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😅55 & UpSides #0026: The dumbest crooks | Prostate healthy? | Using hazardous lawn care chemicals?

😅55 & UpSides #0026: The dumbest crooks | Prostate healthy? | Using hazardous lawn care chemicals?

Ronnie Mac James
January 3rd, 2025

First time reading? Grab your subscription here. This newsletter provides quick news bites (without the nonsense) that matter to folks like me aged 55 & up. Easily unsubscribe above if you got here by accident.

Good morning 55&UpSiders — why not start Friday off with 8 satisfying minutes of dumb crooks being even dumber than usual.

Now, let’s get right into the best stories I could track down for you…

Top News

🕙  New Study: Deep Sleep Helps Long-Term Memory (But Timing Is Crucial)

🕙  Why We Should Pull Weeds Instead Of Using Weed Killer (New Report)

🕙  The Peanut Butter Recall That Uncovered Disgusting Facts

🕙  Why Humans Are Lucky To Be Here After This Event 930,000 Years Ago

🕙  Your Eyes Could Reveal The First Signs Of Many Diseases

🕙  Fun History Quiz On YouTube (Saw Lots Of Those Facts For The First Time)

🕙  Want To Get Fit In 2025 But Hate The Gym? Try The “Daily 50 Challenge”

🕙  This Is Why I Never Get In A Boat That’s Too Small

🕙  Even The U.S. Treasury Department Is Getting Hacked

Please take today’s poll below. To mow or not to mow…

🌱Poll: Do you take care of your own lawn or landscaping?

🍩Reply to this email with “donut” for a shot at a Dunkin’ Donuts gift code! 🍩

Up next, the #1 stock of the past 30 years.

The #1 Stock Since 1990?

Jack Henry & Associates: Booming Stock Growth

This was reported by Yahoo (1990 - 2020). The company went public in 1985. Wish I would’ve invested but I was probably fishing or watching Red Dawn on our new technology - a VCR, around 1985.

Today’s Feature Story is below, with the hazards of lawn care products.

Feature Story

Protecting Yourself From Lawn & Garden Chemicals

The problem is...

Pesticides used on lawns & landscape beds can linger in the human body for decades
Older adults are more vulnerable to pesticides due to thinner skin absorbing chemicals easier
Slower metabolism & decreased liver/kidney function
Common lawn chemicals like glyphosate & 2,4-D are linked to serious health issues

3 resources that can help you

EPA Pesticide Safety Tips

National Pesticide Information Center

Pesticide Action Network - Garden Resources

Roadblocks

Pesticide-free lawn care can be more time consuming
Organic alternatives aren’t as immediately effective
Pressure to maintain "perfect" landscaping in some neighborhoods
Difficulty reading small print on pesticide labels

Upsides & ways to beat roadblocks

Pesticide-free landscapes are safer for grandkids & pets
Natural lawn care methods improve soil health over time
Remove weeds manually or DIY organic weed killers
Encourage beneficial insects to control pests naturally
Use organic fertilizers & compost to nourish your plants
Hire eco-friendly landscaping companies

Keep reading to see what you can do about facts facing folks 55 & up (including prostate health).

Face The Facts (then punch ’em in the nose)

Know the facts so you can overcome or take advantage of them.

5) New Stanford study shows 20 types of pesticides may significantly elevate the risk of prostate cancer (The Cooldown)

4) 42% of couples in their 70s engage in weekly sexual activity compared to 35% of those in their mid-to-late 50s

3) Which country is nicknamed “The Graveyard of Empires”? Answer… Afghanistan

2) The tubes in your lungs, if you could lay them out flat, would cover roughly the surface area of a tennis court (Institute of Human Anatomy)

1) Oldest woman to naturally give birth was a 59-year-old woman in the U.K. (The Guardian)

👊Let’s punch prostate cancer in the nose.

Ways to fend off prostate problems:

Reduce alcohol & caffeine
Studies suggest that men who climax more frequently (with or without a partner) have a lower likelihood of prostate cancer
Early detection is crucial for treatment of prostate issues
Manage your weight. Obesity is linked to prostate health issues
Eat foods rich in lycopene, like cooked tomatoes, which may help slow prostate cancer cell growth

Thanks for reading. Please share 55 & UpSides with friends, family, & neighbors. Copy link here.

Contest: 🍩Reply to this email with “donut” for a shot at a Dunkin’ Donuts gift code!🍩

The upside’s always worth looking for,
Ronnie Mac James

P.S. For new readers. I’m a retired business owner who ran a house painting business for over 38 years. My wife & I have experience dealing with the health decline of our elderly parents since 2017 (Alzheimer’s, falling injuries, & cancer). I started this newsletter to give you information that helps you overcome the challenges we all endure after age 55, with ourselves & aging parents.

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