Monday, March 9

HEALTH

Eating bugs: Nutrition is proven but not their effects
NUTRITION

Eating bugs: Nutrition is proven but not their effects

Nytimes.com last September shared that the American market for edible insects exceeded $55 million in 2017 and is expected to keep climbing as more companies create nutritionally appealing products. Bugs: We squish them, spray them and shoo them. But eat them? A large percentage of the world’s population — an estimated 2 billion people, in fact — already eat insects because of nutritional content and accessibility, according to anthropology resource sapiens.org: “In Thailand, street vendors push carts stocked with trays of deep-fried grasshoppers, water bugs and other seasoned insects. In Mexico, chefs mix cream-colored ant eggs into omelets and whip up guacamole with crunchy grasshoppers. In Zambia, the Congo and other parts of Africa, locals snack on insects harvested from the wild.” How...
What to know about EMDR therapy for PTSD
MENTAL HEALTH

What to know about EMDR therapy for PTSD

While there is medication and counseling to assist individuals who suffer from PTSD, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy is also a treatment option. Post-traumatic stress disorder is so common there is a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs center devoted to understanding it and sharing information with the public. In fact, around 8% of the population will have PTSD at some point in their lives, according to the National Center for PTSD. And while there is medication and counseling to assist individuals who suffer from PTSD, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy is also a treatment option. The American Psychological Association informs that the therapy focuses directly on the memory, “to change the way that the memory is stored in the brain, thus reducing a...
Alzheimer’s in the US: Women more likely to develop disease
SELF-CARE, VIDEO REELS

Alzheimer’s in the US: Women more likely to develop disease

Two-thirds of the people living with Alzheimer's in the US are women. New research is telling us why women in the United States are more likely to develop Alzheimer's. Almost two-thirds of those with the disease are female and understanding why this is the case is key to improving treatment. by Kristen Saloomey Al Jazeera's Kristen Saloomey reports from New York, in the US.
SLEEP

Can’t sleep? Here’s what to do

There are ways to minimize agitated nights of tossing and turning. For many individuals, anxious nights are commonplace. Often, life’s pressures mount mentally when physical bodies are at rest. There are ways to minimize agitated nights of tossing and turning. Psychologytoday.com’s strategies include: ‒ Write it down. A to-do list, whether necessary for work or personal life, when written down wreaks less havoc on the mind. Plus, anxiety can be heightened by simply trying to remember all that needs to be accomplished. Writing items on a piece of paper or making a list on a smartphone alleviates some mental pressure. ‒ Focus on something positive or inspirational that can be taken care of the next day or in the future; write that down as well. ‒ Pray, meditate, count blessings, reminisce....
Solutions to overcome FOMO (fear of missing out)
MENTAL HEALTH

Solutions to overcome FOMO (fear of missing out)

FOMO contributes to a person’s dissatisfaction with their own social lives FOMO is a pervasive modern anxiety perpetuated by social media. Noah Webster, in his first “American Dictionary of the English Language” published in 1828, had no reason to include the word. Yet in 2003, MySpace launched and was followed by Facebook in 2004. Thousands of people began sharing posts of daily life. Before 2004 closed, FOMO was a real word defined in the dictionary that still bears Webster’s name as “fear of not being included in something (such as an interesting or enjoyable activity) that others are experiencing.” In an April 2018 report, businessinsider.com expounded ”... FOMO contributes to a person’s dissatisfaction with their own social lives ... It triggers negative feelings like boredom and lon...
Kakeibo: A new, old-school way of budgeting
SELF-CARE

Kakeibo: A new, old-school way of budgeting

Currently “kakeibo” — pronounced kah-keh-boh — has captured America’s attention as a money-saving method. Customary practices ancient and new in Japan continually influence America’s cultural trends. “Hara hachi bun me” is a Confucian philosophy of eating until 80 percent full. “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” by Marie Kondo has motivated many to clean their homes. And, “ikigai” focuses on the reason for being — touted by some as the secret to a happy life. Currently “kakeibo” — pronounced kah-keh-boh — has captured America’s attention as a money-saving method. In November, Penguin Publishing Group released “Kakeibo: The Japanese Art of Saving Money” by Fumiko Chiba. The book was published and released a year earlier in Europe and t...
Sunburn do’s and don’ts
SELF-CARE

Sunburn do’s and don’ts

Individuals who “cook” themselves, as the character Kramer so famously declared in an episode of “Seinfeld,” can get relief. Sunburns can happen any time of the year, but during hotter summer months, when the sun’s rays hit the Earth at a steeper angle, chances increase for the painful condition. Individuals who “cook” themselves, as the character Kramer so famously declared in an episode of “Seinfeld,” can get relief. However, suffering Kramers often choose the wrong methods to alleviate sunburns. Men’s Health shared “5 Surprising Things That Will Make Your Sunburn Even Worse”: 1. Failure to hydrate. Drink at least eight glasses of water. (Avoid alcohol when sunburned; healthline.com in May pointed out that alcohol is a diuretic, causing the body to remove fluids from the blood through ...
Flesh-eating bacteria making headlines, but cases are ‘rare’
SELF-CARE

Flesh-eating bacteria making headlines, but cases are ‘rare’

Touted prominently this summer is news and educational information about current Eastern coastal algae blooms and flesh-eating bacteria. Many beaches have been closed due to high risk of infection or death. Ecowatch.com in June shared: “Vibrio vulnificus is an ‘opportunistic pathogen’ ... The bacteria thrive in warm salty and brackish waters and enter humans either through breaks in the skin or after being consumed with raw seafood. Up to one-third of people with vibrio vulnificus will die from the infection, which can cause a flesh-eating and commonly fatal bacteria known as necrotizing fasciitis.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists necrotizing fasciitis as rare, but also notes that 700 to 1,200 cases are diagnosed annually in the United States. Those with immune-comp...
SLEEP

Can’t sleep? You probably need to make these changes.

Brain research has shown how relevant sleep is to health, so it’s more important than ever to get a good night’s sleep. In the bedroom, that means not just decorating in calming colors but also minimizing stressors and optimizing conditions for a restful night. We asked some experts for advice and products to achieve that. Minimize noise A key obstacle to uninterrupted sleep is noise. To reduce it, Brooklyn-based architect and designer Adam Meshberg, founder of Meshberg Group, recommends soundproofing the walls — building an additional thin wall in front of the original, adding a layer of QuietRock sheetrock, or sealing any cracks or gaps within the walls. To a lesser extent, wallcoverings can also absorb sound, he says, though a padded wallcovering will do more than a simple wallpaper. C...
How to build self-confidence
SELF-CARE

How to build self-confidence

In the workplace, low self-confidence often results in lower wages, less productivity and few risks. Books with the words “self-confidence” in their titles fill retail and home bookshelves. Yet, many individuals still lack basic confidence essential for work, play and relationships. A 2017 NBC News report indicated: “On the world stage, Americans tend to get labeled as confident, cocky and entitled — but that’s an over-generalization that only applies to a fraction of professionals.” In the workplace, low self-confidence often results in lower wages, less productivity and few risks. At home and in social and recreational settings, a low view of oneself can affect intimacy, community involvement, interactions with one’s own children and more. Entrepreneur magazine in February offered tips...