Despite those restrictions, the obvious health risks and the ceaseless campaigns that urge people to quit, smoking remains a worldwide epidemic. According to the World Health Organization, there were one billion smokers in the world as of May 2012, and tobacco is relentless in its assault on human health, killing as many as half the people who use it.

Tobacco’s lethal effects cause the deaths of almost six million people annually, but not all of those fatalities are smokers or even ex-smokers. Each year, more than 600,000 people are killed by the effects of second-hand smoke. Despite ongoing attempts to reduce, if not eliminate, the use of tobacco, the WHO predicts an even bleaker future, with annual deaths reaching eight million by 2030 if current trends continue.

In a status report on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) released in 2011, the WHO concluded that smoking was one of the greatest risk factors for NCDs, a troubling conclusion given that NCDs are responsible for 63 percent of all worldwide deaths.

Smoking bears such profound responsibility for human mortality because it damages, directly or indirectly, every organ system in the body. It greatly increases the chance of developing many cancers, including cancers of the lungs, kidneys, larynx, neck, breast, bladder, esophagus, stomach and pancreas. It damages the lungs in other ways, causing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and chronic kidney disease. It can contribute to female infertility and male impotence.

To add to the danger, smoking also makes people more vulnerable to communicable diseases like influenza, a problem that has been noted for years. In 1982, The New England Journal of Medicine published the results of a study of a flu outbreak in Israel. Researchers found that 68.5 percent of smokers came down with the flu, compared to only 47.2 percent of nonsmokers. Smokers’ symptoms were also more severe and much more likely to be incapacitating.

With all this accumulating evidence of the dangers of smoking, the statistics are inconsistent and not terribly reassuring. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control reports slow but steady progress.

Smokers comprised almost 21 percent of the adult population in 2005. By 2010, that number had dropped to slightly over 19 percent. In 2005, high school students had a higher proportion of smokers than adults, but that number has steadily dropped as well. By 2009, 19.5 percent of high school students smoked, a smaller percentage than that of adult smokers. Viewed over a longer time frame, the change is even more dramatic. The number of American smokers was cut in half between 1965 and 2006.

If the developed world has made at least minimal progress, the developing world presents an entirely different picture. The WHO estimates that the developing world is home to 80 percent of the world’s smokers. There, smoking is growing at 3.4 percent per year, and trends seem to reverse recent developments in the West.

China, for example, is the largest producer and consumer of cigarettes in the world, and the incidence of smoking has steadily increased since 1970. In 1998, 80 billion packs of cigarettes were purchased in China, a fourfold increase over 1970 sales. Smoking is much more common among Chinese males than among females. As of 2002, 66 percent of men, but only 3.1 percent of women, were smokers.

Still, China is not the leading consumer of cigarettes on a per capita basis. That distinction is reserved for Greece, where over 3,000 cigarettes are consumed each year for each adult. Greece holds a significant lead over the rest of the world. In its nearest competitor, Slovenia, adults consume 500 fewer cigarettes each year.

China may yet catch up to other countries, despite the fact that its population has become better off and better educated, two factors that tend to accompany lower rates of smoking. In 2001, though, China joined the World Trade Organization, a change that allowed foreign tobacco companies to enter a Chinese market that had previously been dominated by the China State Tobacco Corporation.

Chinese and international health authorities have expressed the concern that the multinational tobacco giants, with their well-honed marketing strategies and big advertising budgets, will be able to influence women, who so far have low rates of smoking, and young people, who seem to be the preferred targets of cigarette vendors.

The situation in China is further complicated by the fact that, according to a WHO bulletin that analyzed data from China’s National Health Service, many Chinese people have not fully realized the danger posed by smoking. As a result, few smokers plan to quit and those who try are highly likely to relapse.

Some of these problems apply to the entire Western Pacific region and not only to China, an important distinction because that region consumes more cigarettes than any other. It accounts for as much as one-third of the world’s cigarette sales. Among children between the ages of 13 and 15, one in five smoke and as many as 100,000 children and adolescents start smoking every day, with half of them continuing to smoke for the next 15 to 20 years. Among males in many countries, smokers are in the majority: 51 percent in Japan, 67 percent in Korea and 60 percent in the Philippines. Cambodia, however, is in a class by itself, with smokers making up 86 percent of rural men.

If all this is not enough to give health authorities pause, there is at least one more cause for concern. In many developing countries of the Western Pacific region, just as in other parts of the developing world, the smoking epidemic did not take hold until much later than it did in the West. Since many of the diseases that are linked to smoking take years to develop, the situation may get significantly worse before its full impact hits home.

1. Addresses Mind-Body Importance

   Conventional medicine treats the presence of illness and disease, whereas integrative medicine also stresses the importance of a total balance of physical, mental, and emotional connections within the body. Based on a model of wellness and health, integrative medicine focuses on mindfulness, self-care, and professional care to reach optimal health. Mindfulness is about focusing on the whole human being — mind, body, spirit, and community — not just the illness and body parts. Your doctor specializing in integrative medicine may recommend certain lifestyle changes that bind together many dimensions to lift your spirit and encourage healing using alternative methods. These approaches may include massage therapy, yoga, acupuncture, and fitness, as well as conventional treatment.

2. Improves Energy Flow Through Acupuncture

   Many cases of chronic pain cannot simply be treated using conventional medicine. In the Eastern world, acupuncture is all about movement and energy flow throughout the body. If that flow is blocked, some pain or illness may arise, as the theory goes. Gently tapping into specific blocked regions with thin needles is said to reestablish that flow and ease pain. While there is not much explanation to the mechanisms of acupuncture, the process seems to be quite successful at activating changes in muscles and nerves that reduce pain. From back pain, to headaches, asthma, and nausea, this treatment can be a great complementary method when conventional treatment fails.

3. Manages Weight Through Integrative Nutrition

   Integrative nutrition focuses on a holistic approach to recognizing that optimal health begins with a well-balanced diet. For people concerned about weight loss, strategies for managing emotions and stress are assessed to see how they affect eating habits. Mindful eating skills are then put into place to truly transform your lifestyle and daily routine. Of course, as the name implies, integrative medicine doesn’t work in isolation; these alternative methods are to be complementary to other prescription medications you may need.

4. Integrative Personal Training & Fitness

   Combining exercise, physical rehabilitation, spiritual movement, and even yoga therapy has proven to overcome many health challenges. Patients receiving this type of holistic physical activity are simply not just exercising, but also moving with full consciousness and engaging with their inner spirit and consciousness. The benefits of this approach to exercise are physical and spiritual well-being, while getting a closely followed fitness plan. There are also many benefits to yoga therapy, which is offered one-on-one and is individually-tailored to target specific ailments including back pain, hypertension, fibromyalgia, depression, asthma, stress, insomnia, and migraines. It is said that yoga therapy strengthens muscles, stretches tight ones, improves posture, and enhances energy flows throughout the body.

5. Relieves Psychological Stress Through Relaxation Techniques

   Patients exacerbated by psychological stress rely on meditation practices to help relieve chronic pain, insomnia, and hypertension. As a stress reducer, many relaxation techniques are effective when used in conjunction with regular treatment. For example, cancer patients may also rely on meditation practices to reduce anxiety, nausea, and the fatigue that are often side-effects of chemotherapy. Recent research has also shown that meditation has profound effects on both the mind and body, helping meditators produce higher physiological levels of melatonin during the night for restful sleep. Also finding an outlet for stress is a crucial part of recovery.

6. Using Natural Alternatives vs. Chemical Drugs to Treat Illness

   Using herbal remedies and botanical medicines as an alternative, or supplement to regular medicinal treatment can promote optimal health. Dietary supplements, vitamins, probiotics, and other herbal medicines have been shown to help treat anything from PMS symptoms, to regulating cholesterol and blood pressure, to easing inflammation and headaches. Herbal medicines have been used by prehistoric humans and continue to make great strides in medicine today.

7. Taking A Pro-Active Effort to Figure out Own Treatment Plans Before Doctor Consultation

   Be your own advocate by trying to assess your own treatment plans or try to integrate some changes into your own life before consulting with a doctor. Although integrative medicine is tailored to many dimensions of your life, you can start researching which methods you’d like to try before consulting a doctor.

Know the Difference in the Types of Policies

This may seem like one of those things that you should know already, but do not feel bad if you do not. In a lot of marriages one person handles all financial situations and the other spouse will just trust that decisions are being made correctly. So if you do not understand the difference between term life insurance and whole or permanent then it is time to learn. Term life insurance will cover individual and families for a set amount of time usually up to the age of 65. This type of policy is great for singles, young families, or people with high financial obligations because the premiums are typically lower than other plans.

Whole life insurance will continue to cover you until you die. This type will also have a higher premium. However, with this type of coverage you can also get cash value, which can accrue over time. The type of policy that you will need to look into after a divorce will depend on how your policy will cover you after the divorce. If you are looking for a brand new policy then you will want to keep in mind all of your new lifestyle changes. Also, if you have children that you can still claim as dependent then you will want to make sure that they are covered.
 

How are the Children Affected?

In a perfect world once your divorce was over, you would not have to ever hear from your ex again. However, after a marriage it is not always that simple, especially if you have children. Children can be the biggest joy in your life so they will be the one thing that you will want to make sure to protect in a divorce. Once you have signed all of your divorce papers and have changed your life insurance policy, it is time to name a new beneficiary. Your children should now act as your beneficiary. If they are too young you can work it out so that a trust is set up in case anything happens to you.

In thinking about your children, you might also want to consider increasing your death benefit. In some cases, you might not be able to rely on your ex to take care of the children if anything were to happen to you. You can work with an agent to figure out what would be best for the children based on their age and your custody agreements.
 

What if There is A New Spouse?

Divorces can be very messy and painful. They can even take years to get over. So what do you do when your ex gets a new spouse? This is actually a very tricky situation. First, let’s start with what you should do during your divorce. If you have children then you need to fight to stay on as beneficiary of the policy. In fact some suggest that it is important that you also be the owner of the policy. This way you can make sure that if your spouse is paying for the policy, then they are taking care of it like they said. If you cannot trust them to do that then you can request more money through the settlement and use that to pay for the policy yourself.

If you do not have kids, then you may need to get your own policy. So if your ex spouse is marrying, can this change your policy? Yes and no. If your divorce decree states that they must maintain coverage for the kids, then the policy will have to stay intact until the children are old enough. If, however, it was not settled in your divorce decree then the new spouse can be named beneficiary and do with the money as they please. Bottom line, if there are children, fight to maintain a policy for them.

1. Wealthiest woman in Asia leaves her estate to an unknown Feng Shui Master

   Nina Wang was the richest woman of Asia, and according to Forbes, she was the 204th richest person in the world at the time of her death in April 2007. She bequeathed her entire estate to Tony Chan, a virtually unknown Feng Shui adviser. It has been speculated that Chan, who also claims to have been Wang’s lover, promised her eternal life. However, earlier versions of the will have shown another beneficiary to Wang’s holdings — The Chinachem Charitable Foundation. A judge ruled in favor of the previous will, which grants Wang’s fortune to charity. However, the case remains one of the most bizarre and controversial inheritance cases in Asia’s history.

2. World’s richest cat inherits $13.4 million

   A 4-year-old stray cat named Tommaso is now the world’s richest cat after his rich owner, a 94-year old-childless widow, left her entire estate to the cat. The inheritance left Tommaso with $13.4 million worth of properties around Italy. Since cats cannot directly inherit properties in Italy, Tommaso’s owner named a cat-loving nurse she had met as Tommaso’s trustee. As crazy as this sounds, Tommaso’s wealth cannot be compared to the world’s richest dog, Gunther IV in Germany, who is supposedly worth $372 million.

3. Murderer inherits a victim’s fortunes

   Apparently, crime pays off. A 24-year-old heroin addict named Brandon Palladino will be eating from a golden spoon once he’s released from jail after serving time for killing his mother-in-law. Unfortunately, his mother-in-law, Dianne Edwards, has listed her daughter, Deanna (Brandon’s wife), to receive $431,000. Unfortunately, Deanna passed away during Brandon’s time in jail, leaving behind everything to her jailed husband. The case is just ridiculous, proving that a murderer, under extremely unusual circumstances, can walk away with all his victim’s assets, as protected under law.

4. Homeless brothers living in a cave now billionaires

   Two brothers whose survival came from selling scavenged junk collected a $6.6 billion inheritance from their long lost grandmother, according to the U.K. Daily Telegraph. It’s truly a miraculous story that Zsolt and Geza Peladi are now entitled to their long lost grandmother’s fortunes; they can now escape poverty and live the life of their dreams.

5. Ken Kempner’s three dogs are now homeowners, insured, and eat lavish meals daily

   Buckshot, Katie, and Obu-Jet are Ken Kemper’s beloved dogs now living at his house in Hagerstown, Maryland with their caretake Roy Grady, after Kemper passed away. The two Labrador mixes and one beagle were stray dogs when Kemper adopted them. He loved them dearly and left them $400,000, his house, and top-notch health care. A close friend of Kemper says when his dogs die, she will probably donate the remainder of the estate to an animal charity because Kemper would have wanted that.

6. Charles Vance Millar’s humorous and ironic will

   A lifelong bachelor, entrepreneur, and lawyer from Canada wrote an especially ironic and humorous will on June 7, 1921. Mr. Millar’s sense of humor was clearly evident as he left a property in Jamaica to three lawyers he knew despised each other and gave stocks to a brewery to religious prohibitionist leaders; the rest went to the woman who would give the most births 10 years after his death. Millar’s love of jokes and pranks was left behind in his will, which became known as the Great Stork Derby.

7. The Zink Womanless Library

   A lawyer from Iowa who died in 1930 must have been scarred for life when it came to women. When he died, he left his daughter a whopping five bucks, and his wife got absolutely nothing. The rest of his $100,000 holdings were to be placed in a trust for 75 years, which he estimated the value to total $4 million, which then be used to fund a rather peculiar “woman-hating” library. The “Zink Womanless Library” would have no feminine decorations, no books or magazines written by female authors, and was even required to have a “No Women Admitted” sign carved into stone over the entrance. If the court had approved his plans, the Womanless Library would be open by now. Fortunately, his daughter,Margretta testified that he had an unstable mind — and thus all his holdings were given to her.

8. Moral philosopher Jeremy Bentham’s request

   Philosopher Jeremy Bentham died in 1832, leaving the world a rather unusual request in his will: his preserved, clothed body. Known as Auto-Icon, Bentham’s clothed skeleton, topped with a wax model of Bentham’s head, has been preserved in a wood and glass cabinet, now residing at University College London. He suggested that his corpse be sometimes moved to attend meetings, requests to which the University yielded. Today, the real head is not on display because of severe disfiguration and also because the university decided it was inappropriate to exhibit human remains. However, the university’s strange inheritance of Bentham’s body is still displayed, as homage to its founding “spiritual leader.”

1. Don’t skip breakfast

   Eating a healthy breakfast to jumpstart your day is a great habit for living a longer life. For people who want to maintain a healthy (and stable) weight, the key is eating breakfast every morning. According to MensHealth, a recent study surveying more than 2,000 people who ate breakfast everyday indicated they lost an average of 67 pounds and were able to keep the weight off for more than five years.

 

2. Exercise at least 15 minutes a day

   It’s no surprise that daily physical activity can have a great impact on your health and lengthen your lifespan. No matter how busy our schedule is, just try to incorporate as little as 15 minutes of exercise into your day. Studies have shown that the mind and body connection is almost directly linked to exercise. Virtually any form of exercise, from weightlifting, to sports, to aerobic activities, can act as a stress reliever.

 

3. Drink cherry juice (instead of sleep pills) to get a good night’s rest

   Some people want to get better sleep and take it to the extreme by taking sleeping pills. While prescription drugs treating temporary cases of insomnia are generally not concerning, it can be a hazard to your health if taken indefinitely. Instead, try drinking cherry juice before bed, as it contains concentrated sources of melatonin, an essential molecule in regulating sleep-wake cycles in the human body. A study conducted by Northumbria University found that healthy adults who drank cherry juice twice a day slept an average of 39 minutes longer and had up to 6% less of non-sleep behaviors while in bed.

 

4. Maintain good oral hygiene

   Gum disease can have many negative affects to your health. Excluding sore gums, tooth loss, and cavities, bad oral hygiene increases the risk of many diseases including heart disease, cancer, and respiratory problems.

 

5. Eat fish once (or twice) a week

   The American Heart Association recommends eating fish, particularly those high in omega-3 fatty acids, at least once or twice a week. Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, albacore tuna, sardines, and mackerel can reduce inflammation, lower chronic diseases (cancer, arthritis, and heart disease), and even have positive effects on concentration and cognitive memory.

 

6. Drink Chilean red wine in moderation

   If you drink wine, remember to moderate your intake to once or twice a week. Also, request the Chilean cabernet sauvignon, which is a red wine that is 38% higher than most French wines in flavonoids, an antioxidant that is good for your heart and increases levels of “good cholesterol” in your body. However, be wary of drinking too much, since wine is still an alcoholic beverage that can have harmful effects on your body if taken over the recommended amount.

 

7. Keep hydrated

   Although there is no single formula for adequate water intake that suits everyone, you should make a conscious effort to stay hydrated every day. Water makes up about 60% of your body weight, and carries nutrients to all your cells. Dehydration will drain your energy because your body cannot carry out its normal functions. Remember to replenish your body’s water supply by drinking about three liters of water if you’re a man, and for women, aim for about 2.2 liters a day.

 

8. Never smoke a cigarette

   The quickest way to reduce your lifespan and do irreversible damage to your health is by smoking. Author and health specialist Janet Brigham wrote in her book Dying to Quit that every pack of cigarettes smoked is equivalent to 28 minutes of life loss. On average, a smoker loses 25 years of life. Why increase your chances of lung cancer and death when you have the choice to never smoke? About 1.1 billion people who smoke in the world will die in their middle ages from this deadly habit.

 

9. Maintain healthy relationships

   The support you receive from close relationship bonds are invaluable and have positive impacts on your physical and mental well-being. Relieve tension, anxiety, and solve various problems in your life through your network of friends and family. Researchers have also acknowledged that couples who stay happily married enjoy longer lives and are 10 to 15% less likely to die prematurely than singles, according to the British Medical Journal.

 

10. Balance work and play

    People who experience high levels of stress must remember to balance their work and play time, as stress contributes to acute and chronic illnesses, especially during midlife. Many visits to the doctor are due to stress-related illnesses, including “unexplained” pain in the body and your immune system not being strong enough to avoid certain illnesses. Learn different ways to de-stress your life and take a break every once in a while.

Qualifications

With today’s safety conscious consumers, car companies are working harder on innovations to boost this factor while still maintaining the other three; quality, performance, and value. Forbes, a leading source for information regarding business, economics, politics, finance, and news, compiled a list of their top safety picks for 2012. A variety of qualifications were used to determine the safest cars in the industry. Included in these qualifications were frontal crash tests, side-impact tests, rollover protection ratings, rear-end collisions, blind-spot warning, and collision warning/avoidance. Given the speed that the tests were conducted, the weight of the cars, and other variables involved, the studies compiled the information resulting in a ranking system for the cars listed below.

Winners

Based on the tests conducted, these are Forbes’ top picks for 2012.

1. Audi A6: The Audi A6 features airbags in four different locations, stability control, anti-lock brakes, seatbelt pretensioners (to ensure the occupant is in the optimal seating position during a collision), anti-whiplash head restraints, and a security system that detects unwanted vehicle intrusion. In addition, various lighting options are available on some models to increase visibility around corners and upon entry.
2. BMW 5 Series: The Federal Government awarded the BMW five out of five stars for side and rollover crash protection and four stars for frontal crash tests, indicating an exceptional performance in crash tests overall. Similar to the Audi A6, the BMW 5 Series has multiple airbags for safety with the exception of the knee airbag available on most of its competitors. The 5 Series also includes night vision to aid in detecting pedestrians or other road hazards before they are visible in the headlight range.
3. Infiniti EX 35: Overall, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Infiniti EX 35 “Good” in 20 categories of safety. Although it comes with the typical airbags and other safety features, the Infiniti EX 35 also sports some high-tech additions as well including a blind spot warning system and a lane departure alert system, used when a driver drifts out of his lane.
4. Infiniti M37/M56: Much like the Audi A6, this version of the Infiniti also comes equipped with anti-lock brakes, stability control, pretensioners, anti-whiplash, and a security system. The primary difference between the Infiniti M36//M56 and the Audi is the lack of knee airbags. Regardless of this minor differentiation, the M36/M56 class of Infinity is still a top safety pick for 2012.
5. Mercedes-Benz E-Class and M-Class: Not only does the Mercedes-Benz E-class and M-class include all the airbags that its competitors do as well as the light options, but the seatbelts are height-adjustable. Furthermore, it includes safety features for locks and accessibility, a theft deterrent radio, and a low tire pressure warning system. Both the E-class and M-class scored five out of five stars in all of its IIHS tests.
6. Volvo S60: The IIHS rated the Volvo S60 five stars overall and named it a top pick based on its score of “good” in front, side, rear, and roof strength tests. Though the S60 has no fewer than six airbags, the primary safety feature is the City Safety system, designed to detect potential rear-end collisions and apply the brakes accordingly. Consumers have warned that this could cause accidental collisions from behind, however, if the S60 stops suddenly and drivers behind have little warning.
7. Volvo S80: Rated slightly higher than its S60 counterpart, the S80 was picked for the top safety list because of its “good” score in both frontal and side-impact crash tests. In addition, the S80 received a “good” score for preventing injury from whiplash and rollover roof strength. Both the S60 and the S80 come with Volvo’s Personal Car Communicator, a device that alerts the owner when the car is locked or unlocked with a flashing light. In the event of a break-in, the device can detect a beating human heart after the alarm is set off to warn the owner from a distance.
8. Volvo XC60: For parents looking for a safe vehicle, the Volvo XC60 might be their best option yet. Equipped with the airbags, light system, City Safety system, and an overall five-star rating, the XC60 has earned its bragging rights. In addition to the basics, the XC60 also comes with an optional integrated child booster seat. The only downside to this vehicle is the less-powerful engine. Consumers who want the thrill of a turbocharged engine should look elsewhere. Otherwise, this is one of the safest SUVs on the market and will most likely be a hit with the families looking to buy.

1. Medication/Drugs

   Although there are hundreds of drugs on the market advertising “increased life expectancy” or to “add years to your life,” critics see little solid proof that these medications actually do what they claim. Rather, they have surmised that most of the available drugs are scams meant to play off the high demand for increasing life. There is a huge difference between drugs meant to boost lifespan and medical intervention, however, and the second term deserves recognition. The contributions doctors have made in providing cures for diseases and illnesses certainly add to the life expectancy of certain individuals who would otherwise face severely shortened lives. There was once a time when people who contracted polio faced severe paralysis or death, but thanks to advances in medicine, polio has been nearly eliminated from all countries. For the drugs that claim to extend lifespan, however, the facts remain largely inconclusive and evidence on such claims has yet to be seen.

 

2. Exercise

   Exercise is the single most effective way to help your body live longer. Cardiovascular and strength training utilize the body’s primary purpose — action. The human body was designed to be active but years of inactivity have caused a decrease in life expectancy. When individuals increase the amount of exercise they get each week, science has proven that it results in years added. Studies show that a mere 15 minutes of exercise can lower the risk of dying by 14 percent. Those numbers increase with additional exercise, maxing out at 100 minutes a day. Researchers’ first study of the effect exercise has on longevity concluded that people who get daily exercise can add three to four years to their life span. For added benefit, those who go outside for their cardio and strength training give their body Vitamin D. Doing cardiovascular exercise improves blood flow and circulation — both necessary elements to good health and a longer life. Strength training makes your body more resistant to daily activities and stress. Furthermore, it boosts your metabolism, which helps you burn calories more efficiently. Relaxation is an excellent addition to a good workout. Meditation or prayer can cause your body to release endorphins that reduce stress levels. This in turn allows your body the freedom to function more smoothly as it receives less panic signals from the brain. Reducing stress through relaxation has also been proven to increase longevity.

 

3. Food

   Exercise alone will only do so much to help you live longer. The food we put in our bodies also determines how long our body will last. Foods that lower your cholesterol, stabilize your blood sugar level, and contain antioxidants will dramatically improve your projected years. Heart attacks, type-two diabetes, and cancer are the three most common results of poor eating habits. Making minor adjustments to your diet can significantly reduce risk of these problems and increase your life expectancy. For example, fruits, and vegetables high in fiber have been medically proven to lower your risk of diabetes. Oatmeal, fish, omega-3 fatty acids, and nuts can lower your cholesterol as well as your risk for sudden-death attacks. Omega-3 fats in particular are much easier to digest and don’t clog your arteries. Nuts are extremely high in polyunsaturated fatty acids which reduce blood cholesterol. Surprisingly, dark chocolate is one of the foods that contains cancer-fighting antioxidants. By far, the most antioxidant rich foods are beans and berries. A small serving of these daily will dramatically improve your body’s ability to fight cancer.

 

4. Sleep

   Have you ever wondered why we sleep? Scientists have no concrete explanation for why the body requires sleep other than knowing we need periods of inactivity to let our system recoup and heal. You may wonder how much sleep affects longevity, but truthfully, sleep is the primary contributing factor in how long we can expect to live. While we are occupied dreaming of far off lands and or fighting nightmares, our bodies are just as busy. Although we don’t feel it actually happening, our bodies work hard all night to repair damage done to our system from the day’s activities. When we cut sleep short, the body loses opportunity to complete the recovery process which furthers the next day’s damage. Recent studies have shown that women may live longer than men simply because they sleep better. Regardless of what we have going on every day, sleep should not be undervalued. The body does amazing things to improve our overall health while we sleep and certainly, adequate sleep gives you the best chance to keep your body healthy and functioning optimally.

The Impact of Television on American Households

According to statistics collected by Norman Herr, Ph.D., a professor of science education at California State University, Northridge, Americans watch over four hours of television every day. This amounts to nine solid years of watching television by the time a person reaches the age of 65. Many people report watching television passively, meaning that they are not really aware of how much time they are spending in front of the television and they typically do not remember much of what they watch. This type of television watching highlights the crutch that television has become for society.

Television has been blamed for everything from obesity to violence. Studies have successfully linked time spent in front of the television to a more sedentary lifestyle. The statistics compiled in the California State University, Northridge report show that children are exposed to an average of 8,000 murders on television by the time they finish elementary school and 200,000 acts of violence by the time they reach the age of 18. Television has quickly transformed from a quick, efficient way to transmit news and information to a social crutch that is used too often in too many households.

While television is still prominent in American households, it is slowly being replaced by a different kind of media. The advent of the Internet and the introduction of social media has been transitioning Americans from the use of television as a crutch to the use of the Internet and social media as a crutch.

Social Media: The New Pastime

Television is starting to lose its grip on Americans, and the reason for an increasing lack of interest is social media. Social Media Examiner reports that the average American spends just over six hours every month using social media. This six hours accounts for 22 percent of all time spent online. Keep in mind that 75 percent of households in the United States use social media while 99 percent watch television. While the average American spends about six hours on social media every month, the average American that utilizes social media on a regular basis spends much more time using it.

The Positive Impact of Social Media

Is spending time on social media a bad thing? While it’s important not to spend too much time in front of a computer, it is likely that social media is a better way to spend free time than watching television. One reason is the fact that a person spends time connecting with other people on social media. Watching television is a completely passive activity that does not involve social interaction and usually does not help the viewer learn anything valuable.

ProCon.org notes that over 60 million Americans have reported receiving help with a life problem by using social media. Social networks allow people to get the word out when help is needed with anything from finding a new car to raising money for a family member suffering from a major medical emergency.

The Negative Impact of Social Media

One disturbing trend that has been noticed in association with the rise of social media is the lack of face-to-face interaction in today’s youth. Many children who would have gone outside or over to a friend’s house to play now spend their time in front of a computer talking to the friends that they could be interacting with in person.

Use of social media doesn’t just hurt the person that is using it. Studies have shown that use of social media during work hours has accounted for billions of dollars of waste for companies in the United States. PayScale has found that the average employee wastes at least 30 minutes per day at work because of social media and web surfing. Depending on the salary of the employee, this can add up to thousands of dollars every year that employers are paying for wasted time. While television is something people went home and watched after work, the widespread use of computers and Internet access at work lets people waste time on social media websites while on the clock. Some companies have reduced this possibility by blocking social media websites, but many people have access to social media on their personal cell phones.

The bottom line is that anything a person does during their free time should be done in moderation. Moderation is the key to avoid having a pastime turn into a crutch. As television becomes less prominent in American households and the Internet is the main source of entertainment, people should make an effort to limit both television and Internet time to avoid the negative affects of either of these hobbies. When watching television, make an effort to choose a few shows per week that are of real interest and limit television watching time to these shows. Social media can be used to help connect to other people, but make sure to regularly plan to spend time with friends and family in person. Free time is a limited resource for people, and it is important to use it wisely. However, when it comes to sharing information using social media and creating shared information resources can we really call it free time?

1. Think Negative Thoughts

   Personal traits like optimism and pessimism can greatly affect many areas of your well-being and general health. The thing about negative thoughts is that they promote and heighten stress levels and reflect what you think about yourself. If you can approach a situation with positivity, and not negativity, you will be more productive and determined. The effects of positive thinking can yield increased life span, lower rates of depression and stress, and even reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

2. Eat Processed Foods

   A key to leading a healthy life is eating healthy foods. Too much intake of processed foods can cause an array of health problems including diabetes, heart disease, and even increased risks cancer. The key to processed foods is moderation of high saturated fats and sugar products.

3. Live in an Urban City

   Believe it or not, there may be conditions of living in a highly urbanized environment that can degrade your health. Surrounded by pollution, noise, millions of strangers, lights, pavement, and a lack of nature, city life can be harmful for our mental and physical health. Urban designers are faced with an important milestone: for the time in history, the majority of the world’s populations are now living in urbanized cities. This poses a plethora of problems that deal with housing, health, environment, and social conditions.

4. Use Your Cell Phone

   Nearly four billion people around the world are using cell phones — and more signing up by the very minute. It’s an alarming concept to think that the combined radiation, even though they are low-level radio-frequencies, from all these cell phones could potentially affect our health adversely. While the wireless industry affirms that radiation from cell phones lacks the strength to alter molecules in the human body and lead to cancer, other scientists are not so quick to label them as completely safe.

5. Driving

   According to researchers at a Toronto Hospital, every hour spent behind the wheel could lead to a 20-minute loss in life expectancy. If you factor in tiredness, stress, traffic, weather conditions, mindlessness, and road conditions, the chances for crashes increase dramatically. Many people are getting behind the wheel too emotionally charged or under the influence to drive safely, which affects everyone else on the road. Fatal accidents continue to be a leading cause of death for young and older people alike.

6. Staring at a Screen

   Nowadays we have laptops, desktops, advanced TV sets, gaming systems, and cell phones. All these technologies have one thing in common that is not only bad for your health, but may be life-threatening: you have to stare at a screen. According to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, increased risks of heart attacks and strokes are more prevalent in people who spend more than four hours in front of a screen a day. Aside from harmful effects to your vision, this study may also not account for another factor that comes with simply looking at a screen – it indicated prolonged sitting or periods of inactivity.

7. Taking Medication for Non-threatening Illnesses

   Conditions like insomnia, anxiety, attention deficit disorders, and depression are not life-threatening, but may impose many inconveniences in our lifestyle. Many people who regularly take medications to treat these conditions, may experience distressful side effects like decreased alertness and coordination, time sensitivity, breathing problems, and misjudgment. The concern about these psychiatric medications is that they are increasingly being prescribed for people who show little or no signs of what the medication is supposed to treat. Since the FDA does not require many drug companies to provide long-term effectiveness of a particular drug, it falls to people to make the right choices in which medications to take.

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