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 #2427 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Tired Of Feeling Tired? Sleep Solutions For The New Year (NAPSA)—An increasing number of Americans are waking up to a need for something they may have taken for granted—sleep. Sleep is an important part of our ove r al l h e al th a n d we l l being, yet many people suffer from a variety of sleep problems, including insomnia. In fact, approximately 30 million Americans suffer from chronic insomnia. If left untreated, insomnia can affect your health, your relationships, your mood and your work performance. Symptoms of insomnia include having trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, waking up too early, or waking up and not feeling rested. If you experience these symptoms more than a few nights a week, it’s important to talk to your health care provider. He/she can discuss ways to help you get the full night’s sleep your body needs. These may include: • Stay out of bed until you feel tired enough to go to sleep. Whenever you’ve been lying in bed for 20 minutes and can’t fall asleep, go into another room and do something relaxing, such as reading a book. Return to bed only when you’re sleepy. Only use your bed for sleeping and sex. • Eliminate noise as much as you can. Turn off anything that may interfere with your sleep, such as radios and televisions. Earplugs may also help. • Reduce light. Light affects the way your brain produces hormones that regulate your sleep cycle. Even a minimal amount of light can disrupt sleep. Use heavy Fast Facts About PPD An increasing number of Americans are waking up to a need for something they may have taken for granted—sleep. shades or other window treatments that keep the room very dark. • Control room temperature. Too hot or too cold temperatures can affect your sleep quality. • Have a light snack, but only if you’re hungry. Going to bed hungry can affect your sleep. High-carbohydrate snacks, such as crackers, pretzels or a plain bagel, are good bedtime snacks. Just be careful not to overeat; indigestion can interrupt sleep. • No pets in bed. If your dog or cat sleeps in your bed, your chances for sound sleep are compromised. • Ask your health care provider if medications are appropriate for you. There are safe and effective sleep aids that can help you fall asleep and stay asleep. In 2008, make sleep a priority! You’ll enjoy waking up feeling refreshed and ready to start your day. Talk to your health care provider or visit shuteye.com for more information. (NAPSA)—Getting the facts about postpartum depression (PPD)—one of the most common complications after childbirth— can make it easier to get help for this treatable condition. According to the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition: • Approximately 15 percent of women will experience PPD after giving birth. • Approximately 10 percent of women will experience depression or anxiety during pregnancy, which places them at higher risk for PPD. • Most new mothers—up to 80 percent—experience “the baby blues” within a week after childbirth. “Baby blues” is different from postpartum depression and gets better on its own, as hormone levels stabilize. When a woman experiences mood swings or depression for more than two weeks after giving birth, the problem is more serious and may be PPD. • PPD symptoms can begin anywhere from a few days to several months after childbirth. • PPD needs the attention of a health care provider. Help is available, and the condition is very responsive to treatment. • PPD does not discriminate. It affects women of every age, income level, culture and race. • Untreated PPD can harm the entire family. A mother whose depression goes untreated is more likely to have an infant with developmental delays. The marriage relationship may also be compromised, as well as affecting the new mother’s health. Don’t wait to get help. For resources and more information, visit www.hmhb.org. Discovering The Benefits Of Soy (NAPSA)—Soy is no longer just for the meat-free crowd. Now a regular part of the Western diet, soy is served at restaurants, is the focus of many cookbooks and can be found in almost every form imaginable—from burgers to nutrition bars. “Soy may seem like a relatively new addition to our diets, but it’s actually been around for over 3,000 years,” said Allegra Burton, MPH, RD. “In addition to the important nutrients it provides, soy is easy to prepare and incorporate into every diet—whether you have time for sit-down meals or are eating on the go.” Why Soy? Soy is well known for its abundant nutritional benefits. For instance, soy is a complete protein containing all nine essential amino acids and is the only plant protein that is equivalent in essential amino acids to animal protein. According to the FDA, eating 25 grams of soy protein a day as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease. The FDA determined that eating this amount of soy protein in four daily servings can reduce LDL cholesterol by as much as 10 percent, which can contribute to a drop in heart disease risk. Preliminary and emerging science shows that soy may also have benefits related to prevention of other diseases and in improving bone health. Today, there is a variety of soy products available for quick and easy meals and snacking. Cooking And Snacking With Soy Soy is so versatile that it can be incorporated into almost any People who know more than beans about nutrition say soy makes for delightful, healthful snacks. dish. Tofu can be marinated the same way as meat and baked or grilled. Soy can also be incorporated into pasta sauce, stir-fried or crumbled into your favorite casserole recipe. Try substituting soy for ground hamburger, sausage or chicken. These days there are dozens of ready-made products such as veggie burgers, soy hot dogs, soy cheese and soymilk that you can try with minimal effort and gain the health benefits of soy. There is also a variety of great soy snacks such as SOYJOY nutrition bars (with 3 grams of soy protein), soy nuts and soy chips that quickly and nutritiously stave off hunger pangs between meals. If you’re looking for healthier alternatives for yourself and your family, soy is an excellent source of nutrients and a delicious addition to any meal or snack. For more information on soy, please visit www.SOYJOY.com.