Having a glass of red wine a day might sound like it would add up calories quickly, but that’s not necessarily the case. According to new research, women who indulge in alcohol (specifically red wine)moderately on a daily basis are less likely to gain weight in the long run than those who don’t drink alcohol at all.

Almost 20,000 women were questioned by Boston researchers about their drinking habits over a 13 year period and alcohol –free women gained the most weight. Researchers aren’t sure why this happens, but one theory is that women who drink the wine replace carbohydrate foods for it. Of course, this doesn’t change the effects of heavy drinking—which should be avoided.

(Source: Dial Global.com)

The American Academy of Pediatrics is calling for changes in the way food is designed and labeled in order to lessen children’s chances for choking. In a report released yesterday, the pediatrics group seeks to make choking prevention a priority for government and food makers. In particular the AAP is looking to put labels on hot dogs, warning parents that the food poses a choking hazard to young children. They even would like to see hot dogs “redesigned” so they would be less likely to stick in a  child’s throat. According to AAP, other “high-risk” foods include popcorn, grapes and nuts. Choking is a leading cause of injury and death among children and about 73 kids die in the U.S. every year from choking on food. The Food and Drug Administration plans to review the AAP’s report.

The Credit Card Accountability and Disclosure Act (CARD) finally goes into effect goes into effect todayThe law was changed in response to years of consumer complaints about abusive behavior by credit card companies. Here are some of the  principal changes:

Payment crediting
Under the new law, if you pay more than the minimum monthly payment, the excess will be applied to balances with the higher interest rate. Currently, the credit card companies can apply it any way they choose, and usually choose to apply it to the balance with the lowest interest. The purpose of this particular change is to allow consumers to pay off their higher balances more quickly, saving on interest charges.

Paying interest
You will have a minimum of 21 days following the close of each billing cycle to pay off the balance to avoid accruing periodic interest charges. Cash advances, however, may still carry an interest charge, even if you pay it back within 21 days. The 21 day window was added because many consumers complained there was so little time between the time they received their monthly statement and when the payment was due

Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/02/credit_card_changes.html#ixzz0gMJ1Bja2

There’s nothing like stressing out over tipping to ruin the end of a great haircut, pedicure, or other treatment. Knowing the basics makes everything better for you—and your aesthetician. Here’s what you need to know:
Twenty percent is a good rule of thumb for the person who performed the service. Throw in a little extra for more labor-intensive or truly spectacular treatments.
The owner of a salon should never be tipped.
Assistants should be: the right-hand people get $10 to $20. Pricey services have their own rules. Cindy Barshop , whose Completely Bare spas specialize in laser hair removal at $150 to $1000 a session, advises clients to give $25 to $40.
Always try to tip in cash. Otherwise, the technician has to wait until the end of the payroll cycle to get the money.
Finally, if you’re paying with a gift certificate, the tip may not be included. If you’re not sure, ask the receptionist to check.

(Source: shine/yahoo.com)

Health experts said yesterday that around 400,000 Americans will be killed by heart disease this year. These astonishing numbers indicate that years of progress in lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and smoking are being stalled by rising obesity rates.Two-thirds of U.S. adults and nearly one in three children are overweight or obese - a condition that increases the risk of heart disease and other chronic illnesses. A study conducted by British scientists found that around half of the heart disease deaths could be averted if people ate healthier and quit smoking.

(source: dialglobal.com)

According to a new study, over 25-percent of women say fitting into an old pair of jeans would feel better than sex! The survey, conducted by Kellogg’s Special K, found that 35-percent of women also own “trophy jeans,” which they once fit into and hope to one day wear again. And if they do manage to squeeze into that old pair, 29.1-percent say it would be better than sex and 28.9-percent say it would beat a promotion.

Truth time. Ladies, do you have a pair of “trophy” jeans you “hope” one day to fit into again?

Mistletoe season has arrived, is your breath smooch-worthy? One in four people have bad breath, according to Colgate.  It’s caused by many various factors, from the foods we eat, to the drinks we consume, to our daily hygiene and general health.

Aside from brushing your teeth—sometimes it’s just not possible, here’s a few tips to freshen your breath!

Mouthwash and sugar-free gum are a good quick fix. Or, if you’re feeling organic, chew a couple fresh mint leaves.

Classroom breath, office breath, church breath: whatever you call it, we’ve all experienced that weird, stale breath that comes from not opening your mouth for a while. It’s actually caused by dehydration, so be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Peppermint tea spiked with anise or cinnamon is also recommended

This sounds awful, but gargling 50 percent hydrogen peroxide with 50 percent H20 for 5-30 seconds is an immediate and lasting cure for microbial bad breath.

 (Source: Shine/yahoo)

Researchers are warning parents and other holiday gift buyers that one of the season’s must-have toys is unsafe — but the maker of Zhu Zhu Pets insists that the robotic hamsters are not only safe, but have passed rigorous testing.

St. Louis-based Cepia LLC challenged consumer-safety group GoodGuide’s claim that the hair and nose on Mr. Squiggles, one of the hamsters, contained higher-than-allowed levels of the chemical antimony.

After GoodGuide on Friday rated the toy a 5.2 on a 10-point scale, Cepia CEO Russ Hornsby fumed, “Being a father of children myself, I would never allow any substandard or unsafe product to hit the shelves.”

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has opened an investigation, according to MSNBC.

Zhu Zhu Pets retail for about $10 but and have become this season’s toy craze, following in the footsteps of Tickle Me Elmo and Cabbage Patch Kids.are reselling for $40 or more on eBay and Craigslist.

(Source: MSNBC.com)

According to a new study released yesterday, 30 percent of youths admitted to “sexting.” That percentage of 14- to 24-year-olds said they had either sent or received nude photos on their cell phones or online. Reasons for sending sexts include, “the assumption that others would want to see them (52%), a desire to show off (35%), and boredom (26%).” About 30 percent of teens also said they have shared sexts as a joke or to be funny. In addition, the study found that 50 percent of 14- to 24-year-olds have experienced some type of digital abuse. The study’s definition of digital abuse includes writing something online that wasn’t true, sharing information you don’t want shared, posting embarrassing photos or video, being pressured to send naked photos and threatening physical harm, among other things.