SAMe Benefits

Question: How can my partner and I have the same benefits of marriage without being married? My girlfriend and I have been together for several years. We don't want to get married right now but she would like to be able to make decisions for me in case I am hospitalized and cannot make decisions. She wants the same hospital visitation rights as relatives would have. I would also like her to have survivor benefits. Is it possible to arrange this without getting married?

Answer: Medical decisions and visiting rights can be handled by a "Medical Power of Attorney". File it with your 'primary care physician so it's in your records, and give her a copy to produce as needed. 'Survivor Benefits" can be handled for any private property or insurnaces you own by changing the titles to joint tenancy with right of survivorship. Any Gov't. 'survivor' benefits do depend on your being married.

Question: Do the members of the US Coast Guard receive the same benefits as other military branches? Do members of the US Coast Guard qualify for the same benefits and things as the rest of the armed force, such as having on base housing for them and their families? Is there a big downside, as far as training, benefits, pay, etc to joining the Coast Guard as opposed to another branch of the service? I know that they qualify for the G.I. Bill and the general things like that, but as far as bonuses, advancements, and housing, there was little information I could find.

Answer: Yes. The Coast Guard is considered an armed force. It has its own academy like the USAF, USA, USN and Merchant Marine. However, it is a part of the Department of Homeland Security, not the Department of Defense so obviously your military function is going to be a bit blurred as they use you for other stuff, such as border enforcement on the high seas. The bonuses may be different as they have an easier time getting people than do the Marines and Army. Seriously, the Marines and Army are heavily involved in land wars, so the Coast Guard is considered to be a safer place to be. With that, they do not offer the same financial bonuses for Coast Guard recruits as they do for Army and Marines. Also, I would think advancement would not be as good In the Coast Guard due to its smaller size and having an easier time retaining people.

Question: Does iced tea have the same benefits as water? Other than the obvious added caffeine, does iced tea have the same benefits as water? I drink black Lipton tea. I use the plain tea bags. Does drinking iced tea cleanse your system like drinking water does? Is it just as good for you as water (except for the caffeine black tea has)? Are you saying a plain black tea bag has sugars in it?

Answer: Tea does not have the same benefits as water. The caffeine takes more water to process then the tea provides so it takes extra water from our bodies. This dehydrates us. When dehydrated we become tired and lethargic and can get headaches and other pains. When we drink water it is a natural energizer and will do away with dehydration headaches. Water also helps to send nutrients throughout or bodies, remove waste, flush out toxins, lubricate joints, maintain our body temp, makes our skin look and feel better, and helps our organs to function well. Tea cannot do any of this as it takes extra water away from us. Caffeine also depletes us of B vitamins and calcium. Water does not. You can still drink tea if you like. It can be refreshing but it is not hydrating us at all. It definitely does not have the same effects as drinking water.

Question: Is eating salsa give the same benefits as tomatoes? They say that diet with tomatoes gives you lycopene that is good for your health. Do you get the same benefits from eating salsa. I am addicted to it.

Answer: I don't really know, but I'm guessing if you make it yourself with tomatos and peppers, than yes, probally, but if it's the kind you buy from the store, then no, probally, because of preservatives and additives

Question: Does cooking chocolate have the same health benefits as dark chocolate? Dark chocolates health benefits are well documented but can the much cheaper and probably less refined cooking chocolate claim the same benefits. It's half the price of regular dark chocolate but looks and tastes the same.

Answer: Nothing beats dark chocolate for its health benefits. Cooking chocolate is a lower grade of chocolate with less sugar that is only recommended for cooking. Dark Chocolate should have as a minimum 70% Cocoa with 85% highly recommended. I always use Lindt 85% Cocoa for cooking sweets and desserts. It is more expensive than most normal cooking or eating chocolate but tastes a lot better and has more antioxidents which aid health.

Question: Do local authorities measure against the same criteria when awarding benefits? I am a student and am in receipt of a small amount of income support and student finance. I am thinking of moving house so that I am closer to work and uni, but this will be under a different local authority. Would I still be applicable for the same benefits/student finance under a different authority? Is there any way that I can find out? I don't think I could afford to study if I did not receive help with the fees. Thanks.

Answer: If you are UK, then your local authority is your parents address, as you are in temporary accommodation for uni. and it is your parents who should have claimed for you,an accountant charges £50 to £100 to fill necessary forms in for you and it is well worth paying for .

Question: Would walking the same same straight line back and worth have the same benefits as walking an ongoing path? I have set an hour to walk each day, the problem is that sometimes I can only do so at night which means I don't want to go out too far for the coyotes. I walk the same very short path back and forth in a paper clip fashion until it reaches 60 minutes. Does that reak the same benefits as if I would have just walked on a path until I reached 30 minutes and then back for the next 30 minutes?

Answer: It is contraction and relaxation of muscles that utilize energy or calories. When U manage to make this contraction and relaxation rhythm of muscles in any way, U will get the same benefits.

Question: Are the benefits the same in fresh fruit as in dried? I recently read that apricots are a good detox food. However, I can't stand fresh apricots, but I can eat them dried. And the same article said to eat prunes. Is a prune a dried plum? If so, would I get the same benefits from eating a plum as I would a prune?

Answer: Not necessarily. With the dried fruits it all depends on the additives (ie: sugar, flavoring, and even MSG, preservatives, etc..) they add during the drying and storing process. Look for the fruits with the least amount of added ingredients, or dry your own. Also Prunes might have a different concentration of certain chemicals. When a fruit dries it goes under a chemical change, and releases some nutrients otherwise dormant. It also might lose nutrients. Normally its better to eat fresh fruit, but if you find a sufficiently dried fruit, it won't hurt. And its better than nothing.

Question: How does one improve on 25mm polycarbonate conservatory roofing to give the same benefits as ordinary roof? Benefits to include constant shading from sun, warmth and heat retention during the winter months, since I do not require any lighting from the roof. My conservatory is well-built with ample provision for windows and doors. The only problem is with the roof - too much light at all times and heat from sun during summer, with extremely cold conditions in winter. I would be extremely grateful if there were to be simple ways of making the roof give the same satisfying conditions as ordinary roofing and ceilings. Extension was built to provide an extra living space for use all year round. all my contributors have offered very helpful and enlightenening suggestions. I am much better placed knowledge-wise now than before I started. Christopher C and Cunny have been very helpful. Thank you all

Answer: there is a company called decra who do lightweight tiles specially designed for lightweight roofs on mobile homes.they look like proper roofing tiles and come in rolls of about twenty.they come in various designes and colours and insulate very well.

Question: Does breastfeeding and breast pumping have the same benefits? I know that breastfeeding has a lot of benefits for the baby and mother. But are all the benefits the same when it comes to pumping also?

Answer: yes Best of luck and GB

Question: Do walking in place and regular walking have the same benefits? I live in downtown LA and sometimes it's kind of scary to walk outside. Because I work all day, I can only walk at night and I cannot afford a gym membership. Does walking in place in your home provide the same benefits as walking outside? Perhaps like the Leslie Sansone walking dvd's?

Answer: almost -- walking in place is a good thing for you to do and in your case much more convienient, easier, and safer. It helps a lot but not quite as much as outside only becasue the outside has elevation changes and slight obsticles. It makes a small diffrence in the end so walking in place will do you good.

Question: What if all marriages were named "civil unions" and all of these provided the same benefits? So, legally no one would be recognized as married, gay or straight. Instead, everyone who was previously recognized as married would be recognized as being in a civil union, gay or straight, and all benefits were the same. Thoughts on this compromise?

Answer: In the West today, marriage is really 2 things: 1) a civil union recognised by law and according certain rights, and 2) a sacrament administered by a Church or similar religious group, with the cultural status attached to this The institution of marriage is a rather peculiar mix of these two things: a product of historical circumstances and present-day convenience. I feel that the two aspects of marriage need to be separated (divorced, if you will). The legal rights need to be detached from the religious and cultural complex. In this way, churches or religious groups could refuse to marry gay couples, divorcees, non-Christians, etc., without infringing anyone's civil and political rights. This detachment would be good for gay people, and it would be good for religious groups. Problematic, perhaps, for gay religious people (like me), but we have plenty of problems as it is...

Question: Do I get the same benefits from eating cabbage versus drinking it? I have an ulcer and medicine hasn't helped and it drives me crazy with all the annoying pain, unsightly bloating, excessive gas, and embarrassing rumbling noises! But I keep reading about how cabbage juice has helped people heal their ulcers in as little as a week and has also helped out with other digestive issues. However, my blender is broken and I can't make the juice, so I was wondering if eating the cabbage raw would provide the same curative benefits as drinking it?

Answer: No. The cabbage itself will digest slower and has fiber. If the juice is recommended, you should stick to blending it up. Good luck, I hope you feel better.

Question: Do I receive the same cardio benefits if I switch it up? I get very bored doing the same cardio machine all the time. Do I recieve the same benefits if I switch what machine I am doing (example: walking to stair stepper to bike to ellipitical) every 10 minutes compared with staying on the same machine?

Answer: yes switch machine is good and will also work different muscles giving a better overall workout.

Question: Will a lactose intolerant person not get the same benefits from milk as people who can drink it? Will a lactose intolerant person not get the same benefits from milk as people who can drink it? I usually drink lactose free milk, but it's just too darn expensive. I am willing to deal with being sick (more bathroom trips) from drinking regular milk as long as I know I will still benefit from it's protein content and other healthy ingredients. My concern is that my body will reject the other vitamins and minerals it contains.

Answer: There is nothing beneficial to making yourself sick when you don't need milk at all. You're far better off drinking less of the lactose free milk than you are suffering through regular milk because it's cheaper. There are plenty of other (and healthier) sources of protein and calcium. As for vitamin D, your body naturally produces it when exposed to sunlight, but you can also get it from fortified cereals, breads, butter or margarine as well as any of the fatty fishes (salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel, sardines). A bowl of cereal with the lactose free milk provides all you need. As for protein and calcium, get protein from lean meats, nuts, legumes and calcium from dark leafy vegetables, baked beans, etc. Milk isn't a particularly good source for protein with only 3 grams per serving, and it isn't necessarily the best source of calcium. It also has saturated fat, which is unhealthy. Ideally, you should have no more than 1-2 servings of dairy per day. Stick with the lactose free, and just have less. Drink water, eat right, and don't make yourself sick unnecessarily.

Question: Do you still ge the same benefits out of decaf green tea than regular? I was reading about green tea and it's many benefits. The only problem is that real green tea contain caffeine and I can't have caffeine for many reasons. So do you still get the same benefits out of decaf green tea than regular. I couldn't find it when I googled it. Please don't leave unnecessary rude comments, you are just wasting your time. Thank you!

Answer: They decaf tea in three ways. At least one sucks out good chemicals along with the caffeine. Others may leave significant traces of the decaffeinating chemicals in the tea (like methylene chloride). Your best bet is probably natural drinks other than tea, like rooibos (red tea). It has no caffeine and still offers high levels of antioxidants, phenolic compounds, and many purported health benefits. & Always ask a doctor!