June 28, 2019

Cyberbullying of kids can be hard to spot for parents but there are ways to protect your child. Regularly check their social network pages and teach kids not to share anything that could hurt or embarrass them or others. Tell them to talk to you if an online message or image makes them feel threatened or hurt. And encourage your kids to speak up if they see cyberbullying happening to someone else. Source Link 

Is fasting a healthy way to trim those extra pounds? Experts say it can be, whether you restrict the amount of time each day when you eat or use alternate-day fasting. In time-restricted eating, the body’s circadian rhythms that control hormones can help boost metabolism and reduce weight even if someone eats the same number of calories. Source Link 

You don’t need an evening class or an online course to become a more valuable employee. Focus on improving communications with the careful crafting of emails and overall attention to detail. Get more organized by using to-do apps or keeping your work area cleaner. And be a team player by reaching out to co-workers to help them when you can. Source Link 

June 27, 2019

If you’re among the half of Americans who admit to using retail therapy to cope with stress you might slow down the compulsive shopping with the “30-day rule.” Wait one month before making that impulse buy. If you still want it 30 days later, it’s probably a worthwhile purchase. Source Link

Jogging your memory could be literally helpful. Researchers found that people who took a 15-minute run after learning a new physical skill were able to retain it better. It’s believed that the burst of physical activity from a short jog can increase brain activity and help it make new connections. Source Link 

We know about shopping bags and diapers but there are lots more things that come in reusable versions. There are reusable drinking straws, sandwich bags, drink boxes, K-cups for coffee, dryer balls, and silicone lids for food bowls. You can even get your own cloth bag for produce shopping and skip those flimsy plastic ones. Source Link 

June 26, 2019

You’ve heard of refinancing your mortgage, but how about the loan for that set of wheels? Auto loan refinancing may be an easy way to save money because many people don’t shop around for the best rates when buying a car. Refinancing an auto loan is much simpler than a mortgage and may take just one day to complete. Source Link 

When and what you eat can be an important combination for weight loss and better health. A high-protein breakfast might keep your appetite in check for the whole day, and a small meal with carbs and protein before exercise followed by a similar snack afterward can help you get the most from a workout. Source Link 

Giving kids household chores can teach them to be responsible and build self-esteem. Find ones that are age-appropriate like putting away toys, making their bed, setting the table or raking leaves. Put these on a calendar with scheduled days and times and consider giving an allowance to older kids who do heavier chores. Source Link 

June 25, 2019

Borrowing from your local library probably includes more than just books, movies or CDs. The American Library Association lists over 200 items that cardholders can borrow for free, from air mattresses to wall art and yoga mats to yogurt makers. Plenty of tech items are on the list, including Bluetooth speakers, webcams, streaming players and even WiFi hotspots. Source Link 

If food makes you feel good, it's not all in your head. Nutritional psychiatry is a real thing and researchers have found that a diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids may reduce depression risk. Getting more vitamin D and folic acid may also help to ward off depression. Source Link 

A daily workout may help your teen do better work in school. Researchers found that an hour a day of moderate-to-vigorous activity may release a protein that improves brain function for better learning. There could also be benefits for teens with ADHD -- attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder. Source Link

June 24, 2019

Having a baby doesn’t have to mean giving up those jet-away vacations but you’ll probably need to part with some money or your sanity. Children who are content in a car seat may have something else in mind when sitting in your lap for hours to get a free ride. Ask about discounts when you purchase a children’s ticket that’s needed in order to use a child safety seat on an airliner. Source Link 

Finding ways to fit more exercise into your day may not be as hard as you think. Do some toe raises when waiting in line to work your foot and calf muscles or squeeze in a few squats while brushing your teeth. When watching TV you can swap the couch for a stability ball and keep some hand weights nearby for sets of upper body exercises during commercials. Source Link 

If you’re minding that credit score there are some things that won’t ding your rating. Paying off a credit card won’t hurt but canceling one will because it reduces your total available credit. Checking your credit report or a credit check by an employer has no impact and you can’t have too many credit cards unless you carry balances that you can’t pay off each month. Source Link 

June 21, 2019

It might seem to be at odds but drinking coffee can help you take a better nap. Pinpoint the afternoon time when you start to drag, find a quiet spot behind a closed door or on the couch, drink a cup of coffee and set a timer for 25 minutes before you start to nap. The caffeine will begin to wake you up in about 20 minutes and you won’t feel groggy after your mid-day shuteye. Source Link 

Your heart is in the right place when you donate that old computer, phone or tablet but make sure your personal data doesn’t go with it. There’s a factory reset feature on your phone or tablet that will wipe away anything you’ve loaded. With a PC or laptop, you can run special software to erase data but the safest step is to remove the hard drive before you donate. Source Link 

It’s great for cleaning clothes but there are many more things you can put in your washing machine. You may know about stuffed animals and ballcaps but shower curtains, yoga mats, pillows and even backpacks can go in the washer. And you can wash things like Legos, bath scrubbers and even your pet’s toys in a mesh garment bag in the washer. Source Link 

June 20, 2019

The family that plays games together may have closer ties no matter where they are. Testing found that playing video games can unite generations of the same family. Word games or action games helped and you don’t have to be in the same room to benefit because online gaming improved family ties with faraway relatives. Source Link

Looking for an alternative to help you kick the soda habit? If you like the fizz, try sparkling water with a lemon twist, lime twist, crushed raspberries or a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Cola fans can switch to iced redbush tea to get the same taste and if you like ginger ale you can make your own with seltzer water, freshly grated ginger and a half-teaspoon of the natural sweetener stevia. Source Link 

More people are swapping the shot for a pill in their battle against allergies. Under-the-tongue allergy pills have caught on as a way to treat hay fever and dust mite allergies and three out of four doctors have patients who use them. Convenience is the key because pills can be taken at home but shots must be administered at the doctor's office. Source Link 

June 19, 2019

Getting your preschooler to eat more fruits and vegetables shouldn’t be a stealth operation. Sneaking healthy ingredients into a dish won’t help your child learn to enjoy them. The better approach is to offer a variety of fruits and vegetables in whole form when they’re younger so they can learn to appreciate those tastes as they get older. Source Link 

How much do you need to be worth to be wealthy? A new survey of Americans says the magic number is $2.3 million, or about 20 times the median net worth of U.S. households. Baby Boomers set the bar for wealth about 35 percent higher than Millennials. To be financially comfortable, the consensus figure was just over $1 million. Source Link 

With more cookouts and vacations it’s not hard to add some pounds during summer but there's one thing that can help keep the weight in-check -- stepping on the scale once a day. Researchers say participants in a study who weighed themselves daily from Thanksgiving through Christmas either maintained or lost weight and those who didn’t gained weight. Source Link 

June 18, 2019

What form of exercise can help you beat depression without breaking a sweat? Researchers say practicing yoga was shown to ease symptoms of depression. The deep breathing and precise movements of yoga activate the release of “feel good” brain chemicals and block others that can worsen depression. Source Link 

You clean out the trunk of your car when selling it but have you swept up your personal data too? Before you go to the dealer for that trade-in be sure to disconnect your phone from the car’s Bluetooth syncing and delete your contacts, maps and address data. And remember to delete any garage door opener codes that were stored by the vehicle. Source Link 

The average American could be losing up to $1,000 a year by sticking with an old habit. The typical bank savings account pays almost no interest but new online banks are battling for business by offering high-interest savings accounts that pay over 2 percent. The accounts are guaranteed by the same federal agency that protects deposits for all banks. Source Link 

June 17, 2019

You might be surprised at all the things that can dull your bright smile. Staining can be caused by coffee, red wine or tea or tobacco. But using an antihistamine, high-blood pressure medication, some chemotherapy drugs or anti-psychotic medications can also cause stained teeth. Source Link 

Taking some simple precautions can help you avoid home accidents. Use a can opener instead of a knife to cut through clamshell plastic packaging and keep kitchen knives sharp because a dull knife is more likely to slip. Dial down your water heater to 120 degrees to avoid scalding accidents and wear long pants and close-toed shoes when mowing the lawn. Source Link 

It takes a good eye to pick the freshest seafood. Look for a whole fish with eyes that are bright and clear and not dull gray. For a fillet, the skin should be shiny, metallic and clean. Fresh fish should smell like clean water or slightly briny but never “fishy” because cooking can’t improve a fish past its prime. Source Link 

June 14, 2019

If there’s a DIY painting project on your to-do list, remember these tips to get the job done right. Start with a pint of paint to see if you like the color on your walls and then buy the best paint to get quality coverage that will last longer. And have the primer tinted to match your color and you’ll need only one coat of paint. Source Link 

Achieving personal goals may be easier if you approach the challenge in a new way. Consistently working toward a goal in a specific way every day helps your brain turn it into a habit. And setting and achieving small goals triggers your brain to release “feel good” chemicals that will encourage you to stay the course. Source Link 

Should you turn off the tunes when you’re trying to create? Testing showed that listening to music significantly impaired verbal creativity. The sound of a library was no problem but songs with words and instrumental music were bad and the worst was listening to a song with familiar lyrics. Researchers say music can interfere with the brain’s verbal memory. Source Link 

June 13, 2019

What’s an eating plan that’s good for your heart? Spread out your meals and get more of your calories earlier in the day. There isn’t proof that eating breakfast is an absolute must but you should always hydrate yourself first thing in the morning. Coffee counts but the better choice is a glass of water. Source Link 

Dealing with a child’s tantrum involves reaction and prevention. Move to a quiet place because the situation can escalate in public view. Comfort them and find out if they’re hungry or tired. You can also teach your child the kind of mindful breathing that adults use to refocus and try to avoid situations that cause stress and can lead to a tantrum. Source Link 

The physical strain that comes from too much screen time might be cured in the blink of an eye. Typically, a person blinks about 30 times per minute but that can drop to just a few times per minute when focusing on a screen. One solution might be the “20-20-20” rule -- every 20 minutes, look away from the screen for 20 seconds at something that’s 20 feet away. Source Link 

June 12, 2019

You want unique and strong passwords for online accounts, but how can you remember all of them? Your web browser will help by storing those passwords and inserting them automatically when you visit a site. Browsers like Firefox and Google Chrome let you access those passwords on your laptop, tablet or smartphone. Source Link 

The sports physical is a summer ritual for parents of young athletes and where it’s done is important. Experts say the best choice is a primary care physician who knows your child’s history and can start discussions about health, diet and physical activity. A sports physical can also uncover any family history of illness like a heart condition that could affect the child. Source Link 

Should being right or left-handed determine how you’re treated for mental conditions? New research shows that long-held assumptions about how the brain works may be flipped in left-handed people. The conventional wisdom is that the left side of the brain controls happiness, pride and anger while the right side manages emotions like disgust and fear. Source Link 

June 11, 2019

If you think that watching TV will help your young child wind down before bedtime, think again. Researchers found that pre-schoolers who watched more TV got less sleep, especially if that TV was in a bedroom and leaving a TV on at bedtime did not help children fall asleep faster. One in three families said their young child had a TV in the bedroom. Source Link 

If summertime means lots of fun in the sun you should make time for a special doctor visit too. Weekend warriors or people doing outside activities should be going to a board-certified dermatologist to get your skin checked once a year for signs of skin cancer. Just one sunburn during your lifetime doubles your risk for melanoma. Source Link 

When it comes to expiration dates, safety regulators want the food industry to speak with one voice. The FDA is urging all companies to use the phrase “best if used by” on food labels. Research has shown that this helps consumers understand that the date label is about quality, not safety and that products don’t have to be thrown out if stored properly. Source Link 

June 10, 2019

It’s been said that anger can eat you up from the inside and there’s evidence that it could also shorten your life. Researchers found that anger, far more than sadness, was linked to negative health effects in older people by contributing to inflammation and chronic disease. Getting angry won’t fix the most serious problems and may only bring more stress. Source Link 

That free phone charging station at the airport could be convenient and a danger to your privacy. That’s because cybercriminals can modify those USB connections to install malware on your phone or download data without your knowledge. If you need extra power, pack an external backup battery and charge that in the airport. Source Link 

What fruits give you the biggest nutritional bang per bite? The top 5 nutrient-dense fruits are lemons, strawberries, oranges, limes and pink and red grapefruit. These give you plenty of vitamins B, C and K along with fiber, all of which are associated with a reduction in the risk of chronic diseases. Source Link 

June 7, 2019

Budgeting your personal finances can be easier if you stick to the 50/20/30 rule. Half of your income goes to essentials like food, housing, utilities and transportation and 20 percent is for savings. The other 30 percent covers expenses that are personal choices like your cell phone plan, gym membership, or dining out with friends. Source Link 

What food is high in protein and fiber and loaded with good fats? Nuts are a natural hunger-buster as a handy snack. Just watch the portion and limit yourself to about 10 or 12 peanuts, walnuts or pistachios and you’ll stay around 100 calories. Source Link 

When you need a vaccination but don’t have time for an office visit your local pharmacy may be able to help. Common adult vaccinations for the flu, pneumonia and shingles are often available from a pharmacist and no appointment is needed. Just be sure that the pharmacy reports the vaccination to your doctor and the state health department. Source Link 

June 6, 2019

Want to enjoy a few adult beverages with less chance of a hangover? Go clear and don’t go cheap. Dark-colored alcoholic beverages like red wine, brandy and whiskey are higher in compounds called congeners that are harder for the body to process. And low-cost liquors have more congeners because they are distilled less than the pricier labels. Source Link 

It’s a classic question -- should I leave my computer on 24-7? A daily shutdown could do more harm than good for an older computer because of the physical stress on components during a restart and hibernating causes more stress than sleeping. If you do a restart, be sure to follow the proper steps and don’t just switch the power off and on again. Source Link 

If a home move is in your plans soon, try these tips to save time and money. Begin culling household items you rarely use and pack room by room ending with the kitchen. Look into more affordable alternatives like using a container to ship your goods and schedule your move for mid-month to avoid the end-of-month rush and higher prices. Source Link 

June 5, 2019

Don’t let the question, “what’s in your wallet?” include these items. A Social Security card should never go with you and don’t carry old receipts with shopping and financial information that can help hackers. Don’t carry every credit card with you and avoid using a phone case that doubles as a wallet, in case your phone is lost or stolen. Source Link 

A fuel-saving feature on some new cars could leave you steaming mad when commuting in hot weather. An auto start/stop system can keep the car air conditioning compressor from running when it shuts the engine off. You’ll notice the lack of cool air very quickly when sitting at a lengthy stoplight or in stop-and-go traffic that's barely moving. Source Link 

Studies show that people who take vacations regularly can have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease but fully unplugging is the key. Spending time elsewhere but still checking work calls and emails reduces the value of the vacation. And avoid the urge to binge on food and drink just because you’re not home because that’s not healthy. Source Link 

June 4, 2019

Bug bites are no fun and can even spread illness, but what’s the right way to protect yourself when you visit places with insect-borne diseases? The best advice is to cover up and wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. And remember to use bug spray after sunscreen has dried on your skin. Source Link 

It’s a twist on the old idea to beat sleeplessness by counting sheep. If you suffer from insomnia caused by stress, try counting every breath you take and count up as far as you can. Another technique to get back to sleep is to stare at a point on the wall until your eyelids get so heavy you have to close them. Source Link 

If a vacation is in your plans try these easy travel hacks. An airline app can be a faster way to get notifications about flight changes and Google Translate will bridge a language gap in a foreign country. And tweeting to an airline may be a faster way to get direct customer support. Source Link 

June 3, 2019

How do you raise kids who are smart about money? Build their financial awareness by pointing out prices on a menu, comparing labels at the supermarket and explaining the costs of living like paying for a house, car, and utilities. And use that magic word “no” to teach budgeting and demonstrate the difference between wants and needs. Source Lin

Dealing with a lost phone could be a disaster when traveling but you can prepare for the worse. Before you leave, print out travel documents and write down important phone numbers and passwords. And make sure the GPS-enabled “find my phone” feature is turned on before you depart. Source Link 

If you enjoyed that all-you-can-eat buffet a bit too much, your body has your back. Researchers found that the human body can recover quickly from the occasional pig-out. But that’s only the case if you eat right and get enough exercise the rest of the time. Source Link