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Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2563 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Saving Water: Easy As 1-2-3 A Little Milk Could Go A Long Way For Your Heart (NAPSA)—As little as one glass of low-fat or fat-free milk could help protect your heart, according to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition—and other research suggests it could be good for your kidneys. Researchers found that adults who had at least one serving of low-fat milk or milk products each day had 37 percent lower odds of poor kidney function linked to heart disease compared to those who drank little or no low-fat milk. The National Kidney Foundation estimates that kidney disease affects about 26 million Americans —and kidney disease is both a cause and a consequence of cardiovascular disease, the No. 1 killer of Americans. Milk provides nine essential nutrients, including calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D, protein and potassium. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend drinking three glasses of low-fat or fat-free milk each day. Frozen Chocolate-Covered Cherry Smoothie Yield: 6 servings 4 cups fat-free or low-fat milk 2 cups pitted and halved sweet cherries 4 Tbsp chocolate syrup 2 tsp almond extract Place 2 cups of fat-free milk in a zip-sealing plastic bag. Place cherries in another zipsealing plastic bag; drizzle cherries with chocolate syrup and mix well. Place both sealed bags in the freezer; freeze until lightly frozen. When you are ready to prepare the smoothies, remove bags from the freezer, checking to make sure they are lightly frozen. Place frozen milk and cherries in blender. Pour remaining 2 cups of milk The Return Of Slow Communication (NAPSA)—In a world of e-mails, texts and tweets, John Freeman, author of “The Tyranny of E-mail: The Four-Thousand-Year Journey to Your Inbox,” wants to create a “slow communication movement.” Said Freeman, “The difference between typing an e-mail and writing a letter or memo by hand is akin to walking on concrete versus strolling on grass. You forget how natural it feels until you do it.” Drink up. Delicious smoothies could help protect your heart and kidney health. into blender; add almond extract. Blend until mixture is at smoothie consistency. If desired, blend smoothies in 2 batches. Serve immediately. Dark Chocolate–Covered Strawberry Smoothie Yield: 2 servings 3 cups fresh whole strawberries, sliced (2 cups sliced) 1 cup fat-free milk 1 ⁄3 cup low-fat plain yogurt 2 tsp honey (optional) 1 ⁄2 tsp vanilla extract (optional) 1 ⁄2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder In a single layer on a plate, freeze the sliced strawberries for at least 1 hour (or overnight). Add the frozen strawberry, milk, yogurt and, if using, the honey and vanilla to a blender container. Cover and pure until smooth. Pour into 2 tall chilled glasses. Sprinkle the top of each smoothie with the cocoa powder. Recipe by Jackie Newgent, RD, award-winning author of “The AllNatural Diabetes Cookbook.” According to famed etiquette expert Emily Post, thank-you notes are a must following overnight visits, gifts received and in response to notes of condolence. Added Stephanie Roeder, card stylist for leading card and stationery maker www.Shutterfly.com, personalized communications needn’t be daunting. “Set up a communications station with two sets of your favorite stationery, nice pens, personalized address labels and a booklet of stamps. Then, when the occasion arises, it’s easy to send a thoughtful note.” Her company offers hundreds of personalized cards and stationery designs for any occasion. “There’s no need to wait for a special occasion to connect with friends,” Roeder concluded. “Simply write anytime and say ‘hi.’” (NAPSA)—Drip. Drip. Drip. The average American household wastes more than 10,000 gallons each year from easy-to-fix water leaks, adding up to more than one trillion gallons of water lost annually nationwide. Many of these leaks have do-it-yourself fixes that could cost only a few dollars to address. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense program is encouraging homeowners to find and fix leaks to save more than 10 percent on utility bills now and help save water for future generations. 1. Find Leaks: Winter water use can be an indicator of household leaks. If use exceeds 12,000 gallons per month for a family of four, chances are good that you have a leak. Walk around your home with eyes and ears open to find leaks, and don’t forget to check pipes. Reveal a silent toilet leak by adding a few drops of food coloring to the tank and wait 15 minutes without flushing. If bowl water changes color, your toilet has a leak. Flush afterwards to avoid staining the bowl or tank. 2. Fix Leaks: Many times, fixing leaks can be done yourself and doesn’t have to cost a thing. Both faucets and showerhead connections can be tightened or sealed. For leaky toilets, the rubber flapper inside the tank is often the culprit. Over time, the flapper decays, but replacing it only costs a few dollars. If you don’t feel comfortable with these repairs, a licensed contractor can help. Irri- gation systems and outdoor spigots can also have leaks. A WaterSense irrigation partner who is certified in water-efficient irrigation technologies and techniques can ensure your irrigation system works properly. 3. Save Water: Dripping faucets can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year, a showerhead leaking 10 drips per minute about 500 gallons per year, and running toilets 200 gallons or more each day. Fixing household leaks not only saves water, but also energy and money on utility bills. If you need to replace plumbing fixtures, save even more water by replacing them with WaterSenselabeled models. WaterSense labels toilets, faucets, urinals and—coming soon—showerheads that use at least 20 percent less water and are independently tested and certified to perform as well as or better than standard plumbing fixtures. For more information and tips about how to save water, visit www.epa.gov/watersense. Note to Editors: Fix a Leak Week is March 15-21, 2010. Additional graphics and information are available from the WaterSense Helpline at watersense@epa.gov or (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367).
