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  • Do You Need Homeowner’s Insurance? The Facts

    Do You Need Homeowner’s Insurance? The Facts

    When you hear about homeowner’s insurance, you might be thinking “I don’t need that.” However, just because you’re not required to have homeowner’s insurance by law like you are with car insurance doesn’t mean you don’t “need” it. There are a number of reasons you should consider getting a homeowner’s insurance plan.

    Today we’re going over the kinds of things that are covered by homeowner’s insurance to help you make a wise decision. You spend a lot of money on a house: make sure it’s protected.

    What Homeowner’s Insurance Covers

    Homeowner’s insurance typically covers damage done to your home from unforeseen incidents. Keep in mind that this can change from policy to policy, of course. However, typically speaking, HO-2 homeowner’s insurance covers things like fires, storms, hail, wind and explosions. Most versions of homeowner’s insurance can also cover you against crimes, such as vandalism, theft and damage from riots.

    HO-3 homeowner’s insurance, on the other hand, covers pretty much any type of damage that could be done to your home and any type of property loss. HO-3 policies, of course, have some exceptions, so make sure you read up on any policy you’re considering thoroughly. HO-3 policies are also the most expensive type of insurance you can get for your home, though you can rest assured knowing your things are all insured.

    When it Might Be Required

    While homeowner’s insurance isn’t usually required by law, many homeowners are required to have it through their mortgage company. Unless your home was gifted to you by a relative or left to you in an inheritance, you likely have to finance the home with a mortgage. Except in very unusual circumstances, this means you will be required to insure the home.

    If you’re in a townhome community or a condo, your HOA might require you to insure the property, as well. This could mean you just need renter’s insurance, if the HOA has a master policy that covers the entire community. Otherwise, you’ll need conventional homeowner’s insurance. In either case, it’s still a good idea to have insurance, even if it’s not required.

    Why You Should Care

    You might be thinking “okay, this is all well and good, but why should I care?” Your home is one of the biggest financial investments you’ll ever make, possible across your lifetime. As such, it doesn’t make any sense for you to not take care of it. It’s where you and your family call home, it’s where you’ll make memories and raise kids. It’s an important place to cover!

    In the event that something bad happens to your home, like a fire or a break-in, you’ll be seriously kicking yourself if you don’t have insurance. The cost to cover your losses would likely be tremendous if you had to pay it out of pocket: likely significantly more than you would have saved not paying for a homeowner’s insurance policy.

    Liability and Belongings

    Another important aspect of homeowner’s insurance, and a big reason you might consider getting it, is that it covers your liability in case someone gets hurt on your property. Whether it’s someone just visiting, a person walking by or anything in between, if someone gets hurt on your property and wants to sue you, your insurance can cover it.

    Likewise, if someone steals your belongings, or they’re destroyed in an accident, your insurance will cover the loss. This is why doing home inventories and keeping a good track of all of your things is so important. If you’re a collector and have lots of high-dollar valuables in your home, this goes double. Make sure your property and your belongings are covered!


  • Preventing Porch Pirates: Protect your Packages

    Preventing Porch Pirates: Protect your Packages

    Porch pirates, or people who steal your packages off your front porch, are a serious problem in the age of Amazon. You’re likely to have dozens of packages delivered to your front door every year, and each one that gets dropped off while you’re at work is liable to be stolen by a ne’er-do-well. How can you protect your property and ensure your stuff doesn’t get pilfered?

    Protecting Your Packages from Porch Pirates

    Amazon Key

    One of the most direct ways to address this problem is to sign up for Amazon Key. A variant of the Amazon Cloud Cam, this service allows you to give Amazon delivery employees access to drop your packages off inside your home. You can use the Cloud Cam functionality and your smart home’s smart key to grant them entry to drop off your package, and then use the smart key to digitally lock back up when they leave.

    One of the best things about the Cloud Cam set up is that it allows you to see the delivery person, grant them access (or not) and then lock back up. You can see your home and your package the whole time, and there’s no chance for anyone to just slip up can easily steal off with your package: they’d have to just break into your home, which is far less likely.

    Box Lock

    A similar solution is to use a delivery box located on your porch to take your deliveries. If you have concerns about smart locks and letting strangers into your home, this is a similar alternative that locks your packages up without giving anyone access to your home. Firstly, you need a smart lock like BoxLock, or a similar product.

    BoxLock works by connecting to the paired app via wi-fi, allowing you to enter your pending deliveries. Then, when the delivery person arrives, they can use the BoxLock to scan the package, which temporarily unlocks it and allows them to put your package in the strongbox. Then, the lock automatically closes back up when they leave. This way, your packages are safely locked up, and no one had to enter your home.

    Security Cam

    A more old-school, and direct, way to deter (and detect) thieves is to just install a security camera. This does a few things that help secure your packages. Firstly, it acts as a strong deterrent: most thieves aren’t dedicated enough to stealing your stuff to hazard getting caught on camera doing so. Merely seeing the camera is usually enough to convince them to move on to another would-be victim.

    Secondly, and most directly, if they do go through with stealing your stuff, you’ll have video evidence of the event. You’ll be able to show the police the image of the person stealing your property, and this makes it that much more likely the person will get caught. You might even get your stuff back!

    Video Doorbell

    Along the same lines as a security camera, you could get a video doorbell service like Ring. These services are much more discreet in appearance than a security camera, though they’re great for keeping tabs on your home from a distance. Several video doorbells can be installed with motion detection, so they’ll ping you when someone is on your porch, and they can even start recording when someone walks up.

    Once you see that someone is on your porch, if it’s someone stealing your package, you can actually talk to them through most video doorbells. Often, this alone is enough to scare off petty crooks: hearing your voice, knowing they’re being watched, is typically a big enough scare to get them to move on to some other, less well-monitored mark.


  • Signs of Depression You Shouldn’t Ignore

    Signs of Depression You Shouldn’t Ignore

    Life isn’t easy: everyone has moments when they feel low, lonely or sad. That’s to be expected, and a bit of the blues is perfectly normal for someone to go through. However, when loneliness and sadness become so profound that you feel as though they’re impacting your ability to lead a fulfilling life, it’s time to seek help. Here are some of the biggest signs of depression you shouldn’t ignore.

    Sings of Depression You Shouldn’t Ignore

    Constant Fatigue

    If you feel like you’re always fighting an uphill battle to gain your energy and face the day, you might be experiencing a symptom of depression. Constant fatigue, sleeping all the time and shirking activities just to rest more could be a symptom of depression. Oversleeping all the time is bad for you for a number of reasons, both physically and socially.

    For one thing, if you’re always oversleeping, you’re encouraging your metabolism to be slower, your skin to be greasier and your organs to be less efficient. You’re also likely to abuse caffeine more in order to feel awake enough to face the day. Likewise, you’re more likely to sleep in too late and miss class or work if you’re always snoozing your alarms and sleeping longer than you should.

    Memory Loss

    An often overlooked and extremely distressing side effect of depression is memory loss. Many people who feel otherwise happy and normal might find themselves suffering from being “scatterbrained” and finding it hard to focus. Their main depression symptoms tend to be fatigue and a habit of forgetting information, both critical and frivolous.

    This memory loss is very distressing for people who don’t know why it’s occurring. Things like the time you need to be at class or at work, where you put your keys or phone, and even dates to meet friends or loved ones can slip the mind. Less commonly, memory loss from depression could include entire spans of time, though this kind of memory loss could be a symptom of other serious neurological disorders.

    Loss of Interest

    A pervasive and telltale sign of depression is a lack of interest in hobbies and activities you once found engaging. This loss of interest can cause you to stop doing things you once enjoyed, like playing sports or video games, painting or singing, and even reduce your interest in sex and relationships. The emotional state of people suffering this depression symptom can be described as malaise, resignation and helplessness.

    Loss of interest in the things once found interesting is a very telltale sign of depression as it is so unlikely to occur for other reasons. While people might occasionally just lose interest in an individual hobby or person, if they suddenly have no interest in any of their former passions, it’s a red flag that they should speak to their doctor about their symptoms.

    Negative Relationship to Food

    A huge indication of a burgeoning problem with depression is a negative relationship with food. This can include thinking about food too often, overeating, eating because you feel bored and indulging in food to ignore your emotions. Another way this can manifest is the opposite effect: some people suffering from depression are so disinterested in food that they simply don’t eat.

    If you find most of your time is spent thinking about food, or you’re not eating enough and don’t seem to feel hungry or have any desire for food, you could be suffering from depression symptoms. No matter what your symptoms are manifesting as, it’s vital that you speak to a medical professional about how you’re feeling. Whether it’s a doctor or a therapist, you can reach out for the resources available to you to help.


  • Best Bluetooth Speakers for Your Summer Cookout

    Best Bluetooth Speakers for Your Summer Cookout

    There’s nothing quite like having friends and family over in the backyard while you’re grilling burgers and hot dogs in the back. While you’re at it, why not throw on some great tunes to get the party really going? Today we’re looking at some of the best Bluetooth speakers for your summer cookout.

    We’re going to be looking into speakers based on a few criteria. Firstly, the price point is important, as we don’t want to break the bank. Secondly, sound quality is a big concern, of course. Finally, portability and waterproofing are important for any outdoor-use speaker you buy. Hopefully this helps you narrow it down. Let’s jam!

    Best Bluetooth Speakers

    UE Wonderboom

    It’s no secret that we love UE here at GoodFind: they make all-around incredible Bluetooth speakers. The Wonderboom, which has been around for a while, is now only around $50 at most retailers. For the price, it’s hard to beat the Wonderboom. It’s tiny and light, waterproof and dust-resistant, and it offers great 360-degree sound.

    The bass from this little ball of speaker is impressive, putting out loud and driving sound that doesn’t warp at higher volumes despite its size. If you’re looking for a portable and durable speaker that doesn’t break the bank and will sound great at a pool party, there’s little that beats the Wonderboom.

    Bose SoundLink Revolve

    Bose is well-known for their stellar sound quality, and the SoundLink Revolve is no exception. This great speaker runs for $200, making it a bit pricey, but it’s sure to impress your guests with its powerful sound and deep bass. The SoundLink also offers a wonderful 360-degree sound coverage, meaning it sounds great no matter where you are in the room.

    Notably, this speaker isn’t dust-resistant or waterproof, meaning you’ll need to be more careful with it than some speakers. It’s more of a home speaker, not great for traveling, due to its lack of waterproofing and less robust construction.

    JBL Charge 4

    JBL’s Charge 4 speaker is enormous and heavy, but it offers great bass and can even charge your phone from its huge battery. The Charge 4 might not be the best-sounding speaker, but it’s got a great price point, coming in at $150, and it’s plenty durable. If you’re looking for a modern answer to the classic boom box, this is for you.

    The Charge 4 is waterproof, too, making it a great option for pool parties. Kicking bass sound is great from this speaker, thanks to its large footprint and huge woofers. We wouldn’t recommend this speaker for things like hiking, but it’s great for a pool party where you might need to charge your phone!

    UE Boom 3

    Ultimate Ears is far and away the best Bluetooth speaker manufacturer out there. As such, it’s no surprise that the UE Boom 3 is the best Bluetooth speaker for the money. Whether you’re trying to fill a small space like a dining room with sound, or trying to cover a large back porch area, the Boom 3 has you covered. The sound is huge and rich, the bass kicks well and it just sounds great.

    As with nearly all UE speakers, it’s IP67 waterproof and dust proof, meaning you can toss it in the pool and have a laugh as it keeps kicking out killer sound. The speaker is light, coming in barely over a pound, but it’s still incredibly durable and great for throwing in a bag. You’re not worried about it getting jostled too much, and it’s also not going to weigh down your bag. For only $150, it’s one of the best values out there.


  • Combating Stress at the Workplace: Relaxing Techniques

    Combating Stress at the Workplace: Relaxing Techniques

    One of the most common causes of workplace depression and burnout is stress. If you find your work stressful and taxing, you might be looking for some ways to help reduce and manage your stress levels. It might feel difficult to do so when you’ve got tons of responsibilities and workplace stressors, but there are some techniques you can try to help yourself relax.

    How to Combat Workplace Stress

    Breathing Techniques

    Take a deep breath, and then slowly exhale it. Count to ten as you do so. Put all of your worries and issues out of your mind. Treat this breathing meditation as your way to expel stress from your body, breathing it out slowly and letting yourself relax. Repeat this technique a few times, as needed. You can also try to simply change your normal breathing pattern to be deeper and go on for longer.

    This practice is good for a number of reasons. The extra oxygen you take in from breathing deeply helps you to calm down by slowing your nervous system. Breathing deeply can activate your parasympathetic nervous system, allowing you to relax and calm your mind.

    Take a Walk

    If your workplace is conductive to it, take a walk. If not, try going for a walk before or after work. Just get out of your normal space and go for a stroll around your workplace, in your neighborhood or in a park. Just try to get out and take it easy. Walking is great because it allows you to do nothing at all, letting you be alone with your thoughts as you actively do nothing.

    Walks through your favorite areas are great for relaxing. This is because you’re able to slowly take in your surroundings, with no responsibilities bearing down on you. Unlike driving, which can be stressful, walking around aimlessly doesn’t include that same feeling of rushing that you get when going to work or to the store.

    Gum

    Chewing gum can be a great way to help you work out some stress. If you’re at work and feeling some pressure bearing down on you, pop out some gum and go to town. Chewing it allows you to work out nervous energy and aggression, chomping away while you focus and try to de-stress. Just make sure you’re not annoying the people around you.

    Make sure it’s a flavor you like, too! Mint tends to be a good calming flavor, while cinnamon might be a bit on the hot side for someone trying to relax. You know your preferences, so make it something that you know will help you to focus and relax.

    Stress Ball

    Keeping a stress ball or some similar object close at hand while you work can be a good way to directly address your stress. Squishy, resistant objects make great stress balls or stress devices, as they allow you to mush them and squish them without destroying them. People often feel restless and aggressive when they’re stressed out, so having a stress or worry ball to crush repeatedly can be rather healthy.

    Meditation

    Try to meditate when you need to clear your mind and center yourself. Meditation techniques take many different forms, from the overtly religious to the purely psychological. Whatever your beliefs, meditation has been proven to help people to relax and focus. Try a few simple meditation techniques that take only a few minutes. You can step away from your work duties for a moment, gather your thoughts and center yourself, then return to work feeling mentally reinvigorated. This not only helps your stress levels, but helps you to get your work done more efficiently.


  • Headache Pain Relief: Weathering the Worst Symptoms

    Headache Pain Relief: Weathering the Worst Symptoms

    If you’ve got a mean headache brewing under the surface, you know that horrible feeling. You begin to rub your temples, breath out your nostrils instead of in, and try to get away from loud noises and bright lights. Today we’re going to look at some of the best ways to get relief from your headache pain.

    Headache Pain Relief

    Over the Counter

    One of the most straightforward ways to deal with headache pain is to just take an over the counter pain reliever. These include NSAIDs, like ibuprofen and Tylenol. There are also headache powders you can take, which are usually loaded with caffeine and other ingredients, to help reduce your headache symptoms.

    Dedicated headache relief medicine also exists. These tend to be a great way to throw pain relief directly at whatever type of headache you’ve got brewing. The downside to these types of medication is that they don’t work right away. You’ll often have to wait for as long as two or three hours for your body to metabolize the medicine for it to take effect. For quicker-acting relief, you’ll need to use a headache powder, as we mentioned earlier.

    Setting

    If your headache symptoms stem from migraine tendencies, you might need to change your setting to deal with them. Migraines get worse in the face of bright lights, loud sounds and rooms of extreme temperature. Try to get somewhere dark and quiet with a nice, neutral temperature where you can recover. If you’re still having trouble recovering, try breathing in through your mouth and out through your nose, warming your sinuses.

    Headaches can be caused by inflamed blood vessels around the skull. In these cases, you could get a bit of relief by pinching the bridge of your nose or rubbing your temples. These simple acts are similar to a massage, sending signals to your nerves to relax. This could, in turn, cause your blood vessels to stop expanding and constricting your skull.

    Stay Hydrated

    Many headaches are caused by dehydration. If this is true of yours, a great preventative action could be to try to stay well-hydrated. Keep a reusable bottle for water with you during your job or during class. This will allow you to drink water when you’re thirsty and help to keep you hydrated throughout the day. Make sure to refill it between classes or on breaks from the job.

    Another common cause of headaches is not eating enough food. Make sure you don’t skip any meals throughout the day. In the morning, make sure you get some breakfast. Don’t be afraid to grab some healthy snacks if you’re hungry between meals! Keeping your body hydrated and full of the right nutrients is a cornerstone of good health.

    Relaxation

    Other headaches can be caused by stress, plain and simple. These are the simplest, but also some of the hardest to address. How do you get rid of stress? If you’re suffering from a headache and can’t get away from the stress that is causing it, such as at work, you’ve got a few options available to you. You can keep a stress ball with you to help physically work out any stress you may have.

    Another option is to listen to calming music throughout the day, if your school or work is conductive to this. Consider adopting a mantra, a personal saying, that you can repeat throughout the day to help calm yourself. Other calming techniques include deep-breathing exercises, short jogs while between classes or during breaks, and doing yoga or tai chi before or after school or work. Hopefully some of these tips help you tackle your headaches and manage your pain symptoms!


  • Are Energy Drinks Bad for You?

    Are Energy Drinks Bad for You?

    We all have those days when we need a pick-me-up. Some folks like to start their day with coffee, while others might prefer to have an energy drink with their lunch. Next to multivitamins, energy drinks are one of the most popular dietary supplements in the US. However, many people are curious as to whether these sugary, caffeine-filled drinks are actually good for them. Let’s take a closer look.

    Are Energy Drinks Bad for You?

    High Caffeine

    Caffeine is normally fine for your body to take in when it comes in smaller amounts, such as the 100 mg in a cup of coffee. However, the average energy drink has around 250 mg of caffeine, making it a significantly higher percentage of caffeine per liquid than most other beverages ingested for their caffeine content.

    This high amount of caffeine raises a number of health concerns. Primarily, high concentrations of caffeine have been linked to blood vessel complications, heart rhythm disturbances, high blood pressure, and increases in heart rate. Notably, the high quantity of caffeine can cause damage to younger people’s developing cardiovascular systems.

    With Alcohol

    Many younger adults and even some teenagers who commonly drink energy drinks will often mix them with alcohol. These beverages combined raise a number of serious health concerns. The dehydrating potential of both substances when combined is increased, and they each offset some of the visible negative effects of the other.

    When intoxicated, one of the limiting factors to binge drinking is the drowsiness that accompanies high alcohol intake. Likewise, when drinking energy drinks, the feeling of jitteriness and increased heartrate often keeps people from over-indulging in them. When alcohol and energy drinks are mixed together, however, they offset one another and can lead to a dramatic increase in binge drinking behaviors.

    Added Sugars

    A single 16 ounce can of energy drink can contain as much as 62 grams of added sugars. This is a tremendous amount of sugar, and well exceeds the recommended daily allotment of added sugars in an adult’s diet. Added sugars in energy drinks serve to sweeten and mask the powerful flavors that the high caffeine content generates.

    In the case of these larger, 16-ounce cans, the amount of sugar is enough alone to make them worrisome from a health perspective. The shorter, energy “shot” type of drink tends to have a high sugar content, usually around 30 grams, which still makes them high in added sugars. However, they tend to pack just as much caffeine as the larger-size drinks, so those health concerns remain.

    Sleep Patterns

    Excessive consumption of energy drinks has been shown to interfere with the natural sleeping patterns of teenagers and young adults. Due to the high caffeine content, it’s likely that younger people, with more sensitive systems, stay up for much longer than they may even want to with energy drinks.

    Staying up later means they’ll lose out on sleep, which will make it harder to focus on school or work the following day. This, in turn, leads them to drink energy drinks to wake up from their grogginess. Thus, energy drinks can be a negative, self-reinforcing habit.

    Organs

    The high amount of caffeine and sugar in energy drinks may also cause more strain on internal organs. For instance, the kidneys and liver, which serve to filter impurities from the blood, could be damaged by the high amounts of sugar and caffeine they filter.

    Likewise, energy drinks can have a negative impact on the heart, causing it to beat faster and increasing blood pressure. In short, energy drinks put the body into “overdrive,” pushing it beyond its normal operating limits and putting extra stress on the internal organs. Drink them sparingly, if you really want to drink them, and consider replacing them in your diet with drinks like coffee or tea instead.


  • Losing Weight Without Dieting: Changing Lifestyle

    Losing Weight Without Dieting: Changing Lifestyle

    Despite what some people say, it’s not hard to lose weight. Anyone can pick up a fad diet and see a few pounds fall off in the short term. The trouble, as with anything, is sticking to a lifestyle. Fad diets only get you so far, and by the time you say “forget this” and go back to eating normally, you gain the weight right back.

    Today we’re going over some of the best ways you can lose weight by changing your lifestyle. Remember, as with anything in life, you need to be dedicated to losing weight and you need to be consistent in your lifestyle changes.

    Getting Enough Sleep

    Sleep is a huge factor in weight gain. If you’re constantly staying up too late, you’re likely sleeping in too late. If you’re sleeping in too late, you’re likely slowing your metabolism considerably. Not to mention, when you stay up later at night, you’re more likely to snack on junk food before bed and then sleep on empty calories.

    One of the best places to start when it comes to shifting to a healthier lifestyle is with your sleep. Try to get to bed earlier and wake up earlier. There are a lot of positive associations with people who awake early and start their day off in an active way.

    Exercise

    Waking early means you have more time in the morning to yourself. Use this time wisely! You’re trying to get healthier, so why not exercise? Consider getting an exercise mat or a treadmill so you can work out at home before work. This will not only be good for you, but it gets your blood pumping and adrenaline up for the day!

    Exercise is one of the key ways to lose weight. Most people find that the more they work out, the more they want to work out. This, in turn, develops muscles that are better at burning calories, helping you keep the weight off. It’s a really positive, self-reinforcing cycle that keeps you healthier. Not to mention, you’ll look great with those fit, toned muscles!

    Don’t Skip Breakfast

    You might be noticing a theme here: your mornings are really quite important. After your morning workout, make sure you grab a big, hardy breakfast. Seriously, go all out. Sausage, eggs, fruit, grits, whatever otherwise healthy foods you want to layer on. If you have a big breakfast, you’re actually helping yourself to lose weight.

    Here’s what we mean: when you skip breakfast, you put your metabolism in slow-motion. By the time lunch rolls around, you’re sort of hungry, so you have a medium-sized lunch. Then, your metabolism kicks in, you start getting hungry, and by dinner you have a huge meal. Then you snack all night until bed time, when you sleep on those calories. Why not reverse this trend, front-load the calories and burn them off throughout the day? It’s way better for you!

    Drink More Water

    Stop drinking all those sodas and beers. Liquid calories are really, really hard to notice: they creep up on you. They don’t make you feel full, and then you throw food on top of them. Often, these liquid calories are comprised mostly of sugar, meaning your body pretty much instantly stores them as fat.

    Instead of drinking sodas, consider drinking black coffee or tea for your caffeine. As for the beer, it might be better for you to simply not drink alcohol when you’re trying to lose weight. While not exactly “good” for you, if you would like to drink but don’t want the calories, most hard liquors are nearly zero calorie.


  • Eating Healthier: Best Probiotics

    Eating Healthier: Best Probiotics

    Maybe you’re looking to eat healthier to lose some weight, or you just want to encourage better lifestyle habits in yourself. Either way, you’re probably looking for some good foods to add to your diet. Have you looked into probiotics as ways to make your diet healthier? Today we’re going over some of the best probiotics you can add to your diet!

    Best Probiotics

    What are Probiotics?

    Probiotics are foods that have been shown to encourage the growth of positive bacteria. Your intestinal tract is home to millions of bacteria that help you break down and process the foods you eat, so taking good care of them is vital for good intestinal health! Here are some of the foods you can eat to encourage good intestinal health.

    Sauerkraut

    A very beloved German dish, sauerkraut is thinly-shredded cabbage fermented by lactic acid bacteria. You’ll often see sauerkraut served on top of sausage at German restaurants, or as a side with traditional German food. It has a distinctive sour and salty taste that is described by some as overwhelming, and others as delicious.

    Sauerkraut is very good for you for a number of reasons. Firstly, it’s packed full of probiotics, which are great for your intestinal health. Secondly, it’s also a great source of vitamins: it’s loaded with vitamin B, vitamin C and vitamin K. Notably, if you want the healthiest version of sauerkraut, you need to get the unpasteurized variety.

    Kefir

    Kefir is a milk-based drink, created by adding kefir grains to cow’s milk or goat’s milk. Kefir grains aren’t grains in the same sense that barley or oats are grains, but are instead created from lactic acid bacteria cultures. They’ve been described as looking similar to cauliflower.

    Notably, even people who are lactose intolerant tend to handle kefir well. This is likely due to the high concentrations of positive bacteria and yeast that are found within kefir, which help to stimulate good digestion and positive intestinal health. People who commonly consume it tend to praise the good overall feeling they get from ingesting the drink.

    Yogurt

    Likely the least exotic of the foods on this list, yogurt is not dissimilar from kefir. Both are great sources of probiotics, and both are dairy-based. Like kefir, yogurt tends to be easier on the stomach for people who are lactose intolerant.

    Yogurt has a variety of positive health impacts. It’s great for bone health, as well as being an excellent source of calcium. Make sure, however, that the yogurt brandy you’re choosing has live cultures or bacteria in it, otherwise it won’t give you the great probiotic health benefits. Likewise, make sure the brand you’re getting doesn’t have a ton of added sugars.

    Kimchi

    The much-beloved Korean food kimchi is another excellent source of probiotics. The fermented cabbage dish has been compared positively to sauerkraut, as the two foods are both fermented cabbage dishes. However, unlike sauerkraut, kimchi can be made from a variety of other vegetables, too.

    As far as health benefits go, kimchi is really great for you. It’s loaded with a lactic acid bacteria named for the dish, Lactobacillus kimchii, as well as vitamin K and vitamin B2. In addition, it’s a great source of iron!

    Miso

    Another far East favorite, miso is a Japanese seasoning that is traditionally made from fermented soybeans with koji, a Japanese fungus. Commonly, miso is added to soup, and such soups are considered a staple of breakfast foods in Japan. The seasoning has been described as earthy, salty and savory.

    Miso is high in both protein and fiber, and has been shown to reduce the likelihood of breast cancer in middle-aged women. Much like other probiotics, miso is also a great source of vitamin K and positive bacteria.


  • DNA Tests: Separating Fact and Fiction

    DNA Tests: Separating Fact and Fiction

    Everyone has that basic curiosity about where they come from. While some people might ask “where did I come from?” in a more existential sense, there are ways to find out where your genetics are quite literally from using modern science. Recent advantages in DNA sequencing technology have led to a dramatic increase in interest among people wanting to learn more about their genetic background.

    However, a number of myths regarding DNA tests still persist. Today we’re going to go over some of the most common misconceptions regarding ancestry DNA tests. We’ll look at what the tests can and can’t do to help you decide whether it’s something you want to spend your money on.

    Types of Test

    There are actually three major types of tests that can determine specifics about your DNA. The one you’re likely familiar with is the autosomal DNA test, which is commonly used to determine your ethnic background and your connection to your living cousins. You get half of your autosomal DNA from your father and the other half from your mother. However, it’s worth noting that autosomal DNA can only really be traced back about six generations.

    The other two major ways to trace DNA back are mtDNA tests and Y-DNA tests. These represent tests done to trace the mitochondrial DNA and the Y chromosome, respectively. As such, mtDNA tests are useful for tracing the maternal lineage of a subject, while Y-DNA tests can track their paternal line. It’s worth noting that a subject who doesn’t have a Y chromosome can not benefit from a Y-DNA test.

    On Ethnicity and Origins

    One of the most common arguments among anthropologists and genetic researchers centers on discussions of ethnicity and region of origin. While it’s easy enough to pinpoint certain genetic features shared among currently living humans in modern-day regions, it requires a bit of educated guesswork to say which ethnicity, or which region, certain genetic markers belong to.

    Some of the issues with pinpointing exact geographic origins for genes is that humans, historically, have moved around a lot. If your ancestors were very rooted in place and resistant to influxes of foreigners, it’s likely easy to distinguish your DNA from that of most other people in the world. For an example of this, one could look at Japan’s largely isolationist worldview up until the end of the second World War.

    However, if your ancestry includes lots of people who moved from region to region, even as often as once every few generations, it gets very difficult to pinpoint your exact geographic origins. While researchers do a lot of work to make sure they offer as accurate a view as possible, the truth is, most people have such a complex heritage that it’s difficult to say that their genetics are originally “from” anywhere in particular.

    Extended Family

    One of the common misconceptions about DNA tests also holds that they are able to help determine your distant family members, long-lost distant cousins and ancient relations. However, as we noted, autosomal DNA tests (the kind that most commercial DNA services offer) only reach back around six generations. This means that these tests are great at determining close relations, like parents, siblings and cousins, but not so great with longer stretches.

    In short, DNA testing through a major DNA service is a very cool way to learn about your genetics and how they compare to currently-living humans. You’ll get a great broad picture of your genetic background, and you’ll see some researchers’ best guess as to where your genes hail from. However, DNA testing isn’t a magical way to determine that you were related to some ancient king or long-lost civilization. That doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to dream of, though!