Rural Leader Magazine March 2022

MARCH 2022

COVER STORY

How to Close Security Gaps for Your Distributed Organization, pg. 11 GetRuralLeaderMag.com | MARCH 2022 1

Contents

5 Five Ways to Teach Your Kids the Basics of Finances Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication that highlights every day people doing extraordinary things nationally and abroad. www.RuralLeaderMag.com www.GetRuralLeaderMag.com

About Us

Launched in March 2014, Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication with a mission to highlight every day people doing extraordinary things in business, education, music, community, art, sports, and leadership nationally and abroad.

Rural Leader Magazine honors exemplary individuals on a variety of levels, such as the 20 under 20 Honors, 40 under 40 Honors, Best Small Town Restaurant, Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People, the Scholars of Collegiate Distinction, Fifty under Fifty, and the Eagle Elite Club.— Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent.

Send editorial ideas to Kuanita Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief editor@ruralleadermag.com Contact Us info@ruralleadermag.com editor@ruralleadermag.com ruralleadermagazine@gmail.com

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6 African Americans Are at Higher Risk of Glaucoma: How You Can Help Protect Your Vision 9 Five Reason Students Should Expand Their Career Options to Include the Trades COVER STORY 11 How to Close Security Gaps for Your Distributed Organization 12 Four Reasons to Plan Your Own Funeral 13 How Your Small Business Can Move from Surviving to Thriving 15 FREE Home Covid-19 Test Kits

16 Top 8 Ways to Improve Heart Health According to an Interventional Cardiologist 18 Unexpected Ways Kindness Improves Kids’ Health 19 Do you know the difference between COVID-19 testing options?

21 How the Guarantees of Whole Life Insurance can Help Secure Your Financial Future 22 Research: Vitamin D plays an important role in immune health 23 Buying your first home: What you should know 24 How to Decide What Kind of Garden you Want this Year

Tell us what you think about our publications, if you have a great idea for a story, or to just share. We may print your comments in Rural Leader Magazine. By sending us your comments, you’re giving permission to call you for an interview. Please be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can reach you. Write to us at info@RuralLeaderMag.com—

Editor’s Note Dear Readers, Inside this issue, there are a number of great articles about leadership best practices, building positive self-esteem and productivity! We hope you enjoy this issue.

As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thanks again for your continual support!

Sincerely, Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

What you do matters. @RuralLeaderMag

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Five Ways to Teach Your Kids the Basics of Finances As you may have learned, making bad financial decisions when you’re young can affect your life for years to come. On the other hand, making good financial choices early makes it easier to do important things like buying a home. It may seem hard to teach your kids about things like budgeting, but without that solid foundation, navigating their finances will be harder when they’re grown up. Teaching your kids the value of a dollar now - and providing them with tools to manage their own finances - can help set them up for a lifetime of success.

Here are some tips to consider for helping your kids learn about finances from Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc. 1. Practice saving habits. One thing kids can learn is how everyday actions add up over time. Not everything they take for granted is free, and because you have to pay for things like electricity, heating and water, it’s best not to waste them - both for your wallet and the environment. Model and explain behaviors everyone can do that save money: * Turn off lights when leaving rooms * Decrease water usage (not letting the faucet run while brushing teeth, for example) * Turn down heat at night or when leaving the house 2. Teach delayed gratification. Learning patience is an essential part of growing up. As an adult, you wait for paychecks, and to save enough money to buy things you need or want. Kids who can work toward a future goal or reward will be more successful in school, with their finances - and in their careers. * No in-app purchases - It’s tempting to fall for offers for add-ons while playing games, but kids need to learn to resist impulses and plan ahead if they want something. * Only purchasing on certain days such as birthdays, holidays or allowance days teaches self-control, patience - and the fun of anticipation!

Knowing the difference between needing and wanting things also goes a long way toward developing good spending habits.

3. Manage a savings account. When kids are young, they can learn to save money - ideally in a clear container so they can see it grow. When they’re older, kids can learn how to keep track of a real bank account, with your help. As they grow, they will learn not only that their savings increase, but that a bank account may allow them to earn small amounts of interest, building up savings even more.

4. Help them earn. Even if you give your kids an allowance, you can also offer opportunities to earn by

doing extra chores. When they’re old enough to get jobs like babysitting or lawnmowing, help them keep track of what they earn and plan for the future - like setting aside money for college.

Today there are multiple apps to help kids track chore or allowance money, budget and save toward goals.

5. Teach big picture principles. Discussing money can help kids understand how the world works, protecting them from making mistakes when they’re on their own. Kids should understand that your income helps to pay for your home, car, utilities and food, and that credit cards aren’t free. Explain how credit cards charge interest, so you shouldn’t spend more than you can pay off each month.

It’s important that kids learn how good financial habits help you build a solid credit score, so you’ll be able to make major purchases later, like buying a home. You can explain how buying a home is a longterm investment that’s important to your family’s stability. Fortunately, even when the housing market makes homebuying challenging, there are more affordable alternatives, such as manufactured housing.

Manufactured homes are built to standards set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, constructed with quality materials, and typically meet or exceed the specifications of site-built homes. Because of innovative building practices, they are typically available at a more affordable price point.

To see how much you may be able to afford on a home based on your monthly budget, check out this mortgage calculator at VMF.com. Experimenting with this calculator is one way you can physically show your kids the impact of their earnings.

With these tips, and keeping to simple, straightforward explanations, you should be able to help your child learn how finances work, and what they can do now to learn good habits that will be with them for years to come.

All loans are subject to credit approval.—

Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc., and its dba Silverton Mortgage, 500 Alcoa Trail, Maryville, TN 37804, 865-380-3000, NMLS #1561, (http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/), AZ Lic. #BK-0902616, Loans made or arranged pursuant to a California Financing Law License and Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act, Licensed by the N.J. Department of Banking and Insurance, Licensed by PA Dept. of Banking, Rhode Island Licensed Lender.

Equal Housing Opportunity.

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African Americans Are at Higher Risk of Glaucoma: How You Can Help Protect Your Vision When improving your health and wellness, it’s essential to take care of your eyes too. For African Americans, this is especially important because of increased risk factors for eye disease and vision loss.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, glaucoma - a disease that damages the optic nerve and causes vision loss - is three times more likely to occur in African Americans. The risks of glaucoma are magnified further when you consider that the disease strikes, on average, 10 years earlier and progresses faster among African Americans.

The good news is that with early detection and treatments, including a wide range of eye drop medications, laser treatments and several types of incisional surgery, the majority of patients with glaucoma maintain their vision. By becoming aware of your risk factors and taking preventive steps, you can help protect your eyes.

Finding answers in your genes. While the risk factors for eye disease continue to be studied, the ophthalmology community believes genetics can play a role.

“Aside from the access to care challenges that confront members of minority populations, African Americans have a range of genetic predispositions that make them more susceptible to eye diseases such as glaucoma,” says Dr. Eydie Miller-Ellis, professor of clinical ophthalmology and director of the Glaucoma 6 RuralLeaderMag.com | MARCH 2022

Service at the Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. “This includes an increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and other serious medical conditions that can also contribute to poor eye health.”

Don’t dismiss a lack of symptoms. Since glaucoma often develops without symptoms and you can lose vision without noticing it, Dr. Miller-Ellis stresses that early action is vital for African Americans to help prevent glaucoma and other eye diseases.

“The increased risk of early onset glaucoma makes it critical for African Americans to take steps to protect their eye health at a young age,” says Dr. Miller-Ellis. “Many people are lulled into a sense of complacency when it comes to their vision because they believe they see fine. But a lot of asymptomatic disorders like glaucoma can be damaging your eyesight without you realizing it.”

Schedule an eye exam. Understanding that you are at greater risk for eye disease and vision loss is the starting point toward protecting your eyesight. Begin a routine of yearly dilated eye exams with an ophthalmologist so that vision problems can be detected early. The Glaucoma Research Foundation recommends African Americans get a comprehensive exam to check for glaucoma starting at age 35.

No vision plan? No worries. Don’t let the lack of a vision plan hold you back from scheduling a screen-

ing for glaucoma. Medical eye exams and treatments for eye diseases, including glaucoma, are typically covered by regular health insurance. Check with your healthcare provider for specifics on your level of coverage. In addition, EyeCare America offers medical eye exams with volunteer ophthalmologists across the U.S., often for free.

Know your family history. Some eye diseases, such as glaucoma, can be hereditary. And for African Americans, the risk of glaucoma is 20% higher if it’s already in your family.

“To prioritize healthy vision, it’s important to have a complete understanding of your family’s history of eye disease,” says Dr. Mildred M.G. Olivier, founding regional dean at the School of Medicine, Ponce Health Sciences University, St. Louis campus. “That’s why I encourage African American families to not only discuss their individual history of eye disease, but also ensure that everyone in the family goes for an annual eye exam.”

Empower yourself. Dr. Olivier also encourages people to be their own advocates in breaking down the health inequity barriers for minorities that may

stand in the way of better eye health.

“It’s important to ask your primary care physician to refer you to an ophthalmologist for an annual medical eye exam,” says Dr. Olivier. “When you are at the eye doctor’s office, make sure you are getting all the information you need and understand all of your options concerning your eyesight and any problems that arise.”

Both Dr. Olivier and Dr. Miller-Ellis are working to improve access to eye care among minority populations as leaders of the Rabb-Venable Excellence in Ophthalmology Program, which supports minority medical students, residents and fellows in ophthalmology. The Rabb-Venable program is part of the National Medical Association - Ophthalmology Section and supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute.

The Glaucoma Research Foundation offers a wealth of resources for African Americans to help build a plan for better eye health, including the guide “Understanding and Living with Glaucoma.” This free booklet, supported by Aerie Pharmaceuticals, is available at www.glaucoma.org/booklet.—

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Five Reason Students Should Expand Their Career Options to Include the Trades During a time when young people have experienced disruptions to their education and witnessed unprecedented changes in the labor market, it’s understandable that students may feel uncertain about their future careers. The good news is, there are many skilled trades that students may not be fully aware of - and they’re in need of talent. In a National Association of Business Economics (NABE) Business Conditions Survey, nearly half (47%) of the respondents reported a shortage of skilled labor in the third quarter of 2021, up from 32% in the second quarter - and this remains an ongoing situation.

While this labor shortage is certainly a challenge for employers, it’s also an opportunity for students or others looking for a productive and satisfying career path. Many of these positions experiencing shortages require skills in the trades, including jobs such as electricians, HVAC specialists, carpenters, plumbers, welders and automotive mechanics.

“Now is a perfect time for students to consider a career in the skilled trades given the high demand,” said Andy Strom, vice president of Product Development and Manufacturing at Northern Tool + Equipment. “In addition to helping fill the national labor shortage, people who choose to pursue careers in the trades are met with a variety of practical benefits ranging from statistically higher job satisfaction to lower levels of student debt.”

Parents, teachers, career counselors and other mentors can help expand awareness of these opportunities for a career in the trades. Here’s why this could be a great option.

Job satisfaction among the trades is high. According to a study by Angi, the marketplace for home services, 83% of tradespeople reported being either somewhat or extremely satisfied with their choice of work. Taking pride in your skills, and what you are able to build or repair, is a large component of that job satisfaction. Plus, the nature of most trades careers forces the work to be left at the job site at day’s end, allowing for more clarity in work-life balance.

Pursuing a trade leads to less student debt. With the continually rising costs of a four-year college or university education, the idea of training for a career without incurring a mountain of debt is increasingly appealing. A trade school education is typically much less expensive than pursuing a four-year degree, and usually takes less time to complete. In addition, pay for skilled trades workers can be high compared to

other vocations, and is becoming increasingly competitive.

Companies needing skilled trades are helping to train the workforce of the future. Some companies are proactively addressing the skilled labor gap by helping to encourage and support students who are interested in careers in the trades. Northern Tool + Equipment recently rolled out a “Tools for the Trades” program in partnership with several schools across Minnesota, with plans to roll out similar programs across the country later this year.

This initiative supports trades programs with donations of professional-grade tools and equipment to improve high schools’ career and technical education programs.

“It’s critical to get students involved with their schools’ trades programs and that’s why we are working hard to provide these important classes with the resources they need,” said Strom. “Trades instructors need quality tools to help lead their classes to prepare for the future of skilled trades, and our hope is these donations further improve the in-class experience and give the students hands-on training experience working with professional-grade equipment.”

The trades are hiring a more diverse workforce.

Today’s industries are also looking for more women and people of color to be trained and hired for a wider range of positions than ever before. To that end, many are offering opportunities for training, scholarships and apprenticeships in order to help ensure a more diverse workforce in the future.

The demand for workers is not letting up. A number of factors are contributing to the already-high demand for skilled workers in a variety of trades, including the fact that many older tradespeople have retired or are soon retiring, as well as the sudden surge in industries such as home construction and renovation. In addition, newer fields such as renewable energy are creating more skilled jobs every day.

It’s clear that education and training in the trades will help workers stay gainfully employed, now and well into the future.

If you or a member of your family is looking for a career change or are about to begin a career after graduation, consider exploring the opportunities in your area to train for a career in the trades.—

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COVER STORY

How to Close Security Gaps for Your Distributed Organization One of the most dramatic changes of the past two years has been the growth of distributed organizations - workplaces where employees are now working remotely 50% or more of the time. While employees and employers have come to appreciate that flexibility, a major concern with distributed organizations involves heightened cybersecurity risks. One of these risks is that employees working from home, coffee shops and other locations could be using unsecure networks. To help ensure that all workers are logging into company networks securely, it’s vital to have a rigorous security strategy that can adapt to evolving threats.

Here are tips to help close potential security gaps for your employees, no matter where they’re working.

1. Educate employees on security best practices.

Your IT department needs to keep employees updated on the latest network security protocols, as well as alerting them to new threats. Make sure they educate all of your employees on a regular basis, so everyone keeps cybersecurity top of mind.

One of the biggest risks to your company is employees connecting to your network using an open home Wi-Fi network or unsecured public Wi-Fi network. Train employees on your organization’s best practices and protocols when accessing your company’s network.

Make sure everyone understands your company’s security measures when using their devices, plus best practices for avoiding phishing scams, reporting lost or stolen devices, creating password complexity and using multi-factor authentication.

2. Implement multi-factor authentication Everyone has experienced forgetting a password and may have reused passwords occasionally to avoid forgetting them. There’s even a name for it: password fatigue. But using complex passwords is even more crucial today, with cybercrime on the rise. Fortunately, there are ways to avert the risks created by password reuse. One tactic is to use a password manager, which generates complex passwords and keeps track of them for you. Another is to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Multi-factor authentication is a digital identity verification system requiring users to pass more than one authentication checkpoint. To log into systems configured with MFA, you first enter your username and password, then you’re prompted to enter some-

thing else, like a one-time access code sent through an authenticator app via email or text. MFA is a fairly easy-to-implement system that can increase security systemwide, making it harder for bad actors to penetrate your network.

3. Use patch management. Patch management is a critical pillar of cyber defense, yet many organizations struggle with patching in their hybrid work environment. This is due to the lack of visibility into user devices, the frequency of new patches introduced by software vendors - and the need to leverage complicated workflows to manage patching across multiple operating systems.

Fortunately, Patch Management from JumpCloud gives IT admins greater insight into system vulnerabilities, allowing them to deploy automated patch updates and strengthen overall security. IT admins can use Patch Management to report on operating system patches and versions and see patch versions across their remote fleet, managing Mac and Windows updates and patches from the JumpCloud console easily and quickly.

“We know users don’t update their devices with bug fixes or security patches with any regularity,” said Greg Armanini, senior director of product management, JumpCloud. “This creates huge security gaps for every organization, especially those that are distributed, which is almost every organization today.

Patch Management solves this problem, and delivers robust updates that improve security and enhance organization protection.”

“JumpCloud has been essential in consolidating our cloud directory, single-sign on, multi-factor authentication, mobile device management and more,” said Ricky Jordan, senior computer systems admin at Primitive Skate. “Patch Management removes a huge IT burden and lets us fortify our cyber defenses with greater control over, and insight into, system vulnerabilities. I can’t imagine trying to manage a modern workplace without JumpCloud.”— JumpCloud gives admins a single cloud directory platform to secure all their users in any device environment, wherever work happens. Visit JumpCloud. com to learn more.

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Four Reasons to Plan Your Own Funeral At some point, most of us will need to make final arrangements for someone we will miss. Coupled with overpowering grief, making even the simplest decisions about a funeral or cremation service can be confusing and overwhelming, especially since those decisions often need to be made in the days immediately following a death. Occasionally, decisions are made in haste and leave loved ones feeling like they didn’t do enough to truly honor and celebrate a unique life.

By working with a funeral professional to plan your service ahead of time, you give your loved ones peace of mind and comfort, as well as remove a potential financial burden. Here are four reasons to plan your own funeral or cremation.

Your loved ones can focus on healing. When you pass, you will leave behind people who are deeply saddened by your absence. The days and weeks right after your passing will be emotionally difficult.

Having all your arrangements in place and your final wishes documented will help relieve some of the stress involved in planning your memorial service and allow those who loved you most to concentrate on coming together and comforting one another.

It’s a good financial decision. The cost of living has increased over the years, and so has the cost of the average funeral. By planning ahead, you can lock in today’s pricing. A burial space in a beautiful, serene section of your local cemetery could increase in value before the time of your passing. When you pre-ar12 RuralLeaderMag.com | MARCH 2022

range your final arrangements that burial spot will remain the same price as it was when you bought it, protecting your loved ones against rising inflation.

You can plan almost every detail in advance. Prepaid funeral plans typically include almost every aspect of your final arrangements, from the services of the funeral director to the casket of your choosing to the venue you select and more. Often, you can even select flowers and mementos for family and friends.

And, by documenting all of your wishes, your family will know to incorporate additional special touches, such as song selections, special readings or videos.

Your final wishes are recorded. Perhaps you would prefer a small, intimate memorial service, but your loved ones envisioned a flashy, expensive send-off.

Planning final wishes ahead of time takes the guesswork out of the equation and could alleviate feelings of guilt your loved ones might have down the road if they second-guess their decisions about your memorial service. Instead, they will take solace in knowing that your final arrangements were “exactly what mom wanted.”

To learn more about the benefits of planning a funeral, cremation or final resting place ahead of time, or to find a provider close to you for more information, visit DignityMemorial.com.—

How Your Small Business Can Move from Surviving to Thriving The last few years have brought incredible challenges to small and micro businesses (SMBs), plus some amazing stories of tenacity and survival. These businesses have seen enormous changes, fueled by consumer habits that are here to stay.

For many SMBs, digital payment acceptance has become increasingly intertwined with their longterm success. Visa’s Back to Business study conducted in nine countries shows that 82% of SMBs surveyed plan to accept digital payment options in 2022 and 73% said a modern, digital payments infrastructure is fundamental to their growth.

Embrace the digital transformation, If your small business does not yet have an online presence and hasn’t yet mastered ways to accept digitized payments online or in-store, now’s the time to get on board.

E-commerce has grown exponentially and it’s not going anywhere. On average, 57% of U.S. consumers’ shopping in the past month was done using digital payments, according to the Visa Global Back to Business Study.

Plenty of tools and tactics are available to help any size business develop and grow their e-commerce capabilities. Here are some tips to help get your business where it needs to be.

Create or improve your website. Developing an attractive, seamless and user-friendly website is not only crucial to compete in today’s marketplace, but it can also be the difference maker in a business’

survival. In fact, on average, 90% of small businesses surveyed with an online presence said they attributed pandemic survival to increased efforts to sell online, the study said.

If you don’t have a website, start here: * Make sure your web address/URL is easy to say, spell and remember. * Select a website host and platform. The host allows your website to have connectivity to the internet, while the platform helps you design and build your website. * If you don’t have a web designer on staff, hire a professional to design a website that’s easy to navigate, and that helps consumers quickly understand your business, its services or products.

Create new ways for customers to make digital payments To help your customers pay for goods and services using their computer or mobile device, Visa offers a variety of resources and digital tools.

“More than ever, people are engaging across multiple channels - shopping online, in-store and through mobile apps,” said Jeni Mundy, Global SVP Merchant Sales & Acquiring at Visa. “We’ve seen that SMBs who have embraced digital commerce and made changes to the way they operate not only have weathered the pandemic better but are also setting themselves up to thrive in the future.”

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Build customer loyalty and engagement. Social media platforms can help you attract new customers, engage with them and reward their participation and loyalty. Creating content like blogs as well as encouraging customer reviews and postings can help build a sense of community with your customer base.

You can also use technology to create a digital customer loyalty program, offering special discounts and promotions for your frequent buyers. Offering benefits like these motivates consumers to do business with you and creates positive buzz about your

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business.

For more information on the programs Visa has made available to small and micro businesses visit the Visa Small Business Hub and the Visa Small Business COVID-19 support site.—

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Top 8 Ways to Improve Heart Health According to an Interventional Cardiologist Most of us know that maintaining optimal heart health is essential to living a long, healthy life. Yet still, in the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death, and we are not putting adequate attention toward prevention.

Fortunately, cardiologists, heart health experts, and new research have made it easier to take care of our health by providing simple guidelines on how to maintain optimal heart health even as we age.

Renowned Interventional Cardiologist and author Dr. Heather Shenkman emphasizes the importance of “making small, easy adjustments to your daily lifestyle that add up to transformative health benefits.”

1) Go for daily walks. Yes, just going on one walk a day is enough exercise to do your body good. Considering how busy our lives can be, it can be challenging to engage in intense workouts every day.

But thankfully, according to cardiologists and health experts, a moderate, quick 15-minute walk around the neighborhood is enough to contribute to a healthy heart and body as a whole.

“Benefits of a quick walk around the neighborhood are enormous,” said Metabolic Health & Vitality Specialist Tafiq Akhir. “The advantages go far beyond heart health; they include improved mood, reduced back pain, lower risk of blood clots, ease joint discomfort and so on.”

2) Get enough sleep. You likely already know how 16 RuralLeaderMag.com | MARCH 2022

important sleep is for our overall health, but it’s also crucial to leading a heart-healthy lifestyle in particular. Poor sleep can negatively affect our cardiovascular health by interrupting our body’s natural recovery processes, causing changes in the blood vessels, slowing metabolism, and putting stress on our immune system.

3) Stay hydrated. Drinking enough water isn’t just necessary when we’re thirsty, or when it’s hot outside.

Dehydration can negatively impact our cardiovascular system by reducing the amount of blood circulating throughout our body. Keeping our bodies hydrated helps the heart more easily pump blood through the blood vessels to the muscles allowing them to work more efficiently.

“I usually recommend drinking half your body weight in ounces to stay hydrated,” says Registered Dietician Lauren Cornell.

4) Limit your salt intake. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 milligrams a day, but ideally, daily sodium consumption should be limited under 1,500 milligrams. This is much less than the amount most Americans consume; an average of over 3,400 milligrams each day.

By reducing your daily salt intake, you can lower your blood pressure significantly. An easy strategy is to increase your potassium intake, which lessens the effect of salt. Include potassium-rich foods like fish,

fruits and vegetables in your diet to balance your salt intake.

5) Cut out fried foods. While eating fried foods can be appealing to our taste buds, it can also be a complete heart health destroyer. According to a new study, eating fried food is tied to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. The greatest way to avoid these harmful effects is to reduce - or even eliminate - our intake of fried foods.

6) Consume probiotics. Those who consume probiotic foods such as yogurt or who take probiotic supplements have been shown to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Fortifying and increasing your digestive capacity with probiotic-rich foods and supplements will help maintain great heart and whole body health, plus it will provide the essential nutrients you need to receive from your food.

7) Eat more beetroot. The benefits of beetroot come from its ability to raise nitric oxide levels in the body. Nitric oxide is a natural chemical produced by the body to widen arteries. The production of nitric

oxide in the body can help lower blood pressure, promote healthy circulation, and give you better overall energy and heart health. Nitric oxide synthesis begins to slow as a part of normal aging, which is why many people turn to beetroot supplements to maintain healthy nitric oxide levels.

8) Take a supplement rich in fiber and essential vitamins. It can easily become overwhelming to ensure optimal heart health with the many requirements expected of us. That’s why adding a supplement that contains vitamins specifically designed for heart health can be the most effective way to promote heart and brain health, maintain appropriate weight levels, and encourage healthy circulation.

“In my practice, I combine healthy eating and exercise with an integrative approach to health by recommending CardioFitMD daily superfoods to my patients,” Shenkman explains. “It has all the vitamins and minerals, pre- and probiotics, nitric oxide, and fiber we are most deficient in, in one great-tasting daily drink.”—

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Unexpected Ways Kindness Improves Kids’ Health Mental health in children has been a forefront discussion since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with an October 2021 announcement by a coalition of pediatric health experts even declaring children’s mental health to be in a state of national emergency. Because of this, parents are constantly looking for ways to help improve the lives of their children during these unprecedented times. Capitalizing on the health benefits of kindness in kids may be a step in the right direction.

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, which celebrates Random Acts of Kindness Week each February, says there are “scientifically proven benefits to being kind.” Kindness has lasting effects on physical, mental and emotional development, making kids healthier and happier in the long run.

Physical health. The age-old golden rule implores people to treat others the way they want to be treated - but it is also important for people to treat themselves well, too. When parents focus on teaching their children to be kind to others and to themselves, it can mean an improvement in self-esteem and a decrease in self-harm. The self-awareness that comes from self-care helps children develop compassion and empathy, which researchers have even linked to the brain stimulation essential for learning. Kindness is also shown to improve mood and lower blood pressure, resulting in a longer lifespan.

Mental health, Serotonin and dopamine, brain neurotransmitters associated with feelings of satisfaction, soar during and after performing an act of kindness. These feel-good endorphins can positively alter children’s brain chemistry, lowering stress, anxiety and depression, and even lowering physical pain as a 18 RuralLeaderMag.com | MARCH 2022

natural painkiller. According to a study featured on the Random Acts of Kindness website, “perpetually kind people have 23% less cortisol (the stress hormone) and age slower than the average population.”

Social health. Kindness builds community, something that is of high importance for childhood development as a fundamental human need. Learning how to be kind makes children friendlier and more trusting, which in turn can help them form stronger bonds and relationships. Notably, one 20-year study found that kids who showed more prosocial skills like kindness as early as kindergarten were more likely to stay in school, avoid criminal activity, avoid drug and alcohol abuse and have better mental health long term.

Encouraging kindness. “Kindness is something that can be developed over time,” said Sharon Pindell, Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care training project manager. “Gestures of kindness can be a simple act like smiling or hugging, but they need to be done continuously - not just one-and-done - to truly have a lasting impact on childhood development.”

Pindell, who helped develop Kiddie Academy’s Character Essentials curriculum, also says that acts of kindness often build on themselves due to what is called a “helper’s high” from the endorphins. “When children see others doing nice things, and the resulting positive reaction to these things, it makes them want to do something kind as well,” said Pindell.

For activity resources to help practice kindness with your children, visit www.kiddieacademy. com/2022/01/celebrate-random-acts-of-kindnessweek/.—

Do You Know the Difference Between COVID-19 Testing Options?

When you think about efforts to fight the spread of COVID-19, vaccinations, hand washing and masking likely come to mind. However, one important effort that must remain the first line of defense is effective testing. Testing, combined with other defensive measures, is essential to keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe.

Since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic in March 2020, medical experts and government leaders have worked together to make different types of testing options easily accessible to the public.

You may not realize there are different types of tests, so what is available to you? The two main types of tests authorized for detecting COVID-19 are polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and antigen tests.

Here is what you need to know about both: Antigen tests. If you have ever taken a rapid strep test or pregnancy test, antigen tests work similarly[1]. Also referred to as rapid tests or rapid antigen tests, these tests work by quickly identifying protein fragments from a virus - these are the antigens - and providing test results in about 15 minutes[2].

Despite being fast, antigen tests can be less accurate than other testing options because they are less sensitive, meaning that some people might incorrectly be told they don’t have the virus1.

Because no special equipment is needed, antigen tests may be performed in various community settings or at home. This convenience has made antigen tests, particularly at-home options, popular when quick results are needed, as when returning to an office or preparing for an event like a vacation.

However, there is more room for error when self-testing, as opposed to having a test administered by a trained professional2. Further, at-home antigen tests are most accurate if COVID-19 symptoms are present and may require the use of several tests to confirm a diagnosis[3]. It is also important to always follow the manufacturer’s directions.

Antigen test overview When to take it: When in need of results quickly Speed: Results usually available in 15 minutes Chance of user error: High Ease of use: Doesn’t require equipment or chemicals; easy to use at home or point of care Effectiveness on variants: Low PCR tests. PCR tests are also referred to as molecular tests, viral RNA tests or nucleic acid tests1.

These require special equipment and are typically sent to a lab, with results often available within 24 hours, depending on location. Some PCR tests provide results in just 20 minutes, however, these tests are mostly available in healthcare environments, such as hospitals2.

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Why would someone use a test that takes longer to get results? The answer: accuracy. PCR tests have remained a touchstone in diagnostics due to their heightened accuracy over antigen tests1. They are highly sensitive and can detect very small amounts of virus genetic material in a sample, such as viral DNA1. These tests have a sensitivity of about 98%, much higher than comparative data for antigen tests1. This is why PCR tests can detect active infections nearly every time, and it is rare for someone uninfected to receive a positive test1.

PCR test overview. When to take it: When in need of extremely accurate results Speed: Results usually take 24 hours; may require an appointment Chance of error: Low Ease of use: Requires equipment, chemicals and trained specialists; point-of-care options available but limited Effectiveness on variants: High The future of COVID-19 testing With vaccination rates increasing and booster shots recently becoming available, we are seeing some normalcy return to our lives. However, as restrictions ease, people are traveling more and starting to return to routine life activities, making people more vulnerable to infection.

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As the pandemic evolves, complementary testing options can make effectively screening for COVID-19 even easier. This may include combining antigen and PCR testing for identifying present COVID-19 infections, antibody tests for evaluating past exposure, and multiplex tests, which tests for more than one disease, such as flu and COVID-19.

To learn more information about COVID-19 testing options, visit Roche Diagnostics Corporation’s storytelling hub.— [1] https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/whichcovid-test-is-accurate (Last accessed November 22 2021) [2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ coronavirus/expert-answers/covid-antibody-tests/ faq-20484429 (Last accessed November 22 2021) [3] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/thesmartest-way-to-use-rapid-at-home-covid-tests1/ (Last accessed November 22 2021)

How the Guarantees of Whole Life Insurance Can Help Secure Your Financial Future

This year, many people are making financial wellness resolutions. From budgeting better to saving for a big-ticket item or investing more income into a 401(k), there are plenty of financial goals to choose.

However, one that you’ve likely overlooked is whole life insurance.

According to the American Council of Life Insurers, 90 million families in the U.S. rely on life insurance policies for financial and retirement security.

In addition to protecting dependents from financial hardship if the policyholder dies, many policies also accumulate savings that can be used to cover needs beyond funeral expenses.

Whole life insurance provides financial protection for as long as the insured policyholder lives. A whole life insurance policy, like that offered by Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company, is a type of permanent life insurance that accumulates value throughout your life.

Benefits of whole life insurance. There are three main benefits of investing in a whole life insurance policy.

1. Guaranteed cash value. Unlike term life insurance, whole life insurance accumulates a cash value that you can dip into during your life if a financial need arises. More importantly, as long as you pay your premiums, the cost of your policy will not increase, and the face amount and the interest rate are guaranteed.

To access the value of the account, you essentially take a taxable withdrawal or tax-free loan you can pay back. You can use the money as needed - such as to buy a car or put a down payment on a house.

Even if you never access the cash value during your lifetime, it will act as a safety net that can be used in financial emergencies.

Whole life insurance can also supplement your existing retirement accounts, like your 401(k) or IRA account, helping you enjoy your golden years.

2. You own the policy, The policyholder owns their whole life policies for themselves and their family members, not their employer. If the person who holds the policy changes jobs or retires, they can take their policy with them and pay their premiums directly to the insurance carrier.

3. Support loved ones. Whole life insurance is guaranteed coverage for your whole life and can help support your beneficiaries. Depending on the size of your chosen policy, your life insurance policy can help set beneficiaries up for success and financial security by contributing toward college tuition, a home mortgage or short-term expenses such as funeral costs.

Also, life insurance payouts are not considered taxable income. If you pass while your coverage is in effect, your beneficiaries do not have to report the death benefit on tax returns.

Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company’s whole life insurance policy allows you to choose the amount of insurance or premium that best suits your needs and budget. Other benefits include: * Family coverage. Family coverage is available to cover spouses, children and grandchildren. * Guaranteed premiums. As long as you pay your premiums, the cost of your life insurance policy will not increase. * Portability. If your employment changes or you retire, you can keep the coverage and pay your premiums directly to Boston Mutual.

Invest in your and your family’s peace of mind. To learn more about life insurance products to fit your needs, visit BostonMutual.com.—

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Research: Vitamin D Plays an Important Role in Immune Health Vitamin D is known for helping with bone health, but its benefits extend beyond that. Due to its positive effects on the respiratory and immune systems, more than 100 clinical trials have been conducted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to look for links between vitamin D and COVID-19.

Higher blood levels of vitamin D correlated with lower incidence or severity of COVID-19 in most reviews of the research.

Thirteen recent meta-analyses examined data from 100-plus independent studies. Most studies focused on vitamin D blood levels and COVID-19, while two exclusively looked at vitamin D consumption in relation to the illness. Most analyses reveal that higher blood levels of vitamin D appear to be correlated with lower incidence or severity of COVID-19, whereas lower blood levels of vitamin D appear to be correlated with a more severe case of COVID-19.

“Increasing evidence suggests a link between higher vitamin D levels and lower incidence of COVID-19,” said Luke Huber, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN). “We have known for years that vitamin D plays an important role in immune health, and now there are multiple meta-analyses that appear to demonstrate the benefits of this nutrient in COVID-19.”

One statistical review found that intervening with vitamin D in an active case of COVID-19 reduced chance of death, though another, smaller meta-analysis did not see a statistically significant relationship.

Timing and dosage of those vitamin D interventions may have led to different results. Summaries of the meta-analyses and links to the research are available on the CRN Foundation’s “Vitamin D & Me!” web22 RuralLeaderMag.com | MARCH 2022

site.

“Consumers need science-based evidence to make informed health decisions,” said Brian Wommack, CRN Foundation executive director. “We hope consumers use these findings to better understand how nutrients like vitamin D support their goal of living a healthy lifestyle.”

Prevalence of low vitamin D status. Low vitamin D status is increasingly common. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) was found to be 28.9%, and vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) 41% in 26,010 U.S. adults surveyed as part of the ongoing National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2001-2010.

Recent studies in the British Journal of Nutrition, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and Aging Clinical and Experimental Research revealed that the following people are more at risk for VDD and VDI: * People of color, especially the Black community * Less educated populations * Those of lower socioeconomic status * Smokers * Physically inactive people * Obese individuals * Infrequent milk drinkers * Individuals with chronic diseases, especially of the liver, kidney and heart * Anyone with a disease that leads to malabsorption, such as Crohn’s disease * Older adults, due especially to aging skin’s reduced ability to synthesize vitamin D * People with pre-existing conditions, such as diabetics * Anyone with reduced exposure to sunlight, such as those hospitalized and institutionalized

* Those taking certain medications How do we get vitamin D?. Vitamin D comes from three potential sources: food, sunlight-dependent production in the skin and supplements. Because vitamin D is not easily obtained from food, many countries have regulations that require vitamin D fortification of commonly consumed foods, such as milk, orange juice, other dairy products and cereals.

With regular sun exposure, a healthy diet and healthy kidneys, many people can make the vitamin D they need; however, most people are not regularly exposed to the sun, and diets vary. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, few people can obtain enough vitamin D from food sources alone, making supplementation important.

How much to supplement will vary based on vitamin D status. It’s important to first discuss dosage with your doctor, as deficient and insufficient individuals will need a different supplement strategy.

Takeaways. Simple supplementation may make you less likely to get sick and may lessen the degree of sickness if you contract COVID-19. It isn’t a substitute for other measures, but it’s another step you can take to keep you and your family healthy.

“This growing body of research does not indicate that vitamin D is a substitute for vaccines, mask wearing, social distancing or other behaviors to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus,” said Huber.

“But the data indicate that vitamin D levels may play a role, in combination with other therapies, in strengthening the immune system to resist the virus.”— The CRN Foundation, a nonprofit educational organization of the dietary supplement industry that provides information about responsible use of dietary supplements, has put together a “Vitamin D & Me!” educational initiative to explore the science: VitaminDAndMe.org.

Buying Your First Home: What You Should Know The housing market has exploded since 2020. The pandemic fueled a house-buying frenzy with remote work and leaving large urban areas to live in different parts of the country is becoming more mainstream.

According to the National Association of Realtors, 31% of all home purchases since 2020 have been made by first-time home buyers.

“Buying your first home is an emotional experience,” said Bonnie Lee, Mercury Insurance Vice President of Property Claims. “And while the first few weeks are filled with the excitement of all the things you can do now that you have your own place, it’s always good to be prepared and protect your new investment if disaster strikes.”

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Whether you’ve just purchased your first home or purchased a home in a different part of the country, homeownership is a big commitment. As a new homeowner you have to prepare for everything from routine maintenance to possible damage from a storm, fire or vandalism. It can sound overwhelming, but with a bit of planning, developing good homeowner habits will keep your home in top shape for years to come.

Renovations. Renovating is one of the first things homeowners look forward to doing with their new home and one of the most popular renovations lately have been home offices. “Homeowners who were able to move during the pandemic and work from home are looking to transform part of their living space into a dedicated professional work space,” said Lee. “Converting small rooms or bedrooms into a home office not only maintains the homeowners’ work-life balance, but it may also give their home a financial boost by offering this popular feature should they sell their home in the future.” Homeowners should discuss any intended business activity from their home with their insurance agent as most homeowners’ policies exclude or limit coverage for business-related activity and business property.

Another popular renovation is the conversion of outdoor spaces into areas for hosting gatherings.

Shade structures and areas where people can entertain larger groups has become a big trend for 2022.

“No matter what type of renovation you’re interested in, it’s important to be prepared before diving head first into any large project,” said Lee. Make sure the renovations you are about to do are realistic and reasonable for both your home and your budget. Determine which renovations can be done by yourself and those where you would need to hire a professional. Review any large home renovations you have in mind such as a bedroom conversion to office remodel or swimming pool installation with your insurance agent as well. If not, there could be gaps

in your existing coverage that may not protect your new renovations if an emergency causes extensive damage.

Maintenance is key. Proper home maintenance is essential to keep your home from deterioration due to neglect. For example, roof leaks caused by severe weather would be covered by your insurance. However, roof leaks due to lack of maintenance, age or standard wear would not. It’s important to conduct regular inspections of your entire home throughout the year to help prevent major damage from happening.

Take stock of where you are and what you own.

This recent boom of homeownership not only saw an increase in first-time buyers, but also a migration of people moving to new and different parts of the country. Just like new homeowners, those who’ve moved from one geographic area to another may not be aware of the severe weather or what the outdoor elements can bring to that part of the country.

Natural events such as flooding due to severe weather in the Midwest and East Coast are one of the most common home disasters that causes billions of dollars in property damage every year. The West Coast is no exception to natural disasters, with the threat of earthquakes and wildfires. Homeowners must be aware of the perils that can impact their new homes as well as the type of homeowners insurance policy needed. For example, damages caused by an earthquake or storm flooding are not covered by a standard homeowners policy. Homeowners may want to consider adding such additional coverages to their policy.

Whether it’s your first home or a new home in a new state, homeownership is a major milestone.

Make sure to review your policy coverages and speak to a local insurance agent if you’ve recently moved or are thinking of making any renovations to your home.—

How to Decide What Kind of Garden You Want this Year Gardening has become a very popular pastime over the past two years, and that trend shows no sign of slowing down. According to last year’s Axiom Gardening Insights Survey, 62% of their respondents said they will plant even more in 2022. Whether you’re one of the many who plan to expand your garden or it’s your first attempt, there are plenty of tools and resources available to help you succeed.

Winter is the perfect time to dream of warmer days - and gardening. Developing a concrete plan can help you focus on how to make your dream become 24 RuralLeaderMag.com | MARCH 2022

a reality.

Here are steps to help determine what you want from your garden before the planting season is underway.

Figure out your gardening goals. You could have more than one motivation for gardening, ranging from just enjoying being outdoors to specific results.

Your reasons might include: * Growing veggies, fruits and/or herbs you can eat or use in cooking * Boosting your home’s curb appeal with beautiful

flowers * Attracting butterflies and/or bees with a pollinator garden * Creating a pretty backyard sanctuary Determining which goal is most important to you can help you make choices about what and where to plant.

Utilize help getting started. Enlist family members or friends to share tasks like planting, watering, weeding and fertilizing. Gardening is a great hobby for all ages, and children can have fun learning about nature from planting things and watching them grow.

One easy way to get started is with Ferry-Morse Plantlings: live healthy baby plants delivered from the Ferry-Morse nursery directly to your door. With over 100 varieties of herb, vegetable, shrub, tree and flower Plantlings available, ready-to-plant seedlings are an easy way to get the summer growing season started. Plantlings are a popular option to begin your gardening early, with established root systems that will yield a healthier garden - and leave you with a shorter to-do list come time for spring planting.

Know your space and time limitations. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the amazing available choices, especially when you’re new to gardening. But even homes with limited space can benefit from the beauty of plants or flowers in a planter, window box or raised garden bed. Choose low-maintenance plants and flowers to save on time.

Consider using what you already have to maximize your efforts - are there flowers and plants you already love in your yard? You could space them out if they are spreading varieties, moving some to other areas of your yard. Look up which plants need more sun or shade, so you know they’ll thrive where you

transplant them.

Yearning to start growing indoors before the season begins? Jiffy Peat Pellets can help you get your seeds off to a healthy start and establish root systems so your seedlings are ready to be planted directly into the ground at the start of the season.

Know your zone. Learn what plants are native to your geographical zone and hardiest where you live before purchasing seeds or Plantlings. Learning the best times to plant specific species will also help your gardening efforts succeed. Your local agricultural extension office is a wonderful source of information on what plants grow best in your area.

Know your level of expertise. Gardening rookie?

You’ll enjoy your efforts even more if you limit the number of varieties you plant. Focus on just a few at a time, then expand what you plant later in the year, or next year.

Even if you’re an experienced gardener, it still helps to have a list of goals. Don’t feel you have to do it all at once. To enjoy watching your garden transform its beauty throughout the growing season, plan for some early blooming plants, then arrange for different areas of your garden to feature mid-summer or late blooming flowers.

“Gardening is something anyone can enjoy, at any level of expertise, no matter how much space you have,” said Rebecca Sears, chief gardening guru for Ferry-Morse. “Start with a few plants or flowers you love, and learn what you can about them. There’s nothing more satisfying than watching your garden grow and thrive.”

Visit FerryMorse.com for everything you need to get started, plus tips and resources to help you enjoy your garden more than ever this year.— GetRuralLeaderMag.com | MARCH 2022 25

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