FitSugar

5 Ways Pets Improve Your Health

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:00:00 PST

When I come home from a long day of blogging, my dear dog Bonnie greets me at the door with blind adoration. All that love is such an ego boost. Pets are good for more than your self-esteem. Besides being great buddies, according to WebMD pets can also improve your health in these five ways:

Prevent allergies: Many new studies show that children who grow up in a household with furry animals or on a farm, have less risk for allergies, and asthma and a stronger immune system.
Friend magnets: Pets are natural conversation starters so your pet can help you meet people if you have social anxiety or chronic shyness.
Benefit the aged: For the elderly, caring for a pet can offer exercise and companionship. Studies have also shown that for Alzheimer's patients, those who have a pet have fewer anxious outbursts.
Good for the mind and soul: Those who have pets are less likely to suffer from depression, are better equipped to handle stressful situations, and they also have lower blood pressure.
Good for your heart: Pet owners who suffer from a heart attack will live longer than those who are petless. Studies have also shown that men who own pets have lower cholesterol.

Source

Best of 2011: The Year's Biggest Health Food Trends

Michele Foley — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 03:21:27 PST

When talking health food trends, last year was all: ancient grains, overnight oats, and gluten-free goodness. This year's biggest health food trends? Here's a hint: chia pets, the godfather of fitness, and pina coladas.

Coconut milk: With recent studies calling into question the benefits of soy, people were on hunt this for a dairy-free alternative that wasn't linked to breast cancer. While almond and rice milk are old favorites, they lack the richness and sweetness that soy does. Enter: coconut milk beverage. Not as thick and rich as the kind of canned coconut milk used in curries, coconut milk beverage is great in smoothies and ice cream; it's also great over cereal, in coffee, or on its own.
Pressed juice: It seems that Odwalla just isn't fresh enough! Not since the early days of Jack Lalanne has pressed juicing seen such a heyday. Once looked at as some sort of hippie juice, everyone - even Starbucks - is getting in on the pressed-juice craze. All of Hollywood seems to be juicing, too: stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Richie, and Olivia Wilde are regularly spotted with their carrot-beet-apple-and-green-stuff blends. Are you a juice-head? Then definitely check out our recipes for pressed root veggie juice and green juice.
Chia seeds: Move over flax, there's a new seed in town! Chia seeds (yep, the same kind used to decorate those wildly adored, '80s novelty gift, chia pets) are everywhere this year. Sprinkle them on yogurt, add them to a bread mix, or even toss them in a dressing - there really is no end to what chia seeds can be used for. The health claim to fame? Chia seeds are high in protein, fiber, calcium, antioxidants, and omega-3s - zing!

Source: Flickr user littlebluehen, Source

15 Smart Things You Can Do With $100

Business Insider — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:15:47 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Business Insider story here on Savvy!

At first blush, $100 is only $100. It's so easy to fritter away on eating out, entertainment, or booking a trip online.

But you should never underestimate how far $100 can go, even in this economy.

"It's smarter to put that money away because once it's in your pocket, it's pretty much gone," says Joel Larsen, a certified financial planner based in Davis, Calif.

No matter where you are in your financial life, we've compiled 15 tips to help you stretch that Benjamin.

Open a college savings account

"A lot of people will say, 'it's only $100,'" says Larsen, but if you were to save $100 a month over 20 years at a 7% rate of return, you would amass $52,092.67. Impressive, right?

Depending on your financial picture, you'll need to shop around to find the right plan based on investment performances, expenses, and tax exemptions.

Andrew Schrage, founder of the personal finance site, Money Crashers, recommends looking into a 529 College Savings plan set up by governments or colleges to help parents save.

"One of the primary benefits of a 529 savings plan is that it offers tax protection from the federal government," he says. "Also, you may be eligible for tax protection from the state government."

Read on for more.

Know Your Ingredients: Chia Seeds

Lizzie Fuhr — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:49:22 PST

If you're all caught up on your healthy food trends, you're most likely aware of the chia seed revolution. The first question most people have is if the chia seeds we're supposed to eat are the same seeds we massaged into the heads of those kitschy Chia Pets. The answer? An enthusiastic "yes!" But the ingestion of these tiny black and white seeds predates the '80s Chia Pet craze; their benefits can be traced all the way back to Aztec and Mayan times. In fact, "chia" is actually the Mayan word for strength. Chock-full of omega-3s and fiber, these superfood seeds were used by ancient cultures to boost energy. Messengers from these civilizations sometimes carried a small pouch of chia seeds around with them, just to provide them with the extra push they needed during a strenuous day.

While chia seeds is actually part of the mint family, their flavor is very subtle. They can be seamlessly added into just about any recipe whether it's savory or sweet. I'm curious about your thoughts on these little guys. Are you seeing chia seeds readily available in your neighborhood? Have you tried incorporating them into recipes for a little extra crunch? Share below!

Source: Flickr User little blue hen

Keep Getting Raises Long After the Dreaded 37

LearnVest — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:15:31 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Apparently some things don’t improve with age.

According to a study by Payscale.com, women tend to top out their compensation at age 37, while men keep getting raises until age 45. Even more infuriating, while men’s salaries in the study rose to an average of $95,000, women’s plateaued at just $61,000.

The good-ish news? There is one swath of women who outearn men: Single women under 30 who live in large cities tend to make more than their male peers, but after this brief halcyon period (which doesn’t apply in rural areas or to women with children anyway), we tend to lose ground.

Experts point to two key causes: family obligations and the fact that women tend not to pursue fair compensation as aggressively as men. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

How You Can Earn More

Whether you’re a 23-year-old city girl or a 45-year-old mom in a small town, it’s time to look at what you make with a critical eye. We want you to get all you deserve and more - until the year you decide to retire.

Read on to find out more.

Ch-ch-ch Chia Seeds: You Just Can't Go Wrong

Heather Dale — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:28:08 PDT

A close relative to our sprouting terracotta friend, the Chia Pet figurine, chia seeds are a dynamic ancient superfood. Once a staple food for the Mayans, Aztec warriors, and Incas, the term "chia" actually translates to "strength" in the language of the Mayans. Legend has it that one tablespoon of tiny chia seeds was able to sustain them throughout their long, tiresome days.

What have they done for me lately? Chia seeds are high in protein, fiber, calcium, antioxidants, and omega-3s. In fact, for women, the RDI of omega-3s is 1.1 grams (1,100 mg) a day, so if you're looking for a new source that's vegan, gluten free, and easy to consume, you'll want to pick up some chia seeds. One ounce of chia seeds (about two tablespoons) contains just 137 calories, one gram of saturated fat, 11 grams of fiber, four grams of protein, 177 milligrams of calcium, and 4.9 grams of omega-3 fatty acids.

Here's what else you need to know about chia seeds.

New Isn't Always Good: 6 Used Things to Love

Emily Co — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 03:05:58 PDT

Although I admit that new can sometimes be very nice, old or used can be just as good! Here are some examples of used goodies that are even better than new:

Books and magazines: Go to your neighborhood library and take out a book or flip through their magazines. You can also buy used books that look practically brand new from websites such as Amazon, or trade them on the web at Swap.com.
Animals: There are plenty of cute pets waiting to be loved at your local shelter. Remember adopting older dogs has its benefits too. For example, you won't need to bother with potty training, and most dogs calm down after they pass the rapscallion puppy stage.
Designer bags: Vintage bags give the classic brand names a one-of-a-kind twist (after all, you don't see these golden oldies in stores anymore!). You can also consider renting a handbag from Avelle's Bag Borrow or Steal.

To find out what other "old" stuff are just as good as the new, read more.

7 Insurance Policies You Can Live Without

Emily Co — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:00:02 PDT

It's always better to be safe than sorry, and insurance policies can sure make you feel well protected. However, buying your peace of mind can be quite expensive, so you want to make sure that you're spending money on the right insurance policies. Here are insurance policies you should consider forgoing:

Pet insurance: If you total the medical costs incurred in a pet's lifetime versus the cost of pet insurance coverage, the policies are often found to be unnecessary, Bob Hunter, the director of insurance at Consumer Federation of America tells SmartMoney. Unlike human insurance, you also have to pay all the costs up front and wait for the providers to reimburse you because there isn't a co-pay system.
Trip cancellation: If you can't make it to a flight because something came up at work or a pre-existing medical condition, you won't get your money back if you bought a trip cancellation policy. On most of the trip cancellation policies, the reasons that will get you a refund are pretty extreme - you or a family member has to suffer from an illness, injury, death, natural disaster. Unless you invested a lot of money in the trip, you might want to skip this policy.
Divorce or wedding insurance: If you've been paying for divorce or wedding insurance, you'll be covered if you have the misfortune of canceling your wedding or getting a divorce. This option isn't favored by a lot of the people because of the negative image it, and financial planners aren't fans as well. Glenn Daily, an insurance consultant, tells the WSJ that a good emergency fund would easily foot the expenses that divorce or wedding insurance would cover and describes it as "insurance you could live without."
Extended warranties: Extended warranties on products are generally something you can do without. In fact, you are probably already protected with the manufacturer's warranty or your credit card company. Consumer Reports found that appliances generally don't break during their warranty period and if it does break down, the price it takes to repair the product will cost the same as warranty.

Read on for more insurance policies you don't need.

Ruff Life: Hollywood Dog Trainer Sue Chipperton Shares Her Insider Tips

Angela Tafoya — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:26:04 PDT

From hanging with Brad Pitt and Reese Witherspoon to folding socks, it seemed there was no feat too big (or small) for celebrity canine Gidget. The multitalented Chihuahua and star of the popular Taco Bell commercials spent her time living the life most dream of: traveling (by way of private jet), walking the red carpet, and mingling with celebs. This is in no small part due to her trainer, Sue Chipperton, who (along with co-author and People staff writer, Rennie Dyball) divulges her insider information in the book A Famous Dog’s Life. We caught up with Sue, who discussed everything from choosing a breed to “mad dogging.” Read on for our Q&A with Sue!

PetSugar: When searching for a standout star, like Gidget, an outgoing personality is one of the qualities you look for, but do you have recommendations when searching for an off-camera pooch?

Sue Chipperton: Well, it depends what you are looking for in a pet. Every breed has something to offer and so do mixed breed dogs found in shelters. You start by looking at the breed you are interested in and determining what that dog was bred to do. If you want a dog that can go running with you twice a day for several miles, then any of the hunting breeds, or a Dalmatian, a Husky, etc., are all good choices. You can narrow it down even more: say you want a short-haired dog, then the husky breeds are removed from your list. The biggest mistake people make is getting a dog based on their looks and ignoring what the dog was bred to do. Leaving a Husky in your backyard and hoping he will stay there is a ridiculous notion, he needs to run to burn off all that excess energy.

PS: The tricks you teach your studio dogs differ from typical pet training - for example, sitting is the last thing you teach them - what are some that work well for both?

Keep reading for Sue's answer and more tips for training your own pet!

The Cheapest Airlines to Fly Your Pet On

Emily Co — Fri, 27 May 2011 05:00:15 PDT

Travel season is here, and it's not just humans that will be flying, pets will be roaming the skies, too! To find out which airline will best suit your pet travel budget, read on for a short list below that states the airline, and the fee for cabin and checked pets. Read on to see how the prices compare.