Fruit infused water is exactly what it sounds like: water that is infused with an assortment of different fruits or herbs without the addition of extra sugar or artificial sweeteners. Your body will reap the benefits of staying hydrated with the addition of vitamins and minerals that the fruits and herbs provide which also support immunity, healing and detoxification. The addition of different fruits and herbs can provide specific benefits like lowering cholesterol, inflammation and fighting disease and infection.

Drinking fruit infused beverages will keep your body energized and hydrated during the day promoting an overall healthier lifestyle. Infusing your water can sound complicated but it is actually a quick and easy process that anyone can do.

Fruit infused water requires the simple technique of cutting up fruits and herbs of your choice and soaking them in water for a few hours; the longer the water is infused the more flavor it will have.  It has been compared to marinating meat before cooking which is a way to add flavor to a basic ingredient. Infusing water is a great way to get the daily recommendations of 2-3 liters of water a day and support a healthy lifestyle.

Fruit infused water will keep you hydrated and keep the extra calories out of your daily diet from unneeded sodas, juices, flavored waters and sports drinks. Your overall dental health will be improved by keeping your teeth free of the extra sugars that coat your teeth and cause decay. This summer consider fruit infused water as a great beverage substitute that is inexpensive, easy and quick to make – especially fitting for a hot day!

Cucumber and Lemon Medley

1 sliced lemon

½ of cucumber sliced

1 jar of water

Add all these ingredients in a 2-quart pitcher and let infuse for at least two, like previously mentioned the longer the fruit and herbs are infused the more flavor the water will have.     Happy Drinking!

Tess Zasuwa

Unfortunately we hear about this exact situation of an adjuster asking our client or a contractor to borrow ladders or other means to access property:

The 17^th Michigan worker death of 2013 occurred at approximately 4:14 pm on May 9, 2013.  Employers and employees are urged to use extreme care and safety diligence in all work activities. 

Summary of incident:  On May 9, 2013, at approximately 4:14 pm, an insurance claims adjuster asked to borrow a ladder from a contractor working next door claiming his ladder was too short to gain access to the roof. The contractor permitted use and helped set the ladder against the building and held it while the deceased climbed and gained access to the roof. According to the contractor, as the claims adjuster was preparing to climb down, he swung his leg over the edge of the roof missing the ladder rung causing him to fall head first approximately 18-feet onto a concrete surface.

Last year there were 26 MIOSHA-related deaths.  2009 saw the lowest number with 24.

If you need help or assistance in ensuring your workplace is safe, MIOSHA is here with resources to help.  The Consultation Education & Training (CET) Division provides workplace safety and health training and consultations to employers and employees throughout Michigan free of charge.  Contact CET today at (800) 866-4674 or submit a request online at www.michigan.gov/cetrca.

Every life is precious.  Our mutual goal must be that every employee goes home at the end of their shift every day!

CLICK HERE for a list of Ladder Safety tips, and feel free to pass along.

Ingredients

6 large Portobello mushroom tops, stems removed and gills scraped

Extra-virgin olive oil, for liberal drizzling plus 1 tablespoon

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1-pound Italian sweet sausage

1/2 pint grape tomatoes

1/2-cup cream

1/2-cup basil leaves, shredded or torn

1/2 cup shredded Parmigiano

Directions

Preheat broiler.

Dress the mushroom caps with liberal drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Broil the Portobello mushrooms 5 minutes on each side until tender.

While caps are broiling heat 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat, add sausage and brown and crumble the meat, then add tomatoes to skillet and cook another few minutes until they burst. Add cream to skillet and reduce 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove the sausage from heat and fold in basil. Fill mushroom caps and top with cheese, place under broiler to brown 2 to 3 minutes then quarter caps and serve.

In one study presented in the Journal of Periodontology demonstrated that in their researched of 940 men periodontal health, it found that those who regularly drank green tea had better dental health than other men that consumed less green tea.

“Male participants aged 49 through 59 were examined on three indicators of periodontal disease: periodontal pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL) of gum tissue, and bleeding on probing (BOP) of the gum tissue. Researchers observed that for every one cup of green tea consumed per day, there was a decrease in all three indicators, therefore signifying a lower instance of periodontal disease in those subjects who regularly drank green tea” said study author Dr. Yoshihiro Shimazaki of Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan.

Another study in Preventative Medicine, established that people aged 40-64 who drank one cup of green tea a day were unlikely to lose teeth compared to those who drank coffee. The green tea and coffee that the participants drunk during the study had no sugars or artificial sweeteners added. Adding the sugars or sweeteners has the likelihood to undo the health benefits that tea or coffee could provide for healthy teeth and gums.

Researchers that conducted the study in Preventative Medicine believe that the antimicrobial molecules called catechins that are found in green tea were the reason for the change for the better in the participant’s oral health. Catechins have the potential to kill bacteria associated with tooth decay and gum disease, which can prevent tooth loss and other oral health problems.

Dentists believe that maintaining healthy teeth and gums are an important part of maintaining overall health. Periodontal disease is not only responsible for tooth loss, but it is also associated with the progression of other diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. That is why it is so important to find simple ways to boost periodontal health, such as regularly drinking green tea.

To read more about the study: http://news.discovery.com/human/health/green-tea-teeth-dental.htm

Sarah Kuretzky, MA, CPT, CHHC

Kathleen Cramer of Ele’s Place announces their Ann Arbor Spring Reception scheduled for May 9th at 6pm at the Barton Hills Country Club.

Joanne Sanford of the United Way of Washtenaw County takes us on a tour of the Bryant Neighborhood Community Center located in Ann Arbor.

United Way is sponsoring the May Community Baby Shower. This event runs during the entire month. Donations can be brought to our Kapnick Insurance Group office located at: 1201 Briarwood Circle, Ann Arbor MI 48108. Click HERE for directions.

Your company’s owner(s),executive team and  key employees may just have some  stuff to cover that might not fit into a simple little package.  Folks today may have multiple cars, recreation vehicles, collector cars, cottages, homes used as rentals, and other nuances that are difficult to find a practical and affordable insurance option. Has your personal lines agent ever discussed “Risk” with you?

At Kapnick, we have a dedicated sub-set of our personal lines department that works directly with our commercial clients and their team’s personal lines needs. It is not unusual for us to meet groups of 3 to 30. We conduct the initial meetings at the employees worksite and manage the process with input from our commercial client. We collect policy information and make individual proposals after we carefully analyze current policies for gaps. We then send each individual’s info to as many as 12 carriers for their quotes.

The quote/proposal is very important and we present it in person to review options. But just as important are items that we have uncovered and fixed for our clients. One example of this is a single father of two twenty something daughters. These daughters have moved out of his home, but he has decided to insure their vehicles that are still owned by them. This creates a coverage gap as we can only insure vehicles owned or leased by our insured.  A claim may be denied if this were found out after the fact. A detailed review of this employee’s insurance policies uncovered this.

Has your commercial agent offered personal lines service for your Key Employees?

If you or your company are interested in a personal lines insurance review, please call Beth Ferguson, Client Executive at 888-263-4656, x1125 or beth.ferguson@kapnick.com .

Diet tips for healthy teeth and gums:

• Eating raw fruits and vegetables massages the gums, which increases salivation and neutralizes the pH of the mouth.
  

• Include plenty of foods rich in vitamin C in your diet, like oranges, kiwis, papaya, strawberries and guava to keep your gums strong and healthy.

• Drink 1-2 cups/day of green tea that contains catechins, a substance that kills bacteria.

• Drink Aloe Vera juice early in the morning to prevent mouth ulcers and bleeding gums.

• Sipping water throughout the day helps to keep the gums hydrated.

   

Tips for remembering to floss:

• Keep your floss next to your toothbrush.
  

• Put a post-it note on your bathroom mirror.
  

• Set an alarm on your phone.
  

• Mark it on a calendar and track it.
  

• Make it a family affair– include the kids!

Ingredients:

Butter, for greasing dish

Flour, for dusting dish

Bars:

1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1-cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves

1/2-teaspoon fine sea salt

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1/2-teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Glaze:

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Directions

Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter and flour an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish.

For the bars:

In a small bowl combine flour, thyme and salt. Set aside. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together 1 stick of butter and powdered sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about 30 seconds. Beat in the lemon juice and vanilla. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture. Using damp fingers, press the dough into the prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes until golden. Cool for 30 minutes.

For the glaze:

In a medium bowl, whisk the lemon juice and powdered sugar together until smooth. Spoon the glaze over the cooled crust. Allow the glaze to harden, at room temperature, for at least 1 hour.

Using a metal spatula, remove the crust from the pan. Cut into 1 1/2-inch square bars and arrange on a serving platter or store airtight in a plastic container at room temperature.