Air Quality Issues

If you've noticed an increase in asthma or allergy symptoms lately, you're not alone. Almost everyone I've talked to has had more problems recently. I think the reason is because of really bad air quality.

About three weeks ago I started having serious trouble breathing almost all the time. I assumed it was because of local issues - record heat, construction, etc. However, I soon found out that air quality around the country is currently bad.

Last week I drove from TX to FL and the air was bad the whole way. I've never experienced air quality this bad in the US before. (I have in foreign countries.)

There are several factors related to air quality. Heat, pollution, and ozone levels are some of the factors. Right now many places are having record temperatures. And in many cities there is a lot of new construction going on.

As far as ozone, here's an article that explains about the dangers of ozone near the ground.

https://www.thoughtco.com/ozone-not-all-ozone-is-good-for-earth-3443718

There are websites that rate and forecast the air quality each day based on various factors. Here's a site for the state of Texas. I'm sure there are similar sites for other states.

https://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html

It's important to check the air quality index and heed any warnings that are given. 

For now, until the air quality improves, it's probably better to keep doors and windows closed and run air purifiers if you have them. And be aware that people may experience more symptoms than normal - respiratory, allergy, headaches, etc. 

 Sometimes we forget how important air is, after all you can't see it or touch it. But it's necessary for life. Please join me in praying that God will heal whatever is causing this terrible air quality, so that we can breathe clean air again. Thank you! 

What Are You Asking For?

Hello, I'm so sorry this post is a few days late. There's been really toxic air quality for the last week, causing me to have a lot of trouble breathing. I really appreciate your prayers. 

Thankfully, I have the privilege of sharing a guest post from my mom. I hope her words of wisdom are encouraging and helpful. =) 

From Jan Harris - 

I lived with Super E.I. girl for years, and I've watched her overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles—by God’s grace. In this guest post, I want to encourage you with some things that you can ask God to do for you in the midst of challenges and trials.

1. Ask God to keep you aware that He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5b) This is God's firm promise to all who believe in Him. No matter how rotten you may feel physically, God is still with you to comfort, encourage, and strengthen.

2. Ask God to make you a person who reaches out to help and comfort others. When you’re ill most of the time, it’s easy to forget that other people are facing difficulties too. Their difficulties may be different than yours, but they're still real and hard and painful for that person.

3. Ask God to remind you that He is sovereign. In our family we often say, “This thing that happened didn’t take God by surprise.” When you go to church and are overwhelmed by perfume, when there’s something wrong with the food in the restaurant though it seems perfectly fine to the waiter, when you feel like all your organic food and supplements are costing far too much—go back to God. Ask Him again to show you His sovereignty - that He is still in control of everything. 

4. Ask God to never let you forget that He is good. “So Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.’" (Mark 10:18) Pray that God will make you aware of His goodness in your life.

5. Ask God to strengthen you to claim His promises. The Bible is full of promises God has made to His children. One of my favorites is Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Here is a link to a site with more of God's promises: www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/gods-promises-verses-in-the-bible/

6. Of course, ask God to heal you. I can’t remember how many times I asked God to heal my daughter. God welcomes our prayers for healing. I believe He always heals, but not always as we expect. Perhaps in one moment, He will touch you and restore your health. Or maybe He will heal you inch by inch through a number of years. Or maybe He will only heal you when you meet Him in heaven. But He will be faithful. God cannot be anything else. (1 Corinthians 1:9)

On your worst day, remember—God loves you, He wants you to give all your worries and cares to Him. (1 Peter 5:7) And He is working out His perfect plan for your life.

Kefir - Quick Facts and How To Make Your Own

Have you heard of kefir? If not, here's an explanation from one of Dr. Mercola's articles:

"Kefir is a fermented milk beverage that contains beneficial probiotics that may help give your immune system a boost, among other health benefits. One of the best and least expensive ways to get healthy bacteria through your diet is actually to obtain raw milk and convert it to kefir yourself. All you need is one-half packet of kefir starter granules in a quart of raw milk, which you leave at room temperature overnight. By the time you wake up in the morning you will likely have kefir. If it hasn't obtained the consistency of yogurt you might want to set it out a bit longer and then store it in the fridge.

A quart of kefir has far more active bacteria than you can possibly purchase in any probiotic supplement, and it is very economical as you can reuse the kefir from the original quart of milk about 10 times before you need to start a new culture pack. Just one starter package of kefir granules can convert about 50 gallons of milk to kefir. This is also a far healthier, and far more economical, way to nourish your body with probiotics than buying any of the commercial probiotic beverages on the market, as these typically contain added sugars and are made using pasteurized milk, which I don't recommend drinking."

(from https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/12/31/top-10-healthiest-foods.aspx)

There's more information on Dr. Mercola's site about kefir, recipes, etc.

I have friends who make their own kefir regularly, and they will tell you what a difference it has made for their health! It has been especially beneficial for their children who have a lot of health challenges.


If you want/need a non-dairy option, you can also make kefir using water. Here's a simple video on how to make your own water kefir.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdLl1i_GwXU

Here's an article about different kinds of kefir grains and where you can find them. You can order kefir grains online or sometimes you can find them locally, from a friend or a farm nearby.

I realize that not everyone is able to tolerate fermented foods. (I'm finally able to eat yogurt again, but I haven't managed kefir yet.) But if you can, then kefir and other fermented foods can be a great addition to a healthy diet and a valuable tool for improving health.

I hope this information is helpful. Please share any great tips or resources about kefir that you have in the comments. Thanks!