Author: admin

2023-12-21T09:01:00

(BPT) – The holiday season is all about celebrating with family and friends. But unfortunately, making the most of this festive time of year can also come at a cost. That becomes clear in January when the credit card bills show up — including bills for higher phone plan usage.

To help avoid the pain of post-holiday sticker shock, finance expert and author of New York Times bestseller “Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom” Lynnette Khalfani-Cox — also known as The Money Coach — offers her money-saving tips for enjoying the holidays without breaking the bank.

“Shopping smart now makes all the difference when January rolls around,” says Khalfani-Cox. “So make the most of the deals and offers that might only be available around the holidays, and your bank account will thank you!”

Here are her tips for making sure your holiday mood doesn’t come to a halt when the January bills come due.

1. Make your list — and check it twice

Setting a budget for holiday shopping and making a list of who you’re shopping for — then sticking to it — is the smartest way to be sure you don’t end up with unexpectedly high bills next month. Where possible, consider going in for group gifts, or choose gift cards for picky gift recipients so you can control exactly what you’re spending — and that they’ll love what they get.

“Keep a running list of what you’re spending, whether you shop online or in person, to stay on track,” advises Khalfani-Cox. “It’s all too easy to overspend when you’re not writing down every purchase.”

2. Dive into deals to make the holidays bright

Comparison shopping is the name of the game when it comes to finding the best deals for everything from gifts to holiday hosting must-haves. And that doesn’t stop at items to check off your holiday list. While you’re comparison gift shopping, check out the latest discounted deals from phone providers like Straight Talk Wireless, a no-contract carrier from Verizon. In fact, Straight Talk is now offering 6 months of free service with the purchase of the Samsung Galaxy A13 and one month of the Straight Talk Silver. This deal can help you stay connected with far-flung family and friends throughout the holiday season and beyond, for a lot less. Plus, it’s available exclusively through Walmart, so you can get all your other holiday shopping done, too.

3. Maximize rewards and loyalty programs — smartly

If you frequently shop from one store or brand, or if your credit cards offer cash back rewards for purchases, first make sure it’s something you really want to buy before signing on. Loyalty programs are great and can save you money, as long as it’s something you know will make a great gift for someone on your list.

“Choose programs and memberships that don’t cost anything up front,” Khalfani-Cox advises, “so you’ll be a lot merrier when you take advantage of the savings!”

4. Always read the fine print

No matter what you’re purchasing — but especially for high-priced or tech products — look out for hidden fees or costs. Read carefully to know what you’re signing up for, whether that’s a protection plan or autopay you may not need or want, and what the store’s policies are.

“When you’re spending your hard-earned money, you’ll want to be sure you know the store’s policies for returning items, or if they offer a price-match guarantee if you see the same item for less somewhere else,” says Khalfani-Cox.

5. Gift experiences or home-made items

If you’re looking to save money, consider gifting some people on your list a special homemade lunch at your home, a visit to a favorite local attraction together or home-baked goodies. For some gift recipients who are tough to shop for — or who don’t really want more “things” — a shared experience or heart-felt homemade present can be much more meaningful.

“The joy of the holiday season shouldn’t come with mounting bills,” Khalfani-Cox says. “With these tips, you can celebrate the spirit of the season with your loved ones — with less financial stress.”

2023-12-20T13:21:00

(BPT) – Sponsored by Novavax, Inc.

It’s been more than three years since the beginning of the pandemic, yet COVID-19 is far from over and hospitalizations continue to be reported, as of October 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).[1]

Unfortunately, the impact and burden of disease has disproportionately affected Hispanic/Latino communities[2] — including Hispanic communities being disproportionately represented in COVID-19 infection and death rates.[3] Despite this higher risk of COVID-19, Hispanic Americans reported greater hesitancy and resistance toward the COVID-19 vaccine especially in the early pandemic.[4]

“Vaccine mistrust and misinformation[5],[6] has hit our communities much more significantly than previously understood, affecting vaccine uptake[4] and risking a devastating impact on individuals’ and their families’ health,” explained Jose Torradas, MD, Emergency Medicine Physician and Co-Founder of Medicos Unidos, Inc. and paid spokesperson for Novavax.

Added Dr. Torradas, “We must stay vigilant against COVID-19 by encouraging everyone who is eligible to consider receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine as well as stopping the spread of misinformation by helping connect individuals with trusted healthcare information and providers if they have vaccine questions or concerns.”

Understanding the Risks of COVID-19 & Protecting Yourself

Everyone can take action to put their best foot forward heading into this fall and winter season by getting vaccinated to help protect themselves and their loved ones — yet a recent poll conducted in September 2023 found that only 54% of Hispanic adults currently plan to get the new COVID-19 vaccine.[7]

It’s important that all individuals stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination[8] — and the time to consider vaccination is now, with updated vaccines arriving in pharmacies and doctors’ offices. These updated COVID-19 vaccine options have been developed to help protect against subvariants of the COVID-19 virus.[9]

According to the CDC, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk for severe COVID-19 illness, as well as individuals who are immunocompromised and those with underlying medical conditions.[9],[10]

“Collaboration and engagement at the community level are critical to empowering individuals and families with the necessary information to take control of their health, and the greatest need is often most concentrated in communities of color[11] and requires tailored, culturally relevant efforts to reach out and encourage vaccination,” said Silvia Taylor, EVP, Chief Corporate Affairs and Advocacy Officer at Novavax, a global leader in vaccine development and research that is working to make safe and effective vaccines available to help protect those who need them around the world.

Taking Action: Equitable Access to Vaccines & Trusted Information

Perhaps one of the most inescapable learnings of the past three years is the reality that everyone is in this together.

“As the nation continues to battle the pandemic, we advocate for all in the Hispanic and Latino communities to have easy and effective access to the COVID-19 vaccines and the facts,” explained Dr. Torradas.

What You Can Do

“It’s important to get the facts and know your risks,” emphasized Taylor. “If you have questions, speak with your doctor or pharmacist about your options, because protecting one of us can help protect all of us.”

For more information about the science making these vaccines possible, visit Novavax’s ChoosetoProtect.com.

To learn more about the latest authorized COVID-19 vaccine options and find a vaccination site near you, visit vaccines.gov.

2023-12-20T13:01:00

(BPT) – The holiday season can be a stressful time for many people. Travel, family gatherings, reminders of personal loss and much more can lead to high stress and anxiety levels, excessive eating and excessive consumption of alcohol or caffeine. Over time, these stressors can lead to health issues such as heart arrhythmias, which impact millions of people in the U.S. today.

One of the most common types of heart arrhythmias is paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), commonly referred to as SVT. About 2 million Americans are living with SVT or PSVT, with approximately 300,000 new patients diagnosed each year. While anyone can develop SVT, it’s more common among women than men, accounting for 65% of SVT diagnoses.

Symptoms and diagnosis

A normal resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. However, people with SVT have debilitating and sudden episodes of extremely rapid heart rate, often exceeding 150 to 200 beats per minute. These attacks can start and stop without warning and last from seconds to hours.

Symptoms of SVT can be scary for patients and those who care about them. Rapid heart rate associated with SVT often causes severe palpitations, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, dizziness, lightheadedness and distress. SVT symptoms often force patients to limit their daily activities, impacting their quality of life.

Diagnosing SVT can be frustrating. For some patients, it can take years to be diagnosed, which can breed doubt of the health care system and no treatment plan. Also, there is a significant unmet need for patients experiencing the physical, emotional and psychological burden of highly symptomatic episodic attacks associated with SVT.

Taking care of your heart health

While there’s no way to completely prevent symptomatic SVT episodes, you can take steps to manage your heart condition. During the holiday season and to kick off the new year in good heart health, it is important to consider the following tips from Dr. James Ip, cardiologist at a premier medical institution in NYC, to help manage potential heart arrhythmias, including SVT.

1. If you experience any severe chest pain, shortness of breath, light-headedness or fainting, call 911 and/or seek emergency assistance.
2. If you are not in distress, lay down and try to stop the arrhythmia yourself by performing a breathing exercise or vagal maneuver such as the Valsalva maneuver (bearing down like forcing a bowel movement) or splashing cold water on your face. If this does not work, seek medical care if your symptoms persist.
3. Consider obtaining a device that can generate an electrocardiogram (ECG) (such as a KardiaMobile, Apple Watch, Fitbit, Samsung Galaxy Watch, etc.) to record your rhythm during your tachycardia episodes and share this information with your doctor.

Talk to your doctor about treatment options

Medical providers are displeased by the lack of effective treatment options for SVT. Today, treatment often requires a prolonged, unpleasant and costly trip to the emergency room. For some patients, an invasive catheter ablation procedure may be required that may not alleviate all episodes. Therefore, the medical community understands there is a need to identify a potential novel treatment approach.

Take proactive steps to protect your heart health during the holidays and beyond. If you believe you’re experiencing SVT or similar cardiovascular symptoms, talk to your doctor about your concerns and potential treatment options. To learn more about SVT, visit OutsmartPSVT.com.

2023-12-20T07:01:00

(BPT) – If you’ve heard the buzz about eating “plant-based” diets or being a “flexitarian,” you’re not alone. According to a OnePoll survey, 47% of Americans (ages 24-49) identify as flexitarian, meaning they eat mostly plant foods including vegetables, legumes, and fruit but are not strictly vegetarian or vegan.

Why try a flexitarian diet?

A flexitarian diet could mean better health for yourself and the planet, without entirely omitting animal foods. Higher in antioxidants, fiber, and phytochemicals from plant foods, vegetarian diets (which closely resemble flexitarian eating) may help lower risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers, and may aid in weight management. As for the planet, in a review of 14 varied plant-based diets, research showed that a flexitarian eating style may help lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Keep in mind that not all earth-friendly foods are better for your health and that reading ingredient labels is important. A company serving up flexitarian options that are both better for the planet and your health is GOOD PLANeT Foods. Their newest product, Olive Oil Cheese, is the only dairy-free cheese made with superfood olive oil to support heart health. CEO of GOOD PLANeT Foods, Bart Adlam, explains, “We created the first ever Olive Oil Cheese to make it easier for flexitarians who are aiming to eat more plant-based foods while still enjoying the goodness of cheese. Our Olive Oil Cheeses are dairy-free, and full of all the deliciousness, joy, and have the same melt of your favorite cheeses.”

How should you start your flexitarian journey?

Below, registered dietitian Bianca Tamburello, RDN, shares five tips for starting a flexitarian way of eating to incorporate more plant foods into your diet.

1. Start with whole plant proteins including beans, lentils, legumes, and tofu.

Eating more plant proteins is the cornerstone to adopting a flexitarian way of life. Cut back on animal-based foods slowly by eating meals with half meat and half plant proteins. For example, make taco meat with half ground beef and half beans. Later, transition to multiple meat-free meals per week where your main protein is plant-based, like beans, lentils, and legumes. Try these wholesome proteins in stews, stir fries, pasta dishes, crockpot recipes, sandwiches, and burgers.

2. Choose plant-based alternatives with health benefits!

Tamburello recommends looking for plant-based foods with health-promoting ingredients, like GOOD PLANeT’s Olive Oil Cheese. The Olive Oil Cheese is the only dairy-free cheese made with heart-healthy olive oil (most vegan cheeses are made with coconut oil). She explains, “The swap to olive oil in vegan cheese makes it higher in healthy unsaturated fats and lower in saturated fat. Research shows that olive oil is linked to numerous health benefits including less inflammation and better heart health.” GOOD PLANeT’s Olive Oil Cheese melts perfectly for pizzas, pastas, burgers, paninis, and quesadillas.

3. Look for convenient vegetables and fruits for easy meals.

High in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, eating more vegetables and fruit is an important part of a plant-based diet. In fact, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that you aim to fill half your plate with veggies or fruit at meals. Cut back on cooking and prep time by choosing convenient produce like frozen, pre-cut, and steam-in-bag. These options are just as nutritious as fresh and can help you effectively boost your fruit and veggie intake. Keep frozen cauliflower rice and stir fry medleys in your freezer for a delicious veggie base in minutes and frozen fruit for snacking, smoothies, and bowls.

4. Don’t forget nuts and seeds.

Tamburello shares, “Nuts and seeds are small but mighty, offering up healthy unsaturated fats, fiber, plant protein, and important vitamins and minerals.” Being nutrient-dense, these important plant foods pack high levels of nutrients per serving. Enjoy one to two ounces of nuts and seeds per day in trail mixes or sprinkle as a topper on oatmeal, smoothie bowls, yogurt, and salads.

5. Prioritize plant foods high in vitamin B12 and iron.

Iron and vitamin B12 are two nutrients that are important for regular body functions. Vitamin B12 and iron are more abundant in animal products, which puts strict vegans or vegetarians at risk of being low in these important nutrients. Prioritize plant foods high in iron (legumes, beans, nuts, and leafy greens) and vitamin B12 (fortified cereals and nutritional yeast) and enjoy them regularly to keep vitamin B12 and iron levels high.

For recipes and more information for GOOD PLANeT Foods Olive Oil Cheese, see here.