http://5loavesand2fishesfoodbank.org/ Articles at 5 loaves and 2 fishes food bank - article directory for home and family articles en-us http://5loavesand2fishesfoodbank.org/health/keep-autumn-allergens-away.html http://5loavesand2fishesfoodbank.org/health/keep-autumn-allergens-away.html Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:34:25 +0300
Though it's impossible to control the great outdoors, steps can be taken to greatly reduce allergens from the indoor home environment during this allergy season to help reduce the severity of allergy and asthma symptoms. With fall right around the corner, a little planning ahead can help minimize the exposure to allergens in the home and improve indoor air quality. Even for those without allergies or sensitive respiratory systems, it's important to have a clean home.

Some tips to keep autumn allergens at bay in the home:

• Clean heating ducts and replace furnace filter. Before you turn on your heat for the first time this fall, have your heating ducts cleaned. Particles of mold, dust and other allergens can become trapped in the vents over the summer and will fill the air as soon as you crank up the furnace. Also, remember to replace your old furnace filter with a pleated furnace filter that captures more allergy causing particles than standard furnace filters.

• Dust and vacuum often. Vacuum regularly with a machine that features a sealed HEPA filtration system. This will remove autumn allergens like pollen, mold, dust mites and pet dander from the air while eliminating dust and dirt in the home. When dusting, do so with microfiber towels and dusters. Such products attract dust, which cling to the fibers instead of simply dropping back to the ground.

• Filter allergens. Change vacuum filters and bags regularly to reduce the number of allergens and other particles released into the air. Filtrete vacuum filters and bags, for example, optimize vacuum performance, keeping the home cleaner by trapping dust.

• Bathe and brush pets regularly. When pets come inside after romping around all of the dead leaves in the yard, their coats are often loaded with dirt and dander that scatters around the house and can contribute to poor indoor air quality. To avoid this problem, brush pets' hair before they re-enter the home from outdoors and bathe them regularly.

• Don't invite outdoor triggers into your home. During fall months, fresh breezes and open windows aren't always a blessing, especially for homeowners with pollen allergies. Prevent pollen spores from infiltrating the home by keeping windows closed and leaving your shoes at the door to avoid tracking pollen, dust, and other debris inside.

• Stay indoors. Monitor pollen counts and adjust outdoor activities accordingly. Dry, windy weather, especially after a rainy day, can be particularly high in pollen. Stay indoors during peak pollen production, usually from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.
]]> http://5loavesand2fishesfoodbank.org/health/tips-from-an-allergist.html http://5loavesand2fishesfoodbank.org/health/tips-from-an-allergist.html Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:58:40 +0300
The air your family breathes is one of the most important ways to keep your home healthy. Dust mites, mold and pet dander cause poor indoor air quality that can lead to congestion, headache, fatigue and sometimes worse for allergy and asthma sufferers. What can you do to eliminate these pesky particles? We asked Dr. Frederic Renold for his expert opinion on how to keep your home free of allergens. What we got were some great tips for anyone who's concerned about the air in their home! Please note that Dr. Renold is giving his medical opinion on the general topic of air quality. For medical advice specific to your condition, consult your doctor or allergist directly.

Everyone's allergies are unique, but many of us have the same questions about how to handle them! Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about allergies and allergens in the home, with answers from allergist Dr. Frederic Renold.

How can I get fresh, clean air and improve the quality of air inside my home?
There are some easy ways to improve the quality of air in your home, including:

• Cleaning - Cleaning floors, furniture, walls and cabinets regularly can significantly reduce the amount of allergens in the home that otherwise end up in the air.
• Filtering - Filtering - Using a filter on products in your home like vacuums and central heating and cooling systems, can capture many of the allergens in the air and keeps them from circulating through your home.
• Bringing in Outdoor Air - Allowing filtered outdoor air to circulate through your home through your central heating and cooling system is highly recommended to reduce indoor pollutants and freshen the air in your home.
• Controlling Humidity - Keeping the humidity level as low as your family is comfortable can reduce allergens like mold spores and dust mites.
By doing these things, you can improve the air quality in your home - and reduce the harmful effects of allergens on your health.

How can I "allergy-proof" my home?
Unfortunately there's no such thing as an "allergy-proof" home, because it's almost impossible to create a sterile environment outside of a hospital operating room. But you can keep allergens at a minimum with thorough, regular cleaning and proper air filtration.
]]> http://5loavesand2fishesfoodbank.org/home-and-family/home-improvement/designer-shade-systems-provide-sun-protection-and-ambience.html http://5loavesand2fishesfoodbank.org/home-and-family/home-improvement/designer-shade-systems-provide-sun-protection-and-ambience.html Sat, 13 Feb 2010 05:42:21 +0300
Let's face it, you could go to large, mass market stores and procure generic pavilions, pagodas and umbrellas that may suffice. But those all have severe limitations in all areas: design, reliability and artistic impact. A shade system that not only has effective protective elements as a primary concern but that delivers the "look" and "feel" that you want to have for your shade system requires a bit more effort than that.

Creating a system of shade which addresses all these concerns is important, especially in a commercial environment. Not only does it have to be easy to work with and functional, but it still needs to present the atmosphere you want to present. This means it becomes a matter of careful thought and time spent in front of a drawing board or design center, processing options, bringing up solutions and discarding more elements than are kept. Professional companies have hired teams of experts to help bring about the quality of solution you want for your specific needs and applications.

Sitting down with the system designers and outlining expectations is a key element to achieving the specific goals you want. Not only overall expectations in terms of cost and quality, but design expectations as well. Many elements need to be considered, from how effective the shade system will be when it comes to sun protection, how functional it is in terms of set-up, tear down and use, but also how effectively the overall presentation impacts those who see it and how well it fits into the overall atmosphere of the home or facility it is to be used in,

After the initial design phase, taking the time to select the materials used, the color scheme, the style of the appearance and many other elements will provide you with opportunity after opportunity to get what you want, instead of what someone else wants to sell you. While there may be stock elements that work well within your given situation, having custom designs will not only give you a unique design suited specifically for your needs, but will also enable you to create the ambiance you desire.

You've spent time and money making sure your facilities presents the image you want your guests to see, from carpets and furniture to paint and lighting. Why not take that same level of professionalism and care to your relaxation areas with a high quality shade system, custom designed for your needs that works perfectly with the rest of your facility? Take your time, and do it right. A design philosophy held by professionals everywhere applies to this area of life as well.

]]> http://5loavesand2fishesfoodbank.org/science/education/get-a-nursing-degree-and-take-advantage-of-growing-need-for-healthcare-professionals.html http://5loavesand2fishesfoodbank.org/science/education/get-a-nursing-degree-and-take-advantage-of-growing-need-for-healthcare-professionals.html Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:43:51 +0300
The Number of Positions
Because the nursing degree is so focused and specialized, few graduates of nursing degree programs are left looking for a job for very long. Nurses are needed everywhere. Those who earn a nursing degree are immediately in demand in a variety of places. The most obvious position for a nurse is in a hospital. Large hospitals employ hundreds of nurses. Nurses are needed for all specialties, on all floors, and all around the clock. While doctors are necessary, it is nurses who really keep the hospital running. But a hospital is only one of the many places where a nursing degree is valued. Nurses are also needed in schools. Assisted living homes are constantly in need of additional medically trained staff. Some large corporations employ a nurse for the physical well-being of their employees. Clinics, emergency care centers, family doctors, and other locations offer positions for nurses. There is no shortage of jobs. As the baby boomer population ages and increasingly damaging viruses surface, nurses are in higher demand than ever.

The Stability of the Career
Unlike some industries, which experience a job bubble, sure to burst in a very short time, the health care industry is stable. As long as a nurse has a legitimate nursing degree and some competency in the profession, he or she is virtually guaranteed a stable job. Beyond the RN degree, nurses find specialization in vast array of medical fields. Nurses may become specialized in pediatric, oncology, neonatology, cardiac, geriatric, or some other area of specialty. With further specialization and advanced training comes greater stability.

The Joy of the Job
If you think you may get a nursing degree, ask any nursing professional about their job. Few will tell you that it is a cakewalk. It's not easy being a nurse. The emotional, physical, and schedule demands of the job put a great degree of pressure upon nurses. But nursing is a fulfilling occupation. Those who get a nursing degree are immediately involved in one of the most joyful jobs available—helping other people regain their health. Besides being a great paying job, being a nurse is also a great paying job in terms of job satisfaction.

Get a nursing degree. You won't regret it. With the proliferation of nursing position, the promise of a stable career, and the prospect of a joyful job, you can't go wrong.

]]> http://5loavesand2fishesfoodbank.org/health/beauty/5-ways-you-can-benefit-from-natural-personal-care-products.html http://5loavesand2fishesfoodbank.org/health/beauty/5-ways-you-can-benefit-from-natural-personal-care-products.html Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:45:33 +0300
Conventional Products
One of points often posed by the manufactures of chemically based products is that products labeled "natural" are not regulated to the same degree as other products. However, they do not mention that chemically based skincare products and make up are not strictly regulated or tested. Government regulations are surprisingly lenient regarding what ingredients are allowed to be used in the manufacture of products used for the hair and skin, and do not have to meet the same FDA regulations as food and medications. Shockingly, many of the products consumers use daily contain chemicals which are absorbed easily through the skin, yet difficult or impossible for the body to rid. Over time, many of the chemicals build up and spread throughout the body.

Common Chemicals to Avoid

• Mercury
• Nitrosamines
• Dioxane
• Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
• Isopropyl Alcohol (SD-40)
• DEA
• Cyclomethicone
• Polyethylene Glycol
• Polyethylene eth

Benefits of Natural Personal Care Products

• Our body absorbs everything we inhale, ingest or use on our skin. The ingredients used in chemically based products are difficult for the body to expel. Using organic products avoids the effects of harmful chemicals.
• Consumers tend to think of chemically based products as a first or superior choice because of marketing. However, thousands of dollars have been spent trying to duplicate what already occurs in nature. That cost is reflected in the cost of your purchase. By using natural personal care products, our skin can reap the benefits of the essential oils, salts, proteins, and vitamins that the synthetics were created to replace
• Natural personal care products use ingredients that have been time tested for hundreds, or thousands of years, with known results. Most traditional products are tested for a very short time, if at all, and pulled from the market once dangerous side effects are proven.
• Chemically based product can clog the skin and cause damage over time. Organic products contain ingredients which are compatible with the body's natural chemistry, helping the skin maintain a healthy and youthful look.
• Organic and naturally based products are not only less harmful to your body, by their nature they are less harmful to the environment as well. Most are also cruelty free and not tested on animals.

Consumers should take care in the product they select. Over 5,000 chemicals are commonly used in personal care products alone and most consumers are unaware of the dangers associated with a fraction of that number. Since the skin is the body' largest organ, many of those chemicals are quickly absorbed and in the bloodstream. Most of the chemicals used were created as a substitute for an ingredient that can be found in our environment, which in most cases is even more effective and beneficial to our body
]]> http://5loavesand2fishesfoodbank.org/society/religion/why-prayer-is-important.html http://5loavesand2fishesfoodbank.org/society/religion/why-prayer-is-important.html Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:59:03 +0300
Prayer is important because God invented it.
Prayer is not the random invention of a religious fanatic. It is not a fantasy, a crutch for the weak, or a pipe dream. Prayer is a rock-solid reality that God gave to us so we could talk to Him. Every book of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, records prayer. In an amazing act of grace, kindness, and love that God gave us this means for us to speak directly to Him. The fact that God invented prayer and asks us to pray is our confidence that prayer is important.

Prayer is important because the Bible commands it.
God's word is replete with commands to pray. Prayer forms a foundational element of the believer's life. Without prayer, the result will be confusion, anger, lack of peacefulness, and even sin. If anyone questions the importance of prayer, think about the importance that Jesus placed upon prayer. Repeatedly in the gospels, we read of Jesus going to a solitary place to pray, spending all night in prayer, and encouraging his disciples to pray. The final act that Jesus did before his trial and crucifixion was hold an all-night prayer vigil to His father. Jesus thought prayer was important, and the Bible is full of repeated commands for believers to pray, too (1 Corinthians 1:11; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2).

Prayer is important because you need it.
Let's be honest, though. God doesn't need your prayers as much as you need to pray. Prayer has the power to change you, regardless of what you ask for. Prayer cultivates dependency upon God. When you pray, you are asking God for His help. That really takes the focus off yourself, and places it entirely upon God. Prayer gives us a means to worship God, praise God, and thank God. Beyond that, prayer is your only means of talking with God. We have the Bible, which is God's word to us. Mankind has prayer, which is our words to God. Beyond those reasons, think about one of the main purposes for prayer - asking God to meet our daily needs. Prayer is the believer's lifeline.

Prayer is important because humanity requires it.
Prayer is not just a give-me time. We must pray for others, too. How easy it is to let a casual "I'll be praying for you", turn into nothing more than a sanctified way of saying, "it's ok." Others need our prayers. The homeless need our prayers for shelter. The starving need our prayers for food. The sick need our prayers for healing. The struggling need our prayers for peacefulness. Prayer can change the world. That's pretty important.

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