September 30, 2019

The bathroom scale may not be the best way to see if your diet plan is working. Health experts say things like water weight can throw off that measurement. What’s a better way to track your progress? Use a tape measure on your chest, waist, hips and thighs once a week and see if your clothes are beginning to feel loose. Source Link 

A heart attack isn’t always the sudden chest-clutching event that many people imagine, especially for women who have fewer heart attacks than men but more “silent” ones that are damaging but only detected after they occur. Nausea, sweating, shortness of breath and pain in the neck or jaw are all symptoms that require immediate attention. Source Link 

The popularity of genetic testing has brought out scam artists who are targeting seniors. Mail-order offers for genetic testing that’s paid for by Medicare are often a hoax designed to get your account information. Even if it’s a real test some people are stuck with a bill that could be up to $10,000. Source Link 

September 27, 2019

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 

Need some tips to save time and money on your next home move? 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 

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 

September 26, 2019

Getting the most from your health insurance isn’t something to do only when you’re sick. Many policies include wellness programs to improve your health and help you avoid chronic conditions. Nutrition, smoking cessation, fitness, combating substance abuse and stress management are among the common wellness offerings that are often free or discounted. Source Link 

The habit of always looking at your phone when you’re with people has a name. It’s called phubbing and staying glued to your phone in social settings has a serious downside. The habit keeps you from looking at others and you miss the important connection that comes from making eye contact. Source Link 

Soothing a cranky baby is never easy but it can be done safely. The FDA says don’t place a baby in a sleep positioner, nest or anti-roll device that can be a suffocation risk if your infant rolls over from back to stomach. Rocking and playing soothing music can help and so can mimicking the experience in the womb by placing the baby in a carrier close to your body. Source Link 

September 25, 2019

Ever wonder what happens to all those items confiscated in airport security lines? GovDeals.com is like eBay for Uncle Sam where you can bid to buy what the TSA takes from carry-on luggage. But don’t expect to pick up one buck knife or a single Leatherman tool because smaller items are often sold by the bagful. Source Link 

Building a better sandwich starts with ingredients and the way you assemble them. You can kick up the flavor by mixing sriracha or chipotle peppers with mayo and have different textures of items that are soft or crunchy. Avoid soggy bread by adding butter, mayo or a slice of cheese under wet items and pack it in a hard-sided container to protect your sandwich until lunchtime. Source Link 

Moderate exercise that’s recommended for controlling high blood pressure doesn’t have to be boring. Researchers found that hot yoga and even hula dancing could lower blood pressure. It’s important to find an exercise that you enjoy in order to achieve blood pressure readings below 120 over 80. Source Link

September 24, 2019

If that struggle to keep up with schoolwork is underway in your home, here’s how you can help your child. Show them how to use a planner guide to work day-by-day to complete long-term projects. Provide a quiet study area and enforce regular bedtimes with 30 minutes to unwind before sleep without phones, tablets or screens. Source Link 

Indulging your appetite on the weekends might erase the effects of any good weekday eating habits. Testing showed that people who ate more on weekends tended to choose more junk food and ended up with more calories for the week. What’s worse is that cycling on and off junk food isn’t good for your gut health. Source Link 

Which youth sports can take the biggest bite out of your budget? In a survey of parents, ice hockey was the most expensive at $2,500 a year. Football, softball and soccer were in the mid-range and basketball and cross country on the lower end. The average family spent about $700 a year on equipment, travel, lessons and camps for a child to participate in a single sport. Source Link 

September 23, 2019

Brown-bagging your mid-day meal doesn’t have to be boring if you can think outside the lunchbox. Try adding one new vegetable or fruit each week and pack more than lunch with healthy snacks to make it through the day. And watch out for too much sugar at lunchtime because it can fuel a mid-afternoon energy crash. Source Link 

What are some keys to emotional well-being? Experts say having a positive outlook is important and regular mindfulness meditation can help you learn how to bounce back from adversity. And being more generous can help others and activate the parts of your brain that promote well-being. Source Link 

There’s a kind of yo-yo dieting that might help you shed more pounds. Alternate-day fasting has you not eating one day and then feasting the next day. In testing, people lost an average of seven pounds in a month without needing to count calories. Source Link 

September 20, 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 

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 

It’s a classic tech 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 effect on components during a restart causes more stress than leaving it on. 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 

September 19, 2019

Taking one step every day may help your new college student beat the dreaded “Freshman 15.” Researchers found that those who stepped onto a scale to weigh themselves every day did better at managing weight. An estimated 70 percent of freshman college students gain weight at school. Source Link 

Diet sodas may not be a healthy alternative because they’ve been associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart disease and heart attack. If you like the sparkle of soda, try plain seltzer with a squeeze of citrus fruit, grated ginger, chopped mint or a teaspoon of vanilla. Or replace soda with milk for more protein and calcium. Source Link  

Playing online brain games may help seniors keep their minds as sharp as some younger people. A study found that older people who made a habit of playing online brain games could switch between tasks in a game at a level similar to 20- and 30-year-olds who didn’t play regularly. Source Link 

September 18, 2019

If you’re adding a child to the family phone plan think inexpensive and take control. Offer them a hand-me-down iPhone or a low-cost Android device. Establish ground rules like you get all passwords and can check their phone at any time. And set up parental controls on the phone for kid-safe searches and to limit what apps they can download. Source Link 

Want to spend this Saturday exploring a great museum for free? September 21st is the annual National Museum Day sponsored by Smithsonian Magazine when over 1,500 museums in all 50 states will offer free admission. You must order free tickets online and to see participating museums and get tickets, go to smithsonianmag.com/museumday. Source Link 

When should a senior citizen hang up the car keys for good is a question that can be answered with the help of a primary care physician who understands their health conditions, capacities, and challenges. Vision, thinking skills and physical function all play a part and families should start the discussion early before a driving mishap forces the issue. Source Link 

September 17, 2019

It’s easier than you think to pack a healthy lunch for your kids. Concentrate on basics like whole-grain bread, lean meats and lettuce and tomato for sandwiches. Add raw vegetables and a low fat-low sugar dipping sauce and favorite fruits for snacks. If kids buy lunch at school, remind them that hot dogs or mac and cheese should just be occasional foods. Source Link 

Some of your home improvement tools might work well in the kitchen. A straight ruler can cut dough for a lattice crust and self-adjusting pliers make a great nutcracker. Painters tape is a durable label for freezer leftovers and comes off clean months later. And office binder clips can hold open a cookbook while you’re working from a recipe. Source Link 

Even octogenarians can get into exercise and see real benefits. A study found that people in their 70s and 80s who never exercised could build muscle mass with weight training as well as experienced athletes who were the same age. Building muscle is an important way to guard against problems that can cause dangerous falls in older people. Source Link

September 16, 2019

Answering just two questions could be the key to killing clutter in your home. Start by categorizing items as useful or decorative. For useful items, ask yourself if you’ve used it in the past year. For decorative pieces, ask yourself if you “love” it. If the answer to the question is “no” it’s time to sell, recycle, give away or donate the item. Source Link 

Looking for an app to help you relax? Skip the meditating and try playing a game. A study found that playing a smartphone game made more people feel energized and less tired. On the other hand, using a mindfulness app tended to make people feel more lethargic. Source Link 

You’ll be surprised at what you can do with dental floss besides cleaning your teeth. In a pinch, you can use dental floss to slice foods like cake or cookie dough, replace a broken shoelace or fix the hinge on a pair of eyeglasses. And a string of dental floss tied to a leaky faucet and left hanging down can stop that annoying drip, drip, drip. Source Link 

September 13, 2019

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 

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 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 

September 12, 2019

A simple change to your Windows computer setup could make you a lot safer from hackers. Switch from being an Administrator to a Standard user to prevent any malicious programs from making changes to your computer. You can create a new Standard user under Accounts from the Settings icon in your Start menu. Source Link 

When is travel insurance a smart buy? Getting travel insurance for an expensive international trip makes sense because you have more to lose and it might help with medical expenses should you become ill outside of the country. And it’s smart to buy travel insurance for a cruise if you book it a year ahead of time because your situation may change and force a cancellation. Source Link 

If your commute includes stop-and-go traffic there’s one auto part that can help you breathe easier. An activated charcoal cabin air filter can remove most of the pollutants from exhaust fumes that build up while you’re stopped. You should have the cabin air filter checked with every oil change. Source Link 

September 11, 2019

Your cell phone could be carrying more germs than a toilet seat but there are ways to clean it up. Keeping your phone out of the bathroom will help along with an occasional cleaning with a microfiber cloth or a solution of water and rubbing alcohol. And wash your hands frequently because that’s how most germs make it to your phone. Source Link 

You can have more success with your workouts with these trainer tips. Don’t race through a workout because bad form can lead to injuries and shorten your routine instead of skipping it if you’re tired or rushed for time. And dress the part in exercise wear that makes you look good and feel comfortable. Source Link 

If you’re new to investing you might skip the research and get out the dartboard. A study found that novice investors did just as well picking stocks at random as they did when creating a stock portfolio. That’s because many newcomers choose less-risky stocks and fail to diversify. Source Link 

September 10, 2019

Who goes to the doctor when they aren’t sick? Smart people. The annual wellness visit offers you and your doctor an opportunity to review your health habits and lifestyle changes over the past year and conduct screenings and tests and catch up on vaccinations. Most health insurance plans pay for an annual wellness visit with no out-of-pocket cost to you. Source Link 

Exercising to lose weight isn’t just a matter of sweating off those pounds. Studies show the longer you exercise the more fat you’ll burn but shorter high-intensity interval training can cut your appetite so you eat less. Exercise builds calorie-burning muscle so try short and longer workouts to see which works best for you. Source Link 

Most of us need to eat more fruits and vegetables but you don’t have to adjust your meal menus to get those five to seven servings a day. Snacking on fresh fruit or raw vegetables could satisfy your nutritional needs, but cooking tomatoes, sweet potatoes or carrots provides the most nutrients from those vegetables. Source Link 

September 9, 2019

You can do a lot with your old smartphone after you buy that new one. Besides being a hand-me-down, your old phone could be a hands-free screen for use with Siri or Google Assistant or you can put it to work as a dedicated remote for your TV or smart home system. And that old phone can be a new handheld gaming device for young children who won’t need to play with your new phone. Source Link 

Should brushing your teeth be part of the morning ritual right after breakfast? You want to brush every morning but doing it immediately after breakfast or any meal can be hard on tooth enamel that’s been softened by acids in the food we eat. Waiting for 30 minutes to brush can protect your teeth from damage. Source Link

Being seriously injured in a fall isn’t just a concern for seniors because people in their 50s who take multiple medications are also at higher risk. Using prescription drugs to treat anxiety, insomnia and pain can increase the odds for a fall, as can alcohol and illicit drug use. Falls are associated with hospitalization and even early death. Source Link 

September 6, 2019

If you’re ready to make the switch to whole grains be sure you’re getting all you want. Many foods that are labeled “made with whole grains” or “multigrain” could be using a tiny percentage of whole grains while the rest is refined flour. Only foods labeled “100% whole grains” use just that. Source Link 

You can do strength training at home without any weights or other equipment. Jumping jacks can be a strength and cardio workout and squats use your body’s weight. Or press your back into a wall and slide it down the wall as you walk your feet out in front of you, bending at the knees. Source Link 

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 Link 

September 5, 2019

If you want to train your brain, put away the apps and pick up a musical instrument. Studies have found that that musical training enhances verbal memory, spatial reasoning, and literacy skills. Learning to play an instrument uses information from the senses of vision, hearing, and touch, as well as fine movements. Source Link 

You can put your spending in perspective with your earnings by finding your true hourly wage. Take your annual after-tax income and subtract costs like transportation and then divide by the number of hours you worked, commuted or attended work events. Use this to determine how many hours you’ll need to work to make a purchase. Source Link 

Follow these tips for safer house cleaning. When working with liquid cleaners, wear gloves to protect your skin and consider using a diluted vinegar solution or baking soda instead of stronger chemicals like bleach or ammonia. And remember to open a window and get fresh air in while you’re scrubbing with a strong cleaner. Source Link

September 4, 2019

You could lower blood pressure, ease depression, improve digestion and sleep better without medicines or treatments by practicing meditation. Start by sitting or laying down for about 5 minutes and let your mind wander without trying to control it. Another technique is to focus on your breathing or stare at an object. Source Link

TV binge-watching may seem fun but your body and brain might beg to differ. Sitting for long periods and eating junk food isn’t good for your body and watching show after show can have the same effect on your brain as compulsive gambling. Make sure a TV binge doesn’t interrupt your sleep, try standing up for five minutes during each episode and pick healthy snacks. Source Link 

If you’re embarrassed about sharing serious issues with your doctor, you’re not alone. Four out of ten people surveyed don't tell their physicians about things like domestic violence, sexual assault, depression or thoughts of suicide. Your doctor needs to know about this to find the best treatments and physicians need to learn how to make patients more comfortable in sharing. Source Link 

September 3, 2019

Should you buy or lease your next car? If you drive a lot of miles annually or want to modify your car or keep it for many years then buying is a better long-term deal but leasing helps you afford more car now. Whether you buy or lease remember to keep your car costs including insurance to under 10 percent of your gross income per month. Source Link 

There are easy ways to get the most mileage in airline travel rewards. Sign-up for every airline’s program to get credit for any trip and look for alliances with credit cards, hotels and travel partners that can add more points. And don’t cash in too soon, because many programs offer bigger rewards for those who use more points per transaction. Source Link 

Building a better breakfast sandwich starts with what it’s made of. Skip the croissants or biscuits and try a whole-wheat English muffin, tortilla or pita wrap. Include four ounces of protein from eggs, turkey sausage or lean meat leftovers like chicken along with plenty of veggies and add some kick with salsa or hot sauce. Source Link