BusinessVoice News Network

Can an apple on grocery day keep the junk food away? A study found that eating an apple just before grocery shopping encouraged people to buy healthier foods. Experts say eating something healthy puts you in a better frame of mind to select healthier foods while grocery shopping. Source Link

There’s an important difference between an allergic reaction and an adverse drug reaction. Things like diarrhea or stomach pain can be signs of an adverse drug reaction, but an allergic reaction may cause dizziness, hives, a rash, swelling of the lips or mouth or difficulty breathing. If that happens, call 9-1-1 or go to an emergency room right away. Source Link

A top government intelligence agency has an important tip to keep your phone safe from hackers. The NSA says turn off your phone at least once a week to reset any unauthorized connections that were turned on by malware. Another tip is to turn off Bluetooth when you’re not using it to prevent another device from connecting to the phone without you knowing it. Source Link

Learning skills to manage money can be fun and games for kids. Playing games like Monopoly or chess can teach your child to plan ahead and play to win. And if there’s a Fortnite fan in your family, give them an allowance for in-game purchases to help them learn how to budget their spending. Source Link 

Your household cleaning can be chemical-free with things you may already have. Mix baking soda and vegetable oil into a paste to clean kitchen cabinets or use a handheld garment steamer to remove grease from a range hood. Or wet a K-cup water filter and place it in your fridge to get rid of unwanted odors. Source Link

Keeping an eye out for behavioral clues might tell you if a younger child needs glasses. Becoming upset when watching a movie on a faraway screen or avoiding reading or other close-up work can be indications of vision problems. Frequent headaches, excessive eye rubbing and closing one eye to read can also be warning signs. Source Link

It’s a classic question — should I leave my computer on 24-7? A daily shutdown could do more harm than good for an older computer because of the physical stress on components during a restart and hibernating causes more stress than sleeping. If you do a restart, be sure to follow the proper steps and don’t just switch the power off and on again. Source Link

5 Smelly feet are no fun but there are some simple ways to avoid the odor. Battle stinky sweat by changing socks at least once a day and give your feet a chance to breathe without shoes whenever possible. And keep your feet clean and dry before you cover them with socks, shoes or slippers because trapped-in moisture helps odor-causing bacteria to flourish. Source Link

6 Blurring the picture of your house on Google Maps may make it harder for criminals to case the place before a burglary. To do this, click on the photo of your house and then click on “report a problem” in the lower right corner. Then click on “request blurring,” select the option for “my home” and answer the questions on the page. Source Link

The air you breathe at home can affect your everyday health, so be sure it’s as clean as can be. House dust can be loaded with allergens and airborne chemicals, so dust and vacuum once a week with a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. And use a fireplace sparingly because burning wood indoors can lead to serious respiratory problems. Source Link

You can ease travel anxiety by putting your hands to work. Channel nervous energy by knitting, coloring, doing needlepoint, writing letters or postcards, or journaling. You’ll use the time you’re spending in transit in a creative and fulfilling way that can make it feel less stressful. Source Link

You might find your purpose in life with help from a Japanese practice. Ikigai focuses on four things – what you have a passion for, what you’re good at, what you do that the world needs, and what you can be paid for. The intersection of these four elements can reveal a path to more happiness for you and more service to others. Source Link

You have two things to heat in the microwave and they both won’t fit on the tray, so think about cooking at a different level. Use a mason jar or other glass piece of kitchenware to prop up the second container of food and cook both together. Just remember that you’ll probably need to increase cooking time. Source Link

Gut health is an important part of overall health and there are things you can do to keep that microbiome in good shape. Instead of popping a pill, eat foods that are rich in probiotics like plain yogurt, kimchi or sauerkraut. Get your daily quota of fiber and stay hydrated, and avoid ultra-processed foods with huge amounts of added sugar and sodium. Source Link

Preparing to paint means taping off those edges for a neat job, but how do you keep from getting paint on something round like a doorknob? Wrap it in aluminum foil. It’s a snap to get a perfect fit and the foil can be removed easily after the paint has dried. Source Link

It’s a twist on the old idea to beat sleeplessness by counting sheep. If you suffer from insomnia caused by stress, try counting every breath you take and count up as far as you can. Another technique to get back to sleep is to stare at a point on the wall until your eyelids get so heavy you have to close them. Source Link

Putting an end to a messy house may take just 15 minutes a day. Find a cleaning task for each day of the week that takes 15 minutes or less. This could be your desk, fridge, closet, pantry, or a bookshelf, or break down the tasks of cleaning something like a bathroom into 15-minute segments. Doing this daily will make cleaning a habit. Source Link

Managing a handful of basic auto maintenance tasks can help get your car well over 100,000 miles. Change the oil to manufacturer’s specifications, every 3,000 to 10,000 miles. Replace tires after 40,000 miles and brake pads after 30,000 miles. Shocks and struts usually need replacement after 80,000 miles and new spark plugs are needed at 100,000 miles. Source Link