Crown International Associates

Most Americans unprepared for retirement

noreply@blogger.com (Crown International Associates) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:12:00 +0000

Majority of workers will not be able to cover their health care expenses and maintain their standard of living in retirement, according to a new study.

By David Goldman, CNNMoney.com staff writer

February 19 2008: 3:37 AM EST

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A majority of American workers will not be able to maintain their current standard of living after they retire, according to a report released Tuesday.

The Center for Retirement Research (CRR) estimates 61% of households are "at risk" of being unable to live the way they would like and pay for their health care when they get old.

CRR considers consumers to be "at risk" if their savings, Social Security and pension benefits combined will fall at least 10% short of the income needed in retirement to support the same standard of living they enjoyed while working.

Previous reports have considered health care to be a cost that retirees factor in by "rearranging their basket of consumption" - that is, spending less on consumer goods.

CRR's study assumes that people want to spend the same amount on goods in retirement that they do now and that they consider health insurance and the added health care costs associated with growing old to be an additional expense.

"People take the notion of health care for granted," said Andrew D. Eschtruth, associate director for external relations at CRR. "The basic assumption of this report is that retirees think they will eat the same kind of foods, travel the same - or more - and buy the same clothes."

If that's the case, then there is cause for concern. Health care costs continue to increase dramatically, far outpacing wage increases year over year.

Additionally, out-of-pocket health care costs for most consumers rise significantly upon retirement. The report assumes that people recognize the burden of health care costs once they retire; however, those retirees to whom the added expense comes as a surprise will have to reduce their spending on consumer goods and spend much more on health care.

Many workers do not have a realistic estimate of how much they will need to spend on health care when they retire, according to a 2007 study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI).

The study shows that 84% of employees estimated they and their spouse will need to accumulate less than $250,000 for retiree health costs, 32% of whom thought they would need less than $100,000.

But according to the EBRI, couples will need to save about $300,000 in retirement to cover health expenses, assuming they live to average life expectancy and Medicare benefits remain at current levels. For those who live to 95, that amount jumps to $550,000.

Money 101: Planning for retirement

Why are people so inadequately prepared? With the shift from traditional pension plans to 401(k)s, the burden of preparing for retirement has shifted from employers to the employee.

Some workers aren't saving enough to prepare themselves for their golden years. Also, 30% of employees simply fail to sign up for 401(k) plans, according to insurance company Nationwide.

"A lot of people say, 'Oh yeah, my company told me to sign up for my 401(k); I'll do it tomorrow,' and they forget to sign up," said Eschtruth.

As a result, the government passed the Pension Protection Act in 2006 to encourage businesses to automatically enroll employees in their retirement plans.

But there are steps beyond saving that people can take to make make retirement planning easier and more affordable.

"Good physical health matters a great deal," said Paul Ballew, senior vice president of consumer insight and analytics at Nationwide. "Physical and financial health are connected, as being healthy lessens your chance of having high, unexpected medical expenses."

Households planning for retirement are also encouraged to seek professional advice.

"Save early and often, and take advantage of what's available to you," said Ballew. "But also speak to a professional who can help you achieve an adequate investment strategy for your golden years."

Can life get any better ?

noreply@blogger.com (Crown International Associates) — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:26:00 +0000

So often life is a trade off between making money you need at the sacrifice of the flexibility and time you want, to live your life to the fullest. Find out more about this business based on Robert Kiyosaki ....

Whatever you decide, we will offer you the training and personal support that's right for you. It's your decision. You choose.

What Doctors Don't Say About Obesity - Sunjay Gupta M.D.

noreply@blogger.com (Crown International Associates) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 02:32:00 +0000

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., recently released the results of a survey of more than 2,500 obese patients who went to their doctor for a regular checkup over the course of a year. The investigators found that the charts of only 1 in 5 of those people listed them as obese. What isn't on the charts is probably not communicated between doctor and patient either, and that means trouble. Those in the study who got the diagnosis were more than twice as likely to have developed a weight-management plan with their doctor than were the other obese patients.

Obesity, of course, means a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, hospitalization and early death, so how come doctors are so lax about putting the scarlet O on the chart? Sometimes doctors perceive that a patient isn't motivated to change, so they just don't bother. Other times, the patient's likely embarrassment silences the physician, or time constraints get in the way as more immediately pressing health concerns get dealt with.

Discussing weight becomes even more complicated with children. According to a 2005 study in the journal Pediatrics, doctors diagnosed obesity less than 1% of the time among 2-to-18-year-olds--a figure far below the one-third of young Americans struggling with weight.

Dr. Mark Jacobson, an adolescent-medicine specialist with the American Academy of Pediatrics, explains that parents may feel guilty about having an overweight kid because they know it's partly hereditary and because they feel it's their responsibility to control their youngster's exercise levels and diet. Parents also worry about a child's developing eating disorders if weight becomes an issue, so they say nothing at all.

"I've had a patient whose mother whispered the letters w-e-i-g-h-t to me, with her hand over her mouth so the child couldn't see. I could tell it was something they had thought about and didn't want to bring up with the child," says Jacobson. Still, he insists that doctors must discuss the topic. One way to do so gently, he says, is to avoid the word obese and instead say the child has a weight problem. Doctors may also tell kids that their weight is a couple of years ahead of their age. Then, Jacobson says, he focuses the discussion more on the behaviors that could help improve the situation--like watching less TV and playing outside more--instead of concentrating principally on shape.

"You don't want to make people feel embarrassed and not want to come back to you. You want them to get treated," he says. Jacobson stresses that every pediatrician should determine a child's body-mass index (BMI)--a figure arrived at by factoring weight and height to produce a two-digit number that roughly diagnoses obesity. BMI is an imperfect metric, in part because it does a poor job of taking body type and muscle mass into consideration, meaning that a stocky person with low body fat can be labeled obese. But as a starting point, BMI helps.

None of this absolves patients or parents from stepping forward and bringing up weight on their own. But whoever raises the topic, it's important for patients and doctors alike to remember that modest amounts of weight loss can disproportionately benefit overall health, even if the loss doesn't feel or look like much. That fact may be the best reason for everyone to show a little courage and say what needs to be said----even if it hurts a bit.

reporting by Shahreen A. Abedin - Time

Why take a Multivitamin?

noreply@blogger.com (Crown International Associates) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 04:48:00 +0000

Ideally we would all get our essential vitamins and minerals from our diet, but according to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), most of us simply do not.

With this finding JAMA now recommends multivitamin use as one way to promote better health. In the study “Vitamins for Chronic Disease Prevention in Adults” the authors see the “low cost of taking a multivitamin as ‘insurance’ against sub-optimal nutrient intakes” (Fletcher & Fairfield, 2002).

Multivitamin use can have varying short- and long-term health benefits. Some short-term benefits can include increased energy, stress reduction, and enhanced immune function.

Long-term benefits such as cardiovascular health, decreased risk of osteoporosis, improved eye health and brain function have been linked with multivitamin use as well.

Looking for a multivitamin can be a bit overwhelming because there are so many choices. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when deciding what is right for you.

References:
Fairfield, K. & Fletcher, R. (2002). Vitamins for Chronic Disease Prevention in Adults. JAMA, 287(23), 3116-3126.

ASAFA TRIUMPHS WITH NEW WORLD RECORD

noreply@blogger.com (Crown International Associates) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 01:20:00 +0000

Nutrilite global spokesperson and world's fastest man Asafa Powell broke his 100m world record, clocking 9.74 seconds at the Rieti IAAF Grand Prix heat on September 9, 2007. He went on to win the final in 9.78 seconds. His previous world record was 9.77.

Asafa appreciates how Nutrilite products help him perform at his personal best. “When I run, I don’t think about anyone else. I don’t think about my competition, I just do what I have to do. Nutrilite is a lot like me that way, because they don’t consider the competition in what they do, they just focus on being the best in their field,” he says. “I am confident that Double X and Nutrilite will help me power up for the competitions yet to come.”

Are you concerned about the contents of your vitamins?

noreply@blogger.com (Crown International Associates) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:48:00 +0000

Are you concerned about the contents of your vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, protein bars or other supplements? So are we.

In the last decade, the dietary supplements industry has grown tremendously. The fact that these products do not receive the same regulation as prescription or over-the-counter drugs raises questions in the minds of many consumers. That's why NSF became involved in developing the nation's first truly independent testing standard and product certification program strictly for dietary supplements.

Learn more about dietary supplements and the NSF certification program by selecting from NSF Consumer Information.

The Wellness Revolution

noreply@blogger.com (Crown International Associates) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:35:00 +0000

One seventh, $1.5 trillion, of the U.S. economy today is devoted to the healthcare business,refers to as the "Sickness Industry." However, by the year 2010, an additional $1 trillion of the economy will be devoted to products and services that keep us healthy, make us look or feel better, slow down the effects of aging, and prevent diseases from developing altogether. The implications of the shift to proactive wellness are far reaching from health to beauty to food to medicine.

The trillion-dollar industry of the twenty-first century has arrived, and it promises to similarly revolutionize our lives and offer entrepreneurs and investors the opportunity to amass great fortunes.

In The Wellness Revolution, Already a $200 billion business, with most of its revenue coming from vitamin sales and health club memberships, the wellness industry is just now taking off. In just ten years, an additional $1 trillion of the U.S. economy will be devoted to providing healthy people products and services to maintain their health.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, investor, or distributor, Pilzer will show you how to get in on the ground floor of this burgeoning industry by explaining:

• The scope and potential of this budding business
• How to maintain demand for your wellness products and services
• How to make your money in wellness distribution
• How to utilize your assets to choose your best wellness opportunity

The wellness industry is on the verge of changing our lives as much as did the automobile and the personal computer. Learn how to reap the benefits of this pervasive and eternal industry with the step-by-step, fortune-making plan detailed in The Wellness Revolution.

We can help you to understand about this Business.

Email to us your details: crowninternationala@gmail.com

You Are What You Drink

noreply@blogger.com (Crown International Associates) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:35:00 +0000

Water is essential to live. But most of us are not aware of the crucial role water plays in virtually every organ and function of our bodies. Water can actually improve our health, our fitness, and even our appearance.

Drinking water is good for us,

Blood is 92% water, bones are 22% water, the brain is 75% water, and muscles are 75% water.It also

* Makes up the majority of every cell in our bodies
* Is the biggest part of our blood and lymph systems, carrying food and oxygen to the cells and carrying away waste
* Helps flush our kidneys to get rid of toxic substances
* Helps balance our electrolytes, which help control our blood pressure
* Helps moistens our eyes, mouth, and nasal passages
* Helps keep the body cool when it is hot and insulates the body from cold
* Acts as a shock absorber to cushion the body’s organs
* Helps lubricate joints and is part of your blood, sweat, tears, and saliva
* Can provide many of the trace minerals our bodies need

Drinking enough water can...
1.Improve your overall health and well-being.
getting enough water is key in achieving optimal health.
2.Water helps maintain blood volume, which maintains your energy
3.Proper hydration improves your concentration and reaction time, (during exercise)
4.Water increases the number of calories you burn during regular daily activities
5.Water can help prevent the stomach distress concentrated medicines can cause
6.Water helps rid the body of excess sodium that can cause fluid retention

Studies show there may be links between high water consumption and a reduced risk of:
* colds, constipation, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, bladder cancer

It is also may improve your appearance.

Water reaches the skin last; if your body does not get enough water, your skin will feel the effects more than any other organ. Water can help hydrate the skin, leaving it:
* smoother, softer, more supple, more wrinkle-free

Most importantly it may help you lose weight.

People often mistake thirst for hunger pangs, so we tend to eat snacks, when in reality, our bodies just need something to drink. Drinking water can also help you feel full, lessening your desire to eat.

Studies also show that drinking enough water may:

* Give you more energy during exercise
* Increase the calories you burn during exercise
* Help your body reduce fat deposits

Note:
A variety of sources was used for this data including the Center for Disease Control, the Water Quality Association, the American Cancer Society, the American Dietetic Association, and the American Heart Association. (USA)

To get full information of the The World Best Source of Water

email to us : crowninternationala@gmail.com

How Coke and Pepsi and other soft drinks are HELPFUL

noreply@blogger.com (Crown International Associates) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 03:30:00 +0000

How Coke and Pepsi and other soft drinks are HELPFUL

To clean a toilet:

Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl. Let sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.

To clean corrosion from car battery terminals :

Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion

To remove grease from clothes :

Pour a can of Coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola/Pepsi will help loosen grease stains

WE DRINK THIS STUFF! ! ! ! !

OF COURSE, TO CLEAN OUR SYSTEM TOO. AFTER ALL WE ARE PAYING FOR IT.

For your information

The average pH of soft drinks, e.g. Coke & Pepsi is 3.4. This acidity is strong enough to dissolve teeth and bones! Our human body stops building bones at around the age of 30. After that, it shall dissolve the bones every year through the urine depending on the acidity of the food intake. All the dissolved calcium compounds, get accumulated in the arteries, veins, skin, tissue and organs, which affects the functioning of the kidney assisting in formation of kidney stones.

Soft drinks do not have any nutritional value (in terms of vitamins and minerals). They have higher sugar content, higher acidity and more additives such as preservatives and colorings. Some people like to take cold soft drinks after each meal, guess what's the impact?

The Impact?

Our body has an optimum temperature of 37o for the functioning of digestive enzymes. The temperature of cold soft drinks is much less than 37, sometimes quite close to 0. This lowers the effectiveness of the enzymes and puts stress on our digestive system, digesting less food. In fact the food gets fermented. The fermented food produces bad smelling gases, decays and forms toxins, which are absorbed in the intestines, get circulated in the blood and is delivered to the whole body. This spread of toxins can lead to the development of various diseases.

Few Examples

Two months ago, there was a competition in Delhi University "Who can drink the most Coke?” The winner drank 8 bottles and died on the spot because of too much carbon dioxide in the blood and not enough oxygen. From then on, the principal banned all soft drinks from the university canteen.

Imagine what the drink must be doing to your soft intestines and stomach lining!

Quotes

noreply@blogger.com (Crown International Associates) — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 09:32:00 +0000

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

-Eleanor Roosevelt