Time To Get Your Flu Shot

The CDC, (Centers for Disease Control), influenza vaccination guideline this year is simple: "Everyone 6 months of age and older should receive influenza vaccine." 

As you know, with breathing difficulty, it is even more important to protect yourself.

The CDC states in it's recommendation for this year, "Annual influenza vaccination, even when the vaccine strains are unchanged, is important because a person's immune protection from influenza vaccination declines over time. Immunity acquired from vaccine administered last season will have declined and may not be enough to prevent infection this season. So, annual influenza vaccination is recommended for optimal protection."

Get your shot now, make it a family event.  It is readily available,  even from your local pharmacist.  It can not cause you to get the flu, as some people suggest.  Of course, as always, consult your doctor. 

Sweet Sleep with Jasmine and Lavender

If you have trouble relaxing and getting to sleep, there are two wonderful floral fragrances that have been shown to help relieve anxiety and promote good sleep..  They are jasmine and lavender. Research has shown the scent of jasmine is as effective as Valium and similar drugs for promoting more peaceful sleep, and reducing anxiety.  Lavender helps with relaxation and is very soothing.

The benefits of jasmine come from taking a warm bath or shower with jasmine-scented soap just before bed.  Lavender works best by massaging a few drops of essential oil into the bottom, instep of each foot before climbing into bed.   You can put a diffuser containing jasmine or lavender in your bedroom.

The environment in your bedroom is also key to good sleep.   Be sure the room is cool,  dark and quiet.  A silky eye covering mask and some earplugs can help.

Sleep is so important to good physical and mental health.   Here’s to a good night of restful sleep!!

Raw Sprouts Dangerous To Eat, Says CDC

Many people think of raw sprouts as a healthy food.  Raw sprouts can be  anything but safe.  Several outbreaks have taught us that it is unsafe to eat raw sprouts and is a good idea to cook them. Here are some reasons they are dangerous, according to the CDC,  (Centers for Disease Control). 1. A sprouting seed is friendly to bacteria such as Salmonella or E coli.   The warm, moist conditions in which sprouts are produced make matters   worse.  Bacteria in or on growing sprouts cannot be washed off.   Sprouts have also carried Listeria, which causes a very dangerous infection   for pregnant women and the elderly. 2.  It is not necessary to eat large quantities of sprouts to get sick. They  can be hidden when used as a garnish, on a sandwich or in a salad. 3.  Sprouts were first recognized as a source of food-bourne disease in the  1990's.  Since 1998, more than 30 outbreaks have been reported to the    CDC, due to many different kinds of sprouts, alfalfa, bean, clover  and others.  4.  When the potential dangers of sprouts became known, the US Food  and Drug Administration developed guidance for growers to help reduce   the risks.  So far, no available method has proven completely effective. 5.  People who eat raw sprouts need to know the risks, including people  that grow their own sprouts.  Contamination typically starts with the seeds. Eat healthy but safely!