Oysters are served all over the state of Florida, and plenty of restaurant patrons enjoy downing a few oysters on the half shell with a few drinks - Gulf oysters are a part of who we are in Florida! You may or may not have ever read the fine print about oysters that SHOULD appear on all of the menus that list oysters. Did you know that steps are being taken to ensure more people can enjoy oysters without worrying about the health concerns? Many oyster processors are now putting oysters through a freezing or pasteurization process to reduce the risk of passing on Vibrio vulnificus illness to you. This is a big change from how oysters were served without any processing, which meant more people got sick from raw oysters.

BeOysterAware.com has more information on the risks of eating raw oysters, and how to minimize those risks, as well as advancements in the processing of oysters that are making oysters safer for all of us to consume. Of course, if you meet certain criteria, you should avoid raw oysters - for example, if you’re pregnant, or if you have a condition that weakens your immune system. If you did get the Vibrio vulnificus illness, your body may not be able to fight it off, and no oyster is worth a hospital visit. If you do have a condition like this, just make sure to eat your oysters full cooked, like in a delicious soup or stew!

I’m allergic to bee, wasp, and hornet stings. I was stung for the first time at the age of 9 (on my leg) and didn’t have a reaction. The second sting, at the age of 11, was on my face, just above my mouth. Within minutes of getting stung, my face was red and blotchy, I started to swell, and I couldn’t breathe well. If was shortly after that when I got a sting kit to keep at school and home, and I was given a medical ID necklace to wear. If you’ve got a child with an illness, a disability, or an allergy like mine, a child medical alert ID can make all the difference in an emergency situation. If I had been strung a third time, no doubt the reaction would have been even more severe, and I would have been unable to tell anyone what was happening, or how to help.

Knowing how to treat patients in an emergency is key - what if your child is highly allergic to standard medications? A small dose could make a bad situation worse, but a medical ID can alert doctors, nurses, and emergency staff as to how to treat your child correctly. When we bought my medical ID, we were limited to a few standard phrases and allergy types, but now you can have custom made medical ID jewelry with details about your condition and who to contact in an emergency. AmericanMedical-ID.com even offers a charm bracelet style that most kids won’t mind wearing!

I had an extremely frustrating afternoon trying to get my son’s prescriptions (for his upper respiratory and ear infections) filled. The antibiotic he was prescribed was no big deal, in fact, the pharmacy gave it to me for free. The steroid he was prescribed for his breathing issues was another story. The first pharmacy was out until Monday, another was out until Wednesday, and 5 more were completely out with no restock date in sight. Finally, we found a store that had it in stock and went off to fill the prescription, but what a hassle! We got to wait in line, and then it cost me $50 for the medication when all was said and done.

Is it any wonder that people are turning their backs on traditional pharmacies and choosing to buy their name brand prescription drugs online at places like Edrugstore.md? And yes,
Viagra falls under the heading of name brand drugs, so if you’re buying the little blue pills, you need not worry about facing the pharmacy staff in person any longer - just buy Viagra online and avoid the embarrassment - ha! But seriously, if you’re regularly taking the same prescription medications, you can order them online, pay low prices, and get your meds shipped directly to your door. No waiting in line, no running around to different pharmacies to find out which one has what you need, like I did today. You can even submit a question via the “Ask A Physician” section to get a personalized response about your medication, or drug interactions.

During both of the breast cancer walks I’ve participated in, I’ve ended up with various injuries. In addition to the expected blisters and aches and pains, I experienced shin splints and the hyper extension of a ligament in my left knee. I was in such pain after the walk last year that I sent Jim to the store to buy me a brace for my knee, so that I could walk without constantly hyper extending the ligament again.

Given that any walk over a distance of 10 miles seems to bring on the pain, so to speak, I’ll need a better brace for the Avon walk in 2008. I found a site offering knee braces and ankle braces online and they look quite a bit better than the generic version I picked up at the drug store.

The site features brands like DonJoy and Aircast orthopedic braces and other sports medicine products. The most helpful part of that site is that in addition to selling products, they educate consumers on the right kind of product. For example, in the knee brace section, I’ve got a choice of compression and a variety of different braces for ligament issues. I selected one of the mild to moderate ligament support braces (the Donjoy economy hinged knee support). The product information page detailed the features of the brace, offered multiple pictures of the brace in use, information on how the brace could help me, and instructions on measuring your knee to ensure you purchase the correct size.

It’s a pleasure to find a site that not only offers a wide selection of products AND an education on how to correctly use those products!

I received a sample of Biotene toothpaste in the mail a few weeks ago, and with all of the traveling we’ve done recently, I only just got to try it! I buy whatever toothpaste is on sale. I’m not very picky, or brand loyal, so I was more than willing to try a sample of free toothpaste. Biotene protects against tooth sensitivity and can also treat dry mouth - not something I have an issue with, but I don’t recall seeing another toothpaste that can say the same thing. I do experience tooth sensitivity though, and it seems to be worsening, the older I get. Cold water, ice cream, ice - they all bother me now. Biotene fights bad breath, helps to fight cavities, and offers potassium nitrate to protect sensitive teeth.

I gave Biotene a try and was surprised by the flavor. It’s not minty like regular tooth paste, and in fact, it reminded me a bit of the fruit flavored toothpaste my kids have used. It’s not overly sweet though, and it was a nice change from my regular toothpaste experience. I’m sure I’d need to use this new sensitive toothpaste a lot more often to reap the real rewards, but I was happy with it, and if I can help me enjoy ice cream again, it’ll be a regular in my medicine cabinet!

Before the 3-Day walk this year, I went off to the drugstore for supplies to carry with me. I needed to get blister band-aids, plenty of Advil, and my very own tube of Freeze It. I knew from doing the walk in 2006 that my calves would be killing me by the end of the first day, and I also knew I didn’t enjoy using greasy pain relief creams. Sure enough, my calves were screaming at me with every step I took on that first day of walking - step after step after step will bring on that kind of pain quickly! When we were done walking for the day, and all showered, I grabbed my tube of Freeze It and rubbed it all over my calves. Freeze It Gel is amazing - I already mentioned that it’s not greasy at all, and it doesn’t have that old lady smell like the other pain relief gels have. I’m too young to smell like a nursing home!

By the end of the 3rd day, you can see I was a mess. My ligament was hyper extending, and my shin splits were marching to the beat of their own (very slow) drummer. I was rocking an awesome farmers tan, and had dunked my hat in cold water so many times it permanently shrunk. And I’m planning to walk AGAIN next year? Let me tell you, I see a lot more Freeze It in my future! You can use it for a muscle strain, or sore, over exerted muscles, arthritis pain, or for an aching back or neck. So…I can use it during the walk, when my calves revolt against me, and after the walk, when my back aches from camping for 2 days Just rubbing it on feels good - it tingles and it’s warm, and then cool…it’s instant relief!

What do I have to do to get Freeze It to sign up as a walk sponsor??

Lipozene is a new weight loss supplement that is helping users to drop a few pounds a week without side effects. Lipozene consists of an all natural fiber from the Konjac root. The root is a plant unique to Asia, and when combined with microcrystalline cellulose, gelatin, stearic acid and magnesium stearate, the end result is a safe weight loss option. Combine Lipozene with a healthy diet and exercise as part of a total weight loss program. You can order Lipozene online at TvOverstocks.com - a 1 month supply is only $1 a day!

You’ve probably already heard about Hoodia on Oprah, The Today Show, or 60 Minutes. Hoodia is an all natural weight loss product that’s making a big splash! The plant is a succulent (like aloe and cactus) that grows wild in South Africa. The bushmen of the region have been using the plant for years to fight off hunger during long treks. The plant is a natural appetite suppressant that tricks your brain into feeling full. With each small, balanced meal that you eat, you feel fuller quicker, which eliminates bad snacking and over eating.

You can order Hoodia online at sites like TvTopTen.com!

One of those celeb reality shows on HV1 had people talking about detox and colonics and such. The very idea of going to someone for a colonic creeps me out, but I don’t think I’d be afraid to try some sort of natural body detox in the privacy of my own home. With the kids going back to school, my routine is all out of whack, and I’m feeling tired and unmotivated. I’m not sure if it’s just the chance in our routine, or if my body is letting me know that I’m getting sick, or what. I eat a lot of junk, and drink a lot of Coke, so I’m sure that’s got SOMETHING to do with it. I wonder how I’d feel if I got all of that crap out of my system and started eating healthy and completely kicked my Coca Cola habit? I’m not a health food not, but turning 31 made me realize I’m not going to have my great metabolism forever. Maybe I should clean up my act from the inside out? Has anyone ever done this at home body detox? Were you happy with the results, or could you barely notice a difference?

I can definitely handle the potential side effects of a decrease in gas, shiner hair, and nicer skin. Gosh, who wouldn’t want those things?

While I was filling out school paperwork this weekend, I noticed that the schools had sent home information on WIC to all of the parents. I was on WIC when I had my first child, and it was a huge help - especially the formula! There are several programs like WIC that offer assistance to mothers once the baby is born, but pre-natal care is just as important. This Pregnant Care card program is designed to ensure mothers-to-be who don’t have insurance, and don’t qualify for Medicaid can pay a reduced rate (negotiated by the large network behind MaternityCard.com) for doctor visits, hospital stays, sonograms, labwork, and more. If you’re paying cash for your pregnancy, this program is worth a look!