I read in today’s Times of India that a top Sydney restaurant has twenty types of bottled water on its bar
menu! Kable’s restaurant at Sydney’s Four Seasons Hotel offers an
exclusive water menu with water from around the world, each with
descriptions that wouldn’t be out of place on a fine wine menu. Some
Kable’s waters are listed as having “an elegant velvet character when served at room temperature” while others are described as having a “large mouth feel and is best served as a pre-dinner drink with hors d’oeuvres“.
Water doesn’t come cheap here — small bottles range in price from A$16
to A$20 ($15 to $18) compared to a glass of local wine which costs
between A$11 to A$13!
But guys, bottled water is not necessarily the best water to drink. The UK version of Coca-Cola’s Dasani brand bottled water was found
to have originated from the London public supply. Following a four-year
study the National Resources Defense Council in which researchers
tested more than 1,000 samples of 103 brands of bottled water, found
that an estimated 25 percent or more of bottled water to be just tap
water in a bottle. Some of these were further treated some were not.

An independent beverage research company Canadean found at
least two out of every five bottles of water sold around the world are,
like Dasani, “purified” waters, rather than “source” waters which
originate from a spring.

• Check the bottle labels– To determine bottled water is
  really just tap water, check if the bottle label or the cap says “from
  a municipal source” or “from a community water system”.
  
• Know the health risks — During the survey NRDC found
  most bottled water relatively free of contaminants. The survey opined
  that the the “spotty” quality of products of some brands might “pose a
  health risk, primarily for people with weakened immune systems (such as
  the frail elderly, some infants, transplant and cancer patients, or
  people with AIDS).”
  About 22 percent of the brands they tested contained, in at least one
  sample, chemical contaminants at levels above strict state health
  limits. If consumed over a long period of time, some of these
  contaminants could cause cancer or other health problems.
  
• Problems of plastics– Recent research conducted by
  NRDC revealed the presence of chemicals called phthalates, which are
  known to disrupt testosterone and other hormones, and can leach into
  bottled water over time. One study found that water that had been
  stored for 10 weeks in plastic and in glass bottles contained
  phthalates, suggesting that the chemicals could be coming from the
  plastic cap or liner. Incidentally, there are regulatory standards
  limiting phthalates in tap water and there are no legal limits for
  phthalates in bottled water. The US bottled water industry waged a
  successful campaign opposing the FDA proposal to set a legal limit for
  these chemicals.

Source: 

CopperWiki

It’s dengue season once again, and I have more reason than most to fear the disease. Last year, both my children had attacks of dengue and it was traumatic to nurse them through a disease that was so painful even in its mild form. This year, I’ve done a lot of research on natural mosquito repellents, for how much can one rely on the chemical stuff? Here are my tips –
Avoidance — The Best Policy

Mosquitoes have complex methods of detecting hosts. If we are able
to understand why they home in on some individuals, and never bite
others, we would be equipped to avoid them better. Till then, here are
some simple ways of avoiding being bitten'

• Mosquitoes are attracted by dark clothing and foliage. So,
  avoid then by steering clear of bushes, woods and parks at times when
  mosquitoes are active. Also avoid wearing dark clothes.
  
• Mosquitoes home in on their victims by following the train
  of carbon dioxide they leave. Distract them by keeping a burning
  candle, incense or any fire around you.
• Mosquitoes are drawn to the sublte odour of Lactic Acid,
  released when we eat certain foods (like salty or high-potassium
  foods). You also release more lactic acid when you have been
  exercising. By avoiding these activities before mosquito exposure, you
  can avoid getting bitten.
  
• Mosquitoes are often attracted to the slightly cooler
  temperatures of the extremities. So keep them covered with socks or
  long sleeves if exposed to mosquitoes.
  
• Mosquitoes are attracted by perspiration because of the
  chemicals it contains and also because it increases the humidity around
  your body. That is why when you're plagued by mosquitoes, a cool shower
  instantly brings relief.
  
• Keep your home and garden free from stagnant water, moist plants and uncovered water tanks. Mosquitoes breed in these.

Three essential oils easily available in India (try alternative health stores or Osho world)  are good natural repellents – 

• Lemon ecualyptus oil –Oil of lemon eucalyptus Eucalyptus
  citriodoraprovides provides protection against mosquito bites,
  according to the CDC.
  
• Lemongrass, citronella– A good mosquito repellent, it is often added to candles and incense sticks.
  
• Neem oil –Neem oil is a good mosquito repellent, but smells quite strong.
  

In North India, people rub marigold petals on bare skin. They say it works, but needs to be reapplied within an hour to remain effective.

For more tips, see http://www.copperwiki.org/index.php/Homemade_Mosquito_Repellents?utm_source=gk_rediff&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=invite

I didn’t think so when I was younger and brasher, but now I certainly do — Grandma Knows Best!

There’s
something about those forgotten ways of doing things, those handy tips
in the era before supermarkets, and those herbal remedies before
over-the-counter drugs became available — that’s so attractive to
people today. They can help us lead lives that are healthier, happier,
cleaner and certainly greener.

For instance, do you remember how granny never took her temperature all the time? She
didn’t obsess about fever either. Here are some home remedies I’ve
collected over the years —

*Take cool baths, fill a bath tub, submerge and lay down for five to ten minutes. Repeat as needed until the fever is down.*Drink as much water as you can in order to replace fluid loss. It will also help to bring down body temperature.
*Rest as much as possible.
*Avoid suddenly changes in atmospheric temperatures.
*When
you have fever do not take any supplement containing either iron or
zinc. Taking iron causes great tension in a body that is fighting
infection; and zinc is not absorbed by the body when you have fever.
*My
Granny always said, starve a fever and feed a cold. Many people believe
that one should not eat solid foods until the fever is gone. You can
replace the foods by drinking plenty of distilled water and/or juices.
*Oranges
are excellent foods in all types of fever when the digestive power of
the body is seriously hampered. The patient suffers from blood
poisoning called toxemia, and the lack of saliva results in the coating
of his tongue, often destroying his thirst for water as well as his
desire for food. The agreeable flavour of orange juice helps greatly in
overcoming these drawbacks. Orange juice provides energy, increases
urinary output, and promotes body resistance against infections,
thereby hastening recovery.

For more, see http://www.copperwiki.org/index.php/Home_remedies_for_fever?utm_source=gk_rediff&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=invite