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HINTS FROM HELOISE: Hair too dry? Vegetable oil saves the day

DEAR HELOISE: Years ago, when I was growing up on an Iowa farm, my hair would dry out because I was outside so much of the time. We also had what people called “hard water,” which would dry out each strand of hair. Instead of buying an overpriced hot oil treatment, my mother would warm up some vegetable oil and use a disposable cotton pad to rub the oil on my scalp. Then she would comb the oil through my hair and cover it with a plastic shower cap; the oil and cap were left on while I slept. In the morning, I shampooed my hair as always, making sure that I lathered and rinsed ...

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH: Healthy diet helps healing of intestines

DEAR DR. ROACH: My son, who is 28, has always had issues with his gut. Almost everything passes through his intestines quickly. He frequently sees undigested vegetables in his stool. He had intestinal pain and underwent upper and lower GI scopes because the doctor suspected Crohn’s or inflammatory bowel disease. But he found nothing other than inflammation in his stomach, for which he ordered Protonix; this helped with the pain. His BMI is below 18 and has always been this way. He says that if he eats healthy, it makes his gut worse, and if he eats fast food or other non-healthy ...

Bridge by Steve Becker for July 14

From time to time, a hand occurs where it seems declarer must fail, and yet he somehow or other gets home safely. Surprisingly, the solution often turns out to be fairly simple. Consider this deal where West led the K-A and another club against four hearts. Declarer ruffed East’s nine of ...

Hummingbird secrets

Most of us know of the ruby-throated hummingbird, a common visitor that weighs between 3 and 5 grams, less than a nickel. Behind that dazzling beauty, however, lies a solitary and aggressive territorial warrior. How does such a tiny bird survive the extreme demands of high-speed ...

Get started with vermicomposting — worms, that is

ave you ever thought of creating a nutrient-rich soil using…worms? Vermicomposting (vermin is the Latin word for worm) is the end product of the natural breakdown of vegetable or fruit waste by worms, leaving behind worm castings or worm manure. The species most used is the red wiggler worm (Eisenia foetida), a smaller (about 1 to 4 inches in length), thinner and, of course, much cuter worm than we commonly see in our gardens. Composting worms are available online from mail-order suppliers. It is best to purchase them during warm months, as these red wiggler worms do not cope well in ...