take a moment
 Volume 7 June
2007Important Reminder: Many users and ISPs are adding SPAM filters to their computers or servers. If you already have one, or will shortly be implementing a SPAM filter please remember to configure the filter to ALLOW email from take-a-moment.com domain, or you will not be able to receive your newsletter. Welcome to TAKE-A-MOMENT! The Take-A-Moment newsletters strive to provide quick-to-read content to improve and enhance the quality of life at home and in the work place...for when you can "take-a-moment" from your hectic schedule. Take-a-Moment is provided by the Louisville Area Cooperative Extension Agents. When you have "more-than-a-moment" visit our web site for expanded articles, article archives, sign-up and contact information, and links to other web sites of interest. ("Netiquette" statement is at the end of this email, see below.) Did You Know...?
C O N T E N T S
STAIN REMOVAL Perspiration stains are a particularly annoying problem during the summer. Although perspiration stains usually are found on the underarm area of clothing, they can appear anywhere on fabric that comes into contact with the body. A perspiration stain may be invisible at first, but can oxidize and turn yellow with time. For example, an untreated stain may severely damage silk fabric possibly leading to deterioration. Clean-perspiration-stained garments as soon as possible after wearing. Normally, you can remove perspiration from washable garments by using good laundering techniques. Apply a commercial pre-wash stain remover to the area, or rub it with a bar of soap. If perspiration has changed the fabric color, apply a few drops of ammonia and water to a fresh stain, or a white vinegar-water solution to old stains, and rinse well before washing the garment. Launder perspiration-stained clothing using the hottest water safe for the fabric or garment. Stubborn stains frequently respond to washing with an enzyme laundry detergent or oxygen bleach. Don't put clothing in the dryer until all stains have been completely removed. If the stained garment must be dry cleaned, it's important to alert the person at the dry cleaning establishment to existing perspiration stains because this professional can use special detergents and formulas to eliminate this clothing maintenance problem. However, these procedures might cause shrinkage or texture change in some fabrics; so the dry cleaner might ask you to sign a consent form before attempting to remove the stain. Prevention is the best way to prevent perspiration stains. Using an antiperspirant deodorant or wearing perspiration shields or undergarments helps prevent this clothing maintenance problem. An ounce of precaution might be worth the many dollars or minutes spent on a cure if you perspire heavily, anticipate a situation that can cause heavy perspiration, especially when you're wearing delicate fabrics such as silk. Sources: Linda Heaton and International Fabricare Institute
FINANCIAL FITNESS Have you ever wondered how your families spending patterns compare to others? Are you spending more than average on clothing or food or housing or gas? The best information we have on family expenditure data is the Consumer Expenditure Survey done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unfortunately, their release of the data is about two years old. (http://www.bls.gov/cex/) You will notice if you scroll down the page that there is a list of Current Standard Tables:
These tables allow you to make references based on different criteria. For general spending plans, you might want to use the “Quintiles of income before taxes” to make comparisons. If you are interested in information on families with children, then you might use the “Composition of consumer unit” table. Another source for food costs is this link: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/FoodPlans/2007/CostofFoodApr07.pdf. This site gives food costs for various food plans by USDA such as the thrifty plan, low cost plan, moderate plan, and liberal plan. On this same USDA site is Expenditures on Children: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/CRC/crc2006.pdf.
FAMILY LIFE Most of us understand instinctively that emotions have physical components. For example, fear can provoke a stress response in which the heart and breathing quicken and blood is shunted to large muscles to prepare for fight or flight. Interestingly, research now indicates that adopting a particular facial expression--a smile or an angry look--produces a corresponding effect on the body. Researchers directed subjects to adopt various facial expressions. At the same time heart rate, finger temperature, skin conductance and muscle activity were measured. Results showed that the physiological changes associated with the emotional states can be produced through facial expression alone. The face we turn to the world may not only reflect our inner well-being, it also may continually play a role in shaping that experience as well. Adapted from The Heart of Healing, Turner Publishing, 1993.
HORTICULTURE Fresh vegetables usually abound in July and August. Whether you pick them from your own garden, or buy them from a local farmer’s market or roadside stand, be sure to enjoy some fresh Kentucky produce this summer. Here are some tips if you have your own garden and want the freshest produce possible. Once vegetables are picked, they do not increase in quality. One way to maintain quality is to keep the produce cool. The conversion of sugar to starch tends to be favored by warm temperatures. So pick produce in the cool of the morning and refrigerate as soon as possible. If immediate refrigeration is not possible, move produce to the shade or cover with a damp cloth. As water evaporates from the cloth, it will cool the vegetables beneath. The damp cloth will also increase the relative humidity around the vegetables and decrease the chance of wilting.
NUTRITION & WHAT'S COOKING If you have little time for fitness, walking may be for you. Walking is probably the most popular form of fitness because you can do it while you do other things. Do you need some quiet time by yourself? Would you like to listen to some music? Walking is ideal for a little time to yourself and enjoying some tunes. Walking gives you something most of us need – time to think. Is there something you need to talk over with someone at work? Do it while you walk. Is there a friend or neighbor you’d like to see more often? Try to set up a time when the two of you can walk together and catch up on each other’s lives. Schedule a regular time to walk. On the weekends, make time to get out and enjoy nature. Kentucky state parks and nature preserves are just some of the places we can go to see the state. Walking is good for your health – mind and body. Consistent walking can decrease your risk of heart disease, diabetes and possibly some types of cancer. Regular walkers tend to have lower blood pressure and a decreased risk of having a stroke. Walking also strengthens bones and muscles and can help you control your weight. Walking can also help reduce stress. It seems to promote “brain fitness,” leading to a more positive outlook and greater mental agility. Walking increases energy and may even help you sleep better at night. People of all ages can benefit from regular walking. Try to walk at least three times a week. During the first week of your new walking routine, you may want to warm up by walking slowly for five minutes, stretching, walking briskly for five minutes, then cooling down for five minutes by walking slowly again. In following weeks, you can increase your brisk walking two to three minutes a week until you can walk at a fast pace for 30 minutes to an hour. You should be moderately active for a total of 30 minutes at least five days a week to be healthy. If walking is going to be your main form of exercise, try to walk three to five days every week for 30 minutes each time.
HOME TIPS June is National Home Safety Month. Falls are the leading cause of death in persons greater than 65 years of age. In 2003, approximately 13,700 people aged 65 and older died in fall related injuries and 1.8 million were treated in emergency rooms for non-life threatening injuries. Safety proofing your home is important to prevent disability and death from falls. Here are some tips to keep you and your family members safe from injury and death related falls:
Reference: Home Safety Council (2006) Hands on Home Safety Checklist.
WAYS TO WELLNESS Calcium is very important for strong bones and teeth. One of the best ways to get calcium is by choosing milk or milk products such as low-fat cheese and yogurt for daily snacks and meal time. Celebrate Dairy Month by enjoying this recipe:
IN THE WORK PLACE Your attitudes reflect the way you choose to see things. They are your views of yourself and the people and world around you. By the attitudes you choose, you help create your world. If you decide to keep a positive, caring attitude, and always look for the best, your world will be much more enjoyable, supportive and loving. Gratitude is appreciation and thankfulness, usually for a kindness shown or something received. While the relationship between attitude, health and success is only beginning to be thoroughly investigated by science, we can draw the following five conclusions:
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