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 #2497 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Nonathletes Get Sports Injuries, Too (NAPSA)—You may never have stepped on a basketball court or taken a morning jog, but you can still wind up with the same kind of injuries many of your athletic neighbors get. These can include painful musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain. You can experience this type of condition as a result of mowing the lawn, raking leaves or playing with your children. According to Michelle Look, M.D., a board-certified practitioner with the San Diego Sports Medicine & Family Health Center, back pain is the fifth-leading reason patients visit their physician and 15-20 percent of Americans have painful back conditions. Twenty years ago, the focal point of therapy was to treat an acute musculoskeletal back pain condition with bed rest. Dr. Look points out that the goal of today’s therapeutic approach is to get patients to resume their daily activities as quickly as possible. For many of her patients, Dr. Look prescribes SOMA (carisoprodol) 250 mg tablets to relieve painful muscle spasms. Patients have had positive experiences with SOMA 250 mg because it helps them recover from acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions and is well tolerated. “We see many people who, in their everyday routine, simply overdo it or suddenly encounter an unexpected muscle spasm or strain. Of course this never happens at a A Gift Of Youth (NAPSA)—Whatever your age, you always want to look your best, yet that’s a gift you probably deny yourself. This holiday season, treat a loved one to a special gift that will help her or him look and feel better than ever. Here are two ideas: The goal of doctors today when a patient has an acute, painful musculoskeletal condition involving back pain is not bed rest but getting the patient to resume daily activities as soon as possible. good time because we all lead very busy lives,” says Dr. Look. “So we believe getting to your doctor right away, seeking early treatment and continuing exercise are critical aspects of recovery.” To learn more, speak with your health care provider or visit www.sandiegosportsmed.com. More information about SOMA 250 mg, including full prescribing information, is available on the Web site www.soma250.com or in the United States by calling Meda Pharmaceuticals at (800) 5263840. Note to Editors: Important Information for Consumers: •SOMA (carisoprodol) 250 mg is approved for the relief of discomfort associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions such as backache. SOMA should be used for short periods (up to two to three weeks). It has not been shown to work when taken for longer periods. •Most common side effects of SOMA include drowsiness, dizziness and headache. •Since SOMA may cause drowsiness and/or dizziness in some patients, make sure you know how you respond to SOMA before engaging in potentially hazardous tasks, like driving an automobile or operating machinery. •While taking SOMA, avoid alcoholic beverages or other drugs that may make you drowsy or dizzy, such as antihistamines, tranquilizers and sedatives. •Make sure your doctor is aware of all the other drugs you may be taking, regardless of whether these are prescription or nonprescription. •Only your doctor can tell if SOMA is right for you. SOMA is available by prescription only. Please see full prescribing information. SOM8021 10/08 Whatever your age, you always want to look your best, yet that’s a gift you probably deny yourself. 1. A gift of an exercise bike or health club membership helps keep you young in body and young at heart, with health benefits that include weight loss, stronger joints, lower blood pressure and more. And exercise has been shown to minimize the effects of aging! 2. Pamper your special someone with luxurious skin care that will have her or his skin looking younger. A great choice is StriVectin’s holiday gift set, which includes the popular StriVectinSD to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and stretch marks. The set also comes with an Eye Cream to reduce the appearance of crow’s-feet and dark circles, and an Instant Deep Wrinkle Filler. The gift of looking and feeling your best never grows old. To learn more, visit www.strivectin.com. New Ideas For America’s Oldest Vegetable (NAPSA)—Squash, that delicious, versatile vegetable, is not only rich in nutrients, but it’s also rich in history. Some botanists believe that squash is the oldest cultivated vegetable in the Americas, as seeds found in Mexican caves have been carbon-dated to 9000 B.C. And two former presidents—George Washington and Thomas Jefferson— were enthusiastic squash growers. There are many varieties of squash grown in Mexico and exported to the United States. In fact, the warmer climates south of the border allow North Americans to enjoy healthy and good-tasting summer squash year-round. Summer squash varieties include yellow crookneck squash, yellow straight-neck squash, zucchini and Mexican grey squash. These are soft skinned and pale fleshed, and don’t require a lot of cooking. More than 95 percent water, the squash’s high water content means that they are very low in calories (about 19 calories per cup of raw sliced squash). Summer squash is a good source of minerals and vitamin A as well as moderate quantities of vitamins B and C. Executive Chef Noah Aguilar of The Chef ’s Table Restaurant in Tubac, Ariz., developed Calabazas Con Queso, the following succulent squash dish, for the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas. More information about squash can be found at www.freshfrom mexico.com. Summer squash is a delicious, nutritious vegetable with a rich history that can be enjoyed year-round. CALABAZAS CON QUESO Developed by Chef Noah Aguilar Serves 4 ⁄4 cup sliced yellow onion 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 cup sliced Mexican grey squash 1 cup sliced summer squash 1 teaspoon chopped garlic 1 ⁄4 teaspoon toasted cumin seeds 1 ⁄2 cup heavy cream 3 ⁄4 cup shredded pepper jack cheese Salt and pepper to taste 1 Saut onions in oil at a high temperature until they start to caramelize. Next, add squash and cook them until tender, then add garlic and saut for 30 seconds. Add remaining ingredients and let simmer, stirring constantly until cheese is fully melted. Season and serve.