(NewsUSA) - In winter, it seems like life slows down in a variety of ways. Maybe that's because we need a break after the busy holiday season or because we have a natural urge to "hibernate" when the days are short and the weather outside is cold. But the truth is, the best time to get started on your weight loss goals is now so you stay on track all year round.

The good news: you can enjoy the comfort foods that make you feel cozy when the weather outside is frightful AND still lose weight. Courtney McCormick, MPH, RDN, LDN, Manager, Clinical Research & Nutrition at Nutrisystem, offers these tips to serve as a guide for winter weight loss.

Focus on Protein: Protein is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and a key to weight loss. "Protein helps with satiety and by including some protein at each meal and snack occasion, it can help you to stay full longer and may help prevent hunger and cravings," says McCormick. Look for meals high in protein, such as Nutrisystem's new premium meals, which include up to 30 grams in each meal.

Fuel Your Winter Workouts: Exercising outdoors in winter can be invigorating and even fun. Brisk walking will warm you up quickly. Shoveling snow not only heats you up, but it also works your cardiovascular system (heart and lungs), tones your muscles and burns more than 200 calories in a half hour (average for a 155-pound person).

Eat Your Favorite Meals: Winter is the perfect time to enjoy your favorite comfort foods like soup or pasta. Weight loss plans like Nutrisystem offer restaurant favorites that are perfectly-portioned for half the calories of dining-out options so you can enjoy without any guilt. Think Café-Style Creamy Tomato Soup or Bistro-Style Toasted Ravioli.

Don't Go At It Alone: Achieving the goals you've set for yourself is so much easier when you have a support system. The best people to have on your team when you're trying to lose excess weight are those who sit down at daily meals with you. Even better, your chances of reaching and maintaining your weight-loss goal increase dramatically if another person in your household joins you on the journey. If you're looking for an easy-to-follow plan to keep you on track, opt for Nutrisystem's Partner Plan.

Power Up on Nutrients: Winter conditions can put extra stress on our bodies, so we need a steady supply of the essential nutrients to stay healthy and strong. Vitamin D plays a key role in metabolism, but we need exposure to sunlight for our bodies to produce it. Vitamin C gives our immune systems a potent boost, which is especially important during the cold and flu season. Look for foods that are rich in these vitamins such as salmon or milk for Vitamin D and broccoli, strawberries and kiwi for Vitamin C.

Remember, your weight loss goals are more than achievable this winter if you are geared with the right tips, tricks and tools. For more great information and other ideas to help fuel your success this year, visit leaf.nutrisystem.com.

(NewsUSA) - The delays and confusion caused when a 200,000-ton cargo ship got stuck in the Suez Canal sent ripples through the U.S. economy and led many people to explore alternatives to the global supply chain, which is also susceptible to other forces ranging from weather to cyberattacks.

Although global cargo traffic has become the norm for obtaining many products used in the United States, innovative companies such as Baru are examples of a trend towards supporting local manufacturers of American-made and locally-sourced products.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently described the United States' reliance on foreign supply chains as "a vulnerability," and emphasized the need to produce more goods domestically for economic and security reasons.

"Even when supply routes are relatively calm, the global supply chain is an overly complex and lengthy process. Product prototypes take valuable months to make, ship, test, plan, and re-make," according to Baru founder and CEO Tino Go.

Local manufacturing has many benefits, notably putting the customer in the driver's seat and creating a relationship with local communities.

"By combining automation, craftsmanship, and virtual customization, we're able to send manufacturing instructions to workshops local to the customer," Mr. Go explains.

When Baru creates made-to-order furniture, other environmental and economic benefits include reduction of global CO? emissions, prevention of unsold inventory landing in landfills, creation of local jobs, and support of industrial innovation by American artisans and craftspeople.

Baru also shows its commitment to the environment with an ongoing tree-planting initiative as part of its sustainable manufacturing model.

During the design process, Baru selects sustainably engineered wood panels that are both beautiful and durable. The wood goes to one of Baru's local manufacturing partners, which uses the latest technology of automated machinery for efficiency of scale and design, combined with the skills of local carpenters and woodworkers to create a unique and lasting item that is American-sourced and American-made. Baru's growing network of workshops ensures that the products are made as close to the final delivery destination as possible to reduce transportation costs and emissions. Finally, the model cycles back to trees -- Baru's pledge is to plant three trees for every furniture purchase made to achieve carbon neutrality. After three years, three trees replace the wood used in production and absorb more CO? than Baru's hometown process emitted.

Visit hellobaru.com for more information about how you can create furniture that is unique to you, with the bonuses of benefitting the American economy and the global environment.

(NewsUSA) - -In the wake of the ongoing pandemic, many people have taken the opportunity for introspection, and many are exploring spirituality and the meaning of the universe in a new way.

For Christians, God is the creator, and a new book explores a unique way of examining creation from the perspective of quantum physics, and the interaction of music, light, and sound.

Len Mink, a show business veteran, discovered his personal relationship with Jesus in 1971, a relationship that sustained him through a bout with a potentially terminal blood disease. However, he was cured and continued his work as a composer and performer.

Mink has produced more than 30 albums of contemporary Christian music as well as hymns projects.

Most recently, Mink channeled his musical background to delve into the relationship between music, science, and the realm of the Spirit.

In his book, "The Supernatural Power of Music -- A Quantum Leap Into Worship," he presents the essence of the connection among sound, light, music, worship, and quantum physics.

"It seems that 'quantum speak' and 'faith speak' are one and the same," says Mink.

"Science is the discipline of discovering things that already exist," he adds. Mr. Mink takes readers on a journey into the musicality of the universe, from quasars to crickets.

The relationship between music and quantum physics continues to be an area of intrigue and study.

A recent article on the PBS website's NOVA section notes that, in fact, the universe is built on harmonies, and that mathematical patterns not only define musical scales that make the tunes we love to hear, they also describe the waves and frequencies involved in quantum physics and studied by scientists over the ages.

"The well-known phrase, 'knowledge is power,' is visibly demonstrated in this treasure chest of revelation, giving us an exciting look into both the macro and micro-universe," Mink notes.

Mink's goal in writing the book is to awaken the spiritual in all people, breathe divine energy into every level of one's being, and "unlock the life that your heart has been desperately hungering for," he says.

"We live in an ever-revealing cosmos, teeming with the frequencies of life, bombarding you and affecting your emotions, your moods, your mind, and even your physical body. Open your whole being to the Divine Orchestrator and experience the 'Supernatural Power of Music,'

Mink urges.

The book is available in paperback direct from Len Mink Ministries or Amazon, through download on Kindle, and audiobook in MP3 and CD format (read by author).

For more information, visit lenandcathymink.org.

(NewsUSA) -People make New Year's resolutions to create positive change, from finances to fitness to focus. This year, consider a resolution that could save your life: listen to your heart.

In the United States, more than 650,000 people die each year from heart disease, which has been the leading cause of death for decades. Many heart disease deaths could be prevented with early action and intervention.

People with heart disease may experience "classic" symptoms, such as chest pain or heart palpitations. For others, an early warning sign might be something that doesn't initially seem to be related to the heart at all, such as shortness of breath, dizziness, swelling, or loss of consciousness.

Resolve to not ignore these or any other symptoms. Don't dismiss something you might think is minor -- especially when it's your heart, any issue (big or small) is important. Visit your doctor or seek emergency services as soon as possible. Even if you don't have underlying health conditions, never treat anything with your heart lightly.

Brenda Joseph, 75, of Bedford, Texas, was experiencing new symptoms, such as trouble breathing, especially when lying down, and swelling in her legs and feet. She didn't ignore what was happening. She sought treatment for her symptoms and was ultimately referred to a cardiac electrophysiologist, who diagnosed nonischemic cardiomyopathy, a type of heart disease often referred to as heart failure.

"If I hadn't gone [to the doctor], I wouldn't be here," Brenda says.

An "ejection fraction" (EF) is a measure of how efficiently the heart is pumping. Brenda's EF was at 25 percent. A normal EF is 55-70 percent.

A low EF is one of the risk factors for sudden cardiac death (SCD), which occurs when a failure of the heart's electrical system triggers a dangerously fast heartbeat -- so fast that it causes the heart to quiver or shake instead of pumping blood to the body and brain. This happens without warning and causes the individual to suddenly lose consciousness. Without treatment, SCD occurs in minutes.

Brenda's weak heart function, combined with her heart failure, meant that she had an increased risk of dying suddenly due to a dangerous heart rhythm. There are treatment plans that can help heart patients live better and longer lives, but patients must pay attention to their symptoms and seek care.

The most effective treatment is defibrillation, an electrical shock to get the heart back to a normal rhythm. If you are at risk, your doctor may recommend a LifeVest® wearable defibrillator so that you can have protection from SCD. LifeVest is designed to detect certain life-threatening rapid heart rhythms and automatically deliver a lifesaving treatment shock.

Brenda's doctors prescribed LifeVest for her protection, and Brenda was able to return home. Her doctor reinforced the importance of wearing LifeVest at all times to ensure she had protection.

Shortly after returning from the hospital, Brenda was sitting at her kitchen table when she would need that protection. She suddenly lost consciousness. LifeVest detected an abnormal heart rhythm and delivered a treatment shock that saved her life.

"I'm thankful that I had [LifeVest]," Brenda says, "I'm happy to be here."

Listen to your heart: Don't ignore your symptoms. It just may save your life.

(NewsUSA) -What if Grandma's cookbook could talk? What if lost recipes could be recovered and safeguarded for posterity? What if delectable treats from the past and present were readily accessible? The new DishtoryApp mixes it all together and makes it possible!

Nothing tells a family's history like the food they share and the dishes they prepare together, so Ohio natives and longtime friends Chris Kozak and Dan Zawisza created Dishtory.

It is the first mobile app to provide a platform for culinary artists, aspiring chefs and home cooks to record, save and share family memories through text, photo, audio, and video -- all in one place -- forever. More than a meal, Dishtory provides sensory memory of the tastes and aromas that deserve to be preserved.

The inspiration for the user-generated and crowdsourced Dishtory app began with a conversation between co-founder Dan Zawisza and his mother when he was seeking her Christmas sugar cookies that he remembered from childhood to share with his own family.

After playing phone tag, she left him a detailed message describing how to make the coveted cookies.

"After listening to the voicemail, I thought to myself, 'I will have this recipe now for the rest of my life and in my mom's voice,'" says Zawisza.

"This was a totally new concept, and I want to give everyone the ability to share the same experience."

Co-founder Chris Kozak, who has family roots in the restaurant business says, "With smartphone technology, we saw an opportunity for innovation to give everyone the opportunity to record, save and share recipes - from a tasty dish at a backyard cookout to recipes that have been passed down through generations."

Dishtory serves up the unique stories behind each dish from the primary source ensuring that family culture and legacy live on in the kitchens of future generations.

Unlike written recipe cards, the audio heirlooms cooked up on Dishtory remain and can be shared easily and bring the voice of the distant or departed loved one to life.

During holiday time, it's a fun, free gift to share with family and friends. The app can provide an original holiday experience at parties -- an interactive activity to share the history and recipes of your family's distinct and singular dishes. Modern families in various forms are embraced. The app can help recover long lost recipes through technology, provide inherited recipes for adopted children and blended families, offer healthier twists on old-fashioned recipes (e.g. alternative milks, gluten-free, etc.) and so much more.

(NewsUSA) - Whether it brings something as special as a handwritten card or something as necessary as medication, the U.S. Postal Service is the only institution capable of going the last mile to reach, serve, and tangibly link every American -- but now it needs our help.

In the shadow of COVID-19, demand for mail and appreciation for it surged. But then along came 2021, and our mail got slower, less reliable and more expensive.

During my four terms in Congress, I advocated for a strong U.S. Postal Service. That's because reliable mail is critical for our country. Nearly everywhere I go now, however, I hear people talking about their mail -- even rent, bills, and prescription medications -- being late and pricier to send.

And as we head into the Christmas holiday, people across the country are legitimately wondering if presents will get to their destinations on time. That's because in October, the up-to-three-day service standard for First-Class Mail rose to five days, with consumers across the country reporting even higher delivery waits.

Why? The U.S. Postal Service has a 10-year plan in place not only to slow the mail but also to make it more expensive.

In fact, the cost of first-class mail and "forever stamps" are increasing at an unprecedented rate for everyone. But even more concerning, charities and other nonprofits, magazines, community newspapers, and catalogs are facing even bigger postage hikes which could even drive them out of business.

So, what can we do about it? Well, the Postal Service does have legitimate reasons to save money, but putting the squeeze on mail isn't the right way to do it -- especially if you consider that business-related mail generates 90% of Postal Service revenue.

One answer lies in passing bipartisan federal legislation called The Postal Service Reform Act. It would guarantee six-day mail delivery while freeing the Postal Service from a 2006 law requiring it to set aside funds for retiree health benefits 75 years in advance -- a huge liability that has added more than $40 billion in losses to the Postal Service's balance sheet

The Postal Service Reform Act not only has bipartisan support, but it has also been approved by U.S. Postal Service leadership and labor unions. The legislation presents a rare opportunity for Congress to easily make a positive difference in the lives of all Americans -- every voter, every family, and every business in the nation.

Another way to fix the Postal Service is to keep massive rate increases from happening every few months. Higher postage drives more mail from the system, especially when combined with service delays and consumer complaints.

Some might claim that private couriers like FedEx and UPS could replace the U.S. Postal Service, but that's not true. The Postal Service is obligated to serve every American, no matter how remote. Now it's our job to fix it -- and make sure it can keep delivering for all of us. 

Kevin Yoder is a former Republican Congressman from Kansas who spent four terms serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is executive director of "Keep US Posted"-a campaign aimed at preserving the U.S. Postal Service. For more information, visit www.KeepUSPosted.org.

(NewsUSA)

"The Armageddon Secret"
by Robert Earl Burnham

"The Armageddon Secret"takes the German A-bomb project and a real-life, elite anti-Nazi conspiracy and tills them as rich soil for speculation with the harrowing tale of Alex Drake, an American foreign correspondent in Berlin on the cusp of World War II. It's a tale in which scientific facts and historical figures and events combine with plausible fiction to create a vivid and convincing espionage thriller.

Against the well-realized historical backdrop of Nazi military secrets, Hitler assassination attempts, gruesome beatings, brutal murders, time bombs and underground tunnels, Burnham creates a satisfying, action-packed concoction that will keep you hooked until the last page. Whether you are a WWII buff or not, the book has its own believable version of history to reveal. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3cghi7P.

"Head Shot"
by Otho Eskin

Perfect for fans of David Baldacci and Daniel Silva, here's the most elusive assassin in the world versus D.C. homicide detective Marko Zorn. Zorn is assigned to protect the visiting prime minister of Montenegro, the beautiful Nina Voychek. Political enemies are planning her assassination, but now it's apparent that he, too, is a target. He pulls out all stops to hunt whoever is targeting him and prevent an international tragedy.

Decoded messages, Supermax prisoner interviews, mafia lawyers and an ancient Black Mountain curse swirl among the icons of D.C. as Marko and his young partne, Lucy face down what may be multiple assassins. Or are they facing one assassin, the deadliest and most elusive on the international stage? Purchase at https://amzn.to/3rGWkEe.

"Shelter from The Storm"
by Dorothy K. Fletcher

Elementary school teacher Sarah Palmer had a secret, one that even she found hard to face. But only after her teacher friends witnessed one of her debilitating panic attacks did she ever consider confronting it. "Shelter from the Storm" is her journey toward salvation and renewal.

It is a sensitive story about how two young girls -- one black, one white -- try to overcome the status quo in a time when Jim Crow laws prevailed. It is also a story that considers how two people can live through the same event and experience very different outcomes; some become stronger while others are swept away like cottages in a hurricane. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3FE3lxR.

"Floating Underwater"
by Tracy Shawn

Part psychological fiction and part mystical fiction with a dash of magical realism, "Floating Underwater" follows a woman's astonishing journey through the extraordinary and, ultimately, to her own self-actualization and power. Fearful that her lifelong premonitions not only predict the future but can also change its very course, Paloma Leary is devastated when her latest vision predicting a third miscarriage comes true.

Falling into a mystifying world of increasingly bizarre phenomena, including a psychic connection with her mysterious neighbor, out-of-body experiences and visits from her long-dead mother, Paloma grows desperate for answers. She is also desperate to start a family. But when a life-changing vision reveals a tragic secret from the past, Paloma embraces a far different future than she ever imagined. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3I6lohi.

NOTE: BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - Post-pandemic, it's more important than ever that businesses promote their services, offerings or events. But how to do that if you're on a budget?

There are several ways to get your company's message out: stating the company mission (the equivalent of a business resume) on its website, employing a public relations firm to garner exposure through earned media, or advertising -- that is, if you have the money to pay for it.

The problem is that small, niche companies need the same exposure (if not more) than the Fortune 500 companies, but are hamstrung by limited resources.

Fortunately, advertising doesn't have to be exclusively PR-centric, but can be a blend of traditional and effective strategies, according to PR News.

In this way, Washington D.C.-based NewsUSA does exceptionally well by specializing in writing matte releases -- feature articles that help to fill space in newspapers and online media -- for its clients.

NewsUSA guarantees product placement (around 1,000-1,400 placements per story) for its clients in various media outlets around the world, including television sites and hundreds of digital and print newspapers.

"NewsUSA's strength is that it has all these contracts and relationships with newspapers and online media sources that have been built over years and can be trusted for writing and editorial," said Rick Smith, CEO of NewsUSA. "In terms of mass marketing to the consumer, for some of the budgets that these companies have, there just aren't a lot of options. That's where NewsUSA comes in."

For NewsUSA client Security Equipment Corporation (Sabre), it granted access to media outlets that the company wouldn't have had otherwise.

"As a first-time user of NewsUSA, I was pleasantly surprised, not only with the number of placements we got, but the quality of our placements," said Marisa McKay, marketing manager for Sabre. "Our content was placed in high-profile publications that we wouldn't have been able to afford if we had to buy traditional advertising space."

As a result, the family-owned and -operated manufacturer of the top brand of pepper spray had three stories distributed to more than 3,600 news outlets, both online and in print, for a total reach of more than 90 million readers nationwide. The ad value equivalency of the campaign was more than $1.1 million.

Another client, Star Clippers, also saw a huge return on investment when it engaged NewsUSA to write five stories about its

ultimate cruising vacation alternative -- a tall ship mega-yacht experience aboard authentic re-creations of the classic sailing clipper ships that ruled the waves during the 1800s.

In return, Star Clippers garnered more than 6,000 placements that reached more than 319 million readers nationwide, for a total ad equivalency of $3.8 million.

For more information, visit www.newsusa.com.

(MS) - Hisense's future development should continue to focus on high-end products, but meanwhile expand its business-to-business (B2B) industry, says Zhou Houjian, the chairman of the Hisense Group.

Hisense's monthly revenue from the international markets has exceeded $800 million, which marks a great achievement. But, the company has yet to put more money in its research and development in the B2B industry. Zhou Houjian points out that going overseas in the B2B industry is a clear strategy of the Group to deal with uncertain business risks in the future.

The Group now owns 54 overseas companies and offices, 11 research and development institutions, 18 industrial parks and production bases. Over the past many years, Hisense has gone from a little-known brand to one of the most popular Chinese brands among international consumers and has become a truly international brand.

As a matter of fact, Hisense Group's plan to set foot in the overseas B2B industry has long been clear. Since the beginning of this year, in the annual Canon Fair and the China Africa Economic & Trade Expo, the Group has debuted new lines of B2B products such as color ultrasound devices, smart transportation solutions and commercial display solutions.

The overseas sales of Hisense commercial display products, increased by more than 240% in the first 10 months of 2021. Hisense commercial displays can now be seen in the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, BP oil gas station in UK, KFC restaurants in Poland and the ice hockey arenas in Norway.

In August of this year, Hisense Medical received a big order of medical displays from South Africa, a milestone in its overseas medical display business.

Zhou says that next year, going overseas will become an even more important strategic development direction for Hisense's B2B industry, which showcases the Group's resolve in industrial transformation and upgrading. The Group will give key support in terms of human and financial resources. The acceleration of overseas B2B business expansion will catalyze Hisense technologies global influence.

(NewsUSA) - New parents have so much to think about that financial planning may not be at the top of the list. However, once sleep deprivation wears off, new parents will be thankful if they have completed some financial planning in advance.

"Smart financial planning not only protects families against unexpected bumps in the road, but also teaches children good financial habits," says Brad Ledwith, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.

Three key financial considerations for new parents or parents-to-be include:

Life Insurance Plans. When you become a parent, it's time to be proactive about life insurance. If you don't have a policy, get one to ensure that your family is provided for in the event of your death.

Remember that both parents need policies, even if only one parent is employed. "Term life insurance is generally a good option for new parents because of its affordability and provision for income loss in the event of one parent's death," Ledwith explains.

Education Savings Accounts. With the cost of tuition rising annually, it is never too early to think about college savings options. Consider setting up a 529 plan, which allows parents, grandparents and others to deposit money into an account that grows tax-free.

The proceeds must be used for education purposes. The details vary by state, so be sure to check the rules of your state. Go-to sites for more information on 529 plans are Savingforcollege.com, American Funds and College America.

Custodial Accounts. Custodial accounts are a great way to keep monetary gifts to children in a safe place with no restrictions on future use. Funds in a custodial account can be used toward cars, housing, vacations or any other expense.

Custodial accounts also serve as educational opportunities. As children learn how to save, delay gratification and work toward a goal, a custodial account gives them an opportunity to learn about fiscal responsibility. When your child is older, you can teach him or her how to buy stocks with some of the money in a custodial account.

"Eventually, the child will wind up with the means to finance something that will serve him or her for years to come, such as a car or their first apartment. It's a fantastic lesson about how money can work for you," says Ledwith.

Key financial decisions for your family happen at all life stages -- whether it's budgeting to help afford everyday expenses when you have children, seeking tax breaks to help you save for college or planning to financially protect your family if anything happens to you. Working with a CFP® professional can help you adapt your finances to meet the needs of your growing family. Visit LetsMakeAPlan.org for more financial tips and savings information.