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Health Benefits of Vitamin C

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It seems like every day we hear about more vitamins, minerals, herbs, and supplements that can help us improve wellness, but if there’s one tried and true health boosting solution, it’s vitamin C.

Vitamin C has long been known as one of the best things to take when you get a cold. It has an immune boosting and antioxidant properties. It may even prevent cancer.

Want to know what else vitamin C can do for you? Read on to find out.

Benefits of Vitamin C

Here are some of the terrific things vitamin C can do for your body.

May Reduce Risk of Chronic Disease

Vitamin C’s antioxidant characteristics means it boosts the body’s immune system protecting it from free radicals that cause oxidative stress that’s linked to a variety of chronic diseases. Studies show that taking vitamin C can increase your body’s ability to fight inflammation by up to 30%.

May Regulate Blood Pressure Levels

Research has shown that vitamin C may reduce blood pressure in people with and without high blood pressure. It helps relax blood vessels from the heart helping to lower blood pressure levels.

May Lower the Risk of Heart Disease

Heart disease has been linked to high blood pressure, high triglyceride levels (bad cholesterol), and low levels of HDL (good cholesterol). Vitamin C has been shown to reduce these risk factors making for improved heart health.

May Prevent Gout Attacks

Gout is a type of arthritis that affects about 4% of American adults. Symptoms appear when there are high levels of uric acid in the blood. Studies have shown that vitamin C may be effective in reducing uric to protect against gout attacks.

Prevents Iron Deficiencies

Iron plays an important role in making red blood cells and transporting them throughout the body. Vitamin C has been shown to improve iron absorption from food. Taking both supplements can improve nutrition in people on a meat free diet and it can help to treat anemia.

Beneficial to Brain Health

Oxidative stress and inflammation near the brain has been shown to contribute to dementia. Vitamin C’s antioxidant properties are effective in reducing oxidative stress and dementia, protecting thinking, and memory as you age.

Liposomal Vitamin C is Best

There are many vitamin C supplements on the market, but liposomal Vitamin C has been scientifically proven to deliver more vitamin C to your body than traditional supplements. That’s because the vitamin C is wrapped inside a liposome.

Liposomes are tiny bubbles that mimic the body’s cell membranes and protect vitamin C as it travels through your body providing optimal absorption. The liposomes keep the vitamin from degrading as it makes its way through the system, so it offers ultimate benefits to the body.

Core Med Science manufactures a Liposomal Vitamin C (original orange formula) you can trust. It is soy free, gluten free, dairy free and made in the USA. It is recommended for boosting immunity, improving heart health, tightening bones, reducing stress, increasing energy, and more.

If you are looking to boost your overall health, a liposomal vitamin C supplement will get you feeling your best. How will you be incorporating it in your dietary routine?

The Steady Rise of Monthly Rent

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The Steady Rise of Monthly Rent

Monthly rent has increased at an average rate of 3.6% since 2005. The increase in housing cost has caused the number of renters to rise rapidly, with most people now forced into renting due to high demand and low numbers of available homes. This article has more information about the reasons behind the recent increase in the rental price.

1. The Rise in Price of Land

One reason for the rent increase is the price of land. Land is a factor of production, as well as labor and capital. As land prices have increased, more money must be paid from the output to use it. This year alone, land cost rose 8%.

In order to compensate for this rise in costs, businesses are forced to raise prices in order to keep their profits. This increase in prices is passed onto consumers, who must pay more for the same goods and services they purchased in previous years.

2. Increase of Rental Demand

The number of renters has also increased, increasing demand for rental units and driving rent up too. The renting population grew by 2.9 million in 2012 and 2013 and is expected to continue growing at this rate.

3. Increase of Rental Construction

The rise of renters has led to a construction boom that will last into the end of 2016, with 94% of rentals currently built being considered luxury units. However, even this construction falls short of the demand and will fill only 1/5 of the growing demand for rental units.

4. Increase in Rental Income

According to Shalom Lamm, the average income of renters has increased, but at a much slower rate than the rent increase, growing only about 2% each year since 2005. This means that overall, rent as a proportion of income has increased from 24% to 28%, a difference of about $300 a month.

5. Decrease of Homeownership Rate

The steady decline in the rate of homeownership has also contributed to the increase in rental prices. In 2004, 69% of Americans owned their homes. This number steadily dropped by 0.6% each year until it reached 66.9% in 2014 and is expected to continue lowering each year until 2025.

6. Decrease of Housing Supply

The housing market is now in a state of dramatic imbalance. There are 1.5 million more families looking for homes than homes to accommodate them, indicating a shortage of about 5 million total units. This imbalance has been brought on by increased demand for single-family rentals and decreasing construction rates, and the unexpected decrease in the homeownership rate.

The number of units completed has decreased each year since 2005 when about 1.2M units were completed. In 2013, only 673 000 units were completed, 49% below 2005’s rate.

7. Decrease in Rental Vacancy Rate

According to Shalom Lamm, the rental vacancy rate is also expected to continue decreasing, leading to increased demand for rental units. The vacancy rate is already at 8.4%, down from 11.3% in 2004, indicating that there are about 1 million less available rentals than there should be at this time.

In conclusion, the rent increase is likely to continue increasing for the foreseeable future. Although several factors contribute to this rise, tenants can control none, and they must pay more for their apartments, even if all variables except the price of land remain constant.

What is The Cost Difference of a Paintless Repair?

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It is not necessary to have car dents repaired in a time-consuming, sophisticated, and expensive manner. Paintless dent repair is a rapid and cost-effective method of repairing minor imperfections and dings. In some cases, it is possible to smooth out flaws in the surface of the car’s body without having to touch the paintwork.

What Is paintless dent repair and how does it work?

Paintless dent repair (commonly known as PDR) is a technique used in the automotive industry. This non-invasive procedure is ideal for removing minor dents and for repairing minor body damage when the paint’s surface is still intact. A wide range of damage in both aluminum and steel body panels can be repaired with PDR, which is used by auto body experts.

The speed, effectiveness, and low cost of this procedure are the primary advantages of this technique. Additionally, it does not necessitate repainting the vehicle and will not harm the factory paint finish. Paint-free dent repair helps to protect the value of a vehicle by not removing any of the original paint.

What issues can paintless dent repair resolve?

For shallow dents and even larger dents up to a few inches in diameter, paintless dent repair (PDR) can be employed as long as there are no symptoms of paint damage. The most common applications are as follows:

  • Damage caused by gravel, pebbles, and road debris
  • Bumps in car doors
  • Minor collision repairs
  • Damage to the bodylines

Dent removal techniques can also be utilized as a part of a process known as ‘push to paint’ or ‘push to prep,’ in which the paint is applied after the dent is removed. The panel in this instance has been smoothed out with PDR prior to being repainted. This assists in reducing the amount of body filler required to complete the repair

How much does it cost?

Although paintless repair is a low-cost method of obtaining excellent results, the cost can vary significantly. It can cost between $75 and $125 to repair minor damage. However, significant damage that may be fixed, such as collision dents, will cost between $150 and $450 to restore. Extreme hail damage affecting substantial areas of the vehicle might cost upwards of $2,500.

The following factors influence the magnitude of the price: 

Degree of damage

The projected cost will be influenced by the amount of car body panels that require dent repair – as well as the number of dents in any one panel.

The size of the dent

The magnitude of dent damage is frequently described by technicians in the automotive industry in terms of coins. Whether the apparent impact has a diameter of a dime, nickel, quarter, or larger, this information may be used to estimate the cost of repairing it. In addition, the depth of the indentation can have an impact on the cost of restoration.

In addition, the age of your vehicle, the type of vehicle you drive, and the location where you get your dent repaired are other factors that can affect the cost of your paintless dent repair.  

5 Items You Need to Buy Before Your First Scuba Trip

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The day has finally come, and after months of research and training, you’ve been certified to scuba dive. But even though you have your certification card in hand, there are still some things that will make your first few trips easier. These five items should be the first purchases that any scuba diver makes.

1. Weight Belt

Even if you’re snorkeling, it is important to wear a weight belt so that you sink to the bottom quickly and don’t have to fight against your buoyancy all day. It is even more essential for scuba diving because you must carry all of your gear while underwater. You need enough weight so that you won’t float up too much when ascending or descending in the water column, which could cause a dangerous situation with the bends.

2. Fins

Your fins are essential to getting around the waters quickly and efficiently. They also allow you to move away from sharp objects that you don’t want near your legs, including urchins, sea cucumbers, corals, rocks, and shells. Without them, you could easily get hurt by touching any of these things without being able to feel them through your boots. For beginning divers who may not be very strong swimmers yet, a fin with a split toe will give more support for kicking through the water so that they can swim using less energy. Even if you have great swimming skills, investing in good fins is still important because it lets you move faster underwater when exploring, especially when you want to get back to your group or make it to the boat in time.

3. Mask and Snorkel

For your mask, make sure that there is a good seal between your face and the rubber around the edges of the mask so that all of the air inside it will keep it afloat if you let go. You can test this by placing it underwater while holding onto both sides of it, then gently letting go without taking a breath. The popped-up goggles should remain on top of the water until you’re ready to put them on for snorkeling or scuba diving. A good-fitting mask will also prevent a bad case of bubbles from forming around your nose when you take it off after diving, which can sting and irritate.

4. Regulator and Octopus

One important rule while scuba diving is that no one should be more than 50 feet away from a buddy, who will always carry an octopus or regulator on them in case of any problems with the primary equipment. The regulator lets the diver breathe from either air tanks on their back or a gas tank on their belt, while the octopus contains an alternate mouthpiece for sharing air if necessary.

5. Wetsuit or Dry Suit

A wetsuit will keep you warm during cold ocean dives, while a dry suit protects against rapid temperature changes, which can happen when diving at high latitudes. Not only is a wetsuit perfect for many locations around warmer waters, but they are also much less expensive than a dry suit – so if you’re not sure which type of diving might interest you more in the future, go with the cheaper option. If nothing else, wearing a wetsuit will help keep your skin from getting sunburned on those hot, sunny days at the beach.

4 Female Computer Pioneers Every One Should Know About

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You probably have heard only male figures dominating the world of computers. For many years, it was hard to find any women involved in major technological development. However, that shouldn’t make you think that there aren’t any female figures in this field. Currently, the trend has shifted as more women have started to find their way to becoming important figures in the computer industry. The entry of these women has been inspired by some of the greatest female computer pioneers. Some of the latest features of technology that you depend on have been developed by women. Here are some of the unsung female computer pioneers that you should know about.

1- Ada Lovelace

The way men have dominated the programming of computers makes you think that they are the only ones who developed that idea. You might be wrong since the first computer programmer in the world was a London-based woman popularly known as Ada Lovelace. Since she was a young kid, Mrs. Ada has had a profound passion for mathematics, which gave her the skills to become the world’s first programmer using the machine invented by her friend Charles Babbage.

2- Carol Shaw

Unknown to many, Carol Shaw was the first woman to become a video programmer. Mrs. Shaw, who was born in 1995, was known for developing River Raid and many more games. Carol Shaw played an essential role while working at Atari because she had the skills to handle difficult tasks for Atari2600. Through Mrs. Carol’s skills, Atari was able to develop cartridge games which later became popular.

3- Adele Goldberg

Born in 1945, Adele Goldberg went on to become one of the notable figures in the programming world. The graphical user interface you currently use was influenced by the programming language that Mrs. Adele developed. Additionally, Adele Goldberg was part of the team that developed the design templates that have been used in software design. If you are a software designer, some of the designs you have used have probably been developed by Mrs. Goldberg. Some of the designs developed by Adele Goldberg have been employed in developing the desktop environment of Apple Macintosh. To add to her success as one of the female computer pioneers, Mrs. Adele was appointed the president to lead the Association of Computing Machinery between 1984 and 1886.

4- Stephanie Shirley

While mentioning female computer pioneers, you can forget about Stephanie Shirley, who created software to hire women. Stephanie Shirley, popularly known as Steve, was born in Germany in 1933. She is credited with creating one of the trusted platforms for women to venture into the IT industry. Through the development of her software company, which was popularly known as Freelance Programmers, Mrs. Stephanie was only focused on hiring women. Freelance Programmers, which is currently part of the Sopra Steria Group, enable many women to realize their potential in technology and pursue their passion within this field. Additionally, Stephanie Shirley created the Stephani Shirley Foundation, which has been undertaking different IT programs.

Society should not overlook women’s abilities because they have contributed a lot to the world of computers. Even though their effort has not been praised, they are still playing major roles in this industry. Women need to be appreciated the same way men are, even for the little effort, as it could make a huge difference later.

How to Develop Better Speaking Skills  

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How to Speak More Confidently

For experts and novices alike, there is room for improvement in all walks of life. One key area where humans are always looking to improve is their verbal communication. Whether an individual has a fear of public speaking, social anxiety or is simply looking to brush up on their speaking skills, the following strategies and suggestions can help them become better, more confident speakers in day-to-day life.

A key part of becoming a better speaker is learning how to be a better active listener. Shalom Lamm recommends listening intently to what others have to say, because it helps the speaker respond with something well thought out and appropriate rather than simply blurting out the first idea that comes to mind. Active listening also allows a person to learn effective and ineffective verbal communication by example from others.

Another key to becoming a confident speaker is understanding and learning how to cater to different audiences. Audiences come from many different backgrounds and levels of knowledge, and there are different social rules depending on the social context or setting. For example, an important presentation or meeting should not be treated the same as a conversation with friends or coworkers at lunch. Shalom Lamm advises that understanding the background and knowledge base of the audience also helps speakers avoid sharing too much or too little information, and makes speakers more confident by pinpointing the appropriate message to deliver.

Confident speakers understand how to use their voice effectively. They vary the tone and inflection of their voice as they speak in order to keep listeners interested. Speakers can also gain more confidence by using appropriate posture and nonverbal communication to compliment the words they speak. Another way to become a more confident speaker is to model the way others are speaking within the same conversation by trying to match their tone.

Although there is nothing wrong with taking inspiration from others, it’s important for a speaker to stay true to his or her self when delivering a message. Authenticity not only helps a speaker stand out as credible and relatable, but it also helps him or her gain confidence in who they are and what they know. As simple as it may seem, someone who sounds confident when they speak will be a more confident speaker. Making written or mental notes before speaking helps with nerves and allows a speaker to sound more confident.

In order to effectively implement these strategies and ultimately speak more confidently, individuals must be willing to practice and take constructive feedback. Practicing verbal communication can take place in both real life conversations and situations with others as well as practicing alone at home in front of a mirror. The more cognizant a person can be of the way they communicate verbally and nonverbally the less time they will have to spend practicing. Along with self evaluation, speakers should not be afraid to take criticism from their peers. Gaining different perspectives can highlight possible areas of improvement that are visible to the audience and might not be visible to the speaker.

How To Use Professional Help To Look Better Than Ever

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The number of professionals available to help you in a variety of ways related to your look is immense. There are millions of tutorials available online for everything from makeup to how to dress. All of these resources can be a bit overwhelming and can offer information that might conflict. Enlisting the help of a professional is going to be an investment in yourself which is the best investment you can make. Be proactive about this as you aren’t going to find any help if you are not looking. The following are tips to use professional help to look your best. 

Invest In Going To A Medspa

Going to a Med Spa in Raleigh or in your area is something you will never regret. Getting different procedures done can work wonders for the health of your skin and have it glowing. Take a look at the different types of procedures and services that are being offered. You’d be surprised as to how affordable some are when compared to the past. Technology is only improving and will continue to do so in the future. 

Hire A Personal Trainer

Hiring a personal trainer is something that most people have considered in the past. The best aspect of this is having someone that can hold you accountable and set your workout programming. Trainers that have experience training athletes understand that progress can be made daily even if it takes months. Finding the right personal trainer is going to be a challenge as you want a trainer that has helped someone achieve similar goals to your own. Group fitness classes can be another way to get exercise in while having a bit of fun in the process. 

A Nutritionist Can Work Wonders

Finding a nutritionist to work with regularly can be very important. They can set your meal plans for a few weeks which will make it easier for you to shop without wasting food. There are too many fad diets that might deliver results but not in the healthiest way. Make sure you use this time to change your habits with eating so they stick long-term. Eating healthy can do everything from help you look great to improve your energy levels during the day. 

Get A Stylist To Work On Your Fashion Sense 

There are just some people that do not have any fashion sense. Having your own style is one thing but throwing on the first outfit you can put together in your dresser isn’t style but rather laziness. Even something as simple as purchasing clothes that are stylish can improve your look. You might even be able to enlist the help of a friend to help revamp your wardrobe. Different regions have different styles as what is stylish in Florida might not work in Minnesota in the dead of winter. 

Using professional help can improve your look which nobody will complain about. Take the time to assess where you can improve your look in an honest way. If you are happy with your look then keep it up!

Key Presentation Techniques

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How to Deliver an Effective Presentation

The first step to delivering an effective presentation is figuring out how to connect with the target audience. This process involves getting the audience to connect with both the person presenting and the material being covered. Father George Rutler would advise any presenter to connect with their audience by sharing information for which they are passionate about and have a strong understanding. This helps the presenter appear more likable and believable, and it helps viewers feel more connected to them as a person. Although being knowledgeable about the subject matter is important, speakers should primarily focus on information that specifically relates to what the audience wants or needs to learn from the presentation.

Once a connection has been formed between the presenter and the audience, the speaker’s focus should be centered on maintaining that connection and keeping the audience engaged throughout the entire presentation. Remember that the audience is not looking to spend hours at a time at the presentation or trying to learn every minuscule detail about the topic. With that being said, the presentation should convey meaning by breaking everything down into one key idea or a few key points. Father George Rutler advises practicing an elevator pitch or using a 15 words or less approach when preparing for a presentation in order to simplify and narrow down important and relevant information.

To maintain a connection with the audience, it’s important to smile and make frequent eye contact with them. Rather than addressing the entire audience as one group, understand that each member of the group is an individual. Adopting a conversational style allows individual audience members to connect to the speaker and subject matter on a personal level, while it also helps speakers with anxiety or nerves to relax.

Once they are fully relaxed, presenters can focus on all the other verbal and nonverbal aspects of giving an effective presentation. The presentation should begin with a quote, story, question or anything else that peaks the interest of audience members and gives them a reason to continue paying attention. Telling personal stories and giving real life examples relevant to the main topic will also help keep the audience engaged throughout the presentation. A common rule of thumb for effective presentations is to keep them limited to a length of 10 slides and 20 minutes as well as using at least a 30 point font size so the audience can easily follow along with the key information.

As the presentation continues on, it is important for the speaker to use his or her voice and body language effectively. If the speaker sounds and looks disinterested throughout the presentation, it will be tough to convince the audience to care about the subject matter. The speaker should vary the inflection and tone of their voice as they speak, and they should use body language to enhance the words being spoken. All in all, the key to any effective presentation is to relax, relate and have fun along the way.

What is Blockchain Technology

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Although many people have heard about blockchain technology, relatively few know exactly what it is, how it works, and why it is important. If you’re a little fuzzy on the details, consider this your blockchain crash course.

What Is Blockchain Technology?

Image via Flickr by QuoteInspector.com

Blockchain is a special type of database that organizes blocks of encrypted data into a unique chain-like structure. It functions as a sort of digital ledger. The blocks of data in the chain are distributed across several independent servers or computers for decentralized storage. Blockchain is designed to render the data transparent and unalterable.

How Does Blockchain Technology Work?

Blockchain technology breaks data into chunks known as blocks. Each block holds a predetermined amount of data; once one block is full, it is time-stamped and added to the end of the chain. The blocks are stored in chronological order and can be viewed in real time by anyone with access to the database. 

Most business professionals today are familiar with Google Docs and other programs that allow for real-time collaboration by multiple users. When working in Google Docs, collaborators all access the exact same file rather than working with separate copies. Any changes made will be visible to all collaborators, and the program keeps an automatic record of revisions. Blockchain technology works in a similar, albeit more complicated, way. 

Is Blockchain Technology Secure?

Blockchain technology has several features that make it more secure than traditional databases:

  • Timeline structure: As explained above, blockchain technology organizes data along a timeline. The order of the blocks cannot be altered, and each block is assigned a permanent timestamp that shows exactly when it was added to the chain.
  • Encryption: The individual blocks in a chain can be encrypted for greater privacy and security.
  • Decentralization: Blockchain distributes data across a decentralized network of nodes. These nodes can be any type of electronic device that maintains a copy of the blockchain. The decentralization of blockchain networks makes them less susceptible to network attacks.
  • Cross-checking: All the nodes in a blockchain network have a full record of the data. If a user or hacker attempts to make any alterations, the data in the tampered-with node would be cross-checked against the records of every other node and corrected to match the consensus. This process ensures the integrity of data.
  • Transparency: The nodes in a blockchain network are updated simultaneously in real time. This allows for greater transparency, as individual users can view changes and review the record when needed.

What Are the Implications of Blockchain Technology?

The inherent security of blockchain technology explains its increasing popularity. Although blockchain technology is most commonly associated with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, its usefulness extends into a wide variety of other fields. It is worth a professional’s time to gain a deeper understanding of blockchain and find ways to leverage this technology into innovative solutions for their business. Blockchain has already begun to revolutionize everything from online advertising to the energy, health care, real estate, and travel industries.

As consumers begin to understand the benefits of blockchain and more large companies adopt the technology, the use of blockchain is becoming more widespread. Those who want to remain leaders in their fields would be wise to sharpen their understanding of this technology and implement blockchain solutions for their businesses.

Why Everyone Should Practice Being Polite

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Why Everyone Should Practice Being Polite

Being polite is one of the most basic social skills. This will show others that they are valued and that they are treated with a certain level of respect. There are times when it seems that people have forgotten the basic rules of being polite and how to treat others. Alexander Djerassi has taken notice of this. Djerassi feels that people should take a look at how they are and think of the reasons why everyone should be polite.

Develop Relationships

Polite people have an easier time connecting with others. They are able to build relationships. This is done on a personal and a professional level. Politeness will help decrease the distance between people. It will also open up communication lines. If people are polite they do not have to worry about any negative feedback they would get from expressing their views or ideas.

First Impressions

People that are polite make a better first impression. A first impression can be everything. If things get off to a bad start it will be difficult to change. A person that is polite is more likely to make a good first impression than a person that is rude or seems uninterested. Studies have been done showing that businesses with polite customer service representatives made shopping more enjoyable for the customers and the customer spent more money.

New Approach at Life

People that are polite are able to get along with others that are different. They take the time to learn about others and a new point of view. Politeness is cross cultural. There are things in every language or culture that are a sign of politeness. If a person is nice to others they are more willing to get along with them. A person does not need to accept everyone they meet or even like everyone they meet for that matter. They do have to be polite to them. This will help reduce tension and will allow everyone to feel comfortable.

Mood

People that are polite are often viewed as being in a good mood. People want to be around others that are positive and will make them feel good. In modern society, people that are polite are seen as more friendly and seem like they are more fun to be around. No one wants to be around someone that is a downer so it is worth taking the time to show manners.

Keep the Peace

Alexander Djerassi knows that being polite can help keep the peace in society. People will be able to treat others with some basic respect. This does not mean they will need to go along with them. A little respect does go a long way so a person should be polite to others.

These are some reasons why everyone needs to be polite. Being nice to others and showing manners is a skill that many people are forgetting. Being polite goes a long way so people should take the time and remember the nice and proper way to interact with others.