Investing for Beginners: Stock Market Basics

Source : http://thetruthorthefight.wordpress.com

Investing for Beginners: Stock Market Basics


Stocks

If you're very new to the stock market, you may be wondering what a stock really is. Very simply, it's a share of ownership in a company. When you own one or more shares of stock, you are called a shareholder, and as such, you are entitled to a representative portion of the company's profits, which are sometimes paid out as dividends.

Types of Stock

There are basically two main types of stock: common and preferred. Common stock represents the majority of stock. It represents ownership in a company and a claim on a portion of profits, or dividends. The dividend amount fluctuates and is not guaranteed. Shareholders are entitled to one vote per share to elect board members, who oversee the major decisions made by the company's management. In the long run, common stock yields higher returns than most other investments.

Preferred stock represents a degree of ownership in a company but usually doesn't include voting rights. With this type of stock, shareholders are usually guaranteed a fixed dividend amount.

Purchasing Stock

Once you've decided to invest in the stock market, you must decide how you'll buy stocks. There are two main ways to do this. The first is through a full-service broker. Full-service brokers offer you financial planning and advice on selecting investments, and are usually the most expensive way to purchase shares of stock. However, if you don't have the time or know-how to select and manage your investments, it can be a very beneficial arrangement.


The second way to purchase stocks is through a discount broker.These brokers work with investors who are willing and able to research and make their own investment decisions. Discount brokers do not offer financial advice and charge low trading commissions.

Stock Trading

Most stocks are traded on exchanges. An exchange is a place where buyers and sellers meet and decide on a price. Most exchanges are physical locations, such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), while others are virtual or over-the-counter (OTC). Virtual exchanges consist of a network of computers where trades are made electronically. The Nasdaq is the most popular example of a virtual exchange.

Why Stock Prices Change

The price of a stock is generally determined by supply and demand. For instance, if there are more people who want to buy a stock than people who want to sell it, the price will rise. This is because shares of that stock are more rare, and people are willing to pay a higher price for them. The opposite is also true. If there are a lot of shares of stock for sale but no one wants to buy them, the price will quickly drop. Because of these factors, the stock market can appear to have great fluctuations.

Understanding supply and demand is easy. What is difficult to comprehend is what makes people like a particular stock and dislike another stock. Basically, the price movement of a stock indicates what investors feel a company is worth – but don't equate a company's value with the stock price, as that is not always an accurate indicator.

The Bulls and the Bears

A bull market is when the economy is in good shape,the unemployment rate is low, and stock prices are rising. It's easy to pick stocks during a bull market because everything is going up. Beware that bull markets can't last forever, and sometimes lead to disaster if stocks become overvalued.

A bear market occurs when the economy is in bad shape, recession is impending and stock prices take a dive. It is very difficult to pick high-performing stocks during such a time. However, some investors prefer to purchase stock in a bear market, while the prices are low, and stick with them until the prices go back up.


Source : http://www.keepandshare.com

Nutrition Tips for Dogs & Cats

Photo Source : http://petnutritioninfo.com

A balanced, healthy nutrition plan is an important part of your pet’s health. Your pet requires a balanced diet that will help to keep him healthy. Pets are unlike humans – the food they eat is the same day to day, as humans are able to choose a variety of different foods day to day. For this reason alone your pet needs to meet his nutritional requirements for proteins, vitamins and minerals all in one daily diet.

Practicing a good, healthy diet is not only good for your pets overall health it will also help his skin, hair coat and more. A healthy nutrition plan will help his internal workings to assure your pet’s optimal health and long life here with you!

Let’s take a look at some of the crucial nutritional values your dog‘s diet should contain on an average:

Vitamins and minerals in small amounts are essential to your pets overall health and well being. Calcium and phosphorus (parts of the bone) sodium (essential part of the of the enzymes system) and iron (component of hemoglobin) are just a few of the many essential vitamins and minerals needed for your pets optimal health and nutrition. Taking the time to assure your pet is getting proper nutrition will lead to him having a happier, healthier, longer life!

Protein is another vitamin that is crucial for your pet’s heath. Protein is his source of amino acids which are required for the manufacturing of bones, muscles, hair coat, skin and everything else inside his body. Protein is an essential part of your pets nutritional and diet nutritional needs. Roughly the amount of protein needed in his diet, is 20% in dog food and 30% in cat foods.

Cats are a carnivore which means they require meat protein and also have a higher need of protein intake in general than dogs. Dogs are omnivores like humans, which makes them able to use both meat and vegetables to balance their nutritional intake. In fact, dogs can do well on a properly balanced vegetarian diet whereas a cat might not due as well since they require more overall protein intake.

Fiber (derived from plants) is also an essential part to a balanced diet. Fiber is the indigestible substance found in food. Minimal amounts of fiber are essential for proper food digestion. Without proper fiber intake in your pet’s diet, he would suffer from diarrhea which could then result in more potential health problems and risks.

Many of the poor quality pet foods include a higher amount of fiber than most pet foods because it’s cheaper for the company to manufacture. T

Dietary fat supplies are most of the body’s caloric requirements as well as essential fatty acids. In fact “fat” is the most expensive of ingredients that are found in pet foods. It is for this reason that that some of the lower pried dog food companies skimp on the quality and quantity of fats contained within the pet foods. Inadequate, poor quality fats will result in your pet having poor skin and coat health which could possible lead to more serious health concerns. There are some dog food manufacturers that add extra essential fatty acids to their food to promote healthy skin and coat – this is the food you should try and feed to your dog!

And there you have it, the basics to helping your pet avoid long term health problems and risks that may arise due to poor nutrition and eating habits. We hope these basic pet food nutrition tips will encourage you to do your research when picking which pet food is best for your bet. In the end, it will help assure your pets overall health and well being.

Source : http://www.indulgeyourpet.com

Heart Health-10 ways to reduce cholesterol

Photo Source: www.rd.com


1. Eat the right kind of fat to reduce cholestrol

Foods high in monounsaturated fats, such as almonds and avocados, will boost HDL. Almonds are 70 per cent monounsaturated fat and also contain two powerful antioxidants: vitamin E and flavonoids, which prevent the oxidation of LDL. Foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids, such as salmon and flaxseeds, also have a good HDL-raising reputation.

2. Avoid coffee to reduce cholestrol

Caffeine junkies should note that downing three to six cups a day will raise your cholesterol by eight to ten per cent, according to a US National Institutes of Health study. The report also found that coffee drinkers experienced an 18 per cent rise in their fatty acids in the blood, the stuff that drives the production of bad cholesterol.

3. Choose low-GI carbs to reduce cholestrol

People on high-carbohydrate diets crammed with pasta and bread tend to have lower HDL levels than those who eat plenty of protein, good fats and fruit and veg. Switching to carbs with a low glycaemic index (GI) rating such as beans and wholemeal bread will also help you keep your energy levels stable and lose weight.

4. Jump around to reduce cholestrol

Working out raises your levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), commonly known as 'good cholesterol'. HDL is the stuff that takes cholesterol away from cells - where high levels can increase the risk of coronary heart disease - and back to the liver, where it's either broken down or excreted. But this doesn't mean you need to run marathons. Studies have found that your HDL levels will increase by doing just four moderate 30-minute sessions of aerobic exercise a week.

5. Lose your gut to reduce cholestrol

Here's another reason to banish the belly: being overweight raises total blood cholesterol levels. Not only will carrying extra inches around your waist throw your cholesterol levels out of balance, but it will also raise levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or 'bad cholesterol' - the harmful kind that allows cholesterol to clog blood vessels.

6. Know your levels to reduce cholestrol

The Department of Health's guidelines state that your total cholesterol should be less than 5 millimoles per litre (mmol/l) and your LDL cholesterol should be less than 3mmol/l. Home-testing kits are available but are usually inconclusive, so if you take one and the reading is high you should make an appointment to see your GP. He or she can arrange a blood test, which will diagnose your blood cholesterol levels and, if necessary, test for conditions that can be responsible for raising cholesterol, such as an underactive thyroid, diabetes and kidney and liver problems.

7. Stop smoking to reduce cholestrol

Along with all its other effects, smoking lowers HDL levels. So if you're fond of the odd fag, stubbing it out is the simplest way to give your good cholesterol a lift.

8. Keep calm to reduce cholestrol

Men who are able to keep calm when confronted with stressful situations benefit from increased levels of good cholesterol. Researchers at Oregon State University and the University of Hawaii found that people who reacted to stressful situations with hostility had lower HDL levels than those who were able to control their aggression.

9. Avoid saturated fat to reduce cholestrol

Cut back on foods that are rich in saturated and trans fats, because these stimulate the liver to produce extra cholesterol. The liver usually produces about 1g of cholesterol a day, but this can be multiplied by the consumption of foods such as fatty cuts of meat, ready meals, puddings, biscuits, cakes, pies and pastries.

10. Eat lots of fibre to reduce cholestrol

The type of soluble fibre found in oats, apples, pears, peas and kidney beans among other foods can slow cholesterol and raise HDL levels. Eating foods such as these also helps to keep your gut feeling satisfied, which can help you lose weight. A bowl of wholegrain cereal or porridge with berries is a good way to start to the day.

Source :http://www.mensfitnessmagazine.co.uk

Source : www.emeraldcoastpodiatry.com

The Basics - Foot Care Tips

These basic foot care tips are pretty easy to remember. Even easier to do.

1. Wash your feet daily. Use lukewarm water, a mild soap or antibacterial soap. Rinse off all the soap and dry thoroughly. Make sure you get between the toes too! You can do this while bathing or sitting down. You may even try a long handled brush like a shower back brush.


2. Keep your toe nails trimmed. Make sure you trim your nails straight across and not too short. Don't go cutting or digging them into the corners either. That's just asking for trouble. Ingrown toe nails are really not fun. Trimming will be a lot easier too if you do this just after you've finished bathing or washing your feet.

3. Dry Skin? You can use a moisturizing lotion to help with this. This can be helpful in dry climates or different times of year that are drier than others. A small amount of generic lotion applied a few times a day can help you.

4. Inspect your feet regularly. You may want to get a friend to help you look at those 'harder to see' parts. Funny how there's more of those as we get a little more 'mature'! Let your health care professional know if any unusual signs persist. Catching them early is important.

5. No self treatment that includes trying to trim, shave or dissolve corns or calluses. See your doctor and get the proper remedies.

6. Wear clean socks. Change your socks or stockings daily. Make sure they are not too tight or too short. Have a quick look here for more on choosing socks if you missed it.

7. Wear shoes that fit! Seems so simple but just making sure of this makes a world of difference to your foot health. If you missed the shoe fitting section have a look here.

8. Walk daily!. Another really simple foot care tip. The mere act of walking gives your feet exercise. That exercise goes a real long way in keeping your feet healthy. Haven't started yet? You can start from the beginning here or go straight to our walking programs here if you like

Sweaty Feet?

Here's some foot care tips just for you. Note these are in addition to the foot care tips above.

1. Wear the right shoes. Try to choose leather, canvas shoe or a shoe made with a highly breathable material. Sandals are very good. Try to avoid synthetic materials. Some of the modern materials could work very well for you even though they are not technically leather or canvas. You may have to experiment a bit.

Be sure and read our pages on choosing shoes here. Pay special attention to the wicking characteristics of both the shoes and the socks. A longish read but very worth it for you.

2. Change shoes daily. A bit of a nuisance but you want to give your shoes a chance to rest, breath and dry a bit between uses. You don't want to give fungi a place to get started!

3. Use foot powder. Use a good quality brand recommended by your doctor for your feet.

4. Be diligent. You are more prone to having athlete's foot get started. Sweating doesn't cause athlete's foot all by itself. When you combine it with moisture and poor ventilation in that shoe though it create a good situation for it to get started. This is a contagious disease.

Source : http://www.50plus-fitness-walking.com

About Stock Market Basics

Photo Source : www.stockmarket-basics.net

Companies are started by individuals or maybe a small circle of people. They pool their money or obtain loans, raising funds to launch the business. A choice is made to organize the business as a sole proprietorship where one person or a married couple owns everything, or as a partnership. Later they may choose to "incorporate". As a corporation, the owners are not personally responsible or liable for any debts of the company if the company doesn't succeed.

Corporations issue official-looking sheets of paper that represent ownership of the company. These are called stock certificates, and each certificate represents a set number of shares. The total number of shares will vary from one company to another, as each makes its own choice about how many pieces of ownership to divide the corporation into. One corporation may have only 2,500 shares, while another may issue over a billion shares such as IBM and Ford Motor Company.

Companies sell stock (pieces of ownership) to raise money and provide funding for the expansion and growth of the business. The business founders give up part of their ownership in exchange for this needed cash. The expectation is that even though the owners have surrendered a portion of the company to the public, their remaining share of stock will become increasingly valuable as the business grows.

Corporations are not allowed to sell shares of stock on the open market without the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

This transition from a privately held corporation to a publicly traded one is called going public, and this first sale of stock to the public is called an initial public offering, or IPO. Usually an IPO is sponsored by an investment bank (the underwriter) such as Merrill Lynch, Salomon-Smith Barney, or Goldman Sachs.


Companies can choose to incorporate, by filling the appropriate papers and paying a fee, in any state that they choose. This becomes their charter state where they must maintain an office address.

Officers are chosen - president, vice-president, and secretary-treasurer, and a board of directors may be established. It is the board of directors' duty to represent the shareholders, who of course at the early stages of a company's life, are going to be the company founders.

Most corporations stay privately owned although they may elect to sell stock to qualified investors.

You can tell if a company is a corporation by seeing the "Inc." after its name, or other letters such as LTD or AG if the company is based in a foreign country.


Common Stock - standard shares issued by a corporation. Most stocks traded are common stock.

Preferred Stock - special class of stock that is issued without voting rights, but promises a fixed dividend. If a company is forced to liquidate and close its doors, preferred shareholders stand in line in front of common stock holders, for any proceeds available after secured creditors are paid.

Source :http://www.atozinvestments.com

Exercise for your dog

Source : www.pawsandplay.info

Dogs need both physical and mental stimulation provided by their owners by daily exercise. Exercises give a dog a natural outlet for energy. They create strong bodies and good muscle tone for the pet. Lack of sufficient exercise, will result in boredom and behavioral problems. A well-known yard or a house is often boring for a dog. Even if the dog is in a big yard, few exercise on their own, so it will presumably sleep all day without the interaction of exercise by the owner.

Just letting your dog out to the backyard is not enough and does not give the exercise the dog needs. And again a brief daily walk sometimes is not enough either. Then how do you decide how much exercise your dog needs? The type of exercise you choose for your dog should depend on the age, weight, health and breed of the dog. Is your dog eating a lot? If it is, is it eating out of boredom? Is your dog a hunter or a retriever who likes to run or is it a small breed who likes to sit on the couch? These are some of the questions you have to ask before you provide your dog the proper daily workout.

If your dog is old, you have to encourage your dog to exercise, like walking. If your dog is pregnant you should never over exercise her. Daily exercise is recommended unless there is a medical problem. You should consult your veterinarian before you decide on a fitness program for your pet. Healthy dogs need interaction with other dogs and people. Dog parks are great for this and some of them allow the dogs to play and walk unleashed. You should check the regularities of the parks around your area.

Most dogs enjoy games of catch which is a good exercise for your dog. But you should be careful about using soft objects or tennis balls to avoid harming the dog's teeth.

Long walks in the woods, parks or on the beach will also make your pet happy. Jogging or biking is great way to spend time with each other and it is beneficial for both of you to build strong muscles. There are some things that you should be careful about during these activities

- Avoid jogging or biking with your dog if it has any pre-existing health problems.

- Take notice if the dog seems to be tired.

- Take water along for your dog, too.

- On hot summer days, you should go out early in the morning or late evening when it is cooler.

Dogs enjoy playing with Frisbees on land or in water. Also you can play a simple game with a rope. You can get a rope and let your dog take one end and you the other, then you both pull away.

Swimming also is an enjoyable activity for your dog.

Exercising with your dog creates a human-dog bond. It is a great way to show that you care about your dog and make it happy. Tired dogs are the happiest ones.

Source : http://www.essortment.com

7 health benefits of drinking water

Source : www.brantfordculligan.com

Most people don’t quite get the health benefits of drinking water yet. They usually think that water is only needed when you feel thirsty and there couldn’t be a bigger mistake than that. About 66% of our body weight is water. Our muscles contains about 75% water, our brain tissue contains about 85% water, 83% of our blood is water and even 22% of our bones is water. Because our body contains so much water, it’s vital to keep drinking plenty of water. Without water we would dehydrate. And dehydration can result in our organs not functioning properly which can end in death.

1. Keep your brain healthy

As described in the introduction of this post, our brain tissue contains about 85% water. Drinking water regularly will keep the brain functioning properly. Studies have shown that not drinking enough water, dehydration, can be a key element in causing headaches, migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome and depression.

2. Water regulates body temperature

Water helps regulate body temperature, especially during exercise. When you exercise, you lose water through your breath and by sweating. As the sweat evaporates, your body cools. Replenishing water loss during exercise is crucial for physical performance and good health. Too much water loss will increase your risk of heat exhaustion. In addition to your normal six to eight glasses of water each day, drink a glass before you exercise. Then, for each 20 minutes of exercise, drink another cup or more. Be sure to drink a cup or two after you finish.

3. Flush out the toxins

The function of our kidneys is to remove waste from our bodies. They help to lush toxins such as uric acid, urea and lactic acid the kidneys out of our blood stream. These are the toxins that make us feel sluggish and unwell. The toxins can also put a harmful burden on the other systems in the body. Drinking water regularly lessens the burden on your kidneys keeping us pollution free.

4. Decrease risk of heart attacks

Researchers at the Loma Linda University in California studied more than 20,000 healthy men and women and found that people who drank more than 5 glasses of water a day are less likely to die from a heart attack than people who drink less than two.

5. Raise your metabolism

As described in the post about metabolism, metabolism is the means by which the food we consume is turned into energy. The first chemical process that takes place is digestion. This process will prepare the nutrients in the food to be absorbed by the body and transformed into energy. Drinking plenty of water is essential to maintain a good digestion which in turn keep your metabolism going. The health benefit of water is better utilization of the nutrients you consume resulting in more energy.

6. Fresh and healthy skin

Water primarily stimulates the circulation of blood, fluids, and the necessary elements inside our body. Additionally, it also controls and regulates the skin’s natural balance. When water is warm, it has the power to hydrate, revitalize, detoxify, and oxygenate the skin. Warm water also gets rid of blackheads and makes large pores smaller. Drinking water makes the body more relaxed and invigorated. It also replaces the moisture lost due to everyday activities. Simply put, these are all the benefits of drinking water for skin.

7. Lose weight by drinking water

Drinking water is important if you’re trying to lose weight, some studies have shown that thirst and hunger sensations are triggered together. If there is a slight dehydration the thirst mechanism may be mistaken for hunger and one may eat when the body is actually craving fluid. As most food contains some water, if one doesn’t drink much they may be subconsciously driven to eat more to gain the necessary water supply however, you also gain the undesired effects of increased calorie consumption. Drinking more water can help to prevent overeating and benefit weight loss.

Source : http://www.sportsandcooking.com