University of Illinois Extension Cook County
The Green Line
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/greenline/
For more information, please contact:
Cook County Unit
Headquarters Office
4801 Southwick Drive
Suite 100
Matteson, IL 60443
Phone: 708-481-0111 / Fax: 708-481-4151
E-mail: cook_hdq@extension.uiuc.edu
Installing a small water garden or pond has been a home landscaping trend for the past several years, but homeowners should be aware that maintaining an aquatic environment means more than filling a tub and tossing in some fish.
"The root of all evil in a garden pond is excess algae and the key to controlling algae is controlling nutrients," says Thomas Martin, assistant professor of aquatic ecology in the School of Forest Resources. "The most common nutrients are nitrogen compounds and phosphorus, which are the main ingredients in lawn fertilizer."
Ornamental ponds should be installed so that lawn runoff will not drain into the pond. Use plastic pond liners so nutrients will not soak into the pond from surrounding soil. Some homeowners plant a buffer strip of plants around the pond to soak up those nutrients.
Algae must have light, warm water temperatures and adequate nutrients to grow – climatic conditions that are met from April to October. These factors also are harder to control as the surface area of water is reduced.
It's a problem of scale. The smaller the pond, the more you have to treat it like an aquarium. Homeowners should also be aware that adding any plant or animal to a pond requires some sort of management.
For example, introducing fish into a pond can cause an increase in algae. All fish produce ammonia as a waste product. In a lake or a river, that ammonia is diluted, but in a small pond levels can quickly build up and kill all the fish. Luckily, all ponds contain bacteria that can break down ammonia, but the compounds ammonia breaks down into are nitrates – or more fertilizer to promote algae growth.
One way to counteract algae is to introduce rooted plants, which can absorb nutrients that would otherwise feed algae. The plants also shade the surface of the water, which prevents algae growth. To really control algae, you'll have to shade 70 to 80 percent of the water surface. This means if you have any fish in the pond, you won't be able to see much of them.
Homeowners who want a very low maintenance pond can use floating leaf plants and a water dye that turns the surface black, preventing light and temperature from encouraging algae growth.
For most pond owners installing a filter system that is adequate for the size of the pond and adding water plants to absorb nutrients is recommended. You should add a couple of fish to prevent any insect problems. You'll never see mosquitoes where there are fish – they don't co-exist.
Clean out the pond liner at least once a summer to eliminate waste and other material that builds up on the bottom.
Professionals also say pond owners should change the water about 10 percent per week, although it might be easier to change 40 percent of the water every month. If you are on a municipal water system, the water will be chlorinated. Chlorine will kill the bacteria that breaks down ammonia and other compounds. You can either add chemicals to eliminate the chlorine or aerate the water to dissipate the chlorine before adding it.
If a pond has an outbreak of algae, homeowners should remove as much of the algae as possible, checking to see if the filter is clogged and then seek help at the local garden center. If you leave algae in a pond system, it uses more oxygen than it produces. When algae is competing for oxygen with other plants and fish, the fish usually die. A fountain can help this by adding oxygen to the water.
Wildlife such as snails or fish that feed by filtering food along the bottom should not be added to ponds. Whatever algae the snails eat probably is offset by the amount of waste they produce. Filter-feeding fish are extremely difficult to sustain in a man-made environment.
If an average homeowner changes 20 to 40 percent of the water every two to four weeks and filters the pond, few problems should develop. As winter approaches, smaller ponds should be drained, cleaned and left empty until spring.
Although it seems like a lot of work, maintaining a pond is pretty easy. After all, most people who install them don't do it just to look at the fish and plants. They also want to have a hobby they can tinker with.
Source: Penn State, Agricultural Information Services
Cutting Flowers for Arrangements More Than Snip-And-Pluck
Cutting flowers from a home garden and arranging them attractively doesn't require the skills of Martha Stewart, but the picking is easier if gardeners remember a few tips.
When you walk in the garden to cut blooms, the stems should be placed immediately in water, a process we call conditioning. Flowers that have been conditioned in water look fresh and last longer in arrangements.
It is recommended that you carry a bucket partially filled with lukewarm water to put flowers in as they are cut. Choose flowers with longer stems, so they can be recut after to fit an arrangement. Use sharp shears. Make the cut above a bud to ensure new growth and more flowers.
The best time to cut flowers? In the early morning just as the dew is drying, or in the evening. Never cut flowers during hot temperatures, particularly in the afternoon. Cut only the most perfect blooms. Observe the garden to see when the flowers reach their most beautiful stage. That is the time to cut, and it will vary from one flower to another.
Cutting cluster flowers (such as delphinium, foxglove or lilac) before all the flowers are open is recommended. Other flower types, such as sunflowers or zinnias, must be fully open before cutting.
Cut flowers should be arranged loosely to allow air to circulate and water should be lukewarm during conditioning for most flower varieties. Keep the flowers in the water at room temperature for several hours or overnight. Gardeners can use a flower preservative in the water. They make flowers last longer by maintaining the acidity level at a pH between 3.5 and 5.
To prepare cut flowers for arrangements, first remove most of the leaves to make the stems look better. Leaves will also rot and foul the water.
Then, double check which lengths you want and recut the stems underwater. Cutting underwater will eliminate bubbles that can prevent stems from taking up moisture. Stems are cut on a slant so they can take in the most amount of water available when resting on the bottom of a vase or container.
To make an arrangement last as long as possible, cut stems and change the water and preservative every day. Keep the flowers out of direct sunlight and store them in a cool spot overnight. Put them out on the porch where the temperature is cool and the humidity is high.
Special Conditioning Pointers
Milky sap flowers (asclepias, poppies, poinsettias): To prevent sticky sap from blocking water uptake, place the stem in boiling water for 10 seconds or hold it over a candle flame to sear the end. Woody stems (lilacs, butterfly bush, mock orange, rhododendrons): Split the stems with shears to allow more moisture to be absorbed. Be careful not to crush the stem. Foliage: Ornamental leaves are best conditioned standing upright, like flowers.
Others: Bleeding heart (for or five florets open), daffodil (as color shows in bud), gladiolus (one to five buds showing color), iris (as first bud opens)), poppy (night before opening) and tulip (from bud to half open). Roses should be cut as the second petal unfurls above a five-petal leaf.
Source: Penn State News
Remove Standing Water to Keep Mosquitoes at Bay
The itch of a mosquito bite is one of the biggest nuisances of summer, but you can reduce your chances of being bitten – and help keep mosquito populations in check – by taking a few simple precautions.
Ordinarily, mosquitoes are little more than a mild irritant, but, because they can transmit diseases to humans and pets – such as West Nile encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis and canine heartworm – you should take steps to avoid being bitten and to eliminate mosquito breeding areas.
Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Only female mosquitoes bite. In most cases, the female must have a blood meal before laying eggs. The females' persistent search for blood brings them into houses and yards, where they may become annoying pests.
Many mosquito problems can be traced to containers of water around the yard, such as children's toys, pots and cans, tire swings, animal tracks and clogged rain gutters. Neighborhood breeding areas can include construction sites, trash dumps and cemetery urns or planters. Most mosquitoes remain within a half-mile of where they hatched, but some can fly many miles.
During warm weather, mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that stands for more than four days. The most effective way to control mosquitoes is to eliminate standing water.
Homeowners should:
Remove old tires, tin cans, glass jars, toys and other water-catching objects.
Tightly cover rain barrels to prevent egg-laying. A thin layer of oil will kill mosquitoes already present.
Change water in bird baths by flushing with a hose at least once a week.
Fill tree holes with sand or cement.
Keep rain gutters clean and free of obstructions.
Drain excess water from flower pots.
Keep swimming pools covered when not in use.
Turn over wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
Empty accumulated water from boats and cargo trailers.
Clear aquatic vegetation from around the edges of ponds to allow fish to feed on mosquito larvae and pupae.
Mosquitoes should be excluded from buildings by keeping windows, doors and porches tightly screened. For mosquitoes inside the house, use a fly swatter or an aerosol insecticide labeled for flying insects. Avoid spraying around food, dishes or eating utensils.
When going outdoors for an extended period of time, insect repellents can provide protection from mosquito bites. Repellents can protect for up to five hours, but because people vary in their attractiveness to mosquitoes, the effectiveness of the repellent may depend on the individual.
Before using a repellent or insecticide, be sure you thoroughly read and understand all directions and cautions on the product label.
Source: Penn State News
How Cockroaches Enter Your House & Where to Find Them
Nothing inspires more disgust than the sight of a cockroach crawling across your floor, but an entomologist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences says homeowners often inadvertently invite these critters in to their homes.
German cockroaches, which are the most common type of cockroach found indoors, do not travel outside of structures. Homeowners often bring cockroaches into their homes in containers from infested warehouses, stores or other homes.
The nymph stage cockroach is quite small and can be transported into homes in paper bags and particularly cardboard boxes. Cockroach nymphs often settle in the corrugated passageways in cardboard containers.
Roaches love to live in small places where they can feel surrounding walls over their entire body, so cardboard is perfect for them. The best bet is to leave any boxes from stores or from friends outside.
Roaches can hide in any kind of box, regardless of its contents. They can hide in an electronics box as well as in a box containing food. Many warehouses and warehouse-style retail stores store food containers and other merchandise together.
Once cockroaches are in your house there are several likely places to look for them.
...Kitchens. The availability of food makes this the first place to look for cockroaches. Cockroaches don't need much - - after all, they're scavengers.
...Bedrooms. If homeowners like to eat in bed or keep glasses of water at the bedside, these habits might attract roaches.
...Pet areas. The most often overlooked food source for cockroaches is pet food. He recommends feeding the pet once, cleaning out the food dish every day and never leaving pet food out overnight.
Source: Penn State News
Cybergarden Sites
Want to learn how to plant and care for a garden that will bloom year after year? Check out Gardening with Perennials at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/perennials/
Looking for a place to pick strawberries? Check out the listing of strawberry farms at Strawberries & More at: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/strawberries/ or call for a list at 773-233-0476.
Lawn Care Calendar
June
...Postemergence broadleaf weed control (avoid hot weather)
...Irrigation (as needed or allow lawn to go dormant)
...Monitoring for pests/problems (sod webworm)
Hort Shorts
Swarming Termites
It is not unusual for homeowners to confuse winged ants with swarming termites, but they are quite easy to tell apart. Swarming winged termites, which are sometimes called "reproductives," have straight, bead-like antenna, a thick waist and a pair of long, equal-length wings, that break off easily. Winged ants, which are also called reproductives, have elbowed antennae, constricted waists and forewings larger than the rear wings (unequal size). Ant wings are not easily detached.
Typical signs of termite infestations include swarming of winged adults in the spring (March, April, May & June) and occasionally autumn (September and October). A "swarm" is a group of adult male and female reproductives that leave their nest to establish a new colony. Swarming occurs when a colony reaches a certain size. Emergence is initiated when temperature and moisture conditions are favorable, usually on warm days following rainfall.
Other signs of termite presence include "pencil-size" mud tubes constructed over the surface of foundation walls, mud protruding from cracks between boards and beams and hollow sounds from infested wood when it is tapped or extreme softness when probed with a knife. Termites feed slowly and there is usually no need to panic. A few weeks or months may be needed to determine whether the infestation is a do-it-yourself treatment or one that is complex, requiring a commercial, licensed pest control firm. Consider getting two to three estimates and be cautious of price quotes that are substantially lower or higher than the others. For a free factsheet on termites call 773-233-0476.
Bacterial Blight of Lilac
This disease is a common occurrence on lilacs in years when frost occurs as lilac leaves emerge. Symptoms of this disease include, blackened discoloration and deformation of new lilac leaves. There are copper bacteriacides which can preventively help limit this disease prior to its development, but it is too late for this approach at this point. Typically, subsequent plant growth obscures the leaves damaged by bacterial blight and the problem is not significant relative to overall plant health.
Grubex: Hurting Earthworms and Butterflies?
The active ingredient of GrubEx is halofenozide. Halofenozide is an insect growth regulator that kills grubs by slowing down their development. Fortunately, it does not have any harmful effect on earthworms. Insecticidal soaps kill insects on contact by disrupting their membranes. They are very effective against many caterpillars and sawflies. For example, gypsy moth larvae are quite susceptible to insecticidal soap. However, insecticidal soaps do kill butterfly larvae if they were directly sprayed.
Selecting the Right Apple Cultivars for Cross Pollination
Most apple cultivars are considered self-unfruitful which means that two different cultivars are required for successful pollination, hence fruit production. Make sure that cultivars selected bloom at the same time. In addition, apple cultivars such as Stayman, Mutsu and Jonagold have sterile pollen and should not be used as pollen sources for other varieties; therefore, plant at least two other varieties with any of these varieties. Many of the mail order nurseries such as Stark Brothers Nurseries & Orchards Co. - 1-800-325-4180 or Hilltop Nurseries Inc - 800-253-2911 could provide gardeners with matching apple cultivars. In addition, many flowering crabapples are excellent sources of pollens for apples if they bloom at the same time.
Toxic Mulch Syndrome
A professional received a call from a homeowner who had 20 cubic yards of mulch spread in her landscape. Flowers and turfgrasses around the mulched areas turned yellow and died soon afterwards. This phenomenon is attributed to "toxic mulch syndrome."
Sour or acid mulch can quickly damage plant tissue and lower the soil pH, causing injury or death. Bedding plants and low-growing shrubs are most easily damaged. Symptoms include yellowing of the leaf margins, scorching or dropping of leaves and occasionally plant death. Although it may be several days before symptoms appear, spreading sour mulch can damage plants immediately.
Sour mulch is caused by poor handling or storing of mulch resulting in anaerobic (without air) conditions. Mulch piles need to "breathe" to prevent anaerobic conditions from occurring. In the absence of air, microorganisms in the mulch (mostly bacteria) produce toxic substances such as methanol, acetic acid, ammonia gas and hydrogen sulfide gas. Sour mulch smells like vinegar, sulfur or silage. Good mulch smells like freshly cut wood or has the earthy smell of a good garden soil. For free factsheet on mulches call 773-233-0476.
Blossom End Rot
Blossom end rot can be a problem in tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, melons and peppers. A dark, sunken, leathery patch can be found on the blossom end of the fruit. Blossom-end rot is not caused by a parasitic organism but is a physiologic disorder associated with a low concentration of calcium in the fruit. Calcium is required in relatively large concentrations for normal cell growth. When a rapidly growing fruit is deprived of necessary calcium, the tissues break down, leaving the characteristic dry, sunken lesion at the blossom end.
Blossom-end rot may result from low calcium levels or high amounts of competitive cations in the soil, drought stress or excessive soil moisture fluctuations which reduce uptake and movement of calcium into the plant, or rapid, vegetative growth due to excessive nitrogen fertilization. Control measures include maintaining proper soil pH (around 6.5), using nitrate nitrogen as the fertilizer nitrogen source, avoiding over-fertilization as side dressings during early fruiting, avoiding drought stress and wide fluctuations in soil moisture by using mulches and/or frequent irrigation. Foliar applications of calcium, which are often advocated, are of little value because of poor absorption and movement to fruit where it is needed.
It's Not Too Early for Early Blight
Symptoms of early blight beginning on the lower leaves of some field grown tomato plants has been reported. Early blight (Alternaria solani) is somewhat of a misnomer because it leads gardeners and growers alike to think that it will appear early in the spring or early in the fall, with cool, wet weather. Unfortunately, early blight can infect tomatoes, peppers and eggplants anytime during the growing season, but especially during a muggy, humid summer!
This disease usually starts on foliage at the base of the plant and works its way to the top, rapidly killing foliage as it goes.
Early blight infections can be identified by the lesions on the leaves, stems or even the fruit. Early blight will infect and kill tissue in concentric circles around the original infection site. If the lesion looks somewhat like a dark bull's eye or target (you may have to use your imagination just a little), it is probably early blight. This target-like appearance is created as the pathogen consistently expands by very small increments, to infect new tissue as the previously infected tissue dies. In a garden situation, the best control is to remove the infected leaves from the garden.
Hort Tips
June Ornamental
Plant tropical water lilies when water temperature is above 70°F.
Raise lawn mowing height to at least 2 1/2" for summer.
Apply balanced rose fertilizer after first bloom is past.
Cut spent rose blooms just above the first five-leaflet leaf for fastest return bloom.
Set up a regular spray schedule (every seven to ten days) for roses. They suffer from many diseases including blackspot. Factsheet available.
Watch for bagworms on junipers and arborvitae. Factsheet available.
Check plants in baskets and pots. They may need daily watering.
Place amaryllis outdoors in a semi-shady spot.
Continue to pinch back mums until mid-July.
Watch for a "June Drop" of leaves from trees. This is how the tree adapts to having too many leaves on the tree. This is normal.
Thinking of buying a leaf blower? Check out buying tips. Factsheet available.
Plant ornamental grasses. Factsheet available.
Plant gladioli until end of June for fall blooms.
Make a water garden in a tub. Factsheet available.
Edible
Thin apples so fruits are seven to nine inches apart.
Renovate strawberries after harvest; mow the rows; weed and fertilize. Factsheet available.
Start seedlings of broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower for fall harvest.
Plant pumpkins in early June for Halloween.
Grow a giant pumpkin. Factsheet available.
Try sweet potatoes. Grow under black plastic. Use the short season variety 'Georgia Jet'.
Plant peanuts. Fun project for kids. Factsheet available.
Apply a three to four inch layer of mulch around vegetables to conserve soil moisture. Factsheet available.
Have gardening questions? Call the University of Illinois Gardening Hotline for answers - 773-233-0476.
Use insecticidal soaps to control aphids and whiteflies in the garden.
Control rabbits with a fence. Factsheet available.
Cut all suckers sprouting from the base of fruit trees.
Interior
Keep cats away from Dieffenbachia. Dieffenbachia contains a chemical that can cause the cat's tongue to swell and even interfere with breathing.
Suspect mites on your houseplants? Shake the leaves over white paper and look for moving dots (mites).
July Edible
Harvest vegetables, fruits and herbs frequently. Picking encourages plants to produce more and decreases insects and diseases.
Plant more beans, beets and carrots.
Take the family to one of our local county fairs:
Champaign County Fair - July 20 - July 28 - 217-367-8461 DuPage County Fair - July 25 - July 29 - 630-688-6636 Porter County Fair (Valparaiso, IN) July 19 -28 - 219-462-4917
Prune out and destroy old fruiting canes of raspberries after harvest.
Harvest onions and garlic when tops turn brown.
Blossom-end rot of tomatoes and peppers occurs when soil moisture is uneven. Water when soils begin to dry; maintain a 2-3 inch layer of mulch.
Ornamental
Late in the month divide and transplant iris if needed.
Fertilize trees and shrubs by July 15, so new growth can harden off before winter.
Water trees if rainfall does not equal one inch per week.
Prune out or remove fall webworm nests from trees. Factsheet available.
Fertilize container plants every two weeks with a water soluble fertilizer.
Control weeds from going to seed; this will mean less weeding next year.
Provide water in the garden for birds, especially in dry weather.
Newly planted trees and shrubs should continue to be watered weekly as needed.
Hot, dry weather is ideal for spider mite development. Forceful water sprays or insecticidal soap are effective controls.
Indoors
Cut back the overly long stems of dieffenbachias and dracaenas. The stump will send out new shoots.
Take the piece of dracaenas and dieffenbachias you removed; cut into pieces. Each piece should have a scar from an old leaf. Lay the pieces on their sides on a flat of moist potting soil. Cover the pieces halfway with soil. Cover the flat with plastic wrap and set in a warm place. In 3-4 weeks the pieces will have grown roots and new shoots will be emerging. Pot the new shoots and give them to your friends.
Got Strawberries? Make No-Cook Strawberry Jam
Fresh strawberry season is brief in Illinois, but the season is upon us. If you are not fortunate enough to have strawberries in your garden, the next best bet is to visit a strawberry farm. U-pick farms are everywhere. To find the farm nearest you visit the University of Illinois Urban Resource Network's "Strawberries & More" web site or call the Extension office at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences at (773) 233-0476.
If you have never made strawberry jam because you do not have the equipment or think the process is just too long, No-Cook Strawberry Jam may be just the recipe you are looking for. This recipe can be prepared in less than an hour and the jam is stored in the freezer until ready to use.
Cooked strawberry jam loses color, flavor and nutritional value. Cooking any fruit high in ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) will decrease the nutrient content. Vitamin C is sensitive to both heat and light. No-cook jam is bright red with a wonderful fresh strawberry flavor.
You will need to purchase one special ingredient, fruit pectin. Pectin is the substance that causes jam to gel. Some kinds of fruits have enough natural pectin to form a gel; however, strawberries require added pectin. Commercial pectins are made from apples or citrus fruit and are available in both the powdered and liquid forms. The powdered and liquid forms are not interchangeable in this recipe.
Certo is liquid pectin. Look for blue boxes of Certo liquid pectin in the grocery store in the canning supplies section or in the Jell-o section. Each box contains two pouches of liquid pectin. There are more recipes using other fruit right in the box. Check the expiration date on the side panel to make sure your pectin is fresh.
No-Cook Strawberry Jam
Use fully ripe strawberries at room temperature to help the sugar dissolve. Do not reduce the sugar or use sugar substitute in this recipe. This recipe yields 4 cups of jam. Use freezer containers or wide-mouth freezer jars to store the jam for up to one year in the freezer. Inexpensive freezer containers can be found in the grocery store next to freezer bags.
Rinse strawberries in cold water and hull. Crush berries, one cup at a time using a flat casserole-type dish and a potato masher or use a food processor. If using a food processor, pulse to chop, do not puree or liquefy. Jam has bits of fruit.
Measure 1 3/4 cups crushed fruit and place in a large bowl.
Measure sugar into a separate bowl. Use a one-cup dry measuring cup and scrape extra sugar off the top of each cup to level exact measure. Stir sugar into crushed strawberries.
Set strawberry and sugar mixture aside for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to help dissolve the sugar.
Next empty contents of one pouch of liquid pectin into a small bowl. Using a fork, stir in lemon juice. Mix well.
Add pectin mixture to strawberry mixture. Stir constantly for 3 minutes. A few sugar crystals may remain.
Fill one to two cup freezer containers with strawberry mixture to within 1/2 inch of the top. Wipe off top edges of containers and cover with lids. Let containers stand at room temperature for 24 hours. The next day your jam is ready to eat. Label and date containers. Place in the freezer. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. After opening, store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Live Healthier - Live Longer
New information concerning cholesterol levels have been in the news lately. What is your cholesterol level? Have you had a blood test to find out? Test your knowledge about high blood cholesterol with the following quiz. Answer each true or false question then check your answers at the end of the quiz.
Lowering your blood cholesterol levels can help people who have already had a heart attack. True or False
High blood cholesterol is one of the risk factors for heart disease that you can do something about. True or False
To lower your blood cholesterol level you must stop eating red meat. True or False
Any blood cholesterol level below 240 mg/dL is desirable for adults. True or False
To lower your blood cholesterol level you should eat less high cholesterol containing foods such as eggs, whole milk and butter. True or False
Saturated fats (hard fats) raise your blood cholesterol level more than anything else in your diet. True or False
All vegetable oils help to lower blood cholesterol levels. True or False
All children need to have their blood cholesterol levels checked. True or False
Women do not need to worry about high cholesterol and heart disease. True or False
Reading food labels can help you at the heart healthy way. True or False
Live Healthier Quiz Answers
True People who have had one heart attack are at much higher risk for a second attack. Reducing blood cholesterol levels can greatly slow down (and, in some people, even reverse) the buildup of cholesterol and fat in the wall of the coronary arteries and significantly reduce the chances of a second heart attack.
True High blood cholesterol is one of the risk factors for heart disease that a person can do something about. First, find out what your cholesterol level is. High blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes, overweight and physical inactivity are some other risk factors.
False Although some red meat is high in saturated fat and cholesterol, which can raise your blood cholesterol, you do not need to stop eating it altogether. You should however cut back on the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol that you eat. One way is by choosing lean cuts of meat with the fat trimmed. Another is to watch your portion size. Eat no more than two 3-ounce portions of meat or fish per day. A 3-ounce portion is about the size of a new deck of playing cards.
False A total blood cholesterol level of under 200 mg/dL is still desirable under the new guidelines. Blood cholesterol of 240 mg/dL is considered high and increases your risk of heart disease. New guidelines call on doctors to focus on lipoprotein profiles rather than total cholesterol levels as a first test for high cholesterol. For a lipoprotein profile your doctor will check levels of LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol) compared to HDL (good cholesterol). LDL and HDL optimal levels have been revised. New levels are 100 mg/dL or less for LDL and HDL 40 or above. Adults 20 years or older should have their blood cholesterol level checked at least once every five years.
True Eating less fat, especially saturated fat and cholesterol containing foods can lower your blood cholesterol level. Generally, your blood cholesterol level should begin to drop a few weeks after you start a cholesterol-lowering diet. How much your level drops depends on the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol you used to eat, how high your blood-cholesterol is, your weight and how your body responds to the changes you make.
True Saturated fats raise your blood cholesterol level more than anything else does. So, the best way to reduce your cholesterol level is to cut back on the amount of saturated fats that you eat. These fats are found in largest amounts in animal products such as butter, cheese, whole milk, ice cream and fatty meats. They are found in some vegetable oils - coconut, palm, and palm kernel oils in packaged foods. Check the list of ingredients on the label.
False Most vegetable oils - canola, corn, olive, safflower, soybean and sunflower oils - contain mostly monounsaturated and poly unsaturated fats, which help lower blood cholesterol when used in place of saturated fats like butter and other animal fats (bacon drippings, lard, etc.). Also, a special kind of harmful fat called "trans fat" is formed when liquid vegetable oil is hardened into stick margarine or vegetable shortening (like Crisco in cans). This is done through a process called "hydrogenation." The harder the margarine or shortening, the more likely it is to contain "trans fat." Choose soft margarine containing liquid vegetable oil as the first ingredient.
False Children from "high risk" families, in which a parent has high blood cholesterol (240 mg/dL or above) or in which a parent or grandparent has had heart disease at an early age (at 55 or younger), should have their cholesterol levels tested. If a child from such a family has a cholesterol level that is high, it should be lowered under medical supervision to reduce the risk of developing heart disease as an adult.
False Blood cholesterol levels in both men and women begin to go up around age twenty. Women before menopause have levels that are lower than men of the same age. After menopause, a woman's LDL - cholesterol level goes up - and so her risk for heart disease increases. For both men and women, heart disease is the number one cause of death.
True Look on packages for "Nutrition Facts" information. First, check the serving size. The amount of total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol in a serving is listed. If you eat more than the suggested serving, you must multiply to get the correct information. Also look for the list of ingredients. Here, the ingredient in the greatest amount is listed first and the ingredient in the least amount is last.
So, to choose foods low in saturated fat or total fat, go easy on products that list fats and oils first, or that list many different types of fat and oil as ingredients. Partially hydrogenated vegetable oil means the product contains "trans fat." Everyone over the age of two should adopt a low-fat heart healthy eating pattern as a principal way of reducing heart disease.
Each correct answer is worth ten points. If you scored below seventy your knowledge level is poor. Order "Facts About Blood Cholesterol" by calling 1-800-575-WELL, single copies are free or visit online at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd. Write to: NHLBL Information Center, P. O. Box 30105, Bethesda, MD 20824-0105.
Resource: National Cholesterol Education Program: US Dept. Of Health & Human Services
Preserving Garden Chives
Chives are members of the alisum family along with onions, shallots, scallions, leeks and garlic. They are hardy perennials that are easy to grow and preserve. To make sure chives are used often, cut a bunch and place them in a glass or jar filled about one-third with water. Place the jar of chives in the refrigerator and where they will keep for about two weeks. Replenish the jar as needed.
To harvest chives, cut about one inch above the soil level. Rinse in cold water and dry on paper towels or allow to air dry. Snip bunches of chives with kitchen shears or use a sharp knife and sprinkle on desired food. Chives, like onions, will enhance the flavor of any savory food dish.
Chives are best as an ingredient when used raw. To use chives in recipes, always add them at the end of cooking time to preserve their natural delicate onion-like flavor. Although chives can be dried, freezing best preserves them. To freeze simply snip into desired length and place on a tray in the freezer for one hour. Place in a zip-closure freezer bag and freeze. No blanching or other pre-freezing procedures are needed. Your frozen chives will maintain their fresh-like flavor and color for one year in the freezer. Use as needed and simply reseal the zip-closure bag.
Chive flowers are edible. Use them in salads or to garnish a plate. Chive flowers also add a beautiful rosy color to chive vinegar. Try the following recipe:
Rosy Chive Vinegar
Garlic chives can be substituted in the recipe or a combination of regular chives and garlic chives can be used.
2 cups white distilled vinegar 2 cups chopped chives 3 chive blossoms, if desired 4 fresh chive leaves for garnish
Pick chives in the morning (when dew is dried away). Wash gently, but thoroughly. Lay out on towels and blot with another towel.
Cut chives into small pieces and place in a glass jar or bowl.
Heat vinegar to nearly boiling point. Pour over chives. Cover with plastic wrap and secure with a rubber band or string. Do not use a metal lid directly on the jar because it will react with the vinegar.
Allow vinegar to steep at room temperature for 2-3 weeks. Strain out chive pieces and discard. Run vinegar through a coffee filter into a clean, sterilized jar or pretty bottle. Add several sprigs of chives and chive flowers to garnish the bottle. Cork, label and enjoy.
Use chive vinegar in place of regular vinegar in your favorite recipes to enhance flavors. Whole peppercorns and a dried, hot, cayenne pepper can also be added to the bottle. This recipe can be successfully doubled or tripled
Health & Household Tips
Bananas: Just Peel & Eat
The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new stick-on label for bananas. New research documents the positive effects of potassium and lowering blood pressure. Adding bananas to your diet is easy and most people like them.
Buy bananas at various stages of ripeness so they are not all ripe at the same time. To hasten ripening, place bananas in a paper bag, punch several holes in the bag and leave at room temperature overnight.
Use over ripe bananas to make banana milkshakes, banana bread or muffins. The following recipe is quick and it provides a complete and cooling summer breakfast.
Banana Breakfast Shake
1 large, very ripe banana (brown speckles indicate ripeness) 1 tablespoon strawberry jam or honey (optional) 1 1/2 cups skim milk 5 ice cubes 2 tablespoons wheat germ or bran cereal
Place all ingredients in a blender, liquefy until the ice cubes have been minimized, pour into a tall glass and enjoy.
A Visionary Procedure
Chances are you have seen commercials or heard ads for LASIK, a form of surgery that uses a special laser to improve vision by reshaping the cornea. Maybe you have wondered if undergoing the procedure would be the right choice for you. To help you understand what LASIK is, as well as its benefits and risks, the Food & Drug Administration's Center for Devices and Radiological Health has created a site, www.fda.gov/cdrh/lasik that offers a helpful crash course in the procedure.
The site explains the eye's anatomy and how refractive surgery techniques such as LASIK can correct certain vision disorders. A detailed glossary is included, along with a checklist to help you determine "When is LASIK not for me?" The site also has tips for finding a doctor and a description of what to expect before, during and after surgery.
FDA Consumer March-April, by John Henkel, Vol 35 No.2
Did You Know...
...drinking too much pop (soft drinks) can interfere with the body's ability to metabolize or utilize calcium? Research conducted at Harvard University found that phosphoric acid in pop, especially cola, may increase the likelihood of bone fractures. The study was conducted with 460 teenage girls who reported their activity levels, pop drinking habits and history of bone fractures. Active girls who consumed large amounts of cola were five times more likely to have broken bones than girls who chose a more bone-friendly beverage, such as milk, soy milk or calcium-fortified orange juice.
...diabetes and high blood pressure are two of the leading causes of kidney failure? Diabetes alone accounts for about 40 percent of new cases of kidney disease each year. Kidney disease is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States. It has been called the silent killer, because the symptoms are subtle. Warning signs include eye puffiness, lower back pain, unusual ankle swelling, frequent painful urination and red or cola-colored urine. Regular exercise and a healthy diet, which includes plenty of water, can help reduce the risk of kidney disease.
...there is a tremendous difference between curly leaf parsley and flat leaf parsley? Curly leaf parsley is extremely popular as a plate garnish in restaurants and is most useful that way. Compared to flat leaf Italian parsley, it is virtually tasteless. When a recipe calls for parsley, the reference is to flat-leaf or Italian parsley. In fact, many recipes depend on the flavor of parsley to enhance the flavor of other ingredients.
...the European government has destroyed more than four million cows, many of them healthy, in an attempt to halt the spread of mad cow disease and hoof and mouth disease? In the early 90's European veterinarians were diagnosing over 1,000 cases in animals a week. The latest news is that the count is down to less than 30 new cases per week. Are there any cows left?
