Beech Tree News Network

Media provides information. We are bombarded with so much information that it’s hard to sort through it to find what we need to know. This past week, I came across three things worth sharing.

New magazine:  As a fan of HGTV’s show Fixer Upper, I was excited to read the preview issue of The Magnolia Journal magazine from Chip and Joanna Gaines. Based on this preview, the magazine should provide good reading, featuring information about fixing up the home with plenty of pictures and a few recipes as well – always a bonus.
 
Retirement:  An MSN article, “10 Retirement Stats Every Baby Boomer Should Know” (Maurie Backman, The Motley Fool), reported the following information:
•    Presently, the average beneficiary gets $1,360 a month in Social Security payments, which equates to an annual income of $16,320. Social Security was designed to replace roughly 40% of the average worker's pre-retirement income.
•    Almost half of retirees wind up spending more money once they stop working, not less. The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) reported that 46% of retired households increase their spending during the first two years of retirement, and for 33%, this pattern continues for six years. The EBRI found this data to be consistent across all income levels.
•    A growing number of seniors are working longer and retiring later. Many have to extend their careers in an effort to sock away extra money and stretch their existing nest eggs. According to a recent study by human resources consulting firm Willis Towers Watson, almost 25% of Americans think they won't be able to retire until age 70 or older. Even worse, 5% don't think they'll ever manage to retire at all.
•    Yet, in a recent Transamerica study, 90% of retirees said that they're enjoying their lives despite the financial challenges retirement typically presents.
For more information, go to http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/retirement/10-retirement-stats-every-baby....

Health facts: As I waited for my wellness visit with my primary care provider, I read some health-related information, then later searched the web for more details. Three health topics caught my attention:
•    Babies in homes with dogs have fewer colds, fewer ear infections, and need fewer antibiotics in their first year of life than babies raised in pet-free homes, Finnish researchers found. Homes with cats are healthier for babies, too, but not to the same extent as those with dogs (http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/news/20120709/many-babies-healthier-...).
•    The American Heart Association recommends that all children – age 2 and older – participate in at least 60 minutes of enjoyable, moderate-intensity physical activities every day. The 60 minutes may be broken into smaller intervals throughout the day (http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/HealthyKids/ActivitiesforKid...).
•    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that individuals consume no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, and that certain groups limit intake to 1,500 milligrams per day (http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/fda-recommended-sodium-intake-1873.html).  And the Institute of Medicine (http://www.drtytus.com/recommended-sodium-intake.html) recommended sodium intake for age groups accordingly:
- 1000 mg for children aged 1 to 3
- 1200 mg for children aged 4 to 8
- 1500 mg for people aged 9 to 50
- 1300 mg for adults aged 51 to 70
- 1200 mg for seniors aged 70+ 
My health care provider advised that adults consume less than 2,000 milligrams of sodium per day. Of course, chips are one of our salty favorites. The only one I had in the house today was Cheetos Puffs – popular with my grandchildren, and one serving (13 pieces) contains 300 mg of sodium. Additional information about salty foods may be found at http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/protect-your-heart-17/slideshow-salt-....

John Naisbitt said, “We are drowning in information but starved for knowledge” (https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/information.html). Our media sources certainly provide information. And Dick Gregory said, “There is a limit on how much information you can keep bottled up” (https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/information.html). I agree with Mr. Gregory.