Better Trucker Health

Swine Flu- H1N1 and You

2009-10-18T23:15:00.009-04:00

Many of us are very anxious as we approach the "flu season." With the media reporting all kinds of deaths and possible epidemics, we sit and wait passively,
anticipating the dreaded H1N1 Virus ( aka "Swine Flu")

There is much talk of an H1N1 vaccine, but I'm a little leery of it. I'll need to read up more before I have my body injected with anything.

We need not be passive, but rather assertive when defending ourselves fromm the H1N1 Virus.

Truck drivers are constantly traveling and coming in contact with many diverse people and places. Their trucking job and lifestyle is an attraction magnet for disease... if... they don't take precaution.

First, we must do everything possible to sustain a healthy immune system. I've put together a sort of list of various "things to do" that I've recently researched in regards to combating the Swine flu.

Note: The only portal of entry for the virus is the nostrils, mouth and throat. H1N1 takes 2-3 days from the time of initial infection for symptoms to occur. That's because the virus will enter your body from one of the above portals and then start to proliferate where they live comfortably. Don't let them be comfortable!!!

Okay, here's what I've found from my reading. Please, if you find or know anything else that can help to combat the H1N1 virus...please post your comment and add your knowledge to this post here.

1 Wash your hands often. If it's not convenient, keep the antimicrobial hand cleaner/antiseptic with you.

2. Keep your hands off your face. Seems like a no brainer, but you'd be amazed how often we touch our faces without thinking.

3 Gargle twice a day with warm salt water. If you're not crazy about salt water, use an antiseptic mouthwash. Simple gargling will prevent the H1N1 from proliferating ( growing) within your body.

4 Blow your nose hard once per day and then swab your nostrils with salt water. This procedure has proven effective in reducing the viral population.

5 Boost your immune system by eating foods with vitamin C ( Citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges and grapefruits are a good example of this) If you take vitamin supplement tablets, make sure they have zinc, which aids in absorption of vitamin C.

6 Drink as much warm liquids as you can. Things like coffee, tea and the like will wash the virus from your throat down into your stomach where the virus can not survive.

7 Get Your Rest! Your immune system works best when your body is well rested.

I want to mention that the number one thing that I'm going to do is double up on antioxidants, (especially the "king of antioxidants," glutathione.)

Antioxidants are known to aid your immune system and everyone knows that I'm a
MAX GXL fanatic ( no secret or subtleties there )

It Been Awhile, But I'm Back

2009-10-16T19:57:00.010-04:00

It feels so great to be posting again. I've been working very hard with the iPhone Trucker Application, following up on the many contacts and great people we met at the Great American Truck Show in Dallas, Tx

Another major dedication of time was helping Hope Rivenburg get to GATS ( Great American Trucking Show) so she could continue to get the word out about Jason's Law HR 2156.

Allen and I started a post on the AskTheTruckerBlog requesting donations and with the help of TJ Graff of GoTuckStop.com, we were able to gather the funds through the generosity of many, and got Hope and her children to GATS.

Allen and I and so many other dedicated truckers are continuing to fight to make sure that Jason's Law is passed. We''ll be scheduling a Blog Talk Radio Show with Congressman Paul Tonko of NY State ( Introduced the Bill HR2156) Soon!

Here's a couple of links to catch up and see what I've ( We've) been up to.

http://www.askthetrucker.com/2009/08/

http://www.askthetrucker.com/2009/07/

http://www.askthetrucker.com/2009/06/

I'll Be Back!!!

Thank You to Another American Hero

2009-04-03T10:18:00.006-04:00

This morning I received an e-mail from a dear friend of mine, Susan Preston.

Although not directly related to "trucker health, it has everything to do with our mental perspectives and appreciation of life. To me it reminds me to be grateful for those we do not know nor the things we can not see......and gratitude makes me a healthier and better person.

 Navy Petty Officer Mike Monsoor

 PO2 (EOD2) (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)
 Mike Monsoor, a Navy EOD Technician, was
 awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor
 posthumously for jumping on a grenade in Iraq,
 giving his life to save his fellow Seals.
 (Notice: Mike was not a Navy SEAL, he was EOD.
 He gave his life to save a group of Navy SEALS.)

 During Mike Monsoor's funeral in San Diego ,
 as his coffin was being moved from the hearse
 to the grave site at Ft. Rosecrans National
 Cemetery , SEAL's were lined up on both sides
 of the pallbearers route forming a column of two's,
 with the coffin moving up the center. As Mike's
 coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his
 gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down
 embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin.


 The slaps were audible from across the cemetery;
 by the time the coffin arrived grave side,
 it looked as though it had a gold inlay from all
 the Tridents pinned to
 it.

 This was a fitting send-off for a warrior hero.

 This should be front-page news instead of the
stuff  we see every day.
 Since the media won't make this news,


 I am proud of our military. If you are proud too,
 please pass this on.  If not then
 Rest assured that these fine men and women of
 our military  will continue to serve and protect.

 God Bless our Troops

Thanks Susan for sending me this and allowing
 me to share it.

The Dangers of Sleep Deprivation

2009-04-01T22:39:00.011-04:00

It's been a few days since I've posted. I feel like I've been pulled in 20 different directions, so it's time to get down to business.

There's been so much going on in trucking these days. A major issue has been the happening in the state of Virginia. Without getting into it, because there are plenty of blogs that have, basically Va is depriving Truckers their right to take their rest. Because of the lack of parking in the state, drivers are forced to stop and rest at various locations and law enforcement is told to wake them up and make them drive.... illegally. Now, the state is breaking Federal Law by doing this
( FMCSA) and there is a big discussion going on about it this very moment. Read more here.

Now, what I'd like to talk about is the sleep the drivers are being deprived and the effects of it.
First and most obvious is the driver is effected. His/her attention and ability to concentrate is greatly altered. The ability to respond as quickly will also be effected, and finally what about the chance of falling asleep at the wheel?
That's why there is the Federal law stating that a driver MUST rest after 11 hours of driving.
Virginia, are you listening! That includes law enforcement!

Now, we must consider the others on the road while these 18 wheel 35,000-80,000 lb rigs are rolling down the road at 55+ miles/hr.
How safe do you think it is for the rest of the drivers on the road? To me it's about as bad as having a "buzzed" driver on the road.

My concern is this, what will it take to get Virginia and any other state to come to their senses?

What I really want to know is how do people sleep at night enforcing such laws?

Are you concerned? If so, make a call. If enough people call and "hound them" there will be change.

The FMCSA regulations being violated is Part 355

Governor’s Office
Tim Kaine
804-786-2211

VA DMV/Motor Carrier Services
MSCAP Administrator
804-367-0266

Secretary of Public Safety
Ms. Hazelgrove
804-786-5351

Secretary of Transportation
Ms. Evelyn Shelton or Ms. Melony Roberts
804-786-8032

Drivers, in the meantime my suggestion to you is this....avoid Virginia!
Don't spend a dime there or a minute more than you have to there.
If the state starts losing money they'll change their tune.
It's all about money folks! How sad.

Positive Thoughts and Deeds for Better Health

2009-03-10T00:55:00.014-04:00

I would like to talk a bit about our well being in a different light for a moment.
Although the desire to take care of our physical bodies has proven to be beneficial for us in many ways, so many of us ignore our mental and spiritual well being. Now, what exactly does that all mean?

Many associate the idea of a "spiritual well being" as being a member of a religious group or organization. I tell you though, there are many who are faithful members of religious organizations, who are in a very poor state of spiritual health. Now, there are many of the same, who are in a good spiritual place, but that's not what I'm getting at. What I'm saying is, being a member of anything, does not guarantee a healthy state for spiritual well being. I will add this as my own opinion, I do believe that belonging to a like minded group of individuals can be very satisfying and rewarding.

Okay, for one to compliment the proper things that we do for our bodies, our spirits must be in alignment with a very similar kind of process or thought pattern. We give our bodies good food, so must we give our minds good food. We exercise our bodies, so must we exercise our soul.
How do we do that?

It's not difficult.

1) The food we give our mind is " good and positive thoughts." At the same time, just as we would eat healthy all day, and then not ruin it at the end of the day with a meal filled with high carbs and trans fats, we can't have positive thoughts while we surround ourselves continually in an environment of negativity. Notice I said continually, mostly because it's impossible to remove all negative forces from your life....it's just not in your control. What is in your control though, is avoiding consistent intimate contact with those who are consistently negative. Consistently engaging with people who are negative can and will bring most people "down". The effects can actually decrease all the hard work you do for your body, both physically and mentally.

Being around negative people will decrease your "feeling" of well being and can even cause false insecurity, low self esteem, and actually decrease your faith and hope for deserving good things in life.

Think about it for a moment. Have you ever felt exceptionally great, and then spent a day with someone who had a terrible outlook on life? Tell me, by the end of that same day, how did you feel? Still felt great? How was your outlook and enthusiasm towards your goals, were they filled with the same level of excitement as when you first met up with that person? Okay, point made.

Now, how do we exercise our souls? Another easy answer.

We take those good and positive thoughts and and do good and positive deeds for others. These can be really simple things, like a smile to a stranger, a kind word, an encouragement to someone who is having a bad day. Maybe a friend is having a difficult time with something that is easy for you to do...why not help them?

I remember one day I was having a tough time emotionally, we all have them. I decided to make a cake for someone. I know it sounds silly, but the act of exercising a positive good deed for another person is remarkably therapeutic, not to mention uplifting.

My husband Allen writes most of the posts for the blog AskTheTrucker. He gets a ton of e-mail, and believe me, some days it's difficult to answer all the questions that come in, especially when he's tired from having a tough week driving. I will tell you this though, I've never seen him not come out feeling better than when he started answering those e-mails. The process of answering questions to those who are hurting, or just having a tough time, and knowing that he made a positive influence/effect on their life, offers enormous effects and benefits for his own life.
It never fails.

So, the moral to the story? Maintain positive thoughts and treat others with positive actions... as you would want to be treated.

The rule hasn't changed since it was first given to us, and if you think about it, it was given to us so that we ourselves would benefit from it! The outcome is...we're all winners!

better trucker health

2009-01-28T18:19:00.001-05:00

MAX GXL Blog Talk Radio Show- Big Success

2009-01-28T17:25:00.014-05:00

Last night's show on Blog Talk Radio was a big hit! There were many on the chat line as well as listening on the phones and online.

Allen Smith and I hosted it on http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/truthabouttrucking , which is Allen's trucking Radio Show. Together we explained the health benefits of taking glutathione in the patented formula of MAX GXL. Allen gave quite a moving testimony and many have written in asking for more info.

Allen and I are very excited to be able to help the trucking community address their many health issues which a trucking lifestyle has played a big part of.

We believe within the coming year, MAX GXL, will be the #1 supplement for the significant improvement of health for everyone, not only our truck driving audience.

For more info please go to the MAIN MAX GXL site

What are Antioxidants and Free Radicals?

2009-01-27T11:26:00.012-05:00

For so long now we've been bombarded everywhere we go with the words, " contains highest level of antioxidants" or "contains antioxidants to fight free radicals". Well, even if you don't know what an antioxidant or free radical is, you can quickly figure out that:
1- You don't want a free radical
2- You want as many antioxidants as you can get your hands on.

The health and food industry understand this. They understand marketing and how to approach the average consumer so that they'll search everywhere to find this magical molecule, in either a supplement or food source...THAT THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT! On the same token, the idea of having "free radicals" floating around in your body is enough to make one cringe, thus the quest for antioxidants to remove them!

Let's Start with the FREE RADICAL- This molecule is also called an "oxidant" and is chemically unstable because they are missing an electron. This also means that they are unbalanced, and our bodies do not welcome anything unbalanced. These unbalanced molecules are pretty much "damaged goods" as far as our bodies are concerned. So, to compensate for this instability, the free radical seeks out an electron elsewhere in our body, robbing it from wherever it can find it.
Some of the most common places they search and gain an electron is:

1 blood vessel walls
2 DNA
3 Joint Cells
4 Skin
Now, when an electron is taken from one of these cells in the body, that cell becomes damaged, thus increasing the effects of aging and disease from the specific cell the electron was robbed from.

How does an Antioxidant help this process?
Simply put, an antioxidant is a molecule which willingly gives up an extra electron in order to satisfy the "electron hungry" free radical. It neutralizes the free radical so that it is no longer "unstable".
In other words, if the free radical can get it's electron from an antioxidant, it won't bother the cells in your body for one.

There are many antioxidants; vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin D3, as well as many others, all aiding in the neutralizing of free radicals, which one can ingest.

Now there are only 4 Endogenous ( internally produced) Antioxidants:
1 Glutathione
2 Superoxide dismutase
3 Catalase
4 Coenzyme Q 10 ( CoQ10)

Glutathione is the KING of all endogenous antioxidants

It is found in every cell of our bodies, but highest concentrations are found in the skin. Other organs of high concentration are the liver ( detoxifying) and spleen( immune defense system)

I'm sure you're starting to see the importance of this, the most powerful antioxidant of all.......Glutathione.

2009- It's Time to Make Your Health A Priority

2009-01-11T10:20:00.003-05:00

We've all heard it before, " Without your health, You have Nothing"....right? We've all nodded and agreed and then..... turned around and did Whatever we wanted, Right?

Then, one day, we wake up and there's a pain here, an ache there, our sugar levels are slightly elevated ( along with cholesterol), we're feeling tired all the time...blah, blah blah...you know the story.

All of a sudden we now remember the saying, " Without Your health, You Have Nothing"

You see, we as a people, tend to disregard the crucial elements of our health unless....WE ARE FEELING UNHEALTHY. We tend to put everything else as priority and then, one day, as though you miraculously acknowledge, realize and admit, " I just don't feel good"
Sometimes we'll give the credit to age and say, "Oh, I'm just getting older", which is true, and exactly the reason we must address this scientific fact:

Second Law of Thermodynamics state that everything is in a state of decay.
The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics describes basic principles familiar in everyday life. It is partially a universal law of decay; the ultimate cause of why everything ultimately falls apart and disintegrates over time. Material things are not eternal. Everything appears to change eventually, and chaos increases. Nothing stays as fresh as the day one buys it; clothing becomes faded, threadbare, and ultimately returns to dust. Everything ages and wears out. Even death is a manifestation of this law. The effects of the 2nd Law are all around, touching everything in the universe.

Each year, vast sums are spent to counteract the relentless effects of this law (maintenance, painting, medical bills, etc.). Ultimately, everything in nature is obedient to its unchanging laws.

As we age we are in a state of "decay". This is not something that happens at age 40, 50, 60, 70, but rather is an ongoing process in our life. This is one of the reasons that Antioxidants have become so popular. They have become the so called cure for aging...or anti- aging.

Glutathione is quickly become the most popular molecule that many have been searching for. It is considered the most powerful antioxidant available and is sold in many health stores. There is a problem with this though, the molecule itself when ingested will be destroyed in your digestive system before the benefits of it can be felt. So now what?

Did you know that Glutathione is made in your body? Did you know that the production of this powerful antioxidant is slowed down from the time you are 20 years old? Did you know that you can take the precursors of this molecule which will allow you to synthesize Glutathione in your own body and thus have a continuing supply working within every cell of your body?

I will be writing more on this regularly since this is a topic I find most intriguing with due cause:

I have witnessed the incredible effects of this chemical/Antioxidant.

Please click here for more details.

This is an article that my husband Allen Smith wrote from the AskTheTrucker.com blog. He is an advocate for truck drivers and trucking students and continues to relentlessly aid them in their goals of obtaining a successful trucking career. He is concerned about trucker health as well, and has written articles regarding this very important topic.