HealthBee

Fascinating story on CNN.com today about a company called NeuroSky who claims to be the first company to allow people to control objects with their mind. I've listened to BrainWave music for years now, which is music that will change the waves of the brain to help you relax, sleep or concentrate.

What is sad is that the company is wasting their technology on reality TV. (Although I will say it is a great way to get publicity for your company.) I can see many uses for this brain wave technology for those who are disabled. Imagine being able to move your wheelchair even though you are a quadraplegic. Or, even more basic: allow those unable to communicate an easier way to do so.

I see a tremendous value of this in the health field, particularly for people with mental illnesses. Neurofeedback has been used to treat ADHD in kids whose medications has too many side effects with some success, but the treatments have usually had to be done at a doctors office, or with an expensive machine. According to the NeuroSky store, you can have your own machine for $200, a bargain when you look at how much it costs to go back and forth to the therapy office. I've personally used The Wild Divine biofeedback game to help me learn what it feels like to relax and to concentrate with success, so this new game is something I'm interested in trying.

Will this technology perhaps be able to help people with depression understand more what it feels like to be happy? Who knows?

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I'm doing this post mostly to remind myself to do a real post when I can. I've got some things I need to finish up and then I can really put some attention into this site. If you're reading here, thank you. I really appreciate it. It makes me feel good to know that maybe I've helped others.

Again, Thanks.
-Heather

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An article from CNN and a study by the American Psychological Association states that women more often stress over money than men do often times because they are in charge of the family checkbook.

One of the best pieces of advice I've ever received is this: "Your sanity is like your money: both are finite. Spend both wisely." In other words, don't stress over your 401K when you won't need it for 20 years. Focus instead on the family budget now, and take action. By taking action, you'll stress less because you'll be doing something about it.

Here are some ways to deal with your money issues in a way that makes you proactive:

1. Call your creditors before the payment is late. If you cannot make the mortgage payment, tell the bank before the mortgage payment is due. With so many people having money issues these days, banks are desperate to try to keep people from foreclosure and bankruptacy. Tell them what the issues are and work something out with them. At the very least ask them to waive any late payment fees for you. In this way, you can avoid the credit people calling you at all hours of the day and night.

2. Turn off the television and stop watching the news. Sure you need to be informed, but you don't need to be inundated. Watching how wall street is in toilet just makes you stress about things that are out of your control. Take the dog for a walk instead.

3. Look over the budget and set goals. Be upfront with your kids and spouse. Tell them you need to cut corners, and you'll be surprised by how they want to help out.

4. Carpool to work, take the bus, or trade in that gas guzzler for a smaller car. The smaller gas and insurance cost of a small car will many times make up for its own car payment over the gas guzzling SUV. It costs upwards of $80 to fill up an SUV, and you can fill up a small car for only $30. Or, take the bus and read a good book every day. Use that time to relax.

5. "Me" time gives you more energy for "we-time". Understand you cannot take care of others unless you take care of yourself first and take time for yourself.

6. Find something to laugh at. Laughter really is the best cure for many things. Rent a movie that makes you laugh, and take a break for a while.

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The newest health concern is a study that bisphenol A-- or BPA may lead to diabetes and heart disease. Past animal studies have suggested reproductive and hormone-related problems from BPA.

The American Chemistry Council defends BPA saying that BPA is safe to continue using.

Just wait until Oprah does a show on this.

I find it interesting that after the report was published yesterday going on and on about the scares of BPA, today those reports are edited to stress that plastic products containing BPA is safe and to continue use.

OK, so perhaps plastic is safe to use, but for the rest of us who don't want to risk it and who want to save the environment in the process, here are some things we can do to limit our use of plastic.

1. Choose waxed paper instead of plastic sandwich bags. You can even get sandwich bags that are made from waxed paper, but you do have to look.
2. Avoid water in plastic bottles. Throw out your plastic water bottles and invest in some aluminum water bottles and a good water filter. Yes, they are expensive, but you will use them for the rest of your days.
3. When freezing things, try to use butcher paper to wrap your food in instead of plastic freezer bags. (Check to insure that you have butcher paper that is not coated in plastic. The way you can tell is to take your fingernail and scrape. If you can scrape off wax, you'll know it is not plastic lined.)
4. Make sure you buy baby food that is canned in cans or is stored in glass jars. Or, if you can spare the time and energy, make your own and can it.
5. Buy your milk in paper or glass containers. Yes, you can still buy milk in glass containers. You'll notice that your milk actually tastes different if you buy milk in the paper jugs instead of the plastic ones. It's subtle, but you'll be surprised if you ever do drink milk out of the plastic.

Now, if you you must use plastic -- and sometimes there isn't a way to get around it -- avoid the plastics with the recycling number 7 on the bottom. The FDA states that these have a higher BPA content than the rest. Also, avoid warming your food in plastic as this releases more of the chemical into your food.

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