(NAPSI)—If you’re like 90 percent of shoppers, you consult the Nutrition Facts panel on food packages before you buy. To make it easier to make informed food choices, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has developed a new Nutrition Facts label. Here are the seven major new features:
- Increased print size for “Calories.”
Calorie counts will be easier to see.
- Inclusion of “Added Sugars.”
The FDA currently defines added sugars as “sugars that are either added during the processing of foods, or are packaged as such, and include sugars (free, mono- and disaccharides), sugars from syrups and honey, and sugars from concentrated fruit or vegetable juices that are in excess of what would be expected from the same volume of 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice of the same type.” Sugar alcohols, or polyols, provide sweetness but aren’t counted as “added sugars” because they’re not sugar. These low-digestible carbohydrates can replace sugar as a lower-calorie alternative. Common polyols include erythritol, maltitol, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, lactitol, isomalt and hydrogenated starch hydrolysates. Continue reading
(NAPSI)—Remember the Lorax, who spoke for the trees? Dr. Seuss’ tale laid important groundwork by encouraging the next generation to care about the environment. As Seuss wrote, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” Regardless of age or ability, students who care “a whole awful lot” can become some of bees’ best advocates.
With pollinators facing challenges including a lack of forage (food) that provides them with proper nutrition and habitat, we have a great opportunity to empower the next generation to “speak for the bees” and give them the tools to help. Continue reading
(NAPSI)—If you have high blood pressure, consult your doctor or pharmacist about the safety of over-the-counter medicines. Some pain relievers and cold and flu medications may raise blood pressure. Always read medication labels and discuss alternative pain, fever or cold medicine with your doctor.
Stay in the know about your car’s health with Hum by Verizon. The Vehicle Diagnostics feature can help you stay ahead of potential issues for more safety on the road and money in your pocket.
If you develop the nasal congestion, aches and fever of the flu, get a doctor’s advice right away. Using a phone, mobile app or the Web, you can access board-certified doctors through a telehealth solution such as Teladoc. Learn more at www.Teladoc.com/flu.
The not-for-profit American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to disaster victims; supports military personnel and their families; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; and provides humanitarian aid. Learn more, including how to help, at www.redcross.org. Continue reading
(NAPSI)—If yours is among the nearly seven in 10 U.S. households with pets, you may be glad to learn of a good way to keep them healthy. Hemp seed, krill and salmon oil are some of nature’s best sources of natural essential fatty acids: omega-3 and omega-6 (EPA and DHA).
Why Pets Need Them
Essential fatty acids cannot be produced in the body and must be supplied by other sources to help ensure optimal health and wellness for your pet from the inside out. In addition to fatty acids, hemp seed oil contains phytonutrients and antioxidants. Krill oil also contains phospholipids, astaxanthin and high amounts of natural antioxidants, all of which work with salmon oil to support overall health and wellness. In addition, the unique combination of the oils helps support healthy joint function and helps to maintain proper skin moisture and respiratory health for occasional or seasonal allergies. Continue reading
(NAPSI)—Many retirees share a fear of gradually losing their ability to think as clearly as they used to or remember simple information such as other people’s names. And while everyone has the occasional “senior moment,” medical research indicates that aging by itself is generally not a cause of cognitive decline.
“Studies have shown that you can help prevent cognitive decline and reduce the risk of dementia with some basic good health habits,” according to Harvard Medical School’s Healthbeat newsletter.
Here are four simple steps to keep your mind sharp at any age:
- Exercise: It’s important to stay physically active. Simple routines such as taking exercise classes at your health club or taking walks in your neighborhood every day can do wonders for your mental health. Just get moving. “The cognitive benefits of exercise have been understood for so long,” notes the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.
- Serve: Research published by the American Psychological Association found that volunteering in later life “is associated with significant psychosocial, physical, cognitive and functional benefits for healthy older adults.” Science is now confirming what many have learned by experience: People often feel better after they have served others and enjoyed the time spent helping someone else.
- Learn: Experts think that ongoing education and learning new things may help keep you mentally sharp simply by getting you in the habit of staying mentally active. Take a class from a senior center or community college, make it a habit to visit the library and pick up a new book each week. “Challenging your brain with mental exercise is believed to activate processes that help maintain individual brain cells and stimulate communication among them,” according to Harvard Medical School.
- Finances: A study published by The Journals of Gerontology found that “financial strain was a strong and robust predictor of worsening mental health” among older adults, including anxiety and depression symptoms. Another way to help keep yourself mentally healthy in retirement is to make sure you have ample cash on hand to help pay off unexpected health care bills or fund any renovations that might need to be made to your home. Many seniors are surprised to learn that one potential asset for generating immediate cash is a life insurance policy.
Ensuring the Safety of Our Children in Our Schools
Titusville, Fla. – Today, nearly one year after the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida where fourteen students and three staff members were murdered, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 19-45, which is focused on improving the safety of Florida schools.
“Although protecting our students is a perpetual process, there are steps we can take immediately to improve safety in our schools” said Governor DeSantis. “While we cannot bring back the innocents lost, we can honor their memory by learning from the mistakes that were made and resolving to swiftly correct all of those within our control.”
Specifically, Executive Order 19-45 does the following: Continue reading
Tax season is here, and this week, our office issued a Consumer Alert to warn Floridians of a new phishing tactic that could wreak havoc on people preparing their taxes.
The tactic, called conversation hijacking, involves scammers accessing an ongoing email conversation and sending a new message containing a malicious link or attachment—giving the appearance that the message is from a trusted source. Victims clicking on the link or opening the attachment are then prompted to provide personal information that could be used to submit fraudulent tax returns.
Floridians should remain cautious. Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments that seem suspicious. Never share passwords or login information with anybody. Change passwords frequently—using numbers and special characters.
For more tips to guard against conversation hijacking scams, click here. Continue reading
BORDER SECURITY: Securing the Southern and Northern border of the United States takes a combination of physical infrastructure, technology, personnel, resources, authorities, and the ability to close legal loopholes that are exploited by smugglers, traffickers, cartels, criminals and terrorists.
The Department of Homeland Security must have the tools to deter illegal immigration; the ability to remove individuals who illegally enter the United States; and the vital authorities necessary to protect national security.
These measures below are the minimum tools necessary to mitigate the rapidly growing surge of illegal immigration.
$25 billion trust fund for the border wall system, ports of entry/exit, and northern border improvements and enhancements.
Close crippling personnel deficiencies by appropriating additional funds to hire new DHS personnel, ICE attorneys, immigration judges, prosecutors and other law enforcement professionals. Continue reading
Nothing But Networking a Lady Lake Chamber event was held at the Texas Road House Grill. Feedback from the 100 who attended was “it was great!”. This was the second event at the Texas Road House Grill. If you would like to attend call the Chamber 352-753-6029 to make arrangements. Tell them Tom sent you!
The Marion County Genealogical Society will meet Thursday March 21, 2019 at 2 PM at the Marion County Public Library located at 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd. in Ocala. Free to the public. A brief business meeting will be followed by the March program TBA (see www.mcgsocala.org). For further information, contact Joel Swanson at (352) 897-0840 or president@mcgsocala.org.
