Nutrients and Blood Pressure

Recent studies show that there is a complex connection between nutrients and blood pressure:

• Restricting sodium can actually raise blood pressure in some people. One reason is because foods that contain nutrients known to decrease blood pressure, such as calcium and potassium, are many of the same foods that are decreased when sodium intake is decreased.
  
  
• One study showed that a low-fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products significantly lowered blood pressure; this occurred without change in body weight or sodium intake. This study offers a new approach to controlling hypertension, i.e., consuming adequate levels of calcium, potassium and magnesium rather than decreasing sodium intake.
  
  
• Another study found that increasing calcium intake and keeping sodium intake constant decreased blood pressure in hypertensive men.

Note: If your physician has prescribed a low-sodium diet, check with your physician before making any changes to your prescribed diet.

Money Saving Tips on Insurance

Insurance protects individuals and families against financial loss caused by accidents, illness, death, loss of personal property and loss of income. The following tips can help you save money on auto, health, life, home/renters, and disability insurance:

• Contact at least 3 firms to compare rates; ask about discounts and special rates.
  
  
• Read sources of information such as Consumer Reports.
  
  
• Purchase more than one type of insurance from the same company.
  
  
• Don't smoke; take care of your health.
  
  
• Carefully consider before adding riders or floaters.
  
  
• Select a higher deductible.
  
  
• Have a good driving record; good grades.
  
  
• Insure all cars with the same company.
  
  
• Check your bills for mistakes.
  
  
• Decide how much life insurance you need.
  
  
• Make sure your life, health and disability policies are guaranteed renewable.
  
  
• Inquire about a discount for smoke detectors and burglar alarms.
  
  
• Stay well; accumulate your sick leave.
  
  

Agent vs Broker? When shopping for insurance, it is important to know the difference between agents and brokers.

Agent: represents the insurance company. An advantage is the insurance company must honor everything the agent promises you. A disadvantage is the agent can help you on just one company's policies.

Broker: sells a wide range of products from many companies. An advantage is a broker can help you compare many different policies and represents you, the consumer, not the interests of the insurance company. A disadvantage is the insurance company is not bound by the promises the broker makes to you.

• Insurance companies are rated by independent rating services, such as Best's Insurance Reports (available in most libraries).
  
  
• A rating of "A" or better (A+ or A++) indicates financial stability and that the company is good on paying claims. Your insurance broker or state insurance commissioner can give you the rating.

• Make sure your insurance company is licensed with the state. If it is, the insurance commission can be helpful if a misunderstanding or dispute occurs between you and the insurance company.

Caring for Athletic Uniforms Tips for A+ Appearance

When the ball's in play, a clean uniform is the last thing on anyone's mind. But, once that final whistle blows, those dirty uniforms come in from the field and off the court to confront their next challenge: getting clean.

The best cleaning method depends on the fiber content of the fabric, the type of soil and the colorfastness of the dyes. Synthetic fibers, including nylon, polyester and spandex, are commonly used to create fabrics that are washable at high temperatures. However, because the dyes used for athletic uniforms are often water-soluble, fading or dye transfer during washing may be a problem. To avoid this, read and follow instructions on garment care labels. Frequently, a cold water wash is recommended because higher temperatures may cause the colors to bleed. To prevent bleeding, it's also best to avoid soaking the items for long periods of time. If a damp garment cannot be cleaned immediately, hang it to air dry.

Mud, grass and perspiration are common enemies of clean athletic uniforms, warns The Soap and Detergent Association. Before treating these stains, test the removal procedures in an inconspicuous spot on the garment.

For mud stains, let the garment dry and then brush off as much of the mud as possible. Pretreat with a pretreat product, a paste of granular detergent and water or a liquid laundry detergent.

For grass stains, pretreat with a product containing enzymes. If the stains remain, launder with a bleach that is safe for the fabric.

For perspiration stains, apply a prewash stain remover or rub the affected area with bar soap. If the fabric color has changed, treatment depends on the age of the stain. For fresh stains, apply ammonia; for old stains, apply white vinegar. Rinse thoroughly, then launder. If the stains remain, wash in a product containing enzymes or oxygen bleach.

Athletic uniforms should be dried at a low temperature. A high temperature may cause shrinkage and permanent wrinkling. When dry, remove items from the dryer and hang them up to help prevent permanent wrinkling.

Garage Refrigerators Need TLC Too!

The refrigerator in the garage...how often does it come in handy? In the winter it's used for storing foods that go on sale or as a space to temporarily house the extra dishes for holiday get-togethers. In the summer, it's a way to keep kids from running in and out for soda on a hot, humid day.

It's the change in seasons that can be the hardest on your garage refrigerator, according to Whirlpool consumer assistants. Some refrigerators are designed to operate properly at 55 degrees F or above. If you live in an area where temperature fluctuations are highly varied, it is not recommended to place refrigerators in unheated garages.

If you do have a garage refrigerator, the following tips may help extend its usefulness:

If the appliance has an anti-sweat switch (power saver/energy saver), it should be in the ON position for reducing external moisture in the summer and OFF in the winter.

Check the temperature in both compartments of your refrigerator as the seasons change to verify accurate storage temperatures. Adjust controls as needed to maintain appropriate temperatures.

Use a high-quality thermometer to check the temperature of the food stored in your outside refrigerator. Here's how to get an accurate reading:

Refrigerator compartment: Put the thermometer in a glass of water on the middle shelf of the refrigerator section. Leave the thermometer in the unopened refrigerator overnight. Read the thermometer the next morning immediately after opening the refrigerator door the first time. The recommended internal refrigerator temperature is 33 degrees F to 40 degrees F.

Freezer compartment: Place the thermometer securely between two packages of firmly frozen food items. Close the freezer door and wait 30 minutes. Recommended internal freezer temperatures are -5 degrees F to 5 degrees F.

Rotate food stored in the garage refrigerator into your kitchen refrigerator as soon as space is available. Use the "first in-first out" rule to ensure food is used in the order it was purchased.

Food items intended for long-term storage should be unopened foods that basically are better served cold - generally foods that are purchased off the grocery shelf rather than from a refrigerated grocery cabinet.

Leftovers or extra party items should only be stored in the garage refrigerator temporarily (less than two days).

Store delicate, temperature-sensitive foods - like ice cream and meat - in your kitchen refrigerator.

If the gas refrigerator is connected to a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) protected circuit, check it once a day to prevent food loss.

During humid weather, check the exterior of the product for moisture. Dry it off if necessary.

Don't plug the refrigerator into a circuit controlled by a wall switch. You could accidentally turn off the lights and the refrigerator.

Always be sure the receptacle is properly grounded to prevent electric shock hazard.

Follow all installation guidelines in your use and care guide. Do not locate next to a heat source and do not store flammables near your refrigerator or freezer.

Summer conditions result in increased energy consumption and increased maintenance. Warm and humid: Limit the number of door openings, vacuum the coils. (Garages get dusty.)

Humid: Mildew growth on gaskets is more likely. Clean and wash regularly. Use an auto paste wax on painted, metal exterior surfaces to help prevent rust. Do not get wax on plastic.

Winter conditions result in increased temperature fluctuations in food packages due to less frequent product cycling in unheated garages. In some cases frozen food can begin to thaw when garage temperatures are very cold. Check your use and care manual to determine the lowest safe operating temperature for your specific product.

Resource: Herbs to Avoid

The popularity of herbal medications for short and long-term medical problems has greatly increased in the past several years. U.S. herb sales for 1996 were around $12 billion. People purchase herbal remedies for many reasons including the desire to use a more "natural" approach to health and healing. It is important to remember that natural does not necessarily mean healthful or beneficial-poison oak and hemlock are natural too.

Research has been and is being conducted on many herbs that can have beneficial health effects. However, there are several herbs to avoid because of documented harmful effects. This is not a complete list, so do not assume a herb is safe if it is not listed here. New herbs and mixtures of herbs are becoming popular all the time and may or may not have safety studies behind them.

Holiday Resources

• The American Dietetic Association and NCND have a free healthy holiday handout for duplication: Holiday Snacks - Working with the Pyramid. Call 1-800-877-1600 ext. 4653.
  
  
• USDA Meat and Poultry Safety Hotline: 1-800-535-4555. From 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time, there is a live operator. You can use their automated message system 24 hours a day. The information is very good.
  
  
• Butterball Turkey Talk Line, 1-800-323-4848, is staffed by home economists and nutritionists during November and December. A 5 minute video for preparing turkey costs $3.50 and directions for ordering are given on the hotline.
  
  
• Lighter Bake has a hotline for substituting their product in baked goods. Call 1-800-417-2253.
  
  
• Holiday Bakeline, 1-800-782-9606, from November 1 to December 24, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (CST) seven days a week. Staffed by home economists who can provide advice, tips and free recipe leaflet.

Consumer Tips

The Federal Communications Commission will handle requests for action on suspected violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, such as persistent sales calls after the seller is told to stop.

Informal Complaints and Public Inquiries Branch
Enforcement Division
Common Carrier Bureau
FCC, Mail Stop 1600 A2
Washington, DC 20554
Mail and Telephone
Preference Services

To have your name removed from mail or telephone lists of many companies, contact the Direct Marketing Association:

Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008

Telephone Preference Service
P.O. Box 9014
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014