Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Living Well

DIET AND EXERCISE ARE THE KEYS TO LONGEVITY

Good health, a long active lifespan, greater satisfaction from work and more enjoyment from family and leisure time activities are the benefits that can be derived from an improved diet and better nutritional practices.

Most nutritionists and health experts agree that the benefits from exercise and improvements in the diet can lead to better health over the long run.

If good nutrition is practiced throughout the lifespan, it may prolong the development of certain health problems.

Research has shown that many health problems which lead to death in the United States can be traced to diet. Therefore, diet modification is important. Death rates from heart disease, are higher in the United States than in any other country of comparable economic development.

There is a great deal of talk about health and fitness these days. There are books and magazines devoted to fitness, newspaper articles and many, many celebrity videos available.

But most people do not get enough exercise on a regular basis. The fact remains that if we want to feed good, look our best, and live longer and fuller lives, we must eat sensibly and exercise more.

To improve our health, we must exercise twenty minutes or more at least three times per week. This mean aerobic exercise ? faster heart rate, increased breathing and muscles working. As with any exercise program or diet modification, be sure to check with your health care professional before you make changes.

Some of the benefits of aerobic exercise are:

? improved concentration and alertness;

? increased energy and stamina;

? more restful sleep;

? weight control;

? less stress, depression;

? better muscle tone, strength and endurance;

? improved digestion and elimi-nation; and

?increased flexibility.

Now would be a good time to change your eating habits. It just might pay dividends to your future. Why not start today?

EARNED INCOME TAX

CREDIT PUTS MONEY INTO

WORKERS? POCKETS

If you worked last year, even part time, and earned a low income, the IRS could owe you money ? as much as $3,500 for workers with two or more children, $2,151 for workers with one child, or $323 for workers without children. The funds are from an earned income tax credit (EITC), designed to reward low income persons who earn less than $28,495.

The credit helps workers offset the funds they used to receive from a welfare benefit check.

If you qualify, you will either owe less in taxes, or get a check back from the IRS. You can even get the credit if you owe no income tax.

To get your credit, you file a federal tax return. If you have children, include Form 1040 or 1040A and Form EIC. The EIC form is not needed if you don?t have children.

And, it is not too late to get your credit from previous years. You can file an amended return if you qualified for a credit in the last two years and forgot to file for it.

The EITC will not affect most benefits such as AFDC, food stamps, SSI, Medicaid or public housing.

When you file for EITC it is important that you list correct social security numbers for you and your children. If errors are made, your payment could be delayed.

An accurate tax form mailed early in the tax season should bring a refund in the mail within a few weeks, in fact about as quickly as paying for a quick refund. Save your money. Wait a few days longer and all of the refund will be yours to keep.

The Nevada County office of the Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas has two handouts which explain the EITC. One is written for all works, Taxes: Eight Easy Steps to Get My 1996 Earned Income Tax Credit and the second is designed for farm workers, Extra Dollars For Farm Workers 1996.

For more information come by the Extension Office for your free copy.