Issue Date: September 4, 2005
Pump up bones
You know you should consume calcium to fight off osteoporosis. But did you know that, according to the U.S. surgeon general, physical activity is likely the single most important influence on bone density? That's a key fact for women and men: By age 90, about a third of women and a sixth of men will experience a hip fracture.
Load-bearing exercise maintains bones, preserves muscle strength and boosts balance. Activity that has an impact on the skeleton (walking, jogging, dancing -- anything where you're on your feet, working against gravity) will aid bone density. But what is most likely the best bone-saving workout? Resistance training.
"We found that women who did resistance training twice a week for one year actually gained bone density vs. a control group who did no resistance training and lost bone density," says Miriam Nelson, author of "Strong Women, Strong Bones" (Perigee Trade, $14.95). "Age matters less to bone health; it's what you do that counts."
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Boost your asking price
Ask anyone what brings the best return on your investment when it comes to improving your home, and you'll hear "kitchens and baths."
That may be true, but you should also think about new mechanicals such as furnaces, boilers and water heaters. Putting on a new roof or installing energy-efficient windows and doors also are great ways to boost your asking price.
These changes aren't as sexy as, say, installing Uba Tuba granite countertops, but they're just as effective. Focus on the real workhorses of your home, and when it comes time to hammer that "For Sale" sign in the front yard, you'll be glad you put forth the effort.
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Potato perfection
Here's a salad with loads of disease-fighting antioxidants in the potatoes, tomatoes, onions, basil, garlic and olive oil. True, white potatoes tend to boost blood sugar, but the vinegar in this recipe helps to suppress such rises, making this a healthful salad.
Mediterranean Potato Salad
2 pounds small red potatoes, unpeeled, cooked, cooled, cut into bite-size pieces
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1 cup sliced green onions, with green
1/2 cup basil leaves, shredded
1 cup sliced celery
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 Tbs. white balsamic vinegar, or other white vinegar
6 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
2 tsps. Dijon mustard
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
In a large bowl, combine potatoes, tomatoes, onions, basil and celery.
In a small bowl, whisk together garlic, vinegar, oil, mustard, salt and pepper.
Add dressing to potatoes and toss. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Serves 10
Per serving: 163 calories; 2g protein; 20g carbohydrates; 9g fat (1g saturated); 0mg cholesterol; 2g fiber; 83mg sodium
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Career counseling for kids
Your middle-schooler is addicted to Xbox, and your teen is a shopaholic. Don't despair. Instead, encourage their interests and slip in a little career guidance at the same time.
Developing passions is the start to finding a career they truly love, says Jon Gallo, who co-wrote "The Financially Intelligent Parent" (NAL Trade, $12.95) with wife Eileen. So when your budding couch potato looks up from his video game, explain that computer programmers and graphic artists make their livings designing his favorite games. And talk to your young mall-crawler about careers like personal shopping and fashion design.
This Labor Day weekend, we turn to the Gallos, parents of three, for more tips on kid-friendly career counseling.
Avoid grumbling about work. Parents who complain about their job in front of their kids are likely to raise children who believe work is drudgery.
If your child has a bent for carpentry, guide his interest or enlist mentors.
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Help kids explore options when they express an interest. For example, if your child says she wants to become a carpenter, you could look on the Internet for related organizations. You might find a group like the National Association of Women in Construction (nawic.org), which sponsors educational programs for girls from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Introduce older children to people who work in fields that interest them. See if it would be possible for your child to spend a day with them, observing what they do. Then encourage him to get a part-time job or internship in that area to gain real-life experience and to make sure it's a career he'll really like.
Contributing Editor Soledad O'Brien is co-anchor of CNN's "American Morning."
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