Bottom Line Inc

12/22/2025

If you're looking for a natural fruit that packs a nutritional wallop, you might want to try Medjool dates. Here, Bottom Line expert Doctor Khalid Zalmay, BMBS, MRCGP, a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners and a family physician headquartered in London, outlines the mega benefits you can get from consuming Medjool dates.

Often referred to as “the fruit of kings,” Medjool dates are native to Morocco and harvested from the date palm tree. Unlike other date

12/21/2025

When it comes to nutrition, everyone talks about protein, fiber, anti-inflammatories and antioxidants, but not a lot is said about creatine, which is a secret powerhouse when it comes to health benefits. Here, Bottom Line expert Richard B. Kreider, PhD, FACSM, FASEP, FISSN, FACN, FNAK, a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology & Sport Management and Director of the Exercise & Sport Nutrition Lab and of the Human Clinical Core at Texas A&M University, outlines the benefits of this not-often-discussed nutrient.

The supplement creatine has long been used by athletes to boost performance, but recent research has found that it may have even more profound

12/20/2025

Medical debt can appear on your credit history. How does it affect your credit score? Here, Bottom Line expert Caitlin ­Donovan, senior director of the the nonprofit National Patient Advocate Foundation that provides case management and financial aid to Americans facing chronic, life-threatening and debilitating illnesses, explains what you can expect.

A new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule intended to block medical debt from being included on credit reports was struck down by a federal

12/19/2025

Everyone goes through difficult times. Some are more difficult than others. Here, Bottom Line expert Lucy Easthope, PhD, a professor in Mass Fatalities and Pandemics at Centre for Death and Society at University of Bath, England, and author of Come What May: Life-Changing Lessons for Coping With Crisis, offers a blueprint for handling the worst that life gives you.

Most people can handle life’s ups and downs, especially if you are older and have been through a lot. But how do you cope with personal disasters that rip

12/18/2025

Looking for a great holiday gift or a way to make your holiday stress a little lighter? Try a meal delivery service. But where to begin? Here, Bottom Line expert Molly Morgan, RD nutritionist and founder of Creative Nutrition Solutions, and author of Drink Your Way to Gut Health: 140 Delicious Probiotic Smoothies, provides suggestions for the best meal delivery services.

Getting a meal delivered to your door—whether it’s a kit that you assemble or a ready-to-eat package—has become part of everyday American life. But if

12/17/2025

As we come into the holiday season, toasting to friends, families and good health is a common event. To ensure you don't overdo it, here are some hangover improvement tips from Bottom Line experts Joan and Lydia Wilen, folk-remedy experts and home tipsters who have spent decades collecting “cures from the cupboard” and are authors of several books, including Secret Food Cures.

Alcohol can be fun, but the day after usually isn’t. Hangover cures to use at home can ease the pain and speed recover.

12/16/2025

Only Medicare Part A, hospitalization, is free. Everything else--doctor's visit coverage, prescriptions, etc.--you have to pay for. Here, Bottom Line expert Lauren Bigham Steele, a licensed insurance agent ­specializing in Medicare products and an assistant marketing manager at Boomer Benefits, a Fort Worth–based insurance agency, explains the costs of complete Medicare coverage.

Most Americans receive a valuable present for their 65th birthday—Medicare eligibility. But some are surprised to learn that this present comes with

12/13/2025

Scammers are great at making their messages look authentic, especially at a time of year when you might be hearing from the Social Security office. But don't be fooled. Here, Bottom Line expert Steven J.J. Weisman, JD, attorney in private practice, senior lecturer at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, author of "Identity Theft Alert" and founder of the scam-information website Scamicide explains how to the know when a missive is real or spam.

Scammers pretending to represent the Social Security Administration (SSA) are making retirees’ lives a little less secure. Bottom Line Personal

12/12/2025

PSA SCREENINGS LOWER RISK OF DEATH FROM PROSTATE CANCER. There has been a lot of controversy over PSA screenings, but this latest research finds that it does lower risk of death from prostate cancer, according to Monique Roobol, PhD. The research shows that, compared with men who did not get annual tests of their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels for four years, those who did have the screening were 13% less likely to die from prostate cancer during an average 23-year follow-up.

Monique Roobol, PhD, is professor of urology at Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and coauthor of a study of 162,000 men published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Men: Has a PSA test helped you maintain prostate health? How often does your doctor suggest you get screened?

12/11/2025

AVOID AIR RAGE. Social media is teeming with videos of fights on planes. Here’s how to stay above the fray. Know the triggers—people start to lose their cool when flights are delayed, lines are long, and fellow passengers invade their space or violate their dignity. Avoid certain words—avoid saying “you” and “have to,” which can sound accusatory. Speak carefully and calmly because tone can make all the difference—using “I” statements, phrase things as questions…such as, “I’d like to put my bag in there, too. Would you mind moving yours?” Go easy on the booze—alcohol lowers inhibitions and can fuel the flames of air rage.

Tom Patire, licensed bodyguard and personal-safety expert, CEO, CDT Training Inc. and State of the Art Security Agency, Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. TomPatire.com

Have you ever witnessed or been involved in an escalated situation on a plane? If so, how did you or the staff defuse it? What suggestions might you have for others who may end up in the same situation as yours?

12/11/2025

At this time of year, requests for donations are plentiful but people's budgets are often limited. You can't do it all. Here, Bottom Line expert Michael Thatcher, president and CEO of Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest and most utilized independent evaluator of charities, offers some suggestions on the best charities to donate to.

Not all nonprofits are created equal. Before giving your money to a seemingly worthy cause, it’s worth taking a few minutes to confirm that the charity

12/10/2025

FIND A LOST 401(K) or other retirement account. According to recent data, there are 29.2 million forgotten 401(k) accounts estimated to hold about $1.65 trillion in assets. Where to start searching: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Retirement Savings Lost and Found Database (LostAndFound.dol.gov)…National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) database (Unclaimed.org), which connects to unclaimed-property sites for all 50 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and includes more than retirement accounts…search the Form 5500 Directory for government reports filed since 2010 (Efast.dol.gov)…Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) database (PBGC.gov), which is updated quarterly…National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits (UnclaimedRetirementBenefits.com). Also look for abandoned plans through the Abandoned Plan Program run by the Employee Benefits Security Administration (AskEBSA.dol.gov).

Have you ever looked for lost money and found some you either didn't know about or forgot? Tell us which site you used and what type of fund you recovered.

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