March 31, 2015

Is modern life making loneliness a new public health threat? Researchers found that people who say they’re lonely or who have few social interactions are up to 32-percent more likely to die early. More Americans than ever are living alone and technology like texting and social media has made it easier to avoid forming face-to-face relationships. Source Link

It sounds like a dieters dream -- a cooking method that removes calories from food -- but it might work for a favorite side dish. Scientists found that boiling rice for 25 minutes or simmering for 40 minutes can reduce the calories absorbed by up to 60-percent. The trick is to let the rice cool in the refrigerator for 12 hours before eating it. Source Link

If one device can work on your arm to follow your fitness, why not another on your belly to keep track of your baby? The Ritmo is a lightweight harness with sensor-laden straps to monitor heartbeat, baby movement and contractions and send readings to your smartphone. The $250 device is expected to go on sale later this year. Source Link

March 30, 2015

Getting kids to eat right and exercise now can mean better heart health later as adults. Researchers found that 40 percent of children do not have good cholesterol levels, almost none eat a healthy diet regularly and 30 percent are overweight or obese. Having a healthy diet as a child greatly reduces the risk of chronic conditions like diabetes, arthritis and heart disease. Source Link

Texting behind the wheel may just be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to distracted driving for teens. A survey found that one in four teen drivers had changed clothes and shoes while driving, put makeup on, changed contact lenses, and even done their homework. About 40-percent admitted to texting while driving. Source Link

Some of your favorite adult beverages will soon come with a number on the label other than the proof. The company that makes Smirnoff vodka, Johnnie Walker scotch and Guinness beer plans to add nutritional information. An ounce of vodka has 64 calories and scotch is 96 calories, and a 12-ounce Guinness can be up to 175 calories. Source Link

March 27, 2015

There are there are some simple steps that can protect your passwords and safeguard your online life. Experts suggest that you use a free password manager program and look for multiple uses or passwords that are too simple. Search your email and delete any that may have a password or log-in, and use two-step authentication for financial websites. Source Link

Making a snap judgement is something our brains are hard-wired to do. Scientists found that people could say whether a person looked trustworthy after their face was flashed on-screen for a tiny fraction of a second. Even though the time was too short for conscious processing, a part of the brain can still evaluate an image without us seeing it. Source Link

If you can’t kick the habit of screen time after bedtime, try to keep that gadget dimmed and at arms length. Light from a tablet or smartphone screen can disrupt your body’s natural sleep cycle. But experts say you can minimize those effects by dimming the brightness settings and keeping the device at least 14 inches from your face. Source Link

March 26, 2015

The date has been set for the last “Top Ten List” from late-night legend David Letterman. The final “Late Show” will be broadcast on Wednesday May 20th. Letterman retires as the longest-running late-night host in TV history, beginning with an NBC show in 1982 and then his move to CBS in 1993. Source Link

If you want to lose weight the easy way, focus of fiber and quit counting calories. A study found that people who set a goal of eating 30 grams of fiber a day lost almost as much weight as those on a complicated diet plan. Fiber-rich foods also contain lots of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Source Link

A billion dollars in money earned by American taxpayers will vanish soon. The IRS says unclaimed refunds from the 2011 tax year will be handed over to the U.S Treasury after April 15th. Much of that money is owed to students and part-time workers who were due refunds but didn’t file a tax return. Source Link

March 25, 2015

Does your taste for food TV show up on the scale? A study found that people who watch television chefs and cook more at home were at-risk for a higher body mass index. Experts say many programs offer recipes that look and taste great but don’t fit the bill of fare for healthy eating. Source Link 

It really pays to breastfeed your baby. A study found that children who were breastfed grew up to be more intelligent as adults and earn a higher salary by age 30. Researchers say the natural fatty acids called DHAs that are found in breast milk are essential for brain development that contributes to intelligence. Source Link

Imagine a smartphone with a one-year guaranteed replacement if it’s smashed or dunked in water. That’s the pitch for the HTC One that competes with the top-selling Apple iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy S6. HTC is hoping the no-questions-asked warranty with jump-start sales of the new phone. Source Link

March 24, 2015

Facebook wants to be your new digital checkbook. The Facebook Messenger app now lets you make a payment to another Facebook user when the two of you register your debit cards. But unlike Apple or Google, Facebook says it has no plans to offer its payment service for use in stores. Source Link

Will a diet soda habit now mean a bigger waist size later? A study found that people who drank diet soda had larger waist measurements than those who didn’t drink artificially-sweetened beverages. That’s a concern because abdominal fat has been linked to increased cardiovascular disease, inflammation and Type 2 diabetes. Source Link

Your nose knows how to get a good night’s sleep. Experts say fresh-smelling sheets can help ease you into slumberland. If you don’t want to launder your bedding more often to keep that fresh smell, you can use a spray fabric freshener on your sheets and pillows. Source Link

March 23, 2015

The IRS says you may want to hang up on the next revenue agent who calls claiming that you owe money. Fake IRS agents have targeted more than 366,000 people with harassing phone calls demanding payments and threatening jail. The scam has claimed victims in almost every state. Source Link

Those extra pounds in pregnancy could show up on the scale for your child. A new study found that gaining too much weight during pregnancy may put children at increased risk for obesity. Health experts say 25 to 35 pounds is considered a normal weight gain during pregnancy. Source Link

Don’t look for a Internet Explorer icon on the next version of Windows. Microsoft is retiring the name when a new web browser debuts with Windows 10 later this year. Internet Explorer was once the most popular web browser but has been surpassed by Google Chrome, which is used on more mobile devices. Source Link

March 20, 2015

How can you train your brain to be happier? Experts suggest listing three things you are thankful for each day and then expecting things to get better. Optimism can make you happier  and studies show people are happier in old age because they remembered the good and forgot the bad. Source Link

The dawn of the Apple Watch could jump-start a new stick-free era for diabetics. The smartwatch is the latest device that promises to monitor blood sugar levels without finger pricks and test strips. Other device makers are already on the market with continuous blood glucose monitors that work with smartphones. Source Link

Being glued to your smartphone screen could take a toll on your looks. Health experts say the head-down posture causes extra wear on muscles and skin and may lead to a wrinkly neck. Besides risking an early double chin, being hunched over a smartphone for long periods can also damage your cervical spine. Source Link

March 19, 2015

People facing a fine for not having health insurance in 2014 are getting a last chance to sign-up and avoid the penalty. Enrollments have reopened at healthcare.gov for those whose tax refunds are being reduced to pay the fine. It’s estimated that about 4 million people will pay at least a $325 penalty for being uninsured. Source Link

If a shot can work to zap those wrinkles and frown lines, why not double chins too? A new injection targets fat cells in the neck area and is ideal for a younger person with a milder double chin. The new treatment is awaiting final FDA approval and could be available before the end of the year. Source Link

The average wedding is getting smaller while the bills for it are getting bigger. The latest survey found the typical tab for a wedding is just over $31,000 with the average number of guests dropping to 136. Four out of ten couples say they busted their wedding budget and one-quarter admit they didn’t have a spending plan for the big day. Source Link

March 18, 2015

Skimping on shuteye each night could mean more than bags under your eyes. A study found that for every hour of sleep you miss, you eat about 200 extra calories the next day. The biggest effect was found in people who tried to make up for days of lost sleep by catching-up on the weekends. Source Link

There are calls to silence a new version of the Barbie doll that will talk with a child. The $75 “Hello Barbie” uses a WiFi connection to analyze the speech of a child and offer an answer from a list of pre-programmed phrases. Some privacy advocates are concerned that the child’s recorded conversations will not be protected. Source Link

Most people would like to pay less in taxes, but there are some reasons why Americans would pay more to Uncle Sam. A survey found that 40-percent of younger people would pay more taxes for free education. Seniors say they’d pay more to fix roads and bridges, and 20-percent would boost their tax bill for free universal health care. Source Link

March 17, 2015

More Americans are watching TV that doesn’t come from a cable or a satellite dish. A new report says 40-percent of homes are now using a streaming video service, and nearly all are Netflix subscribers. About 13-percent have an Amazon Prime membership and six-percent use Hulu Plus. Source Link

Some health experts are saying hormone therapy for menopause symptoms may not be as risky as once thought. A comprehensive review of prior studies found that hormone therapy doesn't increase the risk of death from heart attack, stroke or cancer. Women have been cautioned about the health risks of hormone therapy for nearly a decade. Source Link

St. Patrick’s Day means big parties, but you may want to avoid large events if you plan to stay sober. A study found that the bigger the group of drinkers, the more each person consumed. The group effect on drinking was more likely to be seen in men than in women. Source Link

March 16, 2015

New rules will limit what kinds of debts can be part of your credit report. The nation’s three biggest credit bureaus will no longer allow the reporting of fines and tickets, and medical bills cannot be included for six months to allow time for insurance payments. Consumers also have new ways to handle errors in their credit report. Source Link

The best way to get your spouse to begin exercising is to lead by example. A study found that sedentary husbands and wives could achieve the recommended levels of exercise if their spouse was doing the same. Husbands were more likely to follow the wife’s lead when it came to adding more exercise. Source Link

Learning how to mix that perfect Martini is now as easy as typing the name in a search box. Google has added instructions to standard searches for a wide range of mixed drinks. It’s the latest shortcut from the search engine giant that also puts symptom and treatment information directly in search results for medical conditions. Source Link

March 13, 2015

Having a healthy heart in your senior years starts with staying in shape in middle age. A study found that people who weren’t overweight and didn't have high blood pressure or diabetes in their mid-40s could avoid heart failure in their 60s and 70s. The healthier adults lived 10 to 15 years longer without heart problems. Source Link

It’s common for parents of a child with a summer birthday to hold them back for a year before starting school, but experts say there’s a downside. Researchers found that youngsters had lower test scores by age 8 if they were held back a year. The practice is also common for children who are born prematurely. Source Link

Does the smartphone encourage us to have a lazy brain? People who make decisions based on instinct and gut feelings were more likely to use a quick smartphone search to find answers, rather than analyze a problem for themselves. But researchers say its not clear if smartphone use decreases intelligence. Source Link

March 12, 2015

Set an alarm on your iPhone for April 10th if you want to be among the first to get your hands on the new Apple Watch. That’s when pre-orders begin for the smartwatch with prices starting at $349. The Apple Watch can run 18 hours on a single charge to make calls, read email, control music, keep up with your workout, pay for groceries, and even open your hotel room door. Source Link

Enjoy a cup of coffee with your eggs, but skip that spoonful of sugar on your breakfast cereal. Those are among the recommendations in new government guidelines for healthy eating. The experts also give a thumbs-up to farm-raised seafood and warn that artificial sweeteners probably won't help you lose weight. Source Link

These numbers prove that Americans really love their pets. The latest survey shows we spend $58 billion a year to feed and care for 397 million pets -- everything from freshwater fish to furry kittens. That includes $14 billion spent on pet supplies like beds, bowls, collars and countless cute outfits for our four-legged family members. Source Link

March 11, 2015

When you want your looks to impress your date, think about setting a one-drink limit. In a study, people thought others looked better in photos taken of them after they had one alcoholic drink, but not after two drinks. Researchers think one drink might relax facial muscles just enough to make someone look more attractive. Source Link

If you’re among the 80-percent of people who don’t leave work for lunch, you’re missing more than a meal break from the job. Experts say getting out during the workday is vital to creative thinking, and you don’t have to eat or even do it at lunchtime. Taking a short walk can have a positive impact on the rest of your day. Source Link 

Comparison shopping for auto insurance is getting Googled. The search engine giant has launched a new service that shows you auto insurance quotes from up to 14 carriers. Google gets a cut from any policies that are sold through the new service that’s now available in California with plans to go nationwide. Source Link

March 10, 2015

The tax man is reminding us that he’ll never email you asking for personal or financial information. The IRS says tax season brings out the con artists who try to get passwords, pin numbers and other personal information via email. Unless you’re already working on a matter with the IRS, simply delete the email and never open any attachments. Source Link

Can keeping your body fit at age 40 make for a better brain at age 60? A study found that people with lower fitness levels at midlife had smaller brain volumes in their 60s, and that’s a sign of accelerated brain aging. The 60-somethings who were fit in the 40s also performed better on decision-making tests. Source Link

We may have found the limits of the “bigger is better” trend for smartphones. New flagship models from Samsung and HTC are holding the line on screen size. Experts say it’s a matter of comfort when using a phone with one hand, and those who want a bigger experience have plenty of choices among larger phablet-sized phones. Source Link

March 9, 2015

Is it nutty to think that eating more almonds, cashews or that P-B-and-J sandwich could lead to a longer life? A study of 200,000 people found that eating nuts was linked with a lower risk of premature death from heart disease and other causes. Researchers say eating more peanuts could be an effective and affordable way to improve heart health. Source Link

A new treatment could promise long-lasting relief for migraine sufferers. Doctors are testing the use of the anesthetic lidocaine on a nerve bundle behind the nose that’s associated with migraine headaches. The treatment is applied through the nostril and may offer relief for up to 30 days. Source Link

When it comes to powering your smartphone, some believe a faster-charging battery could beat a longer-lasting one. That’s the idea behind the new StoreDot battery that can recharge completely in just two minutes. The battery only lasts about four hours in typical use, but its makers say most people can recharge their phone quickly during the day. Source Link

March 6, 2015

Is that morning cup of Joe the new wonder drug? Researchers are touting the latest health benefit from coffee after studies showed that java drinkers may be less likely to develop multiple sclerosis. Coffee has also been linked to a lower risk of diabetes and may reduce the odds of heart failure.  Source Link

Buying e-cigarettes may be just a mouse click away for many teenagers. Testing found that three out of four teens were able to buy e-cigarettes online. E-cigarette sales to minors are banned in 41 states, but it's not clear how well e-cigarette sellers comply with those laws. Source Link

There may be a good reason why black licorice candy gets a bad rap. A new study found that consuming large quantities of licorice may result in seizures. Eating too much licorice can also lower potassium levels in the body, increase the risk of early delivery in pregnant women, and cause an irregular heartbeat. Source Link

March 5, 2015

If you’re gearing-up for some serious brain work, you may want to start with a little daydreaming. Testing has shown that a wandering mind improves the ability to accomplish mental tasks. Researchers think daydreaming helps parts of the brain work together for improved mood and creativity. Source Link

Open wide and say “diabetes” could become part of a dental check-up. A study found that blood collected during a dental visit was as accurate as a finger prick for readings that can show signs of diabetes. Finding an easier screening method is important because about one-in-three people who suffer from diabetes don't know they have it. Source Link

The folks who brought you build-it-yourself furniture with odd names are adding a unique feature to help you cut the power cord to your gadgets. IKEA says a new line of lamps, tables and desks will have built-in hotspots to wirelessly charge your Apple or Samsung smartphone. The new furniture line debuts on April 15th. Source Link

March 4, 2015

Blowing your top could be the death of you. A new study warns that intense anger raises the risk of heart attack, due to increased heart rate and blood pressure, tightening of blood vessels and increased clotting. People who reported being very angry had eight times the normal risk of a heart attack. Source Link

The smartphone has reached into many parts of almost every user’s life. A survey found that smartphone use changes the way most people interact with friends, manage their health and handle dating. Eight out of ten say they’re more productive and nine out of ten think their smartphone keeps them closer to friends and family. Source Link

The Labs have it again. The Labrador retriever has repeated as the top dog in the American Kennel Club annual listing. Former favorite the poodle dropped to number-seven and the French bulldog broke into the top-ten as the dachshund slid under the wire and out of the AKC listing of most-favorite dogs. Source Link

March 3, 2015

Contrary to current advice, a new study claims that feeding babies snacks made with peanuts before their first birthday appears to prevent peanut allergies. Eating peanut snacks at least three times a week until age 5 cut the chance of becoming allergic by more than 80-percent. Children at high risk for allergies should be evaluated before starting to eat peanuts. Source Link

Getting college credit for your life experiences could become easier for many people. About 200 universities nationwide are granting class credit for prior experience and a pilot program is allowing federal student aid to pay for those credits. Critics say the move could prompt some schools to cut corners on standards to attract more students. Source Link 

Ready to “spring forward” into the new world of the Apple iWatch? The company is planning an announcement next week that’s expected to be the formal unveiling of the smartwatch that will go on sale next month. The iWatch would be priced starting at $349 and is the first new product for Apple since CEO Tim Cook took the reins from founder Steve Jobs. Source Link

March 2, 2015

Could those midnight meals be messing with your mind? Research suggests that eating when you should normally be sleeping may disrupt learning and memory. Frequent late eating can disrupt your body’s sleep-wake cycle and that can affect cognitive functions like learning and memory mechanisms. Source Link

You can let your thumbs lead the way to better mental health. New text therapy apps can connect you to licensed psychologists, clinical social workers, and mental health counselors at a cost of about $30 a month. About two-thirds of people who are referred to a therapist never go, often because of the high cost of face-to-face sessions. Source Link

Ditching the dishwasher might be a prescription for better health for kids. A study found that children in homes where dishes were hand-washed had fewer allergies like asthma and eczema. Hand-washed dishes aren’t quite as clean and scientists think the exposure to more microbes can help children build natural immunities to allergens. Source Link