April, 2009
Can Food Ease the Ache?
Posted on April 26, 2009 |
Milk and cookies, chicken noodle soup, mashed potatoes with gravy—they’re called comfort foods because they make you feel better, at least emotionally. But can food really ease pain? Researchers are chewing on the subject, and their findings may someday make for a tasty prescription. “We’re not at the point where you’re going to go into a physician’s office and be prescribed tofu for your pain,” says Jill Tall, PhD, a professor at Youngstown State University in Ohio, who has studied how food helps relieve discomfort. “But I do believe that as an adjunct to traditional therapies, there are some possibilities.”
Some promising edible antidotes: Cherries Anthocyanins, which give tart
cherries their deep red color, have antiinflammatory properties similar to those in aspirin, says Muraleedharan Nair, PhD, a food-safety researcher at Michigan State University. The benefit hasn’t yet been studied in humans, so we don’t know the optimal doses, but barring any health problems, such as diabetes or acid indigestion, why not pick a few berries this summer? (Raspberries and, to a lesser extent, strawberries also contain pain-fighting anthocyanins.)
AVOID BEING SCAMMED
Posted on April 10, 2009 |
When buying or selling
Know the area’s average home prices. Don’t just read the listings. Drive around; look at properties; attend open houses. Hire a licensed home
inspector. Avoid anyone affiliated with your Realtor or mortgage broker.
Go to nahi.org (National Association of Home Inspectors) for leads.
Compare lenders’ mortgage costs. Check with local banks and websites like bankrate.com. Review the ownership history. If a home’s been bought and sold frequently in the last few years, be suspicious. Even if it hasn’t been targeted by scammers, there might be something wrong with it. Steer clear of mortgage brokers or Realtors who try to persuade you to fudge your loan application. And be wary of unsolicited contacts and highpressure sales tactics.
At the closing
Don’t sign a blank document, or one with blank spaces. If something doesn’t apply, it should be marked “N/A.” Make sure the name on your paperwork matches the name on your ID. Don’t sign a document until you’ve read and
understood it. Never sign away the deed to your property without consulting a lawyer.
Start Good New Habits
Posted on April 3, 2009 |
How is it possible to eat dinner together and exercise more when both parents work and kids are overscheduled? It can be done, says William Doherty, co-author of Putting Family First.
- Schedule it Make time for meals together just like you do for soccer
practice or dentist appointments. Plan meals in advance, shop for groceries on weekends and freeze what you can. - Make it fun Benefits from a family meal don’t happen just by sitting and
eating together; it’s what you do with that time. First, turn off the TV and talk to one another. But avoid stressful subjects like report cards or work, or power struggles over food. Keep conversation light. - Go out and play Remember that swing set in the backyard, the basketball hoop at the end of the driveway, the bikes in the garage? Even 15 minutes of fun together burns calories, reduces stress
and promotes family bonding. - Take a break Limit passive computer and TV time. Get up every 20 minutes and do some stretches, tackle a household chore or go out for a walk. It clears your mind and helps burn off lunch!