Give the green light to energy-saving appliances

With rising energy costs and the increased output of harmful emissions, it seems nearly impossible to do your part for the planet without spending a lot of money. In short, going green feels like it costs too much green.

But believe it or not, products are out there that are both effective and affordable — saving the average home around $80 per year. So whether it's a new refrigerator or a simple ceiling fan, we'll show you how to select and buy the right energy efficient products.

What to look for

Nonrenewable energy sources such as fossil fuels and nuclear power make up about 90 percent of electricity use in U.S. homes. By using more efficient products, you can consume less electricity, help reduce pollution and save money. You can identify these products by looking for specific labels, such as ENERGY STAR® and EnergyGuide.

Although some energy-efficient appliances are more expensive, the overall savings in operating costs ultimately pays off the initial purchase price. Here, we've outlined some of the features and functions you should look for when shopping for "green" products.

Clothes washers and dryers

• Features such as automatic water level controls, "suds savers," adjustable spin cycle and large capacity that reduce water use
• Horizontal-axis washers, which can save 6,000 gallons of water a year
• Dryer units with moisture sensors — they save energy and your clothes
• Gas dryers — they cost a little more than electric but are cheaper to operate

Dishwashers

• Features such as booster heaters and smart controls — they reduce water use

Electronics

• Power management features for remote controls and channel memory, which save energy when you're not using them

Home office equipment

• Power management features — they trigger a low-power "sleep" mode when not in use
• Cordless phone models with "smart" chargers and switch-mode power supply circuits

Refrigerators and freezers

• Refrigerators with top or bottom freezers (not side-by-side) — they're naturally more efficient
• Heavy door hinges for a better seal
• Manual defrost, which use up to 50 percent less energy than automatic units
• No through-the-door dispensers and automatic ice makers — they consume more energy, are more expensive and often need repair

Residential lighting

• Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which use up to 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer

Room air conditioners

• Correctly sized units — they're naturally more efficient

Water heaters

• Low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators, which can cut water consumption in half
• Electric heaters with an Energy Factor (EF) rating of about 0.95, gas heaters with ratings of 0.06 or better and oil heaters with ratings of at least 0.5

BUILD A BETTER MARRIAGE

Marriage may be a two-way street, but that doesn't mean you should travel in opposite directions. Experts know what steers good marriages; here are some couple-strengthening tips:

TALK, BUT DON'T TALK BACK. Tell your partner how you feel and what you need. When you're the listener, don't criticize, debate, dismiss or problem-solve. Recognise that your partner's concerns are as important as yours.

BE OPTIMISTIC. Keep your comments positive - even when discussing problems - and make the efforts to remember and appreciate the good in your relationship.

LEARN TO LEAVE AN ARGUMENT before it's out of control. Tactics include cracking a joke, showing appreciation and backing down.

SHARE YOUR DREAMS. And find a way to help your spouse realize his or hers.

BE FLEXIBLE. When your souse asks you to be accommodating, try.

GO ON DATE. Couples need time as twosomes, to reconnect.

SPREAD THE LAUGHTER

Humour is a contagious condition that's good for you to catch..

Laughter reduces stress, improves memory and helps keep our hearts healthy. The ability to laugh is hard-wired into our systems, and new research shows that it's not only good for us, it's contagious. There's a reason sitcoms are funnier when we're in a group: when we see someone laugh, our brain seems to activate "mirror neurons" that send us into the same fit of laughter.
A little fun can lead to a more positive approach in everyday situations, says psychologist Kelly McGonigal. She teaches guided laughter, a group technique in which you prep your body for the physical work of laughter to reap the benefits: joy and social interaction. "all the efforts we put into reducing stress we ought to put into laughing," McGonigal says. A good giggle helps you:

Scorch kilojoules. Laughing for 10 to 15 minutes increases your heart rate by 10-20%, which means you can burn an extra 40-165k a day. Over a year, that can add up to a around two kilograms in weight loss.

Ease pain. In a US study, experts discovered that children tolerated pain better than usual when watching a funny tv programme.

Stay healthy. Humour increases the production and effectiveness of natural killer cells that stomp out germs. These cells are elevated for at least 12 hours after just an hour of watching, say, Will Ferrell run around inhis underwear.

FRESH IS BEST

Enjoy the taste and great health, while saving money and creating minimal impact on the environment.
PREPARE vegetables just before eating or cooking. Once cut, they start to lose vitamins. Soaking cut vegetables in water also leaches nutrients. Seal cut, unused portions tightly in a plastic bag in the fridge.
DRINK fresh fruit and vegetable juices within three to four hours of squeezing. The longer you leave juice exposed to the air, the more it oxidizes and begins to lose important nutritional value. Consider adding same of the pulp in - it's high in fibre.
RIPEN fruit at room temperature away from direct sunlight, which can destroy nutrients such as vitamins A and C. Refrigeration inactivates the ripening process.
BRUSH UP on correct storage procedures - they help maintain freshness. Your grocer and butcher can advise you on the best methods and will often provide leaflets on storage ideas and preparation tips.
Eat meat and fish within two days of purchase. Refrigerate or freeze fish as soon as possible - the high fatty acid content deteriotes. quickly. Always store meat and fish in the lowest part of the fridge or in the chiller compartment to stop juices dripping onto other refrigerated contents, such as vegetables
WHEN SHOPPING, think about your week's menu and plan to eat the most perishable items first. Leafy greens and herbs have a high water content and tend to go limb and lose their crunch very quickly, whileripe berries and stone fruit bruise easily. Root vegetables, pumpkins, brocolli, apples and oranges, for example, are hardier and last longer if stored correctly...RDFOOD

LARGE WAIST MAY UP WOMEN'S DEATH RISK

New York (reuters health) - Women with large bellies may die earlier or heart disease and cancer that other women, regardless of their weight, a large US study suggests.
The findings, reported in the medical journal circulation, add to evidence that when it comes to health risk, overall weight is not as important as where a person carries the fat.
Pas studies have found that "apple-shaped" people appear to be at particular risk of clogged arteries, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Abdominal obesity has also been linked to certain cancers, such as kidney cancer and colon cancer.
In the new study, researchers at the National Institutes of Health and Harvard Medical School found that middle-aged and older women who were abdominally obese - with a waistline of 35 inches or more - were more likely that their thinner counterparts to die of heart disease or cancer during the study period.
The results highlights the importance of staying trim around the middle as we age, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Cullin Zhang of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Chocolate may lower pregnancy complication

NEW YORK (REUTERS HEALTH) - Indulging in chocolate during pregnancy could help ward off a serious complication known as preeclampsia, new research suggests.
Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is rich in a chemical called theobromine, which stimulates the heart, relaxes smooth muscle, and dilates blood vessels, and has been used to treat chest pain, high blood pressure, and hardening of the arteries, Dr. Elizabeth W Triche of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut and colleagues write.
Preeclampsia, in which blood pressure spikes during pregnancy while excess protein is released into the urine, has many features in common with heart disease, the researchers add.
Women who ate five or more servings of chocolate each week in their third trimester of pregnancy were 40 percent less likely to develop preeclampsia than those who ate chocolates less than once a week.

SEAT BELTS SAFE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - A pregnant woman who wears a seat belt greatly reduces the risk that her baby will die or be seriously hurt in a vehicle crash, according to the University of Michigan researcher's study that debunks the notion that seat belts are harmful to the fetus.
"Seat belts absolutely protect the fetus - and not wearing a belt is a big problem," Dr. Mark Pearlman, who led the study, said.
Pearlman offered some tips on the proper way for pregnant women to wear seat belts.
He said the lap strap should be placed under the belly as much as possible, across the hips. The shoulder strap should be placed between the breasts and to the side of the belly.
Seat belts straps should not go directly across the stomach and should be below the belly button as low they can comfortably go. And the seat belt should be snug, not loose.