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From the time we are able to securely hold a toothbrush in our hand we are taught by our parents how to brush our teeth. If we couldn’t perform the task very well our parents would brush our teeth for us to ensure the healthiness of our teeth and gums. Afterwards, our toothbrush may have been placed alongside those of our siblings or even our parents in an open container where bacteria collects on it’s bristles.

One has to marvel at the toothbrush. The first toothbrush that resembles what we use today had its beginnings in China in the late 1400s. It was comprised of stiff hairs from a hog’s neck and attached to a bamboo stick. Now, soft bristles on the “head” of a handle used along with toothpaste to brush off plaque and massage our gums. For the most part, it seems the toothbrush is only used to eliminate left over food from teeth. However, it is a major deterrent of gingivitis (gum disease), the prevention of cavities and periodontal disease which is a cause of at least one-third of adult tooth loss.

Many dentists believe that soft-bristled toothbrushes are the most effective to use since the firmer bristles can damage tooth enamel and irritate the gums. In fact, the tips of hard bristles are like sharp tips that may cause nicks in the gum, allowing bacteria to enter the bloodstream. The soft bristles are considered the most safe and comfortable especially with consideration given to how vigorously you brush your teeth.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, even after brushing and then rinsing your toothbrush contaminated and potentially pathogenic organisms remain on the bristles. We’ve all had lessons on how to brush our teeth, but very few lessons in toothbrush cleaning. Here are some suggestions on how to clean and take care of your toothbrush:

If you keep your toothbrush in a toothbrush protector, ensure it is dry before using the toothbrush protector. Failure to do so may lead to the development of mold on the bristles. Use a toothbrush holder that has holes. This will help with ventilation to prevent mold. Wash your hands before handling your toothbrush. Limit the number of brushes you keep in an open container because they rub together and may spread germs. Wash your toothbrush before and after every use by holding it under running water and rubbing your thumb over it forcefully for five to ten seconds. Deep clean your toothbrush by occasionally placing it in the top rack (any other location, it may melt) of your dishwasher using your normal dishwasher soap.? You can also use boiling water, but be careful of melting the toothbrush. Be mindful to replace your toothbrush every three to four months, this pertains to electric brushes also. Always use toothpaste, it helps in keeping your brush clean. To disinfect your toothbrush, you can store it in a 3% Hydrogen Peroxide solution (change daily, because it turns into water in a matter of hours). In a small cup place your toothbrush with some alcohol based mouthwash, and stir for about thirty seconds. The alcohol in the mouthwash will kill off most bacteria. Consider purchasing a UV (Ultraviolet light) toothbrush cleaner. It is safe and automatically shuts down after operation.

Toothbrush cleaning is something we sometimes take for granted. We use it on a daily basis and place it back in its container not giving a thought to the amount of bacteria floating around in our residence and then how much of it actually finds a place on our exposed toothbrush. These tips not only provide helpful information, but will make you more cognizant that your toothbrush can affect your overall heath more than you realize.

Passage of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (“Reconciliation Act”) amending the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (together the “Health Care Reform Package”), which President Obama signed on March 23 created many tax changes. Many of these tax changes are discussed below.

Additional Medicare Payroll Tax

Beginning in the 2013 taxable year, the Reconciliation Act imposes a 3.8 percent “unearned income Medicare contribution” tax on the lesser of the taxpayer’s net investment income or modified adjusted gross income (“AGI”) in excess of $200,000 for singles and $250,000 for joint filers.

Net investment income includes interests, dividends, annuities, royalties, rents, gain from disposing of property from a passive activity, income earned from a trade or business that is a passive activity, and income earned from a trade or business of trading financial instruments of commodities as defined by existing mark-to-market tax rules for dealers of commodities. Income on an investment of working capital is also taxed. In determining net investment income, investment income is reduced by deductions properly allocable to that income. Some income is exempt from the tax, including income from the disposition of certain active partnerships and S corporations, distributions from qualified retirement plans, and any item taken into account in determining self-employment income. The tax does not apply to nonresident aliens or trusts for which all of the unexpired interests are devoted to charitable purposes.

The provision defines modified adjusted gross income as AGI increased by any income excluded by the foreign earned income exclusion over the amount of any deductions and exclusions disallowed with respect to that income.

Estates and trusts are also subject to a 3.8 percent unearned income Medicare contribution tax on the lesser of the undistributed net investment income for the tax year or the excess of adjusted gross income over the dollar amount at which the 39.6 percent tax bracket for trusts and estates begin.

Small Business Tax Credit

Beginning in 2010, many small businesses and tax-exempt organizations that provide health insurance coverage to their employees now qualify for a special tax credit.

The credit is designed to encourage small employers to offer health coverage for the first time or to maintain health coverage they already have.

An employer generally qualifies for this credit if the business has no more than 25 full-time equivalent (“FTE”) employees paying wages averaging less than $50,000 per employee per year. Because the eligibility formula is based in part on the number of FTEs, not the number of employees, many businesses will qualify even if they employ more than 25 individual workers. The qualified small employer must contribute at least one-half of the cost of health insurance premiums for coverage of its participating employees.

In 2010 through 2013, qualified small employers may qualify for a tax credit of up to 35 percent of their contribution toward the employee’s health insurance premium. After 2013, small employers that purchase coverage through an insurance exchange may qualify for a credit for two years of up to 50 percent of their contribution and 35 percent of premiums paid by eligible employers that are tax-exempt organizations.

The maximum credit goes to smaller employers with 10 or fewer FTEs paying annual average wages of $25,000 or less.

Eligible small businesses can claim the credit as part the general business credit starting with the 2010 income tax return they file in 2011. The IRS will provide further information on how to claim the credit for tax-exempt employers.

Excise Tax on “Cadillac” Health Plans

Beginning in 2018, the Health Care Reform Package will impose a 40 percent nondeductible tax on insurance companies or plan administrators for any health insurance plan with an annual premium in excess of an inflation-adjusted $10,200 for individuals and an inflation-adjusted $27,500 for families. There is a higher premium level for employers in certain high-risk professions: $11,850 for individual coverage and $30,950 for family coverage. Non-Medicare retirees age 55 and older are also eligible for higher thresholds.

Dental and vision plans are not included when calculating the total benefit value.

Corporate Estimated Taxes

The Reconciliation Act includes a one-time increase of 15.75 percentage points for estimated taxes of corporations with assets of at least $1 billion dollars for payments made during July, August, and September of 2014. Payments will be decreased by a corresponding amount during the following quarter.

Individual Mandate

Pursuant to the Health Care Reform Package most individuals who fail to maintain essential minimum universal coverage are liable for penalties. The penalty is based on the greater of a flat-dollar amount or a percentage of household income. The Reconciliation Act exempts income below the filing threshold, lowers the flat payments required from $495 to $325 in 2015 and from $750 to $695 in 2016 and increases the percent-of-income thresholds.

The employer-provided health coverage gross income exclusion extends to coverage for adult children up to age 26 as of the end of the tax year. Self-employed individuals are allowed a deduction for the premiums paid on the dependent care coverage for adult children up to age 26.

Employer Responsibility

The Health Care Reform Package generally does not require employers to provide health insurance coverage. However, beginning in 2014, a fee is imposed on firms with 50 or more employees that do not provide coverage. The fee is calculated based on the number of full-time employees.

The Reconciliation Act modifies that provision by excluding the first 30 employees from the payment calculation.

Indoor Tanning Tax

The Health Care Reform Package imposes a 10 percent tax on qualified indoor tanning services effective for services provide on or after July 1, 2010.

Codification of the Economic Substance

The Reconciliation Act adds a revenue raiser that codifies the economic substance doctrine. Economic substance is a common law doctrine under which the tax benefits of a transaction are not permitted if the transaction does not have economic substance or lacks a business purpose. The provision in the Reconciliation Act requires a conjunctive analysis of economic substance under which taxpayers must show that (1) the transaction changes in a meaningful way their economic position apart from federal income tax effects and (2) they had a substantial purpose apart from federal income tax effects for entering into the transaction.

A 40 percent penalty applies to tax understatements attributable to undisclosed noneconomic substance transactions. The penalty is 20 percent if the transaction is adequately disclosed. The Reconciliation Act also renders the ability to obtain relief from accuracy-related penalties under the reasonable-cause exception inapplicable to noneconomic substance transactions.

The Joint Committee on Taxation projects that this provision will generate $4.5 billion over 10 years.

The courts have relied on the economic substance doctrine to distinguish abusive transactions from legitimate ones. The application of the doctrine is heavily dependent upon the facts and circumstances of a particular transaction. The codification of the economic substance doctrine adds some clarity but what remains to be seen is whether the codification will be more or less favorable to a transaction than the doctrine as historically applied

Disclaimer Required by IRS Rules of Practice: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

This publication is intended for general information purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. The reader should consult with knowledgeable legal counsel to determine how applicable laws apply to specific situations. Articles in this publication are based on the most current information available at the time they were written. Since it is possible that the law and other circumstances may have changed since this publication, please call us to discuss any actions you may be considering as a result of reading an article.

© 2010 Law Office of Michael G. Lapidus.  All rights reserved.

Without good health it will be difficult to make your dreams come true. Vitality and energy are by products of good health and are needed to achieve career success, excellent relationships, and many other goals.

There are no guarantees, but here are some ideas for increasing your odds of having a long and healthy life.

1. Drink plenty of water.

Much of our body and brain are made up of water. You need water to stay hydrated, to flush out toxins, to assimilate nutrients from food, and for your brain to function properly. Drinking plenty of water also keeps your skin from becoming dry and prematurely wrinkled from dehydration.

How much water do you need a day? Rule of thumb is to drink one half of your weight in ounces each day. For example, if you weighed 130 pounds, you would need 65 ounces or approximately two quarts of water a day. If you do strenuous exercise or work, you will need even more water.

Coffee, tea, and soda are not substitutes for water. They actually are dehydrating and if you drink them you will need more water. Even fruit juice is not a substitute for water because it comes from a food source and is not a true solvent.

Drinking tap water is better than not getting enough but it is best to drink water which has been purified naturally or through reverse osmosis or distillation. Only some of the bottled water meets these criteria.

I have a habit of carrying a bottle of water wherever I go and I drink at least one half of my weight in ounces every day.

2. You need a little sunshine.

It is true that you can get too much sun but we need some sunshine. Ten to twenty minutes of daily early morning or late evening sun is beneficial.

Sunshine gives you vitamin D which you need so your bones can absorb calcium. Without enough vitamin D our bones can become brittle and break. It is unnatural to spend all of our time indoors. We need fresh air and a little sunshine to maintain excellent health.

Several years ago I worked in a high rise and I was getting very little sunshine. I had a blood test and learned that I was low in Vitamin D and I was starting to experience some bone loss. Since that time I have been taking a vitamin D supplement and I try to get a minimum of 10-15 minutes of early morning or late evening sunshine several days a week. I have checked my level of vitamin D periodically and it has been normal.

3. Exercise is important.

Our bodies need movement and physical activity. Proper exercise slows down our physical deterioration.

We need three types of exercise: Flexibility, aerobic, and strength training.

A. Flexibility exercise.

As we age our bodies become stiffer. Yoga, swimming, tai chi, or just doing stretching helps us to maintain flexibility.

B. Aerobic or cardiovascular exercise.

Walking, biking, jogging, dancing, and sports which help you to stay in your working heart rate for 20-30 minutes are beneficial to your heart. Charts are available to determine the working heart rate for your age bracket.

C. Strength training exercise.

This exercise keeps your muscles firm and strong. It also keeps your bones strong when combined with proper nutrition. This type of exercise includes weight lifting (it can be light weights), calisthenics, and machines which provide resistance.

Unless we are an athlete or compete in sports we do not need to spend a large amount of exercising. Like anything else it can be overdone and then the returns diminish. Moderation has its benefit.

My personal exercise program does not require a lot of time. I spend twenty minutes a day taking a fast walk for aerobic benefit plus five minutes jumping on a small trampoline (rebounder). I do five minutes of yoga a day plus five to ten minutes on an inverter table for stretching & flexibility. I exercise for ten to fifteen minutes twice a week with light weights for strength training.

If your diet is good, a mild to moderate exercise program is sufficient to stay fit.

4. Eat well.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are among the most important foods you can eat. The greater the variety of colors, the better because they contain different types of antioxidants. Antioxidants strengthen your immune system and slow the aging process. Fresh produce is best, frozen is second best, and the least nutritious are canned fruits and vegetables.

It is beneficial to eat some raw foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. They contain enzymes which are frequently destroyed when the food is cooked. Enzymes help with digestion and increase our energy. Eating a salad with one or two meals a day is a great habit.

When you eat raw food, know your sources to avoid bacteria contamination. Whole grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts are beneficial. Raw nuts, seeds, fruit, and vegetables contain energy in addition to vitamins and minerals.
Fast foods, food high in sodium, saturated fat, transfats and sugar are best avoided or reduced.

I have been a lacto-vegetarian (includes diary but no eggs, fish, chicken, or meat) since I was in my thirties (over 30 years). For the past two years I have been vegan (includes seeds, nuts, fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes but no meat or diary).

Following some of these simple and common sense health tips can increase your chances of living a healthy and enjoyable life.

Copyright 2007. Raymond Gerson

Fat loss is achieved when you burn more calories than you eat. Thus eating less than you normally would is the cornerstone of every fat loss diet.

The problem with most dieters is that they get bored of their diets. They eat roughly the same day in and day out. When they get too bored they cheat or simply stop dieting effectively halting their fat loss.

One technique used by many athletes which can be used by almost anyone interested in losing fat is zig-zagging your carb intake everyday.

For example on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday you would eat carbs as you normally would but on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday you would eat 0 carbs. On the 0 carbs day you would only eat lean meats and green vegetables (even though they have some carbs in them most are fiber which you absolutely need).

What you accomplish by this zig-zag of carbs is a) you?ll feel better on the 4 days you eat carbs and b) you will keep losing fat because those carb free days are very low in calories. Since you are only doing that 3 times per week you will not slow down your metabolism.

On the days you do eat carbs limit them to the following: brown rice, all bran cereal, fruits, whole grain bread, whole grain pasta, pita bread, some potatoes, sweet potatoes and yams. They are low in the glycemic index which means they will keep your blood sugar under control.

Try this technique if your fat loss has stopped.

Recipes, ‘secrets’, and people claiming they alone have THE answer. That’s getting rather old isn’t? Sometimes it feels like ‘everybody” is claiming to have directions to ‘easy-street’ when it comes to losing those unwanted pounds. No wonder, then, that most people feel like its hopeless and that there are just some people who are destined to have bodies that must be hidden under layers of dark, over-sized clothing.

Sound like something you’ve felt? Or maybe you’re still grasping at that last thread of hope for being thin–or thinner? If so, listen closely to what I have to share with you in this second article. It could be the best two minutes of your life! Seriously! These Fantastic Fat Fighting Facts are what I discovered in my Review of the Diet Solution Program. So, get your pen handy. You’ll want to remember these two simple strategies and put them into practice–NOW.

Key #1: The Secret Recipe Revealed

OK, so you have to eat the right food (as I shared in a previous article). But where do you begin when your idea of “cooking” means opening a can or dumping out the contents of a package? This can be the hardest part for some people. That’s what I liked in my Review of The Diet Solution Program. She has provided many excellent recipes and video’s and other practical resources to take you from ‘fake food’ to ‘fantastic (real) food.’

Or maybe you DO cook healthy food and just need some more effective strategies for faster fat burn? So, Key #1 is that you need a recipe. You can’t just decide one day to lose weight and burn fat and eat better food. You need tested, proven, and simple recipes that you can actually use!

Key #2: The “Proof is in the Pudding”

You know the age-old debate about the constant battle between the engineer and contractor? How something looks great on paper, but not-so-great in practice. Or at least needs some tweaking? The same applies to strategies to lose fat and create the body you want. There are many nutritionists and scientists that can tell you what you should do, but reality is reality. What really works is what really works. Isn’t that right?

So, let me ask you, “Would the success of thousands of people worldwide be enough evidence that Isabel’s program actually works?” In my Review of the Diet Solution Program I found that tens of thousands of people have found this program works–and works well. And that’s probably the most effective evidence!

The only question now is, “What will you DO with the facts?” Sure, I agree there’s more to it than three or four steps, but it’s a solid start and I can help you with the rest.

Will you go another season, year, or 10 years wishing something would change and opting for the ‘quick fixes’ that leave you worse off then before? Or will you seize the moment that is before you and leave the “weight” behind?

Forgive me, but really, you have nothing to lose–but inches!

Due to increasing innovation, more machines for body fitness are coming in the market with different features. People are also becoming more dependent on the machines and diverting from the natural fitness methods. These fitness machines cost a lot of money and difficult to maintain. However, the fact is that natural home methods are more effective as they don’t charge money and give you the same outcomes. In this article, you’ll find some effective methods and techniques that will help you achieve your fitness goals.

Body Weight Work Out

If you have a body weight that is easy to lift up, then it is very easy to achieve your fitness goals. Your body can get a good shape if you are aware of the body weight and capable enough to lift it up. There are many work outs types and exercises that can help you turn your body into a good shape effectively.

Push Up

Push up is the most popular exercise type in the fitness program. In push up, all of your body parts get work out such as back, arms, legs, chest, and core to a great level. It is called a total body exercise. If you are healthy and active, you should do 30 push ups at least. If you are not physically activated, then there is a ladies push up for you where you can hold your weight with your knees. In this way, your stamina for push ups will increase slowly and you’ll be able to do it regularly with more repetitions.

Pull Up

Pull up is little complex work out but its outcomes are dramatic. For the upper part of body, it is not possible to implement it by everyone. In order to take a start, you need to do pull up your weight to balance the weight. There are two types of grips, the close grip and the wide grips. You have to select one grip that is suitable for you. Set up a pull up bar in your home but make sure that it is installed in an effective way to hold up your body weight.

Core

Without a core, your entire body work out is never said to be completed. To do this work out, you should lie downward and fold your legs at your knees. Grasp your hands behind your head and raise it slowly. Keep your speed moderate and don’t be so quick.

Skin care has gathered more attention than ever. The ongoing discussion has brought significant amount of relevance attached to it. People have realized the fact that glowing skin is a sign of healthy mind and body. It is another indication that body is functioning up to the required standard. Medical experts also support the point that skin is home to underlying changes taking place in the body. Skin care information is widely available in the market. Every major health care manufacturing unit is making sure that people would be able to achieve desired results within proper guidelines mentioned. Skin also picks the aging symptoms first than any other part or organ of body. With changing lifestyles and other daily habits, skin can easily replicate the factor to available surroundings. We need to accept the fact that aging signs or a mere thought of getting old makes people invest huge sums of money on different health care products. Market is filled with exciting number of products. The irony is that every product claims supremacy over another. From the perspective of an audience, one has to keep on searching for it unless it is found.

Skin care is an important topic and shall be equally measured over here. There are few things to be checked before making any decisions over there. Please try to follow the first step early and find the manufacturing label behind. Reputation and credibility factor makes all the difference in the outcome. Online format could become an assisting tool in the process. It effortlessly provides comparison chart amongst many products. Such respective websites analyze things deeply and present neutral view. The importance of online reviews is fast acquiring the shape of an effective marketing technique. Skin care products are highly expensive and must be worth spending for. Online sites also offer attractive deals and discount packages to gather widened customer base and increase productivity ratio.

Skin care products have become an entirely different shopping segment. With the advent of technical advancements in medical science, miracles keep on happening from time to time. Science has already brought us innovative and technical treatments available with. It goes without saying that one has to find the most suitable product depending on the nature and type of skin. Skin care is also essential for other reasons. It adds to the beauty factor. The circle becomes complete with taking care of every element possible within limit. Aging signs can be reduced or covered to an extent but to try to overcome it by means of harmful and poisonous treatment theories is definitely not acceptable here. Skin care measures shall only be bought after considering it for long and taking professional review into account.

http://www.smarthealthshop.com/

Anti aging creams are probably one of the most popular skin care products available in the market at present. It’s cheap and readily available which makes it a very popular choice among women as well as men. However, unknown to many, there are lots of skin care dangers you can get in such creams that promises remarkable anti aging results. Some of these creams in the market contain ingredients that can cause harm to the skin. Fortunately, you can avoid this from happening by knowing what ingredients to avoid when looking for an anti aging cream. Let me share to you some of them.

1. Alcohols

Alcohol are often used in most skin care and beauty products. When looking for an anti aging cream, avoid those which contain methanol, ethyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol. These alcohols can dry up and irritate the skin.

2. Paraben

Like alcohols, parabens are also commonly used in most skin care and beauty products. Anti aging creams, just like many products sold today are laden with preservatives. Paraben is used to help preserve the freshness and prolong the life of skin creams. However, this chemical can cause allergic reactions especially to those people who have sensitive skin. Aside from causing allergies, parabens are also known to disrupt the endocrine system which affects the hormone balance in the body. This ingredient has also been linked to fetal development interference and breast cancer.

3. Dioxane

Dioxane is a very harmful chemical that is used by skin care companies to make harsh ingedients milder. Avoid anti aging creams which contain this ingedient because according to studies, prolonged exposure to Read the rest of this entry »

Work is not as gruesome as we make it to be. In fact, like other stuff in our lives, we have the choice to work happily or sadly. A few tweaks here and there can make a huge difference in our work place. These days workplace wellness is quite a hot topic amongst office goers. Workplace wellness does not involve any heavy-duty concepts but a few age-old concepts that have been slightly tweaked for the modern day man.

Here are a few tips that will help you to increase your performance and decrease fatigue at work:

Breakfast like a king: This is a granny’s saying which says “breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper”. You need to remember that breakfast is the first meal of the day and it needs to be a good one. Your breakfast should be rich in carbohydrates and proteins to perk up your metabolism. Most people prefer cereal and milk with fruits. Suits fine as long as you have your regular vitamins and minerals. Breakfast also reduces work related fatigue and weight gain.

Caffeine: Most of us have uncountable cups of coffee at work. The coffee machine is nearby, there is stress at work and you need something to give you a zing. So what could be more convenient than coffee? However, you need to remember that coffee may give you an initial boost for a couple of hours but like all stimulants those hours are followed by lethargy and drowsiness. So too much of coffee really doesn’t make you fresh and instead leaves you tired in the long run. Try limiting your coffee to two cups a day and not more.

The desk jobs have limited the exercises and caused a lot of backache. Most of it is due to poor posture. So next time you catch your self slouching, correct your posture and keep your spine upright and use a chair with a cushion for your back. While standing, remember to balance your weight on both feet and keep the knees bent slightly. Remember to exercise daily.

Working for long hours can be tiring. So, you need to utilize your breaks to the maximum. Try some gentle stretching. You can also put your feet up and relax your calves and feet.

It’s not important to have three heavy meals. In fact the ideal thing is to have six to seven small meals that keep your energy high and lethargy at bay. Have a small snack in the interim and see your energy levels rise up.

Finally sleep well and peacefully. Avoid watching violent movies or reading disturbing literature before sleeping!

Remember, you need to enjoy everything you do if you want to lead a good life. Try these little tips and watch work become fun!

Using commercial brand beauty products can often be counterproductive to your overall skin health. This is because commercial skin care products are known to contain carcinogens harmful to humans, and many other dangerous chemicals. On average, adults use nine skin care products a day, exposing their skin to about 126 chemicals each and every day.

Making matters worse, 89% of the 10,500 ingredients skin care products contain have not been safety evaluated. By using these commercial skin care brands you are effectively exposing your face to more harm than good. If you want to truly protect your skin, then it is important to treat your skin as the organic, natural organ that it is. This is to say that you should only use an organic skin care regimen to treat your skin problems.

Organic beauty products are better for your overall health because they do not contain harmful chemicals that jeopardize your body’s well being. Basically, changing to Read the rest of this entry »