Month: February 2020

2020-02-05T06:01:00

(BPT) – We all love protein, but research shows that many of us don’t understand protein sources and which foods contain it.

2020-02-05T08:01:00

(BPT) – True crime storytelling has become wildly popular across the globe, and 2019 saw some of the most thrilling stories yet. While there are different ways to get your true crime fix, podcasts are tailor-made in a way you can’t find anywhere else. Spotify is giving podcast fans new, engaging ways to listen and discover audio content through a truly personalized experience so they can binge their favorite crime stories.

Podcast listening on Spotify grew by more than 50% in 2019, and true crime is one of the most popular genres, with My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark and Crime Junkie as some of the most streamed true crime podcasts on the platform in 2019. In 2020, fans can look forward to a fresh batch of true crime podcasts, including the infamous stories of Michelle Carter, Chris Watts, Henry Lee Lucas and Samuel Little, which are expected to launch on Spotify throughout February and March.

Spotify is also unpacking why women are the ones most drawn to this genre. Female listening in the true crime genre has grown year over year with Spotify seeing a 16% increase among women compared to men in 2019.

Why? Partly so women can learn survival methods if they ever find themselves in threatening situations, explains Dr. Amanda Vicary, a psychology professor at Illinois Wesleyan University. As a specialist in social-personality psychology who has researched this topic for several years, Dr. Vicary partnered with Spotify to explore why women are attracted to true crime.

“In reading these stories or listening to these podcasts, you learn how victims encountered threatening situations. You learn techniques to survive, even if they are as simple as locking your door,” explains Dr. Vicary. “Consciously or unconsciously, when you hear these stories, you’re learning what to do if it happens to you.”

Over the course of Dr. Vicary’s research she has found:

• Women feel more anxious and fearful than men when hearing true crime stories, partly because they’re afraid of being victims. But that isn’t enough to make them stop listening.
• Women are particularly interested in the psychological elements of true crimes, as well as the survival methods used. They’re especially drawn to stories that include information about what set the killer off, how the victim escaped and what signs to look for in someone about to turn violent.
• Many women say listening to a true crime podcast has led them to adjust their behavior by locking doors, carrying mace, avoiding going out alone at night or otherwise changing their habits to promote better safety.

You can download and start streaming Spotify today free of charge, or try one of Spotify’s Premium plans to gain on-demand access to 50 million tracks and 500,000 podcast titles.

2020-02-05T09:01:00

(BPT) – This Valentine’s Day, make the most of the occasion by finding new ways to enjoy the holiday with the ones you hold nearest and dearest — your family! With just a little creativity, a few extra treats and a healthy dose of imagination, you can make the day all about celebrating the love you have for each other — and, of course, all things sweet!

Here are a few ideas to get you started on your Valentine’s week activities:

Craft it up

Gather up some red, pink and white paper, card stock, ribbons, stickers and whatever else you can find in the craft closet because it’s time to get crafty! Spend an afternoon making your own handmade Valentine’s Day cards for special relatives, like grandparents, or favorite neighbors and family friends. Print out photos of each child to use on the front or inside of the cards and let the kids decorate them any way they want. For little ones, cut out a couple of sizes of card stock hearts to use as templates or stencils they can follow. Use plenty of glitter to make your homemade Valentines sparkle! To make them even sweeter, tack on some heart-shaped candies like tiny conversation hearts or gummies!

Bake your heart out

They say the kitchen is where the heart is, so gather up the kids and bake some delicious cupcakes together (homemade or from a box — we won’t tell!) Add fun pink and red frosting and share the love with friends and family. Make these treats even more special by decorating the tops of the cupcakes with adorable BRACH’S Tiny Conversation Hearts. The kids will have fun looking for their favorite messages like “Crazy 4 U” and “One & Only” while decorating the cupcakes and won’t be able to resist snacking on the lemon, banana, cherry, grape, orange and wintergreen heart flavors along the way!

You can also use the conversation hearts for decorating other baked Valentine’s Day goodies for your celebration, like heart-shaped, cut-out, sugar cookies. For more fun Valentine’s Day baking ideas, visit Brachs.com/recipes.

Child’s play with sweet treats

Spend some quality time with your loved ones this year with a Valentine’s Day-themed family game night. For more festive — and delicious — fun, you can use the BRACH’S Tiny Conversation Hearts as game pieces for Valentine’s Day bingo or tic tac toe. But don’t stop there — you can surprise the kids by substituting these colorful conversation heart candies for playing pieces in any of your family’s favorite board games.

Plan ahead for classroom sharing

A big part of Valentine’s Day for your kids is bringing plenty of sweet treats to share with all the children in the class. Lik-m-aid Fun Dip Valentine’s Day Exchange Candy & Card Kit makes it super easy and fun for you to help the kids get ready, with 22 fruity pouches in each box, designed to be blissfully dipped and enjoyed. There’s space to write children’s names and even a fun message right on the pouches. Kids will get a kick out of dipping the candy stick into the candy powder to enjoy two fun flavors: Cherry Yum Diddly Dip and RazzApple Magic Dip. The RazzApple Magic Dip even changes color, like magic!

Valentine’s movie night

Name a better duo than movies and popcorn — we’ll wait! Another great way to spend quality family time on Valentine’s Day is to have a family movie night. Pop up some popcorn, make sure you have plenty of your family’s favorite candies on hand and gather the whole gang for a night of festive entertainment. Queue up a couple of kid-friendly, romantic-themed movies that everyone loves, like Tangled, Enchanted, The Princess Bride or Beauty and the Beast and get comfy cozy!

Valentine’s Day is even sweeter when shared with everyone in your family. Let your imagination run wild and you can have just as much fun as your kids on this festive day of love.

2020-02-04T15:37:00

(BPT) – It doesn’t get more romantic than a getaway to Italy. But if a trip to Italy is not in the cards this year — no worries! With just a little planning, you can do the next best thing and bring some Italian flair to your Valentine’s Day — whether you want to woo your new crush or celebrate your lasting love.

Here are a few ideas to get you started on your date night with your amore:

Sweep your sweetheart away with music

When it comes to romance, it’s hard to beat the Italians. So set the mood with some Italian music. For your home date night (or when you return from your evening out), turn the lights down and the music up!

Choose beautiful classic Italian arias by Puccini like “O Mio Babbino Caro” or “Che Gelida Manina.”

Opera not your thing? Play old favorites like “That’s Amore” or “Volare” and dance together, or sing along!

Feed your romance

Everyone loves Italian food, and for good reason! Whether you indulge your passion for cooking and prepare a home-cooked Italian dinner, opt to order in, or choose to celebrate at a local Italian restaurant, start your evening together with a delicious, romantic candlelight dinner featuring your favorite Italian dishes.

Fortunately, when it comes to Italian cuisine, there’s something for everyone to enjoy, from antipasto and pizza, to seafood and pasta dishes. And don’t forget to finish the evening on a sweet note and sweet-talk your valentine into savoring a tiramisu, cannoli or gelato.

Choose a special wine

In Italy, no celebration or meal is complete without a delicious wine — and when it comes to wine, Italy has plenty to choose from! Pasqua’s Romeo & Juliet collection is a great choice: With a red, white and Prosecco, there is something to please every palate. Hailing from the beautiful city of Verona, home to Romeo and Juliet, these wines give a nod to one of the greatest love stories of all time.

Pasqua’s Romeo & Juliet Prosecco: A sparkling Prosecco, known in Italy as the “Welcome Wine” is the perfect Valentine’s Day toast. Fresh and fruity, with just 11% alcohol, it can be enjoyed before, during and after your meal.

Pasqua’s Romeo & Juliet Bianco 2018: This elegant white with overtones of apricot and peach pairs well with creamy pasta sauces, risotto dishes, chicken and seafood.

Pasqua’s Romeo & Juliet Rosso 2017: This Merlot-based red blend is velvety smooth and a perfect partner with food — think lasagna, chicken parm, spaghetti with meatballs, ossobuco, pizza and robust pasta dishes — or a succulent steak Fiorentina.

Look for the graffiti label — the Romeo & Juliet bottles feature a photo of love notes written by visitors on the wall of “Juliet’s house” in Verona.

Enjoy Italian-inspired entertainment

Staying home to celebrate? Queue up a romantic movie set in or inspired by Italy to set the tone for your romantic evening.

Look for classics like “Roman Holiday,” “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” starring Sophia Loren, “Eat, Pray, Love” with Julia Roberts or “A Room with a View.”

For unconventional love stories, check out “Only You,” “Il Postino (The Postman)” and “Moonstruck.” Want to see a film featuring the famous wall at Juliet’s home in Verona? Watch “Letters to Juliet.”

Speak the language of love

Everything sounds better in a Romance language like Italian. Thankfully, it’s never been easier to learn a new language or pocket a few helpful phrases — head online and learn how to woo your love. Try learning phrases like “Amore mio” (My Love), “Tesoro mio” (My Treasure) or “Ti amo” (I Love You) to impress your loved one.

Italian a little too intimidating? Find some poetry in English that you can write out in your Valentine’s card, or memorize a couple of lines to dazzle your darling. Try a few lines from one of Shakespeare’s Sonnets or, of course — Romeo and Juliet.

Wherever you and your beloved spend time together, you can make it truly unforgettable by adding a dash of Italian romance.

Want to learn more about Italian wines to enjoy with your amore? Visit Pasqua.it.

2020-02-03T07:01:00

(BPT) – Alice Vaught skipped her flu shot one season. That was the year she got the flu.

“I felt like I was dying. Within a couple hours I was unable to move. It came on so quickly, and I wasn’t aware of how severe it was.”

Unfortunately, the flu often strikes quickly and without warning, potentially leading to severe and sometimes life-threatening health problems. It’s an infectious disease that must be taken seriously — especially by those who are most vulnerable.

Flu can take a terrible toll

Anyone can get the flu. However, some people have an increased risk of flu and flu-related complications, including young children, pregnant women, adults 50 years of age and older, and people living with chronic health conditions, such as lung or heart disease, diabetes and cancer. This comprises a significant number of people. In fact, 70 percent of adults ages 50 to 64 have at least one chronic illness according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Brian Pelletier had type 2 diabetes, a severe lung disease and other chronic health conditions when the flu landed him in the hospital at the age of 52. “It was the first time I was really sick in over a decade. My medication that I was taking had been managing everything just fine, and my conditions didn’t slow me down too much,” said Pelletier. “I was active, but that bout with the flu really set me back.”

Flu can disrupt everyday life

The CDC estimates that the flu virus causes between 9 million and 49 million flu-related illnesses each year. It can worsen symptoms of respiratory disorders, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Vaught is one of many who have caught the flu while living with asthma. “Everything was worse when I got the flu, especially my asthma. I remember losing 7 or 8 pounds and could barely lift my head,” she said.

JoJo O’Neal, a radio personality and fitness advocate who lives with asthma, had to stop everything when she was struck with the flu twice in one season. She took several days off work, rescheduled important meetings and missed out on personal commitments. “It felt like a truck ran over me,” said O’Neal. “It took over 10 days for me to finally feel better. I even had to cancel a meeting with the asthma support group I facilitate!”

It’s not too late to vaccinate

Vaccination is the best way to help protect against the flu. Health officials recommend all people ages 6 months and older, with rare exception, get vaccinated each year. This is particularly important for adults 50 years of age and older. That’s why the American Lung Association launched the MyShot campaign in collaboration with Sanofi Pasteur. The initiative empowers older adults to ask their healthcare providers about which flu shot options may help offer a greater level of protection against the flu based on their age and chronic health conditions.

It’s not too late to get your shot. Vaccination throughout the fall and winter — and even into the spring — can help protect against the flu while the virus is circulating.

Help protect yourself and loved ones

Getting your flu shot doesn’t just help keep you healthy. It also helps protect others around you, including your friends, family, co-workers and people in your community.

O’Neal learned this the hard way when she passed the flu to her sister, who has COPD. “I’d never had the flu before, and my eyes are now open,” said O’Neal. “I started to realize that my health decisions impact others around me. I never want to go through that experience again.”

For Pelletier, he also now takes extra precautions following his wrenching flu experience. “Anytime someone is in my home, I make sure they have gotten their flu shot.”

If you or someone you love is 50 years of age or older, go to GetMyShot.org to learn more and speak with your healthcare provider about flu shot options that may be right for you.

2020-02-03T09:31:00

(BPT) – As temperatures drop and we crank up the heat or turn to alternative power sources, the risk for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning significantly increases. Often dubbed “the silent killer,” CO is an invisible and odorless gas that is impossible to detect without a CO alarm.

Recent surveys revealed more than 40% of American homes do not have CO alarms, and nearly two-thirds of homes do not comply with established CO alarm recommendations. According to the National Fire Protection Association, CO alarms should be installed on each level of the home, including the basement, and near every sleeping area.

Everyone is at risk for CO poisoning, so it’s vital to be prepared and aware! As one of America’s favorite TV first responders, actor Taylor Kinney knows the importance of practicing and maintaining proper home safety precautions, which is why he is partnering with First Alert to share important messages about home safety.

“You never think your home will be the one to catch fire, but then it happened to me,” said Kinney. “It’s the same with carbon monoxide, which is why educating the public about CO is so important. The danger CO can cause in your own home is real, and the only way people can protect themselves is with an alarm.”

Here are tips on how to avoid this preventable risk:

Hidden threat

Carbon monoxide can be produced from any fuel-burning device, such as furnaces, boilers, stoves and even cars. It is important to have appliances inspected annually and never use a generator indoors or anywhere CO can collect. Also, be mindful of the garage. Never leave a car running in a garage, even if the door is open, as fumes can leak into the home.

Know the symptoms

CO poisoning is notoriously difficult to diagnose. Because you can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, you might not recognize the symptoms of CO poisoning, as they can be confused with those of the common cold or flu, such as nausea, headaches, dizziness and weakness.

Take action

Equipping your home with working CO alarms is the only way to detect this poisonous gas. For premium protection against both fire and CO, install combination alarms for 2-in-1 protection, such as the First Alert 10-Year Battery Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm, which eliminates battery replacements for a decade. Once installed, maintenance is key. Remember to test your alarms regularly and replace alarms at least every 10 years. If CO symptoms appear, or if an alarm sounds, move to fresh air immediately and then call 911.

Establish a family emergency plan

Knowing — and practicing — what to do in the event of an emergency is crucial. Develop a plan in case of a fire or CO incident. This includes designating an outside meeting place a safe distance from the home and, once safely outside, calling 911. If CO symptoms appear, or if an alarm sounds, get everyone outside to fresh air immediately. Once out, stay out until the home is cleared and safe to re-enter.

For more information, visit www.firstalert.com.

2020-02-03T08:01:00

(BPT) – Nurses routinely face harassment while on the job, and are working together with policy leaders to end workplace violence. To show your support, visit endnurseabuse.org.