Asthma and Allergies

My only son was more than just one year old when he was diagnosed with "mild asthma". And it got worse when he was in his elementary days. He had his maintenance puffs and and also has puff in case of emergency attacks. I always make it a point everyday that he has that emergency puff inside his school bag. I've given him natural vitamins bought from herbal companies and I think they were a big help because he seldom has attacks now. Or maybe he has outgrown it now that he is in his teenage years. Actually, some of his puffs are already expired and they haven't been used yet. Thank God for this. Let me share with you an article I read about this allergy / asthma:


"Obesity isn’t the only potential toll that dinner from the drive-thru may have on your health.

It’s not just your waistline that may pay a price for eating fast food meals three or more times a week, but your immune system as well. According to a study published in the journal Thorax, fast food fare is linked to an increased risk of asthma, eczema and rhinitis among kids and teens. The study also found that eating fruit could protect against these disorders among all age groups.

A group of European researchers analyzed data from participants in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), which included more than 319,000 teens ages 13 to 14 from over 50 countries, and more than 181,000 kids ages six to seven from 31 countries.

Both the participants and their parents answered questions about how often and how severely they experienced symptoms of asthma, eczema and rhinitis–like wheezing, runny nose and itchy and watery eyes. They were also asked about their diets, and how often they ate foods ranging from vegetables to fast food burgers.

Eating fast food meals at least three times a week was linked to a 39% increased risk of severe asthma in teenagers and a 27% increased risk among children between ages six and seven. Fruit, on the other hand, seemed to have the opposite effect on asthma symptoms; three or more servings of fruit was associated with a 11% decrease in severe symptoms in teens and a 14% drop in severity of suffering in kids.

The scientists accounted for other potential factors that could explain the difference in incidence of the disorders, but fast food remained the only food that showed similar associations among both the younger children and the teens, suggesting a strong link between the fatty and processed foods and respiratory problems.

“This is the largest study to date on allergies in people around the world, and the findings are remarkably consistent when it comes to looking at specific regions of the world and within affluence and sex,” says study author Hywel Williams, a professor at the Centre for Evidence Based Dermatology at the University of Nottingham. “If true, our findings have big public health implications given that these types of allergies are on the rise and fast food is so popular.”

Although the results don’t confirm a cause and effect relationship, previous studies have shown that saturated fats can influence immunity, which in turn can make children’s immune systems more sensitive to the various allergens behind allergies such as rhinitis and that drive asthma and eczema. The fact that the fruit eaters seemed to be protected from these conditions also supports this idea, since fruits are typically high in antioxidants that can fight cell damage and boost immune health. Fast food may be convenient, but the latest data suggests that the price for that ease may be getting higher."

Source: http://healthland.time.com/2013/01/15/fast-food-linked-to-asthma-and-allergies-in-kids/

Making a big shirt to a dress

Really an amazing idea. Your friends won't know that it's your husband's shirt!

Source : https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=524826254237483&set=a.440648745988568.102319.440641045989338&type=1&permPage=1

Home Remedies for Whiteheads

I found this article very helpful, since just the thought of pricking parts of my face scares me. More so, if you're on a tight budget, you can do this in your own home....

Whiteheads are a form of acne caused by collection or accumulation of keratin and sebum or oil secreted by sebaceous glands in the skin. These deposits plug up the skin pores close to hair follicles resulting in whiteheads. Whiteheads jut out from the skin surface as tiny white bumps. Whiteheads are also known as comedones. When they get oxidized due to pollution, they become black and are called black heads. If air is unable to reach the hair follicle, no oxidation takes place, and they continue to remain white bumps. Whiteheads may be deep seated; spoiling the texture of the skin and making it lose its luster.

Delicate regions of the skin are susceptible to whiteheads. Areas like temples, foreheads, cheek bones, sides of nose and under the eyes are thronged by whiteheads. Whiteheads may appear not only in face but also in other parts of the body like chest, hip, armpit etc. As one attains puberty, the sebaceous glands get activated due to hormonal turbulence, resulting in an increased incidence of whiteheads and blackheads. A strict skin cleansing routine should be followed using medicated soaps to keep the extra oil off the skin. In other words, proper skin hygiene keeps away whiteheads. Oil-based make up should be avoided. Scrubbers should be used to eliminate dead skin deposits and comedone extractors may be used to extract the comedones.

Home Remedies for Whiteheads

1. Application of a paste of fenugreek leaves and leaving it overnight and washing off with warm water the next morning, keeps away whiteheads.

2. A mixture of corn starch and vinegar may left on the skin for 30 minutes and then rubbed off with a warm wash cloth. This remedy cleanses the skin of whiteheads.

3. A scrubber made out of 50 ml raw milk, 2 tablespoon lime juice and a pinch of salt can help to drag out whiteheads deposits from pores.

4. One can get freedom from whiteheads by applying a mixture of roasted, powdered pomegranate and lime juice.

5. A mixture of one tablespoon groundnut oil and one tablespoon lime juice can be applied to get rid of whiteheads.

6. Powdered almond scrubber may be used to dislodge whiteheads.

7. A fine paste made out of sandalwood and rose water may be applied as mask, kept for 30 minutes and then washed off with lukewarm water. This allows easy extraction of whiteheads.

8. Whiteheads may be treated effectively with a poultice made out of grated potatoes.

9. One may mix 1 teaspoon honey with a beaten egg white and dab the mixture on whiteheads with a cotton swab and wash it off with warm water after 30 minutes. This treatment eliminates whiteheads.

10. Detoxifying system by drinking the juice of one lemon squeezed in to a glass of warm water every morning can keep away whiteheads.

11. A mixture of water and bee propolis extract can effectively help one to get rid of whiteheads.

12. Steaming the face can enlarge skin pores allowing easy extraction of the hard deposits.

Source :  http://filipinonurses.org/index.php/2013/07/12-effective-home-remedies-for-whiteheads-that-you-can-try/

A first-time crafter

I want to share with you my first ever try in crafting. My sister introduced me to vinyl stickers, bought in department stores. But I bought them in Japan surplus stores at only 88 pesos.

Since we have a lot of plastic containers from graham crackers, (me and my sister makes refrigerator cake once in a while), I placed the vinyl sticker all around the plastic container so as to cover the print of graham cracker on it.

I thought of using it to place all the unorganized things placed on top of our ref, like coffee filters, coffee beans, 3-in-1 coffee packs, chocolate drinks amd juice powders in sachet. I am quite pleased with my finished product, so are my family....

Another project i made with vinyl sticker is our stairs makeover.

I measured and sticked it on our paintless and ugly cement stairs. Sorry I was not able to take a "before" photo of our stairs but you can try to look at it on the left photo. The top part was already covered with the vinyl sticker, while the vertical part of the stair is the original image of it. What a big difference and I'm so pleased with my project. Happy... :)  

What can you say? Just let your imaginations run, think on how you are going to accomplish it and if it is possible. Then, do it while you have the time.

We would appreciate it if you can share it with us your own crafting or make over projects. Pleaseeee  :)

Birthday Resolutions

To celebrate my ??th birthday, :) here are my "birthday resolutions":

1. Earn More

This coming year, I will do everything to earn more so I can share more of my blessings. Sharing what you have is happiness. You should do it more often. 

2. Be healthy

Though I'm conscious now of what I am eating since my husband got sick, need to be serious about it. I still eat pork, junk food, cakes, chocolates, ice cream and fast food meals. I know it's bad for my age. Then, I was not able to exercise because of my surgery. Had to lie low on strenuous activity for one year.

I will limit my list for two so i can focus more. Anyway, these two are big enough to occupy my time!

Found this phrase in my horoscope:

"You have an inherent potential to inspire and uplift humanity through creative self-expression which conveys humour and drama, thoughtfulness and vision, and compassion and understanding."

Have a nice (birth)day!

Growing up years

As a little child, I have been a happy kid. I was raised in a family, where my daddy was the one cooking, aside from his work, he enjoys feeding us, his all-girl family. A closely-knit clan, that's what we are. During my childhood up to teenage years, the whole clan would all go to the church that my ancestors founded. Most of my family belonged to the choir. One of my uncles, were the choir conductor and my mom were the accompanist. (She has been the choir accompanist for more than 40 years! And still doing it until now!). My dad and some cousins would take turns singing solo during offertory. Another one of my uncles were church layleader, We are protestant (methodist), both my father's and mother's side). After church, the whole clan would eat lunch together in ancestral house in Manila. After lunch,  all children would be required to sleep, while the men drank beer, and the women cook again for the afternoon snack (merienda). Very typical for a Filipino family, don't you think? But that was the best typical part of my life. I really loved those ordinary Sundays.

My mother's side on the other hand, were also a musically-inclined family. All of my mothers' brothers and sister would sing and play the piano. And all, i mean, ALL are teachers, starting from my grandfather.My grandma on my mother's side is a deaconess who also teaches in a school for deacons and deaconesses. I miss my Lolo and Lola. They were very generous and thoughtful. When we visit them, they would always give us bags and bags of food, sometimes additional allowances for our school baon. Then after eating, Lolo would go to his favorite part of the house, his carpentry nook, and we watch him as he makes something. He even allows us to use his tools, carefully guiding us so as not to be hurt. He would also play with us. On their house, there was a swing inside the house. Me and my sister take turns riding it. I can still vividly remember our happiness.

How about your own growing up years? Where did you spend your childhood memories?