Newsletter

Make the Most of Your Flex Account in 2012 Before the Cap 

The medical flexible spending account rules will change in 2013, when the maximum amount employees can stash in a medical FSA will be capped at $2,500 per year. Currently the maximum limit varies by plan, but many employers allow employees to set aside $4,000 or more in these pretax accounts for medical expenses. You can sign up for your 2012 contributions during open-enrollment season this fall.

In light of the impending change, however, you can make the most of your FSA in 2012. If you’ve been thinking of having an elective medical procedure done that’s not fully covered by insurance -- such as laser eye surgery for you or orthodontia for your kids -- you might want to schedule it before the FSA limit changes, so you’ll have access to more tax-free money.

And, if you plan carefully, you may have an even bigger stash of tax-free money to use for out-of-pocket medical expenses during the first 2½ months of 2012 or 2013. If your employer extends the deadline for using FSA funds to March 15 of the following year, rather than December 31, you can combine any funds remaining from the previous year with the entire amount you earmark for the current year -- even though the full amount has not yet been deducted from your paycheck. If, for example, you have $1,000 left over from 2011 and you sign up to contribute $4,000 to your FSA for 2012, you may be able to use $5,000 in tax-free money to pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses from January 1 to March 15, 2012.

*from www.Kiplingers.com

If you’re a curry & coconut milk lover, this dish is for you!
If you want to go meatless, just substitute eggplant, extra firm tofu or faux chicken. 
If you want to make this recipe even easier on yourself, use rotisserie chicken (just take the skin off)!
If you want to make this recipe even more healthful, add chopped zucchini at the end of Step 3.

Ingredients
2 cups water
4 cups canned light coconut milk (approx two 14-oz cans)
1-1/2 tsp salt (use less salt if you’re using rotisserie chicken)
2 cups uncooked couscous (approx a 10-oz box)
2 Tbsp flour
2 Tbsp curry powder
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut in 1/2-inch strips
4 tsp vegetable oil
2 cups julienne carrots
2/3 cup raisins (or any dried fruit)
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

1.       Combine water, ½ cup coconut milk & ¼ tsp salt in a medium sauce pan.  Bring to a boil, gradually stir in couscous, remove from heat, cover & let stand.  After 5 minutes, remove cover & fluff with fork.  Set aside.

2.       Combine flour, curry powder & remaining 1-1/4 tsp salt in a ziplock bag.  Add chicken, seal & toss gently to coat. 

3.       Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat.  Add chicken & stir-fry for 5 minutes.  Add carrots, raisins & remaining 3-1/2 cups coconut milk;  reduce heat & simmer for 7-10 minutes or until chicken is done, stirring occasionally. 

4.       Serve over couscous & garnish with cilantro.  

          Makes 8 servings.  

*  Adapted from P90X Online Newsletter

Fluoride toothpaste is almost an automatic assumption now, because topically, it is easy to make your teeth stronger with no side effects.  But how effective is that fluoride when it is only on your teeth for 2 minutes?  Your body has a self cleaning system in place already.  Saliva has minerals to buffer out acidic foods, wash away debris and strengthen your teeth.  Your body assumes if it is foreign, it is bad.  For this reason your body can sometimes work against itself, by washing away fluoride or disinfecting products before they can reach maximum effectiveness. 

Enter the plastic tray.  Plastic trays are now being used for all kinds of purposes.  They can be used to move your teeth instead of metal braces; they can be retainers; they are used for whitening. If you have a tray for any of these purposes you can also apply topical vitamins to your teeth.  MI paste, ACP (amorphous calcium phosphate), desensitizers and antibacterial agents can all be applied to the teeth and made more effective with trays.  Trays allow these helpful products to build up the teeth without the natural washing effect of saliva taking them off.  The tray is not picky about what you put in it.  You can whiten your teeth in the evening then desensitize while sleeping with the same tray.  If you have trays around take another look at them. Even if your teeth are white enough already, reuse that tray and make them stronger.     

Keeping your teeth longer is another reason to quit smoking. According to the ADA, 42% of daily smokers age 65 or older were completely toothless, compared with 29% of occasional smokers, 26% of former smokers and only 20% of never-smokers in the same age group.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Infant Dental Care 

Do’s 
Visit your dentist regularly (even during pregnancy)
Take prenatal vitamins during pregnancy
Clean baby’s mouth after feeding or bottle
Ask doctor about fluoride supplements for your baby
Bring baby to the dentist when the first tooth erupts
Start brushing baby’s teeth right away
Help your child brush and floss until they can effectively do it on their own
 Help your child develop healthy eating habits

Don’ts
Do not postpone dental treatment for yourself (especially during pregnancy)
Do not let your baby fall asleep during breast or bottle feeding\
Do not let your child snack on unhealthy foods and beverages
Do not pass cavity-causing germs to your baby (this can happen when items such as cups, spoons and toothbrushes are shared)  

Oral Health and Diabetes*

Bleeding gums, dry mouth, fungal infections, cavities -- these oral signs might clue your dentist into a serious health issue: diabetes. And these symptoms also might suggest other serious conditions, such as HIV and leukemia.

"Diabetes is the one disease that we know can have a direct impact on infections in the bones and gums around the teeth," says Sally Cram, DDS, consumer adviser for the American Dental Association.

Diabetes and your mouth have blood sugar in common. If blood sugar levels are out of control in your body , they're out of control in your mouth. With sugar to feed on, bacteria find a happy home in which to grow and thrive.

A person with diabetes has more mouth woes to worry about: Uncontrolled diabetes reduces the body's first line of defense against infection, white blood cells, which can then put a person's oral health at risk. With bacteria teeming around the gums from high blood sugar levels, periodontal or gum disease is an easy next step.

Unfortunately, because diabetes lowers a person's resistance to infection, managing periodontal disease isn't easy.

"If you have diabetes and periodontal disease, you have to get your blood sugar levels under control for both the sake of your body and your mouth," says Cram.

Your dentist should be one of your best friends if you are among the 24 million Americans living with diabetes.  Frequent professional cleanings are important in helping to prevent or control periodontal disease, and home care requires flossing and brushing after every meal.

*From WebMD.com