Here are some tips for making those pesky lawn care chores easier --
- Choose the right tool: a standard width (24-inch) rake requires less downward pressure to drag leaves across a lawn than an extra-wide (36-inch) rake. Ergonomic rakes, often with a bent handle, are designed to reduce bending, but aren't a good fit for everyone. Buy a rake with a soft grip that's comfortable for your height and strength. Before buying, practice raking movements in the store.
- Wear shoes with slip-resistant soles, and if needed, apply sunscreen and tick repellent.
- Pick up any debris that could cause you to trip.
- Warm up with light activity before raking and stretch afterwards to minimize aching muscles. Therapeutic massage and heat (warm shower or heating pad) can also be helpful.
- Wear gloves, and keep space between your hands on the grip to increase leverage. Alternate leg and arm positions and switch sides.
- To prevent back injury, don't overfill leaf bags. When picking up leaves, bend at the knees, not the waist -- use your leg muscles instead of your back muscles.
- Don't twist to toss leaves over a shoulder or to the side.
- When you're finished put the rake away so no one gets hurt by stepping on it by mistake.
Source: Consumer Reports, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
COULD YOU USE HEALTH EDUCATION CONTENT FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER, BLOG, WEBSITE, OR HAND-OUTS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS, OR EVENT? I CAN SAVE YOU THE TIME AND EFFORT BY PROVIDING CUSTOMIZED MATERIALS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS FOR YOU TO REPRODUCE AND PERSONALIZE WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION. PLEASE CALL ME AT 617-738-8222 FOR MORE INFO.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
EXPLORE BROOKLINE'S SECRET GARDENS!
On Sunday, September 19th, from 1 - 5 PM, the organization Bountiful Brookline will be hosting an Edible Gardens Harvest Tour followed by a reception with locally produced snacks and live music at the Brookline Community Foundation.
It's a great opportunity to get a little walking exercise in the beautiful Fall weather, pick up gardening tips, and meet some delightful Brookline folks!
I have gotten involved in Bountiful Brookline this past year through volunteering at the Greenside Out garden at Brookline Community Foundation, 40 Webster Place, Brookline Village, where a group of us raise fruit and vegetables for the Brookline Food Pantry. It's fun and I've learned a lot more about gardening.
New volunteers are always welcome . . . no experience necessary! You'll have a good time learning from the seasoned gardeners.
Please go to www.BountifulBrookline.org and click on "events" in the right side column to learn more about the garden tour and volunteer opportunities.
INVEST IN YOUR HEALTH FOR GUARANTEED HIGH RETURNS -- CALL JOAN AT 617-738-8222 TO SCHEDULE A MASSAGE TODAY!
It's a great opportunity to get a little walking exercise in the beautiful Fall weather, pick up gardening tips, and meet some delightful Brookline folks!
I have gotten involved in Bountiful Brookline this past year through volunteering at the Greenside Out garden at Brookline Community Foundation, 40 Webster Place, Brookline Village, where a group of us raise fruit and vegetables for the Brookline Food Pantry. It's fun and I've learned a lot more about gardening.
New volunteers are always welcome . . . no experience necessary! You'll have a good time learning from the seasoned gardeners.
Please go to www.BountifulBrookline.org and click on "events" in the right side column to learn more about the garden tour and volunteer opportunities.
INVEST IN YOUR HEALTH FOR GUARANTEED HIGH RETURNS -- CALL JOAN AT 617-738-8222 TO SCHEDULE A MASSAGE TODAY!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
BACTERIA IN THE BAGS
Did you know that the cloth grocery bags that we are reusing may be contaminated with E. coli and other bacteria? Research shows that bacteria levels are significant enough to cause serious health problems from food-borne illnesses. Here are some important safety tips:
* Hand or machine wash reusable grocery bags between uses to reduce bacteria by more than 99.9% (no bacteria were detected on new fabric or plastic bags).
* Separate raw foods from other food products and meat from fruits and vegetables to prevent cross contamination. Even packaged foods can leak or have bacteria on the outside of the wrapper.
* Do not use bags carrying groceries for storing or transporting other items such as snacks, clothing, or books which may be contaminated with additional bacteria.
* Do not store meat or produce in your car trunk because the higher temperatures promote bacterial growth on the bags.
Source: University of Arizona, Loma Linda University
COULD YOU USE HEALTH EDUCATION CONTENT FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER, BLOG, WEBSITE, OR HAND-OUTS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS, OR EVENT? I CAN SAVE YOU THE TIME AND EFFORT -- BY PROVIDING CUSTOMIZED MATERIALS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS FOR YOU TO REPRODUCE AND PERSONALIZE WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION. PLEASE CALL ME FOR MORE DETAILS AT 617-738-8222.
* Hand or machine wash reusable grocery bags between uses to reduce bacteria by more than 99.9% (no bacteria were detected on new fabric or plastic bags).
* Separate raw foods from other food products and meat from fruits and vegetables to prevent cross contamination. Even packaged foods can leak or have bacteria on the outside of the wrapper.
* Do not use bags carrying groceries for storing or transporting other items such as snacks, clothing, or books which may be contaminated with additional bacteria.
* Do not store meat or produce in your car trunk because the higher temperatures promote bacterial growth on the bags.
Source: University of Arizona, Loma Linda University
COULD YOU USE HEALTH EDUCATION CONTENT FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER, BLOG, WEBSITE, OR HAND-OUTS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS, OR EVENT? I CAN SAVE YOU THE TIME AND EFFORT -- BY PROVIDING CUSTOMIZED MATERIALS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS FOR YOU TO REPRODUCE AND PERSONALIZE WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION. PLEASE CALL ME FOR MORE DETAILS AT 617-738-8222.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
PROTEIN SHAKE ALERT !
Do you drink protein shakes? Laboratory analysis reveals that many of these supplemental beverages contain toxic contaminants, especially the heavy metals arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. It takes decades for the body to eliminate heavy metals; in the meantime, they can severely damage internal organs. EAS Myoplex Original Rich Dark Chocolate Shake (liquid), Muscle Milk Chocolate (powder), and Muscle Milk Vanilla Creme (powder) have been found to have heavy metal levels exceeding limits set by the US Pharmacopeia (USP), the federal authority that sets standards for health products. Muscle Milk Nutritional Shake Chocolate (liquid) closely approaches the limits, and other brands, although within the limits, also contain toxins.
In the US, dietary supplements, unlike prescription drugs, are usually not required to be tested before they are sold to ensure that they are safe, effective, free of contaminants, and health claims are not assessed for validity. The American Dietetic Association reports that protein drinks have not been shown to improve athletic performance and should be used conservatively. High protein intake can increase the risk of osteoporosis. Kidney malfunction can also be a result, especially for diabetics, pre-diabetics, and those with kidney disease -- a lot of people are undiagnosed and don't know that they already have these conditions.
The bottom line: most people can meet their protein needs, minimize exposure to toxins, and save money too by eating healthy, real foods.
Source: Consumer Reports
IT'S TIME TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR BODY -- SCHEDULE YOUR THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE TODAY ! CALL 617-738-8222.
In the US, dietary supplements, unlike prescription drugs, are usually not required to be tested before they are sold to ensure that they are safe, effective, free of contaminants, and health claims are not assessed for validity. The American Dietetic Association reports that protein drinks have not been shown to improve athletic performance and should be used conservatively. High protein intake can increase the risk of osteoporosis. Kidney malfunction can also be a result, especially for diabetics, pre-diabetics, and those with kidney disease -- a lot of people are undiagnosed and don't know that they already have these conditions.
The bottom line: most people can meet their protein needs, minimize exposure to toxins, and save money too by eating healthy, real foods.
Source: Consumer Reports
IT'S TIME TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR BODY -- SCHEDULE YOUR THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE TODAY ! CALL 617-738-8222.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
7 THINGS TO STOP DOING NOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA
1. Using a weak password - Avoid simple names or words you can find in a dictionary, even with numbers on the end. A password should have at least 8 characters. Mix upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, symbols, and insert numbers or symbols in the middle of a word.
2. Leaving your full birth date in your profile - It's an ideal target for identity thieves, who could use it to obtain more information about you and potentially gain access to your bank or credit card account. If you've already entered a birth date, go to your profile page, click on the info tab, then on Edit Information. Under the Basic Information section, choose to show only the month and day or no birthday at all.
3. Overlooking useful privacy controls - Restrict access to photos, birth date, religious views, and family information to only certain people or groups or block particular people from seeing them. Consider leaving out contact info, such as phone number and address.
4. Posting a child's name in photo tags or captions - If someone else does, delete it by clicking on the Remove Tag or ask them to remove the name.
5. Mentioning that you'll be away from home - Wait until you get home to tell about your vacation and be vague about the date of any trip.
6. Letting search engines find your private information - If you want to prevent strangers from accessing your page, go to the Search section of privacy controls and select Only Friends for search results. Be sure the box for public search results isn't checked.
7. Permitting kids to use social networking sites unsupervised.
Source: Consumer Reports
2. Leaving your full birth date in your profile - It's an ideal target for identity thieves, who could use it to obtain more information about you and potentially gain access to your bank or credit card account. If you've already entered a birth date, go to your profile page, click on the info tab, then on Edit Information. Under the Basic Information section, choose to show only the month and day or no birthday at all.
3. Overlooking useful privacy controls - Restrict access to photos, birth date, religious views, and family information to only certain people or groups or block particular people from seeing them. Consider leaving out contact info, such as phone number and address.
4. Posting a child's name in photo tags or captions - If someone else does, delete it by clicking on the Remove Tag or ask them to remove the name.
5. Mentioning that you'll be away from home - Wait until you get home to tell about your vacation and be vague about the date of any trip.
6. Letting search engines find your private information - If you want to prevent strangers from accessing your page, go to the Search section of privacy controls and select Only Friends for search results. Be sure the box for public search results isn't checked.
7. Permitting kids to use social networking sites unsupervised.
Source: Consumer Reports
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
WEIGHTY MATTERS
Are you trying to shed a few extra pounds that you gained over the winter? This is a great time to get more active -- just remember to start slowly and gradually to prevent injury if you're doing something new or that you haven't done in a while. Here are the approximate calories burned per hour in some common activities:
Bicycling, outdoors 563
Bicycling, stationary 493
Circuit training, gym 563
Cleaning house 246
Dancing 317
Fixing dinner 176
Gardening 352
Golf, using a cart 246
Jogging, running 493
Moving furniture 422
Mowing lawn (non-riding mower) 387
Playing with kids, light activity 176
Stair climber-type exercise 422
Sweeping 281
Swimming, freestyle 563
Tennis 493
Walking 250
Wallpapering 317
Yoga 281
Source: Diet Myths that Keep Us Fat - Nancy Snyderman MD
GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE AND EASY RELAXING MEDITATION CDs MAKE WONDERFUL GIFTS FOR BRIDES, GRADS, AND DADS (FATHER'S DAY IS SUN. JUNE 20)! PLEASE CALL ME AT 617-738-8222 FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Bicycling, outdoors 563
Bicycling, stationary 493
Circuit training, gym 563
Cleaning house 246
Dancing 317
Fixing dinner 176
Gardening 352
Golf, using a cart 246
Jogging, running 493
Moving furniture 422
Mowing lawn (non-riding mower) 387
Playing with kids, light activity 176
Stair climber-type exercise 422
Sweeping 281
Swimming, freestyle 563
Tennis 493
Walking 250
Wallpapering 317
Yoga 281
Source: Diet Myths that Keep Us Fat - Nancy Snyderman MD
GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE AND EASY RELAXING MEDITATION CDs MAKE WONDERFUL GIFTS FOR BRIDES, GRADS, AND DADS (FATHER'S DAY IS SUN. JUNE 20)! PLEASE CALL ME AT 617-738-8222 FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Friday, May 14, 2010
MOVING MATTERS
Q: I've heard horror stories about moving companies holding people's belongings for ransom and charging thousands of dollars more than the quoted fee before delivering. How can I make sure this doesn't happen to me?
A: Never select a mover on price alone. By gathering 3 written estimates, you can identify unrealistically low prices that could mean extra charges later. Compare estimates and all other services for a thorough picture of your total costs, and always require a physical, in-person estimate. Seeing firsthand the size and quantity of your goods is the only way to effectively estimate costs.
Movers are legally required to deliver your goods for no more than 10% above a non-binding estimate unless you change the scope of services after the estimate was provided.
Stop the move if an upfront deposit or pre-payment in cash is required. Always ask about additional fees and get answers in writing. Never let your mover leave before you receive a written copy of your contract, inventory paperwork, and any possible guarantees or warranties. You should ask for your driver's full name, driver's license ID, truck number, and cell phone for easy contact during the move.
When an interstate move takes place, federal law requires movers provide you with a Rights and Responsibilities booklet which you should read carefully to know what to expect from your mover.
Sources: Graebel New England Movers, Distinctive Homes Boston
DO YOU NEED HEALTH EDUCATION CONTENT FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER, BLOG, WEBSITE, OR HAND-OUTS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS, OR EVENT? I CAN SAVE YOU THE TIME AND EFFORT -- BY PROVIDING CUSTOMIZED MATERIALS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS FOR YOU TO REPRODUCE AND PERSONALIZE WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION. PLEASE CALL ME AT 617-738-8222 FOR MORE INFORMATION.
A: Never select a mover on price alone. By gathering 3 written estimates, you can identify unrealistically low prices that could mean extra charges later. Compare estimates and all other services for a thorough picture of your total costs, and always require a physical, in-person estimate. Seeing firsthand the size and quantity of your goods is the only way to effectively estimate costs.
Movers are legally required to deliver your goods for no more than 10% above a non-binding estimate unless you change the scope of services after the estimate was provided.
Stop the move if an upfront deposit or pre-payment in cash is required. Always ask about additional fees and get answers in writing. Never let your mover leave before you receive a written copy of your contract, inventory paperwork, and any possible guarantees or warranties. You should ask for your driver's full name, driver's license ID, truck number, and cell phone for easy contact during the move.
When an interstate move takes place, federal law requires movers provide you with a Rights and Responsibilities booklet which you should read carefully to know what to expect from your mover.
Sources: Graebel New England Movers, Distinctive Homes Boston
DO YOU NEED HEALTH EDUCATION CONTENT FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER, BLOG, WEBSITE, OR HAND-OUTS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS, OR EVENT? I CAN SAVE YOU THE TIME AND EFFORT -- BY PROVIDING CUSTOMIZED MATERIALS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS FOR YOU TO REPRODUCE AND PERSONALIZE WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION. PLEASE CALL ME AT 617-738-8222 FOR MORE INFORMATION.
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