The first bean pods should be ready for harvest within 50 to 70 days of planting. If you harvest the pods every couple days as they mature, the plants will continue producing pods for several days or even weeks. Pods are ready for harvest when they are long, crisp, and firm. However, harvest the pods before the beans inside become plump and developed. Harvest beans from dry plants to prevent the spread of bacteria. If necessary, wait until the late morning or early afternoon so morning dew has dried. To eat your beans fresh, eat them the day you pick them, or store them in the fridge for a few days. Any beans that aren't going to be eaten within this time should be prepared for storage. Fresh beans can be eaten raw in salads, sandwiches, and other dishes, or they can be cooked. Freezing and canning are the best options for beans that aren't going to be eaten right away. For the best results, prepare your beans for storage within a few hours of picking them. To freeze the beans, first boil them in water for three minutes. Then plunge them into ice water for another three minutes. Dry the beans completely and transfer them to sealable bags before moving to the freezer.

Summary: Harvest the beans. Consume fresh beans within four days. Store excess beans for later.

Of all five senses, eyesight is the sense that you depend upon the most. Despite this, few people insure their eyes or get eye exams, almost taking their sight for granted. One of the greatest adversaries to your eyes is the sun. With dangerous UV rays, glare, and carcinomas, the sun damages the eyes considerably over time. Carcinomas of the eyelids, like squamous and basal cell, spread rapidly and are typically found in people who have a history of sun exposure. Melanomas are linked to intense, intermittent sun exposure and if not treated promptly can prove lethal. Transitions lenses adapt to the sun's brightness and protect the eyes from potentially fatal damage by darkening the lenses of your glasses. Constant adjustment to changing light can cause eyestrain and fatigue. Your lenses have to filter all the sunlight that comes into contact with your eyes making them work hard and wears them down quickly. Although eyestrain by itself does not have long-term consequences, it can severely aggravate your eyes making you tired and reducing your ability to concentrate. Transitions lenses protect your eyes allowing them to stay relaxed and comfortable throughout the day. Glare and squinting are related but glare is far more dangerous, especially if you are driving or walking along a road. Glare, caused by excessive sunlight, forces you to either squint or look away because it is blinding. Without proper protection, this distraction can cause a serious accident. Good vision is important to safe driving. Driving without protection against glare from the road, snow, or other cars is a treacherous proposition. Make sure you use the sun visor, keep your windshield clean, rest your eyes from squinting, and look into Transitions Drivewear sunglasses, which cuts glare considerably. Drivewear lenses rapidly adapt to glare while you are driving your car making them the perfect answer for driving safely. Most windshields are treated with UV protection, so most normal Transitions lenses may be less effective behind the wheel (as they respond to UV light, which will already be filtered by the windshield). Drivewear, however, uses ambient light and will get darker depending on light conditions. The earlier you begin to protect your eyes against the sun the better. In other words, it is never too early to protect your vision. Children are even more susceptible to the harmful effect of UV radiation than adults. Children under the age of ten have a greater chance of getting photokeratitis, which is sunburn of the eye, and UV-related retina problems because their eyes are not as efficient at filtering UV rays as adults' eyes. Without proper eye protection, your child could suffer red eyes due to sunburn, non-stop tearing, burning or itchy eyes, or severe eye pain and spasms. Transitions eyewear blocks 100% of UV radiation, providing safety for your children's eyes.

Summary: Don't ignore your eyes. Avoid squinting. Prevent glare while driving. Protect your eyes early.

As you age it is important to keep up with good dental hygiene. The core part of good dental hygiene is brushing your teeth twice a day. This removes food particles and bacteria that causes tooth decay. Your tooth sensitivity may increase as you age. This can be minimized by using a soft toothbrush and desensitizing toothpaste. In addition to brushing your teeth, you need to clean between them. This can't be done effectively with a toothbrush. Instead, it is done with floss or a flossing device. If you don't floss, plaque, food, and bacteria can build up between your teeth. Be careful when you are flossing below the gum line that you don't damage your gums, especially if you take medication that causes you to bleed more easily. It is important that you get enough fluoride as you age, as it can help protect your teeth from the wear and tear that comes with use. For older people, it is especially important in protecting the delicate teeth surface below the gum line, as the gums usually recede as one ages. You can get fluoride from fluoride toothpaste, a fluoride rinse, or from fluoridated water, which is common in many cities. If you have full or partial dentures it is important for you to clean them as well. Take them out every night, be sure to clean them thoroughly, soak them, and rinse them before putting them back in your mouth. When you get your dentures you should be instructed on how to clean them properly. This usually includes soaking them over night and brushing them with denture cleaner. You should also clean the inside of your mouth after you take your dentures out. Be sure to brush your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth. Smoking can cause severe damage to your teeth over time. If you are a smoker you have a higher chance of getting gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss, in addition to other health problems. Talk to your doctor about smoking cessation programs that might be available to you. It is never too late to stop smoking. In order to keep your teeth healthy for a long time, it is important to treat them well. In addition to good dental hygiene, you should avoid biting or chewing hard food, such as ice. Chewing on hard foods can chip or break your teeth, creating damage that needs to be fixed by a dentist. If you have chipped your teeth, go to the dentist right away. If you chip the enamel off of the teeth, they become more susceptible to cavities. Your dentist can help protect any areas that are chipped and repair them. Fizzy or acidic drinks, such as soda pop or juice, can erode the enamel off of your teeth. Also, drinking alcohol can damage your teeth as well. If you are concerned about the health of your teeth, you should avoid these items whenever possible. If you really want to drink things that will damage your teeth, drink them through a straw. This will keep the beverage off of your front teeth, minimizing the damage.
Summary: Brush your teeth twice a day. Floss your teeth every day. Make sure you get enough fluoride. Clean dentures. Avoid smoking. Be gentle on your teeth. Avoid beverages that can damage your teeth.