Dynamic Duos: Combine Foods To Boost Your Health

Some foods, like ham and eggs, just go together, but did you know that if you intentionally combine certain nutrients, you can help protect your body from disease? Check out these examples of foods that work together to bring out the best in each other.  Yogurt + granola. Yogurt contains probiotics, and whole grains act as prebiotics. Eating both together helps your digestion.  Tomatoes + olive oil. The olive oil improves absorption of the tomato’s lycopene, which helps lower risk of breast cancer and heart disease. Cook the tomatoes with the peel on, add some broccoli and you’ll be a synergy superstar.  Salmon + garlic or turmeric. Garlic (which prevents the release of “bad cholesterol”) or turmeric (which contains the antioxidant curcumin) are perfect pairings with salmon, which is high in omega-3 fatty acids. The result could lower your total cholesterol.  Kale + almonds. Vitamins K and E in kale need a source of fat to improve absorption. Add almonds, which are full of unsaturated fat.  Dark chocolate + unpeeled apples. Dip apple slices, which contain quercetin (an anti-inflammatory) in dark chocolate (whose cocoa is rich in antioxidants) to improve your cardiovascular health.  Beans + greens. Beans are a plant-based source of iron. Adding vitamin C in the form of dark greens will amp up iron absorption.  Green tea and (yes) black pepper. Green tea boosts metabolism but the piperine in black pepper makes it work more efficiently.

Friends—The Key To A Longer Life

According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, men who have lots of friends, social contacts, and relatives live longer, more satisfying lives. In a study of 28,000 men in their early 40s to late 70s, researchers found that men who were socially isolated loners were 20 percent more likely to die prematurely. The socially isolated group also was 53 percent more likely to die from heart related diseases and stroke. Unmarried men included in the study had markedly higher death rates than married men with a strong family support system did. It appears that making friends and nurturing social relationships not only will make you healthier, but it could make you a lot happier too!

7 Secrets for Conquering Stress in Your Life...

Are you a harried mom? Overworked dad? Stressed out professional? Stress is considered one of the top three contributors to heart disease and other serious illnesses. Don’t let daily stress get the best of you. Here are seven steps you can take right now to reduce your stress level, and get back to feeling more balanced and energized in your daily life... 1. Master Your Thoughts. Stress and anxiety are actually a choice. You have the power to choose how you feel at any given moment. When you are feeling stressed out, take a moment to pause and close your eyes. Ask yourself, “Is there another choice I can make that will make me feel more at peace with myself or this situation?” 2. Breathe. It sounds so simple, but breathing has a tremendous affect on your mind, body, and your mood. Focus on your breathing when you find yourself feeling stress. If you put your finger on your belly button, you’ll begin to breathe from your belly and relax. 3. Exercise. Regular exercise can release stress and make you feel more in control of your life. Try a 30-minute brisk walk, bike ride, or play a game of tennis or racquetball. 4. Take Up A Hobby. Hobbies give our body and mind a place to relax. Whether it’s painting, woodworking, gardening, or playing a musical instrument, hobbies can give us that feeling of a vacation without having to go anywhere to get away. 5. Pace Yourself. Many of us have a tendency to over schedule ourselves or our family, and then become stressed when we can’t meet the demands. Prioritize your workload and concentrate on one task at a time. 6. Lighten Up And Take The Long View. If you’re feeling anxious and tense...take a moment and ask yourself, “will this really matter tomorrow, next week, or even five years from now?” 7. Strive For Peace of Mind. You can get more out of your life by actually doing less. Happiness comes not from the number of activities things we collect, but from the opportunity to enjoy our experiences. Doing less may actually make you happier...it’s your choice.

Credit Card Perks - Check Your Points

Credit cards are usually known for high interest rates and extra fees, but did you know they also have some hidden benefits? Policies vary by company, but here are five perks your credit card may provide: • Rental car insurance. One-third of drivers tend to buy extra collision insurance when they rent a car. Most credit cards include collision insurance. You could save $140 on a week’s rental, but it may not apply to trucks, campers, and SUVs. • Cell phone replacement. If your phone gets damaged or stolen (loss may not be included), certain cards such as Citi will pay for a new cell phone, although you’ll have a $50 co-pay. • Trip cancellation. A Discover card may give you up to $2,500 if you have to cancel your trip due to illness. It has to be a serious illness with a doctor’s note or an event like death in the family. Also, American Express cards usually offer travel perks, such as double reward points to use on hotel and airfares. • Price (or return) protection. If you buy an item and find the same one advertised for a lower price elsewhere within 30 to 60 days, your card might refund the difference. Exclusions could include cars, cell phones, online sales, and purchases on eBay. Plus, most cards let you dispute a purchase if your merchandise isn’t delivered. • Extended warranties. Visa and AmEx cards automatically double the length of any manufacturer’s warranty. You need documentation and some products aren’t covered but it can save you money. See page 2 for more information on extended warranties. Don't forget to check your points! Most credit and debit cards include point incentives you may not even be aware of. Cash in your points before they expire. Read your credit card agreement to find perks you may be missing!

6 Ways To Improve Your Work Relationships

If you are like most Americans, you’ll spend about one-third of your life working. And if you’re going to spend so much time at work, wouldn’t it be ideal if you liked your colleagues? There is good reason to get along with co-workers: Liking other employees consistently ranks among the highest factors in determining job satisfaction. This isn’t always easy, however. If some of your work relationships could use a little sprucing up, try these tips: 1. Respect time. Avoid hovering around your colleagues’ work areas if they’re on the phone or speaking with someone else, and respect their professional/personal life balance by keeping work issues at work. 2. Avoid gossip. Office politics and the rumor mill can run rampant, and the best thing you can do is to avoid any conversation that is irrelevant to your job. You never know whom you will have to work with – or for – in the future, so do your best to remain professional to everyone. 3. Be polite. The Golden Rule of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you goes a long way in a professional setting. Say hello and thank you, smile, hold doors open for others, and clean up after yourself. 4. Show concern. It is not your job to solve personal problems, but keep in mind your co-workers are people too. Be mindful that others may be having a bad day or issues beyond the boardroom. If you feel comfortable, it’s okay to check in to make sure everything is alright. 5. Welcome the newcomers. Do you remember your first awkward day of work? Make someone else’s first day on the job easier by smiling and introducing yourself. 6. Follow up and communicate. Simple communication goes a long way in helping to facilitate good relations and clear up misunderstandings. Make yourself approachable so others feel they can discuss work-related projects with you. Managers need to set clear expectations with their employees so there is no question about what is expected from each person.

Find a Hidden Gem at Schmitz Preserve Park

Have you ever wondered what the Seattle forests looked like? Well the last of our untouched old growth forest is located in West Seattle! Former parks commissioner Ferdinand Schmitz was watching our forest rapidly disappear and decided to act. Ferdinand was a German immigrant who moved to Seattle in 1887. His 1908 donation allowed a small piece of it to remain as nature intended. It is only 53.1 acres / about 15 city blocks but in a city like Seattle very welcomed. In 1949 a preservation policy was applied so only foot trails are allowed and there are no interior signs in the park. The latest addition to the park occurred in January of 2018 adding a 5,000 ft lot to the park. Enjoy!

How To Protect Yourself And Others On The Road

Could you pass a written driver’s test – today? The results of an online GMAC Insurance survey showed that nearly 1 in 5 licensed drivers – 38 million Americans – probably wouldn’t! Here’s what you should do to brush up on the Rules of the Road and make yourself safer.  Take the National Drivers Test. Go to www.nationaldriverstest.com. Answer the 20 questions from state exams and study up on the ones you missed. You also can download it to Facebook and challenge your friends.  Review Local Traffic Laws. Many states post them on a .gov website.  Avoid these top driving mistakes that cause crashes: • Multi-tasking while driving. Say “no” to: texting, phone calls and eating! • Following too closely. Leave 2 seconds between you and the car ahead. • Failure to yield on a left turn. Check for cars or people in your path. • Incorrect merging. Merge carefully but don’t stop. • Backing up. Don’t rely on the mirrors. Look over your shoulder.  Consider a refresher course. AARP offers an online Driver Safety Course geared to drivers 50 and older. Plus, taking it may qualify you for a car insurance discount.  Keep your brain sharp by subscribing to a computer driving program. CogniFit sells a Senior Driver program that starts with an assessment of 10 cognitive abilities essential for safe driving, including visual scanning and response time. It’s probably good for everyone!  Get help from your car. The next time you’re car shopping, look for a model that offers new “smart” technologies such as Distance Control Assist (which applies the brakes when you’re following another car too closely); Blind-Spot Detection (which alerts you about vehicles in your blind spots); and Night Vision Systems (which give you a vision of the road ahead with a infrared beam).

Time To Organize Your Home For The New Year

Need quick tips for organizing your home this New Year? Let’s focus on the living room for now:  Remove everything on the floor that doesn’t belong there. Kids’ toys go back to their rooms.  Return food items (half-eaten snacks?) to the kitchen.  De-clutter the coffee table and other flat surfaces.  Group your framed photos. Consider a creative wall display.  Put similar objects (like TV remotes) in one place.  Purge the magazines and assorted papers. Place relevant items on a rack or in a bin.  Add an attractive wastebasket.  Cut your favorite collectible collection by at least half. Put the rest in storage and rotate the items to keep it fresh.