Monthly Archives: February 2011

Probiotics Believer

I am not a doctor or nurse.  But I know my body and at 61, it has definitely slowed down.  I am not as active and I have never been a person who eats all the things on that food pyramid.

I have had pain in my lower abdomen for years on and off.  I have been to my doctors office many times with no solution.  I knew I was often constipated and figured that had to be part of the tummy problems.

My niece, Kathi, had given her son  probiotics (7 years old, with loose stools) for his stomach problems and kept telling me what a difference it has made for him.  Then I heard a doctor on PBS talking about probiotics and the benefits.

Well, I am one of those people that believes nothing is a coincidence.   So I listened carefully as she explained how our bodies stop producing as much “friendly bacteria” as we get past 50 years of age.  Also, antibiotics that kill off the bad bacteria also kill off the friendly bacteria (at any age).   She said a lot more but I don’t want to misquote her or try to explain things I am not qualified to explain.  I wish I could remember her name.

Anyway, this doctor said get a probiotic that has at least 10 strains of bacteria, the ones that start with B’s and L’s.  She also said it should have at least 15 billion cells and be enteric (means it won’t be destroyed in the stomach by the acids but will actually get to the gut to do it’s job).

I went online and bought a 16 strain, 32 billion cell, vegetarian enteric probiotic and started taking two a day.  It has been well over month, more like six weeks, and my stomach problems no longer exist and I have not been constipated one time.  In fact, my digestive tract is working so well that I seldom ever miss a day.

I know that is rather personal information but gosh, getting older is tough.  The aches and pains, the medical problems that creep up on you (I will be having a hip replacement in the near future), and just not feeling the strength to do all that you want to do.   I just wanted to share with anyone that wants to listen, probiotics has made my life better.  I actually think I have more energy.

This is my testimony and I am not a doctor.  I did not see anywhere any precautions or warnings about taking probiotics.  I saw no side effects written anywhere either.   I hate taking pills and I have never been good at making myself even take vitamins.  But, I NEVER forget to take the probiotics because it has made a dramatic change in my life.  One less pain in my life…it rocks.

Socks For Dusting

I was throwing a sock away that had a small hole in it.  I put it on my hand and thought about sock puppets.  Always thinking of something to do with throwaways.  But my crafty days are long gone and my cleaning days will always exist.

I buy socks in packs of 6, I think.  So the second sock with no hole goes back into the sock drawer to match up with another sock that will someday also have a hole.   I could just sew up the hole but depending on where it is, it can be uncomfortable.  Not much of a seamstress anyway.

So I took the clean sock with a hole and put it on my hand and sprayed a little furniture polish and cleaned my living room furniture.  It worked great.   Now you have the option to toss it in the trash or rewash it and use it again.

I have a little bucket under the kitchen sink that I keep old stained t-shirts that I have cut into pieces for cleaning.   So now I throw my old socks in there, too.   Works for me.