Q: I seem to recall that Grandma used baking soda for lots of things around the house, for brushing her teeth, cleaning the pans and even drinking it sometimes.  Is it really as versatile as it seemed?  ………...Jane,  Webster

A:  Indeed, few things around the house are as versatile as baking soda.  With the advent of all the ’new’ inventions in the last 75 years the usefulness of the more simple things has been overlooked and forgotten.  Use of baking soda, or the nahcolite part of the natural mineral natron, dates back to pre Egyptian times.  The form we know today was first sold in 1846 and became popular when cookbooks started adding it as an ingredient to their books. Here is a partial list of some of the totally natural things an inexpensive box of baking soda can do for you and your budget.

People often make two mistakes in their search of inner peace... focusing on things they cannot change, and ignoring things they can change."

Q: Lots of my friends and I drink a couple of sodas a day.  Is it really such a bad deal?  I mean everywhere we go you can always get a soda, and it's usually the cheapest drink available.  My girlfriend likes bottled water and that often costs more than the soda.  Thanks, Matt

A:  Hey Matt, thanks for asking a very important question.  It might seem that a few sodas a day aren't such a big deal, but they actually are, and if you do it every day the cumulative effects are even more harmful. Studies show that one extra drink a day can raise your chance of being overweight as an adult is increased by 60%.  Part of the reason for this is that most soda is made with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), a very unhealthy source of sweetener.  HFCS is often made from genetically modified sources and it gives your body calories without the message that tells your body that you have eaten, so you still feel hungry and will most likely drink even more soda.

Do something today that your future self will thank you for.

Q: How long ago were forks invented and why?

A   What we see on our dinner table today, the knife, spoon, fork and napkin has only been in popular use for around 250 years. The earliest use of a table fork dates back to the 7th Century royal courts of the Middle East.  From the 10th through the 13th century forks were fairly common among the wealthy in Byzantium.

Other parts of the world were less enamored with the fork. Hands were primarily used for tearing food apart and eating, often wiping them on their clothes and later wiping them on the tablecloth. I can’t imagine how difficult that would have been to clean those large tablecloths without a washing machine and spot cleaner for all the wine stains.

In 1533 forks were brought from Italy to France when Catherine DeMedici came to live in the French courts as the wife of Henry II.  For the French, like the Italians, using them was thought to be an affectation.   In 1560, according to a French manners book, different customs evolved in different European countries.  “For eating soup, Germans are known for using spoons, Italians are known for using forks, primarily to spear things out of the soup and then drinking the rest out of the bowl.”  The Italians are also thought to have used the fork earlier to twirl long noodles around it and facilitate eating.

Thomas Coryate is credited for bringing the first forks to England in 1611.  It was ridiculed as being effeminate and unnecessary.  Many British clergymen were vehemently opposed to forks, believing that only human fingers were worthy of touching God’s food.  Often, when someone died after having used a fork, these clergymen preached that it was God’s way of showing His displeasure over the use of such a shocking novelty.

Forks gradually became adopted by the wealthy and became prized possessions, showing off their status to guests.  By the mid 1600s wealthy, fashionable British nobles used forks for sticky foods or foods such as berries which were likely to stain the fingers.

Larger forks were first designed for kitchen use to hold meat for cutting and gradually were adapted for use at the table.   During the 17th century there were two tines and by the 1800’s they evolved to four tines to assist in eating more efficiently.

In 1630, Governor Winthrop of Massachusetts Bay Colony had the first and only fork in colonial America. By the beginning of the 19th Century, the use of forks was becoming more popular in the United States.  Here they were sometimes called ’split spoons.’

The author of Consider the Fork:A History of How We Cook and Eat posits that this culinary change of cutting food smaller and eating it with a fork may have altered the way we eat and chew our food, such that it changed the structure of the human jaw.  Humans used to have an edge-to-edge bite like chimpanzees and apes, but in the last 200 years or so it changed into an overbite.  Who knew that such a simple change would have such an immediate adaptive effect.

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Thought for the day:
Think of one person who you are tempted for any reason to withhold love from, and pray for their happiness. In that moment your pain will stop. Marrianne Williamson

Q: Where is the healthiest place to live in the US?........Curious

A: Generally we see the grass as greener somewhere else, but believe it or not, New England is one of the healthiest places to live in the US. According to a recent CBS survey, using criteria such as rates of smoking, physical activity, diabetes, graduation rate, violent crime rate, premature death risks and rate of infectious diseases the New England states garnered six out of the top ten spots.
Coming in at number one is Vermont, for the sixth year in a row primarily due to its high marks for a high graduation rate, a low violent crime rate, low smoking rates, high physical activity and low diabetes rates.

Coming in at at number two is Hawaii and New Hampshire is number three. With it’s third lowest crime rate in the country and the lowest percentage of children under 18 living in poverty. There were some areas that needed improving like public health funding and mental health funding, where it ranked fairly low.

Number four is Massachusetts, citing the lowest rate for adult obesity and the large number of doctors available for health conscious residents. Challenges for Massachusetts were binge drinking and the higher rate of preventable hospitalizations.

Connecticut earned its slot at number six due to the low smoking rates, the lack of obese citizens and high vaccine coverage. It dropped some from last year's rating due to the lower rate in high school graduations and the levels of air pollution in the city areas

Maine came in at number nine, climbing up from its number 10 slot last year, boasting the lowest crime rate in the country. It does, however, need to address concerns like lowering the smoking rate and obesity rates.

And believe it or not, Rhode Island came in as number 10 in large part to its diligence in cholesterol checking and high immunization rates. The highest rate of doctors of primary care per population also helped its rating. As in its neighboring state, Rhode Island does have challenges with binge drinking and preventable hospitalizations.

So you can be proud of the place you live in and work to make it even better.

Interesting Comments

There are herds of cows, flocks of chickens, schools of fish, gaggles of geese, prides of lions, murders of crows and ravens, an exaltation of doves, a parliament of owls and then there are baboons, the loudest most vicious and aggressive of all primates. They are called a congress of baboons—mmmm.

Have a question, or is there something you’ve always wondered about? Ask Madalyn invites your questions.
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Q: I like the idea of Christmas much more than the actual thing.  Every year I look forward to it and when it actually comes it’s way too stress filled.  How can I make it more fun and less stressful for me and my family? …………. Sandy, S

A:  I agree let’s have more fun and less stress this holiday season!  First decide what you like most about Christmas and  what it is that makes you smile.  Is it watching the children have fun, is it gathering with family and enjoying each other’s company, is it baking cookies and the smells in the kitchen?  Once you know what’s most important to you you can begin to focus on that and let some of the other things fall away or at least not take up so much of your time.

     If you love to bake and cook, try to make things ahead of time and freeze them.  You could make a cookie swap arrangement with some friends, each of you make a lot of one kind of cookie and then get together to ’share’ and you will all have a variety to serve to friends and family without all the work.

     Gift giving is an especially challenging issue.  Once you’ve made a list of who you want to gift and know what you can spend then comes the work.  Hand crafted gift are great but work best if you thought of it before December– with the exception of food of course.  Food makes an awesome gift if you have the talent and the time.  Gift cards are a great option.  Sometimes they are thought of as impersonal, but you can choose a card to a place you know they love and will actually use.  Personalize it with a special note and your gift will be a success.

      Shop online as much as possible.  You can price shop more easily, it gets shipped right to your door and you will be less likely to impulse buy like you do at the mall.  Usually shipping is reasonable during this season and sometimes they even wrap it for free.

      Have a few generic gifts on hand in case you forgot someone so you won’t panic and overbuy at the last minute.  Make it something you would like yourself if it doesn’t get used.

     Actively pursue that thing that makes Christmas special to you, play Christmas music, pick out and decorate a tree with your children, write those Christmas card notes you like to write and receive, make someone’s favorite cookies and watch their eyes light up when they see you coming.

     Get a little more spiritual.  With all the commercial aspects of Christmas it’s easy to forget the reason for the celebration in the first place.  Go to a holiday service, watch one on television, make a conscious decision to allow the joy of the holiday to fill you up and spill around to everyone around you.

Have a question, or is there something you’ve always wondered about.  Ask Madalyn invites your questions.

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Q: I’ve always loved the decorations for Christmas time.  What is the significance of the holiday wreath and where did the custom come from? …………………………… Nicole
A:  Part of the pageantry and beauty of the holiday season is the smell of fresh greens and the bright lights highlighting our homes. While not everyone goes to the extreme of one of my friends – she makes 55 wreaths and balls every year to decorate her home and business- almost everyone does indulge.  Whether it’s wrapping your house in little white lights or putting up a few discreet decorations it’s hard not to get into the spirit of it. In spite of the pressure that sometimes comes with holiday planning, just the thought of Christmas usually makes you smile.

Wreaths are often a part of the holiday décor, and whether on the front door, the windows, or on the coffee table, they are beautiful representations of the spirit of the season. The circular wreath with fresh greens dates back to the early centuries in Persia, China and Egypt. Laurel wreaths were used to honor royalty or winners of exceptional feats. Since Emperor Justinian made Christmas an official holiday in the fifth century, traditional customs, including the wreath, became a part of this celebration. The Christian influence is seen in the popularity of the Advent Wreath in which Christians mark the time until the birth of Christ.

In the 15th century the Pilgrims brought their traditions with them, including the wreath for Christmas celebrations. Since its arrival the advent wreath has remained popular but has also been secularized. Wreaths of all kinds are used year around. Today’s Christmas wreaths are filled with colored ribbons and holly berries, twinkling lights and glittering balls, no longer having to conform to the more traditional forms.

Although there are synthetic wreaths, the real great smelling pine wreath is much preferred.  Evergreens symbolize eternal life and the circular design the continuity of life, no beginning and no end. The lights represent the light of hope in the darkness. The holly that is sometimes added to the wreath was believed to have magical powers of healing.

Remember to include your children in your holiday ritual and customs. The memories made during this time remain forever. As beautiful as the tree, the holly and mistletoe is, remember to keep them away from animals and small children. Ingesting any of these can cause vomiting and mild GI irritation.

Q: Why is the day after Thanksgiving called Black Friday?

A:  In the 1960’s the Philadelphia Police  Department coined the phrase to describe the general mayhem that occurred on the city streets as people began to take to the streets and begin Christmas shopping in earnest.  The term “Black Friday” became more positive and was popularized by New York store owners in the 1970’s.  In theory it would become the day that a retail business would begin to make money, ie: be in the black.  In reality many business slash prices so much on this day that they actually might lose money, but I’m sure they make up for it the rest of the season.

The day before Christmas is actually to busiest shopping day of the year.  And in my opinion if a business isn’t making money by the end of November they are in trouble financially and marking things down a lot wouldn’t necessarily pull them out of debt.

Q:  Why are some eggs easier to peel than others?

A:  As a general rule the fresher the egg the harder it is to peel.  It is believed that it has something to do with the pH of the egg and the binding of the protein (albumin) to the shell. The natural CO2 that is in the egg under the shell begins to seep out and changes the pH of the egg, making it easier to peel. The ideal age for ease of peeling eggs would be 7—10 days after it is laid.  Being skeptical about the length of time it takes for eggs to get onto the grocery shelf, I did a little research.  In the past it took about a week to get onto the grocery store shelf.  In the last number of years eggs have been arriving at the stores in as little as 72 hrs.  As a result the eggs we get today are fresher than they were in the past and the conversely they are often harder to peel.

Egg cartons are marked with the date they were laid.  If you know how to read the label there will be a date, using the Julian calendar so Jan 5, 2013 would be 01032013.  When you get the eggs home, take them out of the box to store in the refrigerator.  If they have a thin film over them,  be sure to wash them.  Some egg processers coat the eggs with mineral oil to mimic the natural  coating the hen puts on the eggs before she lays them.

Personal experience however does not prove the theory that fresher eggs are harder to peel.  I’ve gathered eggs directly from the nest and immediately boiled them to perfection, without any problems peeling them.

Have a question, or is there something you’ve always wondered about? Ask Madalyn invites your questions.

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Q:  What is the origin of state nicknames and why are there often more than one name associated with a particular state?

A: Many states have had a number of different nicknames often being associated with important events or places within the state.  Some states have official names and others have names developed by advertisements or license plates.

  The Mass official state nickname is the Bay State but in times passed it has been called the Baked Bean State, the Codfish State(depicted on earlier license plates), the Pilgrim State, the Spirit of America (currently used on license plates) and sometimes in jest as Taxachusetts. Early settlers are responsible for naming it due to it's proximity to several large bays.

  The state of New Hampshire official website lists the nickname as Granite State but it has not been officially accepted by statute.  It has also been called the White Mountain State for the obvious reason that the White Mountains virtually cover most of the northern part of the state.

   Rhode Island, on the other hand, is known as the Ocean State and sometimes as the Plantation State. It seems odd that the smallest state in the Union has this nickname, but due to it's many bays and inlets,14% of the land mass is coastline. The tourist industry coined the named to promote tourism in the state.The smallest state also has the longest official name, Rhode Island and the Providence Plantations.

   Connecticut was designated as the Constitution State at the official General Assembly in 1959.  Connecticut's history is rich with historic details, each claiming a piece in naming the state nickname.  It has also been named the Nutmeg State ( another interesting story), the Charter Oaks State and also The Land of Steady Habits.

    Maine is officially known as the Pine Tree State, but the license plates say Vacationland. The state has more than 17 million acres of trees, many of them white pine. It has also been called the Lumber State, appropriate since 89% of the state is tree covered.

   Vermont's official name was given in 1761, as Verd Mont, literally meaning Green Mountain.  The nickname Green Mountain State was a natural extension of it's actual name.

    Some of the more notable state nicknames go to other parts of the country. Wyoming for instance is known as the “Equality State” because of the rights women have traditionally enjoyed there. Wyoming women were the first in the nation to vote, serve on juries and hold public office. Missouri is unofficially known as the “Show Me State,” a name attributed to Representative Willard Van Diver. It conotates a 'certain self-deprecating stubbornness and devotion to simple common sense'.  Missouri is also known by a number of other names such as the Sleepy State, the Bullion State, the Cave State, the Lead State, Ozark State and the Puke Sate (thought to be a derivation of Pike.)

  Many of the state nicknames have also been incorporated into their sports teams such as Wolverines, Buckeyes, Hooters and Sooners.

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Q:   Is it true that there is now food out there that has been genetically modified with human DNA? ………………..Scared to Eat

A:  Wow it’s scary.  According to Natural News, there is indeed a company in Junction City, Kansas, that has used human liver DNA to modify rice to create a protein used in drugs.  In 2006 the company –Ventria Bioscience– got FDA approval to grow the rice outdoors on 3200 acres in Kansas.  I can only imagine the impact when nature takes its course and the genetically modified rice begins to infiltrate other crops. It also makes me wonder what else is in the drugs people are so willing to take. 

Speaking of rice, there are some things to watch there as well. The FDA has been monitoring the arsenic level in many foods for the last twenty years including rice.  In September 2012 Consumer Reports reported that many of the rice products they tested had significantly high levels of inorganic arsenic.  A complete listing is available on line at ConsumerReports.com.

Fun Facts—do you agree?  Email me what you think!

#1  Studies suggest that people who stay awake till late night are more intelligent than the people who go to bed early and rise early for the day.

#2   People who are unhappy with their relationship are more depressed than single people who feel lonely.

#3   Having minimal social interaction with the outside world is equally harmful, to smoking 15 cigarettes a day or being an alcoholic.

#4    An instant change in mood from happiness to sad, indicates that you’re missing someone.

#5   If the volume of the TV set is set to an odd number, as many as 99% of all people feel uneasy.

#6   To avoid being judged by other people, 4 out of 5 do not express their emotions and keep things to themselves.

#7  Studies confirm that the presence of beautiful women ignite stupid behavior in men.

#8  If you are truly ‘bored to death’ the chances are 250% more likely you will die by a stroke or heart attack.

Have a question, or is there something you’ve always wondered about.  Ask Madalyn invites your questions.

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Q:  My doctor recently suggested I use a statin drug to reduce my cholesterol numbers.  When I suggested to her that I didn’t think statin drugs were good for my body she responded with ’the party line’, the answer all insured physicians are supposed to tell their patients.  I’ve been doing more research and it doesn’t look good………………………. MD, Nashua

A: You are correct. Two of the most recent studies in fact indicate that statin drugs are actually making the problem worse, not better.  One of the studies showed a 52% increase in the amount of plaque by statin users vs non statin users.  The other study showed that there was a significant increase in the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes with statin drug use.   In fact in another study there was an increased rate of 48% for diabetes in postmenopausal women who used statin drugs.

Follow your instincts and do the research before you agree to start taking these extremely dangerous and largely ineffective drugs.  It seems the drug is only beneficial and worth the risk for a small group of people with cholesterol levels over 350.  One in four Americans over 45 currently take the drugs for PREVENTIVE purposes, supposedly protecting them from heart attacks and strokes. But mounting research proves it is having the opposite effect and even putting you at greater risk.

GreenMedInfo.com has compiled over 300 documented adverse health effects associated with statins, some of the most common include muscle problems, anemia, acidosis, sexual dysfunction, cataracts, memory loss, immune depression, pancreatic and liver dysfunction.  Another potentially lethal response to statins is the depletion of COQ10.  So, if you are on statin drugs and continue to do so, it is imperative that you replace the COQ10 that is being dumped from your system by the drugs.

Both high levels of cholesterol and type two diabetes are better and more safely controlled by following a few simple lifestyle changes.  “First, normalize your insulin levels by eliminating sugar (particularly fructose) and grains.  A fasting insulin level is easy to draw and is very inexpensive.  It should be below 3.  Take a high-quality animal-based omega-3 supplement such as krill oil.  Eat a good portion of your food raw (ideally organic to avoid agricultural chemicals).  Eat healthy, preferably raw, fats, such as olive oil, avocados, seeds, raw organic nuts, pastured eggs, and grass fed meats. Regular exercise is another important tool…..If you are a man, or a woman who is in menopause, you should check your iron levels, as elevated levels of iron can cause major oxidative damage in blood vessels, heart and other organs.  Excess iron is also one of the major contributing factors of cancer risk.  Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol excessively.” (Quoted from the #1 Natural Health Website)

Making these lifestyle changes will help keep you healthier and reduce the risk of many major diseases.  It’s simple, but not easy.  Every step you can take brings you closer to optimum health.

Disclaimer:  The above information is not a medical prescription and should not be treated as such.  If you are currently on the drugs, do your own due diligence.  Check it out.  Become informed. Stop being a victim and take action.

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