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The most reliable RAID levels and what to do in case of failure
There are five different RAID levels available. Which one is right for you?
06 January, 2021
Credit: Adobe Stock
- How do you configure data for fast performance and maximum stability?
- RAID is a data storage model that utilizes several physical disk drives simultaneously.
- Learn which RAID configuration is the best for your needs.
<p>RAID is a type of data storage technology that allows computer administrators to utilize several physical disk drives simultaneously. These can be either hard disc drives or the newer solid-state drives. If you have multiple storage drives linked together, it increases the overall storage capacity of your computer system.</p><p>Another benefit of a RAID configuration is that data does not get lost if one drive goes bad. After all, there is no telling when your data could become compromised because of a virus or system failure. But with the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2849289/supercharge-your-pcs-storage-with-a-raid-setup-everything-you-need-to-know.html" target="_blank">proper RAID configuration</a>, you'll be able to retrieve lost data when something happens to your computer system or one of its storage drives.</p><p>RAID levels refer to the different ways in which data gets distributed to the storage drives of your system. You need to select the appropriate RAID level configuration to determine the structure and organization of your stored data. Some RAID levels are deemed more reliable than others.</p>
The 5 RAID levels
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTI2MjA2Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MjgxOTc2MH0.1r4G6igQhbcaGs3MCk5JWd1PmlIN34LU7E8Behhw_U4/img.jpg?width=980" id="0e3aa" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="adca3ced1694d29670ca8b043e5b4f48" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="2000" data-height="1125" />Credit: Adobe Stock
<p>There are five different RAID levels available. The one you choose will depend on your situation and what you need the RAID configuration to accomplish. You have to decide whether you want your RAID to offer fault tolerance, performance, or both.</p><p>Fault tolerance is what allows your computer system to continue to operate after it has a failed component or storage drive. You won't experience as many interruptions in the performance of your computer if your RAID level setup is fault tolerance friendly. Not only that, but you likely won't experience as much <a href="https://www.r-studio.com/RAID_Recovery_Presentation.shtml" target="_blank">data loss</a> either.</p><p>Therefore, the most reliable RAID levels will need to have a fault tolerance configuration. But you cannot just choose any RAID level because the number of storage drives will influence it too. That is why you need to pay attention to the number of drives available before ultimately deciding on a RAID level to configure.</p><p>Let's discuss the top three RAID level configuration options below. </p>RAID 0
<p>The RAID 0 level writes data onto several disks. In other words, your computer uses multiple disk drives to write and read data to increase its performance. You need at least two disk drives to use RAID 0. If you want to see a better performance from your computer system, then RAID 0 is the right choice.</p><p>However, there is no fault tolerance with RAID 0. That means if one of your disks were to fail, then you would likely lose the data that was on it. Keep that in mind before you choose the RAID 0 configuration.</p>RAID 1
<p>RAID 1 is one of the best levels for fault tolerance. Instead of stripping data and writing it across multiple disks, RAID 1 copies all of the data from one disk and puts it on another disk. It creates a replica of the data that gets stored onto a disk. That way, if your storage disk malfunctions and stops working, you'll have a backup of all the data that was on it.</p><p>So, why doesn't everyone use RAID 1? Well, unfortunately, RAID 1 will slow down the performance of your computer system tremendously. Also, you cannot increase the storage capacity of your computer with multiple disk drives. For example, if you have two 500GB disk drives with a RAID 1 configuration, you will still have a storage capacity of 500GB because each disk drive will contain the same data. </p>RAID 5
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P8ZecG9iOI" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">RAID 5</a> is like a hybrid level in terms of performance and fault tolerance. You will need at least three disk drives for this particular setup because the configuration is more complicated. If one disk drive fails, then you will still have a backup of the lost data. RAID 5 utilizes parity data on all the storage drives to retrieve lost data. Although writing data onto the drives is much slower, it can be read fast.</p><p>Most people would say that RAID 5 is the most reliable level because data is retrievable without jeopardizing the performance of the system. But again, the setup is somewhat complicated, and it requires you to understand more about hardware controllers and how to increase their cache memory. It is recommended that you use a professional computer technician to set up RAID 5 rather than rely on the automatic configuration of the software.</p>
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How New York's largest hospital system is predicting COVID-19 spikes
Northwell Health is using insights from website traffic to forecast COVID-19 hospitalizations two weeks in the future.
14 January, 2021
Credit: Getty Images
Sponsored by Northwell Health
- The machine-learning algorithm works by analyzing the online behavior of visitors to the Northwell Health website and comparing that data to future COVID-19 hospitalizations.
- The tool, which uses anonymized data, has so far predicted hospitalizations with an accuracy rate of 80 percent.
- Machine-learning tools are helping health-care professionals worldwide better constrain and treat COVID-19.
<p>One of the most devastating aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic has been unpredictability. The nation's health systems—especially those in hard-hit areas like New York City—have had to adapt to sudden surges of COVID-19 cases, all while dealing with limited resources, existing patients, and a novel virus that's still not fully understood.</p><p>But what if health systems were able to forecast COVID-19 hospitalizations two weeks before they occur? Northwell Health, the largest health care system in New York state, recently deployed a predictive tool that does just that.</p><p>Northwell Health's <a href="https://www.northwell.edu/northwell-website-patterns-predict-covid-19-cases" target="_blank">surveillance dashboard</a> is able to predict COVID-19 hospitalizations by using insights from machine learning. In March, Northwell Health's Customer Insights Group developed an algorithm that's been mining data from online traffic to the Northwell.edu website, which has received more than 20 million hits since March.<strong></strong></p><p>The algorithm collects data through 15 different indicators, each of which reflects the online behavior of the website's visitors. For example, the tool analyzes metrics such as the length of time users spend on certain pages, searches for emergency department wait times, and specific symptoms users search for. Combined, this information translates into something like the "public mood" of the website on any given day.</p>
<blockquote>Since Northwell Health began using the predictive tool in September, it's predicted COVID-19 hospitalizations with an accuracy of about 80 percent.</blockquote>
<p>To understand how this mood relates to future COVID-19 cases, Northwell Health began comparing its data with a timeline of COVID-19 hospitalizations across 23 hospitals and nearly 800 outpatient facilities and in the metro New York area. This enabled the Customer Insights Group to see patterns of online activity that precede future increases or decreases in hospitalizations.</p><p>Since Northwell Health began using the predictive tool in September, it's predicted COVID-19 hospitalizations with an accuracy of about 80 percent.</p><p>"This is really the first tool that I've been exposed to that gives me a sort of guestimate of what two weeks from now may look like," said Dr. <a href="https://www.northwell.edu/find-care/find-a-doctor/emergency-medicine/dr-eric-scott-cruzen-md-mba-11346068" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eric Cruzen, </a>chief medical informatics officer of Northwell's emergency medicine services and chair of the emergency department at Lenox Health Greenwich Village in Manhattan.</p><p>"Even if the data can provide an idea of whether to expect an increase, decrease, or stasis, that's valuable. Because every day we're working to estimate what tomorrow's going to bring. Any tool that's going to shed light on that is a good tool in my book."</p>
The value of forecasting
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTA0Njk2OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMzM2NDQzOH0.rid9regiDaKczCCKBsu7wrHkNQ64Vz_XcOEZIzAhzgM/img.jpg?width=980" id="2bb93" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="31345afbdf2bd408fd3e9f31520c445a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1546" data-height="1056" />Northwell emergency departments use the dashboard to monitor in real time.
Credit: Northwell Health
<p>One unique benefit of forecasting COVID-19 hospitalizations is that it allows health systems to better prepare, manage and allocate resources. For example, if the tool forecasted a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations in two weeks, Northwell Health could begin:</p><ul><li>Making space for an influx of patients</li><li>Moving personal protective equipment to where it's most needed</li><li>Strategically allocating staff during the predicted surge</li><li>Increasing the number of tests offered to asymptomatic patients</li></ul><p>The health-care field is increasingly using machine learning. It's already helping doctors develop <a href="https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2020/06/09/dc19-1870" target="_blank">personalized care plans for diabetes patients</a>, improving cancer screening techniques, and enabling mental health professionals to better predict which patients are at <a href="https://healthitanalytics.com/news/ehr-data-fuels-accurate-predictive-analytics-for-suicide-risk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">elevated risk of suicide</a>, to name a few applications.</p><p>Health systems around the world have already begun exploring how <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7315944/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">machine learning can help battle the pandemic</a>, including better COVID-19 screening, diagnosis, contact tracing, and drug and vaccine development.</p><p>Cruzen said these kinds of tools represent a shift in how health systems can tackle a wide variety of problems.</p><p>"Health care has always used the past to predict the future, but not in this mathematical way," Cruzen said. "I think [Northwell Health's new predictive tool] really is a great first example of how we should be attacking a lot of things as we go forward."</p>Making machine-learning tools openly accessible
<p>Northwell Health has made its predictive tool <a href="https://github.com/northwell-health/covid-web-data-predictor" target="_blank">available for free</a> to any health system that wishes to utilize it.</p><p>"COVID is everybody's problem, and I think developing tools that can be used to help others is sort of why people go into health care," Dr. Cruzen said. "It was really consistent with our mission."</p><p>Open collaboration is something the world's governments and health systems should be striving for during the pandemic, said Michael Dowling, Northwell Health's president and CEO.</p><p>"Whenever you develop anything and somebody else gets it, they improve it and they continue to make it better," Dowling said. "As a country, we lack data. I believe very, very strongly that we should have been and should be now working with other countries, including China, including the European Union, including England and others to figure out how to develop a health surveillance system so you can anticipate way in advance when these things are going to occur."</p><p>In all, Northwell Health has treated more than 112,000 COVID patients. During the pandemic, Dowling said he's seen an outpouring of goodwill, collaboration, and sacrifice from the community and the tens of thousands of staff who work across Northwell.</p><p>"COVID has changed our perspective on everything—and not just those of us in health care, because it has disrupted everybody's life," Dowling said. "It has demonstrated the value of community, how we help one another."</p>
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AI and robotics are revolutionizing restaurant kitchens—here’s how you can invest
Miso Robotics has already served up over 12,000 hamburgers.
16 October, 2020
Credit: Courtesy of Miso Robotics
- Quick service restaurants are facing growing labor, food, and real estate costs.
- Miso Robotics is working with these restaurants to lower labor costs via automation.
- Miso Robotics has already produced over 60,000 pounds of food with its revolutionary technology.
<p><br></p>
<p>AI is being used for far more than just self-driving cars and Siri; it's playing a pivotal role in the future of the restaurant industry. Quick service restaurants (QSRs) are among the most popular eating establishments around. However, they operate on incredibly lean margins and are being confronted by rapidly increasing labor, food, and real estate costs.</p><p>Needless to say, QSRs could use a hand—and that's where AI comes into the picture.</p><p><a href="https://stackmedia.io/?utm_source=0a0b0cv4570&utm_medium=1a0b0cp393&utm_term=scsf-411956&utm_content=100-a0x1P000004sfQQ&pub_id=2309" target="_blank">Miso Robotics</a> created Flippy, the world's first autonomous kitchen assistant. Designed with commercial kitchens in mind, Flippy has already cooked over 60,000 pounds of food and is in use at CaliBurger locations in Florida, as well as at stadiums servicing the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks. White Castle, America's first fast food hamburger chain, has also partnered with Miso Robotics to develop, pilot, and undertake a beta of rollout of Miso Robotics' Flippy for White Castle's North American restaurants. </p><p>Flippy can work a grill or fryer, cooks food to perfection consistently, and can even work collaboratively with staff. In short, Flippy is a game-changer for QSRs looking to automate and cut costs.</p><p>Flippy is only the beginning for <a href="https://stackmedia.io/?utm_source=0a0b0cv4570&utm_medium=1a0b0cp393&utm_term=scsf-411956&utm_content=100-a0x1P000004sfQQ&pub_id=2309" target="_blank">Miso Robotics</a>, which has over a dozen patents pending in proprietary machines, learning and robotics, and control software. The company aims to make an impact in the $70.3 billion QSR market and is currently working on an overhead rail system that will cut production costs by 50 percent and leave no real estate footprint. </p><p>It's not too late to <a href="https://stackmedia.io/?utm_source=0a0b0cv4570&utm_medium=1a0b0cp393&utm_term=scsf-411956&utm_content=100-a0x1P000004sfQQ&pub_id=2309" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">invest in Miso Robotics</a> and the AI-powered future it's creating.</p><p><a href="https://stackmedia.io/?utm_source=0a0b0cv4570&utm_medium=1a0b0cp393&utm_term=scsf-411956&utm_content=100-a0x1P000004sfQQ&pub_id=2309" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Miso Robotics</a> has raised over $14.6 million so far, and the company's raises have been led by Wavemaker, an early-stage venture capital firm with over $335 million in assets. Wavemaker's past investments and exits include Blue Bottle Coffee, MindBody, and Clutter. </p><p>You can learn more about <a href="https://stackmedia.io/?utm_source=0a0b0cv4570&utm_medium=1a0b0cp393&utm_term=scsf-411956&utm_content=100-a0x1P000004sfQQ&pub_id=2309" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">investing in Miso Robotics</a> with SeedInvest <a href="https://stackmedia.io/?utm_source=0a0b0cv4570&utm_medium=1a0b0cp393&utm_term=scsf-411956&utm_content=100-a0x1P000004sfQQ&pub_id=2309" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>. With minimum investments as low as $500, SeedInvest makes diversifying your portfolio easy. </p><p><em>Sponsored by Miso Robotics.</em></p>
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How to use psychology to increase workplace productivity
Here are 5 ways to make your workplace better and your workforce happier.
15 October, 2020
Credit: Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
- "Productivity of work isn't the responsibility of a worker yet of a manager," said famed management consultant Peter Drucker.
- Psychology tells us again and again that emotionally intelligent leadership, which recognizes the humanity in others, is a driving force of productivity.
- Here are 5 simple but effective ways to increase performance and make a positive impact in your workplace.
<p><br></p>
<p>Managers make the common mistake of setting the same standards for all their employees. The truth is that employees do not think and act the same. When unavoidable circumstances present themselves, each employee will have a different reaction. This concept is known as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_economics" target="_blank">behavioral economics</a>.</p><p>To increase employee productivity, you need to understand their individual needs. However, do not assume your employees have the same wants and needs. Your goal should be to understand the psychology of your employees so that you can come up with ways to make them happier and more productive.</p><p>Below are the top five ways to use psychology to <a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/274284" target="_blank">increase workplace productivity.</a></p>
Customized employee appreciation gifts
<p>Employee appreciation gifts can be an excellent incentive to drive your employees to work harder. But don't just issue standard mass-produced gifts that are the same for everyone. If you offer <a href="https://www.gs-jj.com/" target="_blank">specially customized employee appreciation gifts</a> instead, then your employees will think of them on a more personal level.</p> <p>For example, if your employees are big baseball fans, you could reward them with baseball trading pins that have their names on them. Perhaps you know of an employee who has been open with you about their desire to quit smoking. You could give them a motivational PVC patch with a message about strength as a way to encourage them toward their goal.</p> <p>Personalized gestures show employees that you care about their individual interests, struggles, wants, and desires. That gives them greater motivation to do better in the workplace.</p>Encourage employee feedback
<p>Your team will have a better attitude about their workplace if they feel like they can make a valuable contribution to its organizational structure and how it's being run. If employees have no say in the rules and procedures of their workplace, they could quickly develop resentment toward their managers.</p> <p>Consider having an employee feedback box in the workplace. It is a box where employees can submit workplace suggestions and criticisms to their employers anonymously. They can fill out a suggestion form and slip it into the box. Then you can review the suggestions and address them accordingly. </p>Acknowledge accomplishments
<p>Managers often get too narrowly focused on telling employees what needs to be done in the workplace. That's why managers need to acknowledge the accomplishments of their employees because it reinforces the great job they are doing.</p> <p>If employees never hear any compliments or acknowledgements regarding their positive contributions to the workplace, they might start not to care as much anymore. It will cause their work performance to decline drastically. So, always give praise to your employees when they complete their tasks successfully or make an outstanding contribution.</p>Encourage break time
<p>Managers who force their employees to keep working long hours without a break are doing a disservice to their company. If employees don't get a break after a certain period, their productivity in the workplace will diminish. You need to encourage your employees to take periodic breaks to rest and recharge themselves mentally and physically. </p>Offer more work flexibility
<p>The digital age is called the "age of convenience" for a reason. Several research studies show that employees are more productive if their employers give them the flexibility to work from home. </p> <p>It is easier for someone to get out of bed and hop right onto their computer to get to work. Employees want this kind of flexibility, especially if they have to watch their children at home and cannot afford a babysitter. If you can offer them this kind of flexibility, then it will ease their stress and let them be more focused on their work.</p>
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3 ways bulk email verification can prevent free trial abuse
Businesses have learned how to mend the weak spots in free trial marketing.
03 September, 2020
Credit: Shutterstock
Technology & Innovation
- Free trials are an excellent marketing tool but people can take advantage of the system by using disposable emails, jumping from one free trial to the next.
- You can use free trial marketing to great effect if you know how to protect your business against those who want to take advantage.
- Here are 3 ways to identify email addresses that will never lead to a genuine sale and remove them from your lists.
<p>Isn't it a fundamental consumer right to try a product or service before purchase to make sure it works? Then again, not all consumers are as ethical as we would like to believe. Quite a few never end up purchasing licenses or subscriptions and are content with abusing free trials by primarily using disposable email addresses. Companies can, however, fight back against free trial abuse with the help of a bulk email validation solution. Here are three ways how.</p>
Limit registration to non-disposable email address users
<p>Protection against freemium abuse begins upon signup. Limiting registration to only those who don't use disposable email addresses is one way to do that. You can integrate a bulk email verification API into your registration page or use a disposable email domains database like the one provided <a href="https://emailverification.whoisxmlapi.com/disposable-email-domains?mc=bigthink.com" target="_self">by WhoisXML API</a> to automatically check if the email address a subscriber provided is disposable or not. A useful bulk email validation tool would tell your administrator immediately that the address is disposable, and so it's likely you're dealing with someone who might try to abuse a free trial.</p><a href="https://emailverification.whoisxmlapi.com/disposable-email-domains?mc=bigthink.com" ><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzYzMjkwMy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MTUzMzE1OX0.RvfSCPLh2llBsT1ru98sLnwab0WNh-1JBqH4IhhOrw8/img.png?width=980" id="9a871" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="624ead3c30dd034e8a3e58ada443cfc6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Bulk email verification tool" data-width="1071" data-height="961" /></a>Make sure the email address is contactable
<p>Not all freemium abusers use disposable email addresses. Some can just as easily use personal email addresses from Gmail, Yahoo, or other free services. A lot of people keep extra email addresses to direct email marketing or newsletters to. It's one way to keep their primary personal inboxes less crowded.</p><p>Since these secondary email addresses probably get tons of marketing collateral each day, they're likely full, and so messages will sooner or later bounce. That's not good for any company as it translates to a high bounce rate, which can adversely affect its email deliverability and domain reputation.</p><p>A robust <a href="https://emailverification.whoisxmlapi.com/bulk-api?mc=bigthink" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">bulk email validation API</a> can instantly let you know if all the email addresses in your contact database are accessible. It tells you if every address is Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)-enabled and, therefore, able to receive messages. So, if you, for instance, have the email address soon_be_to_nothing@yahoo.com in your database, which has an email verification result that says it isn't SMTP-reachable, it may be best to take it off your distribution list to lower your bounce rate.</p><p>Taking the email address that's probably no longer in use off your subscription list is also advisable. That way, your chances of dealing with a freemium abuser is reduced as well.<br></p><a href="https://emailverification.whoisxmlapi.com/bulk-api?mc=bigthink" ><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzYzMzAyMy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzA0MDI2MH0.GGDQJnOedW6yB9cq0qmrfPwTthcnB2xpi4pRnSLMomw/img.png?width=980" id="90d00" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="edb0bfce366c8fe0e86fa9874a1acbba" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="bulk email validation API tool" data-width="1076" data-height="951" /></a>Keep your distribution list in tip-top shape
<p>The more unreachable email addresses in your distribution list, the higher the chances of ending up in someone's blacklist. It is, after all, not uncommon for spammers or cybercriminals to use the shotgun approach in attacks. Sending messages to as many inboxes as possible, after all, increases their chances of success. Using their tactic for a legitimate business, however, is unacceptable either. Organizations are not allowed to send emails to just about anyone without their consent.</p> <p>And so companies that want to stay off blacklists should make it a point to keep their distribution lists updated at all times. But we also know that over time, contact lists can grow to a massive size, making cleanup tedious and time-consuming. The quickest way to keep email databases in tip-top condition is to use a bulk email validation solution. It lets you check up to 50,000 email addresses in one go to make sure that they won't do your domain reputation any harm and cause you to end up on a dreaded blacklist.</p> <p>Bulk Email Verification API/Lookup can confirm if each email address:</p> <ul><li>Has the correct syntax or follows established Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards</li><li>Is not disposable by checking its domain against those of known disposable email providers that include Mailinator, GuerrillaMail, and more than 2,000 others</li><li>Has a corresponding mail server evidenced by properly configured mail exchanger (MX) records</li><li>Points to a valid inbox that lessens your chances of dealing with suspicious users</li><li>Is not associated with a catch-all mailbox that isn't assigned to any particular user and so may not add value to your distribution list</li></ul><p>While allowing every potential subscriber to try your product/service free of charge is a great thing, you still need a way to keep the system honest. Strike a balance between keeping free trial abuse to a minimum and encouraging individuals to register for your offerings with the help of bulk email validation solutions.</p>
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Nutrisystem review: The key to losing weight—and keeping it off
Nutrisystem is a smarter weight-loss program that users enjoy.
29 July, 2020
Credit: Nutrisystem
Personal Growth
- The societal and economic consequences of obesity cannot be ignored.
- The economic impact is up to $190 billion every year in America.
- Americans spend up to $2.5 billion each year on popular weight-loss programs.
<p>Weight loss is big business. Thousands of influencers try to coax you in with brightly colored videos and overproduced photos on Instagram. They guarantee their method works for everybody. Nutrition is too complex for a one-size-fits-all plan, however. We all have different bodies with varying metabolism rates. An individualized program is more beneficial than a cookie-cutter program.</p><p>If you've ever tried to lose weight, you know how frustrating it is. We begin a program with enthusiasm and commitment only to trail off in a few weeks. That's the problem with many weight loss programs: they're like filler calories that taste good at first, only to leave you feeling hungry. </p><p>Nutrisystem was created in the 1970s by Harold Katz. The entrepreneur was living on a liquid-based diet for weight loss. While this method worked to some degree, Katz realized people want to eat real food. He spent years tweaking his system in order to help people feel sated, enjoy their food, <em>and</em> lose weight. </p><p>What Katz realized—what has made Nutrisystem successful in helping people lose weight for nearly five decades—is that people need personalized plans. Nutrisystem is a diet plan service with a variety of pre-packaged, ready-to-eat food, delivered at your door. The menu includes everything from burgers, pizzas and pasta to chocolate desserts and beverages. However, everything is provided following a plan of portion control and healthy eating.</p><p>Nutrisystem's Personal Plans provide six small meals a day that are nutritionally balanced for your body. With hundreds of choices designed by expert chefs, variety will never be an issue. And the free weight loss app that accompanies each plan keeps you engaged with your program. </p><p>Sure, there are universal principles to weight loss, such as lowering your calorie intake. This is no starvation diet. Finding a diet that both satisfies daily caloric intake and keeps you engaged in a long-term commitment is challenging. This is where Nutrisystem excels. </p>
<p><em></em><a href="https://thehealthmania.com/nutrisystem-promo-code/" target="_blank"><em>See Nutrisystem testimonials and check the latest prices here.</em></a></p>
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUxNDg1MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MDgzNDcxOH0.ir8qIJaQ79AfyXCjAF-PXY9iN7Y50_-k6J2_BUeJqu0/img.jpg?width=1245&coordinates=0%2C513%2C0%2C513&height=700" id="c7678" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7394cf29547580c47d2b18dcbd19a83f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1245" data-height="700" />
Credit: Nutrisystem
<h3>The economics of obesity</h3><p>The obesity crisis in America has profoundly changed the health of our nation. Two-thirds of American adults are now overweight or obese. Excess body weight creates numerous health problems, such as increased risk for heart disease, hypertension, cancer, sleep apnea, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Tragically, the steep rise in obesity rates can, in large part, be traced back to the surge in processed foods made with filler ingredients, questionable preservatives, and excessive sugars. </p><p>That's part of what makes losing weight so difficult. Supermarket shelves are stocked with processed foods. A whopping 74 percent of packaged foods contain added sugars, which are conveniently disguised under 61 different names, including dextrose, maltose, and treacle. You shouldn't have to play detective every time you go to the grocery store. </p><p>Obesity has real-world consequences. Every year, up to $6.38 billion is lost in productivity costs due to obesity-related absenteeism. That number only accounts for people taking off of work. Overall, obesity-related costs in America are estimated to be $147 billion every year. One <a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-consequences/economic/" target="_blank">study</a> shows that cost was $190 billion in 2005. </p><p>Overweight citizens are also more likely to suffer from poor mental health. The combination of poor self-image, social stigma, lack of exercise, and biological issues due to obesity increase the likelihood that someone will be anxious or depressed. This creates a crippling feedback loop: diets high in sugars and carbohydrates, which are fueling the rise in obesity, are <a href="https://bigthink.com/21st-century-spirituality/your-diet-might-be-causing-anxiety-and-depression" target="_self">also linked</a> to poor mental health. </p><p>Many people want a solution that works. In 2014, Americans spent roughly $2.5 billion on commercial or proprietary weight loss programs. As a society, we pay the price of obesity in the form of work absenteeism, inflated health care costs, and mental health issues, and we pay trying to solve it. Finding a solution to this problem is of utmost importance. </p><p><em><a href="https://thehealthmania.com/nutrisystem-reviews/" target="_blank">Huge savings — Click here to buy Nutrisystem on sale.</a></em></p>
<h3>Losing weight—and keeping it off</h3><p>Calorie in, calorie out is a simplistic approach to weight loss. We have different metabolism rates; the constitution of our microbiomes vary. Calorie-counting is one method that's nearly guaranteed to fizzle out. This method also overlooks one of the most important aspects of weight loss: food is emotional. Few people stick to diets they don't enjoy.</p><p>This is where Nutrisystem comes in. Instead of a false promise of rapid weight loss, the Nutrisystem Personal Plan is designed to help you lose a healthy 1-2 pounds every week while enjoying your favorite foods. More importantly, the weight stays off. </p><p>What you won't get in your Nutrisystem deliveries are excess fillers and hidden sugars prevalent in packaged foods. There are no artificial flavors or sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup, trans fat, or artificial colorings. You'll never receive deep-fried foods, fatty cut meats, potatoes, full-fat dairy, pasta, or ice cream. Every meal is created by an expert chef and all plans are reviewed by a Science Advisory Board. </p><p>If you suffer from type 2 diabetes or are pre-diabetic, Nutrisystem has a plan for you. They also offer a wonderful vegetarian option. Beyond these two plans, Nutrisystem offers four others:</p><ul><li><strong>Nutrisystem Basic</strong>. Three pre-planned meals a day plus snacks, designed for customers that want to lose weight and maintain lean muscle. </li><li><strong>Nutrisystem Core</strong>. Three meals plus snacks that you choose from over 100 different foods. Customers at this level have access to a certified dietary coach. </li><li><strong>Uniquely Yours</strong>. The most popular meal plan lets customers choose from over 160 meals, including frozen meals. </li><li><strong>Uniquely Yours Ultimate</strong>. All of the above plus an additional 28 shake options.</li></ul><p>Most importantly, all meals are <em>balanced</em>. That means you'll only receive meals that meet national guidelines for total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and added sugars. Once you've hit your target weight, Nutrisystem offers maintenance programs so that you keep it off for good. </p><p>The flexibility in Nutrisystem's program makes it even more effective. You'll never feel guilty about "cheat meals"—Nutrisystem offers guidance to eating at restaurants so that you won't have to sacrifice an evening out. By having your meals and snacks delivered, you'll save time in the kitchen. And the Nutrisystem app offers free counseling services, lifestyle hacks, and progress tracking. </p><p>Nutrisystem realizes no one loses weight by themselves. By signing up for a Personal Plan, you'll have access to trained weight-loss coaches, registered dietitians, and certified diabetes educators. In 2019, <em>Newsweek</em> <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/americas-best-customer-service-2019/services-beauty-wellness" target="_blank">ranked</a> Nutrisystem #1 in customer service for nutrition and weight-loss programs. This might be the program you've been looking for. </p>
<p><em><a href="https://thehealthmania.com/nutrisystem-promo-code/" target="_blank">Nutrisystem is offering Big Think readers a 50% off now! Click here to activate this special discount</a>.</em></p>
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Thinking of reselling jewelry? You need to know about Worthy.
Worthy returns 2-3x more money than local jewelers and pawn shops.
23 July, 2020
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- The jewelry resale market notoriously undervalues the true worth of many pieces.
- Sellers that investigate their options tend to receive higher returns than those who go to local jewelers. Keeping jewelry that you do not wear can be a bad financial choice; the value of diamonds is down more than 10% over the last 5 years, while the Fortune 500 index is up 40%+ over the same period.
- Local marketplaces like Craigslist or Ebay are fraught with scammers who can leave sellers empty handed.
<script async="true" src="https://widgets.stackcommerce.com/js-deal-feed/0.1/widget.js" type="text/javascript"></script><p>While any resale market is difficult to gauge, selling your jewelry can be especially challenging. The idea of selling a beloved ring or earrings for "scrap" is not easy, especially when going through a divorce or selling estate pieces. </p><p class="p1">That's exactly why the team behind <a href="https://stackmedia.io/?utm_source=1a7b5cv4908&utm_medium=1a0b0cp393&utm_term=scsf-415990&utm_content=100-a0x1P000004smsY&pub_id=2358" target="_blank">Worthy</a> set out to make the process easy by connecting fine jewelry sellers to a network of professional buyers for an online auction. Sellers typically earn 2-3 times more than they would at a local jeweler or pawn shop.</p><p class="p1">For individuals, there has never been a better time to consider selling jewelry. As a global pandemic rages on, many people are in need of cash to pay their bills. Even as we return to society and the economy reopens, there remain a lot of unanswered questions about employment, schools, and the market. To find extra funds, people are <a href="https://stackmedia.io/?utm_source=1a7b5cv4908&utm_medium=1a0b0cp393&utm_term=scsf-415990&utm_content=100-a0x1P000004smsY&pub_id=2358" rel="noopener" target="_blank">looking through their jewelry boxes</a> to see what they can part with—and do so in a way that does not even require leaving home. </p><p class="p1">Additionally, one might let go of their jewelry because of divorce, which is thought to be <a href="https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2020/06/27/has-the-coronavirus-pandemic-created-a-spike-divorces-" target="_blank">on the rise</a> as couples quarantine together. While it's <a href="https://stackmedia.io/?utm_source=1a7b5cv4908&utm_medium=1a0b0cp393&utm_term=scsf-415990&utm_content=100-a0x1P000004smsY&pub_id=2358" rel="noopener" target="_blank">never easy</a> to part with rings and other gifts, it might prove even harder to hold onto reminders of the past, especially as you move forward with your life. Explaining certain jewelry to new partners is also difficult. </p><p class="p1">Estate sales are another reason to part with jewelry. While it's difficult to say goodbye to a loved one, holding onto their items can be even harder. There tends to be an internal conflict: You want to honor their past, yet you want to get top dollar for the sale of their items.</p><p class="p2"><a href="https://stackmedia.io/?utm_source=1a7b5cv4908&utm_medium=1a0b0cp393&utm_term=scsf-415990&utm_content=100-a0x1P000004smsY&pub_id=2358" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Worthy</a> provides buyers and sellers with full transparency every step of the way. They make it easy to send your jewelry, so you can move onto another phase of your life with the funds to start something fresh. With Worthy, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to security as your valuables are insured up to $100,000 with a Lloyd’s of London insurance policy. As a seller, you set the price and are always in control, making it a completely win-win, risk-free process for everyone involved. If you're ready to <a href="https://stackmedia.io/?utm_source=1a7b5cv4908&utm_medium=1a0b0cp393&utm_term=scsf-415990&utm_content=100-a0x1P000004smsY&pub_id=2358" rel="noopener" target="_blank">let go of the past</a> and invest in your future, Worthy is a seamless and safe way to go about it.</p>
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