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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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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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11 Foods That Put You in a Bad Mood
 It is possible that even when we think we are making healthy choices, we are eating foods that contribute to bad moods. It is important to take into consideration sugars, omega-6 fatty acids, and additives when choosing our meals. Nuts are obviously more nutritious than potato chips, but salted nuts still have high levels of sodium and, in some cases, may contain MSG. Choosing tea over soda during your three o'clock slump at work is more healthful, but if you have already consumed high levels of caffeine that day, black or green tea can contribute to headaches and irritability. As in all dietary choices, it is best to take the time to be informed about what you put into your body, what kinds of ingredients go into what you consume, and how they will affect you. Eat well, stay healthy, and be happy!
Soda Everyone knows that these sugary drinks are not considered healthy, but did you know that the post-soda "crash" can lead to irritability? Sodas contain simple carbs that are absorbed into your bloodstream immediately, giving you a brief energy boost before both your blood sugar and mood plummet.
Bottled Fruit Smoothies and Juices Many people reach for bottled fruit drinks as a healthier option, but you need to check the label on these deceptive drinks. They average about 20 grams of sugar per serving and can cause an energy crash, resulting in a sullen mood, similarly to sodas' negative effects.
Non-Organic Fruits and Veggies Neurotoxins are chemicals that can damage the nervous system and brain, leading to depression, mood changes, and other kinds of brain damage. According to the Pesticide Action Network, some neurotoxins can be traced to some pesticides used on the foods we consume. Buying organic fruits and vegetables can help decrease the likelihood that you'll consume neurotoxic pesticides.
Salted Nuts Packaged salted nuts contain extremely high levels of sodium and may also even have questionable additives, such as MSG. Consumption can lead to side effects like mood swings, anxiety, and headaches in those with sensitivities to these additives.
Agave Nectar A major selling point of agave nectar is that it does not raise blood sugar, but it does contain high levels of fructose. Consumption of fructose can lead to weight gain, as well as increased risk of depression and mood disorders.
Deli Meats Deli meats are often made up of cheap cuts of animals that are not fed natural, healthful diets. They are also injected with nitrates, dyes, and other preservatives that can be linked to side effects like migraines, mood disorders, and increased risk of depression.
Egg Whites The Harvard School of Public Health says that eggs are making a comeback. Many choose egg whites in an attempt to opt for the healthier version, but without the yolk, this brain food loses most of its nutritional value. Don't forgo the yolk, or you'll miss out on miss out on the mood regulation and energy boost that eggs can provide.
Potato Chips Much like soda, no one is reaching for potato chips and thinking that they're healthy, but shouldn't your guilty pleasure at least put you in a good mood? Chips are fried in oil full of omega-6 fatty acids, which block the mood enhancers found in omega-3s and can bring down your happiness quotient.
Canned Soup Canned soups contain some of the highest levels of bisphenol-A (or BPA) on the market. This chemical is linked to disorders such as depression and anxiety. When it comes to soup, choose other kinds of packaging over cans, as they can lead to large spikes in BPA levels.
Soy Yogurt Another "healthier" alternative, soy yogurt packs higher levels of omega-6 fatty acids than its full-fat, dairy yogurt counterpart. These omega-6s undo all the mood-boosting goodness of omega-3s found in your diet.
SOURCE: The Daily Meal |
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DID YOU KNOW???
Aspirin
9 amazing uses for aspirin
Learn how the popular pain reliever can remove stains, jump-start your car battery and help protect your heart. See gallery
When we found out that aspirin might help slow the growth of cancer, we got to thinking: What else is the anti-inflammatory good for? Turns out, a lot. The headache reliever's got some great household uses, like helping to remove soap scum and patch up drywall; some personal-hygiene applications, like combating acne and dandruff; and, of course, heart health-boosting potential. Ready to put the all-purpose pill to the test?
Start here.
Remove stains Are your workout shirts dirtied with sweat stains? Marina Gafanovich, M.D., says that aspirin can effectively remove stains, especially the yellowish underarm ones. "Allowing clothing to soak in water with aspirin can help to release stains before they're washed the conventional way," she says. Just mix crushed, uncoated aspirin with warm water, let the mixture sit on the stain for a few hours and then throw the clothing in the washing machine as usual.
Control dandruff There is nothing attractive about dandruff on your shirt, but luckily aspirin can take care of the pesky flakes. The salicylic acid in aspirin is actually what is used in medicated shampoos that are specifically created to control dandruff. Gafanovich recommends simply adding aspirin to your shampoo. "It exfoliates the scalp, removing the dead skin layers that are responsible for dandruff," she says. Crush two uncoated aspirins into a powder and combine them with a tablespoon of shampoo
Treat ingrown hairs or acne Aspirin can zap the inflamed areas within a few minutes. Simply crush aspirin and water into a paste and spread it over the ingrown hair or pimple. Leave it on for a few minutes and then wash the paste off with warm water. The salicylic acid in aspirin helps clear out anything that's trapped in the hair follicle or pore.
Clean the bathroom You may not need to spend extra money on cleaning supplies if you've got some aspirin in the medicine cabinet. "It works on any surface with the same exfoliating properties, removing soap scum or other contaminants from your bathroom or counter surfaces," says Gafanovich. Dissolve two uncoated aspirin pills in warm water and use the paste to cut down on counter grime.
Repair drywall You don't have to make a separate trip to the store for home repair supplies when you've got aspirin on hand. It can be used to patch up holes in drywall because when aspirin is wetted and then dried, it becomes like an adhesive. Mix crushed aspirin with water and use the paste as needed.
Hide a hickey If you had a little too much fun the night before and notice some redness on your neck the next day, aspirin can calm the irritation before your co-workers take note. Let one or two uncoated aspirin pills dissolve in a half-cup of water and apply the paste to the area. "Adding some aspirin as a mask to your skin will increase the blood flow on the skin's surface, which can help to quickly hide a hickey," says Gafanovich.
Soothe a bug bite The constant itching of an insect bite can go from irritating to unbearable within a few minutes. To relieve the irritation, you can use aspirin to decrease the pain. Just grab one plain aspirin pill, wet it and rub it on the bite for instant relief.
Charge a car battery Don't worry-aspirin pills have got some manly uses, like starting up a car with a dead battery. That being said, it might be a good idea to stash a bottle of aspirin in your car, just in case it runs out of juice. If you're stranded without power, you can drop two aspirin pills into the battery cells to jump-start the charging. The sulfuric acid in the battery mixes with acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) to create one charge. It will be enough to rev up your engine and get you to the nearest service station.
Protect your heart If you have any of the major risk factors for heart disease, taking aspirin on a regular basis might help keep your ticker in good health, but it's still not a pill to take lightly. Major risk factors that could potentially warrant aspirin use would include increasing age (65 or older), heart disease in the family or a personal history of heart problems such as a heart attack or stroke. "A heart attack is an acute blockage of a blood vessel that usually comes about due to a platelet plug," says Ric Saguil, M.D., FAAFP. "Aspirin helps prevent these types of inflammatory responses (platelet plugs), and thins the blood."
Consult with your doctor to make sure that aspirin would be the right choice for you as there can be serious side effects such as gut bleeding. The risks can potentially outweigh the benefits, so it's important to have a full evaluation before popping the pill. If you have an ulcer, kidney disease history, bleeding problems, aspirin sensitivity, asthma or a past of hemorrhagic strokes, you definitely should not take aspirin.
SOURCE: By Maggie Young of Men's Fitness |
Here's your "QuoteAction" for this issue:
"Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it."
Writer and Publisher, William Feather
Your action for today is to enjoy a simple pleasure such as a rich tasting cappuccino, a quiet stroll or a good book.
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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Vantage Business Support & Insurance
4096 Piedmont Ave #616 / Oakland / CA / 94611
28346 Alava / Mission Viejo / CA / 92692
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