Trying to lose weight? Need support? Look no further than your couch potato pooch (who probably shares in your midnight snack raids) for an instant work out pal.

Walking can be a great form of exercise; but truth be told, it can be boring strolling by yourself everyday. It’s also really easy to find a good excuse not to venture out-windy weather, hint of snow, bad hair day.

Once faithful Fido gets into the work out routine, you’ll have to justify your day off to a sad faced pooch. My dog Stella takes it a bit further. If she even suspects I’m thinking of chickening out of our walk, she starts bumping me. In the morning, it may be a gentle nudge with a whimper. By afternoon, I might get body slammed by a 96lb boxer if I try to leave the house without her (just kidding-but she is getting more adamant-and I wouldn’t want to push her too far).

In December, Banfield Veterinary Hospital sent me a postcard. It advertised a widespread campaign to encourage humans and their furry companions to get healthy together in 2007. Stella and I jumped on board. My Stella keeps me on track. She refuses to let me take a day off. To keep up with our progress, you can read more about our work out journey in my Fitness Buddies blog located in the 451 Press Pets Channel.

The affected jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter have a product code located on the lid of the jar that begins with the number “2111.” Both the Peter Pan and Great Value brands are manufactured in a single facility in Georgia by ConAgra. Great Value peanut butter made by other manufacturers is not affected.
If consumers have any of this Peter Pan or Great Value brand peanut butter in their home that has been purchased since May 2006, they should discard it.

The FDA has also published a warning on their website, which lists the warning signs of Salmonella. These symptoms include abdominal cramps, fever, and diarrhea. If you have a weakened immune system of poor health in general, Salmonella can be life-threatening, causing infections and invading the bloodstream. According to the FDA, “Individuals who have recently eaten Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product code 2111 and have experienced any of these symptoms should contact their doctor or health care provider immediately. Any such illnesses should be reported to state or local health authorities.”

More information is available from the FDA, as well as the CDC. Don’t hesitate to visit your doctor if you think you have any of the symptoms listed above, but don’t feel like you need to avoid other types of peanut butter or food - the outbreak is linked to one factory in Georgia only.

AP Photo.

Peanut Butter, Salmonella, FDA, CDC, Peter Pan

A Nap a Day Keeps a Heart Attack Away

I’ve always teased my husband for taking naps on the weekend. After reading this blog, I’m sure he’ll fire back with an “I told you so!” What I have been mistakenly labeling as decadent laziness on my husband’s behalf researchers have now pronounced to be healthy behavior.

According to a study by American and Greek researchers, my husband’s habit of napping could reduce his chance of having a heart attack. The mechanisms behind the hidden benefits that naps provide have not been determined. Some speculate that naps are natural stress reducers.

Naps are an acceptable part of life in many cultures. Even in America, parents encourage babies and young children to take a daily afternoon snooze. In many European cultures, the siesta is an important part of the work day.

It is important to note that naps provide additional health benefits. A 15-30 minute siesta boosts energy levels, mental awareness, cognitive functions, and emotional stability. I guess I owe my husband an apology. Go ahead, honey. Take a nap. I won’t tease you this time. I promise.

If you live in a part of the world where the winter months aren’t brutal, you can continually jog, bike, and walk, to keep fit. If you’re the other half that has to endure cold temperatures and high snowdrifts, it makes for keeping active, difficult.

As we all know, getting into an exercise routine is never easy. In fact, it normally never lasts. We try it for a few days, find the weight isn’t coming off as fast as it should, and quit. I know, because I have done this time and time again. Losing weight and keeping fit is an on going process, that takes commitment and dedication. If working out in a gym is not for you, this may also deter a person from staying fit in winter.

Last year I decided to try something different. My husband and I gradually purchased a treadmill, an exercise bike, an eliptical trainer, and a weight gym, to add to our basement. I found this was great, because I could exercise in the comfort of my own home, and at the same time, not have to pay a gym fee. With a walkman for company, I began the long hard journey to fitness. After awhile, I got bored with this and purchsed a portable DVD player. I set this up in front of the machine I was using, and started watching sitcoms. After trying so many methods, I have to admit this one is the best. Not only do I get a chance to watch my favorite shows, I also keep fit in the process.

In this day and age with obesity on the rise, we need to get creative in order to keep healthy!

Many people have died waiting for a cure for cancer. A recent scientific breakthrough has brought about a vaccination that can prevent most cases of cervical cancer. We should be leaping for joy. As a nation, we should be profoundly grateful. I was dumbfounded to discover that not everyone is rejoicing.

The vaccination in question is Gardasil and it protects women from two types of HPV (human papillomavirus). These HPV strains are the main culprits in the development of cervical cancer and genital warts. The CDC suggests that girls should be vaccinated as young as 9. The question whether the vaccination should be mandatory has sparked national controversy.

I am amazed that there is a debate on this issue. There are some who argue that since HPV is transmitted sexually a mandatory vaccination against the virus would be seen as an endorsement of premarital sex. Others are wary of giving the government more control over parental rights.

I respect the American right to voice objections, but this is a life and death issue. Gardasil can give our daughters protection against a potentially terminal illness. We need to educate parents of the ramifications of denying their daughters access to this life saving vaccination.

If I close my eyes and listen closely, I can almost hear the collective voice of all the women before me whose life was cut short by cervical cancer. Their grave intention to warn others, “The time to act is now.” Can you hear it too?

Image via Company Flowers

air quality

Image via the CDC

head lice