Can baking soda and baking powder get old?

Baking soda and baking powder have a shelf life of six months to a year. Periodically check to make sure both powders still have their zest. To test baking soda, put 1/4 teaspoon of the soda into 2 teaspoons of vinegar. The vinegar should bubble vigorously.

To check the freshness of baking powder, add a teaspoon of the powder to 1/3 cup of hot water; it should also bubble vigorously.

Sneezing From Your Car Air-Conditioner?

Summer is here, and that means turning up the cool in your car. But does your car air-conditioner make you sneeze? If yes, you are not alone; many people report this condition. The problem likely stems from fungi that produce airborne mold spores that grow deep within the air-conditioning system.

What can you do? Have your car treated with an Environmental Protection Agency-registered disinfectant. You can purchase such a disinfectant at most car dealers and air-conditioner shops, as well as at some service stations. In the meantime, turn the vents away from your face. Additionally, keep the car windows open for about ten minutes after you turn on the air-conditioner. Also, use the “fresh air” setting instead of recirculated air.

CALCIUM UPDATE

Calcium and Osteoporosis
Is calcium supplementation your best hedge against osteoporosis? “Some health experts worry that women will make calcium supplementation their primary hedge against osteoporosis,” warns the Harvard Women’s Health Watch. The writers are concerned that women will “neglect other important ways of maintaining and improving bone health — such as getting exercise and taking adequate Vitamin D. Calcium alone, no matter what the amount, cannot prevent osteoporosis.”

Osteoporosis is caused by many factors, not just insufficient calcium. Risk factors include genes, gender, race, estrogen status, weight, lifestyle, Vitamin D level, and the amount of one’s physical activity.

Calcium Supplementation: Not for Everyone
Here are some warnings and suggestions from Harvard Women’s Health Watch.

1. Calcium supplements can interfere with the effectiveness of a variety of tetracycline antibiotics and quinolones (e.g., Cipro, Floxin, Maxaquin, Nororxin, Pedetrex). You should avoid consuming calcium (in foods or in supplements) within twenty-four hours of taking these drugs.

2. Calcium, iron, and zinc, when taken as supplements, can compete with one another for absorption. It is best to take these separately, several hours apart.

3. Calcium, especially in antacids, may interfere with certain calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers. Check with your doctor about how to take your calcium if you are taking these drugs. Calcium also can interfere with the thyroid medication thyroxine.

4. The body has a hard time absorbing more than 500mg of calcium at a time. Try to spread your calcium intake — from both food and supplements — over the course of the day.

BOOK REVIEW

Wimpy Parents, From Toddler to Teen — How NOT to Raise a Brat, by Kenneth N. Condrell

As one can surmise from the title, Wimpy Parents is written with a wonderful sense of humor, but the advice is anything but humorous. The author offers clear advice, and it works.

Today we live in a world where we are bombarded with psychology. We’ve been trained to analyze our children’s actions, often making absurd rationalizations for spoiled behavior. (An example: “Chana is a middle child; that is why I give in to her tantrums in the store when she wants two ice cream cones.”) Dr. Kenneth N. Condrell teaches wimpy parents how to stop making excuses for bad behavior. He explains that parents must set boundaries for their kids’ behavior. He offers practical suggestions for instilling timeless values: respect for elders, good manners, and consideration for others. The book encourages good old-fashioned parenting, which includes punishment for bad behavior, not giving into tantrums, and rewarding good behavior.

The book chapters include: How to tell if you are a wimpy parent; How to set limits; Creating a wimp-free environment; Taking charge of bedtime; and Children who manipulate, whine, and lie.

The book is inspiring for parents who are feeling pushed around by their children and are at a loss for a solution. Wimpy Parents teaches parents that children who understand the rules of life will be better, happier boys and girls who will become more successful adults.

The book is available in your local bookstore or on the Internet.

Brain Longevity

As one ages, the brain’s neurons — which release substances that carry messages from one cell to another — begin to slow down or die. Over time, neurons do not function as efficiently as they once did. While some deterioration is inevitable, much of this loss is preventable, and it may even be reversible. Specialists in the field of brain health are recommending a low-fat diet, regular exercise, daily mental stimulation, and stress elimination to help slow or stop neuron deterioration.

Happily, current studies show that no matter how old we are, our brains never lose the ability to create new connections between cells. These new circuits recharge thinking and memory to compensate for aging. Mental effort actually stimulates brain cells to send out microscopic filaments — dendrites — to establish new connections with one another. Hard thinking also promotes the growth of glial cells, which support the metabolism of the cells that do the thinking.

It is very important that the mind remain active, challenged, and alert. Suggestions to keep brain cells rejuvenating include solving crossword puzzles, playing chess, reading, attending lectures, and learning a new skill.

Summer Fun: Ices

Kids (and, for that matter, adults) like ices in the summer. These days there are many fruit ices that are healthier than the ices of years ago, which were made of water, sugar, and food coloring. You can still buy these, but children really enjoy homemade summer iced treats more.

Thrown into a blender, strawberries, blueberries, and bananas, with a little rice or soymilk, make a healthy ice treat.

You can freeze this fruit mash in ice cube trays or put it into a chocolate mold. The latter comes in fun shapes, such as hearts, boys, girls, flowers, and coins. So relish the delicious summer fruits in a new way.