by California Casualty | Health |
Now that the day-to-day job is in the past, you can look forward to a life afterwards. So you maybe asking yourself, what to do now? It’s a new chapter in life and the opportunities are endless. Here are ideas to consider for your new life in retirement.
- Staying Active. Gardening, playing tennis, taking walks, or even chasing grandkids are great ways to keep active throughout retirement. It also has health benefits such as reducing cholesterol, promotes stronger bones, helps improve strength and balance.
- Find Your Creative Side. It’s important to also exercise your brain. Studies show that picking up a hobby has positive effects such as reducing your risk for Alzheimer’s. So pick up that paint brush and paint a masterpiece, or strum a new song on the guitar.
- Get to Know Your Friends. Now that work doesn’t interfere with your social life, take time to spend more time with friends, or even family. It doesn’t just help bring everyone together, but it has cognitive benefits, such as happiness. Who doesn’t enjoy an afternoon with friends?
- Spend Time Volunteering. Put it on your schedule to do volunteer work. Volunteering helps with your mental health bringing happiness and personal satisfaction.
Going into retirement doesn’t have to feel like the end of the world. Think of it as a new open door to life. Staying healthy and happy will lead to a longer enjoyable life.
by California Casualty | Health |
If you have a dog or cat, you know what a joy they are. Their love and loyalty enriches our lives.
Now, many experts say there is proof that life with a pet may actually provide these health benefits:
- Reduced allergies – more and more studies suggest that infants and children that grow up in a house with furred animals have a reduced risk of allergies and asthma later in life
- Lower blood pressure – numerous studies find merely being around a pet can lower your blood pressure, with the greatest pressure drop coming when you pet them
- Better heart health – dog owners have a lower risk of heart disease and those suffering from heart disease had better recoveries and survived longer if they had a pet
- Increased companionship – pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression, Alzheimer patients were calmer when pets were present, and many elderly people reported a better quality of life because of their pets
- Decreased weight – those of us with pets tend to go to dog parks, take regular walks, hikes or runs with their dog, and were less likely to be overweight
Many families also have therapy and companion dogs to warn about food ingredients someone may be allergic to, while others can warn diabetes patients when they are suffering from low blood sugar.
And, knowing that your dog loves to take trips with you to dog parks, hiking trails and other dog-friendly areas, California Casualty now includes coverage with every auto policy* that pays for vet bills if Fido or Rover gets hurt in a covered auto accident.
However, these pet passenger safety tips can help you avoid the heartache of an injured loved one:
- Keep them in the backseat away from airbags
- Put them in a crash tested dog crate or safety harness
- Lock power windows to prevent them from accidently from opening up or closing on them
- Always have water on hand
- Take breaks every two or three hours to let them stretch and take care of potty business
- Never leave them unattended in the vehicle, especially on warm or hot days
by California Casualty | Health |
Time is of the essence for stressed out nurses, time crunched educators or first responders on the go. Now that school has begun and schedules are getting even tighter, meal planning can be a real chore. Picking up a bag of salad, prewashed carrots or other veggies can be a real timesaver, but are we making the healthiest choice for our families?
Here’s some good news from The Cleveland Clinic. They’ve found that pre-cut vegetables are just as nutritious as whole vegetables, and even offered tips on how to pick the best bagged varieties:
- Make sure to buy raw, not pre-cooked varieties for the most nutrition
- Check that they are refrigerated for freshness
- Inspect labels for use-by dates
- Consume within a few days before vitamins break down
- Watch for chemicals
The Clinic does warn pregnant women to be very careful with any fresh or pre-cut foods to avoid e-coli and other dangerous bacteria.
And speaking of food safety, Dr. Stephen Swanson of the Centers for Disease Control tells Eatingwell.com that most bagged vegetables and salads may actually be safer than their raw counterparts because they are washed multiple times in a solution of chlorinated water. It’s enough, he says, to kill pathogens, but in small enough levels as not to be a consumption concern.
Cooking for the family after a hectic day doesn’t have to eat up a lot of time. Realsimple.com has a list of 20 speedy recipes that take 15 minutes or less to prepare to accompany those bagged selections:
by California Casualty | Health |
Time is of the essence for stressed out nurses, time crunched educators or first responders on the go. Now that school has begun and schedules are getting even tighter, meal planning can be a real chore. Picking up a bag of salad, prewashed carrots or other veggies can be a real timesaver, but are we making the healthiest choice for our families?
Here’s some good news from The Cleveland Clinic. They’ve found that pre-cut vegetables are just as nutritious as whole vegetables, and even offered tips on how to pick the best bagged varieties:
- Make sure to buy raw, not pre-cooked varieties for the most nutrition
- Check that they are refrigerated for freshness
- Inspect labels for use-by dates
- Consume within a few days before vitamins break down
- Watch for chemicals
The Clinic does warn pregnant women to be very careful with any fresh or pre-cut foods to avoid e-coli and other dangerous bacteria.
And speaking of food safety, Dr. Stephen Swanson of the Centers for Disease Control tells Eatingwell.com that most bagged vegetables and salads may actually be safer than their raw counterparts because they are washed multiple times in a solution of chlorinated water. It’s enough, he says, to kill pathogens, but in small enough levels as not to be a consumption concern.
Cooking for the family after a hectic day doesn’t have to eat up a lot of time. Realsimple.com has a list of 20 speedy recipes that take 15 minutes or less to prepare to accompany those bagged selections:
by California Casualty | Health |
With spring time almost here, home maintenance can become a task added to the workload. But have you considered it being a work-out?
Whether you only have 15 minutes or an hour, here are some ways to burn those calories while working around the house.
Outside:
- Building a fence: 85 calories for 15 min / 340 calories for 60 minutes.
- Cleaning gutters: 68 calories for 15 min / 272 calories for 60 minutes.
- Push mowing the lawn: 108 calories for 15 min / 400 calories for 60 minutes.
- Painting outside of the house: 68 calories for 15 min / 272 calories for 60 minutes.
Inside:
- Washing the dishes: 100 calories for 60 minutes.
- Moving furniture: 100 calories for 25 minutes.
- Cleaning the windows: 100 calories for 30 minutes.
- Vacuuming: 100 calories for 60 minutes.
Getting a jumpstart on spring cleaning can not only tidy up things around the house, but also help get in shape. Do you have any house chores that you could add to this list? Let us know what you think by commenting below.
Sources:
https://news.health.com/2013/04/22/10-chores-that-burn-100-calories/
https://www.houserepairsyourself.com/?p=1306
by California Casualty | Health |
I admit it; I am a dog-person.
Our dog gives us such great joy. She’s loving, goofy and brings smiles and laughs to our entire family. We enjoy long runs and hikes, and play ball for hours.
I understand that not everyone is a dog or cat lover; they shed, are often needy, and keeping them healthy and well fed can be costly. Then there’s the hassle of finding them a place if you have travel plans.
But those of us with a pet-friend know how much they enrich our lives. Now, many experts say there is proof that life with a pet may actually provide multiple health benefits. Here are five healthy reasons why you might want to get a pet this New Year:
- Reduced allergies – more and more studies suggest that infants and children that grow up in a house with furred animals have a reduced risk of allergies and asthma later in life
- Lower blood pressure – numerous studies find merely being around a pet can lower your blood pressure, with the greatest drop coming when you pet them
- Better heart health – dog owners have a lower risk of heart disease and those suffering from heart disease had better recoveries and survived longer if they had a pet
- Increased companionship – pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression, Alzheimer patients were calmer when pets were present and many elderly people reported a better quality of life because of their pets
- Decreased weight – those of us with pets tend to go to dog parks, take regular walks, hikes or runs with their dog, and were less likely to be overweight
There are other ways pets are adding to the well-being of their owners: therapy and companion dogs can warn people about food ingredients they might be allergic to, others are being trained to detect cancers, and some can warn diabetes patients when they are suffering from low blood sugar.
While we can show our pets how much we appreciate them with treats and special toys, now you can return the favor of good health to that beloved companion with pet insurance. With a policy from our partner at Pets Best, you’ll be reimbursed for many common procedures and illnesses such as X-rays, lab tests, exams, surgeries, cancer and more – all at a five percent discount. Call a California Casualty advisor today for all the details to protect your pet-friends at 1.877.652.2638 or visit www.calcas.com/pet-insurance.
Sources for this article:
https://www.animalplanet.com/pets/benefits-of-pets/
https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/features/health-benefits-of-pets
https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(03)02679-4/abstract
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3236382
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/a-dog-could-be-your-hearts-best-friend-201305226291
