smoke and your death

If you smoke, the likelihood of dying from smoking-related causes rises dramatically. Therefore, life insurance companies typically charge smokers higher rates than non smokers. This is to compensate them for the additional risk they incur when extending a policy to a smoker. However, even if you do smoke, or are an ex-smoker, there are things you can do to lower your costs.

When You Quit Smoking Matters to Your Life Insurance Provider

Because smoking can have such a significant impact on a policyholder's health, insurance companies use an assortment of classifications for smokers. These classifications are based upon the amount of time that has elapsed since the policyholder last smoked. If a person has not smoked for 5 years or longer, that person is classified as a "preferred plus" policyholder. For those who have avoided smoking for at least 3 years, they're awarded a "preferred" status. Finally, if a policyholder has not smoked for at least 12 months, they are given a "standard" designation.

Life insurance companies use these classifications because policyholders who have stayed away from cigarettes for a longer period of time are less likely to die from smoking-related illnesses. "Preferred plus" policyholders are rewarded with lower premiums than those who are classified as "preferred." People who have a "standard" status (i.e. having not smoked for at least 12 months) will typically have to pay higher premiums than the other 2 groups. This, of course, assumes that other factors such as blood pressure, weight and cholesterol levels remain equal.

What If You Lie About Your Smoking Habit?

Millions of smokers are tempted to lie about their habit to their life insurance company. With the intent of avoiding higher rates, some do so. However, it's risky and often ineffective. While providers will start by asking potential policyholders whether they smoke, they can also require a physical exam. They may even request recent medical records. Lying on an application is easy; trying to cover up traces of nicotine in a urine sample is far more difficult.

Be honest about your smoking habit. Life insurance companies consider smoking a serious issue. They're motivated to conduct due diligence to validate your claims.

Affordable Life Insurance For Smokers

While life insurance premiums can be substantial for smokers, there are affordable options. First, if you have quit smoking, ask your provider to reevaluate the status of your policy each year. Based upon the amount of time that has passed since you last smoked, they may be able to lower your rates. Second, consider term life insurance. You may still need to submit to a physical exam, but the premiums on a term life policy are usually lower than those on a whole life policy. And of course, get life insurance quotes from several different companies - it's often quite amazing how different prices can be for essentially the same policy.

The Realities Of Smoking And Life Insurance

The costs of smoking expand much further than the price of a pack of cigarettes. The premiums you can expect to pay on your life insurance policy will be higher than the premiums for a non-smoking policy. That being said, it's important to understand how your life insurance provider regards smokers. By being aware of the various classifications used, you may able to lower your premiums. Having your policy status updated after each year can help you graduate to a "preferred plus" classification. In the end, having life insurance is critical. Don't let your smoking habit prevent your securing a policy.

your body need salt

When it comes to health and fitness - the public is mostly focused on carbs, protein and fat. But there are other important elements of your daily diet that need to be managed for optimal health and fitness.

One of these elements, sodium (salt), should get more special attention. We'll do that here in this snappy Q&A article:

QUESTION: "I always hear that eating foods with too much salt is not good for my health and fitness levels, but is it also possible to suffer from not getting enough salt in my daily diet?"

ANSWER: "Absolutely. For your body to be firin on all cylinders, you need at least 500mgs of sodium/salt each day. It's required by the body for transmitting nerve impulses, helping muscles (including the heart) contract properly and sustaining the body's pH and fluid balance (both inside the cells and outside) at ideal levels.

However, considering you consume that much sodium from only a quarter teaspoon of salt, it's not surprising that a low salt intake is definitely not an issue in the U.S. Knowing the guesstimated average salt intake for Americans is about 4 - 6 thousand milligrams daily - there is a higher prevalence of too much sodium intake.

Authorities currently recommend a limit zone of under two thousand four hundred (2400) milligrams a day to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Some experts think it should be even lower.

So, what might we do?

It appears that some people are more likely to be affected by sodium intake than others, and since we don't know exactly who they are, keeping sodium in check, in general, is a good thing to do for your health and long term fitness.

An interesting note; There is new found interest in sodium's negative effect on bone health, adding another reason to keep salt intake levels at reasonable amounts(especially in women).

But, too little sodium?

Let's face it... that's likely not an issue for any American.

Here's what most fitness experts do. First and foremost - if we add salt to any of our dishes - it's Sea Salt - not regular table salt.

Second - We generally buy foods that have no added salt or - they have lower levels added - and we are happily discovering healthy pre-packaged, minimally processed foods that use SeaSalt instead of regular table salt.

Third - and very important - because we are active people, our sodium intake has much less ill effect on us than it would a sedentary, couch potato type person. We perspire more and we lose salt from our bodies electrolyte profile - so we don't give them an opportunity to build up in our systems.

So, if you are active, eat healthy, hydrate sensibly and exercise on a consistent basis - you should not have anything to worry about in terms of your sodium intake.

Special cases, such as family history (genetics) will have some influence on your sensitivity to salt intake. And, for women, your sensitivity to salt intake may vary throughout your cycle.