
* We avoid sugary foods and drinks.
* We regularly visit the pediatrician and dentist.
* We insist they wear bicycle helmets and protective gear.
* Our houses are child proofed.

Here are some startling statistics:

* EPA surveys find that indoor air can be 3 - 5 times more chemically
polluted than outdoor air.
* After analyzing 2,983 chemicals used in personal care products, 884
were found to be toxic. (National Institute of Occupational Safety and
Health)
* According to the National Safety Council, more children under the age
of four die of accidental poisonings at home than are accidentally killed
with guns at home.
* Of chemicals commonly found in homes, 150 have been linked to allergies,
birth defects, cancer, and psychological abnormalities.
(Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Children are uniquely vulnerable to household toxins
because of their higher metabolic rate. They require more oxygen, and
they breathe in two to three times as much air, relative to body size,
than adults. Additionally, children are more physically active, also increasing
their breathing rate. Finally, children play on and close to the floor
where many heavier pollutants settle. In short, our children are breathing
in more toxins
than adults.

These toxins are suspected to be a factor in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
(SIDS). Also linked to toxins are allergies, asthma, learning difficulties,
and immune system disorders.

Where are these
toxins? They are in a wide variety of personal care and household
products, including:

* Toothpaste and mouthwash
* Deodorant
* Shampoos
* Laundry products
* Dish washing products
* Household Cleaning Products
* Would you like more information on natural solutions?

Submitted by:

Marcia S. Chumbley, Director II
Team2Succeed