Alzheimer's Risk

Uh-oh – now our tap water might be increasing our risk of Alzheimer’s.

There is no doubt that Alzheimer’s disease is on the rise and now there is some evidence suggesting that we could be drinking it. Scientists are concerned about the levels of inorganic copper found in nutritional supplements and in our tap water. Too much copper has been found to worsen symptoms in those with Alzheimer’s and could be injuring our brain cells.

As scary as that sounds, the good news is that it’s relatively easy to avoid getting excess copper. If you drink water from the tap, invest in a filtering system or in a simple filtered pitcher like Brita. These are effective at removing copper and other unnecessary elements from tap water. It’s also a good idea to check your vitamins and supplements and opt for those without copper in the ingredients. A little copper is fine but most of us get plenty through our regular diets.

Just Like Mom

Are you really becoming your mother? 

Nice to see ya, wouldn’t want to be ya. If the mom you love gets on your nerves from time to time, it’s perfectly normal. According to Judy Kuriansky, author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to a Healthy Relationship,” it’s not unusual for some daughters develop a fear of becoming their mother as they age, which can put a strain on the relationship. Judy says the first step is to recognize that fear. Those annoying traits such as moodiness, nosiness, or whatever irks you are likely some attributes you secretly dislike in yourself. 

While you may or may not have inherited her traits, it’s important to remember to accept your mother for who she is, just as she has had to accept you for who you are through all of your many stages in life.

Salsa Relief

Let’s hear it for salsa! 

Salsa is not only delicious and festive – it’s good for what ails you. The next time you overdo it with activity or yard work, schedule a salsa siesta. The red and orange produce that goes into salsa can help to relax sore muscles and ease the nervous system. 

The most effective salsa ingredients are any fruits and vegetables in that color range, including tomato, peppers, carrots, berries, mango and melon. If you like it hot, even better. The capsaicin in hot chili peppers is a proven pain killer.

Shades in Style

What shape are your sunglasses? 

Before you invest in your new sunglasses for this summer, make sure they match your face. Jenn Falik, style expert for the Vision Council of America has the perfect shape of shades for the shape of your face:

• Why the long face? If your face is oblong, you’ll want smaller angular or horizontal lines. They help balance things out.

• If you’re a square, you’ll need to soften things up with curvy frames or oval lenses.

• If you’ve got a round face, strong angular frames are the way to go to slim your cheeks a bit.

• If you’re an oval, you’re in luck. They all look good on you so you can’t go wrong.

Working Nouns

Check your resume. There are probably too many verbs on there. 

There is a lot of advice out there about words NOT to use on your resume. So which ones should be on there? Nouns, and lots of them. According to Karen Burns, author of “The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl,” most of us waste precious resume space with too many verbs and adjectives like “achieved” or “skilled.” Karen says employers and their software scan resumes for certifications, degrees, job titles and products, all nouns. 

If you’re at a loss for nouns, check the job description. It’s crucial that your resume contains some of the exact words and phrasing that the description has. If you see any specific nouns more than once, make sure to include them on your resume as much as possible. Those are most likely the words their eyes or software is are scanning for.