People can sleep better when they lose belly fat
Drop a few pounds and it will lead to a good night’s sleep, new Johns Hopkins research has found.
As the body loses fat, particularly belly fat, people are able to sleep better, Hopkins doctors found when following 77 people over six months.
The improvement in sleep quality was experienced by those who lost weight through diet as well as those who combined a healthy diet with exercise.
Study participants had type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes and were all overweight or obese. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups — one focused on diet, the other exercise and diet. Both groups lost about 15 pounds on average and 15 percent of belly fat.
Good sleep is important for good overall health, including both physical and mental, the Hopkins scientists said.
The study was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
— Andrea K. Walker
The Baltimore Sun
Coupons of more value than political candidates
In a recent survey on Facebook, RedPlum found that 86 percent of Americans plan to spend more time researching coupons, deals and savings than researching political candidates.
Let me save you some time with my Super Saving Sites:
• Upromise and SavingStar: Both websites allow shoppers to download e-coupons to their loyalty cards. Money saved from Upromise can go toward educational expenses; savings from SavingStar can be deposited to your banking or PayPal account.
• Retailmenot.com: This is my first stop before buying anything online or at a store. I feel this site offers the best and most reliable coupon codes and printable in-store coupons.
• RedPlum.com: Not only do they offer great printable grocery, drugstore and restaurant coupons, they also provide money-saving advice and a list of current free offers.
• Nextag.com: Lets shoppers compare prices between retailers.
• DealSaver.com and Groupon.com: Deals on massages, mani/pedis, restaurants and more, usually at 50 percent off.
— Tara McAlister
The Charlotte Observer
Hints from Heloise:
Ask host about bedding
Q: When I stay at a friend’s home overnight, I casually make the bed I slept in the next morning. I don’t make it up perfectly, but I put everything back in place.
Recently, a friend of mine invited me to her home overnight. I made the bed up the next morning. After the fact, this friend told me that she expects her guests to pull all the sheets and blankets off, leaving them for her to pick up later and launder.
I never heard of such a thing. Maybe you have an opinion on the proper way to handle this. — Nancy in Ohio
A: My opinion is to ask your host, but like you, I usually “slightly” make the bed. I also do this every day that I’m there. I asked my good friend Peggy Post, etiquette expert, and she suggests asking hosts if you should strip the bed before doing it. A host may prefer that you do what you did and make up the bed.
Typically, removing used bedding is a courtesy to the host. Take everything off the bed and fold the sheets. Pull whatever covering is used up over the bare mattress and leave the folded sheets at the bottom of the bed.
— King Features
