Dillon Vanderburg Blog » Health

The evening meal

Dillon — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:47:16 +0000

One question that my wife always asks me when we talk on the phone is what I want for dinner. I guess this is an age old question that has always had to be answered. My usual response is that I really don’t care. But it always seems that she picks the wrong thing.

My wife decided on Chinese the other night. While I do like Chinese food, I just wasn’t in the mood for it. I guess I shouldn’t complain though as I had my chance to pick what it was I wanted. This is a case of live and learn.

Worried for Japan

Dillon — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:19:35 +0000

Its been several days since Japan was hit by the big earthquake and the ensuing tsunami. The videos we have been watching are remarkable, considering that people were losing their lives and their property all around them while amateur videos were being taken from cell phones and hand held video cameras.

We have been praying for quick rescue of the survivors and comfort for the people who have lost loved ones, their homes, farms and jobs. It truly a terrible thing to happen to such good people and t country’s friend in the far east.

Night night

Dillon — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 12:11:00 +0000

One thing that is often a problem for people is falling asleep. The ability to fall asleep is important to our health and happiness. The good news is that there are a few foods that can help you accomplish this goal. Eating almonds before you plan to sleep will help you relax.

Other things you can do are to drink tea. It has a calming affect and can put you asleep fast. A couple of other foods that are good to eat before bed are bananas and oatmeal. Good luck getting some sleep!!

Healthy meat

Dillon — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 02:51:50 +0000

One area of the economy that is improving is the sale of Bison meat. The meat is very healthy as it has low cholesterol and is low fat. The problem is that the Bison do not breed as fast as cows and the supply is hard to increase quickly. This has kept prices of the meat high.

Farmers are trying to catch up with demand by keeping more breeding cows out of the slaughterhouse. The Bison is catching on as the newest healthy meat and demand is getting higher all the time. I think it’s a good thing and I hope the supply of these animals will increase so the price of the meat will drop!

Coastline in Danger

Dillon — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:59:07 +0000

Ever since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded last week, oil has been flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. The spill is estimated to be about 39 miles wide by 48 miles long. The spill has not yet reached land, but threatens huge areas of the coastline. Everyone is worried about what the effects of the disaster will have on the environment.

BP is making plans to contain the spill if the pipe cannot be fixed. The problem is that the spill is now so large it will be nearly impossible to clean up. The tides and wind will play a large role on what areas will be affected. I hope the crews working on the problem will do their best work now, a lot of people and animals depend on it!

Plastic and Us

Dillon — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:38:56 +0000

Our seas are in danger of pollution from many different things. From toxic waste to runoff, the quality of the water in our seas is suffering. One problem is that even such mundane things such as plastic are adding to the pollution. Thousands of tons of plastic end up in our seas every year. Some of these materials end up being caught by the currents and end up in giant garbage patches.

This picture shows some of the debris that can be found in different areas. The plastic breaks down into little pieces that poison fish and eventually humans. We are hoping raise awareness of the problem and encourage people to ensure their garbage is disposed of properly.

Antibiotics

Dillon — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:28:09 +0000

There is a new strain of bacteria that is immune to nearly every antibiotic known to man. It is called Acinetobacter baumannii. This bacterium is known as Gram-negative due to its reaction to a Gram stain test. The bacteria can cause symptoms such as pneumonia and bloodstream and urinary tract infections. It is becoming more and more common in hospitals around the world.

To date, there is no treatment for the bacteria. Its cell structure makes it difficult to develop antibiotics for it. Thousands of people in many hospitals have succumbed to its effects and died. Some few people recover on their own, but that’s not very reliable. I hope that some company will look into this situation and develop a treatment.

Organic foods

Dillon — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:53:11 +0000

One thing that we are constantly reminded of is our food. There are some things to be careful of and we must always remember to ask where our food is coming from and how it’s being prepared. Many foods are coated with pesticides and can be dangerous if they are not washed thoroughly in good clean water.

I feel that it’s best if we all try to take advantage of organic foods whenever possible. I believe it is a healthier way to eat and feed our families. There are great ways to grow food without dousing them with chemicals. I hope that everyone will keep this in mind when we visit the supermarket!

Dust me off!!

Dillon — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:21:42 +0000

There was a very interesting story about the makeup of dust today. It seems that most dust comes from outside the house through windows and doors. While most of the dust is simply pollen or soil, some of it can be very bad for your health. Substances like arsenic, lead, and DDT can be found in many instances.

Some dust is created from inside the house. Skin, fur, and food debris make up most of this dust. With dust all around us, it’s no wonder that so many people have allergies. I hope to do a little better job of cleaning up around the house form now on!

Barefoot Runners

Dillon — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:53:16 +0000

It seems that researchers in the U.S. have found that people who run barefooted as opposed to running shoes are giving their bodies a break. Due to a different stride that people use when running without shoes, they tend to land on the middle or front of their feet. This leads to less stress than those who wear shoes and impact on their heels.
I guess it’s all about nature and the beautiful way of things!