Should you use supplements (1)

This is an extremely complex debate and I will make quite a few posts on it over time. I thought the following comments from Dr Mercola were quite good, providing an overview of free radicals and antioxidants:

Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that steal electrons from the first thing they encounter, such as a cell wall, or a strand of DNA. The loss of an electron, in turn, oxidizes these cells, which makes them unstable and easily breakable.

As this free-radical damage continues, your cells can no longer perform properly, and hence, tissues begin to degrade and disease sets in.

An interesting point to consider is that it is not unusual that in trying to do a good thing, some supplements could actually harm you. Depending on your clinical circumstances, suppression of free radicals may actually be harmful. It all depends on your specific circumstances.

For more, see the full post at http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/10/18/cut-sugar-and-supplements-and-live-15-years-longer.aspx

Spray Cleaners Linked to Adult Asthma

According to research published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, using spray cleaners while doing housework may be an important risk factor for adult asthma. The study suggests that the use of spray cleaners may account for 1 in 7 cases of asthma in adults. Researchers say the more often the cleaners are used, the higher the risk and claim use just once a week can trigger an attack.
As Reported by Fox News (from Medscape, http://www.medscape.com/ on October 17, 2007)

Would it be fair to say that women use spray cleaners more often than men in the home? This would mean we have a higher risk, right? There are safer options out there that can be used to reduce the risk to our own health and that of our families. People can opt for fibre-cleaning technology or use safe products which do not contain harmful ingredients. If you are interested in knowing about the safe, alternative products I use contact me. My son was diagnosed asthmatic in his first year and since changing brands we have not had any incidence of asthma with him for the past 7 months, right through winter.