Closeup of a cheerful young couple picking some fruit and veggies from the fridge to make some healthy breakfast on Sunday morning. Shot from inside the working fridge.

(NAPSI)—Practicing basic oral hygiene, such as brushing, flossing, and going to regular checkups with a dental professional are some of the most important ways to maintain oral health. However, if these practices are not paired with proper nutrition, oral health can still suffer.

Mindfully incorporating foods that are good for oral health can also contribute to overall wellbeing. Certain vitamins and minerals are particularly beneficial for teeth and gums. Many people take dietary supplements to improve their health or fill gaps in their diet. Supplements can also be a viable alternative for people with dietary restrictions or allergies.

Best vitamins and minerals for oral health and where to eat them

Calcium strengthens enamel, which is the hard outer layer of teeth. It is widely known that cheese, low-sugar yogurt, and other dairy products contain calcium, but many seeds, beans, lentils, and leafy greens are also rich sources.  Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—If your children are like most, they get anxious from time to time—but you can help them get over it.

The Problem

In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), even with the best parenting, 80 percent of little ones feel that unpleasant emotion.

Some Answers

Fortunately, there are several ways you can help.

For one thing, the NIH suggests parents of younger children can help them “come back to earth” from spiraling thoughts with the 3-3-3 rule: Ask your child to name 3 things they can see, identify 3 sounds they can hear, and move 3 different parts of their bodies.

For another, one of the most anxious times for little ones is at bedtime. Scary things and worries flutter and flap around, making it hard to sleep. A calming nightly routine, including reading to your children, however, lets them settle down for the night.  Continue reading →

(NewsUSA) – Obesity is an increasingly significant health problem in the United States, especially for women. The disease affects 1 in 3 American women, including 57% of Black women and 44% of Hispanic women.

Although obesity is a chronic, treatable condition, obesity care is not covered by health insurance like other chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes. As a chronic disease, it’s only fair that people with obesity receive the same coverage as other chronic conditions.

EveryBODY Covered, a new campaign led by the Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention (AWHP) in partnership with 15 other leading health organizations, is working to change this by empowering women to speak with their employers and elected officials about the need for comprehensive obesity care coverage.

Currently, less than half of employers cover or are considering covering the latest generation of anti-obesity medications. “Healthcare professionals need to be able to provide the full range of obesity care options for their patients, and patients need access to that care,” said Dr. Eliza Chin, Executive Director of the American Medical Women’s Association. “Obesity deserves the same level of coverage as any other chronic disease.” Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—There could be good news if you or someone you care about is ever among the one in 6,000 Americans the National Institutes of Health estimates will be diagnosed with keratoconus (KC).

The Problem

This is a sight-threatening and progressive eye disease that occurs when the cornea thins and weakens over time. It causes the development of a cone-like bulge, which can dramatically and permanently distort vision.

An Answer

There is no cure for keratoconus, but the cornea can be strengthened to slow or halt the progression of the disease with an FDA-approved cross-linking procedure called iLink®. Once diagnosed, there is a lot of information for patients to digest and for eye doctors and their staff to explain in a way that is thorough, educational, and not overwhelming. Continue reading →

https://youtu.be/Eh-TMzjxFHAWhat if you could catch a glimpse into your future without relying on mysticism or fortune-tellers? Surprisingly, you can — it’s right in front of you every day, if you’re willing to look.

For active seniors who aspire to live their later years on their own terms, enjoying passions and relationships to the fullest, it’s crucial to take stock of any warning signs lurking in their lives.

These warning signs, or “red flags,” indicate that functional decline may be on the horizon. They’re signals that essential abilities for maintaining quality of life and independence are slipping away. As a seasoned physical therapist, I can spot these red flags from a mile away. While they may start subtly, dismissing them as natural effects of aging is a mistake. Left unaddressed, they can quickly lead to falls, loss of independence, reliance on assistive devices, and a host of health issues. Moreover, if illness or injury strikes on top of these red flags, functional loss can escalate dramatically. Continue reading →

How to make it:

Preheat oven to 425 (or can use an air fryer)

Spread cream cheese on a low carb tortilla,

Add peanut butter

Top with low carb sweetener liketruvia or allulose.

Scatter sugar free chocolate chips in a single layer.

Roll tightly,

Brush with butter & slice into pinwheels.

bake 8-10 min in 425F oven or Air fry @ 400F for 6-8 mins

Pro tip: After brushing with butter, add extra sweetener!

Watch Rick Wiggins’ video at https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3dDwvBOZ4G/

(NAPSI)—Money can be a stressor for many—but you don’t have to be among them. Creating a game plan and understanding five key terms can help improve your financial health:

Credit Score

A credit score is a three-digit number that represents your general creditworthiness, calculated based on your personal financial history. Lenders use this number to assess your ability to repay a loan, establish your credit line and to determine your interest rate. A good credit score can help you save money on loans, credit cards and insurance, and can also make it easier to rent an apartment, buy a car or purchase a home.

Credit Cards: 

General Purpose vs. Store Cards

Credit cards have become an indispensable part of financial life, with 82% of American adults—and nearly all people with incomes of $100,000 or more—owning at least one credit card, according to 2022 data from the Federal Reserve. With the convenience, security and rewards that today’s credit cards offer, many consumers now see the value in using multiple cards. Indeed, the average U.S. consumer has three to four credit cards, according to a 2021 report by Experian.

But credit cards are not all the same. General-purpose credit cards work at most locations in the world where credit is accepted and often come with rewards, promotional financing or introductory offers. However, an individual who is new to credit cards might need to build a credit history before being approved for a general-purpose card.

Many people start building their credit score with a store credit card, which can be used only at one specific store, or a group of stores, such as a furniture or department store. These cards are often available to those who have a lower credit score, limited or no credit history and can offer the chance to build good credit in a relatively short time. Store cards traditionally have lower credit limits, given you can only use them with that specific retailer, which also helps you manage your credit exposure. They may also offer low or no annual fees, which some traditional general-purpose credit cards charge, but sometimes higher annual percentage rates.

Synchrony is a premier consumer financial services company that has hundreds of thousands of partnerships with retailers offering store credit cards. “Our cards offer consumers financing with top brands to bring them more choices, flexibility and convenience,” said Max Axler, Chief Credit Officer at Synchrony. “Store credit cards are a powerful option to take advantage of special offers, promotional financing and perks while shopping at your favorite retailers.”

Interest Rates 

A credit card’s interest rate is the amount you will be charged on your unpaid credit card balance that is due. The interest rate is calculated as a percentage of the outstanding balance. For example, if you charge $1,000 on a credit card that does not have any outstanding balance and pay it off before the monthly due date, you typically won’t incur any interest charge. You’d simply pay $1,000, and the balance would be satisfied. However, if you didn’t pay it all off—or paid any amount that was less than the full $1,000—you would be charged interest based on your average daily balance.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

The yearly interest rate charged on your balance due is called the Annual Percentage Rate. You pay this interest rate on any balances not paid in full each month—in other words, if you don’t pay your bill in full when it’s due every month, the amount you do not pay is subject to interest. It’s important to note that your credit card may have more than one APR: One rate for purchases, another for balance transfers and yet another for cash advances.

Understanding these terms can empower you to manage your finances in the best way to meet your needs and borrow responsibly, and properly managing your credit can lead to higher credit scores and more access to credit for your financial needs.

Learn More

For more information and to discover financing options to fit your lifestyle, visit www.synchrony.com.

(NAPSI)—Addressing climate change is an all-hands-on-deck undertaking. It requires a smarter, stronger, and cleaner energy grid that provides affordable, reliable power when and where people need it. The grid of the future will have to be at least twice the size of what it is today—most likely even bigger.

That means jobs—thousands and thousands of them across a wide variety of industries, from manufacturing technology, such as batteries and wind turbines, to electric vehicle construction and maintenance to consumer sales. The impacts on the workforce across the state and nation, and the economic effects on local communities, will be significant.

According to a 2023 U.S. Department of Energy (USDO) employment study, the energy workforce grew by nearly 300,000 jobs over the previous year—a faster rate than the overall U.S. workforce. Clean energy jobs specifically grew by 114,000, with every state seeing growth.

These new jobs present an opportunity to diversify the energy workforce and open doors to individuals who might not have previously considered the sector for a career. Women made up more than half of the energy jobs added last year, according to USDOE, and veteran employment outpaced that of the overall U.S. economy.  Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—Whether you’re feeding your family or entertaining guests, a delightful way to keep things cosy yet special during the cold weather season is with a delicious dish such as this one, made with Trusted Veal from Europe.

Pastrami-Spiced Veal Burgers

Yield: 6 servings 

INGREDIENTS

12slices Smoked Gouda, sliced thinly

2cups Sauerkraut, rinsed and drained

¾cup Mayonnaise

1oz Fresh breadcrumbs

4 oz Milk

2tsp Salt

2lbs Ground veal

2tsp Black peppercorns

2tsp Coriander seeds

½tsp Mustard seeds

1tsp Sweet paprika

1tsp Onion powder

½tsp Garlic powder

1tsp Brown sugar

½cup Whole grain mustard

INSTRUCTIONS Continue reading →