Monday, December 22, 2008

PASTA By Carlo Middione



July 2008

ISBN: 9781580089005

Cooking

www.tenspeed.com


Reviewed by Bob Walch



This inexpensive little cookbook is filled with recipes for preparing sauces that will make any meal or side dish of pasta a memorable, culinary experience.


After explaining how to make five basic sauces (Salsa de Pomodoro Stracotto, Salsa al Pomodoro, Pesto, Salsa Bolognese and Balsamella (white sauce), the author gets down to the nitty-gritty with 32 pasta recipes.


Whether it is Penne al Salmone (macaroni with smoked salmon), Fettuccine Alla Romana (ribbon pasta with cream, butter and cheese), Penne Alla Parimavera (penne with vegetables), or Fettuccine Ala Giovanni (fettuccine with smoked sausage), you and your guests will be delighted with the easy to prepare entrées that come from your kitchen.


Monday, September 22, 2008

The Food Nanny Rescues Dinner



Palmer/Pletsch Publishing
September 2008

www.thefoodnanny.com


As many families tackle longer work days, back to school activities and household chores, dinner can become a frantic rush to get something on the table. Quite often, meals involve take out options and unhealthy choices. THE FOOD NANNY RESCUES DINNER helps demonstrate how planning a weekly meal schedule can help ensure you are creating healthier home cooked meals and involving the whole family.

Liz Edmunds earns her living as a menu planning consultant. She's the mom of seven and uses her skills to help others manage their mealtimes. The recipes in the book sound great, but I do question if all of them will appeal to fussy eaters. For example, the recipe for macaroni and cheese uses cayenne and Tabasco sauce, two ingredients that guarantee my daughter will not touch them. Thankfully, I cook all the time and know how to substitute or omit ingredients. Those with less skill in the kitchen may find this harder to do.

The recipes are divided into days of the week. Using her meal schedule, you start off Monday with comfort foods and it is the one night of the week that dessert is offered. The rest of the week covers:

  • Tuesday Italian
  • Wednesday Fish/Meatless
  • Thursday Mexican
  • Friday Pizza
  • Saturday Grill Night
  • Sunday Family Traditions
You create one shopping list that will cover two weeks. This helps ensure you have everything you need and only visit grocery stores twice a month usually.

Obviously, you will need to make changes to suit your family. Not everyone enjoys Mexican, others may not enjoy fish. Either way, there are plenty of recipes included that switching days about is simple. I found this to be one of the best cookbooks around for those who are looking to prepare inexpensive, tasty meals at home. They may not always be low in fat, but again you have the power to change meals to fit your own dietary and personal requirements.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

The Ice Dream Cookbook



Planetary Press
ISBN: 9780964126725
October 2008

Around my house, Stevia has become one of my favorite sweeteners. Nutrasweet and Sucralose are problematic and enhanced my anxiety until one doctor realized that they might be causing my panic attacks and had me stop using anything with them in it. Lo and behold, it worked. I avoid using refined sugars, but Stevia, maple syrup, agave nectar and honey are used frequently in my household. It's for this reason that I was delighted to see that these sweetening agents are used in the recipes within THE ICE DREAM COOKBOOK.

The recipes in Rachel Albert-Matesz's latest cookbook are definitely going to thrill those with a sweet tooth. Recipes use coconut milk and fresh ingredients like vanilla, strawberries and pumpkin to create delicious ice cream recipes that eliminate dairy for those who are lactose intolerant or simply enjoy the taste of coconut milk, like me. Also within this book are a number of gluten-free recipes for cookies, brownies and more and some delicious toppings for your ice creams.

As a Vermonter, the comments on maple syrup hit home. It's typical here to have maple syrup on hand year round. If you can find it, grade B has the strongest flavor. However, grade B is also considered to be of lesser quality by many and only sold to locals. Most grocers stock grade A fancy. It's watery and the flavor, to me, isn't as pronounced. I suggest avoiding purchasing maple syrup in your stores and, instead, rely on the Web sites of New England maple producers to get a better price. Right now, a gallon of grade B priced locally is at $28 and fancy is $32, so you'll quickly see just how much mark-up the stores use.

Another topic that came to mind involves a bakery in Montpelier, Vermont. The owner of this bakery, Butterfly Bakery, makes an exquisite chocolate sauce from organic cocoa, agave nectar and cashew butter. If you are looking for a store-bought chocolate sauce for your sweet tooth, I highly recommend ordering from them. www.butterflybakeryvt.com/Products.html

Monday, July 07, 2008

Easy Entertaining For Beginners Cookbook Review





Reviewed by Tracy Farnsworth




Patricia Mendez's EASY ENTERTAINING FOR BEGINNERS has to be one of the better party planning guides I've come across. The book is warm and friendly in tone; no one will become bored while reading it. Issues like budgeting, planning, scheduling and avoiding complications/problems are all covered.




Within the guide are a number of step-by-step menus and planning guides for various occasions. These menus cover:






  • Children's birthdays


  • Christmas gathering


  • Cocktail parties


  • Dinner parties


  • Family get togethers


  • Fourth of July


  • Parties suitable to men (think Superbowl)


  • Romantic dinners


  • Tea parties


  • Thanksgiving


Recipes are clearly laid out so that anyone should be able to tackle them. The sections each have a list of step-by-step instructions that cover everything from shopping to cleaning and cooking to serving. By becoming organized, you'll be able to avoid any stress and spend time mingling with your friends!



If you've ever wanted to throw a bash that others talk about for years down the road, you must purchase a copy of EASY ENTERTAINING FOR BEGINNERS!

Monday, June 09, 2008

A Fork In The Trail by Laurie Ann March



Wilderness Press

ISBN: 0899974317

January 2008

Cooking

www.wildernesspress.com

Reviewed by Bob Walch



One way to deal with the skyrocketing cost of gas this summer is to take a camping-hiking vacation. If you are planning an outdoor adventure A FORK IN THE TRAIL is certainly a worthwhile read.

Filled with over 200 easy to prepare recipes for meals and treats that will make any outing a memorable one, this book's focus is on showing you how to eat well while enjoying the great outdoors.

While some of the recipes are cooked and dehydrated before the trip, others can be prepared in just a few minutes on site. For example, you can make Lemon Wasabi Hummus in your kitchen at home and then just add boiling water when you are ready to enjoy it while camping.

Besides a wide range of recipes inspired by foods from all over the world, the author also shares tips on menu planning, dehydrating and re-hydrating, packing food, and back country baking.

Laurie March insists that there's no reason why you and your family or friends can't eat well while on the trail. Each of her recipes is broken down into what you need to do "At Home" and "At Camp." Whether it’s the Garbanzo Bean, Tomato, and Thai Chili Salad, the Roasted Eggplant Spread, Pseudo Perogies or Black Forest Brownies, you'll discover there's more to camp fare than trail mix!



Real Barbecue by Vince Staten and Greg Johnson



Globe Pequot Press

ISBN: 9780762744428

2007

Cookbook/Grilling

www.globepequot.com

Reviewed by Bob Walch


Part travel guide, part recipe book, REAL BARBECUE offers information on where to find some of the best classic barbecue joints across country along with a smattering of mouth watering recipes.

The authors recently updated 100 barbecue joints list is augmented by sidebars about sauces and sides, information about how to create a cook pit, and bits and pieces of fascinating pork lore. Besides sections that focus on Texas ribs, cowboy-que, Low Country pulled pig, and California-que-zeen, you'll discover how to select the right meat for your own backyard barbecue and learn the secret of concocting the perfect sauce to slather on your pork, beef or chicken.

Some of the recipes worth considering for your next outdoor gathering include Barbecue Coleslaw, Aunt Esther's Sweet Potato Pie, Cheesy Corn Bread and The Rib Joint Roadhouse's Black Beans and Rice side.

For those traveling across the country by car this summer, check out the authors' list of Barbecue Festivals or stop at one of the "joints" reviewed in the book. Some tasty, authentic barbecue may assuage the price of gasoline!



Monday, May 05, 2008

Weber Charcoal Grilling by Jamie Purviance



Released February 2007
www.sunsetbooks.com

For many barbecue fans, spring is in the air. Home cooks are getting out of their kitchens and returning to decks and patios. If you are a skilled grillmeister, WEBER CHARCOAL GRILLING contains super recipes for appetizers, entrees, side dishes and desserts. If you are new to grilling, you'll find the handy tips make WEBER CHARCOAL GRILLING well worth the purchase price. Jamie Purviance's book bypasses propane grills and gets down to what I feel is the best barbecue method - charcoal.

I admit to owning two grills. We have a propane gas grill that is used when we are in a hurry. For most of our grilling, we prefer the charcoal smoker I purchased for Mother's Day last year.



The barbecue chicken we've created on the Charbroil Smoker grill is outstanding. Simply the best we've ever had. My kids love it, and I find myself craving it night after night. In fact, we could eat the chicken every night and never get tired of it.

WEBER CHARCOAL GRILLING contains more than 100 recipes. The book starts with a section on rubs, sauces and marinades and progresses into appetizers--the Beer Steamed Clams are fantastic. Other sections in the book include:
  • Red Meat: Black Pepper New York Strip Steaks and the Family Fajita Bar are well worth trying.
  • Pork: Baby Back Ribs and Pork and Mango Kabobs are both excellent.
  • Poultry: Tequila Citrus Chicken Thighs and Garlic and Oregano Beer Can Chicken are favorites.
  • Fish: Try the Fennel Spiced Salmon and Veracruz Scallops
  • Sides: Highlights are the Bacon, Lettuce and Grilled Tomato Salad and Fennel, Pepper and Mozzarella Salad
  • Desserts: Grilled Butter Rum Pineapple and Grilled Apricots and Pound Cake are exceptional.

The book adds tips on getting a decent bed of charcoals started, cooking times/temperatures for all cuts of meat and a section of blank recipes cards for you to create your own masterpieces.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Cooking by James Peterson



Ten Speed Press
ISBM: 9781580087896
2007
Cooking
www.tenspeed.com

Reviewed by Bob Walch

Although COOKING is somewhat pricey this cookbook returns exceptional value. When you factor in the 600 recipes and 1,500 photos in this 534 page cookbook, the cost isn't that big a deal. In fact, given what you get, some folks would call this a bargain!

Here's a sampling of what you'll find in COOKING: 28 recipes for shell fish and 24 for regular fish, 55 ways to prepare various veggies, 32 salads, 40 broths and soups, and over 80 special dessert and cookie recipes.

The only problem I have with this book is its size. Although it fit comfortably on the coffee table in my living room, it takes up too much space on the kitchen counter.

The easiest way of overcoming this problem is to make a working outline of the recipe ingredients and preparation instructions on a sheet of paper and then take that into the work area. This is an added step, but it does force you to familiarize yourself with the recipe before actually trying it.

Favorite recipes: Thai Cucumber Salad, Lamb Stew with Indian Spices, Red Wine Pot Roast, Cream and Yogurt, Mushroom and Sausage Gratin, and Crisp Puff Pastry Apple Tart.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Route 66 Cookbook by Marion Clark



Released in 1995

The ROUTE 66 COOKBOOK offers a look back at the diners and restaurants that lined the famed Route 66. Not only does the book offer a serious history of the towns and restaurants scattered along the route, but some of the restaurant owners have been kind enough to share recipes.

This is one of my most cherished cookbooks. The recipes within are definitely comfort foods. I've found some of the best recipes within the book from the incredible spaghetti sauce recipe that blends condensed tomato soup, canned tomatoes, ground beef and chili powder to recipes for chicken fried steak. I've tested a number of these recipes and all of them have been fantastic.

Scans of menus from yesteryear are included. Imagine paying less than $5 for a gourmet dinner that includes your appetizer! Hearty breakfasts that include eggs, meat options, buttermilk biscuits, sausage gravy and grits sold for under $3. If only time machines were in existence!

Monday, February 11, 2008

Seventeen Magazine

My daughter is not yet a teenager, but she's starting to reach that point where clothing yens are more teen than child, body sprays are growing in popularity and lip glosses are criticial to her daily routine. When her brother had to sell magazines for a class fundraiser, she spent some of her own money to get a subscription to SEVENTEEN.



I remember reading SEVENTEEN when I was a teenager. A lot has changed. First, the magazine gives away more goodies than I would ever imagine. In fact, a shopping excursion this weekend that was meant to be my assignment for a national magazine turned into a deal packed adventure!

Two issues of SEVENTEEN have come through my house now. With the February issue, the magazine had a coupon stating that if you brought the coupon and cover of that issue into any JC Penney store, you would receive a free pair of Flirtacious undies if you used the couppon between Jan and February. Sure enough, with coupon in hand, my daughter found a color she loved, brought her coupon and magazine cover to the service counter and received the underwear for free. Priced at $7.50 per pair, she had already earned back half of what she paid for the magazine.

Next stop was with the March issue which promised a free PacSun Nollie T-shirt if the coupon was used between February 5th and the end of March. We walked in and there was a table covered in different colors all priced at $14.50. She found the t-shirt of her dreams and again the coupon worked wonderfully and she received her t-shirt for free. With just these two items, the cost of her magazine has been completely covered.

She's psyched and I'm impressed. With 10 more issues to go, I can't wait to see what freebies are offered next!

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Harlequin Book Challenge

Last year Harlequin readers read an astounding 24,440 books for the 10,000 Book Challenge. This year Harlequin is hoping to donate up to 100,000 books, with an estimated retail value of $700,000U.S., to fight illiteracy amongst the nation's most disadvantaged children and parents.

Harlequin is asking participants to make half their titles Harlequin and half their titles any publisher and genre. Any and all formats—print, eBooks, audiobooks, etc.—are acceptable. Challenge participants are also invited to share their progress, opinions, and reviews on the eHarlequin site, or even their own blogs.


We encourage you and your readers to participate in the challenge and help eHarlequin.com meet its goals and fight illiteracy. The 2008 Harlequin 100,000 Book Challenge is taking place right now and continues through 2008.

Join the Book Challenge! http://community.eharlequin.com/book-challenge

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Good for you?

Jumping away from the subject of books for a little, I recently received a product sample from Fiber One (the cereal.) I won't be eating it and have to say I'm a little upset with their "new and improved" product. The changes they've made are pointless. If you use their product and are not the type to read ingredient lists - BE WARNED.

Fiber One is supposed to be full of fiber. We all know that fiber is great for the body, but how about all the preservatives they are now adding? Here's the ingredient list.

*Whole Grain Wheat
*Corn Bran
*Cornstarch
*Calcium Carbonate
*Guar Gum
*Food coloring
*Cellulose Gum
*Salt
*Baking Soda
*Corn Oil
*Aspartame
*Zinc
*Iron
*Vitamin C
*Niacin
*Vitamin B6
*Vitamin B2
*Vitamin B1
*Folic Acid
*Vitamin B12
*Vitamin E (for preservative quality)

I've dealt with anxiety for years and I've discovered that artificial sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose, saccharin) worsen it. I avoid these sweeteners like the plague, so I was disheartened to learn they are adding the artificial sweetener to teh cereal. I also don't understand the addition of food coloring, it really isn't necessary.

The vitamins are okay, but if you already take a vitamin supplement, you wind up taking too much iron - a 1/2 cup serving offers 25% of your daily requirement. So if you are adding iron supplements on top of it, you could end up doing more harm than good.

Shame on Fiber One for changing their formula! I won't be eating this sample and will no longer be buying it in the store either.

Saturday, February 02, 2008

GIL Publications Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GIL Publications celebrates its Fifth Anniversary with new publishing service,
website and newsletter for Christian Authors.

Contact:
Akili Kumasi, GIL Publications
www.PublishChristianBooks.com
(718) 386-6434
Publish@GILpublications.com

In celebration of five years in Christian Publishing, GIL Publications is launching
a new author publishing service, website and newsletter for aspiring Christian
authors.

January 28, 2008 - NEW YORK CITY - GIL Publications is announcing the launch of
their new author publishing service, website and newsletter for Christian authors
PublishChristianBooks.com will begin operation on February 1, 2008. This low-cost
service will make it easy for Christian authors to publish their books.

GIL Publications' new Christian Author Publishing Service is uniquely distinct from
others publishers in the industry as it was designed by a Christian author for
other Christian authors. Their motto: "Give us your manuscript - and we will give
you fifty books." GIL Publications actually supplies authors with 50 books. This
is in addition to the manuscript preparation service, ISBN, copyright, library
catalog number, book layout, cover design and marketing services.

The goal of this GIL Publications website is to "help authors write, publish and
sell their Christian books." PublishChristianBooks.com will feature helpful
articles, pricing information, books for aspiring Christian authors and a
newsletter to be archived on the site. Well-known personalities in the publishing
industry are being scheduled to contribute articles for the site.

The newsletter, PublishChrist will feature reviews of helpful websites for authors,
book reviews, articles and other industry helpful information.

GIL Publications is the creator and publisher of the popular Bible Word Search book
series that features word search puzzles made from accompanying scriptures.

For more information about GIL Publications or PublishChristianBooks.com send an e-
mail to Publish@GILpublications.com or call (718) 386-6434.

# # #

Monday, January 28, 2008

Test Drive Your Dream Job

Unleashing Your Entrepreneurial Spirit

By Brian Kurth, author of Test-Drive Your Dream Job




The realization you’re in the wrong career does not hit like a lightening bolt. Rather, it festers within you for a long time, slowly worming its way into your consciousness, until one day you realize you’ve known it all along. For years, I sat in a ninety-minute-each-way commute in Chicago rush hour traffic to/from my telecom job in product management. I dreaded every Monday. It never occurred to me I could start over. It never occurred to me I might be an entrepreneur at heart, and I could create my own destiny. However, after the dot-com bubble burst left me on my own, the thought of another position in my field was finally too much to bear. I left my career and my horrible commute behind, and embarked on a new journey filled with questions, uncertainty…and elation.



It’s romantic to think the heavens will offer up a sign letting you know when the time is right to unleash your entrepreneurial spirit and start your dream business. Unfortunately, reality often doesn’t work that way. Launching a business is risky, and those risks can easily overwhelm your senses and weaken your confidence. The fear of failure pervades your psyche, and when the safety and security of your family is on the line, happiness seems like a selfish luxury you can’t afford to indulge.



Many people live their entire lives this way. For others, their work frustration grows a little every day until they realize their need for happiness is suddenly greater than the fear that comes with making that change. Once fear can be overcome – or at least overwhelmed – that’s when great things can happen.



However, merely conquering your fears is not nearly enough to ensure success in starting your own business. You might have all the desire and motivation in the world, but there are still many steps that need to be taken, and many questions that need to be answered. So once the desire outweighs the fear…then what?



1. Start Researching – Starting a new business demands acquiring a vast amount of information that literally no one can figure out entirely on his or her own. Luckily, our modern world is packed with resources and assistance for dedicated and passionate entrepreneurs. If you’re willing to take the time, you’ll find the facts you need.

· The Internet – As recently as ten years ago, compiling information on a given topic would mean an exhaustive process of scouring books in a library and talking to strangers on the phone. Luckily for entrepreneurs, the Internet has blown it all wide open. It is the entrepreneur’s best friend.



The business you are considering might be new to you, but it’s important to realize that it’s not for others. Get on the Internet and find everything you possibly can on your newly chosen field. Read it all, take notes, and write down questions that arise. Any piece of information you can get is one tiny step closer to being ready for your big change. But don’t get stuck in online analysis paralysis. At some point, it’s time to take the next step toward becoming an entrepreneur.



· A Mentor – There are people who work in your dream business who are willing to help you on your journey. You may need to find them in another city and may even have to sign off on a non-compete clause to get their advice, but they’re there for you. Find several people who work in your newly chosen field, and initiate discussions with them. Tell them you admire what they do, and ask if you could learn from them as you look to make a career change. When someone agrees to be a mentor, schedule a visit to their workplace where you can observe the process in action, take copious notes on all you see and hear, and ask a ton of questions. When starting a new business, there are absolutely no better lessons than those taught from someone within the field. They’ll tell you everything you want to know, plus much more you need to know.



2. Raise Money – One of the reasons why people so often fail to leave unpleasant work situations is the money; they simply earn too much in the job they hate, and fear a dream business of their own wouldn’t provide the same level of security. This is a legitimate fear, but there are things that can be done to mitigate the risk until the income matches the level of happiness and desired lifestyle.

· Save Up – Change doesn’t have to happen all at once. Merely planning for the switch can improve the situation in the short term. Put money aside out of every paycheck so you’ll have a nest egg for when you finally decide to take the plunge.

· Find Outside Funding – No matter how much money you’re able to save, it might not be enough to get a business off the ground. Luckily, there are other avenues for raising the needed capital. Look into finding government grants, private investors, or even bank loans to help you get started.

· Set Some Limits – No matter how strongly you believe in your new business and your ability to make it work, you don’t want to throw all your eggs into that basket. Be careful about putting up your personal assets as collateral. Keep some of your assets – be it your home, your pension, your 401K, etc. – off the table. Don’t invest your entire net worth into your business. In the event that something goes wrong, it will be a HUGE comfort to know some of your assets are protected.



3. Get to Work – Once the research is done and the money is raised, it’s time to get to work. New businesses take an extraordinary amount of time and effort if they’re going to make it. Don’t be afraid of the hours, and don’t shy away from the commitment. Remember: eighty hours in a job you love is still FAR more rewarding than forty in one you hate.

There will, of course, be obstacles along the way, but with enough passion, dedication and foresight, anything can be overcome. Keep reminding yourself you deserve to be happy, and your dream business is ultimately worth the time and effort it takes to get there. And once you do, you’ll never dread a Monday again….and as I like to say, everyday is a Friday!



Brian Kurth is the founder of VocationVacations and the author of “Test-Drive Your Dream Job” Kurth is a sought after expert on how to pursue and attain one’s dream job. He has shared his wit and wisdom in appearances on NBC’s TODAY Show, CNN, and FOX News, and has been featured in articles in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and Fortune Magazine. Many more regularly turn to Brian for his comments, advice and insights. A native of Madison, Wisconsin, Kurth lives in Portland, Oregon.



For more information on VocationVacations, visit www.vocationvacations.com
MAKING SENSE OF YOUR BODY’S SIGNS
by
Joan Liebmann-Smith, Ph.D. and Jacqueline Nardi Egan

Authors of Body Signs



Have you ever noticed things about your body that are annoying, weird, smelly, or downright embarrassing? If so, you’re not alone. We all experience the often unsightly and sometimes unseemly signs and signals our bodies send us about our state of health. Ugly growths may pop up on our eyelids, or skin tags under our breasts. Our nails may be yellow or our partners may complain that we smell like ammonia.

Fortunately, many of these "body signs" are harmless and can be ignored or treated cosmetically. But sometimes what may seem like a cosmetic concern is more than meets the eye. The ugly growths on your eyelids may be xantelasmas, tiny deposits of cholesterol forewarning you that you may have high cholesterol and be at risk for heart disease. Unsightly skin tags – a common sign of aging – may signal diabetes. Yellowed nails may be nicotine stains, but they can also be warning signs of a lung or liver disorder. And while the ammonia-like odor you give off may mean you should hire a cleaning service, it can also mean that you’re eating too much protein, or you have Helicobacter pyelori bacteria, the bug that causes stomach ulcers.

Body signs can be seen, heard, tasted, felt, or smelled by you or others. Before modern diagnostic techniques, doctors had to rely on what their own and their patient’s five senses revealed to them. They listened to patients’ hearts, felt their pulses, looked at their tongues, eye-balled their eyes, inspected their hair, skin, and nails, smelled their smells, studied their stools, and sniffed or sometimes even tasted their urine. Doctors today, even though they may use sophisticated diagnostic equipment at their disposal, still apply these sensible techniques − with the possible exception of tasting urine.

You, too, can learn to use your senses to detect warning signs of serious conditions and get medical help before they become full-blown diseases. You can:

  • Look at your hair, eyes, tongue, skin and nails.

  • Listen to your voice and stomach sounds

  • Smell your body wastes

  • Taste your mouth and saliva

  • Touch your hair, skin, nails

Going from head to toe, here are some warning signs you may detect using your five senses. And keep in mind that any change in any of your senses can itself be a warning sign that something is out of kilter.

YOUR HAIR

When your hair feels more dry and brittle than usual, you may be over-processing it. Or, dry hair may signal an under-active thyroid or nutritional deficiency.
If your hair looks like it’s thinning, and you’re a woman, you may have female-pattern baldness, which often runs in families. But it can also be a sign of an over-active thyroid or an early warning sign of diabetes.

YOUR EARS

Hearing the sound of your heart beating inside your ears is actually normal, especially when lying down. But if you hear your heart beat or a throbbing sound in only one ear, it may be a warning sign of a heart murmur, high blood pressure, or other vascular disorders.
When normal noises sound louder than usual, it may be a drug side effect or a sign that you’ve been drinking too many diet sodas that contain aspartame. Super sensitivity to sound may also be telling you that you have a magnesium deficiency, or an autoimmune or other serious disease.
YOUR EYES

Seeing floaters, those spots or flecks that appear floating across your field of vision, is pretty common. But if you notice a sudden increase of floaters, you may have a retinal tear or even detachment (especially if you see flashing lights with the floaters), which requires immediate medical attention.

Eyes that feel dry all the time, may be caused by low humidity, or be a drug side effect. Chronic dry eyes can also be a warning sign of some autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, hyperthyroidism, and lupus.

YOUR NOSE

While a nose that frequently looks red can be a tell-tale sign of excessive drinking, it can also be a red flag for the skin condition, rosacea. Interestingly, alcohol can trigger or worsen this condition.

If your sense of smell is not as keen as it used to be, it may be due to an injury to your nose, a normal sign of aging, or a sign of any number of disorders including zinc deficiency, nasal polyps, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and multiple sclerosis. It can also be very early warning sign of Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.

YOUR MOUTH

A terrible taste in your mouth that won’t wash away with mouthwash can be a side effect of such medications as antibiotics, antidepressants, antihypertensives, as well as some vitamins supplements. It can also be a sign of gum disease, a viral infection, gastrointestinal disorder, Bell’s palsy, or burning mouth syndrome, a rare condition that primarily affects menopausal women.

A healthy tongue is covered with tiny bumps called papillae. If you tongue looks or feels very smooth and glassy, it may be telling you that you’re deficient in certain nutrients such as folic acid, vitamin B12, or iron. A smooth, red tongue may signal pernicious anemia or malabsorption syndrome, a condition in which the body cannot adequately absorb nutrients.

YOUR TORSO

Hearing your stomach rumbling a lot may merely be the result of excess gas from a high-fiber diet or a diet containing too many carbohydrates, carbonated drinks, or artificial sweeteners. But excess gas may also signal lactose intolerance, food or drug allergies, or any number of gastrointestinal disorders.

If your arms or legs frequently feel numb and tingly, it may be the result of a pinched nerve, or an important warning sign of several serious conditions such as adrenal disorder, a circulatory problem (peripheral arterial disease), or a nerve disorder (peripheral neuropathy).

YOUR BODY WASTES

Whatever you eat can affect the odor (and color) of your urine. But urine that often smells sweet can be an important warning sign of undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes.

What you eat can also affect the color (and sometimes the odor) of your stools. If your stools look very pale, it may be from eating a lot of rice, potatoes, and other white-colored foods. Medicine containing calcium can also cause pale stools. But persistently pale stools can signal a blockage of the bile ducts, which can be caused by tumors or liver diseases including hepatitis, cirrhosis, or liver cancer.

YOUR SKIN & NAILS

If you feel a single, rough, or scaly patch of skin somewhere on your body –especially on your arm, leg, chest or other sun-exposed area – it may just be a scar. But you may have a pre-cancerous condition called solar (or actinic) keratosis.

If you see dark horizontal streaks that look like (but aren’t) splinters under your finger or toenails, they may be splinter hemorrhages, a sign of trichinosis, a parasitic disease caused by eating undercooked pork or wild game. They can also be warning signs of psoriasis, peptic ulcers, kidney disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, blood-clotting diseases, and endocarditis, an infection of the heart.

You can see that checking your body periodically from head to toe can sometimes uncover important and often-missed warning signs of serious diseases. Keeping track of your body signs can be an important preventive health measure. It will also help you to actively participate in your health care and the diagnostic process as a partner with your doctor. And don’t forget to check out those near and dear to you; you may be able to pick up things that they themselves are unaware of.

If you do notice a disturbing body sign on either you or your loved ones – no matter how trivial or embarrassing – mention it to a doctor. Discussing annoying, bizarre, or embarrassing signs with a doctor will make it much easier to get a quick, accurate diagnosis when something is wrong, enabling you to get prompt treatment. It can also help you rule out serious conditions when all is well. Indeed, many of the body signs that may concern you will turn out to be perfectly normal and benign, or of no particular consequences, thus saving you further medical expense, time, and anxiety.

AuthorJoan Liebmann-Smith, Ph.D., is a medical sociologist and award-winning medical writer. Her articles have appeared in American Health, Ms., Newsweek, Redbook, Self, and Vogue, and she has appeared on numerous television talk shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Today Show. She has a daughter, Rebecca, a cat, Fazelnut, and lives with her husband, Richard -- also a writer -- in New York City.

Jacqueline Nardi Egan is a medical journalist who specializes in developing and writing educational programs with and for physicians, allied health professionals, patients, and consumers. She is also a former medical editor of Family Health magazine. She has a daughter, Elizabeth, two dogs, Coco and Abby, and divides her time between Darien, Connecticut, and Sag Harbor, New York.

Visit our website at www.bantamdell.com.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Break Time Is Over

Sorry for the delay in posts. Around the holiday's life gets hectic, and then my daughter's basketball season kicked into high gear. Their record is currently 5-2 - so GO GEORGIA!

One thing I've learned is that refs come in two categories - great or horrible. Last night's game was a prime example. The girl's played in a neighboring (kind of) county - Grand Isle County - and because the interest in basketball is non-existent there, the middle school 5th grade team is mostly 6th graders who have a year's extra experience. The girls have faced this before and were expecting a challenge. What they were not expecting was two refs who clearly favored South Hero.

There were two girls on the SH team who would double up, #13 and #14. I will say that they were excellent players. However, the way their plays worked was that #14 would get hold of the ball and whoever was in charge of defending #14 would get her jersey grabbed by #13, spun around and planted to the ground. ONLY ONCE did either ref call a foul. I'll admit it was a subtle grab, but those parents on the benches say it. When the Georgia girls smartened up to this, they started to work extra hard to keep #13 blocked. The result was one of the Georgia girls getting a punch to the face that was "accidental" supposedly, though I didn't miss the smirk when she turned away from the refs. A minor foul was called and possession changed, but no foul shot occurred.

I realize that any sport is competitive, but at this level things should not be slipping by so easily. The girls were okay with the loss, but the bruises left behind are another issue. I know my daughter's limping around a bit today from being pushed to the concrete floor (some schools do not have wooden floors in their gym. Hopefully she'll be okay in a couple days for their next game.