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Welcome from Vantage Business Support & Insurance Services
As an added benefit to our customers and associates VANTAGE is publishing a semimonthly newsletter with information, interactive tools, podcasts and other resources to help you live healthier. We will explore topics on total health and resources for you and your family, including fitness, nutrition, mental and physical health, weight management and more.
Thank you for being part of the VANTAGE family.
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Please view our products list in the right sidebar.
This is just a sampling of what we feel would be important to you. We have much more to offer. If you have any questions or need more information please contact us at 877-886-8277 or click the link below.
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9 Simple Ways to Keep Your Eyes Healthy
 Don't take your peepers for granted. In order to keep them healthy for life, you'll need to start protecting them with these tips.
By Michelle Lynn Olson
You love gazing at the ocean, taking in a double feature, and admiring your loved one's smile (who doesn't?).
But none of these things would be possible without a healthy set of eyes. Still, since seeing is such a commonplace activity for most people, it's easy to take for granted. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 285 million people are visually impaired worldwide - and of these cases, about 80 percent of them could have been avoided or cured.
The good news is that it's not difficult to maintain eye health. Here are nine ways to protect your eyes so you can keep gazing at the ocean for years to come.
Wear Shades Ultraviolet rays can literally burn your eyes, much the same way they can burn your skin. The symptoms: red, itchy, or gritty-feeling eyes. This kind of discomfort is usually short-lived, but researchers have found that long-term exposure to UV rays can have a permanent affect, including cataracts and irreversible damage to the retina. So be sure to wear sunglasses whenever you spend time outside - even if it's cloudy. Which shades are best? The American Optometric Association recommends sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB radiation, screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light, are free of imperfections and distortion, and have gray lenses for proper color recognition.
Consume Carotenoids The old recommendation that carrots are good for your eyes has some truth. That's because carrots contain the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which are naturally found in the eyes and which can help ward off cataracts and macular degeneration. That said, you're much better off taking a cue from Popeye rather than Bugs Bunny. Carotenoids can be found much more plentifully in leafy green foods, such as kale, collard greens, spinach, turnip greens, and broccoli.
Goggle Yourself What do certain sports and household chores have in common? They both pose a threat to your eyes. In fact, more than one million people suffer eye injuries in the United States each year, 90 percent of which could be avoided with the proper protective eyewear. So whether you're working with chemicals like bleach, using a machine that can send objects flying (like a lawn mower), or playing racquetball, be sure to use appropriate eyewear. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that safety glasses or goggles have the code "ANSI Z87.1" written on the lens or frame. This indicates that they've met the safety standards of the American National Standards Institute.
Visit the Doctor Regularly Many eye diseases and disorders can be prevented or corrected if they're caught early. Not only do regular visits to your eye doctor help ensure an early diagnosis, but you can also get an up-to-date prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses. The American Optometric Association suggests that children have their eyes examined at six months old, three years old, before the first grade, and then every two years until their eighteenth birthday. Adults between the ages of 18 and 40 should have their eyes checked every two to three years, 41- to 60-year-olds require an exam every two years, and adults over 60 should have an annual eye exam. If you're at higher risk for eye diseases, because of diabetes, hypertension, a family history of ocular disease, or daily use of contact lenses, talk to your doctor about how often you should get your eyes checked.
Eat Your Antioxidants Carrots and spinach are not the only foods that are good for your eyes. Recent studies have found that foods rich in antioxidants can also reduce your risk of developing age-related eye disease and cataracts. So boost your intake of antioxidants by eating a combination of vitamins C and E. Papaya, cantaloupe, strawberries, green peppers, oranges, and grapefruit are excellent sources of vitamin C, while vitamin E is found in foods like almonds, sunflower seeds, peanuts, and safflower and corn oils.
Use Computer Caution If you're like many Americans who spend countless hours staring at a computer screen, be warned: You may be at risk for developing computer vision syndrome (CVS). The symptoms include eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes. CVS usually wanes after you've stopped using the computer, although certain symptoms may persist. If you're bound to your computer, take these precautions: Set the center of your computer screen 4 to 5 inches below eye level and 20 to 28 inches away from your eyes.Reduce glare by using lower-wattage lightbulbs overhead and closing curtains or drapes. Finally, try to blink more often, and rest 15 minutes after every two hours of computer use.
Get Eye-Inclusive Health Insurance You might be among the 40 million-plus American workers who cannot afford routine eye exams, or perhaps you decided to opt out of the vision portion of your health insurance plan to save a few bucks. But in order to maintain eye health, it's important to visit your doctor regularly. In fact, many eye disorders have no warning signs and can only be detected by a professional. So be sure to explore vision plan options at your workplace. You may even be eligible for low- or no-cost programs, so do your homework. The cost of regular eye doctor visits will be worth it in the long run.
Wear Squeaky Clean Contacts Sure, contact lenses give the bridge of your nose a much-needed rest from your glasses, but don't let them put your eye health at risk. To avoid problems like irritated eyes, fuzzy vision, pain, and discomfort, be sure to always wash your hands before handling your contacts. Also be sure to do the following: Clean and store your lenses only in fresh solution, replace your contacts as directed, and remove your contacts before swimming or entering a hot tub.
Know the Danger Signs Not only is it important to see your eye doctor for routine visits, but you should also know the warning signs that might necessitate a more immediate visit.Call your eye doctor if you have difficulty adjusting to light or dark, trouble focusing, unusual sensitivity, a change in the color of the iris or lids, pain, double vision, dark spots or halos, dry or watery eyes, flashes of light, or loss of peripheral vision. When your vision is compromised, make sure a friend or family member drives you to your appointment.
SOURCE: Michelle Lynn Olson |
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DID YOU KNOW???
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
 Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10 is necessary for the functioning of the human body, which produces it naturally. Certain diseases and aging have been associated with lower CoQ10 levels. Supplementation with CoQ10 has shown promise and is being studied for its benefits for many different diseases and conditions.
Here are 8 health benefits of coenzyme Q10.
Heart Health There is evidence of CoQ10 deficiency in people with congestive heart failure. In fact, low levels of CoQ10 in plasma concentrations is a predictor of poor prognosis in those with congestive heart failure. CoQ10 given to people who've had heart attacks within three days of the attack may be beneficial according to preliminary research. Also, some studies have found that CoQ10 supplementation after heart surgery may improve heart function.
Anti-Aging In animal studies, CoQ10 has been found to prevent the breakdown of mitochondrial DNA that leads to aging.
Cancer Prevention Research has found that CoQ10 may help the body resist cancer and may prevent cancer cells from growing.
Chemotherapy Protection A study in Italy found that cancer patients who took CoQ10 alongside chemotherapy treatment had less damage to their hearts than those who took chemotherapy alone.
Parkinson's Disease A study of 80 people with Parkinson's disease found that 1200 mg of CoQ10 per day reduced the progression of the disease by 44%. Because the results were so promising, trials are still ongoing on the benefits of CoQ10 and Parkinson's.
Radiation Protection One study in rats found that supplementation with CoQ10 reduced radiation damage to the blood.
Gum Disease Gum tissue with periodontal disease has been found to be deficient in CoQ10. Studies in humans have shown a positive link between oral administration or topical application to the gums of CoQ10 and improved gum health and even reversal of gum disease.
Migraines Swiss researchers found that 100mg of CoQ10 taken three times per day reduced the average migraines in patients from 4.4 per month to 3.2 per month and reduced the number of days patients suffered with migraines and accompanying nausea.
Another study found that CoQ10 reduced the frequency of migraines by 50% in patients with both migraines with aura and migraines without aura.
SOURCE: healthdiaries.com
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Here's your "QuoteAction" for this issue:
"The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority."
American Geographer, Ralph Sockman
Your action for today is to listen without judgment to someone who has a different opinion from yours.
Have an extraordinary day!
SOURCE: Betty Jo Waxman
Productive Learning & Leisure, LLC |
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Disclaimer of Liability
Our firm provides the information in this e-newsletter for general guidance only, and does not constitute the provision of legal advice, tax advice, accounting services, investment advice, or professional consulting of any kind. The information provided herein should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional tax, accounting, legal, or other competent advisers. Before making any decision or taking any action, you should consult a professional adviser who has been provided with all pertinent facts relevant to your particular situation. Tax articles in this e-newsletter are not intended to be used, and cannot be used by any taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding accuracy-related penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. The information is provided "as is," with no assurance or guarantee of completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose.
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| Health & Wellness Products |
VANTAGE has a wide range of products designed to aid in health & wellness for both your personal and business life.
These products include:
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| CONTACTS |
Please contact one of our VANTAGE professionals for assistance or click on the help picture. Paul White 510-595-0904
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