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 #2643 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 415 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 Newest Lawn Mowers Are A Cut Above (NAPSA)—If your lawn mower is more than 10 years old, it may be time to consider a replacement. In the past decade, engineering advances have produced gas-powered lawn mowers that run cleaner, start easier and are more fuel efficient than ever before, while providing a variety of options that make yard care easier. Gas-powered mowers remain the No. 1 choice among homeowners, accounting for four out of every five mowers sold in the United States, according to The Stevenson Company, a leading consumer research organization. Lawn care experts say they aren’t surprised because gas mowers give consumers so many choices when it comes to power, price and options— something they don’t get with electric and battery-powered mowers, which are mainly an option for homeowners with small yards. “Gas mowers provide a range of power to reliably mow any size yard and even tall, thick grass,” explains Rick Zeckmeister, a vice president at Briggs & Stratton Corporation, which engineers and manufactures gas engines for outdoor power equipment. Today’s gas-powered lawn mowers, he points out, are also in tune with today’s environmentally conscious lifestyles. Since 1995, Briggs & Stratton has reduced carbon emissions produced by its gas engines by 75 percent. According to EPA statistics, all gas-powered outdoor power equipment combined accounts for less than half a percent of all carbon emissions in the U.S. (Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the U.S. Transportation Sector 1990–2003, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, EPA 420 R06 003, March 2006). Based on EPA statistics, if a family replaced a single 75-watt incandescent lightbulb with an equivalent compact fluorescent bulb in their home, it would more than offset Gas-powered mowers are designed to meet today’s more environmentally conscious lifestyles. the carbon emissions from using a gas walk-behind mower for an entire mowing season. “Gas mowers have improved dramatically over the years in every way,” says Zeckmeister. “It would be like comparing a television from the 1990s to a new flatscreen LCD TV you would buy today.” Other innovations and benefits of the newest gas mowers include: •Easy starting, with a single pull of the starter rope or the push of a button, like in the newest cars; •Improved fuel efficiency and advanced muffler systems that produce a more pleasant sound quality and less vibration; •Ample engine power to mulch grass clippings while mowing, turning them into a natural fertilizer for the lawn; •A variety of options to make mowing easier, from mowers that automatically adjust to the walking pace of the person mowing to digital dashboards that show the time, fuel level, maintenance reminders and other information. Briggs & Stratton provides an online tutorial on how to select a lawn mower at www.yardsmarts.com. For information on environmental and product performance considerations when choosing a new lawn mower, visit www.briggsandstratton.com. America: A Nation In Pain Dress Up Your Diet With Delicious Dressings And Mayonnaise (NAPSA)—Eating a more nutritious diet and maintaining a healthy weight may have more to do with what you add to your daily routine than what you subtract. Adding salad dressings and mayonnaise to your menu could help you achieve your goals. Many diets cut calories at the expense of flavor, so it’s hard to stay motivated. A smarter way to stick to your goals may involve including more vegetables in your diet and using dressings to add a tempting dollop of tasty flavor. The healthy oils found in many salad dressings can help the body to better absorb key nutrients. For example, salad is delicious and nutritious. Salad eaters tend to have higher intakes of essential nutrients such as vitamins C and E and folic acid. Adding a variety of flavorful dressings can add to the appeal of eating salad every day. The healthy oils found in many salad dressings can help the body to better absorb key nutrients. Mayonnaise can also be part of a well-balanced diet, as it’s made with healthy oils and contains omega-3 fatty acids. You can use salad dressings as dips, while mayonnaise adds terrific flavor to deviled eggs, sandwiches and deli salads. If you must count calories, there are a number of reduced-fat and light options of salad dressings and mayonnaise available. For more information, visit www.dressings-sauces.org. (NAPSA)—Chances are you’re one of the 100 million Americans suffering from body pain. According to recent research, up to 90 percent of pain sufferers don’t get the relief they’re looking for with their current pain medication. So next time, rather than reaching for a pill, consider some of these misunderstood or overlooked pain remedies: Physical Therapy: Physical therapy can be an effective way to alleviate all types of musculoskeletal and neuropathic types of pain. A primary goal of physical therapy is to help chronic pain patients become stronger. In addition, physical therapy can teach people how to move safely and functionally in ways that they haven’t been able to in some time—helping them to avoid injury or reinjury. Exercise: A consistent exercise routine can help control pain. That’s the word from Dave Endres, a physical therapist and co-founder of SPEAR Physical Therapy in New York City. He says exercising for just 30 minutes a day at least three or four days a week will help with chronic pain management by increasing endurance, muscle strength, joint stability and flexibility in the muscle. Massage Therapy: Massage therapy is an effective part of pain relief and management because it can help reduce inflammation and swelling and soothe stiff, sore muscle, which ultimately relieves pain. Stephanie Smith, Spa Director and licensed massage therapist at the Viana Hotel & Spa on Long Island, says that while physical therapy focuses on strengthening and stretching—sometimes with While most Americans still turn to over-the-counter pills to handle pain, other methods of pain relief are growing in popularity. the use of mechanical methods, heat, and electric stimulation— massage therapy focuses on the muscles, soft tissue, and softening restricted tissue. Topical Relief: Americans are steadily starting to adopt what the rest of the world had known about for years: topical pain relievers, such as patches and gels, which are safe, effective methods for pain management. Two of the latest developments are the Salonpas Pain Relief Patch and the Salonpas Arthritis Pain Patch. They are the first and only FDA-approved over-thecounter pain relievers approved for sale using the FDA’s New Drug Application process. Clinically tested, they relieve mild to moderate pain for sore muscles, backache, sprains and strains, as well as joint and arthritis pain. These Salonpas patches are manufactured using a new ultrathin comfort stretch technology, enabling them to stay in place and provide up to 12 hours of relief. To learn more, visit the website at www.salonpas.us.
