Start off Your 2014 with Healthy Fruits and Veggies
From Cleveland Clinic
An infographic on farmer's market finds.
By Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD
December 31, 2013
Start off Your 2014 with Healthy Fruits and Veggies
Start off Your 2014 with Healthy Fruits and Veggies
From Cleveland Clinic
An infographic on farmer's market finds.
By Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD
December 29, 2013
High Blood Pressure Infographic
From Health Blog
You’ll always find 2 pressures shown in blood pressure ranges, namely the systolic and the diastolic. High blood pressure is called hypertension, and low blood pressure is called hypotension.
Read more on blood pressure ranges here: What are Blood Pressure Ranges?
Get more info from Health Blog website >>
High Blood Pressure Infographic by National Institutes of Health
You’ll always find 2 pressures shown in blood pressure ranges, namely the systolic and the diastolic. High blood pressure is called hypertension, and low blood pressure is called hypotension.
Read more on blood pressure ranges here: What are Blood Pressure Ranges?
Get more info from Health Blog website >>
High Blood Pressure Infographic by National Institutes of Health
December 28, 2013
Acupuncture, Real or Not, Eases Side Effects of Cancer Drugs
From NYTimes.com
Acupuncture, Real or Not, Eases Side Effects of Cancer Drugs
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR
Both acupuncture and sham acupuncture were effective in reducing menopausal symptoms in women being treated with aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer, a small randomized trial found. Joint and muscle pain, hot flashes and night sweats are common side effects of those estrogen-lowering drugs.
The trial, published online in Cancer, randomized 47 breast cancer patients to eight weekly sessions of either real or sham acupuncture. Those assigned to real acupuncture received treatment with needles in recognized acupoints believed to be helpful in relieving menopausal symptoms. The controls got non-penetrating needles placed in sham acupuncture points. Patients and researchers did not know which patients had received which treatment.
The patients kept daily diaries or filled out several questionnaires on the frequency and severity of hot flashes and other symptoms.
Read more from NYTimes.com >>
Acupuncture, Real or Not, Eases Side Effects of Cancer Drugs
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR
Both acupuncture and sham acupuncture were effective in reducing menopausal symptoms in women being treated with aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer, a small randomized trial found. Joint and muscle pain, hot flashes and night sweats are common side effects of those estrogen-lowering drugs.
The trial, published online in Cancer, randomized 47 breast cancer patients to eight weekly sessions of either real or sham acupuncture. Those assigned to real acupuncture received treatment with needles in recognized acupoints believed to be helpful in relieving menopausal symptoms. The controls got non-penetrating needles placed in sham acupuncture points. Patients and researchers did not know which patients had received which treatment.
The patients kept daily diaries or filled out several questionnaires on the frequency and severity of hot flashes and other symptoms.
Read more from NYTimes.com >>
December 27, 2013
The Best $100 Investment for 2013
From Forbes News Tech
The best investment, hands down, with your $100 at the beginning of 2013 is bitcoin, the virtual currency.
Graphic by David Lada
Read more from Forbes News Tech >>
Retirement Crisis Is Nigh
From Main Street
Retirement Crisis Is Nigh
By Ellen Chang
December 06, 2013
NEW YORK (MainStreet) — Despite an uptick in the economy, a majority of Americans are still lagging behind in their retirement goals with 55% in fair or poor condition when it comes to having enough money to cover their expenses.
A new Fidelity Investments survey assessed whether Americans could afford basic living expense such as housing, health care and food. Only 33% of Americans reported that even during a down market they could cover 95% of their estimated expenses while 41% stating they were not on track to cover all their expenses in retirement.
Many Americans will lack enough money in their retirement portfolio, because they are not allocating enough money into their savings, said Lauren Brouhard, a senior vice president at Fidelity Investments.
"One of the most important things is that people aren't saving enough," she said. "They are not starting early enough."
While 26% of Americans are likely to face an income gap where they will have to make spending cuts in their retirement especially if the market experiences another downturn, several groups are meeting their goals.
Baby Boomers (born 1946 to 1964) are on track to reach 81% of their goal, but they have fewer options than their younger counterparts to make up any shortfall. Gen X respondents (born 1965 to 1977) are at 71% of their goal while Gen Y respondents (born 1978 to 1988) are falling significantly short and are 62% of their goal.
"The biggest gap is the source of income and the availability of pensions for some people," said Brouhard. "People just don't really know where to get started. They just feel overwhelmed. There are many ways for people to get started and take some critical actions despite their income level or the economy."
Read more from Main Street >>
Retirement Crisis Is Nigh
By Ellen Chang
December 06, 2013
NEW YORK (MainStreet) — Despite an uptick in the economy, a majority of Americans are still lagging behind in their retirement goals with 55% in fair or poor condition when it comes to having enough money to cover their expenses.
A new Fidelity Investments survey assessed whether Americans could afford basic living expense such as housing, health care and food. Only 33% of Americans reported that even during a down market they could cover 95% of their estimated expenses while 41% stating they were not on track to cover all their expenses in retirement.
Many Americans will lack enough money in their retirement portfolio, because they are not allocating enough money into their savings, said Lauren Brouhard, a senior vice president at Fidelity Investments.
"One of the most important things is that people aren't saving enough," she said. "They are not starting early enough."
While 26% of Americans are likely to face an income gap where they will have to make spending cuts in their retirement especially if the market experiences another downturn, several groups are meeting their goals.
Baby Boomers (born 1946 to 1964) are on track to reach 81% of their goal, but they have fewer options than their younger counterparts to make up any shortfall. Gen X respondents (born 1965 to 1977) are at 71% of their goal while Gen Y respondents (born 1978 to 1988) are falling significantly short and are 62% of their goal.
"The biggest gap is the source of income and the availability of pensions for some people," said Brouhard. "People just don't really know where to get started. They just feel overwhelmed. There are many ways for people to get started and take some critical actions despite their income level or the economy."
Read more from Main Street >>
December 26, 2013
Why Millennials Mattered in 2013. By Me.
From Bloomberg.com
Why Millennials Mattered in 2013. By Me.
By Zara Kessler Dec 24, 2013
Millennial, n., sometimes adj., probably even v. occasionally: the generation roughly defined as those born between 1980 and 2000. Or between about 1980 and 1996. 1982 and 2000. 1982 and 2004. 1985 and 1998. 1985 and 2000. The late 1970s to the mid-1990s. Stop trying to define us!
Generation Y. Generation Why. Generation Vex. Generation Stress. Generation Frustration. The Lamest Generation. The Crash Generation. The Me Me Me Generation. Those lazy, spoiled brats plotting cataclysmic revenge from the depths of their baby-boomer parents’ basements against the society, and economy -- that relegated them to their baby-boomer parents’ basements -- where, I might add, the service is so weak they can barely send their daily fill of salacious Snapchats.
I made that last one up. Because, you know, I’m a millennial, so: creativity. YOLO.
By now, you probably know all about millennials. 2013 was a really big year for us, especially in the U.S. We took so many actions! We had so many thoughts! We experienced so many feelings! It's hard to know where to begin.
If you don’t believe me -- and you probably shouldn’t, because millennials lie to get by -- look at the accompanying charts:
Source: Google Trends
Read more from Bloomberg.com >>
December 25, 2013
Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth!
_________________________________
Merry Christmas!
May you find a moment,
_________________________________on this day, to reflect how, together, we could all contribute to the cause of World Peace! |
December 23, 2013
Can retirement kill you?
From BBC
Can retirement kill you?
By Bryan Borzykowski | 14 August 2013
In 2003, Dr Harry Prosen stepped down as head of psychiatry at the Medical College of Wisconsin, but the then 71-year-old had no plans to retire. Rather, the doctor intended to focus on other “jobs” that would keep him busy.
Now 83, Prosen still sees several patients, consults for a number of organisations, recently reviewed a 600-page manuscript for a friend and regularly pores over a handful of medical journals because he “just wants to keep up,” he said.
It’s not just a love of working that has kept Prosen toiling away 30 hours a week as an octogenarian. He also sees keeping busy as a matter of life or death.
Prosen said he is certain that if he stopped working entirely, he would literally die not long after.
He could be on to something. A number of studies show that retirement is, in fact, bad for your health.
A May 2013 report published by the London-based Institute of Economic Affairs found that retirement increased the chances of suffering from depression by 40%, while it increased the probability of having at least one diagnosed physical ailment by about 60%. That impact was assessed after controlling for the usual age-related conditions.
Read more from BBC >>
Can retirement kill you?
By Bryan Borzykowski | 14 August 2013
In 2003, Dr Harry Prosen stepped down as head of psychiatry at the Medical College of Wisconsin, but the then 71-year-old had no plans to retire. Rather, the doctor intended to focus on other “jobs” that would keep him busy.
Now 83, Prosen still sees several patients, consults for a number of organisations, recently reviewed a 600-page manuscript for a friend and regularly pores over a handful of medical journals because he “just wants to keep up,” he said.
It’s not just a love of working that has kept Prosen toiling away 30 hours a week as an octogenarian. He also sees keeping busy as a matter of life or death.
Prosen said he is certain that if he stopped working entirely, he would literally die not long after.
He could be on to something. A number of studies show that retirement is, in fact, bad for your health.
A May 2013 report published by the London-based Institute of Economic Affairs found that retirement increased the chances of suffering from depression by 40%, while it increased the probability of having at least one diagnosed physical ailment by about 60%. That impact was assessed after controlling for the usual age-related conditions.
Read more from BBC >>
December 22, 2013
Newly 'born' island, Niijima, 600 miles south of Tokyo.
A new island is born, Niijima, 600 miles south of Tokyo.
Below is an aerial photograph of Niijima taken by the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) on December 1, 2013. The JCG shot this video clip, view here.
Niijima (smaller island) blowing smoke - I have arrived!
December 20, 2013
Polarization of the US labor market
The polarization of the US labor market continues as more displaced workers can only find service jobs, MIT research reveals.
If one is stuck in such a position, it behooves the person to start looking for alternatives. If you say you are not ready to look, when would you be ready? It is like saying I will do it tomorrow. As you and I know, tomorrow never comes.
One good alternative to look at for a brighter fulfilling, future is Market America. If you need more info, send me and email.
Following is the article from MIT News:
Polarized labor market leaving more employees in service jobs
Study: U.S. job market is putting more workers in positions with limited upside and leverage.
Peter Dizikes, MIT News Office
The widening chasm in the U.S. job market has brought many workers a long-term shift to low-skill service jobs, according to a study co-authored by an MIT economist.
The research, presented in a paper by MIT economist David Autor, along with economist David Dorn, helps add nuance to the nation’s job picture. While a widening gap between highly trained and less-trained members of the U.S. workforce has previously been noted, the current study shows in more detail how this transformation is happening in stores, restaurants, nursing homes, and other places staffed by service workers.
Specifically, workers in many types of middle-rank positions — such as skilled production-line workers and people in clerical or administrative jobs — have had to migrate into jobs as food-service workers, home health-care aides, child-care employees, and security guards, among other things.
“This polarization that we see is being driven by the movement of people out of middle-skill jobs and into services,” says Autor, a professor of economics at MIT. “The growth in service employment isn’t that large overall, but when you look at people with a noncollege education, it’s a very sharp increase, and it’s very concentrated in places that were initially specialized in the more middle-skill activities.”
Read more from MIT News >>
If one is stuck in such a position, it behooves the person to start looking for alternatives. If you say you are not ready to look, when would you be ready? It is like saying I will do it tomorrow. As you and I know, tomorrow never comes.
One good alternative to look at for a brighter fulfilling, future is Market America. If you need more info, send me and email.
Following is the article from MIT News:
Polarized labor market leaving more employees in service jobs
Study: U.S. job market is putting more workers in positions with limited upside and leverage.
Peter Dizikes, MIT News Office
The widening chasm in the U.S. job market has brought many workers a long-term shift to low-skill service jobs, according to a study co-authored by an MIT economist.
The research, presented in a paper by MIT economist David Autor, along with economist David Dorn, helps add nuance to the nation’s job picture. While a widening gap between highly trained and less-trained members of the U.S. workforce has previously been noted, the current study shows in more detail how this transformation is happening in stores, restaurants, nursing homes, and other places staffed by service workers.
Specifically, workers in many types of middle-rank positions — such as skilled production-line workers and people in clerical or administrative jobs — have had to migrate into jobs as food-service workers, home health-care aides, child-care employees, and security guards, among other things.
“This polarization that we see is being driven by the movement of people out of middle-skill jobs and into services,” says Autor, a professor of economics at MIT. “The growth in service employment isn’t that large overall, but when you look at people with a noncollege education, it’s a very sharp increase, and it’s very concentrated in places that were initially specialized in the more middle-skill activities.”
Read more from MIT News >>
December 19, 2013
Jump Aboard Santa’s Sleigh Now
From Investorplace.com
Jump Aboard Santa’s Sleigh Now
There could be a round of profit-taking, but it appears the Santa Rally has begun
By Sam Collins, InvestorPlace Chief Technical Analyst | Dec 19, 2013
On Wednesday, the Dow rallied to a new record close, and the S&P 500 exploded to an all-time closing high following the Federal Reserve’s slight paring of its stimulus plan.
The Fed decided to “taper” by just $10 billion from its prior $85 billion bond-buying program. And it kept interest rates unchanged. Additionally, Chairman Ben Bernanke said that easy money and low interest rates will stay in place. Stocks, gold and even bonds rallied on the news.
At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 293 points at 16,168, the S&P 500 jumped 30 points to 1,811, and the Nasdaq vaulted 46 points to 4,070. The NYSE traded a total of 4.3 billion shares and the Nasdaq crossed 2.2 billion. On the Big Board, advancers outnumbered decliners by 3.5-to-1, and on the Nasdaq, advancers were ahead by 2.4-to-1.
Read more from Investorplace.com >>
Jump Aboard Santa’s Sleigh Now
There could be a round of profit-taking, but it appears the Santa Rally has begun
By Sam Collins, InvestorPlace Chief Technical Analyst | Dec 19, 2013
On Wednesday, the Dow rallied to a new record close, and the S&P 500 exploded to an all-time closing high following the Federal Reserve’s slight paring of its stimulus plan.
The Fed decided to “taper” by just $10 billion from its prior $85 billion bond-buying program. And it kept interest rates unchanged. Additionally, Chairman Ben Bernanke said that easy money and low interest rates will stay in place. Stocks, gold and even bonds rallied on the news.
At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 293 points at 16,168, the S&P 500 jumped 30 points to 1,811, and the Nasdaq vaulted 46 points to 4,070. The NYSE traded a total of 4.3 billion shares and the Nasdaq crossed 2.2 billion. On the Big Board, advancers outnumbered decliners by 3.5-to-1, and on the Nasdaq, advancers were ahead by 2.4-to-1.
Read more from Investorplace.com >>
December 18, 2013
9 EASY-TO-STEAL HABITS OF THE SUPER SUCCESSFUL
From FASTCOMPANY.COM
9 EASY-TO-STEAL HABITS OF THE SUPER SUCCESSFUL
WE WISH THERE WAS A HANDBOOK FOR SUCCESS, BUT THERE ISN'T. HERE'S THE NEXT BEST THING: A LIST OF WAYS YOU CAN REALIZE YOUR DREAMS--AND BE A MORE PRODUCTIVE PERSON IN THE PROCESS.
BY MILES KOHRMAN
Wouldn't it be great if success was simple?
But it isn't.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer for success in work and life, but we will do our best to steer you in the right direction.
Here's a list of helpful habits of some highly successful--and wildly productive--people to get your started. On your mark, get set, and...
GET UP INSANELY EARLY
It sounds scary, we know, but consider what would happen if instead of watching reruns of bad movies at night, you went to bed at a reasonable hour, thus allowing yourself to wake up early and be SUPER productive?
Waking up before anybody else allows you to work out the logistics of the day to come, track your time, and (most importantly) unplug for a few hours.
Take Paul Dejoe, who gets up at 4 a.m. (you heard that right) for maximum productivity:
What I was depriving myself from was time in the day where there was no pressure and no expectations. For the same reasons that I felt most creative on Saturday mornings and on planes, 4 a.m. has become a place of productive peace. That feeling is why I love what I do. I don't need a vacation. I don't need to step away. I just need a couple hours a day before anyone else is up.
After all, the early bird catches the worm--and much more, apparently.
KEEP PROMISES, NO MATTER HOW SMALL
Talk is cheap and meaningful customer relationships are built on promises. Same goes for your personal life, right?
Well, maybe.
Success is built on mutually trusting relationships with just about everybody. If you say you're going to walk the office dog? Well, you'd best walk the office dog.
LEARN HOW TO TELL STORIES
You want to be successful in life, but you don't have a job, or you're looking for a new one. The first step to nail that dream job? Learn how to tell a great story--starting with your interview.
Big companies know storytelling is the secret weapon to "branding." Why? Because people don't fall in love with data dumps and PowerPoint slides--they are moved by emotions.
And for those looking to be in charge, the best--and most memorable--way to make an impact and stick in people's minds is to ditch the small talk, and learn how to unspool meaningful narratives.
Want to get started? Here's how, straight from a master of improv.
LEAD, DON'T DICTATE
There's a big difference between being a leader and being a boss.
Read more from Fastcompany.com >>
9 EASY-TO-STEAL HABITS OF THE SUPER SUCCESSFUL
WE WISH THERE WAS A HANDBOOK FOR SUCCESS, BUT THERE ISN'T. HERE'S THE NEXT BEST THING: A LIST OF WAYS YOU CAN REALIZE YOUR DREAMS--AND BE A MORE PRODUCTIVE PERSON IN THE PROCESS.
BY MILES KOHRMAN
Wouldn't it be great if success was simple?
But it isn't.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer for success in work and life, but we will do our best to steer you in the right direction.
Here's a list of helpful habits of some highly successful--and wildly productive--people to get your started. On your mark, get set, and...
GET UP INSANELY EARLY
It sounds scary, we know, but consider what would happen if instead of watching reruns of bad movies at night, you went to bed at a reasonable hour, thus allowing yourself to wake up early and be SUPER productive?
Waking up before anybody else allows you to work out the logistics of the day to come, track your time, and (most importantly) unplug for a few hours.
Take Paul Dejoe, who gets up at 4 a.m. (you heard that right) for maximum productivity:
What I was depriving myself from was time in the day where there was no pressure and no expectations. For the same reasons that I felt most creative on Saturday mornings and on planes, 4 a.m. has become a place of productive peace. That feeling is why I love what I do. I don't need a vacation. I don't need to step away. I just need a couple hours a day before anyone else is up.
After all, the early bird catches the worm--and much more, apparently.
KEEP PROMISES, NO MATTER HOW SMALL
Talk is cheap and meaningful customer relationships are built on promises. Same goes for your personal life, right?
Well, maybe.
Success is built on mutually trusting relationships with just about everybody. If you say you're going to walk the office dog? Well, you'd best walk the office dog.
LEARN HOW TO TELL STORIES
You want to be successful in life, but you don't have a job, or you're looking for a new one. The first step to nail that dream job? Learn how to tell a great story--starting with your interview.
Big companies know storytelling is the secret weapon to "branding." Why? Because people don't fall in love with data dumps and PowerPoint slides--they are moved by emotions.
And for those looking to be in charge, the best--and most memorable--way to make an impact and stick in people's minds is to ditch the small talk, and learn how to unspool meaningful narratives.
Want to get started? Here's how, straight from a master of improv.
LEAD, DON'T DICTATE
There's a big difference between being a leader and being a boss.
Read more from Fastcompany.com >>
December 17, 2013
Scientists Have Finally Found The First Real Reason We Need To Sleep
From BusinessInsider.com
Scientists Have Finally Found The First Real Reason We Need To Sleep
JENNIFER WELSH | OCT. 17, 2013
We know we need to sleep. We know our brains and bodies work better after sleep. But what we didn't know, until now, was why.
Scientists have just reported the first major mechanical reason our brains need to sleep — certain cleaning mechanisms in the brain work better when we shut the brain down. Just like how dump trucks take to the city streets during the pre-dawn hours because there's less traffic, our brain's cleaners also work best when there's less going on.
"This study shows that the brain has different functional states when asleep and when awake," study researcher Maiken Nedergaard, of the University of Rochester said in a statement. "In fact, the restorative nature of sleep appears to be the result of the active clearance of the by-products of neural activity that accumulate during wakefulness."
We've known that our brains consolidate memories during sleep and perform other important functions. There are also benefits to the body during sleep — resting allows our muscles, bones, and organs to repair themselves. It also keeps our immune system healthy.
We know that sleep has all of these benefits, but until now we didn't know any of the specific changes that bring about these sleep benefits.
Charles Czeisler, a sleep researcher at Harvard Medical School in Boston, told Science Magazine's Emily Underwood that this is the "first direct experimental evidence at the molecular level" for why we need to sleep.
The paper was published in the journal Science on Oct. 17.
Picture of brain from Bsiness Insider:
Read more from businessinsider.com >>
Diet switch sparks gut bug revolution in just 24 hours
From NewScientist.com
Diet switch sparks gut bug revolution in just 24 hours
11 December 2013 by Linda Geddes
IT TAKES just 24 hours to change the balance of power in your gut.
Switching to a diet based exclusively on animals or plants triggers rapid changes to the microbes that rule your gut. This knowledge could help fine-tune diets to improve health, as well as reduce the risk of illnesses like inflammatory bowel disease.
The human body contains a community of other organisms known as a microbiome. These microbial cells outnumber our own by 10 to 1, with most of them colonising the gut. Changing diet can rapidly alter these microbes in mice.
To investigate whether the same was true for humans, Peter Turnbaugh at Harvard University and his colleagues asked 10 volunteers, including one vegetarian, to switch from their normal diet to either a diet based on meat, eggs and cheese, or one rich in grains, fruit and vegetables for five days. Each day the team sequenced the microbial RNA in the volunteers' faeces to identify which gut microbes were present.
"Particularly in the case of the animal-based diet, we saw quite dramatic changes in the abundance of different microbes – even over the course of a single day," says Turnbaugh. For example, numbers of the bacterium Bilophila wadsworthia increased when people ate the animal-based diet. This organism feeds on bile acids, which aid the digestion of saturated fats in milk. An increase in B. wadsworthia has been linked to inflammatory bowel disease in mice.
Switching to a plant-based diet prompted a hike in the numbers of bacteria that produce a fatty acid called butyrate, which seems to reduce inflammation.
Read more from NewScientist.com >>
Diet switch sparks gut bug revolution in just 24 hours
11 December 2013 by Linda Geddes
IT TAKES just 24 hours to change the balance of power in your gut.
Switching to a diet based exclusively on animals or plants triggers rapid changes to the microbes that rule your gut. This knowledge could help fine-tune diets to improve health, as well as reduce the risk of illnesses like inflammatory bowel disease.
The human body contains a community of other organisms known as a microbiome. These microbial cells outnumber our own by 10 to 1, with most of them colonising the gut. Changing diet can rapidly alter these microbes in mice.
To investigate whether the same was true for humans, Peter Turnbaugh at Harvard University and his colleagues asked 10 volunteers, including one vegetarian, to switch from their normal diet to either a diet based on meat, eggs and cheese, or one rich in grains, fruit and vegetables for five days. Each day the team sequenced the microbial RNA in the volunteers' faeces to identify which gut microbes were present.
"Particularly in the case of the animal-based diet, we saw quite dramatic changes in the abundance of different microbes – even over the course of a single day," says Turnbaugh. For example, numbers of the bacterium Bilophila wadsworthia increased when people ate the animal-based diet. This organism feeds on bile acids, which aid the digestion of saturated fats in milk. An increase in B. wadsworthia has been linked to inflammatory bowel disease in mice.
Switching to a plant-based diet prompted a hike in the numbers of bacteria that produce a fatty acid called butyrate, which seems to reduce inflammation.
Read more from NewScientist.com >>
December 16, 2013
December 13, 2013
Partner Stores from SHOP.COM offering free shipping!
Partner Stores from SHOP.COM offering free shipping!
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- Kmart: Free shipping on qualifying Kmart orders of $59 or more through 12/31/2013
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From BeingJRRidiger.com
December 12, 2013
Water: How much should you drink every day?
From Mayo Clinic
Water: How much should you drink every day?
Water is essential to good health, yet needs vary by individual. These guidelines can help ensure you drink enough fluids.
By Mayo Clinic staff
How much water should you drink each day? It's a simple question with no easy answers. Studies have produced varying recommendations over the years, but in truth, your water needs depend on many factors, including your health, how active you are and where you live.
Although no single formula fits everyone, knowing more about your body's need for fluids will help you estimate how much water to drink each day.
Health benefits of water
Water is your body's principal chemical component and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. For example, water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.
Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don't have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired.
How much water do you need?
Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.
Read more from Mayo Clinic >>
Water: How much should you drink every day?
Water is essential to good health, yet needs vary by individual. These guidelines can help ensure you drink enough fluids.
By Mayo Clinic staff
How much water should you drink each day? It's a simple question with no easy answers. Studies have produced varying recommendations over the years, but in truth, your water needs depend on many factors, including your health, how active you are and where you live.
Although no single formula fits everyone, knowing more about your body's need for fluids will help you estimate how much water to drink each day.
Health benefits of water
Water is your body's principal chemical component and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. For example, water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.
Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don't have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired.
How much water do you need?
Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.
Read more from Mayo Clinic >>
December 10, 2013
5 Ways to Fight Fatigue With Food
From Cleveland Clinic
5 Ways to Fight Fatigue With Food
How to get energy that lasts
By Wellness Team
When fatigue sets in, most of us reach for a “pick-me-up” in the form of sugar or caffeine. Both boost energy levels fast, but they lack staying power.
Fortunately, you have better options for staying alert and awake. Start with these five tips from Amy Jamieson-Petonic, M.Ed, RD, CSSD, LD, Director of Wellness Coaching at Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute.
1. Never skip breakfast
2. Don’t overdo coffee
3. Avoid refined carbs
4. Add a little lean protein to meals and snacks
5. Choose small, frequent meals to fuel your day
If you follow these tips, you’ll keep your mind and body at their best all day long — and avoid the blood sugar roller coaster in the process.
Read more from Cleveland clinic >>
December 9, 2013
The Single Most Important Trait for Entrepreneurs
From Inc.
The Single Most Important Trait for Entrepreneurs
BY JOHN GREATHOUSE
"There's no such thing as, 'I started my business and it just took off -- it was awesome.' When you hear people saying that, they are lying."
Lots of successful business people like to wax philosophical about the single most important trait that an entrepreneur must possess. For Tracy DiNunzio, founder and CEO of clothing buying and selling site Tradesy, that trait is adaptability. But coming from DiNunzio, the advice carries serious gravitas: DiNunzio was told as a child that she would never walk, due to a birth defect. On the contrary, she formed several successful businesses--and she learned to dance along the way.
DiNunzio recently shared her insights as part of UC Santa Barbara's Distinguished Lecture Series. Here are some key takeaways about the amazing power of adaptability. (Note: I am an investor in Tracy's company via Rincon Venture Partners.)
"There's no such thing as the guy who's like, 'I started my business and it just took off--it was awesome.' When you hear people saying that, they are lying."
Instead, expect rejection, failure and deadly market conditions, she said, and always come back to that adaptability.
"It's grueling and difficult for every single entrepreneur, no matter what their circumstances. The ones who win are the ones who're adaptable."
When DiNunzio's artistic career in New York hit a plateau, she decided to make a major life change. Much to the surprise of her friends and family, she gave up the life of a celebrated, young artist to pursue an entirely different path--uprooting her life and moving to Mexico.
"I tried to say, 'I can't dance. I can't even feel my feet.' I assumed that not being able to feel your feet would kind of eliminate you from being able to dance. As it turned out, not so much."
DiNunzio suffered from a lifetime of pain, due to a birth ailment which affected her back, legs and feet and prevented her from walking. That changed during her time in Mexico, when a Salsa instructor showed her that what she thought of as a limitation could be construed as an asset. "Because he was a really good partner, he was able to compensate for the things that I couldn't do. (He) even used the fact that like my feet were fused and I couldn't feel anything to do some crazy tricks that would've probably hurt someone else's feet. We toured different parts of Mexico doing dancing exhibitions, which was crazy, because I thought I wasn't even going to walk, let alone dance."
"You're probably making assumptions...about what you can and can't do. They might be true, I don't know. But they might not be true, so you have to test them."
Read more from Inc. >>
December 8, 2013
December 7, 2013
How the Aging Population Is Changing the Healthcare System
From everydayhealth.com
How the Aging Population Is Changing the Healthcare System
By 2030, one in five Americans will be over age 65, and the healthcare system is just beginning to feel the burden.
By Susan E. Matthews, Everyday Health Staff Writer
New York City is made for walking, which Bronx-bred Joseph Siegel knows well. After living in Brooklyn and Manhattan, Siegel, who had a successful career in insurance and brokerage, retired to the Upper West Side. Now, he likes to travel with his wife Esther — last year they went to Southeast Asia.
But recently, Siegel has had a difficult time walking, so he decided to get a knee replacement he’s been considering. “Traveling means you have to be able to get around,” Siegel says. While this makes sense, what’s not clear is how many years Siegel will have to use his new knee.
Siegel is 84 years old. About a week after his operation, he woke in the middle of a Saturday night to unbelievable pain, saying he “felt like his stomach was going to explode.” He had to have emergency surgery for a stomach ulcer, which he hadn’t known he had prior to the knee surgery. The painkillers he was taking for his knee replacement may have been a contributing factor, he says, though his doctor says it also may have been a pre-existing condition.
Siegel spent three weeks in the ICU, and during much of that time he couldn’t breathe or eat on his own. But he was able to move back to his own apartment, and has managed his recovery with the help of a nurse from the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY), who comes to his home three days a week. Of his recovery, Siegel said he’s realized how much longer his body takes to heal, compared to when he was younger, but he adds that he’s lucky to have his nurse, a physical therapist for his knee, and the care of Esther, his wife of 60 years. While he’s finding it more difficult to sleep through the night because of the pain, he says he’s also lucky that his insurance and Medicare will be covering the costs, though he noted he “can’t imagine what the bill is.”
At 84, Siegel is still full of vigor and curiosity, which is why he got the surgery in the first place. He seems young at heart — he even has an iPhone 5 — and he's part of a growing number of older Americans who expect to live healthy lives well into their seventies, eighties, and nineties. These older Americans are becoming a bigger part of the population, and they will need a different sort of healthcare as they age — care that the nation’s healthcare system may not be prepared to provide.
Read more from everydayhealth.com >>
How the Aging Population Is Changing the Healthcare System
By 2030, one in five Americans will be over age 65, and the healthcare system is just beginning to feel the burden.
By Susan E. Matthews, Everyday Health Staff Writer
New York City is made for walking, which Bronx-bred Joseph Siegel knows well. After living in Brooklyn and Manhattan, Siegel, who had a successful career in insurance and brokerage, retired to the Upper West Side. Now, he likes to travel with his wife Esther — last year they went to Southeast Asia.
But recently, Siegel has had a difficult time walking, so he decided to get a knee replacement he’s been considering. “Traveling means you have to be able to get around,” Siegel says. While this makes sense, what’s not clear is how many years Siegel will have to use his new knee.
Siegel is 84 years old. About a week after his operation, he woke in the middle of a Saturday night to unbelievable pain, saying he “felt like his stomach was going to explode.” He had to have emergency surgery for a stomach ulcer, which he hadn’t known he had prior to the knee surgery. The painkillers he was taking for his knee replacement may have been a contributing factor, he says, though his doctor says it also may have been a pre-existing condition.
Siegel spent three weeks in the ICU, and during much of that time he couldn’t breathe or eat on his own. But he was able to move back to his own apartment, and has managed his recovery with the help of a nurse from the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY), who comes to his home three days a week. Of his recovery, Siegel said he’s realized how much longer his body takes to heal, compared to when he was younger, but he adds that he’s lucky to have his nurse, a physical therapist for his knee, and the care of Esther, his wife of 60 years. While he’s finding it more difficult to sleep through the night because of the pain, he says he’s also lucky that his insurance and Medicare will be covering the costs, though he noted he “can’t imagine what the bill is.”
At 84, Siegel is still full of vigor and curiosity, which is why he got the surgery in the first place. He seems young at heart — he even has an iPhone 5 — and he's part of a growing number of older Americans who expect to live healthy lives well into their seventies, eighties, and nineties. These older Americans are becoming a bigger part of the population, and they will need a different sort of healthcare as they age — care that the nation’s healthcare system may not be prepared to provide.
Read more from everydayhealth.com >>
December 6, 2013
Nelson Mandela, 1918 - 2013
R. I. P.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013We may not remember the dates, but we will remember the dash between these 2 dates no one has control over. What Nelson Mandela did with the dash is pretty remarkable for a man who spent 27 years in incarceration and hard labor. Instead of being bitter, he chose to serve his nation with distinction and honor!
The dash between the birth date and the passing date of Nelson Mandela is littered with gold.
We will miss you President Mandela and God speed!
Market America in a Collaborative Economy
"Now go home and create your own economy," were the parting words of JR Ridinger, CEO of Market America at the conclusion of the four day MA World Conference 2013 earlier in January, Miami, Florida.
Now you may ask, how does creating your own economy got to do with a collaborative economy? It is precisely this individual effort coupled with a deep desire to succeed in creating one's own economy that propels one to collaborate with others to build a business with a compensation plan unlike others. This compensation plan promotes and rewards collaboration rather than competition. It is the collaborative enterprise Market America promotes that has enabled thousands of small entrepreneurs to succeed.
Not only has JR provided the tools for small entrepreneurs to succeed but his compensation plan provides a powerful incentive to work together. His words, "No one can do everything but everyone can do something," and "you succeed when you help others succeed," are good advice for anyone looking to create their own path to financial and time freedom, knowing that they are not working alone.
J Paul Getty, the oil billionaire, said these words which affirm collaboration, “I’d rather have one percent of the efforts of 100 people than 100 percent of my own efforts.” Clearly, he understood what collaboration meant even back then in the 1960s.
Working collaboratively and dilligently, you will not only have no money worries, you will have time as well as location freedom! It is the ultimate freedom when one can work from anywhere in the world. Imagine that!
Now you may ask, how does creating your own economy got to do with a collaborative economy? It is precisely this individual effort coupled with a deep desire to succeed in creating one's own economy that propels one to collaborate with others to build a business with a compensation plan unlike others. This compensation plan promotes and rewards collaboration rather than competition. It is the collaborative enterprise Market America promotes that has enabled thousands of small entrepreneurs to succeed.
Not only has JR provided the tools for small entrepreneurs to succeed but his compensation plan provides a powerful incentive to work together. His words, "No one can do everything but everyone can do something," and "you succeed when you help others succeed," are good advice for anyone looking to create their own path to financial and time freedom, knowing that they are not working alone.
J Paul Getty, the oil billionaire, said these words which affirm collaboration, “I’d rather have one percent of the efforts of 100 people than 100 percent of my own efforts.” Clearly, he understood what collaboration meant even back then in the 1960s.
Working collaboratively and dilligently, you will not only have no money worries, you will have time as well as location freedom! It is the ultimate freedom when one can work from anywhere in the world. Imagine that!
December 4, 2013
Collaborative Economy
I can understand renting a car or washing machines but renting trendy jeans? Would you do it, rent a pair of fancy jeans? Apparently, this is the trend in Europe. High unemployment is forcing many cash strapped consumers to seek "collaborative consumption" rather than buying outright.
Welcome to the new world of collaborative economy.
A good indicator that we are in a people economy is to follow the 'hot' money. Venture capitalists and angel investors are throwing money into companies that reflect this economic model.
To learn more about this trend, read Austin Allison's article in Inc. "Need More Proof We're in the People Economy? Follow the Money." Austin's summary: "There's big value and big profits in helping people work together--and venture capitalists have taken notice."
Further proof of this paradigm shift is Jeremiah Owyang's article: "The Money Flows in the Collaborative Economy."
Still not convinced? Check out collaborative dining as in EatWith pioneered by Guy Michlin.
Guy'Guy's motto: DINE IN HOMES AROUND THE WORLD!
Meet amazing people, eat great food and enjoy unforgettable experiences!
For more info on collaborative consumption read Guy Michlin's interview here.
I can continue but you get the picture.
See Wall Street Journal article, "For Rent in Europe" below:
For Rent in Europe: Trendy Jeans, Washing Machines
Rental, Secondhand Deals Shows How Companies Are Trying to Court Strapped Consumers
By RUTH BENDER
Updated Dec. 1, 2013 7:31 p.m. ET
Anouk Gillis often sports a pair of organic-cotton jeans she ordered online. But she doesn't actually own them.
Rather than buying the pants, which retail for around €100 ($135), Ms. Gillis signed a 12-month lease with their designer, the small Dutch fashion label Mud Jeans. The terms: a €20 deposit and monthly installments of €5.
After a year, Ms. Gillis, who is also Dutch, can decide to buy the jeans, return them, or exchange them for a new pair.
"The idea was to make high quality jeans available to everybody," said Bert van Son, chief executive of Mud Jeans, which promises to recycle the used jeans into new pairs or sell them secondhand at the end of a lease.
You can read more from WSJ.com if you have an online subscription >>
Welcome to the new world of collaborative economy.
A good indicator that we are in a people economy is to follow the 'hot' money. Venture capitalists and angel investors are throwing money into companies that reflect this economic model.
To learn more about this trend, read Austin Allison's article in Inc. "Need More Proof We're in the People Economy? Follow the Money." Austin's summary: "There's big value and big profits in helping people work together--and venture capitalists have taken notice."
Further proof of this paradigm shift is Jeremiah Owyang's article: "The Money Flows in the Collaborative Economy."
Still not convinced? Check out collaborative dining as in EatWith pioneered by Guy Michlin.
Guy'Guy's motto: DINE IN HOMES AROUND THE WORLD!
Meet amazing people, eat great food and enjoy unforgettable experiences!
For more info on collaborative consumption read Guy Michlin's interview here.
I can continue but you get the picture.
See Wall Street Journal article, "For Rent in Europe" below:
For Rent in Europe: Trendy Jeans, Washing Machines
Rental, Secondhand Deals Shows How Companies Are Trying to Court Strapped Consumers
By RUTH BENDER
Updated Dec. 1, 2013 7:31 p.m. ET
Anouk Gillis often sports a pair of organic-cotton jeans she ordered online. But she doesn't actually own them.
Rather than buying the pants, which retail for around €100 ($135), Ms. Gillis signed a 12-month lease with their designer, the small Dutch fashion label Mud Jeans. The terms: a €20 deposit and monthly installments of €5.
After a year, Ms. Gillis, who is also Dutch, can decide to buy the jeans, return them, or exchange them for a new pair.
"The idea was to make high quality jeans available to everybody," said Bert van Son, chief executive of Mud Jeans, which promises to recycle the used jeans into new pairs or sell them secondhand at the end of a lease.
You can read more from WSJ.com if you have an online subscription >>
December 3, 2013
Your body in a microchip: Geraldine Hamilton
Is personalized medicine not too far into the future?
What would medicine look like if these researchers, engineers can put every individual on its own chip?
After watching this - one can only marvel at the speed of innovation engineers, cell biologists and clinicians are able to work together to bring about quantum leap changes in medicine.
These microchips will eventually lead to the reduction or eventual ban of using animals for testing. And this is one of the most humane thing, this innovation will lead us into the future.
What would medicine look like if these researchers, engineers can put every individual on its own chip?
After watching this - one can only marvel at the speed of innovation engineers, cell biologists and clinicians are able to work together to bring about quantum leap changes in medicine.
These microchips will eventually lead to the reduction or eventual ban of using animals for testing. And this is one of the most humane thing, this innovation will lead us into the future.
December 2, 2013
Black eyes on Black Friday
You have already read by now news of Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year one day after Thanksgiving, shopping melee breaking out in shopping malls across the country . This adds an unwanted attention to Black Friday - getting black eyes on Black Friday!
It is madness to spend a day of thanksgiving with family and friends enjoying each others company, sharing a good turkey meal with all its trimmings, and then head out to shop, fighting traffic, a place to park and long lines. Who in their right mind would do this?
Apparently, there were enough bargains out there to lure even the sanest minds to trot out to the malls for this shopping challenge, the day after Thanksgiving. But what ensued baffles all of us - the fights!
Now we have to ask, why bother to go out at all, when shopping can be done at the comfort of the home? Why spend time driving through mad traffic, fighting for parking and standing in long lines to save a few pennies? Have we all gone mad after a turkey meal?
There are so many bargains out there in internet land, all one has to do is go online - no driving, parking and waiting. Plus, all these cyber shops are ready to made deals with free shopping and cash backs!
In the future you might even get delivery within 30 minutes of your purchase:
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