Managing and Recovering from Chronic Neck Pain

Chronic neck pain affects your daily life and can cause you to feel hopeless. My hope is that neck pain does not affect you. If it does, please read on. Neck pain is a problem I have been working through for a number of years now. I am 51 and have started to feel some relief. My recovery has included different steps and therapies, and I am sharing those experiences with you! Let’s explore what has caused to my neck pain in this post. We will dive into what I found helpful in my recovery. At the end of this article you will find usefull links to sources I am using.

Contributing Factors

Several factors I believe contributed to my terrible neck pains. Included in these are my work history, the aging process, past medical experiences, and a sedentary lifestyle. Working together, this group increased my neck pain, and made my daily life a struggle. Below I have explored some of the factors I found to be the biggest triggers of my neck pain. In working to relieve my neck pain, I was patient and persistent. I explored how much I sat, the breaks I took throughout the day, and my bad body alignment.

Work History

Several years ago, I worked as a bus driver. This is a job I no longer do, for a few reasons. The hours I worked were random and left me little chance to be active. Driving the bus also put my body in a painful stance throughout the shift. This worsened my pain. At this same time, I was also running my own business (and still am!) I was working long hours at a desk, which again was forcing my body into poor posture. I do still run my own business and have made changes to my work habits. Working both at driving the bus, and running my own business left me with no extra time, as well as exhausted. This made it hard to exercise and stay in shape.

Past Medical Experiences

In the past, I had surgery for my knees. This helped get rid of the pain in my joints. The surgery left me unable to play any sport involving a ball. I still work at being active and have had to change the way I move my body. In the past, my favorite sports had been tennis and soccer, and I found that I could no longer enjoy these. I started walking daily, for an hour. I also ride my bike. Cycling is not great for my neck, but here in Amsterdam, it is a great way to get around.

Habit Changes

About three years ago, my pain became worse. I knew I needed to change my habits. These habits are now part of my daily routine. I now go for massages almost weekly. This helps to release the tension in my muscles. Walking for one hour a day has also been helpful. In this hour I may walk around the block, or visit neighbors. This activity has helped me to become stronger. In my office I have also made some changes. I now make use of a work table with an adjustable height. This allows me to keep good posture during tasks. I also keep some items out of reach, forcing me to take a few extra steps throughout the day. Sometimes I will walk to another level in the building, visiting my brother. Other times I will work on my Lego projects. This also acts as a break from working in front of the computer. In my office I have also included a neck swing, attached to a door. This allows me to stretch my neck muscles while working.

Personal Insights

I am going to share with you my views into my own pain management. In working with my pain, I have set some boundaries for myself. I will very often say “no” to social outings. The limits I have in place are to protect my health. Explaining to family and friends the effect it would have on my pain has been very helpful in saying “no”. I used other treatment options. These will be talked about at length in the next post. Listening to my body, and being patient helped me as well.  I have also preformed my own research.  I have reviewed everything from treatment options, to mattresses and stretching,

I encourage you to examine these factors in your own life. Consider how they may be affecting your neck pain. My hope is that some of my tips will help. The results I achieved were due in part to being patient with myself during my healing journey. I also advise changing pain relief methods when needed.

Understanding The Long-Term Effects Of Chronic Pain

As promised , we are going to talk about the different options I experienced while treating my neck pain. I did not want to use pain killer tablets, and only took the odd Tylenol. I also experienced very little relief with these pills, leading me to other options. CBD oil that I use and is purchased from the chiropractor has been helpful. It has been difficult to find a good one, with only CBD and no THC.  I use it very sparingly and only when I feel as though my muscles need extra help to relax. When I first started using the CBD oil, I used too much. This caused my body to relax too much, and I needed to lay down for the night. Since then, I started using very small doses, and use it only when needed. I also found that lying flat on the floor helped to relieve my pain. At the office, I have a neck swing that I use. This helps to take pressure off my muscles and allows me to stretch. At home, I use a machine that provides electrical stimulation to my muscles. It pulses to relax tight muscles. I use it at bedtime and while watching TV.

Professionals I Worked With

Initially, I worked with my own doctor. We work as a team and are always teaching each other. She was the person who told me “sitting is the new smoking”, and I think you will hear this a lot in the future. She told me that if I didn’t make a change to my habits, and work on my health, I would be paralyzed. This was a great shock to me. My doctor is very open minded and is willing to research new pain control techniques, as well as review the ones I bring to her.

I also work with a physiotherapist. My experience with them has been positive. They have taught me many exercises and stretches to strengthen my neck. Some of the treatments they suggested worked, but there is never just one fix. I used a combination of many things. Many of these I still preform at home. I have also experienced dry needling. This hurts at the time of treatment and is a short-term fix. Dry needling allows for trigger points in my neck and shoulders to be relaxed. This loosens the muscles, and I can finish the exercises.

I have also worked with a chiropractor. It was always a relief to see him, and my pain was always less after an appointment. It was good to lay on the table and feel him realign my body. I often stopped going when the pain was less, and this made it worse. My pain was what I used to make changes in my day. While on holidays or while travelling, I used pain to adjust my body alignment to minimize pain.

Dr. De Haas is a specialist I worked with for 8 sessions. He is a Dutch man, and the only doctor of his kind. I would drive for several hours to see him. Dr. De Haas taught me how to properly sleep, and recommended new exercises, with the Flex Band. After my eight sessions, I felt relief. We will discuss sleep in this article as well. The Flex Band has allowed me to train my neck, and especially my shoulders.

I hate to diet to lose weight. I also found that working out in a gym was worsening my problem. I was exercising in short bursts, damaging my neck. This led me to research other ways to stay active. YouTube was helpful, as it showed me some good stretches, I was not aware of. I also started working with Critical Bench. Here, I learned hip exercises, that provided me with good results. I had to be patient and learn them. I started only doing a few minutes of the exercises before bed and have now increased the amount I do daily. I do 15 minutes before bed. Yoga is also something I have started doing to decrease my neck pain. I do not like to do this in a studio. I prefer to practice it at home, while listening to rock music. I complete a session in my home one to two times a week. In learning to move my body properly, I also use the Feldenkrais Method. This is a way to retrain your brain, and therefore, relearn how to move your body. I learned what I should be moving first, to move my body and experience less pain and better healing. I now turn from the waist first and allow my neck to follow. The body will remember what is good for it. This system uses a lot of stretching as well. I participate once a week and have seen fast improvement.

Posture and Physical Activity

Being aware of my posture while awake and while sleeping helped me to work through my neck pain. I am always aware of my body position and adjusting it for pain relief. I am sleeping well now. At first, I videotaped myself sleeping. I found that I was sleeping in a “U” shape, which did not support my neck. Dr. De Haas and Critical Bench both stressed the importance of good positioning during sleep. Knowing this, I spoke with a sleep specialist. I also performed a lot of my own research into sleep surfaces. I tested different mattresses. I now have one mattress with magnets, and one without. I prefer to sleep on a hard surface. This keeps my body straight and stops my neck from bending painfully. I found that finding the correct mattress and sleep changes easy to evaluate. If I have pain on waking, I evaluate it, and make changes. If my neck if painful at night, I will sleep with a neck pillow. I feel it is important to be adjusting for pain relief even at night.

While awake, I make sure there are breaks in my day.  If I feel tired at home or work, I will move around. I will take out the trash or do the dishes. The washroom in my office is on a different level. This has helped me to get more activity in my day. The small movements and breaks have helped to take strain off my neck. I am also always evaluating my posture while working at the computer. I sit up straight from the chest, and make sure to keep my neck in good alignment. I include the exercises taught to me by physio and Critical Bench through my day. In working with my pain, and these people, I have learned that the time between pains would become longer and longer. The pain would also go away faster. My pain has gone from a 2 (very bad) to an 8 (not bad at all). I know what to do to work with the pain. This has provided me with peace of mind. I can now deal with the causes of my neck pain, having pinpointed them.

I hope that you have found relief for your neck pain with some of my tips. I do still experience pain. The time between painful flare ups has become longer. The pain now lasts for less time. I am also able to treat it more quickly. I hope that you will be able to as well.

Veterinarian in the USA

Veterinarians examine, diagnose, and treat animals that are suffering from any disease or illness. They have the required education to prescribe treatments, perform surgeries, and vaccinate the sick animal. In severe cases, they are also authorized to euthanize the dying animal after the owner’s approval. In America and many other countries, pet keepers consider animals as their family members; this fact adds to the responsibility of a vet. As the advancement of technology has brought improvements in the medicinal field, it also had similar effects on veterinary science. Now the latest technologies are being used to treat and examine animals across the world. There is a general concept that vets mostly deal with cats and dogs. These may be the most commonly kept pets but vets are equipped to deal with livestock, farm animals, and wild animals as well.

Who can be a Veterinarian in the USA?

Though anyone can take up veterinary education, people with medicinal history and those who have already worked with animals will find it easier and interesting.

Earning a Bachelor’s Degree

It is not a prerequisite to get a bachelor’s degree, but if you have one, it will help you excel in the competitive world. Most of the students that join vet programs have a bachelor’s degree to support their program.

Working with Animals

Only a person who has compassion for animals and wants to eliminate their suffering will opt to be a vet. A person who has prior experience of working with animals will stand out during the program. This can include working with an animal shelter or an NGO. 

Enroll in a Veterinary School

Attend a vet school or a program from a certified institute. 30 colleges across the USA offer programs that are accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. This degree takes four years to complete, while the last year is reserved for clinical rotations.

Vet University

Get Licensed

All states across America require a veterinary license; the license can be acquired by passing the exam from an accredited institute across different states.

Gain Experience

Just like any other field, it is important to get experience before you start practicing. An individual can work for a year as an internee to get the required work experience. The majority of the students prefer internships in small clinics or with animal companies to gain experience.

It is very competitive to gain admission into a vet school since the future is relatively promising for this medicinal field as compared to others.

The Veterinary Oath  

The vets are abided by this oath under United States Law.

“Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of livestock resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.  I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.  I accept as a lifelong obligation, the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.”

In America, veterinary studies have greatly changed over the years. The veterinary is further divided into categories:

Animal Drugs

Since the adequate amount and safe directions of use cannot be defined in the case of animals, the selling of these drugs is limited to only dispensaries and licensed vet clinics. Only a prescription that is signed by a licensed veterinarian will get you these drugs in the United States. The drug can only be sold or retailed by anyone who is licensed to do so under the State Law. There a few things that are to be included in a prescription:

  • Name and address of the distributor.
  • Date and the serial number of the order or its filling.
  • Name and address of the veterinarian who prescribed or ordered the drug. In some cases, the license number of the vet is also required by the authorities.
  • Directions for use.
  • Any necessary warning and precautionary statements should be included in the prescription.

Animal Food

Animal recommended food also has an effect on the people, specifically in the case of livestock, which is later consumed by humans. The center of veterinary association is responsible for:

  • Monitoring the constituents of the animal feeds, including that of pet food.
  • Approving safe and chemical-free animal food additives.
  • Managing the Food and Drug Administration’s prescribed food for animals and pets both.

There are detailed laws when it comes to animal food in the U.S. All the food vendors selling any kind of pet or animal food have to abide by the laws in order to sell the products in the country. The Veterinary association has the right to raise questions on the sale of a particular product if they think that the correct nutrients are not being provided to the animals.

Animal Medicinal Devices

Animal devices and animal medicines both work on the animal body to bring improvement, but they are not the same things. If the intake of something results in a chemical reaction in the body, then it is a medicine and not a device. This drug will be broken down in the animal’s body while the device will only act on the body. Injections, diagnostic kits, x-rays are all categorized as devices.

Doctor of Veterinary program is offered across the country in many accredited universities in the only medical field. The students can go further and specialize in a particular field; they are interested in. The average salary for a veterinarian in the United States is $93,830, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2018. Few of the colleges in the U.S that offer the best veterinarian program are:

  • University of California – Davis.
  • Cornell University.
  • Colorado State University.
  • North Carolina State University.
  • Ohio State University.
  • Texas A&M University – College Station.
  • The University of Pennsylvania.
  • University of Wisconsin – Madison.
  • University of Florida
  • University of Georgia

If you are passionate about taking a degree in veterinary, then these are only a few of the many universities that you can apply for admission. Every year, a number of international students travel to the U.S. to undertake the vet program. They can specialize in small animal surgery, environmental toxicology, aquatic medicine, or any other major of their choice. There are also a number of veterinary career counsels across the country that can help in getting you the best job according to your expertise. Each month in the United States, several animal awareness days are celebrated by the American Veterinary Medical Association. If you turn your passion into a profession, there are chances that it will go a long way and will also result in a successful career.

Free Dogs Raw Food Recipe made by Rescue Dogs saver John

John’s wife and John have always had an affinity for animals, especially dogs.  They have been rescuing dogs together for 40 years.  They have 10 dogs at the moment.

9 of them are rescues while his 16 year old parsons russell terrier, charlie, we raised from 6 weeks old. Never give them up!  They get better food and more attention than any human being I know. All of them mean everything to John and his wife. The last two they got were from friends who passed away and He had promised to take care of their dogs if anything happened to them.  The other fur babies come from high kill shelters.  John says “believe me when I say we only think we rescue them,  they rescue us.”

Marine Phytoplankton Nannochloropsis and Blue Spirulina Phycocyanin

Mr Ros Marine Phytoplankton Powder

Do you want to know why Marine Phytoplankton & Blue Spirulina Phycocyanin are so Important?

Do you want to know the Specifics of how Nano cleans 70% of the Air we are Breathing in?

Read This.

Recently there has been a great deal of press regarding the health benefits of algae. Not only is algae vitally important to the health of our planet and its oceans and waterways, the evidence is mounting as to promise in many areas from human health and wellness to the health and wellness of land animals as well.

It is information you need to know! Let’s begin with a brief explanation of some of the most noteworthy algae before we dive into Nannochloropsis and Phycocyanin.

Marine Phytoplankton

Marine phytoplankton is ocean algae. It is full of nutrients, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and minerals. It filled with all the nutrients needed for life on earth, marine phytoplankton its also called “the foundation of the food chain”. Nannochloropsis is marine phytoplankton, the origin of all plankton on earth, and as such is responsible for 70 percent of the earth’s oxygen.
Without nannochloropsis, life on earth would be the end, through starvation or asphyxiation. You can likely see the point, if nannochloropsis is responsible for life indirectly, think of all the probable benefits for your health – but more on that shortly.

Spirulina

Spirulina is freshwater algae, blue green in color and officially classified as Cyanobacteria. A single-celled algae, Spirulina thrives in warm, freshwater, favoring alkaline lakes and ponds. Phycocyanin is water soluble pigment protein is derived from Spirulina. And give great promise due anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects as well as other benefits.

Chlorella

Chlorella is a single-cell green algae always can find in fresh water, soil, and tree bark. Unlike Spirulina and marine phytoplankton, Chlorella, while offering health benefits requires special processing for human consumption.

Aquaculture – How Nannochloropsis is Growing

Mr Ros Nannochloropsis is grown naturally with natural daylight (no artificial light), and natural seawater from the depths (no added salt). The aquaculture process for cultivating Nannochloropsis is more difficult and more costly than that of Spirulina and Chlorella. The producer of Mr Ros’s Nannochloropsis have more than 10 years experience in its cultivation.
It thrives in cold water and lots of light essentially living in a bubble where they transform the sea, converting carbon dioxide (CO2) and pollutants into oxygen (O2) as well as the optimal food source of fatty acids, proteins, nutrients, and minerals which are the basis of the food chain.
Nannochloropsis is self-regulating, going deeper in the water or elevating themselves higher as needed for survival and subsequent oxygen and food production.

The Benefit of Nannochloropsis

These microalgae “eat the sea” and make the critical contribution to the control of environmental pollution. Providing 70% of the earth oxygen, while providing the food for the ocean’s creatures. Nannochloropsis feed the zooplankton, which is feed the coral, fish, and other creatures of the deep.
Currently, Mr Ros is working alongside the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) at the University of Miami to save the crucial coral population around the world. Gijs Starre, founder of Mr Ros discovered their efforts after wathcing a Netflix documentary and called to offer assistance.
The result, a collaboration intended to save 425 species of coral. In order to save the coral, grow it, and successfully reintroduce it into the sea, the coral is being fed a diet of nutrient rich. Mr Ros Nannochloropsis paste by the RSMAS team of researchers at the University. 
Nannochloropsis may be the ultimate healthy whole food source for humans and other creatures of the earth. Offering high levels of phospholipid Omega 3, this marine phytoplankton is a natural and sustainable alternative to popular fish/krill oil Omegas. In addition, Nannochloropsis features a multitude of healthful nutrients including every essential amino acid, vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, and more.

Phycocyanin from Spirulina

Spirulina or edible Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) is quite popular as a health food. Survived for billions of years. Cyanobacteria are the bridge between green plants and bacteria. Their ability to harvest and utilize sunlight is more effective than most green plants. Their ability to utilize various forms of energy. Phycocyanin is the light harvesting, water soluble pigment protein derived from Spirulina.

Studies have shown Phycocyanin to prosses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective benefits.

Anti-inflammatory Effects

Recent research concludes the anti-inflammatory effects are due to Phycocyanin’s ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase2 (COX-2) an inflammatory enzyme. Currently, the most common pharmaceutical inhibitors of COX enzymes are NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) including aspirin and ibuprofen, which while curbing inflammation and reducing pain come with a multitude of undesirable side effects (gastrointestinal issues, ulceration, anticoagulant effects, anxiety, and more).
Studies demonstrate Phycocyanin from Spirulina is COX selective, which allows it to alleviate inflammation and pain without the side effects common with the use of NSAIDS which are not COX-2 selective. The treatment successfully tested in dogs, cats, horses.Treatment of arthritis and other inflammatory disorders are by Human.
As part of the research protocols, the Phycocyanin extract also avaialable in tablets or capsules. Made palatable and pharmaceutically appropriate for animals.
Concentrations of Phycocyanin ranged from 0.1 percent to 20 percent by weight. For example: units tested were 31.25mg (5–15 pounds), 62.5mg (16–30pounds), 125mg ( 31–60), 250mg( 61-120), and 500mg (>120-pounds) in dogs weight. The results showed Phycocyanin effective in the treatment of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases and pain.

Antioxidant Properties

Spirulina’s Phycocyanin is well established through centuries of use along with extensive toxicology studies. In addition to anti-inflammatory properties, Phycocyanin also offers antioxidant properties and has been linked to the prevention of neurological diseases. It has been shown to fight free radicals as well as decrease oxidative stress. Which is theorized to be the cause of degenerative disorders. Antioxidants inhibit free radicals including the superoxides.

Anticoagulant Activity and Platelet Activation

Human subjects were given a daily dose of ACE (aqueous Cyanophyta extract). With high levels of Phycocyanin equal to 1 gram phycocyanin daily (GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)). Safety regarding anticoagulant activity and platelet activation status was established in addition to the rapid relief of chronic pain as well as enhanced liver function and metabolism. 

Anti-Cancer Effects and Immune Enhancement Function

Along with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, Phycocyanin shows great promise in early studies for anti-cancer effects and ability to enhance immune function. Ongoing studies have demonstrated Phycocyanin’s anti-cancer effects such as blocking tumor cell cycles and tumor cell apoptosis (cell death).
Phycocyanin has evidenced potential as an anti-cancer medication as well as a supplementary anti-cancer medication. It can reduce current effective doses and turn minimize side effects while enhancing positive effects.

Overall Health and Wellness

Studies of Nannochloropsis and Phycocyanin already demonstrated each superfoods health and wellness effects. Here you have gleaned the latest information regarding Nannochloropsis and Phycocyanin and more is coming. Today, you can find multiple products for humans and pets featuring Nannochloropsis at MrRos.com and Mr Ros Amazon store.
The latest Phycocyanin with Marine Phytoplankton for Horses also available.  Stay tuned, we will come with much more amazing information.

What Every Mom Should Know Before Cleaning Their Cat Litter Box

 

Whether you’re a single cat mom or have a human family, toilet needs can cause annoyance, frustration, and even anger. But while toddlers can eventually be toilet trained, it can be hard explaining to your cat that they need to cover their waste and not just kick debris all over the bathroom floor. Besides being unsightly, the number one complaint about a cat’s litter box is the smell. No matter how often you may scoop it, it can still smell bad.  This not only is annoying, but it can also cause embarrassment when you have guests over. And that’s on top of dumping out all the litter once a week, disinfecting with water and vinegar, and then pouring in fresh litter.

Repeat this process every week for the entire life of your cat (average of 14-16 years) and that’s a whole lot of cat litter, multiplied by the number of cats who own you. But can there be a better way to manage your cat’s litter box, allowing both you and your and family to stay healthy and happy?

Not Just a Litter Deodorizer But an Odor Neutralizer. Perhaps you’ve currently been pouring baking soda into your cat’s box to neutralize odors. That’s great, except the cost can add up. There are also litterbox deodorizers on the market. But all these do is mask the odor. If you have guests arriving any minute, a litter box deodorizer works well when you don’t have time to dump the box and scrub it, but there is a better way to have your cat’s litter box (or litter boxes if you have more than one cat) a much better way. Imagine walking into the bathroom (or wherever your cat’s box is) and smelling only fresh clean air. A cat lover can only dream? Well, that was until a Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer came on the market.

What Is a Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer?

Well, in short: while a deodorizer works to mask the scent, a neutralizer removes that harsh stinky smell. Let me explain this a little bit more…

The bad smell in cat urine is ammonia and something that is excreted by every living human and animal on the planet. The Romans figured out a flush toilet for us, but most cats can’t figure out how to use it. That’s why the litter box was invented for consumer sales back in 1947, though some people might already have been setting cardboard boxes indoors for their cat. Sand was the first cat litter used and eventually evolved into what we have today.

The odor neutralizer eats up the ammonia waste so that it is gone from the cat litter. This means that there is no bad smell left, nor is there any scent to mask bad smells, which obviously are no longer needed.

Why Is a Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer More Effective Than What You Can Buy Now?

Right now you can buy odor deodorizers that work to absorb the urine in the litter box. Then they mask the ammonia from the urine with a scent.

This doesn’t exactly work all that well. For one, you’re not fooling your cat. They can still smell the stinky ammonia, and if you know cats, you know how they can take revenge on your floor, your shoes, or even the bed!

Also consider what they’re masking the smell with. A popular odor neutralizer on the market contains lavender which is a common odor-masker. It’s also one of the number one favorite scents for men and woman around the world.

Do you really want to ruin the smell of lavender? Because that’s what happens when you mix it with ammonia. Now you’ll have to find another favorite scent.

A Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer works differently than a deodorizer. Instead of masking the scent, it absorbs and breaks down the ammonia. No ammonia means no bad smell.

Not only does this make the litter box safer for your cat, but for your family as well.

How A Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer Works

Inside a Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer are a family of 5 related microbes. These occur naturally in nature and are harmless to cats, other pets, humans, and plants. Just think about all the healthy bacteria and microorganisms that live on your skin right now. They keep your skin happy and healthy. Our odor neutralizer is similar to that.
 You’ll first add the Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer to your cat’s litter. After your cat uses the box, these microbes will consume the moisture in the urine as part of its nutritional needs.

Like all life, once it consumes ammonia, it’ll expel it back into the box. What remains is a bi-product that consists of carbon dioxide and water. The process can be likened to when plants take in carbon dioxide and expel oxygen, but it’s just in reverse to the odor neutralizer.

Basically, the ammonia in the urine is eliminated. That means, no litter box smell is left.

A Time Saver!

Chances are you have a partner, children, cats, and other pets, on top of your full-time career or small business. Using a Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer can help you to save both money and best of all, time! instead of looking after a stinky cat box, you’ll be able to spend more moments with your family.

A Money Saver!

The price might surprise you. It costs only $8 per 1.4 lbs. While actual savings may vary, depending on how often your cat uses the box, how many cats own you, and how often you clean, this cost is about $8 per 30 days (!). You can save from having to change your cat’s litter from once a week or every two weeks, to only once a month now. Now that is what I call a huge money and time-saver!

Like most of us we don’t want to spend too much money, if possible, right? That’s why it’s important to find ways to save on the household items we use. A Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer can help you to save money on cat litter by decreasing the amount you need by about half.

Let Me Tell You a Little Secret

Have you ever watched your cat approach their litter box? They’ll take a tentative sniff. They need to know that this is their box, and that no other cat has used it.

Did you know that your cat doesn’t expect a stink-free box? Cats like their litter boxes to smell like them. It’s how they differentiate their box from other cats in the household. But no, they don’t want it to reek and smell horrible either.

This is why a Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer works so perfectly. You won’t need to dump the cat litter once a week. Not only can you save money, but you and your cat(s) will be happy.

For the Health of You & Your Family

Did you know that ammonia can be harmful to your family? Breathing in the accumulated fumes can actually cause dizziness or even unconsciousness. While it’s rare that’s going to happen with a cat box, we know that some cat owners neglect their cat’s box for weeks on end.

Some people with additional lung issues, such as the very young or the elderly, may also suffer additional problems from sniffing ammonia. Those with pneumonia, asthma, COPD, and bronchitis may find it more difficult to breath.

In order to have a happy and safe family, it’s important to scoop your cat box up to 3 times a day, and to add a good odor neutralizer that can neutralize the ammonia. So instead of neglecting your cat’s box, do something about it with a Litter Odor Neutralizer.

Saving the Environment

By now you’ve heard the horror stories. The planet isn’t going to be around for much longer. What sort of legacy are you creating for your children? You want them to breath fresh air and enjoy the scenery when they’re older. That’s why you must take first steps in preserving the environment and reducing waste around the home. 

A Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer is a natural and safe way to treat your cat’s stinky litter box. It also enables your cat litter to last for longer, decreasing the waste that ends up in the landfill. While actual results may vary, the amount of cat litter used in the USA by our customers can be cut in half. Right now most people do a full change of their cat’s litter box every one to two weeks, but on average you’ll now be able to do this once every 30 days with A Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer.

When you purchase a Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer you can feel happy and confident that you’re doing all you can for the planet and your children’s future.

7 Steps to a Great Smelling Cat Bathroom

Follow these 7 steps to have a great smelling bathroom that both you and your cat can share!

1. Choose an idea location. Many people hesitate to place a cat box in their own bathroom, but it’s really no different than dealing with bad human smells too. It’s also a lot simpler to manage the box. Many people like to keep their cat’s box in their own bathroom. After you use the toilet you can also scoop the cat’s box. During a busy day, this is a more effective way to manage your time.

2. Brand new box every 2-3 years. No matter how hard you scrub or what cat-safe disinfectant you use to clean your cat’s box, eventually harmful bacteria and micro-organisms can get trapped in the scratches. It’s recommended you toss out (place in plastic recycling) your cat’s box and buy them a brand new one every 2-3 years.

3. One cat per box. Many pet owners are tempted to just have one box for multiple cats. But experts recommend one box per cat. Cats like to have their own box, with less likelihood that a cat will have accidents around the house, because their dominant sibling decided to scare them away.

4. Buy your fave cat litter. Some cat litters are better than others. Any type of cat litter will work with a Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer.

5. Purchase Mr Ros Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer. Once you’ve cleaned your cat box and poured in fresh litter, add the odor neutralizer. Simply open up the package and sprinkle the entire contents into the box. You don’t even have to mix it in, your cat will do it. They love to kick their cat litter around.

6. Scoop 3 times a day. This is about the average number of times that your cat will use the box, particularly if they enjoy pooping and peeing at separate times. (Cats can be weird!)

7. Enjoy fresh smelling air. Once you start using Mr Ros Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer you’ll wonder how you ever did without it before. Just reapply once every month, after you wash your cat’s box out and replace with fresh litter.

Have you ever read the funny cat stories from the USA? Roommates, landlords, and spouses can all fight over cats. Often it’s either them or the cat that goes. Well, you know the rest. The cat always stays!

Cats are family and we love them wholeheartedly. But, sometimes they can get stinky and messy (so can humans!). But there’s no need to suffer in silence. There are real solutions on the market today to solve all your problems. Fortunately, Mr Ros Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer can solve your worst cat problems.

Not only will you save time and money, but you’ll be able to bond even more closely with your cat after ordering your first package of Mr Ros Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer. Can’t wait? Order now www.mrros.com OR www.amazon.com

 

 

 

Lyme Disease and Vitamin C

Lyme Disease has been in the news a great deal recently, as more and more cases come to light. People contract Lyme Disease from the bite of an infected tick which results in a bacterial infection. In some cases, the first symptom is a red bull’s eye rash. In other cases, there is no rash at all, but a spreading infection which manifests in fever, headaches, body aches (tendons, joints, bones, muscles), fatigue, neck stiffness, arthritis with joint swelling and pain, nerve pain along with tingling and numbness, dizziness, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath.  

Lyme Disease is often difficult to diagnose because its symptoms mimic other diseases. Plus, many infected individuals don’t realize they have been bitten by an infected tick. In order to provide an accurate diagnosis, your physician will run lab tests (which are often inconclusive) as well as examine you, discuss your symptoms, and get your medical history. In most cases, antibiotics are given to aid recovery, though many continue to suffer with muscle/join pains and nervous system issues. Known as post-treatment Lyme Disease syndrome (PTLDS), help often comes in the way of natural supplements.

The castor bean tick (Ixodes ricinus)

Testimonials for Vitamin C and Lyme

Recently, here at MrRos.com, we were contacted by multiple customers who offered testimonials about the effectiveness of our Acerola Cherry in treating Lyme Disease and PTLSD, as well as controlling MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) while other sources of Vitamin C have not been effective. The first customer offered this, “I deal with Chronic Lyme Disease. I work with a great Chinese Doc in FL, who added it to my regimen. They felt your source was a good clean source and are big on food sources versus artificial or synthetic sources. They have me taking 1 tsp twice per day.” The second said this, “It is great for the immune system, which mine is all messed up from dealing with Lyme Disease for so long. It is also good for the brain fog Lyme brings, with neuro inflammation. I also deal with a syndrome called MCAS, which is also an immune system dysfunction. Food sources of Vitamin C are great for “keeping MCAS” stable.”

Given these testimonials, it seemed a good time to explore the connection between the rich, natural Vitamin C source of Acerola Cherry in the treatment of Lyme Disease.  Most animals produce their own supply of Vitamin C, but not all animals and not humans, which means these creatures must get their Vitamin C from outside sources. Historically, Vitamin C deficiency is connected with Scurvy from which many a sailor died prior to the 19th century. During that time, it was recognized that eating citrus fruit would protect against Scurvy though the science behind it was unknown. Descriptions of Scurvy have been documented to the early Egyptians and later Hippocrates, and yet it was 20th century biochemist, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, who discovered Vitamin C and answered the question “why?” A decade later, Dr. Fred R. Klenner and Professor Linus Pauling carried Vitamin C research to the next level. Nobel Prize Winner Linus Pauling used Vitamin C himself, recommending it to all as a way to improve overall health and wellness.

Yellow warning sign “beware of ticks” at a sunny clearing in the forest

The Vitamin C – Chronic Lyme Connection

In the 21st Century, Lyme Disease is rampant causing much illness with many symptoms including nutritional deficiencies. Because nutrients are key in the function and support of the immune system, nutritional deficiencies make it even more difficult to fight diseases like Lyme. While those with Lyme are often deficient in magnesium, Vitamin D-3, zinc, Vitamin C, and probiotics (beneficial gut bacteria), our focus here will be on Vitamin C.

The adrenal glands and the brain are the body’s biggest users of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is crucial in the support of immune function. It is also key in the body’s ability to manufacture collagen, balance pH, neutralizing free radicals (it is an antioxidant), detoxifying the body of heavy metals and environmental contaminants, supporting gut health, and more. On average, the recommended dosage of Vitamin C is 10 to 20 grams daily with those suffering from Lyme Disease requiring 50 to 100 grams daily. Oral powdered formulas and liposomal products, which are more easily absorbed are by the human body, are the ideal source of Vitamin C. Bottom of Form

For those suffering from Lyme Disease, which results in reduced immune function, a constant, higher than average, supply of Vitamin C is needed because humans cannot make or store Vitamin C. The high dose of Vitamin C helps the immune system fight and recover from illness, plus offers a host of additional benefits. And this leads us to Mr. Ros Natural Vitamin C Acerola Powder, which began this discussion.

Natural Vitamin C Cherry Acerola Powder by Mr. Ros

Mr. Ros Acerola Cherry Powder is 100 percent pure wildcrafted and delivers one of nature’s richest sources of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid). All-natural Acerola is more easily absorbed than synthetic versions and offers an exceptional quality source for making liposomal Vitamin C. If you suffer from Lyme Disease, your immune system is compromised, and Vitamin C can help. If you have chronic colds, infections, fatigue, and premature aging issues, Vitamin C is effective for you as well, as these are all the result of a weakened immune system.

Acerola Cherry Powder by Mr. Ros is a product of the natural fruit of the organically grown Malpighia emarginata tree – natural acerola cherries. The tree is more commonly known as the Barbados cherry or wild crepe myrtle and produces red berries rich in Vitamin C which improve your overall immune system. While there are many acerola cherry product available, independent laboratory studies have shown Mr. Ros acerola cherry powder to be superior in quality with consistently high levels of Vitamin C and no additives. Plus, our acerola is harvested in Brazil where it is grown without the use of harmful pesticides. Each and every batch is independently testing assuring you of its high quality.

If you have Lyme Disease, chronic infections, or other immune system issues, isn’t it time to try Natural Vitamin C Cherry Acerola Powder by Mr. Ros? Order yours today and experience the health and wellness benefits of natural Vitamin C.

Not Satisfied? Get A Refund.

www.mrros.com

All You Need to know About Dry Skin on Dogs

close up photography of adult black and white short coat dog
Photo by Alexandru Rotariu on Pexels.com

Have you noticed your dog scratching a lot? Do you see what appears to be little white flakes all over them? If so, what you’re seeing is dandruff. It’s dry skin and is very similar to what humans get on their heads. But what causes it, and is it something you need to treat? Here are things every dog owner needs to know about dry skin on dogs.

 

What Causes Canine Dry Skin?

 

There are a number of different things that can cause dry skin on your dog. One of the first things your vet may check for is allergies. Dog allergies are very similar to human allergies and can cause dry skin, itching, and other issues. Your dog may be allergic to something in their food, dust, grass, flea saliva, pollen, and even their own dander. Dog allergies can lead to atopic dermatitis, a condition that leads to dry skin and itching.

 

Mites, scabies, and other parasites can also cause your dog to start itching. These little creatures can usually be treated with medication, but it often takes a visit to the vet to get the necessary products for dogs with dry skin. The same goes for fungal infections and bacterial infections. These infections can not only be the cause of itching, but may also indicate that your dog has another, more serious issue such as ringworm.

 

There are other conditions, too, such as dry air, using harsh soap to bathe your dog, and living in a cold environment. Some breeds are even predisposed to skin conditions and itch more often than others.

 

Dry Skin Symptoms

 

While itching and seeing flaky skin are the two most obvious signs that your dog has dry skin, they’re not the only signs. In fact, some dogs don’t itch that much. Here are a few other symptoms you need to watch for:

  • Pimples
  • Inflammation
  • Odor
  • Scabs
  • Scaling
  • Oily fur
  • Fur loss

 

Some dogs may only have a few symptoms, while others may have almost all of them.

 

What Can You Give a Dog for Dry, Itchy Skin?

 

There are a number of different dry dog skin remedies. The first thing you need to do when you see signs of dry skin is to take your dog to the vet. Each of the different causes of dry skin has its own unique treatment. If your dog is dealing with parasites, giving them dog food for dogs with dry skin may not help since the dry skin isn’t caused by allergies or other issues that can be treated with diet. Instead, you need medicine that will kill the parasites. You need to determine what’s causing the dry skin and if there’s another issue must be treated first or alongside the skin condition.

 

If your dog has allergies, you may need to invest in some dog lotion for dry, itchy skin. You might also need to change what they eat or try to determine what exactly it is that’s causing the allergic reaction. You can give your dog vitamins for dry skin, change how often they’re bathed, and take other steps to control what triggers the dry skin. This type of prevention is often necessary for allergies, the weather, predisposition to skin conditions, and other issues that cannot easily be treated medically.

Fish Oil Supplements Harm the Ocean and They May Not Even Be That Good for You

fish oil omega 3

Fish Oil Supplements Harm the Ocean and They May Not Even Be That Good for You

The fish oil industry could lead to the collapse of certain species and we can’t even prove omega-3 supplements are as beneficial as we think they are.

MirageC/Getty Images

In the pursuit of optimal health, we all have our habits. If you’re like about 10 percent of US adults, your death-cheating trick of choice is taking a little, oily pill: an omega-3 fatty acid supplement typically extracted from fish or shellfish.

Omega-3 supplements are the third most popular dietary supplement in the country, surpassed only by vitamins and minerals. They’ve been snapped up by Americans—and people around the world—with hopes of lessening their risk of heart disease and stroke, keeping their minds sharp, improving eye health, and a number of other uses.

Although we love our fish oil, recent research has suggested that omega-3 fatty acids—at least when they come in a supplement form—may not be as beneficial as pill-poppers would like to believe. Last month, a comprehensive review of 79 of the best conducted experiments on the supplement’s health benefits concluded that they make “little to no difference” on outcomes of premature death due to heart disease or stroke. And while the scientific consensus supports omega-3s’ positive effects on brain health and cognition, evidence suggests that obtaining the fatty acids from their whole food sources (like fish, nuts, and seeds) might be more effective than seeking them in isolated supplements.

And there are other, bigger reasons to question their use. As author Paul Greenberg explores in his most recent book, The Omega Principle, our taste for fish oil is destroying ocean life as we grind down tiny organisms such as krill, sardines, and anchovies to pack into those supposedly life-giving pills. The base of the ocean food chain, these critters perish by the millions of metric tons each year to satisfy our growing desire for fish oil, disrupting the food supply of important predator species including cod, tuna, and whales.

We spoke with Greenberg about our omega-3 obsession and whether we’re on course to empty our oceans in the pursuit of the perfect pill.

TONIC: How did our fixation on omega-3s begin?

Paul Greenberg: Before the rise of the supplement industry, interest in cod liver oil actually goes way back before we knew that omega-3 was good for the heart or brain. The oil’s healthful properties were identified in the 19th century, as a cure for rickets, which is caused by a deficiency of vitamin D. Cod liver oil became a major industry in Norway and, from a clinical point of view, there was a very positive feeling around fish oil.

In the 40s and 50s, in the wake of all the discoveries about vitamins and minerals, there really weren’t that many nutrient categories left to research. So researchers were like, “Well, let’s look at the fats.”


One very important development happened in the 70s, when two Danish doctors, Hans Olaf Bang and Jørn Dyerberg, went to Greenland because they’d read there were very low levels of cardiovascular disease among the Inuit eating seals and whales and fish. When they did blood lipid analyses of Inuit samples, they found very high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and formed a hypothesis that omega-3s might be responsible for the lower levels of coronary heart disease among Greenland Inuit.

This created excitement in the research community and later, in the late 80s/early 90s, the first pharmaceutical grade omega-3 supplement hit the market.

What are some of the ways that the market for omega-3 supplements is disrupting food chains in the oceans?

PG: What I learned is that solar radiation drives the entire ocean life cycle—just like on land—but the ocean works differently. The grass of the ocean is plankton, which takes solar energy and transforms it into molecular bonds. All that energy would remain locked up in the plankton if not for the little fish that come along and eat it [then bigger fish eat them]. Fewer “forage” fish can mean a simpler and less productive ecosystem—and forage fish are being removed from marine ecosystems at high levels all around the world.

Many people are familiar with the book Cod by Mark Kurlansky. When I was working on my book, I circled back with some of the sources in Mark’s book, and what I learned about the collapse of the cod population that he describes was that not all of the collapse was due to overfishing of cod—it was the overfishing of what the cod ate that might have done greater damage. Cod eat these small fish called capelin, which are commonly used for fish meal and fish oil. A similar thing occurred in the 70s and early 80s, when the American striped bass population collapsed. It can be argued that part of that collapse was due to a reduction in their prey, menhaden, which is also ‘“reduced” into animal feed and dietary supplements.

What advice do you give people who want to get the potential health benefits of omega-3s, but don’t want to be implicated in the destruction of our oceans?

PG: If you want to take a supplement, go for one that’s made from algae. No fish have to be killed, and it’s a very sustainable way of producing omega-3s. There are also supplements that aren’t based on the giant reduction industry that produces most fish oil, but rather on fish waste. There’s a very good brand called Pure Alaska Omega that uses off cuts from the salmon industry in Alaska. (See Marine Phytoplankton by Mr Ros for algae instead of fish oil – Red.)

Actually, Martha Stewart inspired this product. She was visiting the salmon smokehouse at this facility, which is owned by an Italian American guy named Sandro Lane. She saw all these salmon heads and guts strewn all over the place and she said, “Can’t you do something with all this?” As an Italian, Sandro was familiar with the concept of cold-pressing olives for olive oil, so he started doing the same thing with the salmon viscera. The salmon are kept chilled for the entirety of the catch cycle, which means the oil is much less likely to oxidize. Once it oxidizes, it’s more or less useless to human health.

But another thing you can do to reap the benefits of omega-3s is to simply include more oily fish in your diet. We can direct our dollars toward fishermen who catch food fish, instead of toward the supplement industry. A fisherman that is fishing for human consumption is much more likely to get more dollars per pound than a fisherman trying to catch fish for industrial reduction. So if you can find them, try to buy Peruvian anchovies and help direct fisherman away from the reduction industry and toward the market for human consumption.

The world’s largest single fishery is the Peruvian anchoveta, or anchovy: 2 to 5 million metric tons of anchovies are caught per year, and more than 95 percent of those fish go into reduction cookers. This fish is completely edible and just as delicious as any anchovy.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

 

Read further:

 

Why Marine Phytoplankton is Better than EPA

Many people know that Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids are needed for your health. These acids can help reduce inflammation, improve joint health, help with infant and child development, lower the risk of heart disease, and much, much more. If you ask most people how they could get more Omega 3’s in their diet, they would say to take fish oil supplements. While these supplements do contain some Omega 3’s, they’re not the most effective way of getting more of these necessary acids. In fact, they have a few downsides to them that most people don’t know about. Marine phytoplankton, on the other hand, offers much more than fish oil. Here are some of the ways it’s better than fish oil and other EPA products.

What Is EPA?

EPA is short for eicosapentaenoic acid, a type of long-chain Omega 3. It’s found in many different fish and other sea life, including shellfish. The other type of Omega 3 acids are short-chain fatty acids or alpha-linolenic acids (ALA). ALA acids are found in algae, marine phytoplankton, and various other plants.

Cutting Out the Middleman

Fish are high in Omega 3’s, but why is that? Because they eat things that are high in them! Fish eat marine phytoplankton and absorb the Omega 3’s found in them, which then makes the fish high in these fatty acids. By taking marine phytoplankton capsules or adding powdered marine phytoplankton to your meals, you’re essentially cutting out the middleman. You’re absorbing the ALA short-chain fatty acids just like a fish would. Of course, you’d need to eat a lot more marine phytoplankton than a fish would since you’re much larger, but that’s why these supplements are highly concentrated.

The Benefits of Using Marine Phytoplankton Instead of Fish Oils and Other EPA Supplements

Other than ingesting marine phytoplankton directly instead of through fish, why should you take this supplement instead of other EPA-based ones? There are a few reasons why marine phytoplankton is the better option:

  • You’re doing the same thing fish do to build a strong immune system.
  • You don’t have to worry about ingesting mercury, lead, or other heavy metals that are being found more and more in fish.
  • You also don’t have to worry about ingesting any of the synthetic PCB chemicals that are now being found in fish.
  • Marine phytoplankton is often grown in a controlled bioreactor instead of harvested from the oceans. This means that’s cleaner and safer.
  • Ingesting supplements made from using this phytoplankton also means you’re not having any type of impact on the ocean life.
  • You aren’t contributing to the decrease of the fish population or the over-fishing of certain areas.

Want to learn more about marine phytoplankton capsules or powders? You can read more about our products on our website or purchase them directly through Amazon.