Why Grapefruit And Some Medications Don't Mix

Written by Opal Tribble

I love grapefruit. They are a nutrient powerhouse. Not only are they are an excellent source of fiber, they are also a great source of antioxidants such as Vitamin A, and Vitamin C. But, despite their excellent qualities, grapefruit can be harmful to some who take medication.

Grapefruit also contains chemicals that can interfere with enzymes that breaks down certain drugs in your digestive system. When this happens, the medication enters the bloodstream at unacceptable levels. This can increase your chances of developing side effects.

According to a study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a group of natural chemicals named furanocoumarins was likely the culprit. Originally, scientists thought that flavonoids were the culprit for this interference.

Grapefruit Most Commonly Interacts With Drugs Taken For:

Allergies
Anxiety
Depression
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
HIV
Impotence
Seizures

If you are taking drugs for any of the above conditions avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice unless approved by your pharmacist or family internist.


To read articles written by Opal Tribble

Do pet ferrets have hunting instincts?

Chloe in fact has some hunting instincts left and has gone after a mouse or two. Here's an interesting story. A couple years ago, I had about 3 or 4 mice in the house. Why did I have mice? Probably because chloe kept stealing dog biscuits and hiding them under the pie safe. The smell of a stash of dog biscuits drew the mice. Gypsy the cat (no longer on this mortal plane) managed to take out the mice, but chloe may have done one in herself. I went to let chloe out of her cage one morning and, as usual, chloe's little pointy head poked out of her sleeping sack. Right next to her was the head of a dead mouse (still attached to the body, of course). It looked like one of those old cartoons where the dead animal has an X in each eye. Either chloe had killed the mouse, or had stolen the kill from Gypsy the cat.




Chloe the ferret - a Mini Blog about Ferrets

Is a ferret a rodent?

No, a ferret is not a rodent. Rodents include rabbits, squirrels, mice, rats, and even the giant capybara's. Ferrets are actually cousins of badgers, weasels, and otters (and a few others in the mustelidae family). And wild black footed ferrets actually prey on prairie dogs.

Ferrets are not rodents. Just the same, everytime I go into Petsmart and look through the ferret toy section (I've almost given up since chloe usually plays with a store-bought toy for 2 minutes before loosing interest), I am annoyed to see on the product packaging a picture of a ferret next to a rodent, usually a rabbit or a mouse.

No wonder people get confused. Making it more confusing is the fact that ferrets have beady little black eyes, as do some rodents. And albino ferrets, unlike sable or racoon ferrets (which chloe is), do look a bit more rodent-like than ferrets with hair coloring (its amazing how different a ferret can look based on hair color---but this is similar to rims on a car and hair on a person: it does make a big difference).



Chloe the ferret - a Mini Blog about Ferrets

A Health Nutrition Dictionary

As I stated in the last post, an index of various medical impairments and health problems is being produced for Vitamin Stuff. This will provide helpful, easy to access information (well, easy to access when I redevelop the site's menus...don't hold your breath on that one) for those who are curious about a particular health concern.

In keeping with that idea, a health and nutrition dictionary is being developed for the site as well.

How far along is this project? Well, let's just say it is about as developed as the health conditions section currently is. Which is to say, there's literally months of work ahead.

Here are the definitions as they currently stand. Expect this section to grow weekly at a good clip.

• Acupuncture
  
  
• Allicin
  
  
• Amino Acids
  
  
• Anaerobic exercise
  
  
• Aromatheraphy
  
  
• Arteriosclerosis
  
  
• Aspartame
  
  
• Atherosclerosis
  
  
• Bioflavonoids
  
  
• Bodybuilding
  
  
• Calorie
  
  
• Chiropractic
  
  
• Cholesterol
  
  
• Endorphins
  
  
• Essential Fatty Acids
  
  
• Estrogen
  
  
• Excitotoxicity
  
  
• Fat
  
  
• Fish Oil
  
  
• Glucosamine
  
  
• Glycemic Index
  
  
• Homeopathy
  
  
• Hydrogenated
  
  
• Juicing
  
  
• Low Density Lipids
  
  
• MSG - Monosodium Glutamate
  
  
• Policosinol
  
  
• Polyphenols
  
  
• Protein
  
  
• Raw Foods
  
  
• Red Wine
  
  
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
  
  
• Trans Fat
  
  
• Triglycerides
  
  
• Veganism
  
  
• Whole Foods
  

Health Conditions and Herbs, Vitamins, and other Nutrients

Currently, a health impairment section is in the works for Vitaminstuff. The section is far from complete and may take weeks or months more to complete. However, I've included a list of some of the medical conditions and health problems that pages are being developed for.

• Acne
  
  
• ADHD, Attention Deficit Disorder
  
  
• Anemia
  
  
• Bladder Infection
  
  
• Bursitis
  
  
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  
  
• Chronic Fatigue
  
  
• Conjunctivitis
  
  
• Fibromyalgia
  
  
• Gum Disease
  
  
• Hemorrhoids
  
  
• High Cholesterol
  
  
• Hypothyroidism
  
  
• Lupus
  
  
• Lyme Disease
  
  
• Plantar Warts
  
  
• Shin Splints
  
  
• Sinusitis
  
  
• Varicose Veins
  

When this section will be completed, I, unfortunately, don't have a clue. Researching and writing the information is quite a task, though it is quite enjoyable. I suppose this aspect of Vitamin Stuff will be finished about the same time as the Health Nurition dictionary, the subject of the next post.

Tea Tree Essential Oil: A Natural Antiseptic

Written by Opal Tribble

I love being outdoors! I enjoy hiking, inline skating, camping, extreme sports, etc. At times I’ll still perform some of the crazy stunts I did as a child. You think I would know better, right? Wrong!

For example, one day when I was out skating I thought it would be a cool idea to skate off a ramp. The ramp was there, it was begging me to jump off it. I knew it would be a fabulous experience. I skated off the ramp and was briefly airborne with my inline skates. I landed on the ground without problems. What a rush! I had to try it again. This time; however, I decided to add something extra. While in the air, I would touch my skates with my left hand before landing back to the ground. I skated up the ramp and was airborne! I even managed to touch my skates with my left hand. It was beautiful; however, my landing didn’t go as smoothly and I found myself landing on my knees scraping skin in the process.

That wasn’t supposed to be part of the routine. Although it was painful, the humiliation was a lot worse! Thankfully no one was around to see that particular performance that would have added to my humiliation. I left shortly afterwards. The bruises weren’t major, my pride was the main thing that was affected. Instead of reaching for an over-the-counter remedy to heal my scrapes I reached for tea tree essential oil.

Why Did I Choose Tea Tree Essential Oil? As a child, when I received bruises, my mom would use iodine on the cut that was painful. Unlike the iodine, tea tree essential oil doesn’t sting, and I’ve noticed that my wounds appear to heal a lot faster. It’s powerful stuff. I used tea tree essential oil externally on my wounds and unlike the iodine my mother would use, this wasn’t painful. This is one of the few essential oils that I will apply neat (directly) to my skin.

Why is it so effective? Tea Tree essential oil contains terpenoids which is believed to provide the essential oil with its medicinal like properties. Tea tree has been proven to be effective in killing fungus, bacteria, and even infection that is resistant to antibiotics. Tea tree also has the unusual characteristic of being effective against all three varieties of infectious organisms; bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Tea tree oil is unusual because it is active against all three varieties of infectious organisms: bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Uses For Tea Tree Oil:

Infected wounds
Athletes foot
Asthma
Fungal infection in the mouth
Vaginal infections
Nasal congestion
Household cleaner

Did you know that tea tree oil has been researched extensively through scientific methods? It’s true. Studies have determined that tea tree oil is a very powerful protector of our immune system. When the body is threatened by any organisms that attack its immune system, tea tree increases its ability to respond. It’s a very powerful protector of our immune system.

Next time you experience a minor scrape, reach for tea tree essential oil. If you do a quick search online, you will find numerous topical applications that can be used. If you are unsure, consult with an aromatherapist and have them make you a specialized blend.


To read articles written by Opal Tribble

Tunnels and Ferrets

There's a post on the ferret store that shows a sable ferret coming out of a toy tube. The ferret in the picture looks exactly like a pic of Chloe coming out of her own tube which is improvised and is an aluminum covered vent hose from a dryer. These things make fantastic toys and Chloe gets excited about hers every time I bring it out. You may, if you have a ferret, want to consider looking into the product listed on The ferret store as it may be larger. My ferret is a pee wee and I really don't know if the majority of ferrets who are considerably larger would be able to use my improvised setup.

Here's the link to the page that shows the Marshall Super Thru-Way Ferret Tunnel:
Tunneling Fun for Ferrets

And here are pics of Chloe in her own makeshift tube--








Chloe the ferret - a Mini Blog about Ferrets

How do you play with a ferret?

Well, ferrets love to play in number of different ways and from what I can tell, what I've read in various ferret books seems spot on with what I've observed with Chloe. She loves "I chase you, you chase me". And I love this game as well, particularly the part when I chase her because that's when you really get to see a ferret hustle. I have to caution you on this, though. Be VERY careful when you chase a ferret because you could easily lose your balance or step the wrong way and hurt your ferret. Of course, you can do this when your ferret chases you, as well. For this reason, I never let anyone else play this game with Chloe. I'm not only Chloe's owner, I see myself as her guardian and protector.

Other ferret games? I'm not sure if this is a game, but Chloe seems to think it's fun to get into a room when I don't want her to. And you can see the mischievous intent of her actions when, as soon as she gets through a crack in the door, she shoots under a chair as if to say, "Catch me if you can...but I don't think you can".

However, some of the best ferret games don't even involve interaction with owners. Ferrets love to crawl through things and if you'll pick some dryer venting (such as from Home Depot), your ferret can do some tunnel exploration in the comfort and safety of your living room.



Chloe the ferret - a Mini Blog about Ferrets

Carrying things in your house when you have a ferret

This may sound paranoid, but a ferret can make you that way. And, to be honest, if you're not a little paranoid, you're probably not cut out for ferret ownership.

Be careful of carrying objects of any respectable size in the house when your ferret is out. Reason: You may never know when your ferret is under your feet and about to be crushed should you drop that heavy bag of groceries. By the same token, be careful when you open the refrigerator door when your ferret is out. If yours is like mine (Chloe), she'll like to poke her head in as soon as the door opens. Ask yourself how many times you've ever dropped a two-litre container of soda. This could seriously injure a ferret (imagine a utility shed being dropped on your head). Also, on the matter refrigerators, never close the door too fast. Why? Because your ferret could still have his/her head in the door and you wouldn't want to injure its head or neck.

By the way, this goes for every door in your house. One of the number one rules in my house is Never slam doors. And a followup rule to that is Always look at the bottom of the door as you close it if the ferret is out. I can't tell you how many times Chloe has tried to stick her head into the space between the doorframe and the door as it's closing.



Chloe the ferret - a Mini Blog about Ferrets

Cheesecake, Ferrets, and so forth

So, what's been happening on the Vitamin Stuff Blog, as of late? Well, I've spoken at length about cheesecakes and my pet ferret, Chloe (to see the infamous ferret posts -- More about Chloe the ferret and ferrets in general).

But, there's also been some added content that's in keeping with the aims of this blog and its parent site, Vitamin Stuff, including an article on not the most exciting topic--but, certainly an important topic: cholesterol.

So, here's a short article titled "
Just what exactly is High Cholesterol?".

Also, here's a wonderful article by Opal Tribble on Juicing, titled "Juicing: Drink Your Way To Better Health". The great thing about Opal's articles is that they're fun to read and you learn quite a bit from them. In fact, reading her article spurred me to visit my local book store and get a copy of "Juicing for Life". Personally, I think Opal could write her own book on the subject since this is not only a health topic that she is interested in, it's an intrinsic part of the way she lives her life.

Opal has also started guest blogging here and her first post is "Ginger: A natural healer?". Stay tuned for more.

Do ferrets like to get into dangerous places?

This may be a good reminder to view the prior post about ferrets and refrigerators. Ferrets personify the word "reckless" and if you look up the word in a dictionary you really should see a picture of a ferret.

To me, it's amazing that this species is still around, considering all the risks they take. Will a ferret get into something it can't get out of? Yes, without a doubt.

Example: Chloe climbed into an umbrella stand. Of course, there was no way to get out and if someone (me) hadn't come along and hear her scrabbling noises, she would not have gotten out. Will a ferret climb into the opening of a front loading washer. Sure. To a ferret, that's as fun as a nightclub with free drinks.

Warning to 99 percent of potential ferret owners: Don't get a ferret. In the end, this will be better for you and the ferret you didn't own.




More about Chloe the ferret and ferrets in general

Are ferrets psychic?

It depends on how you define the term "psychic". If by psychic, you mean being possessed of a seemingly unnatural ability to discern even the most minooooot changes to one's environment, then, yes, ferrets are definitely psychic.

Granted, this is not the definition most people would use. But anyone who has ever owned a ferret has probably at one point or another been amazed at what a ferret may notice (or not notice, in some cases). For example, if you change something in the living room or leave something lying around, even in a unremarkable spot, chances are your ferret will notice this and investigate.

Actually, despite their poor eyesight, ferrets seem to notice everything (given a fair amount of time, of course, to scurry back and forth on their appointed ferret rounds, such as stealing this or that, or building this or that stash).

However, because a ferret does notice so much and is compelled to investigate anything even slightly new or different, you, as a ferret owner, must be on your guard. Here's a good example and the reason I started this post. This morning I heard a strange noise coming from the refrigerator. I pulled the fridge back from the wall, pulled the power cord from the socket, looked under the fridge and saw a piece of plastic wrapping that had gotten into the fan blades.
I removed this, plugged the fridge back in, and pushed it against the wall. Then I thought to myself: "I better make sure this doesn't look any different. Otherwise, Chloe will get in there and get her nose chopped off in the fan blade."

Ferrets. You wonder how they manage to live as long as they do.




More about Chloe the ferret and ferrets in general

How often does a ferret go to the bathroom?

Ferrets go to the bathroom more than one can possibly imagine; that is, assuming that one has no prior experience with the toileting habits of ferrets. For those who do have such experience, the thought has probably occurred to them more than once "Why did I ever get a ferret?"

Let me put it this way. If you get a ferret, make sure you get a litter tray, preferably one that fits into a corner since ferrets tend to seek out corners in which to do their business. In fact, you may wish to get several litter trays to prepare for the contingency in which your ferret has trouble "getting the concept of" what and where an acceptable bathroom is. Also, be prepared to fall in love with daily cage cleaning, or at least be prepared to fake a love of this activity. Because if you get a ferret, cage cleaning is what you'll do, and do, and do.

You'll need to clean your ferret's cage daily, of course. If you don't, the smell will become quite obnoxious and tear provoking, and who wants that.




More about Chloe the ferret and ferrets in general

On ordering a Cheesecake Online

I have a fondness for cheesecake, just as I have a fondness for ice cream. However, cheesecake and ice cream do not have necessarily have a fondness for me. Yes, despite the attention to diet and years of weight lifting I have type II diabetes.

This is completely controlled, of course, mainly with a sensible diet, but the thing about type II is that, even if your condition is perfectly controlled and your BG levels are consistently normal, it doesn't remove the fact that you are, in fact, diabetic. And that's a fact that doesn't go away. You know, sometimes, you just get the luck of the draw and you're not so lucky. A predisposition to hypertension, elevated glucose, and cardiovascular disease runs on my dad's side of the family as far as several generations back.

Nonetheless, as I said, I love cheesecake and ice cream. What to do, what to do. This is what I've done. As far as ice cream is concerned, I now consume sugarless and low sugar versions. For instance, Breyers CarbSmart ice cream bars are sweetened
with splenda and also use sugar alcohol as a sweetener.

Splenda, as far as I'm aware, is sucralose, which means that it is simply sugar with one molecule removed and, by all accounts, has no effect on BG levels. Sugar alcohols (of which there are many different types, including maltitol which I have a bad reaction to), on the other hand, do have the potential for raising blood glucose levels, though more slowly. This is something I've been able to verify myself simply by using a blood glucose monitor one and two hours after consuming a product containing a substantial amount of sugar alcohol.

CarbSmart ice cream bars contain 9 grams of carbs. Of this, 2 grams are dietary fiber, 2 grams are sugar alcohol, and 5 grams are sugar. While this isn't perfect (particularly the five grams of sugar), I find that I can eat one of these bars with no significant affect on my BG levels (bear in mind, everyone is different).

The other type of ice cream that I have now and then comes from a local establishment (local to Raleigh, NC) called "Goodberries", a chain of specialty ice cream shops with all outdoor seating. Everything at Goodberries is delicious---and full of sugar. With, however, the exception of their zero sugar vanilla custard. This product is even tastier than the CarbSmart bars and, again, testing has indicated to me that this product has no significant effect on my blood glucose levels.

The other treat that I mentioned was cheesecake. Obviously, cheesecake is a huge no-no for anyone who is a diabetic, type I or type II. However, an establishment called "The Cheesecake Factory" offers a low carb cheesecake sweetened with splenda.

This product claims that each slice is limited to six grams of carbohydrate. This, of course, means that you may need to limit yourself to one slice (which, let's be honest, anyone should). How many grams of total carbohydrate does this cheesecake include, per slice? I don't know and couldn't find the information online. However, as always, the easiest way to find out is simply to eat one slice and then test my glucose one and two hours later for the effects. With type II diabetes, fortunately, the information you need can be found via testing.

And on this subject, I will be in the position of testing a slice later today. My low carb cheesecake arrived in the mail today. And this is actually why I started this post. Not to talk about cheesecake or ice cream per se (both of which may seem strange on a health website), but, rather, to mention (to anyone else considering buying a cheesecake online) what its like to receive a cheesecake in the mail.

It arrives in a fairly large box and the cheesecake is actually frozen. This makes perfect sense, of course, but I really hadn't given the issue any prior consideration so I was surprised to see a bag of dry ice sitting on top of the cheesecake.

This, to me, is the most interesting aspect of having received this today. The bag has a large-letter warning printed on it. The warning states that you shouldn't handle the bag with bare hands and that this may cause...burns.

Being typically male, I decide to put this to the test and held the bag for about four seconds. Luckily for me, I didn't hold it any longer than this because I immediately began to feel a burning sensation. Which gave me a new appreciation for how quickly frostbite could set in if a person is exposed to a cold enough environment for even a few seconds.

Anyway, I will now let the cheesecake thaw, per the instructions, give a slice a try, and then measure with my portable monitor to see if this product gets a thumbs up or thumbs down. Here's to hoping.

Do ferrets make noises?

At first, years ago, I didn't know if ferrets made noises or not. I had read, of course, that ferrets will made little "dook dook" noises when they play one of their favorite games, such as mock combat, or when they are doing a personal interpretation of the happy dance (I don't know why they call it a dook noise. To me, it doesn't sound like that at all). But other noises?

Honestly, Chloe initially seemed to be something of a mute, unless you stepped on her---To my embarassment, this is happened 2 times and, luckily, she did not get hurt either time, other than having the wind knocked out of her. I am generally paranoid about keeping track of "where's chloe?", and this is why I CANNOT advise ferret ownership for most individuals. Ferrets are always where you least suspect them (and, thus, SHOULD suspect them) and that includes couch cushions, a pile of towels waiting to be folded, comforters and blankets, under chairs, and, often, underfoot. Ferrets are not for pet owners who aren't willing to use hawk-vision to keep track of their whereabouts.

Is Chloe still a mute? Not at all. In fact, she's getting quite noisy these days. She verbalizes when she is pissed off (this would be the most frequent verbalization and it is usually in response to being shot with a water gun---the only thing that gets her to stop trying to rip the couch cushions apart). She also verbalizes when she is very happy, generally accompanied by the happy dance.

However, lately, Chloe seems to emit a number of oscillations. And one of them sounds startlingly reminiscent of the peanuts character "woodstock".

More about Chloe the ferret and ferrets in general

Will your ferret miss you if you go on a trip?

Mine did. I got back from a several day stay down at myrtle beach last year. Actually, garden city, south carolina, which is about 20 minutes south of MB.

I was only gone for about 3 1/2 half days (a good friend who is familiar with ferrets was kind enough to care for her in this short time) and when I greeted Chloe the morning after getting back she gave me quite a few kisses and more than usual. In the last year or so (Chloe, I think, is about 5 now), in fact, Chloe has been getting a lot more affectionate, which is great because when I first adopted her she wasn't particularly affectionate (perhaps her former home life--you get out of a pet what you put into it).

However, on this particular morning Chloe was very affectionate. She usually kisses me a few times when I get her out of her cage (a two story Ferret condo with a hammock, multiple litter trays, hanging water bottle, foamy couch, and a sleeping bag. But that day, she kissed me many times, leading me to conclude that she had, in fact, missed me while I was gone. Which made me realize how very much I had missed her.

More about Chloe the ferret and ferrets in general

Chloe the Ferret and Info about Ferrets

You may be wondering what a ferret is doing on a site called Vitamin Stuff. Then again, you may also have wondered how some of our leaders in Washington actually got elected. Sometimes, things don't seem to add up. However, in this case, they do. Chloe is just crazy about health and nutrition.

Here you'll find posts regarding ferrets and my ferret, Chloe (codename: Destructo), in particular.


Posts

Do ferrets kiss their owners?
Are refrigerators dangerous to ferrets?
How will you know when a ferret is sleepy and should go to bed?
The Ferret Clown car
Ferrets and bags
One Ferret's Passing
How many ferrets are there named Chloe?
How much play-time does a ferret need?
Ferrets and personal property
Do ferrets listen very well?
Do ferrets come when called?
Ferret Proofing never ends
Ferrets are Determined if nothing else
Is a ferret a rodent?
Do pet ferrets have hunting instincts?
Ferrets and Tunnels
How do you play with a ferret?
Carrying things in your house when you have a ferret
How often does a ferret go to the bathroom?
Are ferrets psychic?
Do ferrets like to get into dangerous places?
Will your ferret miss you if you go on a trip?
Do ferrets make noises?






Great Ferret Sites

Blogging for Ferrets - a heart-felt ferret site

Wikipedia page on Ferrets

My Norwegian Ferret Family

Extreme Weezils

Loving ferrets - ferret related forums

About's Ferret page

Ferret Family Services

Google's directory of ferret personal pages

All about ferrets

Ferrets Haven

Ginger: A Natural Healer?

Written by Opal Tribble

I dislike being sick. As a child, the cure for stomach upset and nausea was a very strong Jamaican soda that contained ginger root. This is something my mother religiously gave to my brother and me. We actually loved the taste and at times we pretended to be sick so we could have this rare treat.

I didn’t know it then, but the reason the soda was so effective was because it contained a lot of ginger. Ginger is used in a variety of products to combat nausea and indigestion. As I became older, I was curious about the healing powers of ginger so, naturally, I wanted to learn more.

History

Ginger has been used for hundreds of years as a medicinal and culinary herb. It was a well known herb to the Romans and Greeks and by the 11th century it was a common trade item.

How Is Ginger Used? To loosen phlegm, alleviate gas, soothe sore throats, alleviate menstrual cramps, alleviate nausea during pregnancy, and to ward off colds. Also, indians used it to treat digestive ailments and the chinese used it to combat sea sickness

Properties of Ginger

Ginger has a spicy odor and is warming. What makes ginger so effective? Ginger has 1-4 volatile oils. These constituents are thought to be the reasons for its medicinal properties. Numerous studies have been conducted on ginger root and in some of the studies they have found similar effectiveness between ginger and certain drugs.

You can take ginger in a variety of ways. For example, you can find ginger in teas, pregnancy pops, and herbal tinctures.

What do I use? I purchase ginger root. You can find it in numerous grocery stores.

I add about 2” of the root to a pot of tea, brew it for 15 minutes, and let it steep for a few hours. If you don’t want to drink it unsweetened, why not add honey or another natural sugar like agave nectar, or stevia to the blend? If you’re like myself you might find that you love the taste.

I usually end up making a large batch of ginger iced tea. I’m able to enjoy it throughout the day. The times my daughter has had nausea I have given her a cup of ginger root tea. It soothes her upset stomach and before long her discomfort has gone away. Do you know what? At times, she pretends to be sick just so she can have this tea. I’ve included the recipe below.

Recipe for Ginger Tea

4 cups water

2-inch piece of fresh ginger root

*Honey, agave nectar, or stevia and lemon slice, optional

If your looking for a natural cure that is soothing why not try ginger? Along with a whole food diet, I found this to be an effective way to ward off sickness during the flu season.


To read articles written by Opal Tribble