Most people think that as you get older so does your brain. You can now set aside everything you believe about how your brain works with age. A recent study on this subject is mind-boggling. "Long-standing wisdom has been that brain function is destined to decline as we age," says Elizabeth Zelinski, PhD, a professor at the University of Southern California. "The good news is, that's simply not true." In fact, research now suggest you have a good chance of keeping your brain sharp if you commit to the right kind of concentrated effort. Scientist have recently came up with the term "brain plasticity" which means you can improve your brain function at any age.
Since the science is still new and evolving there is some controversy over how to build and maintain your brain. However there is a common agreement that in order to enhance brain function, activities must be both stimulating and challenging. Exercise your brain by doing crossword puzzles, learning to play a new instrument, play catch, etc.
One of the daily life activities that can benefit significantly from enhanced brain fitness is driving. This is good news for both older drivings and concerned adult children of older drivers. A car can swerve into your lane or a driver in front of you can clam on the brakes. A few millisecond in your reaction time can make the difference between a scare and a bad crash. That is why it is important to take an active role in staying safe on the road as you age.
For more information on brain fitness including fun activities to test your brain power visit. http://www.hartfordbrainfitness.com/
At CIS we are committed to taking care of our clients and providing them with the most accurate and up to date information. This blog is just one small step to informing you as a driver on how to stay safe and sharpen your brain.
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Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Product Shelf Life
Here is a quick guide to the shelf life of common items and when to change them. Here is a rundown of the goods most of us hang on to for far too long. Batteries and food aren't the only household items that have a limited shelf life. Check this list and if you need to, make the switch. Some items could cause an accident or serious damage.
Motor oil: 5,000 to 20,000 miles (or as recommended in your owner's manual)
Consider using synthetic oils. Yes, they are more expensive but they do a better job of protecting your engine from heat and wear on certain kinds of cars.
Smoke alarm: 10 years
The National Fire Protection Association recommends replacing your smoke alarms every 10 years. Make a hash mark on it every time you replace the batteries, which should be annually. If you have 10 marks, it's time to go shopping.
Vitamins: 3 years (if there's no expiration date on the bottle)
The active ingredients in vitamins break down over time, causing the pills to lose their potency.
Toothbrush: 3 to 4 months
Old brushes may harbor bacteria, increasing your risk of gingivitis. Plus, frayed and splayed bristles do an inferior job of scraping plaque. Also consider buying a new brush after you've had a cold or the flu.
Contact lens case: 3 months
You'll reduce your risk of eye infections from parasites and fungi that grow in the case.
Pillow: 1 year
Mattress: 9 to 10 years
You flatten the coils over time. A lumpy mattress can stress your back.
Bedsheets: 1 to 2 weeks (wash)
Germs from your skin, mouth, and nose multiply on dirty sheets and can cause respiratory, gastrointestinal, skin, and eye infections. It's best to wash linens in hot water.
Running shoes: 7 months (if running 10 to 19 miles a week)
Shoes lose their shock absorption and stability, putting you more at risk of knee and ankle injuries.
Passwords: 30 to 90 days
Hacking programs can zip through 30,000 words in one second. For a password that is tough to crack yet still easy to remember, convert a sentence into letters and numbers. For example, turn "I want to go to Maui in 2014" into "iw2g2m4"
Motor oil: 5,000 to 20,000 miles (or as recommended in your owner's manual)
Consider using synthetic oils. Yes, they are more expensive but they do a better job of protecting your engine from heat and wear on certain kinds of cars.
Smoke alarm: 10 years
The National Fire Protection Association recommends replacing your smoke alarms every 10 years. Make a hash mark on it every time you replace the batteries, which should be annually. If you have 10 marks, it's time to go shopping.
Vitamins: 3 years (if there's no expiration date on the bottle)
The active ingredients in vitamins break down over time, causing the pills to lose their potency.
Toothbrush: 3 to 4 months
Old brushes may harbor bacteria, increasing your risk of gingivitis. Plus, frayed and splayed bristles do an inferior job of scraping plaque. Also consider buying a new brush after you've had a cold or the flu.
Contact lens case: 3 months
You'll reduce your risk of eye infections from parasites and fungi that grow in the case.
Pillow: 1 year
Mattress: 9 to 10 years
You flatten the coils over time. A lumpy mattress can stress your back.
Bedsheets: 1 to 2 weeks (wash)
Germs from your skin, mouth, and nose multiply on dirty sheets and can cause respiratory, gastrointestinal, skin, and eye infections. It's best to wash linens in hot water.
Running shoes: 7 months (if running 10 to 19 miles a week)
Shoes lose their shock absorption and stability, putting you more at risk of knee and ankle injuries.
Passwords: 30 to 90 days
Hacking programs can zip through 30,000 words in one second. For a password that is tough to crack yet still easy to remember, convert a sentence into letters and numbers. For example, turn "I want to go to Maui in 2014" into "iw2g2m4"
Best Before When?
Food shoppers frequently believe "best before" "expires on" and "sell by" dates are one and the same. They're not. And much of the time, these dates are indicators of food quality, not safety. Here's what you need to know about the shelf life of your groceries.
Best Before and Use By:
Typically found on shelf'-stable products, such as condiments and canned food, these dates refer to how long the item will remain at its best quality when unopened. If the date has passed, look, sniff and taste the item to gauge its quality. Most items, once opened should be tightly sealed and stored in the refrigerator.
Sell By:
Found on perishables, the sell-by date lets grocers know how long they can keep items on their shelves. Consumers can safely store the product at home use the food after this time. For example, refrigerated poultry can be used up to two days past the sell-by date and milk may still be good up to a week later.
Expires On:
Toss any food item-unopened or not- after this expiration date has passed.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Be Prepared for Labor Day Weekend!
We want to wish everyone a fun and safe labor day weekend. We know many of you will be doing one last road trip or camping trip to wrap up the summer season. When taking long road trips or driving up the mountains it is important to be prepared for anything. At CIS we have come up with a car emergence kit. Having an emergency preparedness kit in your car is sort of like having good insurance. You hope you'll never need it-but boy are you glad it's there on road trips if you have an accident or need to help others.
Emergency kits with most essentials cost $30 to $100 at stores that sell auto accessories. You can also assemble your own kit in case of an emergency, heres what you should include.
Use a sturdy canvas bag with handles or a plastic bin to store your emergency preparedness kit and secure it so it doesn't roll or move when the car is moving. Include the following:
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Emergency kits with most essentials cost $30 to $100 at stores that sell auto accessories. You can also assemble your own kit in case of an emergency, heres what you should include.
Use a sturdy canvas bag with handles or a plastic bin to store your emergency preparedness kit and secure it so it doesn't roll or move when the car is moving. Include the following:
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Cloth or roll of paper towels
- Jumper cables
- Blankets
- Flares or warning triangles
- Nonperishable snacks, such as energy or granola bars
- Drinking water
- Extra clothes
- First-aid kit
- Basic tool kit that includes screwdrivers, pliers and adjustable wrench
- Phone charger
- Auto-safety hammer
- Copy of insurance ID card
http://www.cisforyou.com/
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