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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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10 health rules you can ignore
Old rule #1: Eat the rainbow
These new commandments are more effective, easier and quicker to follow. See gallery
When nutrition experts first urged us to fill our plates with brightly hued produce, it made sense. Researchers were discovering the powerful benefits of a crayon box of antioxidants, from red (lycopene in tomatoes) to blue and purple (anthocyanins in berries and grapes), to orange (beta-carotene in carrots).
New thinking: White is a color, too
Cauliflower packs the powerful cancer-combating compounds also found in its flashy cousin, broccoli. Garlic and onions may be pale, but they protect against stomach and colorectal cancer. And portobello and cremini mushrooms are just as rich in antioxidants as green beans, carrots, and red peppers.
Old rule #2: Eat meat for iron
For years, women have been advised to eat moderate amounts of lean beef because it's the best source of iron. Bad news for burger fans: A three-ounce patty may deliver 2.2 milligrams, but there's compelling evidence that red meat's heme iron increases heart-disease risk for some women. It's also associated with a higher risk of colon cancer.
New thinking: Go green for iron
If you're under 50, the recommended daily allowance is 18 milligrams, and after menopause, it plunges to 8 milligrams. Healthy non-heme sources: dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, dried fruits, and blackstrap molasses. Eat these alongside produce high in vitamin C, which helps you absorb the iron.
Old rule #3: Avoid processed foods
It's still good advice if you're considering things like cookies, white bread, and sweet cereals. These can be loaded with sugar and may also lack the nutrients you find in less-refined products.
New thinking: Not all fast foods are created equal
Canned light tuna, frozen brown rice, whole-grain pasta...stock up on these (and prepped veggies), and you can have a healthy dinner in a flash. For extra benefits, include processed legumes such as canned beans (lower-sodium varieties). A recent review found legumes help prevent obesity and minimize some of the health risks of being overweight.
Old rule #4: Choose wild salmon
We've all read about the risks of PCBs in farmed salmon, yet we've been shocked by wild salmon's hefty price. Now, Harvard researchers have put the risk in perspective: If 100,000 people ate farmed salmon twice a week for 70 years, the PCB intake could potentially cause 24 extra deaths from cancer - but that salmon also would prevent at least 7,000 deaths from heart disease.
New thinking: Swim with lots of fishes
Your goal is to eat more sustainable seafood: Try lesser-known species like pollock, mackerel, and whiting. To make environmentally friendly choices while you shop, download the free Seafood Watch app from Monterey Bay Aquarium. The app includes ProjectFishMap, a restaurant-and-market locator.
Old rule #5: Stretch before a workout
Grade school gym teachers promised that stretching would prevent pulled muscles, and ever since, you've probably started your workouts by reaching for your toes. But static stretches (the ones you hold) don't really protect against injuries - and they can hurt your regimen. In studies, exercisers who get right to it can lift more weight and run faster than those who stretch first.
New thinking: Warm up with exercise
Ease into your workout - say, with a slow jog, suggests Lynn Millar, Ph.D., professor of physical therapy at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. But do finish off your session with stretches - that will improve your range of motion: "Just 10 minutes of stretching at least two to three times a week is probably enough to give you the benefit you want," says Millar.
Old rule #6: Replace shoes every six months
Beyond the obvious - such as visible wear on the outsoles or creasing in the midsoles - studies haven't turned up much solid evidence on the right time to trade in your workout shoes.
New thinking: Mix up your footwear
Researchers in Luxembourg found that runners who rotated among different pairs of running shoes had a 39% lower injury risk. Hey, it's not every day you learn that buying more shoes is actually good for you!
Old rule #7: Squats kill your knees
Trainers often warn that if you have knee problems, you should skip doing squats or - at the least - be extra careful not to let your knees go past your toes.
New thinking: Do more squats!
They strengthen your butt and thighs, which in turn helps stabilize your knee joints. As for the knees-over-toes rule, don't go overboard: Pulling back may increase hip stress and the load on your lower back.
Old rule #8: Get a Pap test every year
Ob-gyns once believed the annual Pap was necessary to find cell abnormalities that could lead to cancer of the cervix.
New thinking: No Pap ever?
In April, the Food and Drug Administration recommended that for women 25 and over, doctors can skip the Pap and just use a new DNA HPV test that directly detects dangerous strains of the cancer-causing virus. (Doctors are now considering that recommendation.) Meanwhile, here's another annual-exam update: Your ob-gyn may want to talk about your weight. Ouch.
Old rule #9: Launder in cold water
It may be kinder to the planet, but microbiologists have shown that after a cool wash, our clean undies may be anything but. Which also means your dishtowels could be picking up fecal matter!
New thinking: Bring on the heat
Wash with hot water, separating germy clothes (socks, sheets, undies) from washcloths and dishtowels. Also, scrub your hands after handling dirty laundry.
Old rule #10: Brush after meals
Bad idea if you've just had a very acidic food or drink (e.g., soda, citrus fruits, tomatoes, wine, coffee, tea). Acid weakens tooth enamel, so you may scrub it away.
New thinking: Swish and wait
To get rid of food particles, rinse with water after a meal. You should then brush 30 to 60 minutes later, once your tooth enamel has had a chance to reharden.
SOURCE: Sarah Mahoney of Good Housekeeping |
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DID YOU KNOW???
Irish Moss
 9 Health Benefits of Irish MossIrish moss, or Chondrus crispus, is not a moss at all, but a type of red algae that grows predominantly amongst the rocky shores of the Atlantic Ocean.
It is often used as a food thickener, where it is turned into carageenan for use in food products, and sometimes in brewing beer. It has been used in traditional Irish folklore and has recently gained popularity, especially in the raw food movement, for its nutritional benefits. Irish moss is believed to contain 15 of the 18 essential vitamins and minerals that make up the human body, including good amounts of vitamin A, E, D, F & K as well as calcium, sulphur and potassium. Here are 9 health benefits of Irish moss:
Skin Health Irish moss is most often found in skin creams and cleansers. The many essential vitamins obtained from Irish moss, especially vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin K, have superb effects on the skin. Irish moss products can help to soften the skin, reduce wrinkles and treat skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
Anti-Viral Irish moss is believed by many to be an effective anti-viral. It has been used to treat many symptoms of the common cold, influenza, and the mumps virus.
Upper Respiratory Support Irish moss appears to be effective against upper respiratory problems like bronchitis and coughs. This is likely proof of its anti-viral properties in action.
Disease Recovery Irish moss has proven to be a great aid to individuals recovering from disease and illness. The many essential vitamins and minerals are thought to replenish the body and support the immune system when in recovery. It may be particularly useful alongside radiation therapy and may help curb some of the side effects. This is likely due in part to its iodine content.
Antioxidants Irish moss contains several antioxidants that may be helpful in preventing free radical damage in the body and lessening the risk of many types of cancer and disease. These antioxidants include the powerful vitamins A, E and K.
Ulcers Irish moss has purportedly been used to successfully treat peptic and duodenal ulcers.
Heart Health Irish moss is believed to help lower LDL cholesterol levels. It may also help inhibit arteriosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries. Concrete studies are needed to prove the connection between Irish moss and improved cardiovascular health.
High in Iodine Irish moss contains a significant amount of iodine. Iodine helps to curb the effects of radiation poisoning. The iodine in Irish moss may also help with thyroid function, cancer prevention, and recovery from cancer treatment that involves radiation.
Weight Loss Some say that consuming Irish moss is an effective way to prevent obesity. More studies are needed to confirm the connection between Irish moss and weight loss. However, it is a low calorie, nutrient dense food that appears to be a great addition to an effective weight loss program.
SOURCE: Health diaries |
Here's your "QuoteAction" for this issue:
"You cannot live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
College Basketball Coach, John Wooden Your action for today is to make an anonymous donation or do something nice for someone without them finding out you did it.
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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| 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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