You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2573 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-011 Build Better Burgers With Versatile Avocados (NAPSA)—Here’s food for thought: There are a lot more tasty ways to add avocados to your diet than by making guacamole. The versatile fruit can enhance flavor and add a creamy texture to all sorts of dishes. What’s more, when you add fresh avocado slices to sandwiches and salads or use them as a spread, you may reduce your intake of calories, fat, saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol. Avocados contribute nearly 20 vitamins and minerals as well as mono- and polyunsaturated fats, the “good fats.” A one-ounce single serving—three slices or about onefifth of an avocado—has 50 calories. Cheryl Forberg, registered dietitian for NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” refers to avocados as a “superfood” and in addition to recommending “contestants consume a diet rich in whole grains, lean protein, fruit and vegetables,” she also emphasizes “the importance of choosing foods containing good fats, such as avocados, canola oil, nuts and seeds.” For a quick lunch, she recommends jazzing up the traditional turkey burger by adding a Mexican twist. Mexican Turkey Burger Recipe makes 6 burgers 1 (20-ounce) package extralean ground turkey breast 1 ⁄4 cup chopped cilantro 1 ⁄4 cup diced red onion 1 ⁄4 cup diced red bell pepper 1 ⁄3 cup diced fresh mushrooms 1 tablespoon Mexican seasoning or fajita seasoning 1 ⁄4 cup low-fat Mexican-blend cheese New Wood-Finishing Options (NAPSA)—If you think staining and finishing a piece of wood furniture is a messy, smelly job, you might be surprised by just how far wood stain choices have come. With the growth of water-based stain formulations, do-it-yourselfers are creating beautiful wood finishes while enjoying fast drying times, low odor and easy soap-and-water cleanup. Terrific turkey burgers can be easy to make and fun to eat. 1 6 6 11⁄2 teaspoon minced garlic whole grain buns tablespoons salsa medium avocados, peeled, pitted and thinly sliced 6 tablespoons fat-free Greek-style yogurt In a large mixing bowl, combine turkey, cilantro, onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, seasoning, cheese and garlic. There will be about 24 ounces (11⁄2 pounds) of mixture, or 4 cups. Divide into 6 (4-ounce) patties. Grill the burgers for 3 minutes on each side, or until the inside is no longer pink. Serve on whole grain buns topped with salsa, avocado and yogurt (instead of sour cream). Whole grain buns kick up the fiber content. Per serving (burger only): 120 calories, 23 g protein, 1 g carbohydrates (0 g sugars), 2 g fat (1 g saturated), 40 mg cholesterol, 0 g fiber, 30 mg sodium Learn More More creative recipes the whole family will enjoy and tips on how to buy and store avocados are at www.theamazingavocado.com. Refinishing wood is easier and simpler with the latest low VOC, water-based products. Companies are also making it easier than ever to achieve a beautiful wood finish by making products for the entire job. Minwax, for example, has a Water Based Wood Stains line in a low VOC (volatile organic compounds) formulation and an updated color palette. The line features 50 beautiful stain colors, ranging from traditional wood tones such as English Oak and Colonial Pine to contemporary colors like Deep Ocean and China Red. Start the project with a water- based, prestain wood conditioner and complete it with a water-based, protective clear finish, such as Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish. Even beginners will be pleasantly surprised at how simple it is to precondition the wood, apply the wood stain and preserve the beauty with a long-lasting, waterbased protective finish. Medicine Cabinet Makeover: Stocking Up On What You Need (NAPSA)—This year, Americans will suffer from approximately 1 billion colds. In order to be prepared and avoid last-minute trips to the pharmacy, it is important to have a well-stocked medicine cabinet. Every cabinet should have: • Pain relievers • Fever reducers • Expectorants • Decongestants • Antihistamines • Stomach remedies • A thermometer. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), families should clean out their cabinets once a year and replace medications before they expire. It is important to check labels regularly to avoid taking a medication that has expired. Safe Storage For your family’s safety, leave medications in their original packaging, separate over-the-counter (OTC) products from prescriptions and store kids’ medications away from adult products. Furthermore, all medications should be kept out of the reach of children and securely sealed. It is also important to keep medicines in a cool, dry place when stated on the label. Medicines should not be kept in places where heat and moisture can alter their effectiveness. Family Records According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every household should keep a list of all prescription and OTC medications including how much you take and when. Include vitamins and supplements and share this list with your doctors, as necessary. Clean your medicine cabinet once a year to help keep your family safe and healthy. Cold Symptom Relief With a well-stocked medicine cabinet, you can be prepared to provide symptom relief at home. For example, over-the-counter medications such as Mucinex D (expectorant and nasal decongestant) may help provide temporary relief of chest/nasal congestion and sinus pressure. Mucinex DM (expectorant and cough suppressant) may help control cough and provide temporary relief of chest congestion. Both last for 12 hours. Don’t self-diagnose or take medications prescribed for someone else. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the best symptom relief options at the onset of your illness. Follow Directions When you do take medicine, be sure to follow the directions. Take your medicines exactly as prescribed or as stated on the label. Read the label every time to ensure proper dosing. For more information, visit www.Mucinex.com.