135 Degrees

At the recent meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, researchers revealed some rather surprising findings. The ideal position in which to sit to reduce stress on the spine is leaning back at 135 degrees.

"Back pain, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, is the most common cause of work-related disability in the United States. It costs Americans nearly $50 billion annually. Sitting appears to be a major cause of this ailment."

So, if you're like me and have had back pain since getting out of college, consider tilting your desk, chair and computer 45 degrees, I guess...

Read the article here.

Make 'Em Laugh

Today's Nightingale-Conant Motivational Quote:

"Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritations and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place."

-Mark Twain

BofA

Bank of America has just entered the HSA market, having teamed up with Aetna. From the Charlotte Business Journal.

HSA News

For 2007, cost of living adjustments have been made to Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution limits, out-of-pocket maximums, and minimum deductibles for qualifying high deductible health insurance plans. For individuals, the minimum deductible is now $1,100, and for families, $2,200. The maximum yearly contributions for individuals and families will be $2,850 and $5,650, respectively.

businessinsurance.com

Cutting Through the Fat

Here is a great article, as usual, from Men's Health. The following pointers are described in detail in the article:

1. To lose weight, you must cut calories

2. Use whey to cut waist

3. Meat kills fat

4. Remember these letters: BCAA

5. If it's fryin', you're dyin'

6. Food goes farther with fiber

7. Count on calcium

8. Alpha males use omega-3 fats

9. Make a plan

Aloha

A 40-year study of 6,000 Japanese-Americans from Hawaii has yielded some predictable findings. One increases dramatically one's chances of living up to or past age 85 by having a low-calorie diet, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, not smoking or drinking excessively, and by being married.

"The nine mid-life risk factors were: being overweight, meaning a body-mass index of 25 or more; having high blood glucose levels, which can lead to diabetes; having high triglyceride levels, which contribute to heart disease; having high blood pressure; having low grip strength _ unable to squeeze at least 86 pounds of pressure with a handheld device; smoking; consuming three or more alcoholic drinks daily; not graduating from high school; and being unmarried.

"'These risk factors can be easily measured in a clinical setting and are, for the most part, modifiable,' the researchers said."

You can find the article on the Washington Post site here.

The Latte Factor

David Bach, author of "The Automatic Millionaire", discusses his "latte factor" in an article on Nightingale-Conant's website. A woman named Kim who attended the Bach's personal finance seminar complained that she didn't earn enough to save, and was not participating in the 401(k) available to her through work.

"If Kim took her $5.00-a-day latte allowance and put it into her 401(k) plan instead, by the time she turned 65 she would have approximately $1,742,767 saved for retirement."

You can read the complete article here.

Monkeys!!! (and low-calorie diets)

Researchers have some startling results from their study of rhesus monkeys, and the effects of low-calorie diets versus standard ones.

"This approach, called calorie restriction, involves eating about 30 percent fewer calories than normal while still getting adequate amounts of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Aside from direct genetic manipulation, calorie restriction is the only strategy known to extend life consistently in a variety of animal species."

Read the New York Times article here.