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. NORTH AMERICAN PRECIS SYNDICATE, INC. 350 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10118-0110 PRESORT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID North American Address Service Requested Precis Syndicate, Inc. 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 #2406 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Protecting Athletes’ Eyes A Nut That’s Good To Eat And Good For You (NAPSA)—The idea that delicious food can be good for you is not as “nutty” as it sounds. Georgia pecans are delicious and nutritious, a fitting food for those interested in staying fit. A one-ounce serving of pecans contains 196 calories, 2.7 grams of dietary fiber and over 19 vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, vitamin E, calcium, potassium and zinc. “Studies suggest a one-ounce daily serving of pecans may lower ‘bad’ cholesterol levels, decrease blood pressure and fight against prostate and breast cancer,” says Kathleen Zelman, nutrition director for Web MD. This retro-inspired but modernly flavored dessert is best made at least 30 minutes ahead of serving, allowing time for the gingersnap crumble to soften slightly. For more delicious Georgia pecan recipes, visit www.georgia pecansfit.org. Black Cherry, Gingersnap and Georgia Pecan Parfait Prep time: 10 minutes Cooking/Baking time: 0 minutes Serves 4 Ingredients: 8 gingersnaps 1 ⁄2 cup Georgia pecan halves, toasted if desired 2 (6 oz each) containers nonfat black cherry yogurt 2 ⁄3 cup fat-free whipped topping 2 kiwifruit, peeled and chopped 1 black cherry for garnish (optional) In a medium-size resealable plastic bag, combine gingersnaps and 1⁄4 cup pecans; seal bag. With a rolling pin or large heavy spoon, gently pound (NAPSA)—Regardless of the sport you play, protecting your eyes can help you stay on top of your game. That’s why the Vision Council of America reminds all athletes— weekend warriors or otherwise—to schedule regular eye exams with an eye doctor and wear proper sports eyewear, such as goggles or masks, Black Cherry, Gingersnap and Georgia Pecan Parfait is mouthwateringly delicious and made with nutritious ingredients. mixture to crumble cookies and pecans. (The mixture should be somewhat coarse, not finely ground.) Set aside. In a small bowl, mix all yogurt together. Add whipped topping and gently fold into blend. Do not overmix. To assemble in individual 6- to 8ounce glass serving pieces, spoon 2 tablespoons gingersnap-pecan mixture into bottom of each glass. Top each with 1⁄4 cup yogurt mixture. Portion the chopped kiwifruit into each glass and top with about another 1⁄4 cup yogurt mixture to use all that’s remaining. Top each serving with remaining gingersnap-pecan mixture. Coarsely chop remaining 1⁄4 cup pecan halves and sprinkle on top for garnish. Refrigerate parfaits at least 30 minutes or up to two hours. Serve chilled. Nutrition information per serving—calories: 254; protein: 6g; carbs: 30g; saturated fat: .5g; monounsaturated fat: 7g; polyunsaturated fat: 2g; cholesterol: 1mg; fiber: 2.5g; sodium: 150mg. It’s important for athletes to keep their eyes in good shape. to protect eyes from injuries. An added bonus to the eyewear: It can help improve performance by eliminating glare and increasing contrast, which is especially important in sports such as skiing, where eyewear can eliminate glare from snow, or for golfers, who rely on tinted eyewear for contrast sensitivity. Remember the following tips from the Vision Council of America: • Wear protective goggles or eyewear with polycarbonate lenses when playing contact sports or sports with fast-moving objects. • Protect eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays with sunglasses when playing outdoor sports. • Consider eyewear with performance-enhancing features such as anti-fog lenses, non-slip nosepieces and rubber temples. • Schedule an eye exam with an eye doctor to ensure healthy vision. For more information, visit www.checkyearly.com. Tips On Preventing And Detecting Ear Infections (NAPSA)—Heeding some simple advice could help your child avoid an ear infection, or help identify an infection early, so you can take action quickly. Middle-ear infections (acute otitis media) are so prevalent that 83 percent of children under the age of 3 have had one or more and nearly 50 percent have had three or more. According to a recent study in Pediatrics magazine, ear infections are the No. 1 reason for: • Children’s visits to the emergency room; • Illness visits to the doctor’s office; and • Antibiotic prescriptions. While an infection can develop anytime, the majority occur during the cough/cold season when fluid lingering in the ear, after a cold or flu, becomes infected with either bacteria or a virus. Dr. Jerome Klein, an expert on middle-ear infections in the U.S. and co-author of “Otitis Media in Infants and Children,” offers tips to help prevent, detect and treat ear infections: • Keep child’s immunizations up to date. • If possible, breast-feed rather than bottle-feed. • Try to avoid exposure to large groups of children (e.g., large-group daycare), as multiple colds may lead to frequent ear infections. • Avoid child’s exposure to tobacco smoke. • Practice frequent hand washing to decrease germ transmission. If you suspect your child has an ear infection, some common signs include: • Fluid in the middle ear MIddle-ear fluid is a key sign of an ear infection. Parents can detect it at home using a new medical device. • Pulling or rubbing the ear (indicating ear pain) • Irritability • Decrease in appetite • Fever • Runny or stuffy nose and/or cough. Parents can detect the presence of middle-ear fluid, a key sign of an ear infection, at home by using EarCheck Middle Ear Monitor. This first-of-its-kind medical device uses acoustic reflectometry (sound waves) to detect fluid and is based on the same technology used by doctors since the mid ’90s. Parents of infants and children with middle-ear fluid and/or other signs of an ear infection may want to consult their physician. A child diagnosed with acute otitis media may be prescribed antibiotics. The doctor may consider observing (for 48-72 hours) a child who has mild-to-moderate symptoms and/or an uncertain diagnosis and is older than 2 years. For more information, visit www.earcheck.com or call (888) EAR-CHEK (327-2435).