Smoking is bad for your health, everyone knows that. But new research suggests that eating too much sugar may be even worse.

Excess sugar consumption results in 35 million deaths each year, according to a report published in Nature from the University of California, San Francisco. Deadly diseases linked to sugar consumption include diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

In high amounts, sugar increases blood pressure, harms the liver and causes the body’s hormone regulation system to go haywire.

Researchers wonder whether government regulations similar to those imposed on cigarettes may help curb the surge in sugar consumption.

So Valentine’s Day falls on Tuesday, February 14–a week from today–and you’re probably wondering, “What should I get my sweetie for Valentine’s Day that will blow his/her socks off?”

Well, here’s a unique Valentine’s Day gift idea you probably haven’t thought of: life insurance!

That’s right: Protecting your loved one with life insurance may not be the most romantic gesture in the world, but it’s certainly the most practical.

For one year, skip the diamond bracelet and spring for life insurance coverage. Healthy applicants in their 40s can buy $500,000 of coverage for roughly $30 per month, so it won’t break the bank.

I can’t speak for our female readers but guys, listen up. Here’s a personal tip from yours truly: Don’t buy your sweetheart just life insurance. Some ladies might be disappointed to open their Valentine’s Day gift only to find a black-and-white sheet of paper that reads “Life Insurance Policy,” so throw in a box of candy and a dozen roses just to be safe.

Works every time

The retirement landscape is changing. Pensions are vanishing, 401k values are dropping and the future of Social Security is uncertain.

As a result, a staggering 88 percent of Americans now worry about retirement finances, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

With that in mind, here are three tips to secure your finances in retirement:

• Invest in a 401(k), especially if your employer matches your contribution.
• Get a cash value life insurance policy, which can be turned into cash during retirement.
• Consider an annuity. Annuity payments can be made throughout your lifetime, no matter how long you live.

Retirement planning isn’t the most exciting topic in the world, but at least you won’t be penny-pinching during your golden years.

On Super Bowl Sunday, non-sports fans are usually pumped about 1. the new Super Bowl ads and 2. FOOD.

Today, I’m focused on the latter.

Traditional Super Bowl snacks might consist of chips and salsa, potato skins, cheesy pretzels and maybe even a few buffalo wings. This platter, though, blows the competition away.

This stadium-shaped mass of tasty goodness is, without a doubt, the greatest Super Bowl snack of all-time. In honor of Super Bowl Sunday, I present it to you (courtesy of HolyTaco):

Yes, this calorie-loaded monstrosity features Doritos, Twinkies, Cheetos, beef jerky, tortilla chips, cheese and hotdog slices, salsa, cheese and guacamole dip and, I think, a few slices of bacon–it’s got everything you could want.

My Super Bowl spread isn’t quite this impressive–salsa, chips and a veggie pizza–but I think I’ll dig in. Promise me you won’t tell my life insurance agent, though, because I’m supposed to be on a diet

Ok, I’ll admit it: I’m addicted to Reddit. It’s part of my daily routine—I check my email, log in to Facebook and then browse Reddit.

If you’ve never heard of it, Reddit is a wonderful social bookmarking website that allows (mostly nerdy, like me) users, called Redditors, to interact with one another.

Like Digg before it, Redditors share funny photos, interesting news stories and more. (The memes are probably my favorite part of Reddit, by the way.)

Reddit features posts called AMAs—“ask me anything”—in which experts on a certain topic (and celebrities, occasionally) allow users to ask them questions publicly.

The reason I’m rambling on about Reddit is because this afternoon I stumbled upon a very intriguing AMA thread from a life insurance agent who, surprisingly, educates and entertains.

Yes, a life insurance agent with a sense of humor–go figure

Anyways, check out the discussion here—it’s definitely worth a look.

Happy Friday everyone! I’ve got a treat in store for you today.

Finding an amusing conversation is difficult when you write about life insurance. So when I stumbled across this text message conversation between a husband and wife, I knew I had to pass it along to my beloved readers:

Here’s the moral of the story as I see it: If you’re married, you should take good care of your health—if not for your own sake, for your spouse’s. However, if you’re comfortable walking around sick until you drop dead, make sure you compare life insurance quotes and grab a policy before you croak.

On that note, have a wonderful weekend!

A post this week from Health Impact News encourages readers to eat more fat.

Yes, you read that correctly: more fat.

The number one reason to chow down on fatty foods totally goes against conventional wisdom: Eating fat won’t actually make you, well, fat.

Excess calories are stored in the body as fat, and certain fats (like omega 3s) are actually required by the body to regulate hormones and improve overall health. Also, because fat is absorbed slowly, it helps you stay full longer and helps to stabilize blood sugar.

Just make sure the fat you’re eating is the healthy variety found in fish, nuts and olives. Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are good; trans fats and saturated fats are off-limits.

So even though it sounds crazy, eating more fat may be the answer to improved health and weight-loss. Trust me, your life insurance company–and your pocketbook–will thank you.

For 6 more reasons to increase your fat intake, check out the article.

Death insurance is a fancy term for a very low level of life insurance. Very low—usually around $10,000 or so.

Policies are designed to cover the cost of final expenses and little else. That’s why death insurance is also called burial insurance or funeral insurance.

If your home is paid-off and your children are financially independent, you probably don’t need anything more than a low level of coverage. After all, you don’t want your children to get stuck paying for your funeral, do you?

If someone relies on your income, though, life insurance should receive strong consideration, because death insurance won’t go very far.

The good news is that life insurance doesn’t cost much—about $30 a month or so for a healthy 40-year-old seeking $500,000 in coverage.

You’ve probably heard the maxim “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It’s especially true when it comes to personal health.

Routine exams help doctors detect potentially serious conditions before they become difficult—or impossible—to treat. That’s why annual physicals, for instance, are so important.

There’s a darn good reason life insurance companies conduct a general health exam when you apply for coverage: they want to know your overall state of health before offering you coverage, and routine screenings provide the most accurate portrait of your overall condition.

A recent piece from Runner’s World highlights the five most crucial health exams that play a role in safeguarding your long-term health:

• Blood pressure – High blood pressure increases the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke. An ideal blood pressure is roughly 120/80 mmHg.
• Blood sugar – Too much or too little glucose in the blood—diabetes—can lead to serious complications in the nerves, eyes, kidneys, heart and blood vessels. An estimated 7 million Americans have diabetes but aren’t aware of it.
• Cholesterol – “Bad” cholesterol, LDL, sticks to arteries and impedes blood flow.
• Iron – Iron deficiency can produce fatigue, muscle soreness and, in extreme cases, heart issues.
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone – A thyroid that is underactive can produce weakness and fatigue; an overactive thyroid can produce the jitters.

By acing these 5 health exams, you’ll have an excellent chance of finding affordable life insurance quotes. Oh, and you’ll know how healthy–or unhealthy–you are, too.

Foodies, listen up: There are a variety of foods and beverages that can actually help you reduce stress and unwind.

An article posted this month on BodyBuilding.com, “5 Dietary Strategies to Ease Stress,” details the five best foods to eat to beat chronic stress.

Of their top picks, my favorite is number five: magnesium-rich foods. Whenever I go through a particularly stressful period or have a busy day at work, I make sure to get some extra magnesium in my diet to help stay focused and relaxed.

By the way, I definitely recommend a stress-reducing meal before taking a life insurance exam. Every little bit helps.

Foods high in magnesium include almonds (my personal favorite), cashews, halibut, tomatoes, spinach and tofu.

For the other four stress-busting foods, you’ll have to check out the article.