Small Steps for a Great New Year

As we approach the new year, most of us think about resolutions. Although resolutions include a variety of important broad topics such as career and family, starting with these 3 small steps will create a solid base for your major accomplishments: exercising, stress management and healthy eating 

Exercise Consistently

If you've been an inconsistent exerciser in the past, make this your year to find a workout plan you can maintain. "It'll make a big impact on your cholesterol and blood pressure," says Keith Roach, M.D., RealAge's chief medical officer, who's an avid triathlete. "It can be a good stress reliever, too." Exercise also helps smokers kick the habit.

Then there are the anti-aging benefits: Exercising regularly can make you feel 9 years younger. Aim for 30 minutes of activity a day. A mix of aerobic, strength, and flexibility training is ideal.

Conquer Stress

Managing stress is challenging, Roach says, but worth the effort. "It has such a powerful effect on your health." Chronic stress takes a huge toll on your body. It's linked to obesity, high cholesterol, depression, digestive woes, and insomnia. Stress also wears down your immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to colds and flu.

Relaxation techniques like meditation and deep breathing can help. So can exercise. Whatever method you choose, effective stress management has terrific anti-aging benefits. Taking good care of your emotional health and well-being can make your body think it's 16 years younger.

Eat Better

Even small dietary adjustments will boost your health. "Try to do just a couple of things at a time," Roach suggests.

Aim for 5 servings of veggies and 6 servings of whole grains each day to feel 4 years younger this year. Swapping saturated fats, like butter, for heart-healthy unsaturated fats like olive oil can turn back the clock up to 6 years. Add at least one serving of fish a week to feel another 2.7 years younger.

Source: realage, shine yahoo

ALERT: Enfamil Samples Under Serious Investigation

Wal-Mart has pulled a batch of powdered infant formula from more than 3,000 of its stores nationwide after a Missouri newborn who was given the formula became gravely ill with a suspected bacterial infection and died after being taken off life support, the retailer said Wednesday.

No government recall had been ordered for the 12.5-ounce cans of Enfamil Newborn powder with the lot number ZP1K7G. Manufacturer Mead Johnson Nutrition said its records showed the lot tested negative for the bacterium before it was shipped.

Avery had been fed Enfamil Newborn powder bought at a Wal-Mart store in Lebanon. The store stopped selling the product after learning of his death.

But Wal-Mart spokeswoman Dianna Gee said the company decided to pull the lot "out of an abundance of caution" while health officials investigate Sunday's death of 10-day-old Avery Cornett.

Gena Terlizzi, spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, said Wednesday that samples of the formula given to Avery were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for testing.
Source: msnbc.com

RECALL ALERT: Motrin

Johnson & Johnson is voluntarily asking retailers to remove about 12 million bottles of Motrin pain relievers from store shelves. The coated caplets may not dissolve as quickly as intended when they near their expiration dates, the company found when testing product samples, according to a statement posted Wednesday on a website of J&J's McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division.

"There is no safety concern if consumers continue taking the product in accordance with its label; however, it is possible there may be a delay in experiencing relief," the statement said.

The bottles were distributed in the United States, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Fiji, Belize, St. Lucia and Jamaica.
Sources: msnbc, Reuters

Little People Top Reading

Fisher Price has a great line of books called Little People. I bought a couple of them for my kids. The pages are very well illustrated, educational, and packed with flaps to keep kids entertained. It has been very well rated, as you can see by clicking on the link below.
The collection includes Let's Go to the Zoo, Welcome to our Town, Christmas Time is Here, Let's Go to School, Let's Go to the Farm, Let's Get Moving, etc
Very well worth it (under US$10)!


By Fisher-Price, sold at Amazon