“Recognizing signs of PTSD and TBI”

Keep it up America!

🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨

Texas Children’s Hospital, the largest children’s hospital in the nation, will no longer offer gender affirming care which includes sterilizing children, castration, vasectomy, hysterectomy, vaginoplasty, and drugs that induce fertility or block puberty.… pic.twitter.com/7mZQ53erfT

— 🇺🇸Travis🇺🇸 (@Travis_in_Flint) May 26, 2023

Texas Children’s Hospital, the largest children’s hospital in the nation, will no longer offer gender affirming care which includes sterilizing children, castration, vasectomy, hysterectomy, vaginoplasty, and drugs that induce fertility or block puberty. 

This comes into place because Texas passed a law banning the treatments.  The hospital CEO says they’ll still work with parents to find out if state “gender-affirming” care. 

Another win for sanity!  Keep it up America!

Nearly 13,000 chemicals used in cosmetics & only 10% tested for safety – Here are the 10 most hazardous products

envirowatchnz.com
Nearly 13,000 chemicals used in cosmetics & only 10% tested for safety – Here are the 10 most hazardous products


“The average fragrance product tested contained 14 secret chemicals not listed on the label. Among them are chemicals associated with hormone disruption and allergic reactions, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety in personal care products.” EWG
Story at-a-glance

From mercola.com

An analysis of personal care and cleaning products found the top 10 most hazardous products include a children’s shampoo, JLo Glow perfume, Kaboom with OxiClean, Axe body spray and Organix Shampoo
Over-the-counter products are not inherently safe as there are nearly 13,000 chemicals used in cosmetics and only 10% have been tested for safety. This loophole was created by the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, which does not force companies to disclose trade secrets
The Environmental Working Group found perfumes typically contain a dozen or more potentially hazardous chemicals, some of which are derived from petroleum. This chemical cocktail may be responsible for the rising number of adverse events reported after exposure to personal care products
Look for products without dangerous chemicals, including parabens, “fragrance,” triclosan and toluene, or consider making your own products at home from safe and natural ingredients

Editor’s Note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published October 24, 2018.

Unfortunately, just because it’s sold over-the-counter does not mean a product is safe for you. In fact, of the nearly 13,000 chemicals used in cosmetics, only 10% have been tested for safety. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the authority to regulate ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products, they often do not exercise it.1

Adding insult to injury, the FDA tasks companies manufacturing and marketing cosmetics with ensuring their safety. Not only is this an obvious conflict of interest, but “neither the law nor FDA regulations require specific test to demonstrate the safety of individual products or ingredients.”2

So, while cosmetic companies are responsible for substantiating safety, there are no required tests and the companies do not have to share safety data. In fact, the FDA isn’t even authorized to order recalls of hazardous chemicals from the market.

Cosmetic3 companies may also fall back on a loophole in the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act,4 which allows companies to withhold information relating to “trade secrets,” under which fragrances and flavor ingredients fall.5

Participating with Environmental Defense and other U.S. groups, the Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP) tested personal care products and cleaning products sold at major Canadian retailers in order to identify undisclosed fragrance ingredients.6 A lack of federal regulation in Canada and the U.S. results in an increased risk of exposure to consumers.
Your Right to Know

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a project of the BCPP, is a broad-based national coalition of nonprofit organizations whose mission it is to protect the health of consumers by securing reforms necessary to eliminate dangerous chemicals linked to adverse health effects.7

The research project was triggered by scientific literature and prior product testing indicating chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, endocrine disruption and other adverse effects were used heavily in beauty, personal care and cleaning products.

However, despite research evidence, there continues to be a lack of legislatively mandated labeling requirements, leaving consumers uninformed of the dangers in products they bring into their homes every day. For this test, BCPP and their partners purchased 140 different beauty, personal care and cleaning products for testing.

Of particular concern were products marketed to children, women of color and products marketed by celebrities as “good for the environment” or “green.” One of the more concerning results was that many of the personal care products tested contained more hazardous chemicals than the cleaning products.8

Millions of dollars and countless hours of lobbying have been poured into the industry’s fight against legislatively mandated ingredient disclosure. Fragrance is a big business as they are used in personal care products and cleaning products.

The value of the North American flavor and fragrance market is nearly $6 billion and forecast to reach $7.42 billion by 2020.9

The fragrance industry has nearly 4,000 fragrance chemicals at its disposal, which companies are not mandated to disclose. BCPP hired two independent third-party testing laboratories. The first assessed volatile organic compounds and the other performed two-dimensional gas chromatography on a subset of 32 products, including shampoo, deodorant, multipurpose cleaners and lotions.

There was an average of 136 chemicals in the cleaning products and an average of 146 in personal care products. The team then compared the product name against the type of chemicals triggering hormone disruption, asthma, developmental toxins and cancer.

From this data they ranked the top 10 products with the most hazardous chemicals in terms of the highest number linked to these health effects.10 The products making the top 10 dangerous products directly from the BCPP report were:11
Just for Me Shampoo — A children’s shampoo, from a hair-relaxing kit marketed to kids of color by Strength of Nature.
JLo Glow Perfume — A fine fragrance made by Coty and endorsed by music, television and film icon Jennifer Lopez.
Kaboom with OxiClean Shower Tub & Tile Cleaner — Marketed as a “great cleaner that is safe and friendly to use,” made by Church & Dwight Co.
Olay Luminous Tone Body Lotion — Made by Procter & Gamble and marketed for its antiaging qualities.
Axe Phoenix Body Spray — A body spray made by Unilever and marketed to young men using an overtly sexual ad campaign.
Marc Jacobs Daisy Perfume — Another Coty fragrance carrying the famous designer’s name and using beatific, radiant young girls in its marketing campaigns.
Taylor Swift Wonderstruck Perfume — A Revlon fine fragrance endorsed by the beloved pop country singer Taylor Swift.
Organix (OGX) Shampoo — A Johnson & Johnson product marketed as part of a “green/sustainable” line of products to young women.
Formulation 64-RP — An industrial cleaner and disinfectant used by custodians firefighters and others.
White Linen Perfume — Created by Estée Lauder in 1978, marketed as “a beautiful perfume” for women young and old.

While these were the top 10 products, it is important to remember the team conducted tests on 140 personal care and cleaning products, the lowest of which, yellow soap, had 46 chemicals. Other cleaning products such as Kaboom with OxiClean Shower, Tub and Tile Cleaner had 229. Of the 25 personal care products tested, only three had less than 100 and none had less than 75.
Perfumes Tied to Chronic Disease

Are perfumes really the scent of danger? The Environmental Working Group (EWG) found the most popular perfumes, colognes and body sprays may contain trace amounts of natural essence, but they typically contain dozen or more potentially hazardous chemicals. Some of the synthetic chemicals are derived from petroleum.

In an independent laboratory test, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics12 found 38 secret chemicals in 17 leading fragrances including top offenders from American Eagle, Coco Chanel, Britney Spears and Giorgio Armani. Following an analysis of the data, EWG commented:13

“The average fragrance product tested contained 14 secret chemicals not listed on the label. Among them are chemicals associated with hormone disruption and allergic reactions, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety in personal care products.”

Makers of these popular perfumes often use marketing terms such as “floral,” “exotic” or “musky” without disclosing the complex cocktail of synthetic chemicals used to create the scent.

The average fragrance product tested by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics contains 14 chemicals not listed on the label, among those associated with hormone disruption, allergic reactions and substances without safety testing.

Undisclosed ingredients also include chemicals that accumulate in the human tissue, such as diethyl phthalates, found in nearly 97% of Americans and linked to sperm damage.

Their report14 also found the FDA was similarly uninformed, as a review of government records revealed a vast majority of the chemicals used in fragrances were not assessed for safety when used in spray-on personal care products.
Phthalates Continue To Be Used in Personal Care Products

However, it isn’t only the undisclosed chemicals under the generic label “fragrance” that are cause for concern. Some chemicals listed included ultraviolet protector chemicals associated with hormone disruption and nearly 24 chemical sensitizers responsible for triggering allergic reactions.

Some manufacturing companies are moving toward restricting or eliminating certain chemicals from fragrances, such as phthalates.15 Although phthalates are only one chemical of concern in fragrances, this is a step in the right direction.

Findings from a multicenter study made a strong correlation between a mother’s exposure to phthalates during pregnancy and changes to the development in a baby boy’s genitals.

Another study at an infertility clinic demonstrated exposure was correlated to DNA damage in sperm and a third study in children aged 4 to 9 linked behavioral problems to higher maternal exposure to low molecular-weight phthalates.16
Adverse Event Reports on the Rise

While FDA regulation is weak at best, it is completely ineffective when adverse effects are not reported. The FDA has an adverse event reporting system containing information on product complaints submitted to the FDA. The database is designed to support safety surveillance programs and includes symptoms, product information and patient outcome.17

The FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) adverse event reporting system was made publicly available in 2016.18 An analysis of events dated between 2004 and 2016, including voluntary submissions by consumers and health care professionals, showed over 5,000 events reported, at an average of 396 events per year.

However, the average number hides a growing trend. For instance, in 2015 there were 706 events reported and in 2016 there were over 1,500. The three most commonly reported products were hair care, skin care and tattoos. The authors of the report suggest more surveillance is needed, saying:19

“Unlike devices, pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements, cosmetic manufacturers have no legal obligation to forward adverse events to the FDA; CFSAN reflects only a small portion of all events. The data suggests that consumers attribute a significant portion of serious health outcomes to cosmetics.”

The spike in adverse effects reported to the FDA in 2016 occurred only after the agency appealed to consumers and physicians to report events related to products manufactured by Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioners under the brand name Wen.20

When adverse event complaints are made to a manufacturer they are not legally obligated to pass the reports to the FDA. Following an investigation, the FDA uncovered another 21,000 complaints made to Chaz Dean.21 It is highly likely adverse effects are commonly reported to the manufacturer and not to the FDA, indicating the total numbers in the CFSAN system are underreported.
Avoid These Toxic Chemicals in Your Personal Care Products

Despite over 21,000 consumer complaints to the contrary, Guthy-Renker, WEN’s marketing company, told NPR:22

“We welcome legislative and regulatory efforts to further enhance consumer safety across the cosmetic products industry. However, there is no credible evidence to support the false and misleading claim that WEN products cause hair loss.”

Until control improves over chemicals used in personal care products, safety testing and regulation protecting the consumer, it’s important you read the label on every personal care and cosmetic product you purchase. Here’s a list of some of the more hazardous chemicals found in many personal care products:23,24
Parabens — This chemical, found in deodorants, lotion, hair products and cosmetics, is a hormone disruptor mimicking the action of the female hormone estrogen, which can drive the growth of human breast tumors. A study published in 2012 found parabens from antiperspirants and other cosmetics appear to increase your risk of breast cancer.25
BHA and BHT — These chemicals are used as preservatives in makeup and moisturizers and are suspected endocrine disruptors.26
Synthetic colors — FD&C or D&C are the labels used to represent artificial colors. The letters are preceded by a color and number, such as D&C Red 27. The colors are derived from coal tar or petroleum sources and are suspected carcinogens. They are also linked to ADHD in children.
Fragrance — This is a large category of chemicals protected as proprietary information, and manufacturers do not have to release the chemical cocktails used to produce the scents in fabric sheets, perfumes, shampoos, body washes — anything having an ingredient called “fragrance.”
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives — While adding formaldehyde is banned as it is a known carcinogen, manufacturers have found other chemicals act as preservatives and release formaldehyde. Chemicals such as quaternium-15, diazolidinyl urea, methenamine and hydantoin are used in a variety of cosmetics and slowly release formaldehyde as they age.
Sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate — These are surfactants found in more than 90% of cleaning products and personal care products to make the product foam. They are known to irritate your eyes, skin and lungs and may interact with other chemicals to form nitrosamines, a known carcinogen.
Toluene — Toluene is made from petroleum or coal tar, and found in most synthetic fragrances and nail polish. Chronic exposure is linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage, and may affect a developing fetus.
Triclosan — This antibacterial ingredient found in soaps and other products has been linked to allergies, endocrine disruption, weight gain and inflammatory responses, and may aggravate the growth of liver and kidney tumors.
Propylene glycol — This small organic alcohol is used as a skin conditioning agent and found in moisturizers, sunscreen, conditioners, shampoo and hairspray. It has also been added to medications to help your body absorb the chemicals more quickly and to electronic cigarettes. It is a skin irritant, is toxic to your liver and kidneys, and may produce neurological symptoms.27,28,29
Prevent Exposure by Making Your Own

Your skin is an excellent drug delivery system, so what goes on your body is as important as what goes in your mouth. Chemicals you ingest may be filtered through a health gut microbiome, a protection you don’t get when they are absorbed through your skin.

Consider preventing exposure by making many of your own personal care products at home and consulting the EWG Skin Deep searchable database30 to help you find personal care products free of potentially dangerous chemicals. Products bearing the “USDA 100% Organic” seal are among your safest bets if you want to avoid potentially toxic ingredients.

Seek out recipes to make your own homemade bath and handwashing products that don’t contain additional by-products and preservatives. For instance, coconut oil is a healthy skin moisturizer with natural antibacterial properties. Coconut oil may also be used as a leave in conditioner on your hair — be sure to start with very little.

Consider a 25% dilution of apple cider vinegar and water to wash your hair. Spritz your hair with the solution and leave it in for five minutes before thoroughly rinsing. You may have to tweak the dilution for your hair type as apple cider vinegar is a conditioning agent.

Sources and References

SOURCE

Photo: AVAKAphoto @ pixabay.com

https://envirowatchnz.com/2023/05/26/nearly-13000-chemicals-used-in-cosmetics-only-10-tested-for-safety-here-are-the-10-most-hazardous-products/#like-82471

The FDA Approved this Toxic Coating on Your Produce

Macular Degeneration: 9 Things Eye Doctors Want You to Know

www.healthgrades.com

Written By Lorna Collier on March 20, 2021

• Macular Degeneration Affects Central Vision Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among Americans over 50. It damages the center of the retina, or macula, affecting your central vision. This is your ability to see what’s right in front of you, such as faces or words you’re trying to read. About 2.1 million people in the United States have AMD. That number is likely to hit 3.5 million by 2030 and 5.4 million by 2050, as our population ages. We talked to ophthalmologists to find out what you need to know about AMD symptoms and treatment.
• 1. “The older you get, the greater your chances of getting macular degeneration.” “Your greatest risk factor for AMD is living longer,” says Dr. Catherine Blume Meyerle, an ophthalmologist at Johns Hopkins’ Wilmer Eye Institute. “Usually people are 60 or older when they are first diagnosed with the condition,” she says. The numbers go up as people get into their 70s, 80s and beyond. Other risk factors include having a family history and ethnicity. “It’s more likely to affect Caucasians and whites—those with lighter pigmentation, who are fair, with blue eyes. These risk factors predispose you to AMD, but don’t necessarily mean you will get it,” she says.
• 2. “Stop smoking—it can save your eyesight.” You can’t do anything about your age or genetic make-up. But you can change your behavior. And one behavior that’s linked to AMD is smoking. “Smoking is the main modifiable risk factor we know about that contributes to macular degeneration,” says Dr. Mark Michels, MD, an ophthalmologist and founding partner at Retina Care Specialists in Florida. “Smoking is very detrimental for your retina,” adds Dr. Meyerle. “Your retina is highly metabolic tissue that requires a lot of oxygen. Smoking interferes with that.”
• 3. “Eat plenty of leafy green vegetables, blueberries, and fish.” “The other way to reduce your chances of developing macular degeneration—or slowing its progression—is to eat the right foods,” says Dr. Meyerle. “Multiple nutrition studies have found people with better nutrition have a lower risk of macular degeneration,” she says. She recommends getting lutein—a key antioxidant for retinal health—by eating blueberries and leafy greens like spinach, kale and arugula. Fish oil is also important. “People need to eat fish. Supplements haven’t been shown to help,” she says. Dr. Meyerle advises people with intermediate AMD to take “AREDS 2” supplements—a mix of antioxidants and vitamins.
• 4. “Macular degeneration comes in two types—dry and wet.” “Most people with macular degeneration—at least 80%—have the dry type,” says Dr. Michels. “This type happens when cells in the middle of the retina degenerate,” he says. “In advanced stages, this can result in atrophy and loss of central vision. The wet type occurs when there is bleeding and fluid from blood vessels under the retina, which causes more rapid loss of vision. About 90% of blindness from macular degeneration occurs in the wet form of the disease.”
• 5. “Blurry vision can be a symptom of macular degeneration.” “Early-stage macular degeneration may have no warning signs. You’ll only find you have it with a comprehensive eye exam, which people should have starting at age 40,” says Dr. Meyerle. But there are macular degeneration symptoms you should know about. “For early or intermediate AMD, you may notice blurred, cloudy, distorted or central smudging of vision,” says Dr. Michels. “Signs of advancing AMD include straight lines starting to look wavy,” says Dr. Meyerle. “Blind spots in your vision are another sign,” she says. “It’s like something is blocked out.”
• 6. “Test your eyes at home to make sure you aren’t developing wet AMD.” “Sometimes, dry AMD converts to the more severe wet form. This unwelcome change can happen quickly,” says Dr. Michels. “Easy at-home tests can catch this, such as the Amsler grid. These intersecting lines on a piece of paper or computer screen will appear wavy or smudged if AMD is worsening. It’s about 60% accurate,” says Dr. Michels. “A new computerized device—ForeSee—is more expensive but about 85% effective. And Medicare covers it.” “Or, look at windowpanes or blinds to check your perception of straight lines,” suggests Dr. Meyerle. If any of these tests show problems, see your ophthalmologist right away.
• 7. “Newer treatments for wet AMD have helped save vision for many patients.” “Thermal laser eye surgery and cold laser therapies used to be common AMD treatments,” says Dr. Michels. “Over the past decade, however, we have largely replaced these procedures with drugs injected painlessly into the whites of the eyes—usually every month or two, for the rest of a patient’s life. We occasionally still use cold laser for someone who doesn’t respond to injections, but those are few and far between,” he says. “People used to go blind from wet AMD much more frequently before we had these injections,” says Dr. Meyerle. “Unfortunately, there is no treatment for advanced dry AMD,” she says.
• 8. “Even in the worst-case scenario, you will still have some sight.” “People never go completely blind with macular degeneration,” says Dr. Michels. “I tell people I don’t have a single seeing-eye dog in my practice.” Treatment and early intervention help more patients today, so fewer reach advanced stages of vision loss. “But even for those who do suffer impairment,” he points out, “their peripheral vision should still be healthy, allowing them to get around a room and find their way.”  Dr. Meyerle agrees, noting she tries to reassure her patients who fear blindness that even if the disease reaches its worst stage, they will retain some vision.
• 9. “More treatments are being developed that could help even more people with AMD.” Researchers continue to work on improving treatment for macular degeneration. Dr. Meyerle notes that new delivery systems for the medication doctors currently inject into the eyes are under development, as well as longer-lasting drugs. This means people can avoid having to trek to the doctor for monthly shots. Clinical trials also are taking place for new drugs to treat advanced dry AMD, for which there is currently no treatment. “So that’s pretty exciting,” he says.

Macular Degeneration Facts | Things Eye Doctors Want You to Know

https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/eye-health/macular-degeneration-9-things-eye-doctors-want-you-to-know?did=t9_outrss2&dicbo=v4-d38ngYu-1131217177

They are nothing more than human experiments

OMG. The TRUTH is coming out. Please Retweet.

pic.twitter.com/EtK0HZALIX

— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) April 1, 2023

So are nonstick pans safe or what?

Getty; The Atlantic

www.theatlantic.com

There are still no good answers about America’s favorite cookware.

Yasmin Tayag

I grew up in a nonstick-pan home. No matter what was on the menu, my dad would reach for the Teflon-coated pan first: nonstick for stir-fried vegetables, for reheating takeout, for the sunny-side-up eggs, garlic fried rice, and crisped Spam slices that constituted breakfast. Nowadays, I’m a much fussier cook: A stainless-steel pan is my kitchen workhorse. Still, when I’m looking to make something delicate, such as a golden pancake or a classic omelet, I can’t help but turn back to that time-tested fave.

And what a dream it is to use. Nonstick surfaces are so frictionless that fragile crepes and scallops practically lift themselves off the pan; cleaning up sticky foods, such as oozing grilled-cheese sandwiches, becomes no more strenuous than rinsing a plate. No wonder 70 percent of skillets sold in the U.S. are nonstick. Who can afford to mangle a dainty snapper fillet or spend time scrubbing away crisped rice?

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2023/02/so-are-nonstick-pans-safe-or-what/672965/?utm_source=pocket-newtab-android

Elderly man with Alzheimer’s went to school to fight off memory loss, earns a university degree

mypositiveoutlooks.com

Ana L.

He knew there is no cure for Alzheimer’s but there was a way to improve his mental fitness. Instead of worrying about memory loss, he fought it off by going to school and earning a university degree.

Alzheimer’s disease is a battle over 6 million Americans are fighting. One of these fighters is 85-year-old Ron Robert.

When Robert was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, he did not find the news shocking. He has two siblings who were diagnosed with the same illness.

It was devastating for him to lose a lot of important things such as his driver’s license but he realized that this was not the end for him.

He had two choices: to fight back or do nothing about it. He chose to fight it off and improve his lifestyle. After such realization, he made a major decision of going to school and earn a university degree, which was on his bucket list.

He was anxious to go back to school at first but he was determined to reach his goal. He prepared by starting a walking regime where he walked about five kilometers a day.

He wanted to make sure he would be physically in shape to accomplish numerous school activities.

“I wanted to get a university education,” Robert said. “I knew I was going to be tested and I knew it was long-term. Those two things made me decide university was the way to go.”YouTube

Though Robert did not have a university degree, he had a long, fulfilling career as a journalist and a radio broadcaster in Western Canada. He later worked as a political advisor for former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

As he expected, Robert found studying quite challenging. He said he was “learning to learn again” in the first two years of going to school. Though he understood facts, it was difficult for him to memorize names, places, and dates.

“In my first year at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, I went from a D in my first exam to an A in my final exam in Political Science,” shared Robert. “It was a real surprise and satisfying, mainly because of the progress it showed.”YouTube

According to Robert’s wife, Catherine Cornelius, her husband worked hard through the course despite his health condition. She also said she believed that studying hard prevented his Alzheimer’s from progressing.

One of Robert’s professors, Jeff Preston, was another witness to Robert’s hard work and progress.

“We have this perception that people with disabilities like Alzheimer’s are wholly incapable. I think what Ron has shown is that all sorts of people can succeed in a university classroom when provided with the right environment and supports to nurture success,” Preston said.

After three years of perseverance, Robert finally finished his bachelor’s degree at King’s University College in Ontario. His family, teachers, and peers were all proud of what he had accomplished.Twitter | King’s President

“When I went across the stage, and as I’m getting my diploma, the kids all stood up and yelled and clapped,” Robert recalled. “I had to hold back the tears. It was something else, just wonderful.”

Robert is planning to pursue a master’s degree and keep finding ways how to improve his mental health and live his life to the fullest.

He also hopes to spread more awareness and information about Alzheimer’s disease. He wants people to know that older people can still contribute to and participate in the community.

For people with Alzheimer’s like him, Robert has one piece of advice: “A dementia diagnosis doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Life goes on; make the most of it.”

Watch this video to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease:

https://mypositiveoutlooks.com/elderly-man-fight-off-alzheimers-earns-university-degree/

Using the Nutrition Facts Label: For Older Adults

www.fda.gov

Making healthy dietary choices can help you feel your best and stay active. It can also help you lower your risk of developing some health conditions that are common among older adults.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a tool to help you make informed food choices that can have positive effects on your health and wellness. It is called the Nutrition Facts label and you can find it on packaged foods and beverages. Read this page to learn how to use the Nutrition Facts label.

• Understanding the Nutrition Facts Label
• Nutrients and Your Needs
• Use the Nutrition Facts Label to Make Healthy Choices: 3 Tips

Understanding the Nutrition Facts Label

The following key terms are intended to make it easier for you to use the Nutrition Facts labels to make informed food choices.

Servings Per Container shows the total number of servings in the entire food package or container. One package of food may contain more than one serving. For example, if you eat or drink two servings, you are getting double the calories and double the nutrients that are listed on the label.

Serving Size is based on the amount of food that is usually eaten at one time. Serving size is not a recommendation of how much to eat. The nutrition information listed on the label is usually based on one serving of the food; however, some containers may also have nutrition information listed for the entire package.

Calories refers to the total number of calories in a serving of the food. To achieve or maintain a healthy body weight, balance the number of calories you eat and drink with the number of calories your body uses.

2,000 calories a day is used as a general guide for nutrition advice. Your calorie needs may be higher or lower and vary depending on your age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity level. Check your calorie needs at www.ChooseMyPlate.gov/MyPlatePlan.

% Daily Value (%DV) shows how much a nutrient in a serving of the food contributes to a total daily diet. The Daily Values are reference amounts (in grams, milligrams, or micrograms) of nutrients to consume or not to exceed each day.

Use the %DV to determine if a serving of the food is high or low in an individual nutrient. You can also use the %DV to compare food products (make sure the serving size is the same). For example, if you eat one serving of a food and it provides 10% DV of dietary fiber, then for that day, you have eaten 10% of your dietary fiber daily goal.

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Nutrients and Your Needs

Nutrients are substances in your food that keep your body working well. Eating too much or too little of some nutrients may increase your risk of certain chronic diseases, such as heart disease and high blood pressure.

Older adults have different nutritional needs than other age groups. The Nutrition Facts label can help you monitor some of the nutrients in your diet.

This booklet gives some basic facts about the nutrients commonly seen on the Nutrition Facts label. Use this page to help you talk to your healthcare provider about which nutrients you should track closely for your overall health. Visit www.ChooseMyPlate.gov for more information on making healthy food choices.

Get More of These Nutrients: Dietary Fiber, Vitamin D, Calcium, and Potassium

Many older adults do not get the recommended amount of these nutrients. More often, compare and choose foods to get more of these nutrients on most days.

Dietary fiber is a type of carbohydrate that cannot be easily digested. It can speed up the movement of food and waste through the body increasing the frequency of bowel movements. Diets higher in dietary fiber may reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The Daily Value for dietary fiber is 28 grams (g) per day.*

Calcium is a mineral that is important for bone health. It also helps with muscle and nerve function, blood clotting, and hormone secretion. Diets higher in calcium can reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones). The Daily Value for calcium is 1,300 milligrams (mg) per day.*

Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and is important for bone health. It also plays a role in blood pressure management, hormone production, and immune and nervous system function. Diets higher in vitamin D can reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones). The Daily Value for vitamin D is 20 micrograms (mcg) per day.*

Potassium is a mineral that helps with fluid balance and heart, muscle, and nervous system function. The Daily Value for potassium is 4,700 mg per day.*

*Based on a 2,000-calorie daily diet.

Get Less of These Nutrients: Saturated Fat, Sodium, and Added Sugars

Most older adults get too much of these nutrients. More often, compare and choose foods to get less of these nutrients each day.

Saturated fat is found in higher amounts in animal products. An exception is seafood, which is generally low in saturated fat. Unsaturated fats are found in higher amounts in plant-based oils (e.g., canola and olive oils), nuts, seeds, and seafood. Diets in which unsaturated fats are eaten in place of saturated fats and within the recommended daily limits for calories, are associated with a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The Daily Value for saturated fat is less than 20 g per day.*

Sodium is a mineral and is commonly found in table salt and in many commercially processed, packaged and prepared foods. The body needs sodium in relatively small amounts. Sodium is important for fluid balance as well as muscle and nervous system function. Diets higher in sodium are associated with an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, which can raise the risk of heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, kidney disease, and blindness. Since blood pressure often rises with age, limiting your sodium intake becomes even more important each year. The Daily Value for sodium is less than 2,300 mg per day.*

Added sugars includes sugars that are added during the processing of foods (such as sucrose or dextrose), foods packaged as sweeteners (such as table sugar), sugars from syrups and honey, and sugars from concentrated fruit or vegetable juices. Diets high in calories from added sugars can make it harder to meet nutrient needs while staying within calorie limits. The Daily Value for Added Sugars is less than 50 g per day.*

*Based on a 2,000-calorie daily diet.

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Use the Nutrition Facts Label to Make Healthy Choices

3 Tips

Check the Servings.

The nutrition information listed on the label is usually based on one serving of the food. When comparing calories and nutrients in different foods, check the serving size to make a correct comparison.

And remember, it is common for a food package or beverage to have more than one serving.

Know Your Calorie Needs.

2,000 calories a day is used as a general guide for nutrition advice. However, your calorie needs may be higher or lower and depend on your age, sex, height, weight, and the amount of physical activity you get each day. Talk to your healthcare provider about your calorie and nutrition needs, as you age.

Visit www.ChooseMyPlate.gov/MyPlatePlan and talk to your healthcare provider to see what calorie range is right for you.

Use % Daily Value as a Guide.

The %DV can help you look for foods to decide which is the better choice for you.

Older adults should more often look for foods with a higher %DV of dietary fiber, vitamin D, calcium, and potassium. Older adults should also more often look for foods with a lower %DV of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. Talk to your healthcare provider about which nutrients you should track closely for your overall health.

To learn more about the Nutrition Facts label, go to: www.fda.gov/nutritioneducation

For more information, contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition’s Food and Cosmetic Information Center at 1-800-SAFEFOOD (toll free), Monday through Friday 10 AM to 4PM ET (except Thursdays from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM ET and Federal holidays).

https://www.fda.gov/food/new-nutrition-facts-label/using-nutrition-facts-label-older-adults?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=ZB21

How to increase your range of motion — and why it’s central to your health

(Image credit: Getty Images)

www.livescience.com

Becks Shepherd

Heard of the phrase: range of motion? This term, which is often shortened to ROM, refers to how much joint and muscle movement you have. 

How much flexibility you have in your joints will differ from person to person, with one study conducted by the CDC (opens in new tab) revealing that your ROM can be influenced by your gender, age and lifestyle. If you’re trying to improve your ROM, massages, stretching and using some of the best foam rollers can help you work towards increasing your overall flexibility. 

Along with helping you complete daily tasks, like bending down to tie your shoe, your ROM can also help to reduce the feeling of joint stiffness, improve muscular function and help you live a better quality of life. 

So, to discover how to increase your ROM we decoded the science and spoke to certified fitness trainer Nicole Thompson from the American Council on Exercise (opens in new tab) (ACE) and Helen O’Leary, physiotherapist and Pilates instructor at Complete Pilates (opens in new tab).

What does range of motion mean?

Thompson says: “Range of motion can be defined as ‘the number of degrees through which an articulation will allow one of its segments to move’.” 

But to help understand this term a little more, Thompson recommends thinking about the meaning of flexibility, as the two concepts are closely related. “Flexibility is the ‘ability to move joints through their normal full ranges of motion’,” Thompson tells us. “So typically, the more flexible you are, the better your range of motion. Essentially, ROM is a reflection of flexibility.”

How do you know whether you have a good ROM? “There is an ideal length of muscle fiber in which the muscle will function optimally,” Thompson says. “However, if the fibers are too short (or sometimes too long) that can cause stiffness in the muscle and therefore limit the range of motion a joint will have. If the muscle fibers are at an optimal length and have enough elasticity, the muscles will allow the joint to move to optimal degrees.”

Nicole Thompson is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Medical Exercise Specialist, Group Fitness Instructor, and Health Coach as well as an ACE Senior Fitness Specialist and Fitness Nutrition Specialist. She holds an M.A. in Sport and Performance Psychology and studied Fitness Instruction/Exercise Science at the University of California, San Diego. Her love of health, fitness, and learning landed her at the American Council on Exercise in 2015 where she continues to cultivate those passions. 

Why is range of motion important?

As we’ve seen, maintaining good flexibility is super important, especially as we age. And the best flexibility exercises can help you stay on top of your ROM. 

As Thompson explains: “Range of motion is the result of flexibility. And flexibility is an essential component of fitness and one’s ability to perform activities of daily living. A flexibility routine can help improve ROM, reduce stiffness and injury, improve muscular function and can even improve your mood.”

But not staying on top of your flexibility can lead to health and wellbeing problems later down the line. Thompson tells us: “If there are muscle imbalances, as a result of altered muscles lengths/length-tension relationships around the joint, that alters the joint mechanics, which result in postural misalignments, faulty loading, and ultimately pain, injury, and/or compensation.”

(Image credit: Getty Images)

How can you improve your range of motion?

1. Massage can help with your range of movement

If done consistently and by a professional, massages can help increase your ROM. Thompson says: “Massage can help relax muscles by increasing blood flow to muscles, decreasing knots (which are believed to be inflammation or microtrauma to muscle fibers that can restrict ROM), and can help fascia be more pliable. Fascia is a connective tissue that covers all the body’s compartments like a web.” 

And research backs this point up. The Journal of Physical Therapy Science (opens in new tab) published a study which looked into the effect of massage therapy on the range of motion of the shoulder and concluded that massage therapy ‘significantly improved the shoulder range of motion, especially the flexion and abduction’. While a second review, published in Frontiers in Physiology (opens in new tab), concurred, stating that even with just 15 minutes of massage some increases in ROM were spotted. 

2. Use of a foam roller

Foam rollers are a form of self-myofascial release technique and can be adopted as part of a warm up or recovery program. 

According to one review published in Frontiers in Physiology (opens in new tab), foam rollers can also be used to ‘increase your ROM’ by performing simple back and forth movements over the roller to ‘exert mechanical pressures on soft tissues via the weight of the body (or the force of the upper limbs)’.

And Thompson agrees, adding: “Myofascial release, whether done by foam rolling or massage, attempts to relieve tension and thus improve flexibility.”

(Image credit: Getty Images)

3. Drinking more water

We all know that drinking water is important to our overall health. But it’s believed that guzzling down some H2o can also work towards increasing your ROM.

“Since water is present and needed in tendons, ligaments, and muscles — proper hydration can help optimize muscle performance,” Thompson says. “Water can also help lubricate joints and tissues so they can be more elastic.”

In fact, a study published in the Journal of Human Kinetics (opens in new tab) revealed that collagen fibers are influenced by hydration levels and might be responsible for the cause of stiffness. 

Thompson adds: “Conversely, it’s common to get muscle cramps (involuntary contracting/shortening of the muscle) when you are dehydrated. Muscle cramps usually indicate to endurance athletes that they need water and electrolytes. Which further supports the idea of water contributing to muscle pliability.”

• Related: Best water bottles

4. Stretching

One of the best ways to improve your ROM? By having a first-class stretching routine. According to Thompson, flexibility programs should include various forms of stretching such as:

• Static stretching (which involves stretching a muscle to near its furthest point and then holding that position for at least 15 or 20 seconds).
• Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF). This is a passive form of stretch that requires contraction and relaxation of muscles to their limit against a prop or partner. 
• Myofascial release (using a foam roller).

(Image credit: Getty)

Best stretches to increase your range of motion

Wondering where to start when it comes to your stretches? O’Leary recommends adding the below to your routine to hit different areas of your body. 

Helen O’Leary is a chartered physiotherapist and Pilates instructor/director of Complete Pilates (opens in new tab) in London. She graduated from Birmingham University in 2008 and in 2010 completed her Polestar Pilates Rehabilitation course and began to teach both mat and equipment Pilates. At Complete, O’Leary works with clients before and immediately after surgery to optimize their recovery. 

1. Bouncing roll down. This will help you touch your toes easier. O’Leary says: “Roll down towards the floor and let your arms hang, accepting that you probably aren’t touching the floor. Let one knee bend and keep the other straight to reach towards the floor. Lift your body up a little, switch knees and bounce back down again. Keep repeating 10 times before letting yourself hand and slowly coming back up. Try to keep the bounce smooth and not force anything.”
2. Cat cow. This will stretch out your spine. O’Leary explains: “Get on all fours, tuck your tailbone under and allow your spine to arch towards the ceiling. Press into your hands to encourage your mid back to lift as well. From your tailbone, open your sit bones and let your spine go the other way into extension. try to keep pressing into your hands so that you don’t sag between them and lift your chest up and towards the ceiling. Keep your gaze somewhere in front of you so that you aren’t overextending your neck.
3. Banded dislocations. This stretch will tackle your shoulders and chest. O’Leary adds: “Hold onto the ends of a long band. The longer or lighter the band the easier the movement will be. Take your hands up in front of you, pull apart and then go towards the ceiling and back behind you. Reverse the movement bringing them back up towards the ceiling and down in front of you. The more you pull apart the more you are likely to get round so make sure you find a place that is a challenge but possible without you bending your elbows.”

This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.

Becks is a freelance journalist and writer writing for a range of titles including Stylist, The Independent and LiveScience covering lifestyle topics such as health and fitness, homes and food. She also ghostwrites for a number of Physiotherapists and Osteopaths. When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her in the gym, learning new techniques and perfecting her form. 

https://www.livescience.com/how-to-increase-your-range-of-motion?utm_source=pocket-newtab-android

If You Notice Black on Your Nail, This Is Why You Should Go See a Doctor

twistedsifter.com

We all stub our toes or accidentally hit our thumbs with a hammer once in a while, which leads to bruising on our nails, which is normal.

But if you happen to notice something that looks like a black stripe on one of your toenails or fingernails, you should probably go see a health professional to get it looked at.

The reason you shouldn’t ignore these signs is that melanomas, which are cancerous tissues on the skin, can develop under our nails.

This type of cancer usually affects people of African descent, but it can happen to people of any race or gender, so it’s best to keep an eye out for it.

If this kind of melanoma is detected, removing the growth and the nail usually takes care of the problem, but if it is not looked into and dealt with, this kind of cancer can spread to other organs in the body.

While we don’t usually hear about this kind of cancer, it ends up costing about 1,000 people their lives every year.

If you notice a dark stripe on your nail that has blurred borders, you should get it checked out immediately. Also, if the stripe changes in any way, that’s another warning sign.

Take a look at this video from CBS New York for more information.

https://twistedsifter.com/2022/03/if-you-notice-black-on-your-nail-this-is-why-you-should-go-see-a-doctor/

In Missouri, Planned Parenthood to offer free vasectomies

Associated Press

Denny Dalliance had long worried about what would happen if he fathered a child because his job as a truck driver keeps him away from home most of the week.

But after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, the 31-year-old Independence, Missouri, man decided it was time to take action — and jumped at the chance to sign up for a free vasectomy.

“These are grim circumstances under which I made this decision,” he said as he drove a load of cardboard boxes through Kansas this week.

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The vasectomy he is scheduled to get next month is part of an effort that involves Planned Parenthood and a physician with a mobile vasectomy clinic. Sixty vasectomies will be offered over three days in and outside Planned Parenthood clinics in St. Louis, Springfield and Joplin to uninsured patients during the first week of November amid what the clinics say is a surge in demand for the procedure.

Dr. Esgar Guarin then plans to take his mobile clinic — a vehicle decorated with large images of sperm that his friends have jokingly dubbed the “Nutcracker” — on the road the following week to offer 40 more free vasectomies in several towns across Iowa.

Denny Dalliance has long worried about what would happen if he became a father, because his job as a truck driver often keeps him away from home. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 31-year-old decided to sign up for a free vasectomy in Missouri.  (Denny Dalliance via AP)

Guarin also plans to offer discounted vasectomies that month at his regular clinic in the Des Moines area.

The efforts are part of World Vasectomy Day, originally a single-day event that now includes a year-round focus and a host of activities in November.

“It’s a very particular moment in reproductive rights in the United States. And we need to we need to talk about it,” he said, adding that vasectomies are performed far less often than the tubal ligation method of female sterilization, even though they are cheaper, have a shorter recovery time and require local, rather than general, anesthesia.

Guarin, who serves on the medical advisory board for the World Vasectomy Day, helped offer vasectomies last year at the Planned Parenthood in St. Louis to raise awareness about the procedure. The effort was so popular that the decision was made to expand it to other cities even before the toppling of Roe sent demand soaring.

In July alone, the Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri performed 42 vasectomies, compared to 10 in the same month last year. Female sterilizations rose to 18 that month from just three in July 2021.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has been hearing similar reports from around the country that more patients are seeking tubal ligations. It is too early for any post-Roe national numbers on permanent sterilization, said Laura Lindberg, a professor at Rutgers University’s School of Public Health in New Jersey.

Planned Parenthood, for instance, doesn’t have national sterilization numbers available for this year yet. However, its national web page has seen a 53% increase in vasectomy information searches over the last 100 days, a spokesperson said.

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Data from Google Trends shows that searches about vasectomies briefly spiked after the leak of the draft majority opinion in the Dobbs case but then reached their highest level in the days after the court released its decision in late June.

Dr. Doug Stein, a urological surgeon in the Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida, area, said patient registrations for his practice tripled immediately after the Dobbs decision, with many patients under the age of 30.

“I think everybody is busier since the Dobbs decision,” said Stein, who co-founded World Vasectomy Day.

Dr. Arnold Bullock, a St. Louis urologist who does about 35 vasectomies a month said that before the U.S. Supreme Court decision, patients waited about a month for the procedure while the wait now is two to three months.

In Texas, Dr. Koushik Shaw said his Austin Urology Institute saw a spike when Texas enacted a strict abortion law last year and another, larger one after the U.S. Supreme Court decision, so that it’s now doing 50% more procedures. He said many are for men who don’t want children and saw access to abortion as another option should birth control not work as planned.

“It really pushed family planning to the forefront of people’s thoughts,” he said of the loss of abortion access.

Lawmakers are responding to the growing demand. A California law that will take effect in 2024 will make vasectomies cheaper by allowing patients with private insurance plans to get the procedure at no additional cost other than what they pay for their monthly premiums.

Dr. Margaret Baum, the medical director of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, will be partnering with Guarin to provide the free vasectomies. She has been having lots of conversations with patients about permanent sterilization in recent months and said there is a sense of urgency.

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“I think people are afraid, No. 1, about abortion not being accessible, which is a very real and legitimate fear and in the reality for a large part of folks in our country. And then I think people are also really afraid that what else might be next,” she said.

A vasectomy involves cutting and sealing the tube that carries sperm, preventing it from entering ejaculate fluid. Baum said she chats with patients to keep them calm, sometimes turning on a playlist that includes “Great Balls of Fire” and “The Nutcracker Suite.” Most patients are fully recovered in a couple of days.

Dalliance, the truck driver, said he didn’t want to thrust the responsibility of birth control on partners anymore, especially with abortions harder to get. His home state of Missouri was among the first in the country with a trigger law in effect to ban abortions at any point in pregnancy.

“I don’t want to come off as though I’m like unhappy to be doing this, but this is a situation where my hands kind of got forced with regards to the Roe v. Wade decision,” he said.

“I feel like that with the extreme cost involved with having a child in the United States, I kind of got priced out,” he said. “And so this is me cashing out my chips as it were. It’s the right ethical decision for me, but it’s not one that’s made lightly.”

https://www.foxnews.com/us/missouri-planned-parenthood-clinics-offer-free-vasectomies?intcmp=tw_fnc

The latest FDA resources

Get up-to-date resources on a variety of #foodsafety, nutrition, and cosmetics topics. Visit FDA’s Education Resource Library for more than 350 fact sheets, videos, & other materials to help you understand more about topics that matter to you. #FSEM2022 https://t.co/3cP3m9zetp pic.twitter.com/xAqMoPX7gT

— FDA FOOD (Ctr for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition) (@FDAfood) September 14, 2022

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Connecticut reports its first case of tick-borne Powassan virus in 2022: What to know

www.foxnews.com

Shiv Sudhakar

The Connecticut Department of Public Health announced the state’s first reported Powassan virus infection of the year this past Wednesday. Powassan virus is a rare disease spread by the same tick that causes Lyme disease, according to a recent press release. 

“The identification of a Connecticut resident with Powassan virus associated illness emphasizes the need to take actions to prevent tick bites from now through the late fall,” said Dr. Manisha Juthani, who is the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Health.

“Using insect repellent, avoiding areas where ticks are likely, and checking carefully for ticks after being outside can reduce the chance of you or your children being infected with this virus.”

Powassan virus, first discovered in Powassan, Ontario in 1958, is usually spread through the bite of an infected black-legged or deer tick, officially known as Ixodes scapularis, and can be transmitted in as little as 15 minutes after a tick bite, but it can take a week up to one month to develop symptoms, per the release. 

This is in contrast to Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne disease in the United States, which is caused by a bacteria known as Borrelia burgdorferi and usually transmitted after 36-48 hours after the bite of usually the black-legged tick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Human infections secondary to the Powassan virus infections have been recognized in the United States, Canada, and Russia, with the cases mostly from northeastern states and the Great Lakes region in late spring, early summer and mid-fall when ticks are most active, per the CDC.

Between 2011-20, in addition to Connecticut, the following states have reported cases to the CDC: Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.

Powassan cases are rare, with 20 reported in 2020 to the CDC, but the reported cases are increasing, whereas usually 30,00 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the CDC each year, but the true number is likely closer to 476,000 each year because of underreporting, per the agency.

People who work outdoors and engage in recreational activities in endemic areas for the virus are at increased risk of the infection.

The Connecticut patient who contracted Powassan virus is a male patient in his 50s who started to feel sick during the fourth week of March after a tick bite. He was later hospitalized with a central nervous system disease with laboratory confirmed evidence by the CDC of antibodies to the virus, but is now discharged and recovering at home, according to the health department’s release. 

Most people infected with Powassan virus will develop mild flu-like symptoms or no symptoms at all, but some will experience severe illness affecting the central nervous system, which consists of the spinal cord and brain, per the health department.

Wood Tick on finger

Early symptoms of severe disease include headache, vomiting, fever and weakness that rapidly progresses to confusion, loss of coordination, difficulty speaking, or seizures. Treatment is supportive care, which means there is no specific medication directed against the disease, but instead targeted to symptoms. 

Approximately one out of 10 cases of severe illness are fatal, with an estimated half of survivors experiencing long-term complications. 

There were 12 cases of Powassan virus from 2017 to 2021 reported in Connecticut, including three in 2021 and two out the 12 that were fatal, the release said.

Connecticut is a state well-known for tick-bites, with the CDC categorizing it a high-incidence region for Lyme disease, as of 2019. 

Lyme disease was first described in Lyme, Connecticut in 1975 by a researcher, Dr. William Burgdorfer, who connected puzzling symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis-like symptoms with the bite of deer ticks, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH). 

He discovered that a spiral shaped bacterium, known as a spirochete, carried by the ticks caused the condition now known as Lyme disease.  The spirochete was named Borrelia burgdorferi in 1982 in his honor, per the NIH.

An early symptom of Lyme disease is a hallmark rash that looks like a “bulls-eye,” known as erythema migrans, but later can progress to joint pain and neurological issues, according to Mayo Clinic.

Blacklegged ticks not only can carry Lyme disease and Powassan virus, but also other tick-borne diseases like anaplasmosis and babesiosis, so it’s possible to get infected with more than one infection at the same time, called a co-infection, per the CDC.

Some tips to prevent tick bites include: avoiding grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, using CDC-recommended mosquito repellents, checking for ticks immediately after an outdoor activity and showering within two hours of coming indoors, per the release. 

https://www.foxnews.com/health/connecticut-reports-first-2022-case-tick-borne-powassan-virus-what-know

Vitamins for Your Health and Wellness

Taking Vitamin D and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements Could Lower Your Risk of Developing an Autoimmune Disease

Credit: Jay Yuno / Getty Images

By Nashia Baker March 30, 2022

Researchers studied over 25,000 adults for five years to reach these findings.

Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid supplements are known to contribute to bone strength and heart health—but that’s not all. Research presented at the American College of Rheumatology’s ACR Convergence 2021 found that people who ingested these nutrients over the course of five years actually lowered their chances of developing autoimmune disease by 25 to 30 percent, Eating Well reports.

To conduct this study, researchers followed 25,871 adults who were put on four different regimens for nearly five-and-a-half years: The first group took both an omega-3 and vitamin D placebo, and the second took 1,000 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids and 2,000 international units of vitamin D. A third group of participants took an omega-3 placebo and 2,000 international units of vitamin D, while the fourth group took 1,000 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids and a vitamin D placebo. If a participant experienced any autoimmune complication, it was noted by the researchers.

The result? Those with autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, lowered their risk of relapse by up to 30 percent if they took either or both supplements. “The effect of vitamin D3 appeared stronger after two years of supplementation,” Costenbader said in the study’s abstract, adding that risks can decrease in less than five years. “The more pronounced effect after two to three years of use with vitamin D makes sense biologically and supports long-term use.”

Related: Science Says the Fatty Acids in Omega-3 Supplements Can Stabilize Alzheimer’s Patients’ Memories

This study was inspired by a previous study in which researchers found that those who get enough vitamin D from the sun and their diets are better able to ward off arthritis and inflammation. “In past ecologic observations, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, and type 2 diabetes have been shown to be more prevalent at northern latitudes, where circulating vitamin D levels are lower,” Karen Costenbader, M.D., M.P.H., the senior author of the research and the director of the Lupus Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, said at the conference. “Both high plasma vitamin D and high residential UV exposure were associated with a decreased risk for rheumatoid arthritis among women in the Nurses’ Health Study in our past work.” Their previous studies also showed that risk of developing arthritis appeared lower in those with high fatty fish intake.

The One Type of Vitamin D That Will Strengthen Your Immune System

Credit: FreshSplash / Getty Images

By Madeline Buiano

Vitamin D helps make your bones stronger, boosts your heart health, and more. Now, a new study has found that getting specific with your supplement offers yet another health benefit.

Vitamin D is one of the most popular supplements in the United States, and for good reason too: it’s known for its ability to contribute to bone strength and heart health, as well as lower your risk for developing an autoimmune disease. But there’s a chance you’re taking the supplement every day and not reaping all of its benefits. According to a study recently published in Frontiers in Immunology, D3 is more effective at elevating vitamin D levels in the bloodstream than D2. What’s more, only D3 helps enable a critical immune system response to bacterial and viral infections.

WTo determine the key differences between both types of the supplement, the University of Surrey recruited 335 women between the ages of 20 and 64 who were based in the United Kingdom and randomly assigned them to a group. Some of the participants took 15 micrograms of vitamin D2 a day, while others took the same amount of D3. There was also a placebo group that took neither D2 or D3. The researchers examined the effects of vitamin D over a 12-week period during the winter months.

The result? Vitamin D3 was more effective at increasing vitamin D levels in the bloodstream than D2. They also found that the group who took D3 had a stronger immune system response to bacterial and viral infections, while D2 has the opposite effect. Additionally, it’s believed by researchers that D2 may deplete D3, as the D2 supplement group had less D3 in their blood than the placebo group did. “We know that to take a vitamin D2 supplement actually displaces the normal, the native D3 from your body,” Colin P. Smith, an author of the study and a professor of genomics at the University of Surrey in the U.K., told Inverse. “So by taking a vitamin D2 supplement, you could be making yourself vitamin D deficient, certainly in relation to some pathways in the body.”

This isn’t the first study that has examined the differences between D2 and D3. A study published last year in the National Library of Medicine, found that high D3 levels were associated with less severe depression symptoms in women, while D2 showed no such correlation.

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iPhones, Androids, tablets and more are the grimiest, germiest tech devices in your home — how to clean them

Angelica Stabile

In today’s technology age, the devices we pick up, touch, use and place on a variety of surfaces throughout the day can get … totally gross.

A new survey from Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions, the world’s largest tech care solutions company, found that the average person picks up a cell phone an amazing 352 times per day. 

And while 75% of people have admitted to bringing their phone into the bathroom with them (yes, you read that right!) — only 8% of people remember to sanitize their devices afterward.

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Now that you’ve just grabbed your disinfecting wipes, here’s a look at some of the grimiest devices in your home and how to clean them. 

iPhones and Androids

A vast majority of people use their phone while doing their business in the bathroom without even thinking of the germs festering on the surface, as noted above.

When you clean your cell phone, remember to remove protective cases from the device to get into the nooks and crannies — and give the case a good wipe-down, too.    (iStock)

For a device that’s used so frequently, it’s important to keep your smartphone clean by wiping it with a disinfectant wipe on nonporous surfaces, according to Apple.

Be sure to remove protective cases from the device to get into the nooks and crannies — and give the case a good wipe-down, too.

Children’s tablets

All parents and grandparents know exactly how sticky, gunky and messy kids’ tablets can get.

Here, a three-year-old girl is glued to an iPad in a hotel room during a vacation. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

While being careful not to damage the screen, be sure to wipe off any sticky residue with a disinfectant wipe instead of spraying a solution. 

Then, use a microfiber towel to erase those little fingerprints.

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The tablet’s case should also be removed and cleaned with a disinfectant wipe (beware of falling crumbs).

Charging ports, headphone jacks and earpiece speakers

Little crevices can be a challenge to clean, especially when makeup and earwax build-up is gross just to look at, Asurion noted in press materials connected to its survey. 

Charging ports on smartphones, tablets and other devices can be blasted clean with a few short bursts of compressed air, which is also useful for freeing lunchtime crumbs from your laptop’s keyboard.

Earbuds can be detailed with a toothpick and wiped clean with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab. (iStock)

Device speakers can be cleaned with a soft bristled brush to improve sound quality. 

Earpiece speakers can be detailed with a toothpick and wiped clean with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab.

Video game consoles and controllers

A video game console isn’t a place you’d normally think to clean out. 

All those nights spent scrolling through Netflix warrant an inspection of your remote control’s sanitary state.

But aside from accumulating dust bunnies, gaming systems are prone to attracting cockroaches and other pests that seek out warm, dark places to nest, especially on the floor in a tight corner.

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To avoid an invasion of creepy crawlers, place your gaming systems in a clear space with ample ventilation. 

Asurion Experts recommend clearing the console’s vents with compressed air, a soft-bristled brush (toothbrush, paintbrush, etc.), a microfiber cloth and/or a vacuum with a handheld attachment.

For all those well-handled video game controllers, remember to comb out residue with a toothpick and spray with a rubbing alcohol-water mixture. (iStock)

Game controllers can get particularly grimy from being handled with sweaty, snack-time-grubby hands. 

Get into the small cracks of those controllers and comb out residue with a toothpick. 

Then, per guidance given to Fox News Digital by cleaning expert Brandon Pleshek, spray your controllers with a 50-50 rubbing alcohol-water mixture and wipe clean.

Remote controls

All those nights spent scrolling through Netflix warrant an inspection of your remote control’s sanitary state.

Use rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth or cotton swab to sanitize the ridges and remote surface of your remote control — and let air dry.

First, remove the batteries and shake out any loose debris between buttons. 

Then, use rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth or cotton swab to sanitize the ridges and remote surface and let air dry.

Asurion, based in Nashville, Tenn., and with locations nationwide, is a tech care company that offers protection, repair, installation and expert support for all devices. Check out more expert advice on caring for your products at asurion.com.

https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/iphones-androids-tablets-tech-devices-home-clean#

“1 Drop of This Essential Oil for a Better Night’s Sleep | Dr. Mandell”

Died of Heart Attacks

1/3
Fully va xxinated young soccer star Marcos Menaldo dead at 25, after suffering a heart attack in training.

What exactly is going on?

Va xxine induced my¤carditis is what’s going on.. pic.twitter.com/elK9LBCYFp

— 🍃 Ɣ 🍃 (@V_its_me888) January 5, 2022

3/3
If someone has heart arrhythmia, they can drop dead from a heart attack instantly. 50% of people with my¤carditis die within 5 yrs. Another 80% die within 10 yrs.
So sad these young healthy athletes murdered, yes murdered by these evil scumbags mandating the death 'va xxines'

— 🍃 Ɣ 🍃 (@V_its_me888) January 5, 2022

Rise in ‘needle spiking’ puts women in Britain on high alert

www.washingtonpost.com

Adela Suliman

LONDON — Britain is increasingly feeling like a hostile place for women.

There have been multiple reports of “needle spiking” — which involves an injection being administered to someone without their knowledge or consent, usually in a nightclub or bar setting — as opposed to the more commonly known method of contaminating alcoholic drinks.

Zara Owen, a 19-year-old student in Nottingham, central England, said she woke up after clubbing with a “sharp, agonizing pain in my leg” and “almost zero recollection” of the night before. She walked with a limp for the remainder of the day, she wrote on social media, before finding a “pinprick” and realizing that she had been “spiked” by a needle that had pierced through her jeans.

Thankfully, she added, her friends — who had noticed her behaving strangely — helped her to return safely home.

“The fact that this form of spiking is happening is horrifying, with the memory loss it brought me,” Owen told The Washington Post. “What is supposed to be a fun night leads us to almost fear the unknown.”

The Nottinghamshire police said this week that it had received a total of 15 reports of alleged spiking with a sharp object since Oct. 2, with the majority of reports made by women, in venues across the popular university town. Two men had been arrested so far on “suspicion of conspiracy to administer poison with intent to injure, annoy or aggrieve,” the police added on Friday.

Cases have also been reported elsewhere in Britain, mostly among college students, in Glasgow, Exeter and Birmingham.

The reported needle-spiking incidents come aftertwo high-profile murders of women on the streets, which have left Britain stunned. The overall number of reported needle-spiking incidents remains far below the number of drink-spiking incidents thought to occur, and the incidents not yet been linked to other crimes such as rape or theft, but police chiefs have been asked to urgently assess how widespread the attacks are around the country, while the home secretary has also expressed concern.“We need to make sure that we earn back the trust and confidence particularly of women and girls. And that takes an approach that isn’t just the police’s problem, but all of our problem… I think misogyny should be a hate crime, and we’re lobbying the government to make sure that harassment in a public place is a criminal offense.” (Washington Post Live)

In September, a U.K. watchdog called violence against women “an epidemic” and said authorities should treat it with as much urgency as fighting terrorism. On average, a woman is killed by a man in the United Kingdom every three days, it said.

The reports of needle spiking were “deeply worrying” said Melissa Green, general secretary of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes. The cases “again remind us that our public spaces are not truly safe for women,” Green told The Post.

Police have also been criticized for their approach — including their advice to women, following the death of Everard, to shout or wave down a bus if they encounter a lone police officer they do not trust — which some said continued to place the onus on women.

“The W.I. does not agree that it is the responsibility of women to educate themselves or alter their behavior to try and keep themselves safe. … What is actually needed is action from the whole of society,” Green added.

The needle-spiking cases have also prompted a public petition urging politicians to enact tougher laws to search guests on arrival to nightclubs. As of Saturday, it had garnered more than 165,000 signatories, which will trigger the British parliament to consider the petition for a debate.

Meanwhile, from Wales to Birmingham, female students across the United Kingdom are hosting a “Girls Night In” public campaign over the next two weeks to boycott nightclubs and draw attention to the issue of needle spiking and women’s safety.

Owen told The Post that she would “like to see more change in nightclubs,” including better searches before people enter.

Meanwhile Nia Gallagher, 20, has been using her TikTok platform — where she has almost 300,000 followers, to spread awareness about spiking incidents and personal safety.

Gallagher said she had her drink spiked when she was 18, after she left her drink briefly unattended while out in a Dublin nightclub. The spiking of her drink left her severely unwell for over a week and wiped her memory, she said, although she made it safely home and was not attacked.

“I let my guard down and that’s why it happened to me,” she told The Post, adding that news of the latest attacks was “really upsetting.”

“A lot of people turned 18 over lockdown so it’s their first time going to nightclubs … so I just wanted to warn people,” she said.

It’s unclear what exact drugs are being administered in the syringes. However, Shirin Lakhani, a cosmetic doctor and former anesthetist, said needles and prescription drugs, such as pain killers and opium-based medicines, are extremely easy to get hold of online and assailants would require little knowledge of how to inject under the skin.

“Needles have gotten really fine now and you can get needles as fine as hairs, so it’s possible not to notice, especially in a club environment with the noise,” she told The Post.

Lakhani said images on social media suggested the attackers were targeting hands in particular, with bruises taking some time to manifest.

“It’s appalling that we have to look after ourselves in this way,” said the doctor and mother of two girls. “It’s another way to carry out misogynistic attacks.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/10/23/uk-women-needle-spiking/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Is Dr. Fauci The Evil Scientist

NOW – Dr. Fauci: "Delta variant is the greatest threat in the US."pic.twitter.com/kBUxi4KIBm

— Disclose.tv 🚨 (@disclosetv) June 22, 2021

“HALF-MAD: Pew Study Shows 56.3% of Young White Liberal Women Diagnosed with Mental Illness”

Chemical Free Life – Targeting chemicals of concern in our food, products and environment and offering cleaner, better solutions. Chemical-Free Life… utilizing scientific research, public education and science-based wellness programs to help consumers live cleaner, healthier lives.

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Chemical Free Life

Targeting chemicals of concern in our food, products and environment and offering cleaner, better solutions. Chemical-Free Life… utilizing scientific research, public education and science-based wellness programs to help consumers live cleaner, healthier lives.

Welcome

Chemical-Free-Life.org

A training/consulting, research and education organization focusing on the link between synthetic and industrialized chemicals of concern and adverse health outcomes and offering cleaner, better solutions.

_____

OVERVIEW

Our modern times leave us inundated with potentially health damaging synthetic and industrialized chemicals in our food, personal care products, pet products and home environment. Scientific evidence has demonstrated that exposure can trigger a myriad of adverse symptoms and even serious, chronic illness. With the thousands of synthetic and industrialized chemicals in use today–many of them unlisted–learning which chemicals to avoid can be overwhelming.

Food preservatives, dyes, additives like emulsifiers, texturizing agents, and flavor enhancers, pesticides, synthetic growth hormones, antibiotics and other animal drugs, are all a pervasive part of the typical diet in the U.S. (there are currently more than 10,000 synthetic and industrialized chemicals in the U.S. food supply) and many have been linked to serious health-related problems.

In fact, there have been several decades of scholarly scientific and medical studies, anecdotal reports and clinical trials that have produced evidence linking a number of synthetic and industrialized food chemicals to a myriad of adverse health conditions including heart disease, insulin resistance/impaired glucose tolerance, and diabetes, weight gain/obesity, depression, anxiety, behavioral, mood and psychiatric disorders, insomnia/sleep disturbances, attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity, memory and concentration difficulties, nausea, fatigue, ear infections, swollen lymph nodes, urticaria, edema, intestinal disturbances and digestive disorders, respiratory problems and asthma-related difficulties, fibroid tumors, cancer, endocrine dysfunction, infertility, nasal polyps, rhinitis, autoimmune disorders, migraines/headaches, allergic reactions, liver and kidney disease, bladder infections, and more.

Fortunately, there is a solution. By simply learning what these problematic synthetic and industrialized chemicals are, where they are hiding, and the strategies for locating alternatives, not only can you avoid these unwanted additives, but you can eat healthier and better tasting food than you ever imagined.

. . .

Chemical-Free Life is dedicated to scientific research, public education and science-based wellness programs focusing on the link between synthetic chemicals and adverse health consequences, and offering safer, cleaner, BETTER SOLUTIONS.

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Chemical-Free-Life.org

Chemical-Free Consulting Programs, Research, Public Education

. . .

Programs

The Chemical-Free-Life.org Programs are scientifically-based care system developed to uncover which synthetic chemicals in your food, personal care, and household products hold the potential to be the most problematic for you personally.  Based on decades of scientific research, our system analyzes your Lifestyle and Sensitivity Profile and then creates a personalized, user-friendly program of alternatives based on that analysis.

Programs include a personalized diagnostic assessment, weekly private, one-on-one telephone consultation sessions and access to “life line” calls, and a recovery kit that includes a condition-specific diet and lifestyle prescription for success.

Our science-based programs will walk you through each step in the process of discovering which specific additives are the most problematic for you personally, where they are hiding, and teach you easy, practical strategies for living a life with cleaner, better solutions.

Four Different Programs to Choose From:

1-Chemical-Free Go Clean Wellness Program

2-Chemical-Free Life Cycle Program

3-Chemical-Free Athletes Program

4-Chemical-Free Weight Loss Program

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Research

Scientific Research: Including designing/conducting scientific studies examining public opinion and consumer perceptions and behavior examining sociological, political, health, environmental and economic antecedents and consequences of the increasing numbers of chemicals of concern in the food supply and home and personal care product industries.

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Education

Public Education: Ongoing seminars, workshops, a PEG-TV television series, a talk radio program, articles, science-based chemical watch blog, documentaries & doc shorts and of course, our latest book.

The BOOK:  A science-based, user-friendly comprehensive guide to all the food additives linked in scientific and medical studies to adverse health consequences, where they are hiding, and proven, practical strategies for how to avoid them!

 Get healthy. Get clean.

Go Chemical-Free today!

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Protect Songbirds from Salmonella Poisoning

Click to download and share this infographic!

An outbreak of avian salmonellosis is killing songbirds in the Bay Area.

Please take down your birdfeeders IMMEDIATELY if you see sick or dead birds in your yard!

Update February 18, 2021:
WildCare continues to admit multiple songbirds ill with salmonellosis every day. Although the numbers have decreased slightly, the outbreak is NOT over.

This disease is spread from bird to bird primarily at bird feeders and bird baths.

Just since the new year began, WildCare has admitted over 40 Pine Siskins with the symptoms of salmonellosis. Sadly, the vast majority of these beautiful little songbirds have died.

WildCare’s Hotline 415-456-7283 has received multiple calls about ill and dead songbirds in people’s yards from throughout the Bay Area, indicating there is a widespread outbreak of bacterial disease.

The disease salmonellosis is a common causes of disease and death in wild birds.

Bird feeders bring large numbers of birds into close contact with each other, which means diseases can spread quickly through multiple populations. The bacteria are primarily transmitted through contact with fecal matter, so birds at a crowded feeder are much more likely to be exposed than birds in a wild setting.

Sick birds may be lethargic, puffed up and thin and may have swollen eyelids. A sick bird may also be seen resting with beak tucked under wing, and may be the last bird to take flight if the flock is startled. You can tell these sick birds don’t feel very good!Donate today to help WildCare care for the flood of sick songbirds we’re admitting due to the outbreak!

Guidelines:

A healthy Pine Siskin shows his sleek plumage. Photo by Tom Grey

If you have dead or sick birds in your yard:

• Immediately REMOVE bird feeders and birdbaths.
• Disinfect with 9:1 bleach solution (9 parts water to 1 part bleach.)
• Scrub well to remove all debris and allow to soak 10 – 20 minutes.
• Rinse very well and allow to dry in the sun.
• Do not rehang feeders or bird baths for at least three weeks after the last sick or dead bird is seen in your yard.
• Resterilize and allow to dry before rehanging.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling feeders or baths.

If you have not yet seen sick or dead birds:

Please use the following guidelines as preventative measures to protect your local birds from a outbreaks of Salmonella and other avian diseases. These measures should also be practiced as regularly scheduled maintenance to ensure healthy birds:

• Bird feeders should be disinfected every other day, or at least once a week, while the outbreak is active.
• Bird baths should be emptied and cleaned daily, regardless of disease outbreaks.
• For feeders: Do not use wooden feeders (they easily harbor bacteria and other pathogens). Immerse feeders in a 10% bleach solution (9 parts water to 1 part bleach.) Soak 10 minutes, scrub, rinse thoroughly and allow to dry fully, ideally in the sun, before refilling (a dry feeder will deter mold growth on seeds).
• For baths: You can make a 9:1 bleach solution in a jug to bring outside. Scrub with a hard brush, cover with board while soaking to prevent birds bathing in bleach, rinse very thoroughly, allow to dry before refilling.
• For hummingbird feeders: NO BLEACH! Change food often. Clean and fill with only enough to last 1-2 days (sooner if gets cloudy/moldy). Use vinegar and water in a 9:1 solution (9 parts water to 1 part vinegar) and special bottle brushes to get into small holes. Rinse thoroughly!
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling feeders or baths.

Additional Tips

• Always wear gloves (latex or dishwashing) to keep bleach off your skin and a facemask to keep from accidentally ingesting feces, bleach, etc.
• Always keep a large tray under feeder to collect hulls/seed that fall. Empty discards every evening. This will prevent mold & disease spreading to ground-feeding birds and will also prevent rodent infestations.
• Keep cats indoors if you have birdfeeders.
• Another suggestion to prevent wildlife problems (from rats, raccoons, skunks, etc.) is to bring feeders inside at night.
• Bird feeders should be disinfected every two weeks regardless of disease outbreaks.
• Bird baths should be emptied and cleaned daily regardless of disease outbreaks.

Click here to download and print this information (will open as a PDF.)

Frequently Asked Questions

How likely is it that kids or adults could get Salmonella from handling the bird feeder or feed?

Salmonella is primarily transmitted through contact with fecal matter, so, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), avoiding hand-to-mouth contact during, and washing hands thoroughly with soap and water after contact with birds or their fecal matter will minimize or eliminate any risk.

The following recommendations from the CDC pertain to avoiding contracting Salmonella from domestic or exotic pets, but the general rules apply to wild bird feeders too.

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching animals, their food (e.g., dry dog or cat food, frozen feeder rodents, etc.) or anything in the area where they live and roam.
• Running water and soap are best. Use hand sanitizers if running water and soap are not available. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water as soon as a sink is available. Adults should always supervise hand washing for young children.
• Do not let children younger than 5 years of age, older individuals, or people with weakened immune systems handle or touch high-risk animals (e.g., turtles, water frogs, chicks, ducklings), or anything in the area where they live and roam, including water from containers or aquariums.

How can I avoid transmitting Salmonella from the birdfeeder in my yard into my home?

The CDC recommends always cleaning items that have been in contact with animals outside. If it is necessary to clean a feeder indoors, the sink or tub used for cleaning should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with a bleach solution afterward.

Common sense precautions to avoid tracking bird feces into the house should be taken including checking shoes for fecal matter.

Are the domesticated birds in my home at risk?

Check with your veterinarian if you are concerned about your pet birds. Salmonella bacteria are transferred between birds from contact with fecal matter, so making sure domestic birds do not come into contact with the droppings, seeds or hulls from your wild bird feeders is the first step to ensuring their safety.

Can my cat get salmonellosis from an infected bird?

Check with your veterinarian if you are worried about your cat. Studies have shown that it is possible for predator animals to get salmonellosis from eating their prey, and cats can contract the disease. Cats under stress or with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to the infection.

WildCare strongly recommends keeping your cat indoors to prevent him or her from coming in contact with sick birds or other hazards, but also to protect the songbirds that are drawn to your yard by your feeder.

Is my dog likely to get salmonellosis from playing in the yard?

Check with your veterinarian if you are concerned about your dog or other pets. Salmonella is transferred from contact with fecal matter, so making sure domestic pets do not come into contact with the droppings, seeds or hulls from your wild bird feeders is the first step to ensuring their safety.

How often should I rake the hulls and fallen seed under my bird feeders?

According to Melanie Piazza, WildCare’s Director of Animal Care, for optimal bird health, and especially in an outbreak situation like this one, hulls should be removed every night.

The problem with feeder seed and hulls is that the birds sit above and knock seed down to the ground, but also drop their droppings down. As Salmonella and other bacteria are transmitted through feces, this means a concentration of potentially infected feces beneath the feeders which can be dangerous to ground-feeding birds, even when there isn’t an epidemic.

In fact, Melanie says that raking the hulls isn’t necessarily sufficient. The best choice is to put a pan or, even better, a sheet held down by rocks under the feeders and remove it and dispose of the hulls every night. This will also prevent rat and mouse infestations which is a bonus.

I’ve heard wood is better for cutting boards in the kitchen. Why do you recommend against wooden bird feeders?

This is a somewhat controversial issue in the kitchen— there are studies both proving and disproving the bacteria-killing properties of wooden cutting boards, and many chefs do prefer wooden cutting boards.

Whatever the best choice is for the kitchen, WildCare still recommends against wooden bird feeders for the following reasons:

• Wooden bird feeders sit outside 24 hours a day and get cracked, soft and moldy which, Salmonella aside, can be detrimental to songbirds.
• The wood used for bird feeders is usually not the same hardwood used for cutting boards and softer woods are more likely to mold and rot, trapping bacteria.
• People are often less likely to want to bleach their wooden feeders because frequent soaking in bleach (especially of feeders made of pine and softer woods) will ruin them.
• A plastic feeder will last longer through the recommended bleach soakings and can be rinsed and dried more thoroughly.

The main point, however, is no matter what kind of feeder you have, be sure to keep it clean!

Connect With Us:

• Visit our Facebook page
• Visit our Twitter page
• Visit our Instagram page
• Visit our Youtube page

Found an ill, injured or orphaned animal?

Call: 415-456-7283

Wildlife Emergencies (after 5pm pst)

Call our Wildlife Emergency Nightline at 415-300-6359

© 2021 WildCare, All Rights Reserved.

Location

76 Albert Park Lane, San Rafael, CA 94901 https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?q=76+Albert+Park+Ln.San+Rafael%2C+CA+94901&key=AIzaSyD09zQ9PNDNNy9TadMuzRV_UsPUoWKntt8

https://discoverwildcare.org/salmonella/

Why Do Elephants Rarely Get Cancer?

FIREPAW, Inc.

The Foundation for Interdisciplinary Research and Education Promoting Animal Welfare [FIREPAW] is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit research and education foundation

The rules of nature tell us that large, long-lived animals should have the highest risk of cancer. The calculation is simple: Tumors grow when genetic mutations cause individual cells to reproduce too quickly. A long life creates more opportunities for those cancerous mutations to arise. So, too, does a massive body: Big creatures — which have many more cells — should develop tumors more frequently. Why, then, does cancer rarely afflict elephants, with their long lifespans and gargantuan bodies? Scientists went looking for the answer…

The first discovery was that elephants possess extra copies of a wide variety of genes associated with tumor suppression.  But this phenomenon is not unique to elephants, so they pressed on for more information…

–

“One of the expectations is that as you get a really big body, your burden of cancer should increase because things with big bodies have more cells.  The fact that this isn’t true across species — a long-standing paradox in evolutionary medicine and cancer biology — indicates that evolution found a way to reduce cancer risk.”

-Vincent Lynch, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences

–

The research concluded that duplication of tumor suppressor genes is quite common among elephants’ living and extinct relatives, including in small ones like Cape golden moles (a burrowing animal) and elephant shrews (a long-nosed insectivore). The data suggest that tumor suppression capabilities preceded or coincided with the evolution of exceptionally big bodies, facilitating this development.

–

“We found that: Elephants have lots and lots and lots of extra copies of tumor suppressor genes, and they all contribute probably a little bit to cancer resistance.”

-Vincent Lynch, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences

–

The final analysis:  Elephants do have enhanced cancer protections, compared with relatives.  Though many elephant relatives harbor extra copies of tumor suppressor genes, the scientists found that elephant genomes possess some unique duplications that may contribute to tumor suppression through genes involved in DNA repair; resistance to oxidative stress; and cellular growth, aging and death.

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Journal Reference:  Juan M Vazquez, Vincent J Lynch. Pervasive duplication of tumor suppressors in Afrotherians during the evolution of large bodies and reduced cancer risk. eLife, 2021; 10 DOI: 10.7554/eLife.65041

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Elephants evolved to have enhanced protections against cancer

https://firepaw.org/2021/02/05/why-do-elephants-rarely-get-cancer-study/

Petition: Health Insurance Companies Should Cover Medical Marijuana Now

• by: Care2 Team
• recipient: United, Anthem, Aetna and Cigna Health Care

93,303 SUPPORTERS 95,000 GOAL When California became the first state to approve medical marijuana in 1996, the idea was groundbreaking. Now, however, more than half the United States has legal protections for medical marijuana in some form or another — that translates to 70% of the American population. Medical marijuana products are now readily available throughout much of the country and have been used to treat everything from multiple sclerosis and cancer to anxiety and migraines.

But despite being legal for nearly a quarter century and its growing list of proven benefits. Marijuana patients that suffer from debilitating diseases get absolutely no help from their health insurance company. Even when the doctor has written them a script similar to one for any other doctor prescribed medicine.

While prices have dropped in states with full legalization of marijuana, medicinal cannabis in states where it is the only legal form are still quite pricey. In Ohio for example, your first two grams may cost you up to $50 and that’s after a $300 medical consultation required to get your card and a $50 activation fee. In Arizona the “startup” costs are similar, costing between $225 and $450 just to get certified.

Currently, insurance companies refuse to help cover costs for marijuana-related remedies.
That means some patients who would benefit from medicinal cannabis may not even be able to afford because the cost is too steep. This is unacceptable. Study after study has proven that the medicinal benefits of marijuana for certain conditions are real and effective. Access to the drug has allowed millions to benefit from a natural, potent salve to ailments from which they suffer, but without full recognition and coverage from insurers, some of the people who need it most, won’t get a chance to benefit.

Please call on insurers to step up. Sign the petition and ask United, Anthem, Aetna and Cigna, the country’s largest insurers to cover medical marijuana for their patients.SHARE630TWEETEMAILEMBED

https://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/303/550/231/?z00m=32574471&redirectID=3053016322

If you need to remove a tick

Don't panic if you find a tick on you after being outside! Remove the tick with fine-tipped tweezers and these steps ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/xAwjTUhkAu

— PA Department of Health (@PAHealthDept) August 4, 2020

Keep a jar filled with alcohol on hand to dispose of the tick

FDA’s list of hand sanitizers to avoid grows again with more than 100 identified that may contain methanol

amp-usatoday-com.cdn.ampproject.org

Kelly Tyko | USA TODAY | 11 hours ago 13-16 minutes

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As of Saturday, the FDA’s “do-not-use list of dangerous hand sanitizer products” now includes 101 varieties of hand sanitizer that should be avoided – some that have already been recalled and other products being recommended for recalls – as they may contain methanol, a potentially fatal ingredient. 

Methanol is a toxic substance when absorbed through skin or ingested.

“FDA continues to find issues with certain hand sanitizer products. FDA test results show certain hand sanitizers have concerningly low levels of ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol, which are active ingredients in hand sanitizer products,” the federal agency said. “The agency urges consumers not to use these subpotent products and has expanded its list to include subpotent hand sanitizers, in addition to hand sanitizers that are or may be contaminated with methanol.”

In a warning July 27, the FDA says it is “urging consumers not to use any hand sanitizer products from the particular manufacturers on the list even if the product or particular lot number are not listed since some manufacturers are recalling only certain – but not all – of their hand sanitizer products.”

The agency says that in most cases, methanol does not appear on the product label but that it is “not an acceptable ingredient in any drug, including hand sanitizer, even if methanol is listed as an ingredient on the product label.”

The FDA said it has taken steps to prevent the products from entering the country by placing them on an import alert. Most of the products appear to have been produced in Mexico and, according to the alert, should be avoided because they pose a health risk.

“We remain extremely concerned about the potential serious risks of alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing methanol,”  FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn said in a statement. “Producing, importing and distributing toxic hand sanitizers poses a serious threat to the public and will not be tolerated.”

In June, the FDA warned consumers not to use nine kinds of hand sanitizers because they may contain methanol, and added to the list in early July and further expanded the list multiple times in July.

Methanol is used industrially as a solvent, pesticide and alternative fuel source, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Exposure to it can cause nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system and death.

The FDA says it has seen an increase in number of “adverse events, including blindness, cardiac effects, effects on the central nervous system, and hospitalizations and death, primarily reported to poison control centers and state departments of health.”

Hand sanitizer has been a popular product to combat the coronavirus since February, and many new types have entered the market after shortages of brands including Purell.

Avoid these hand sanitizers that may contain methanol

The FDA is advising consumers not to use the following hand sanitizers because tests found them to contain methanol or they were “purportedly made at the same facility as products in which FDA has tested and confirmed methanol contamination.” The FDA also says to avoid sanitizers from the manufacturers.

Find more information, including the product code where available, on the FDA website.

• Eskbiochem’s All-Clean Hand Sanitizer
• Eskbiochem’s Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer
• Eskbiochem’s Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer
• Eskbiochem’s The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer
• Eskbiochem’s CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol
• Eskbiochem’s CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol
• Eskbiochem’s CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol
• Eskbiochem’s Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• Grupo Insoma’s Hand sanitizer Gel Unscented 70% Alcohol
• Mystic International’s Mystic Shield Protection hand sanitizer
• Cosmeticas’ Antiseptic Alcohol 70% Topical Solution hand sanitizer
• Cosmeticas’ Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance Free
• Tropicosmeticos’ Be Safe Hand Sanitizer
• Tropicosmeticos’ Wave Hand Sanitizer Gel
• Tropicosmeticos’ Cleaner Hand Sanitizer Rinse Free 70%    
• Tropicosmeticos’ Handzer Hand Sanitizer Rinse Free
• Tropicosmeticos’ Urbane Bath and Body Hand Sanitizer    
• Tropicosmeticos’ Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70%    
• Tropicosmeticos’ Parabola Hand Sanitizer  
• Tropicosmeticos’ Kleanz Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer Advanced
• AAA Cosmetica’s bio aaa Advance Hand Sanitizer 
• AAA Cosmetica’s QualitaMed Hand Sanitizer  
• AAA Cosmetica’s LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 4 oz
• AAA Cosmetica’s LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 16 oz
• 4E Global’s Blumen Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear Ethyl Alcohol 70%
• 4E Global’s Blumen Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 70% Alcohol
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe
• 4E Global’s Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe, with 70% alcohol
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Clear
• 4E Global’s Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Lavender, with 70% alcohol
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Aloe Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 70 Alcohol
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Aloe Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 70 Alcohol
• 4E Global’s Blumen Antibacterial Fresh Citrus Hand Sanitizer
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Clear LEAR Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Clear LEAR Advanced Hand Sanitizer
• 4E Global’s Blumen Hand Sanitizer Fresh Citrus
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe Vera
• 4E Global’s BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Fragrance Free
• 4E Global’s Hello Kitty Hand Sanitizer
• 4E Global’s The Honeykeeper Hand Sanitizer
• 4E Global’s Assured Aloe
• 4E Global’s Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Aloe and Moisturizers)
• 4E Global’s Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Vitamin E and Aloe)
• 4E Global’s Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe and Moisturizers
• 4E Global’s Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Vitamin E and Aloe
• 4E Global’s KLAR and DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer
• 4E Global’s KLAR AND DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer (labeled with Greenbrier International Inc.)
• 4E Global’s MODESA Instant Hand Sanitizer Moisturizers and Vitamin E
• DDI Multinacional’s Earths Amenities Instant Unscented Hand Sanitizer with Aloe Vera Advanced
• DDI Multinacional’s Hand Sanitizer Agavespa Skincare
• DDI Multinacional’s Vidanos Easy Cleaning Rentals Hand Sanitizer Agavespa Skincare
• Limpo Quimicos’ Andy’s
• Limpo Quimicos’ Andy’s Best
• Limpo Quimicos’ NeoNatural
• Limpo Quimicos’ Plus Advanced
• Liqesa Exportacion or Liq-E’s Optimus Lubricants Instant Hand Sanitizer
• Maquiladora Miniara’s Selecto Hand Sanitizer
• Maquiladora Miniara’s Shine and Clean Hand Sanitizer
• Cosmeticas’ Hand Sanitizer Gel Alcohol 70%
• Yara Elena De La Garza Perez Nieto’s   DAESI Hand Sanitizer
• Real Clean Distribuciones’ Cavalry
• Real Clean Distribuciones’ ENLIVEN Hand Sanitizing Gel
• Real Clean Distribuciones’ Lux Eoi Hand Sanitizing Gel
• Real Clean Distribuciones’ Born Basic Anti-Bac Hand Sanitizer 65% Alcohol
• Real Clean Distribuciones’ Born Basic Anti-Bac Hand Sanitizer 70% alcohol
• Real Clean Distribuciones’ Scent Theory – Keep It Clean – Pure Clean Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer
• Real Clean Distribuciones’ Scent Theory – Keep It Clean – Pure Clean Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer
• MXL Comercial’s Hand Sanitizer Disinfectant Gel 70% Ethyl Alcohol
• MXL Comercial’s Hand Sanitizer Disinfectant Gel 70% Ethyl Alcohol Rinse Free Hand Rub
• Liqesa Exportacion or Liq-E’s Optimus Instant Hand Sanitizer
• Liqesa Exportacion or Liq-E’s Optimus Instant Hand Sanitizer
• Broncolin’s Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol
• Broncolin’s Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol
• Broncolin’s Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70%  Alcohol
• Laboratorios Jaloma’s Jaloma Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 62% with Vitamin E
• Leiper’s Fork Distillery Bulk Disinfectant per 5 gallon
• Leiper’s Fork Distillery 16-ounce bottle
• Healthy Foods & Nutrition Lab de Mexico’s Medicare Alcohol Antiseptic Topical Solution
• Incredible Products’ GelBact Hand Sanitizer
• Incredible Products’ Hand Sanitizer
• Incredible Products’ TriCleanz
• JG Atlas Comercios’ Sayab Antisepctic Hand Sanitizer 100
• Tritanium Labs USA’s TriCleanz Tritanium Labs Hand Sanitizer
• Albek de Mexico’s NEXT Hand Sanitizer
• Albek de Mexico’s Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 70% Alcohol extra soft with glycerin and aloe
• Albek de Mexico’s NuuxSan Instant Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer
• Albek de Mexico’s NuuxSan Instant Hand Sanitizer
• Albek de Mexico’s Assured Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Aloe and Moisturizers
• Albek de Mexico’s Assured Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Vitamin E and Aloe
• Albek de Mexico’s Modesa Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizers and Aloe Vera
• Albek de Mexico’s Modesa Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizers and Vitamin E

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Recalled hand sanitizers

The following products have been recalled as of Aug. 1:

• ITECH 361’s All Clean Hand Sanitizer, Moisturizer and Disinfectant: UPC code 628055370130.
• Transliquid Technologies’ Mystic Shield Protection hand sanitizer: NDC numbers include 75477-435-02, 75477-435-10, 75477-435-12, 75477-435-25, 75477-435-50 and 75477-534-10.
• Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer, 1-liter bottles: Two distributors. The UVT hand sanitizer is labeled with lot number 0530 and an expiration date of 04/2022 and the Saniderm Products hand sanitizer is labeled with lot number 53131626 and “Manufactured on April/1/20.”
• 4e Brands North America’s Blumen brand is “voluntarily recalling all lots of Hand Sanitizer brands to the consumer level.” This is an expansion of an earlier recall.
• Real Clean Distribuciones is voluntarily recalling all lots it manufactured within expiry of the following brand names of hand sanitizers: “Born Basic ANTI-BAC HAND SANITIZER, Scent Theory KEEP CLEAN Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer, Scent Theory KEEP IT CLEAN Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer and Lux Eoi Hand Sanitizing Gel to the consumer level.”
• LIQ-E S.A. de C.V. is voluntarily recalling all lots and all bottle sizes of “The OPTIMUS Instant Hand Sanitizer” manufactured between April 27 and May 8.
• Resource Recovery & Trading LLC is “voluntarily recalling all the lots manufactured by MXL Comercial S.A. de C.V.” with the following information: “Hand Sanitizer 70% Ethyl Alcohol Disinfectant Gel, packaged in 6.7 FL Oz. (200 ml) bottles, UPC 650240026020 and Hand Sanitizer Non-sterile Solution 70% Topical Solution, packaged in 20L (5.28 Gal) liter plastic containers, UPC 37710600013 to the consumer level.”
• Broncolin is “voluntarily recalling all lots of Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol to the consumer level.” The hand sanitizer comes in four different sizes, according to the recall notice.
• Albek de Mexico is “voluntarily recalling all lots and all brands of hand sanitizer currently in US distribution to the consumer level.”

Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko

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