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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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Around the Clock Oral Care
 To ensure a clean bill of dental health, you know to brush and floss at least twice a day - first thing in the morning and right before bed. But these daily dental commandments aren't the only rules to abide by. For example, did you know that you shouldn't brush right after breakfast - and that nibbling on cheese after a meal can zap bad-for-your-teeth acid? From a.m. to p.m., follow this healthy-teeth timetable.
* 8 A.M.: Don't Rush to Brush After Breakfast If you topped off breakfast with orange or grapefruit juice, dental health experts say not to rush to brush your teeth post meal. Why? If you brush immediately after having an acidic drink, you can grind the acid into your teeth, which will cause the enamel (the outer surface of the tooth) to wear away faster. And the same goes for soda at lunch or dinner (sodas are also acidic). For the best oral care, you should still brush your teeth after you eat - just wait 20 to 30 minutes!
* 9 A.M.: Swap Your Coffee for Green Tea In desperate need of a morning pick-me-up? Instead of coffee (which can actually stain your teeth), go for a hot cup of green tea. Studies show that people who drink green tea have healthier teeth and gums, as catechin - a powerful antioxidant in green tea - reduces inflammation and fends off infection in the mouth and elsewhere. Tea also has natural fluoride, an important, cavity-fighting part of oral care. Just be sure to skip the sugar - it could counteract the benefits.
* 10:30 A.M.: Sample This Late-Morning Snack Looking for a quick bite to tide you over until lunch? Yogurt is a goodie that's also good for your teeth, says Richard Price, DMD, a spokesman for the American Dental Association. It's a dairy product, so it's rich in calcium, which is essential for the development of bones and teeth. Calcium also helps teeth re-mineralize. In addition, yogurt is an excellent source of probiotics, or active bacterial cultures, which may help combat the bad bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease.
* 12:30 P.M.: Scrub Away Lunch Leftovers By storing a pocket-size toothbrush and a pack of floss at work, you can clean away those bits of lunch that stick to your teeth. Can't sneak into the ladies' or men's room before the big meeting? Try this: Drink a glass of good-old-fashioned H20. Water is good for removing stains from the coffee or soda you may have had with your lunch and will rinse your mouth of excess bacteria.
* 1 P.M.: Be Cheesy Here's another surprising tip for a healthier mouth: Nibble on cheese after meals. That soda and chocolate chip cookie you downed during lunch left acid on your teeth, but certain cheeses are alkaline, meaning they contain substances which can neutralize acid. Your best choice is cheddar cheese - it is one of the most alkaline cheeses (softer cheeses like brie are less alkaline). An added bonus? Cheese has calcium, which is an essential nutrient for the development of bones and teeth, Dr. Price says.
* 3 P.M.: Skip the Afternoon Sweets If your sweet tooth tends to kick in during the afternoon, choose a snack that's not full of sugar - a major tooth-decay culprit. Healthier options include carrot or celery sticks, popcorn, pretzels, or nuts. In fact, dentists recommend always leaving at least three hours between snacks if you're eating foods that are high in sugar. They believe it's not only how much sugar you eat, but when you eat it that causes the problem.
* 4:30 P.M.: Chew On This Research proves it's true: Chewing sugar-free gum can help prevent tooth decay and keep your mouth healthy. How does it work? Chewing stimulates saliva production, and saliva helps combat the acid that hangs around your mouth after you've eaten or had something to drink. The best sugar-free gums are those that contain xylitol because it can reduce Streptococcus mutans bacteria , the type of bacteria responsible for decay.
* 6 P.M.: Brush Up Before Dinner Everyone knows how important it is to brush and floss after eating - but before meals? "Plaque is a sticky film that hangs around the mouth," Price explains. "If you brush and floss before you eat, there's much less plaque. The less plaque in your mouth, the easier [it is] for your saliva to get to your teeth and neutralize the acids from the food you eat that can cause decay."
* 7:30 P.M.: Don't Delay Dessert If you can't resist dessert, be sure to indulge right after dinner. That's because sugar and starches are less harmful to your teeth when consumed with other foods. Food also stimulates the production of saliva, which helps wash away the bacteria that can cling to your teeth. So remember: Your rocky road ice cream should be consumed with your meal - rather than as a midnight snack!
SOURCE: Beth W. Orenstein | Medically reviewed by Niya Jones MD, MPH
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DID YOU KNOW???
Ginger Tea
 Ginger root is a common culinary spice that has also been used medicinally for thousands of years. Ginger tea is made from ginger steeped in hot water. It offers a spicy, stimulating flavor and great nutritional value.
Here are 11 health benefits of ginger tea:
Heart Health Ginger tea may help reduce the risk of blocked arteries, a common cause of heart attacks and cardiovascular disease. It increases circulation and supports good blood flow. Some studies show that drinking ginger tea regularly can also help reduce cholesterol levels, essential for maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system.
Cancer Treatment Preliminary studies show that ginger may help shrink cancerous tumors and lesson the risks of cancer spreading in patients in remission. Other studies have shown ginger to kill ovarian cancer cells and slow the growth of colon cancer cells. Ginger may also be a useful treatment for nausea associated with cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. More studies are necessary to prove the effectiveness of ginger and ginger tea in cancer treatment.
Digestive Aid Ginger tea aids in the absorption and digestion of food after eating. It helps the body release gastric acids necessary for digestion and may help soothe stomachache and ease the bloating often associated with overeating.
Antibacterial Ginger contains an active compound called zingiber, which kills salmonella and other types of bacteria. Additionally, the commonly consumed lemon-ginger version of ginger tea provides two more bacteria fighting compounds from its lemon content: limonene and pectin.
Antiviral Ginger tea may offer antiviral properties. It is believed that fresh ginger destroys virus cells that cause the common cold and flu.
Respiratory Health Ginger tea may be beneficial for a variety of respiratory conditions. Often used to treat colds, coughs and soar throat, it loosens phlegm and helps the lungs expand properly.
Anti-Inflammatory Used as a soak, ginger tea can reduce swelling and ease the pains associated with joint and bone discomfort such as rheumatoid arthritis. It is recommended as a treatment for athlete's foot to ease the discomfort of burning and itching.
Soothes Menstrual Discomfort Drinking ginger tea can ease the painful cramps associated with female menstruation. A warm cloth drenched in ginger tea and then placed over the uterine area is believed to relax muscles and ease menstrual discomfort as well.
Reduces Stress Ginger tea has a natural calming quality that is known to help reduce stress levels.
Immune System Support The antioxidants in ginger tea help support an active, healthy immune system.
Diabetes Magnesium and manganese help regulate blood sugar levels in men with type-2 diabetes. Diabetes affects about 12% of men over the age of 20 in the United States.
SOURCE: healthdiaries.com |
Here's your "QuoteAction" for this issue:
"Really great people always see the best in others. It is the little man who looks for the worst and finds it."
Composer and Conductor, Samuel Coleridge Taylor
Your action for today is to look for the best in one or two people whom you don't particularly like.
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:
Health Insurance Exchange
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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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