New Mortality Test
What are your chances of dying in 4 years?
A new mortality test designed for people aged 50 and over aims to predict just that. The higher your score, the higher your risk of dying.
The test is just 12 questions in length. It takes about 60 seconds to complete. And yet it still has an accuracy of roughly 81%.
If you’re younger than age 50, the test will have less relevance for you. Nevertheless, it’s interesting to answer the questions to see what you score.
The test has already received some criticism because it omits some questions that seem obvious and includes questions that seem less relevant.
For instance, you receive a 1-point penalty if you have “Difficulty pushing or pulling large objects like a living room chair because of a health problem.”
If you’d like to read the complete article and review all 12 questions, go here:
Look For Produce That Smells Good
According to new research, produce that smells and tastes good has greater nutritional value.
In the study, certain nutritional compounds that affect flavor were compared with wild-grown and conventional tomatoes. The wild-grown tomatoes had readings 3 times higher than the conventionally grown tomatoes.
That’s a big difference.
The article says, “Except for one chemical that also affects color, the sugars, organic acids and volatile compounds associated with tomato flavor were reduced in the commercial product.”
You can read the complete article here: Smelling Good May Mean It’s Good for You
Exercise Anyway
I have a few friends who’ve expressed that they’d rather not go to a gym or recreation center to exercise because they’re embarrassed.
They’re overweight… and they don’t want other people watching them.
Although I’m not overweight, I can understand the hesitation.
When I first started lifting weights… and grabbed the 20-pound dumbbells to do bicep curls… I was embarrassed.
Here were all these ripped guys curling 40- and 50-pounders!
I felt like a weakling.
Here’s the thing. No matter where you start, there’s going to be someone firmer, slimmer, sexier, stronger.
There’s just no way you’re going to avoid that.
My advice: get over your embarrassment and start exercising.
Your emotions will diminish… your gym will start to feel like home… and you’ll start making visible improvements.
And that’s the real goal anyway: results. Not a warm fuzzy feeling inside. You can get that when you take a hot shower after your workout. :-)
Polite or Healthy?
A few nights ago we hosted a potluck dinner at our house for three other couples who attend our church.
We had the main meal and assigned salad, bread, and dessert to the other couples.
What I’ve found in situations like this is… you can be either polite or healthy. Not both.
The couple we assigned the dessert to loves to make desserts. Absolutely loves it. When we told her she got dessert, she replied that she was hoping she’d get assigned that.
So when she came over with two moist cakes topped with Cool Whip, my wife and I couldn’t say no.
I guess we could have… but that would have been impolite. Our guest probably would have gotten her feelings hurt.
This isn’t the first time I’ve been in a situation like this. In fact, there have been many times I’ve wanted to say no, but felt obligated to say yes.
I mean, how do you say no to your grandmother-in-law who adores you and just wants you to keep eating more and more and more? How do you explain to someone you’re trying eat healthier when she can’t even comprehend a definition of health as strict as the one you have?
It can certainly be awkward.
Do have experiences like mine? What have you done to be polite and healthy at the same time?
Beetlejuice, Anyone?
Did you know that many processed foods that are pink, red or purple, such as yogurts, ice cream and fruit drinks, contain coloring made from crushed female cochineal beetles? Read more here.
Unfortunately, because this coloring is “naturally occuring”, the FDA does not currently require it to be properly labelled on your food products. Some companies just list it as “artificial color” or “coloring added.” Other companies use the words “carmine” or “cochineal” on their labels.
More unfortunately, this artificial coloring has been proven to cause allergic reactions in different individuals, ranging from sneezing and asthma, to anaphylactic shock.
So be sure to read your labels if you are wary of eating bugs. Here are some popular products that contain beetlejuice…
Good & Plenty candy
Dannon Fruit on the Bottom Boysenberry yogurt
Tropicana Ruby Red Grapefruit
Yoplait Thick and Creamy Low-Fat Strawberry yogurt
Tropicana Orange Strawberry Banana Juice
SoBe Courage Cherry Citrus Drink