Health, Home & Family

(NAPSI)—I remember one specific day in first grade like it was yesterday. It was the day when my teacher saw me hesitate as I started to read aloud to the class. “You can do it,” she told me, as I slowly started speaking. Lo and behold, she was right. I could do it! Her nudge of inspiration changed my life.

Reading isn’t every kid’s passion—some prefer physical science, videography, foreign languages, or global affairs. Whatever their passion may be, a caring teacher and the right learning fit can help children discover their interests and their talents.

That’s what school choice, and National School Choice Week (Jan. 23-29), is about: Championing how wonderful it is that kids have different talents and celebrating the different learning environments that inspire them.  Continue reading

Making Life More Fun

(NAPSI)—In the midst of a pandemic, family drama and the passing of Prince Phillip, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were shining examples of grace and optimism over the last couple of years. Picking up the pace of their Royal engagements, the couple has provided a glimpse into what the Monarchy might look like in the future.

In 2022, expect to see a lot more of this powerful pair as they embark on a heavy schedule of events around the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Celebrating the Queen’s 70 years of service, the Platinum Jubilee will consists of festivities throughout the year, with the bulk taking place in June when the Queen’s birthday is traditionally celebrated. William and Kate will play a central role at these events, which will include a live concert from Buckingham Palace that will bring together some of the world’s biggest entertainment stars to celebrate the most significant moments of the Queen’s seven-decade reign. Continue reading

(NAPSI)—For many, the past year has been a reminder that they can take important steps in taking charge of their own health and well-being. Now that it’s time for new resolutions, making a positive change for some can mean quitting tobacco. Whether it’s cigarettes, dip, e-cigarettes or some other form, quitting tobacco is often at the top of lists of health-related resolutions. However, one reason it’s frequently on resolutions lists is it can take several attempts to quit for good.

One thing to know if you’re planning to quit is you absolutely don’t have to do it alone. Consider talking with your doctor or health care provider for any tips, tricks or suggestions that can help improve your chances of quitting.  Continue reading

Ocala, Fla.—The Florida Department of Health in Marion County is now offering free influenza vaccines for people of all ages.

The shot for the 2021-22 flu season is available to all who are interested whether or not they have health insurance.

No appointment is necessary.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people may get a flu vaccine along with, or in addition to, a COVID-19 vaccine, which also is available for people age 5 and older at the Department of Health’s main office, 1801 SE 32nd Ave., Ocala.

The Department of Health encourages county residents to obtain a flu vaccine. Our community is about to enter prime time for flu season, which typically runs between mid-December and February. The vaccine is the best method to protect yourself and your loved ones against the flu and its potentially serious effects. Continue reading

Sunlight is reflected off the Earth onto the Moon’s surface. Scientists use measurements of this reflectance, called Earthshine, to track changes in Earth’s net brightness.

Credit: sebastien lebrigand from crépy en valois, FRANCE, cc-by-sa-2.0

(NAPSI)—Warming ocean waters have caused a drop in the brightness of the Earth, according to recent research.

Scientists used decades of measurements of earthshine—the light reflected from Earth that illuminates the surface of the Moon—as well as satellite measurements to find that there has been a significant drop in Earth’s reflectance, or albedo, over the past two decades.

The Earth is now reflecting about half a watt less light per square meter than it was 20 years ago, with most of the drop occurring in the last three years of earthshine data, according to the new study in the AGU journal Geophysical Research Letters, which publishes high-impact, short-format reports with immediate implications spanning all Earth and space sciences. That’s the equivalent of 0.5% decrease in the Earth’s reflectance. Earth reflects about 30% of the sunlight that shines on it.  Continue reading

(NAPSI)—The way people live—from how they eat, sleep, work and move their bodies­—has been disrupted in the last year-and-a-half, and adapting to and achieving mind-body balance amid these changes is no easy task. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to alter routines and take a toll on physical and mental health, it’s important to focus on overall well-being to achieve balance and overcome obstacles. To help, exercise physiologist, certified sports nutritionist and Bowflex fitness advisor Tom Holland has expert advice for reconnecting with yourself and creating the right routine to support your new normal.

Adjust to a New Way of Fitness

As many people were forced to adjust their fitness routines, they also discovered there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to exercise. The new fitness normal is a hybrid approach of working out at home, at the gym or even on the road. Holland points out that as many people have shifted to a new work model that could include working from home, the office or while traveling, they also want solutions that allow them to work out whenever and wherever.

From livestream and on-demand classes to more in-person offerings, there’s more flexibility than ever before to fit exercise into your schedule. With tools such as the JRNY digital fitness platform (https://www.bowflex.com/jrny.html), you can have 24/7 access to coaching and curated workout options.  Continue reading

(NAPSI)—A new approach to indoor ventilation has been developed that can significantly decrease the risk of COVID and influenza outbreaks in schools, offices and other indoor environments, and even speed a reduction in mask wear.

The innovative invention captures and cleans individuals’ breaths within seconds, before potential viruses have a chance to be dispersed throughout a room, improving overall indoor air quality. Current methods, including upgrades to existing HVAC systems, have proven somewhat ineffective as COVID outbreaks continue to create disruptions in indoor settings throughout the United States.

“Existing ventilation systems in schools, offices and elsewhere were not built for virus control. Not only does better ventilation decrease the risk of catching COVID, it has been shown to also improve work productivity and school performance,” said Larry Schoen, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Principal Engineer for Schoen Engineering Inc. “And even after upgrading a traditional HVAC ventilation system with better filters, it still allows virus-laden air to affect others in a room, creating the potential for contagion.” Continue reading

by the We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign 

(NAPSI)—Questions and misinformation about the effect of COVID-19 vaccines on fertility and pregnancy have left some people uncertain about getting vaccinated if they are pregnant or hoping to get pregnant, but the facts should be reassuring.

“It’s understandable that parents and those who hope to become parents are cautious about COVID-19 vaccines,” said Dr. Steven Gordon, Chair of the Department of Infectious Disease at Cleveland Clinic. “However, it should be comforting to know that the vaccines are safe and effective during pregnancy. Growing data and science demonstrate that the benefits of getting vaccinated far outweigh any risks and we have a long history with vaccines that makes it clear they do not affect future fertility.”  Continue reading

(NAPSI)—For decades, medical researchers struggled to solve the mystery of how to reverse paralysis caused by serious spinal cord injuries. Finally, hope appears to be at hand.

Making Mice Move

Remarkable video footage shows how paralyzed mice regained some of their ability to walk again after receiving an experimental drug treatment.

The injectable pre-clinical therapy, which is designed to regenerate nerve cells in spinal cord injuries, is being developed by researchers at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

However, the scientists have yet to make the big leap from animal to human clinical trials, meaning that this drug candidate is quite a few years from potentially being approved by government regulators for commercialization.  Continue reading

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States—about 655,000 Americans die from heart disease each year, according to the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention—but you can protect yourself 3 ways.

Three Steps To A Healthier Heart

  1. Don’t smoke. If you do smoke, quit. Your doctor can help.
  2. Get regular exercise. The Surgeon General recommends 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise week.
  3. Eat right. Choose plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and foods high in fiber and low in saturated fats, trans fat, and cholesterol.

To help, Mazola® Corn Oil has come up with a number of recipes that are delicious and support heart health. The all-purpose cooking oil is a heart-healthy* choice for baking, grilling, sautéing, stir frying or mixing up a marinade.

Plus, it has a high smoke point of 450° F. All cooking oils have a smoke point that, once exceeded, negatively affects the food’s flavor.

Here’s a heart-healthy* recipe, popular with Latinx cooks, that’s delicious for everyone:  Continue reading

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CEP – Click to learn more

Subscribe to Newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required
Newsletter and/or digital publication