Keeping your car in good condition, having it serviced regularly, and maintaining it to the best of your ability at home will extend the life of your vehicle and save you fuel and repair costs in the long run. Your exhaust is an integral part of your car, and while it can often be overlooked as a priority area for maintaining service, taking care of your exhaust system and catalytic converter can be a real money saver.

The catalytic converter (CAT) is one of the most important parts of your vehicle’s exhaust system and helps minimize your car’s impact on the environment. A catalytic converter reduced the pollutants released into the atmosphere when your car’s engine is running. But the CAT can only function properly when there is a specific air-to-fuel ratio. If there are failures in the engine management system or the fuel supply, the catalytic converter may not function properly or may be damaged.

The CAT sits under the car and is therefore susceptible to bumps and knocks that can affect its efficiency as well. Try to avoid braking the car or going too fast over the speed bumps: approach obstacles and potholes at a slight angle so that you do not straddle them and therefore put the underside of your car at risk.

A catalytic converter can be expensive to replace or repair, so it’s worth taking care of! There are several things you can do to keep your CAT running efficiently and avoid costly repairs:

• Have your car serviced regularly, in an authorized and reliable workshop.
• Always use unleaded fuel with a catalytic converter – a single tank of leaded fuel can completely disable a CAT!
• Avoid running out of fuel.
• Grounding your vehicle can hit the catalytic converter and even break the ceramic monolith (a crucial part of the conversion process).
• Never start a car that has a CAT installed. Instead, use jump cables.

You can also get a ‘Green MOT’, which analyzes the performance of the CAT as part of its MOT emissions test. If there is a problem with your catalytic converter, your local shop will be able to repair or replace a faulty unit. A standard ceramic model will generally carry a one-year warranty, while an unbreakable metal monolith will give you a three-year warranty (and is more robust than the ceramic version).

Problems with your exhaust system can end up being costly, but with careful driving, regular car service, and an experienced exhaust technician, you can extend the life of your exhaust and catalytic converter and save money.

Ladies, enjoy your guilty pleasure! No need to hide that copy of “50 Shades of Gray”. Studies have shown that women who read romance novels not only have sex twice as often, but they also experience greater sexual satisfaction. Patricia Love, author of “Hot Monogamy,” routinely suggests in her workshops that women spend time enjoying romance novels. “I think reading stories about lustful women can give a sexually inhibited woman the permission she needs to be a more passionate lover, especially when she reads the books late at night.”

An estimated twenty million women spend countless amounts of money on this form of stimulation. Romance novels account for 46% of mass-market paperbacks in the US Researchers conclude that “erotic romances provide a form of sexual stimulation for their readers similar to that provided by sexual fantasies and that they are a form of ‘softcore’ pornography that women find socially acceptable and non-threatening. “

So this summer shake up your sex life by snuggling by the pool or on the couch and lose yourself in a good romance novel.

If you’re new to the romance genre or looking for new authors after finishing the 50 Shades trilogy, here are some of my favorites.

Sweet: historical and contemporary, very little sexual content.

Catherine Anderson

Susan wiggs

Contemporary Romantic Comedy: If you like movies like “How to Lose a Boy in 10 Days” or “Sweet Home Alabama,” check out these authors.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Jennifer cruise

Carly phillips

Something for everyone:

Nora Roberts / JD Robb

Paranormal / Erotic: These authors are extremely explicit, not all of their titles are paranormal but most are. If you like spicy, these are the authors for you.

Laurel K Hamilton

Lora leigh

Lego is a toy with a very rich history. Many generations of fans appreciate the pleasure of building amazing models from Lego bricks. The incredibly popular Harry Potter book and movie franchise also has millions of fans, so there are sure to be plenty of delighted fans who will spend happy hours creating their own Harry Potter world.

I want to share with you some of the great features that you are going to discover in the Lego Hogwarts Castle 4842 model. If you are thinking of buying it as a gift, you can be sure of its quality. Let me show you how you can purchase this great gift online and use the power of online information to make an informed purchasing decision and locate this exciting toy at a great discount price.

Lego Hogwarts Castle is well designed and full of surprises.

Filled with moving parts, hidden surprises, and Harry Potter character figures, this Lego model is incredibly sturdy when assembled, making it the perfect toy for children of all ages who like to use their imaginations to get around. to the magical world of Hogwarts.

Some of the notable details you’ll find in this set include escalators, Dumbledore’s office, stained glass, and the restricted section of the library. Your child will really appreciate the simplicity and clarity of the instruction manuals used to build Hogwarts. Once built, they’ll be happy to play with the many character figures and items like the Invisibility Cloak, Gryffindor Sword, a Basilisk Fang, and the Sorting Hat. All of these pieces are extremely durable and encourage the development of imaginative play.

You can buy this great gift online 24 hours a day.

With kids at home, it can be hard to find time to go out and buy that special surprise gift. Online shopping has really changed the way we shop by introducing a level of convenience that really makes our lives that much easier. You will be amazed at the amount of time, effort, and gas you save by using your home computer to shop for a wide variety of items.

Use online forums to find information and prices.

If shopping online seems like a huge time saver, then you want to be sure that you are making the right choice and the best purchase at a very competitive price. One way to find out all the information you need about Lego Hogwarts Castle 4842 is to visit the relevant internet forums and blogs. These are websites where people can express their opinions about the product they have purchased. This can be very useful as you will see pictures and learn if you are about to buy a quality product for your needs. Many forum contributors will discuss where they bought their Lego set and how much they paid for it. Using this information is one way to find out where the best discounts are. On the other hand, some forum contributors may present controversial views that are not necessarily balanced product reviews, which can be quite misleading. You may find that this may make your ability to make a clear decision more difficult, rather than easy.

The body relies on three macronutrients: protein, carbohydrates, and fat, as well as many micronutrients. Unlike carbohydrates and fats, protein is not easily stored in the body, however it will store protein like the others in the face of too many calories. Fat is the easiest for the body to digest. The body digests carbohydrates according to their type. Simple carbohydrates are quick and easy to digest and cause sugar spikes that can lead to weight gain. Complex carbohydrates, on the other hand, take longer for the body to digest and do not contribute to the sugar spike or insulin surge cycle.

Proteins are the most difficult for the body to digest and begin to burn energy from the moment they enter the bloodstream. Proteins, in addition to being slow to digest, are vital to all cells in the body and play an important role in a number of functions. Despite the importance of the nutrient, there is an upper limit to how much protein the body needs. Ironically, the need for protein is never greater than in the first six months of human life, when pound for pound, the need for protein is double what it will be for the rest of life, regardless of circumstances or stage of life. life.

Some of the functions of proteins

The most obvious role of protein is muscle building and repair, but there are many others. These include:

– Construction of connective tissue

– Construction of cell membranes

– Contributing to the bone matrix

– Regulate the pH balance of the blood

– Formation of hormones and enzymes, including those that play a role in regulating sleep, digestion and ovulation.

– Stimulate immune function (antibodies are proteins)

– Creating new blood cells

– Creating RNA and DNA

– Creating neurotransmitters

(Source: Nelson, 2009)

The digestive process of proteins

All proteins are made up of various amino acids. While the human body can create many of these amino acids on its own, there are eight that are not produced in the human body and must come from food sources every day. These are called essential amino acids. A protein is considered complete, which means it has all eight essential amino acids, or incomplete, which means it lacks one or more of them. These eight amino acids are leucine, isoleucine, valine, threonine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and lysine. Animal proteins are complete, while most plant proteins are not.

These amino acids are technically simple compounds created from carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, or nitrogen molecules. Each of the amino acids will join together to form a chain, which will later be called a peptide. The average peptide will have more than 500 amino acids.

Each protein is broken down into simple amino acids during the digestive process. These, in turn, are absorbed and used by the body to produce new amino acids, enzymes, and hormones.

During digestion, the protein is first sent to the stomach, where the hydrochloric acid from the stomach acid breaks it down into its first components. The gastric enzyme pepsin, which is the only protease capable of digesting collagen, a protein in animal connective tissue, digests amino acids. (Enzymes are classified into proteinases or proteases). The next step in the process takes place in the duodenum, the first segment of the small intestine. Here, the pancreas will deliver its own protease enzymes, trypsin, and chymotrypsin. Trypsin works to break down protein into amino acids through a process called hydrolysis, where a water molecule is inserted between two amino acids to break their bond and separate them. At this point in the digestive process, amino acids are small enough to pass through the intestinal lining and through the rest of the body.

During exercise, the body’s protein production decreases. The remaining protein is converted to free amino acids and used as fuel for working muscle groups. After exercise, especially in the case of intense resistance training, the rate of protein synthesis remains low while the rate of degradation remains high for approximately 24 hours. Without a new source of protein during this recovery period, breakdown will likely exceed synthesis, and the body will turn to its own muscles for fuel.

Protein evaluation

All proteins, especially those used by elite, endurance and strength athletes, are rated on two scales. The Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAA) judges the integrity of a protein. A complete protein, meaning one that has all eight essential amino acids, will score 1 on this scale. The second score is the Biological Value (BV) score, which will judge how much protein is actually retained by the body after it is broken down. All types of protein are often compared to egg on this scale because it scores 100, which means that all the protein you get from eating an egg is retained by the body. Unless you are an elite athlete, you are unlikely to know or care about your protein’s PDCAA or BV score, and there are easier ways to evaluate the foods and supplements you consume.

Your proteins should be low in fat, especially saturated fat. They should be low in calories, or at least not extremely high in calories relative to the serving size. Lastly, they should taste good and have other nutritional benefits as well.

Protein supplements should be high in protein but low in calories and should not have added sugar or fat. Read all labels carefully, as some of the protein bar brands try to pretend to be healthy when they have little difference from the average chocolate bar.

Know your need for protein

From the baby in his crib to the elite bodybuilder to the old man who plays shuffleboard, all humans need protein. Your actual need is as individual as they are, based on your age, health, weight, and activity level. Protein is important, but it can also be dangerous when consumed in extremely high amounts. Experts suggest that the upper limit is no more than 35% of total daily calories, even for elite athletes. As mentioned above, there is no greater need for protein than during the first six months of life, when the baby should be ingesting 2.2 grams of protein per kg of body weight. The elite bodybuilder, on the other hand, should consume around 1.6 grams per kg of body weight. (Source: US Guidelines on Protein and Nutrition) For the average-sized man, that translates to about 60 grams of protein per day, or about 8 ounces of meat. Women need less protein than men, unless they are pregnant, when the need increases dramatically. However, when a woman is not pregnant, excess protein can lead to greater loss of calcium through the urine, putting her at higher risk of developing osteoporosis. (Source: Tsang, RD 2007)

For the average person, the need for protein is between 5 and 8 grams per kg of body weight each day, more if you are very active and less if you are sedentary. Timing is also important as athletes are advised to eat a small protein meal or take their choice of protein supplement before exercising and immediately after so that the body does not resort to destroying its own muscle mass in search of of energy.

References

Lisa Nelson Proteins and Heart Health: How Much Do You Need? Central health. Highbloodpressureconnection.com Nov 30, 3009

Gloria Tsang, RD Men vs. Women: Difference in Nutritional Requirements. Healthcastle.com October 2007

The United States Guidelines on Protein and Diet, United States Department of Agriculture

As a business or investment professional involved in mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”), are you conducting patent due diligence in accordance with the standard practices of your M&A attorneys and investment bankers? When patents are an important aspect of transaction value, you are probably getting the wrong advice on how to conduct due diligence. The due diligence process must take into account the competitive landscape for patents. If competitive patents are not included in your research process, you may be significantly overvaluing the target company.

In my many years of experience in intellectual property and patents, I have participated in a number of M&A transactions in which patents were a significant part of the underlying value of the deal. As a patent specialist in these transactions, I was led by highly paid M&A attorneys and investment bankers who were recognized by C-level management as the “real experts” because they completed dozens of deals a year. To this end, patent specialists were instructed to check the following 4 boxes on the patent due diligence checklist:

• Are patents paid at the Patent Office?
• Is the seller really the owner of the patents?
• Do at least some of the patent applications cover the seller’s products?
• Did the seller’s patent attorney make some stupid mistake that would make patent enforcement more difficult in court?

When these boxes were checked as “complete” on the due diligence checklist, M&A attorneys and investment bankers had effectively “CYA’d” the patent issues and were clear of patent-related liability. in the transaction.

I have no doubt that I carried out my patent due diligence duties highly competently and that I was also “CYA’d” in these transactions. However, it is now clear that the patenting aspect of M&A due diligence basically conformed to someone’s idea of ​​how not to make stupid mistakes in a transaction involving patents. In truth, I was never very comfortable with the “flyover” feeling of patent due diligence, but I had no decision rights to contradict the standard operating procedures of M&A experts. And I found out how incomplete the standard patent due diligence process is when they let me pick up the pieces of a transaction conducted under standard M&A procedure.

In that transaction, my client, a large manufacturer, sought to expand its non-core product offering by acquiring “CleanCo,” a small manufacturer of a proprietary consumer product. My client found CleanCo to be a good target for the acquisition because CleanCo’s product met a strong consumer need and, at the time, ordered a higher price in the marketplace. Due to strong consumer acceptance of its unique product, CleanCo was experiencing tremendous growth in sales and that growth was expected to continue. However, CleanCo owned only a small manufacturing facility and was having difficulty meeting the growing needs of the market. CleanCo’s venture capital investors were also eager to collect after several years of continued funding from the company’s somewhat marginal operations. So my client and CleanCo’s marriage seemed like a good match, and the M&A due diligence process was put in place.

Due diligence revealed that CleanCo had few assets: the small manufacturing plant, limited but growing sales and distribution, and several patents covering the single CleanCo product. Despite these seemingly minimal assets, CleanCo’s sale price was over $ 150 million. This price could only mean one thing: CleanCo’s value could only lie in the sales growth potential of its proprietary product. In this scenario, the unique nature of the CleanCo product was correctly understood as critical to the purchase. That is, if someone could imitate CleanCo’s differentiated product, competition would invariably ensue and all bets would be off by the growth and sales projections that formed the basis of the financial models that drove the acquisition.

Following my instructions from the M&A attorney and investment banker leaders in the transaction, I conducted the patent aspects of the due diligence process in accordance with their standard procedures. Everything checked. CleanCo owned the patents and kept the fees paid. CleanCo’s patent attorney had done a good job with patents – the CleanCo product was well covered by patents and no obvious legal mistakes were made in obtaining patents. So, I gave the transaction the go-ahead from a patent perspective. When everything else seemed positive, my client became the proud owner of CleanCo and its product.

Fast forward several months. . . . I started getting frequent calls from people on my client’s marketing team focused on the CleanCo product about competitive products seen in the field. Given the fact that more than $ 150 million was spent acquiring CleanCo, it is not surprising that these marketers believed that competing products must infringe on CleanCo’s patents. However, I discovered that each of these competitive products was a legitimate design of the patented CleanCo product. Because these knockoffs were not illegal, my client had no way to remove these competitive products from the market through legal action.

As a result of this increasing competition for the CleanCo product, a price erosion began to occur. The financial projections that formed the basis of my client’s acquisition of CleanCo began to unravel. The CleanCo product is still selling strongly, but with this unexpected competition, my client’s expected margins are not being achieved and their investment in CleanCo will take much more time and expensive marketing to pay off. In short, to date, the CleanCo acquisition for $ 150 million appears to be a failure.

In hindsight, competition for the CleanCo product could have been anticipated during the M&A due diligence process. As we later discovered, a search of the patent literature would have revealed that there were many other ways to address consumer need that the CleanCo product addresses. CleanCo’s success in the market now appears to be due to the advantage of being the first to act, as opposed to any real technological or cost advantage provided by the product.

Had I known then what I know now, I would have strongly advised against the expectation that the CleanCo product would be priced higher due to market exclusivity. Rather, it would demonstrate to the M&A team that competition in the CleanCo product was possible and indeed highly likely, as revealed by the myriad of solutions to the same problem shown in the patent literature. The deal may still have been finalized, but I think the financial models driving the acquisition would be more grounded in reality. As a result, my client could have formulated a marketing plan based on the understanding that competition was not only possible, but also probable. So the marketing plan would have been on the offensive, rather than defensive. And I know my client didn’t expect to be on the defensive after spending over $ 150 million on the CleanCo acquisition.

One of the ironies of modern life is that we can spend more time connected, yet sometimes we end up being less present to each other.

You may be in the same room with a group of friends, but each of you is busy texting or talking on your phones.

If you feel like you’re missing something, you might be right. Relationships are more satisfying when you give others your undivided attention and share your true self. Try these ideas to be more mindful in your personal and professional interactions.

Be more attentive:

1. Slow down. Forget about your to-do list and be more aware of what is going on around you. Take some time off each day to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

2. Stop multitasking. Studies show that our brains can only focus on one thing at a time, for the most part. Let that be the person you are talking to.

3. Set priorities. Make your days more manageable. Spend your time and energy on activities that you consider meaningful.

4. Turn off your phone. Try creating some tech-free zones.

5. Listen carefully and make eye contact. In a conversation, show others that you care about what they have to say. Actively listen by nodding your head and offering appropriate comments and questions. You communicate with both your eyes and your words.

Be more authentic:

1. Clarify your purpose. If you want others to know you, it is important that you understand yourself. Identify what matters to you and what you want from life.

2. Provide validation. Communicate your acceptance and appreciation. Even when you disagree, you can show others that your opinions and feelings are valid and valuable. Try to see a situation from their perspective.

3. Ask for help. Be willing to ask for support and help. Tell others what you need.

4. Express gratitude. Remember why you have to be grateful. Keep a gratitude journal and tell others about the positive impact they have on your life.

5. Have deep conversations. Be open to going beyond small talk. When you reveal personal information about yourself, you give others the opportunity to be more vulnerable as well. Find friends who want to explore spiritual and philosophical topics.

6. Extend forgiveness. Let go of past resentments and disappointments. Focus on the positive aspects of your relationships and resolve to move on. You will feel calmer and happier.

Discover the rewards of being fully attentive and authentic. When you reduce the distractions that come between you and those around you, you will change the dynamics of your relationships so that you feel more centered and loved.

Professional breeders of show dogs

Professional show dog breeders take pride of place among the ranks of dog breeders. They breed dogs because they like what they do and take pride in keeping bloodlines, records, and caring for dogs. If you want a quality purebred dog whose lineage you would like to get to know, these are the guys to go for. Some professional dog breeders specialize in a single breed or cross such as the sheepadoodle puppy sired by an Old English Sheepdog and a Poodle. In any case, they make sure their dogs pass the regulatory tests and that the puppies are well cared for as a member of the family before being handed over to new owners.

Puppy mills

Dog breeding is big business and there are regular commercial organizations that breed dogs in the same way that cattle are raised. Dogs are not so lucky here and they have to live in cages. Worse still, dogs may not be properly cared for or fed properly. The only reason is to raise and sell as many puppies as possible to make money. One can never expect a healthy sheepadoodle puppy from such puppy mills.

Backyard dog breeders

What people do on a commercial scale, some do on a smaller scale in their own backyards. They do not offer any health certificate for the puppies that they offer for sale. The great thing about backyard breeders is that selling puppies and making money is not their motive. They usually have one or two dogs and when the female gives birth, they keep a puppy and offer the rest for sale. Most of the puppies in these homes are well loved and cared for. If one can find a sheepadoodle from such breeders, it is worth taking. However, some backyard breeders emulate puppy mills and are quite unscrupulous in the way they treat dogs, so watch out for them.

Amateur breeders

A hobby is a passion and when it comes to hobby dog ​​breeders, they are fully committed and know the dogs they breed and their health as well as their training. They don’t do it for money. If your beloved dog gives birth to a litter, they keep one and sell the rest. The dogs and puppies of these breeders are well cared for and healthy.

Specialist breeder

A specialized breeder has the best traits of the backyard breeder and hobbyist breeder and will generally specialize in only one breed, such as sheepadoodles. Buying a puppy is not easy. One has to register for the next batch to come to this world. Even then, the buyer is scrutinized well because this type of breeder wants to make sure the puppy goes to the right house. They love dogs and deal directly with families who want to have dogs. Buying them puppies is the best thing to do.

We live in an age where saving time is more critical than saving money. Perhaps that is why air transport, which was previously reserved exclusively for the wealthiest or for emergencies, is now being used by its competitors, that is, rail and road transport. The number of passengers flying has multiplied by several in the past two decades, and the count continues to rise. A few decades ago, only the mature, developed and rich nations like the United States, the countries of Europe, Japan, Singapore, etc. they were those that had air connectivity with the main national cities and also with international destinations. But now, the number of countries connected to each other by air has increased dramatically, and that didn’t stop there. National air connectivity has also exploded, connecting many cities in many different countries. Not only the developed and rich nations, but also developing countries like China, India, and Brazil, etc. they have gained a lot due to increasing air connectivity. Not only has connectivity improved, but it has also improved the air travel experience. Let’s take a look at the things that have changed significantly in recent decades.

Travel time

Air travel, which has been the fastest mode of transportation since its inception, has become even faster over time. The flight from the Australian subcontinent to London was and remains one of the longest known flights. In the late 1950s, the cities of Sydney and London were connected by Qantas Airways of Australia. The journey then was a 4 day journey with a whopping 55 hours in the air and the flight touching the ground at six locations other than Sydney and London. The airline still operates between countries but in a different way. The 2018 New Kangaroo Route, as Qantas Airways calls it, connects Perth with London without stopping or landing anywhere else. The journey now only takes 17 hours in the air, covering more than 9,000 miles in the air in a single takeoff.

It’s not even the longest time in the air or the longest distance traveled in a single takeoff. As airplanes became increasingly efficient and technologically advanced, flights with even longer flight times and trips became possible. Another Qatar Airlines company between Auckland and Doha is now the longest flight, covering a staggering 9,025 miles in a single run (or flight) lasting 16-18 hours in the air. Imagine the passengers clinging to their seats for so long!

Food on board

There is a reason why the early flight period was dubbed the ‘Golden Age’ of flying. The price that the passengers paid for the trip was offset by the food and drinks served during the trip. But the airlines had their own problems to deal with. The steering wheels of the early 1920s had to deal with weight issues when there were instances where passengers were weighed before boarding. The same rule applied to food, which restricted the amount of food that was transported to heaven. As planes got better and trips lengthened, food got better and hotter. Food was more than an essential element for survival. The flights of the early 1930s had kitchens, which could provide a hot meal, and a dining room where passengers gathered and feasted in the air. Then in the 1940s came the era of frozen foods, thanks to which a variety of foods were served in heaven. As the aircraft got bigger, the number of passengers flying increased and so did the food storage spaces in the air. But now, customization has become important, compared to offering unified exotic dining for the entire passenger group. Currently, airlines allow passengers to order food of their choice before boarding, which would be delivered directly to their seats. For example, iFLEAT, is a mobile service that delivers food ordered by the passenger from a restaurant, directly to their seats. The service is now associated with Air Berlin and it plans to partner with more airlines in the future. Although inflight catering providers will feel the impact of this service, it is a win-win situation for the passenger as one gets the food of their choice to eat as well as the airlines as they can probably retain your customers by allowing them to do whatever they want.

Entertainment and connectivity on board

A recent survey of airline passengers has indicated that Wi-Fi was more important than food for passengers traveling by air. This shows how connected people are to the internet. And even airlines are trying to retain existing customers and attract more customers by providing them with entertainment and connectivity. Many airlines already offer Wi-Fi on at least some of their flights, but travelers have to purchase the service. Airlines provide free internet access only to first class travelers. Big names in the aviation industry like Etihad, Finnair, Lufthansa, etc. provide Internet access in all or part of its fleet, but at a cost to the passenger. On the other hand, there are few others like Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, etc. that provide free Wi-Fi access to their passengers. There are many travelers out there praying for this to happen on all airlines, and I hope it happens soon too. With the number of travelers expected to double by 2035, according to a market research firm, airlines will make many more changes to attract new passengers and retain existing ones.

Before the advent of electricity, candles were used primarily for lighting. Light served as a symbol of the good and the beautiful – especially in times of emotional and spiritual darkness – and the way humans relate to light is emotional, almost sensual.

Today, candles are used primarily for their aesthetic value and scent, to create a soft, warm or romantic atmosphere, and for emergency lighting during power outages. Scented candles are often used as a vehicle for aromatherapy.

No matter how you look at it, candles are BIG business. Here are some interesting and “illuminating” statistics:

* Candles are used in 7 out of 10 US households.

* Most consumers burn candles 1 to 3 times a week and half of these consumers burn 1 to 2 candles at a time.

* In 2006, the US candle market was estimated at $ 2.3 billion.

* 96% of all candles purchased are purchased by women.

The prevalence of candles in our homes is obvious. The real question is how much do you know about the type of candles you are buying and their potential impact on the indoor air quality of your home?

Lead wicks can cause problems

According to a study conducted about 8 years ago by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 40% of candles on the market still contained conductive wires within their wicks. This is an alarming statistic in light of the fact that the US candle-making industry voluntarily agreed to cease production of lead-containing candles in 1974, once lead wick burning was shown to lead concentration in indoor air increased.

A candle with a lead core wick has been shown to release five times the amount of lead considered hazardous to children and exceed EPA pollution standards for outdoor air.

Lead, along with other metals such as zinc, is used to stiffen candle wicks so that they remain straight when the surrounding wax begins to melt. The metal prevents the wick from falling off and extinguishing as soon as the wax no longer supports it. Although zinc is considered to be much less toxic than lead, very little is known about the long-term effects of breathing zinc in the dust or fumes released by burning it.

The soot that is everywhere

Another inherent problem with burning lead-wick candles (especially those made from paraffin wax, a by-product of petroleum) is a phenomenon called black soot deposition. Frequent candle lighting is now believed to be one of the sources of black soot in the home. The amount of soot produced can vary greatly from candle to candle. One type of candle can produce up to 100 times more soot than another type. The type of soot can also vary. Although it is composed primarily of elemental carbon, candle soot can include phthalates, lead, and other toxic ingredients such as benzene and tulene.

When soot is in the air, it can be inhaled. The particles can potentially penetrate the deeper areas of the lungs and lower respiratory tract causing respiratory problems and aggravating existing asthma, lung or heart conditions. Left unchecked, the soot from the regular burning of paraffin candles can also cause significant damage to the interior of your home, your computers, appliances, and ducts.

Synthetic scented candles are believed to be a major source of soot because the chemicals used in “fragrance” oils tend to soften the wax, increasing the need to add metals to the wicks to harden them. They are also likely the main source of phthalates in soot.

The good news …

The good news is that there are ways to enjoy burning candles without routinely exposing yourself to harmful toxins. Here’s how you can avoid the problem:

1. Make sure new candles you buy do not have lead in the wicks. Look for labels that say “lead free” or “clean burn without core.” If you are unsure, you can perform a simple test by rubbing the tip of the wick on a piece of paper. If you leave a pencil-gray mark, the wick contains lead.

2. Buy candles made with 100% beeswax or 100% vegetable wax. Because these waxes are more expensive, many manufacturers tend to mix them with paraffin. Avoid mixed wax candles. Look for labels that state that they are 100% pure

3. To reduce soot regardless of the type of candle you burn, keep the wicks trimmed and do not burn candles near a draft.

4. For aromatherapy candles, buy candles scented with only pure essential oils. Soy candles are best for this purpose, as they are clean, slow-burning, and long-lasting with a superior odor (dispersion). Containerized soy candles can also melt if placed on an electric warming plate. This eliminates the soot-generating combustion that comes from direct burning of the wicks and allows sufficient release of the aromas.

Copyright 2009 Dropwise Essentials

Once diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma at age 25, I was confident that my love life would take a backseat during my two-and-a-half-year protocol. Living life as a cancer survivor and hoping that one day marriage and children could be part of my future seemed more like a fantasy than a reality.

I found myself on a date or two with someone and ended what could have been a potential relationship on purpose. What if he finds out I’m stigmatized with cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and goes into hiding? How would i feel? How devastated would he be? Could I handle that type of rejection based on my medical condition and physical appearance? Wedding? Kids? These questions were far from superficial and bombarded my mind. They were real, to the core. Was it the fear of rejection, humiliation, and the thoughts of what gentleman would want a bald, gray-haired girlfriend who undergoes cancer treatments?

She had a big wig and with some makeup no one could tell she was struggling to survive cancer. I was twenty-five years old going to bars, parties, and every other social function imaginable. Cancer didn’t stop me there. It just kept me from getting into a relationship; it was actually me who stopped me from getting into a relationship. During that time, I gave cancer too much power. Until I met Ronnie. I would never have expected that in nine months, after being diagnosed with NHL, love would be about to blossom and change my life completely. Yes, it was meant to be.

When Ronnie asked me out for the first time, I was very worried. I wanted me to put aside the feelings of insecurity that I allowed to control me while I was on the road to cancer survival. He watched me handle my cancer diagnoses and was inspired to see that he was able to keep a smile on my face every time he saw me. His reaction relieved me; However, at that moment, I did not dare to overcome the vulnerable state. As a result, I refused to go out with him, thinking I was doing him a favor. Mentally and emotionally, I still had my love life on hold. That lasted about six months; however, during that time we became best friends. We would go to the movies together, go out to eat, play golf, just enjoying each other’s company.

Regardless of NHL, Ronnie remained persistent and helped me see that I deserved to be happy in all aspects of my life.

I knew I wanted to be with him, just like he wanted to be with me. It was so surreal for someone like him to accept me as a girlfriend, hairless and with a blotchy gray complexion. It gave me the confidence to be secure in our relationship as it progressed, eventually culminating in true love. He became my rock and never asked for anything in return, just my health and happiness. We were married on our fourth anniversary, and sixteen months later we had our first of three children * miracle *.

We feel the same force about our relationship, if not stronger than before. They gave us the opportunity to have children, something the doctors were sure would never happen. The cancer protocol was supposed to put my 25-year-old body into menopause. The love and appreciation I have for my husband and children will never be taken for granted, not after living with cancer. Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Marriage and Children ~ It was all meant to be.