A Simple Way to Make Today More Productive

By Jason Holland

You can quadruple your productivity and efficiency at work, just by doing one thing: Cut back on the number of times you check your e-mail.

E-mail is a useful - and often necessary - tool. But don't let it be a constant interruption. One of the biggest e-mail disruptions? Your e-mail provider's "alert" - the little ding or pop-up window that informs you a new e-mail has arrived.

That alert is a seemingly harmless convenience. But it halts your momentum and derails your thought processes. At best, it's a distraction. At worst, its promise of a new message persuades you to stop working on an important project. And guess what? You can get rid of it with a few clicks of your mouse.

Here's how to do it in Microsoft Outlook:

• Go to the Tools menu and click "Options."

• Then click "E-mail Options."

• On the next menu, click "Advanced E-mail Options."

• Go to the section labeled "When new items arrive in my inbox" and un-check each option.

Don't become a slave to your inbox. Disable this disruptive "convenience" and you will see your productivity and concentration soar.

A Crispy Way to Protect Your DNA

By Kelley Herring

Preventing DNA damage and boosting the body's antioxidant defenses at the cellular level may help lessen aging and reduce the risk of some cancers. And now it appears you can get that protection just by eating watercress.

This member of the cancer-fighting cruciferous family of vegetables was recently evaluated at the University of Ulster. The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, included 60 cancer-free adults, half of whom were smokers.

The researchers looked at the participants' blood for levels of antioxidants and signs of DNA damage. They were then split into two groups.

For eight weeks, the first group ate three ounces of raw watercress each day in addition to their regular diet. The second group (the control group) ate no watercress. After the eight weeks, the participants provided blood samples and took a seven-week break. During that time, they ate what they wanted.

The groups were then switched. Those who previously ate watercress followed a normal diet; those in the original control group ate watercress.

After this second eight-week period, researchers took final blood samples and analyzed the data. They found that when each group ate watercress, they had higher levels of antioxidants and lower levels of chemicals indicating DNA damage. What's more, the pattern was particularly strong in smokers.

So enjoy the crunch of watercress in salads and sandwiches... and guard against DNA damage at the same time.

[Ed. Note: Kelley Herring is the founder and CEO of Healing Gourmet (www.healinggourmet.com), and is editor-in-chief of the Healing Gourmet book series.]

It's Fun to Know: About Gold

More than 20 percent of the decorative gold in the world is used as thread in Indian saris.

(Source: Discover Magazine)

Word to the Wise: Bibulous

"Bibulous" (BIB-yuh-lus) - from the Latin for "to drink" - pertains to the consumption of alcohol.

Example (as used by Sally Chatterton in The Independent): "Ever since the joys of the fermented grape were discovered, the bibulous have been waking up feeling the worse for wear."

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2290, 02-28-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.