Issue Date: July 15, 2007
Watermelon surprise
This unusual salad delivers a cool, crisp summer punch, packed with high-antioxidant watermelon and mixed greens.
Peppery Greens with Watermelon
Watermelon contains lycopene, the brain-saving antioxidant.
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1 cup watermelon in 1-inch cubes
2 ounces firm feta cheese in 1/2-inch cubes
2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp. freshly grated black pepper or to taste
1 Tb. extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups arugulaor gourmet mixed greens
Salt to taste
2 Tbs. chopped toasted almonds
In a medium bowl, put watermelon, cheese, vinegar and pepper. Marinate in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Add olive oil, salad greens and salt; toss. Serve, sprinkled with nuts.
Serves 2
Per serving: 212 calories, 6g protein, 12g carbohydrates, 16g fat (5g saturated), 25mg cholesterol, 2g fiber, 327mg sodium
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Be cool about summer workouts
When exercising, be sensitive to how you're feeling.
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Now that summer is in full swing and temperatures across the country are soaring, it's time to make sure you take precautions when you work out or play in the heat. Exercising outdoors is great, but it also can be dangerous to your health and safety if you don't pay attention to your body.
"When exercising in the heat, it's important to be smart and sensitive to how you are feeling," says Douglas Casa, director of athletic training education at the University of Connecticut. "If you're experiencing nausea or getting a headache, you need to take a break or stop."
Casa recommends drinking some type of sports drink to stay hydrated. "The sodium in sports drinks will help you retain water," he says. "It's important to find something with a flavor you like because this will ensure you consume more of it."
To determine if you're sufficiently hydrated, monitor your urine color. "If it's the color of apple juice, you are not hydrated enough; if it's closer to lemonade, then you are getting enough fluids," Casa says. "This is a good gauge because it's easy to explain to kids."
There are two main factors that you can control when exercising in the heat: intensity of exercise and your environment. "If you start to not feel well, back off on the level of intensity, take your workout to the shade or get it in earlier in the day," Casa says. "Also, remember to wear light colors, a wide-brimmed hat and sunblock."
Contact FitSmart Editor Jorge Cruise, author of forthcoming fitness book "The 12-Second Sequence," at 12second.com.
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Get off the lost luggage carousel
Because of tighter security and carry-on restrictions, more airline passengers are checking luggage than ever before. Unfortunately, the airlines also are losing more bags. The U.S. Department of Transportation says there were more than 1.1 million reports of lost or mishandled baggage on domestic airlines in the first three months of 2007.
Most bags eventually turn up, but if the bag is truly lost, the good news is that the airlines' liability for travel within the 50 states recently was raised to $3,000 per passenger. Note that that's per incident, not per bag.
The bad news: Claiming compensation is not particularly easy. At some airlines, it's based on depreciated value, and you must have receipts for everything. Also, major carriers won't cover expensive items, such as antiques.
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Medical bills? Don't use plastic
More Americans, even those with insurance, are paying medical bills with their credit cards. That, along with the high interest rates and fees, makes paying down big health bills difficult. A recent survey found that those with medical debt had 46% higher credit-card debt on average -- $11,623 vs. $7,964 -- than those with credit card debt but no medical charges. Before using plastic:
Negotiate directly with your doctor for costs that insurance doesn't cover. A Harris Interactive poll found that three out of five adults who bargained got a lower rate, and 70% who talked to a hospital got a reduced fee.
Ask to work out a payment plan directly with the provider instead of paying a lump sum with a high-interest credit card.
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An outdoor sink won't drain your budget
A deck or a patio is a great way to extend the living space of your home without taking out a second mortgage. But if you love spending time outdoors, why stop there? There are many ways to spruce up the yard, such as adding a pedestal fan or a table heater. Your outdoor space can be as comfy and convenient as the indoors. How cool would it be, for instance, to have an outdoor sink?
A variety of outdoor sinks are available online and from hardware stores. The Water Station Plus Outdoor Sink (less than $100 at yardiac.com), which hooks up to your spigot and includes a garden-hose hanger, can be mounted to the side of your house. The sink has a cold-water faucet that is great for rinsing off vegetables or helping the kids wash off their muddy cleats.
If you really want to clean up in style, check out the Crown Verity Pro Sink (about $2,900, crownverity.com). It includes a water heater and hasan option of multiple sink compartments. Below the sink, behind a lockable access door, is a 5-gallon holding tank and a removable wastewater tank. The Pro Sink also can be connected to your home's water and drain pipes.
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