Combating Sinusitis

I had a sinus infection this summer. Every day I’d wake up to this pounding headache! We did have terrible rainy weather for a few months. I’m not sure if that contributed to it, but nothing seemed to help. Antibiotics were not touching it-I don’t like to take them, anyway so I began to look around for a better way.

The nasal douching (with the neti-pot) was not too effective. Hot towels with vapo-rub on them seemed to help the most-night and day, day and night. On my neck, on the area above my eyes, I’d put the hot compresses on until the pounding would stop…

I also took thyroid vitamin boosters from the health food store, to help it along. It took 10 days though! Still, to wake up without the pounding behind the eyeballs was a huge relief. So what causes this chronic condition?

Sinusitis is defined as the inflammation of the sinuses. Your sinuses are located in different areas around your eyes and nose.

Our sinuses are located above the eyes, on either side of the nose, inside the cheekbones, and behind the bridge of the nose and in the upper nose.

 

What are sinuses? They are air-filled pockets in the skull connected to the nose and throat by passages designed for the sole purpose of draining away mucus. The sinuses are always the first line of defense in protecting your lungs.

 

Each individual is different, so one or another of these pockets can clog up and create problems.  Sinus passageways are small, so when the volume of mucus increases, they can easily clog. The pressure increases in the sinus region and causes pain.  Infection occurs when a sinus region is continually clogged over a long period of time.

 

Now as we head into fall, this is the time of year I begin to feel the sinus pressure again. . Now I know there are two seasons that stand out and why they are worse for my sinus condition than any other time of year.

 

The fall weather brings weeds. Ragweed, to be specific, along with different types of trees and grasses producing…

 

This is the time of year I will begin to feel the sinus pressure. Now I know there are two seasons that stand out and why they are worse for my sinus condition than any other time of year.

 

The fall brings weeds. Ragweed, to be specific, is the culprit along with different types of trees and grasses. So in the late summer to early fall season, I become susceptible to sinusitis... Ragweed is found, unfortunately, in virtually every region of the country, with 17 different species of the weed.

 

Then again in the spring, we have trees producing pollen. That is the primary cause of allergies and sinus infections at that time of year, with some southern states growing trees that produce pollen as early as January.

 

According to the LoCicero Medical group, the pollen season usually begins in April in the Northern states. The types of trees producing pollen include oak, Evergreen, Cedar, juniper, Cypress, elm, birch, olive, sycamore and poplar.

 

Acute sinusitis can be caused by bacterial or viral infections of the nose, throat, or upper respiratory tract.  Air travel sometimes leads to sinus problems relating to the changes in air pressure. Chronic sinus problems can be associated with a number of things. Small growths in the nasal region, an injury to the nose, air pollution, stress, smoking and dental complications can all lead to sinus problems. Hay fever and food allergies can also create sinus problems. The build up of mucus in the passage can easily occur from food allergies and/or changes in the weather that cause allergic reactions.

 

Sinus symptoms can cause low grade fever, coughs, headaches, earaches, toothaches, facial pain and cranial pressure, loss of the sense of smell, and tenderness over the forehead and cheekbones.

 

The following is a list of some of the most effective remedies in dealing with a chronic sinus condition.

 

The Neti pot: Recommended for daily use, the neti pot is effective at times as a way to keep the nasal passages clear. If you are not a fan of the feeling that occurs when you get a nose full of salt water in the ocean, then you will not be able to keep this regimen up on a daily basis.

 

Hot/cold compresses: To use only in the event of a sinus episode. I used this method as stated above, and had very good results. In conjunction, you should also take garlic, vitamins and/or probiotics in order to build up your immune system.

 

Acidophilus: Because of my severe food allergies, I take this on a daily basis. There are a number of good brands; you may want to check with your doctor or nutritionist to decide which is right for you.

 

Quercetin/Bromelain: So many respected alternative medicine practitioners and nutritionists recommend this combination; it is something that is well documented in the alternative health community.

 

Sinucheck from Enzyme Therapy: A brand to check out from Enzyme Therapy, one of the best companies to buy alternative meds from.

 

Colloidal Silver: Although not recommended on a daily basis, this is another well documented method of preventing infections, and does provide some measure of relief.

 

Garlic: An alternative to antibiotics, you may try the tablets, although I believe fresh Garlic is best. It may be hard to take at first, so I would suggest easing into the dosage, but I buy refrigerated garlic and find it easy to digest with soy yogurt. You may want to crush the fresh garlic up and take it with yogurt. It’s just like swallowing a pill, you do it quickly!

 

Menthol/Eucalyptus pack over the sinuses: The Eucalyptus and Peppermint herbs will always give you relief from headaches and sinus pressure.

 

Steam: It’s not hard to boil water and just put a towel over your head to get instant relief. You may put peppermint and/or eucalyptus oil in the water also.

 

Lemon juice & water in the AM: To thin mucus secretions… This is something that should be a regular part of your health routine.

 

Juicing helps: Another way to add a healthy habit to your daily routine. Juicing is always recommended to help ward off or lessen infections.

 

Fresh grated horseradish, with lemon juice: This is something I have tried. It’s effective, and like the garlic, is an acquired taste!

 

Apply Tiger Balm to sinuses: Tiger Balm is an herbal aid that should be in the medicine cabinet of those who advocate alternative healing methods.

 

Zand Decongest Herbal: Another product that Alternative Medicine Families should keep on hand.

 

Grapefruit seed extract:Dilate as a nasal rinse. This is another effective product to keep in your medicine cabinet.

 

Tea tree oil: to add to a vaporizer nightly

 

Some alternative healing methods: Massage directly underneath your big toe for 1 minute daily.

 

Also, squeeze the ends of your fingers and thumb hard-20 seconds daily.

 

Place your thumb & index finger on top of your nose-either side, for 5 seconds. Press. Repeat 3 times daily-AM-Noon-PM

 

Another method with some success: Put Vapo-rub on the bottom of the foot-the heel-wrap in sock or light cloth.

 

 

Acupuncture does work for sinus problems. Also facials, when practitioners are trained to relieve the sinus pressure points. Most reputable establishments do, and you should ask about it before making an appointment.

 

Other recommendations are to avoid milk products, smoke, and eliminate allergens in your home such as mold and dust mites.

 

**Last on the list-Endoscopic surgery: may be the last resort if all else fails. Since the sinuses are small passages that can be easily blocked if one is prone to allergies, then surgery may be required to open the narrow passageways leading to the nose.

 

Cookbook Review! Healthy French Cuisine by Chef Alain Braux

Gastronomic delight is really the domain of the French.

Preparation and planning, plus the love and care of food are what it’s all about when reading a cookbook. With Chef Alain Braux’s “Healthy French Cuisine”, there is, dare I say it, a certain “je ne sais quoi”, that indefinable something, that sets this cookbook apart.

 For one thing, this book puts us into the right frame of mind about food. It comes down to the simple, and not the extraordinary elements that make a great meal. This is a remarkable book, in that it’s not a "frou-frou" French cookbook, but instead a real life, practical guide for Cooking French Food.

Today's cooks can use this book and glean lots of healthy ideas laid out in plain print. “Healthy French Cuisine” is a book meant to inspire. And then-there are some dynamite recipes that I am itching to try…

 One caveat – Although this book seems to be tailored for the hoi-polloi, (the common man), admittedly it’s not for the lower end income bracket. Chef Alain has broken meals down to average about $10.00 per person per day...This puts the tab at about $1000 a month for a family of four, so some of these are not everyday dishes.

 But French cooking is something that is prepared, not simply consumed. It is meant to inspire us all.  From the time before there was a Julia Child we learned from Simone Beck and others about the joys of French Cooking.  And ever since Miss Julia wrote about French cooking way back in the sixties, I have loved the very concept of French Food.

One of my favorite restaurants was this small French place around the corner from where I lived in Tampa. They served deceptively simple soups and salads, and the most exquisitely prepared vegetables... This book brings to mind the simply prepared yet delicious quality of French food.

The first half of the book deals with some things that we have all heard many times before regarding healthy eating. But, since the emphasis is on Health, it’s worth hearing them again. For instance, portion control is something the French do well. Chef Alain writes fondly of his Grandmother “Mamie’s” home cooked meals. This is where he is taking us when he emphasizes the fresh foods and our need to cook from the home (and with feeling!)

The second half of the book delves into the recipes. He breaks them down seasonally, and also by cost, which again, I’m not convinced is going to be as helpful for some living in different regions-he is pricing from Austin, Texas.

Once you get into the recipes, you’ll be hooked. He goes through all four seasons, and lays out the types of food and best produce to buy for the time of year. An inspired move, I’m thinking.

Recently, a prominent cookbook editor wrote about some of the best types of cookbooks she had come across. One thing she stressed above all else was: “Can you find the ingredients?” Chef Alain does help us to bring each season into focus by doing just that.

Another important factor the editor looked for was the type of equipment the cook will use. In this book, Alain even goes into the pantry and lies out the, for the most part, simple equipment that he uses in his own kitchen. But the last thing this cookbook editor was looking for was a certain “something” that sets the recipes apart. Because, after all, the food is the heart of the matter!

In this book, some of the best recipes I saw were the most deceptively simple ones. Haricots verts (Green Beans), steamed with lemon vinaigrette, Braised purple cabbage with goat cheese, Flourless Chocolate cake (heavy on the cream!), and Cod Au Gratin with Parmesan Cheese. There were many varieties of chicken to try, which I rather admire just knowing that many “food-ista’s” are a bit snobby about cooking with chicken. (They will tell you chicken has just been done to death.) But Alain manages to find a way with the Cornmeal-crusted Chicken Nuggets with Blackberry Mustard. It is to die for.

It's important to note that most of these recipes are Gluten Free or can be converted to a Gluten Free diet. And, as someone who lives Gluten Free and has done so for 18 years, I can't wait to read Alain’s G.F. book. In conclusion, the only thing left to add after reading Chef Alain’s book is: Bon Appetit!

Why I started "Brown Bag Organics" back in 2002

"Healthy Habits for Body and Soul"

I started "Brown Bag Organics" in 2002 because I believed in making a difference. After suffering from debilitating nausea, cramping, and irritable bowel syndrome for years, I HAD to learn the importance of nutrition and health. After much trial and error, I found a wonderful nutritionist who helped me to change my life.

I discovered I was allergic to wheat and dairy products. Changing my diet made all the difference in my life. I know now the impact the right nutritional choices can make. That's what this blog is all about-the right nutritional choices.

Mary L Johnson
Brown Bag Organics

The Poverty Diet

A way to live and eat for less than $20.00-25.00 per week

 

For several weeks now, I’ve worked out what I call, “The Poverty Diet”. Several members of Congress have followed a plan calling for about $20.00 a week, or around $2.85 per day for one person. Some could use $25.00 for a model, or even $40.00 for two people.
 
None of this is even possible if there is no supplemental food. By that, I mean, even if you subsist on food stamps, you would need to supply staples to your pantry to cook. And the best way to get any nutritional value at all would be to buy in bulk and plan ahead.

There are different cases, obviously. You would need to have a kitchen, and electricity. You would need pots and pans to cook, or a microwave. This is for those who don’t think about the basics of life, such as how you would subsist. And WHY people who live in poverty are so heavy.

 Some of them don’t have kitchens or means to cook. McDonald’s (i.e., Fast Food), is one of the only alternatives. And if you live in a “food desert” area, a low-income, at-risk neighborhood, chances are slim to none that you will have healthy choices like fruits and vegetables.

There are food pantries and food kitchens available. Believe it or not, some people are too proud or too sensitive to avail themselves of these last resorts for food. But the problem is real, it does exist, and there’s no need for certain members of Congress, an elite body where the average income is in the six figure category, to glibly state, “I even gained a little on this diet!”

My response to this is: “Yes, Congressman, that is the problem. You WILL gain on this diet if you are forced to eat the Poverty diet every day. And you may actually gain weight if you are forced to live this life of poverty. Watch the movie “Trading Places” and you will laugh, but then you will stop and think… , “This could be me.”

The following menus are from the local grocery. As stated, there are many variables, but unless there are other sources, (family members to help stock a kitchen pantry, and money for electric to cook), these menus are not possible.

MENU Week 1:  I call this, Chicken & whatever...week. You can buy one whole chicken, and then make several meals possible. The caveat is: you should have a pantry stocked with mayonnaise. Plus, it depends if you have one or two children to feed.

$7.39 whole chkn

1.99 brown rice

3.99 stir fry

=$14.00 + ADD:

 Oatmeal or peanut butter to eat

1-2 meals day

Oatmeal and peanut butter are going to be staples in your diet.

2.39 soy milk

1 apple

1.99 bag carrots

_______________________________________

Menu week 2: Soups-Stretch...+ Protein powder! One of the ways to stretch a budget has always been a pot of soup simmering on the stove. This is one meal than can stretch over a period of days. One item to suggest on the poverty diet would be canned protein powder.

This can be made into smoothies for lunches and dinners. And the protein powder is an added boost.

Chicken soup or other canned soup:

1 can = $2.59

______________________________

 

Menu Week 3: Tuna + Risotto

For week 3, the can of tuna, of oourse would have prominence in any low-budget pantry. It’s a cheap and easy source of protein. You can doctor it with mayo and onion, and add apple and spices to liven it up.

Also, tuna can be served hot with cheese or black olives and pimentos to make a decent hot dinner.

1 Tuna can

1 onion

1 apple

1.99 tea bag

1.39 peach tea

3.99 risotto

 ADD: 

$ 11.49 protein powder (cheapest is around $10.00)

1 oatmeal box

___________________________________

 

Menu week 4| Eggs

Eggs would be another mainstay of the Poverty Diet menu. For this, you can make omelettes, stir up scrambled eggs and add all kinds of garnishes, and use the eggs in casserole dishes surrounded by veggies. It’s one of the cheapest and healthiest sources of protein available to the mass market for a reasonable price.

 To put together a small stockpile.

Make ahead foods: If you do get a chicken, take the skin off the sides and freeze for chicken soup. Or use some of the white meat and dark for a chicken salad.

Freeze some chicken/protein:

Salmon or veggie patties: Eggs will freeze if you make up patties of canned salmon or frozen veggies mixed with eggs. This is good to be able to pull out quickly, make ahead once a week, and to have on hand if you are running low on dough at the end of the week!

 Staples to collect- Things to have on the shelf:

Protein powder, oatmeal, peanut butter

You will eat a lot of:

Oatmeal in AM or PM

Peanut butter on apple-for breakfast

Always Freeze fruits: bananas/apples

Stockpile of can soup-chicken, low sodium

For weekly menus.

By the end of the week,  you will be low in protein. Here is where it is handy to have staples on hand.  USE staples to mix with protein powder and to make shakes!

For the Poverty Diet, it needs to be emphasized. It can be done...BUT the end of the week is crucial, in that you will have less stock in your pantry. It’s vital to plan ahead!

 

Keep Staples on shelf

To stretch soups

Have frozen supplies, no waste!

Veggie pancakes: Mix eggs with onions, frozen or cut up fresh vegetables and mix with flour and milk to form batter. Make in skillet like pancakes, and freeze remainder. This freezes really well. 

Pasta is another great staple to keep on the shelf-to stretch- and to add veggies

Things you can add to pasta: Garlic, mayo, spices…canned peas, black or green olives, and mushrooms.

Greens: A great way to add bulk to soups and to add veggies-

 Cook dinners in bulk to stretch budget

Chicken with rice casserole-to stretch-

A Small crock pot (or a larger one, depending on the size of your family), will come in handy. Most thrift stores have cooking utensils and crock pots available at low prices.

 It all depends on the size of a family. Food stamps are available, food pantries will help to stock items. But, keep in mind that time and energy and initiative to do this are not always available to those in need. Variables such as health and work hours may simply prove too much to make cooking at home even possible.

If there is no way for you to cook, then look to the whole chicken to eat at least one or two healthier evening meals per week, and also, to look for fast food places that serve salads.

Steak N’Shake has a pretty good salad. So does Chick Fil A, plus good chicken soup. Soups are good and cheap. Chinese food always has plenty of volume. For low prices, you can get vegetables and rice and soup for under five or ten bucks.

And usually, they give you enough for at least one or two more meals. These are some of your best choices if you are a young person out of college, or an older person who is living alone and trying to make ends meet.

 

You will learn to freeze what you don’t eat, you can also freeze bananas. You can plan ahead to make simple meals to pull out of the freezer.

**This is a continuing series-but this is also an ongoing problem

**If more charities and churches/non-profits would find time to host workshops and print meal planners for at-risk neighborhoods and new mothers, it would help.

 **With budget cuts across the board, we all need to pull together to combat the problem of rising obesity and nutritional deserts in our own communities.