Category Archives: Diet And Food

Most Americans eat far more salt than they should, exceeding the dietary guidelines for sodium.

Doctors say too much sodium leads to high blood pressure and increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. But how much salt is too much?

After almost a decade of controversy over this question, the National Academies of Science released new recommendations last year, says Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist, professor of medicine at Tufts University and dean of the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

According to the new guidelines, adults shouldnt eat more than 2,300 milligrams of salt per day. But in reality, Americans are eating much more than that close to 3,500 milligrams on average, Mozaffarian says.

Globally, we're kind of right about average. There are some countries that are actually around [2,200 to 2,300] milligrams a day on average where they should be, mostly countries in Africa, he says. There's countries that are around 5,500, especially in Asia and China, where there's huge amounts of soy sauce.

There arent any clear benefits to having a lot of salt in your diet, Mozaffarian says. Sodium actually causes more harm than good. For one, it raises blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Sodium gets into our bloodstream and it expands the volume, the amount of fluid in your bloodstream, he explains, and it makes the kidneys work harder to pump it out, and it makes the heart work harder to pump that extra fluid.

Over the long term, high blood pressure can lead to scarring in blood vessels, the heart and kidneys, which can lead to problems such as heart or kidney failure, he says.

Mozaffarian says its pretty simple for individuals to gradually reduce salt intake because the human tongue receptors for salt are very adaptable.

Within a few weeks, if you changed your salt intake and you increased it or decreased it dramatically, the tongue receptors adjust, so the food tastes the same again, he says. So that means if as a population, as a whole, we slowly reduce salt in this country over a few years, nobody would notice. All of our tongues would adapt and we'd be healthier.

On an individual basis, reducing salt intake is easy. But in order to reduce salt levels on a mass scale, restaurants and the food industry need to get on board, Mozaffarian says.

In countries such as the United Kingdom and Turkey, governments have partnered with industry to establish voluntary sodium reduction targets, he says. But in the U.S., Congress has blocked similar efforts after pushback from parts of the food industry.

How foods are packaged and preserved needs to fundamentally change, Mozaffarian says.

Salt plays a key role in keeping foods fresh, he says. About 80% of salt in the U.S. food supply is from packaged and processed foods. In fact, a single slice of bread on average has more sodium than a serving of potato chips, he says.

A serving of potato chips might have 80 or 100 milligrams of sodium on average. A single slice of bread, just one slice, can have 300 milligrams of sodium, he says. Bread shouldn't last for weeks in the grocery store and on your shelf without going bad, but it does. Much of that is the high sodium.

Its important to be more conscious of the amount of sodium in processed foods, especially now as more people are cooking at home during the coronavirus pandemic, Mozaffarian says.

I think that nutrition is as important as ever, he says. I think, for those that are able to do it, [with] restaurants being closed, this is a great time to learn how to cook and get reacquainted with cooking. That's the simplest way to lower salt.

Julia Corcoran produced and edited this interview for broadcast with Tinku Ray. Samantha Raphelson adapted it for the web.

Original post:
One Easy Way To Improve Your Overall Health: Eat Less Salt - WBUR

Its popular to take dietary supplements without a prescription, but does this heath trend work?

Health experts say no.

For example, Vitamin C is found in many foods and is good to have in your diet. Thats why Vitamin C supplements are touted as a great way to boost your immune system and fight off infection.

But they dont actually work, and high doses can cause a number of side effects including nausea, cramps, and an increased risk of kidney stones

Why? Our bodies can only absorb a few hundred milligrams of Vitamin C at a time.

So how can you boost your immune system?Superfoods like chia seeds and coconut oil? Nope again.

Todays Healthy Living separates fact from fiction on how some at-home habits can help you keep your health in tip-top shape. Watch the video above to learn more.

Excerpt from:
Healthy Living: Myths vs. Facts on 'Boosting' The Immune System - 9 & 10 News - 9&10 News

MIKE TYSON has been doing the rounds to physically prepare for his sensational boxing comeback aged 53.

Tyson, who retired in 2005, has a whole new diet and cardio regime as well as going through a "weird" stem cell treatment.

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It comes after the former heavyweight king announced plans to make a return to the ring to compete in exhibition bouts for charity, and has been training for the last month to do so.

Speaking to rapper LL Cool J on the Rock the Bells Radio show on SiriusXM, Tyson explained the methods he is using to get back into fighting shape, as he revealed: "Really I would just change my diet and just do cardio work.

"Cardio has to start, you have to have your endurance to go and do the process of training.

"So something to do is get in cardio, I would try and get two hours of cardio a day, make sure you get that stuff in. Youre gonna make sure youre eating the right food.

"For me its almost like slave food. Doing what you hate to do but doing it like its nothing. Getting up when you dont want to get up.

"Thats what it is. Its becoming a slave to life.

"Being a slave to life means being the best person you can be, being the best you can possibly be, and when you are at the best you can possibly be is when you no longer exist and nobody talks about you. Thats when youre at your best."

Tyson's return to training for the first time in 15 years has been aided by stem-cell research therapy, that has left him feeling like a "different person".

Stem-cell therapy is the use of stem cells to treat or prevent a disease or condition that usually takes the form of a bone marrow transplantation.

Tyson was asked whether that meant if his white blood had been spun and then put back in, to which he replied: "Yes. As they took the blood it was red and when it came back it was almost transfluid (sic).

"I could almost see through the blood, and then they injected it in me.

"And Ive been weird ever since, Ive got to get balanced now."

Having previously claimed he feels in the best shape of his life, Tyson revealed he will be ready to fight again in just six weeks.

He said: "My mind would belong to somebody that disliked me enough to break my soul, and I would give them my mind for that period of time.

"Six weeks of this and Id be in the best shape Ive ever dreamed of being in. As a matter of fact, Im going through that process right now. And you know what else I did, I did stem-cell research."

WHAT IS STEM CELL TREATMENT USED FOR?

Stem cell transplants are carried out when bone marrow is damaged or isnt able to produce healthy blood cells.

It can also be used to replace damaged blood cells as the result of intensive cancer treatment.

Here are conditions that stem cell transplants can be used to treat:

Revealed

MONEY MIKEMike Tyson's earnings from all his major fights revealed as he raked in 557m

BLOOD SPORTMike Tyson injected by docs with translucent blood that made him feel 'weird'

WEATHER THE STORMMayweather demands 500MILLION to make stunning boxing return

NO W-HAYEHaye snubs Mike Tyson in top 5 heavyweights of all time and details sad decline

TONE IT DOWNTyson Fury is No1 in world but Anthony Joshua would beat him says Bellew

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SON OF A GUNTeddy Atlas lost 30m after holding gun to Mike Tyson's head when he was 15

GARDEN PARTYEddie Hearn reveals plan to bring boxing back by hosting fights in his GARDEN

LIGHT READINGFury releases new diet and training book after incredible 10st weight loss

KNUCKLE UPTyson in talks over Bare Knuckle bout after first rejecting 16m offer

GYPSY SWINGFury names his next THREE fights as he refuses to pay Wilder to step aside

During his reign as champion, Tyson would wake up at 4.30am to run before later heading to the gym where he would do 10-12 rounds of boxing mixed in with an array of muscles exercises.

His diet consisted of 3000-4000 calories of carbohydrates and proteins which helped fuel his training sessions.

Tyson, still the youngest heavyweight champion of all time at 20, retired with a record of 50-6-2 and remains one of the most celebrated punchers of all time.

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Excerpt from:
How Mike Tyson is in such incredible shape at 53 thanks to new diet, cardio and weird stem cell tre - The Sun

What has COVID-19 changed for the EUs Farm to Fork Strategy? Nothing apart from underlining the urgency of transforming our food systems, write Nick Jacobs, Celia Nyssens and Nikolai Pushkarev.

Nick Jacobs is the Director of the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food (IPES-Food), Celia Nyssens is Policy Officer for Agriculture at the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), and Nikolai Pushkarev is Policy Coordinator for Food Systems & NCD Prevention at the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA)

Is COVID-19 proving the resilience of our food systems, or revealing them to be broken? With the EUs Farm to Fork Strategy only days away, and key aspects still undecided, this is proving to be one of the major battlegrounds of the post-COVID landscape.

But the question of whether food systems are broken or not is missing the point. A house with a leaking roof and a rapidly eroding foundation is not broken, and may look fine, but it is not a safe place to live. While lockdowns and changes in demand have (briefly) disrupted supply chains, food has, by and large, continued to flow. This has allowed some to proclaim the system resilient the house is still standing. But is that a proof of the sustainability of the food system?

Probably not. The more fundamental question is: are food systems able to deliver healthy and sustainable diets for all, and decent livelihoods for food system workers, now and in a future context of increasing volatility and climate shocks?

On these counts, COVID-19 exposes major cracks below the surface. Food systems are not working for farmers with perennially low incomes who are now unable to sell their produce. They are not working for seasonal agricultural workers forced to live and work in unsanitary conditions in the middle of a pandemic, or for delivery drivers on zero hour contracts with no sick pay. Nor are they meeting the needs of low-income populations with little access to healthy food who are disproportionately suffering from diet-related health conditions. And food systems are certainly not working for the worlds poorest people, with the UN predicting a doubling of extreme hunger in the wake of the pandemic.

Furthermore, as noted by the Commissions scientific advisors, food systems are fundamentally unsustainable on all counts: environmental, economic and social. Continuing with business as usual will significantly endanger natural resources, our health, the climate, and the economy.

What has proven resilient, therefore, is the ability of the industrial, inequitable food system model to stay in place despite growing evidence of its shortcomings. The current crisis has been seized as an opportunity to roll back progress, i.e. to put the brake on the Farm to Fork Strategy, to shield the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) from real reform, and, under the guise of promoting food security, to refocus attention on calorie production rather than nutrition.

The Farm to Fork Strategy, and the broader European Green Deal, offer a chance to show that sustainability and food security are inextricably linked, to identify the transition to sustainable food systems as the route to resilience and food security, and to kick-start the long-term transformation of our food system that scientists, civil society and farming groups are calling for.

As we prepare for the post-coronavirus world, we need transformative policies to fix the cracks and scale up and sustain the new social innovations that have sprung up during the crisis. The Farm to Fork Strategy must therefore deliver in the following areas:

Secure livelihoods based on safe conditions and decent incomes. The Strategy offers a unique opportunity to break the cycles of low farmgate prices, insecure farming livelihoods, and reliance on CAP subsidies. COVID-19 has shown that farmers and food-workers face disproportionate risks and reap too little value, making this situation increasingly untenable.

Support social innovation and short supply chains. Like shock absorbers, citizens groups and producers have found innovative ways to sell, transport, and distribute food through the crisis. Across the EU (e.g. in France and Poland), demand has soared for community-supported agriculture (CSA) schemes and other forms of direct sales. These short supply chains are generally performing well under the strains of the crisis, and must now be scaled up.

Accelerate the shift to agroecology. Building a sustainable and resilient food system requires diversity at all levels, from the field, to the farm and regional levels, through a paradigm shift to agroecology, as recognised by the FAO, IPCC, and IPBES. This shift can build resilience by slowing the habitat destruction that drives disease outbreaks and providing secure jobs through the year, thereby reducing the reliance on temporary labour forces.

Create food environments that enable healthy and sustainable diets. A sustainable food systems transition requires a collective shift in eating patterns towards healthy, more plant-rich diets. This is not about telling people what to eat, or imposing a global diet. It means creating enabling food environments where the healthy and sustainable food options become the default, most attractive and affordable ones.

To catalyse these changes, the EU will need to set ambitious targets underpinned by action and resources, for example on reducing pesticides and fertiliser use, but also related to nutrition, jobs, or soil protection to name but a few.

The fact that food supply chains have not collapsed does not mean that they are sustainable or fair. As we start planning for the post-coronavirus world, we must continue to be guided by scientists and experts. And their advice is unequivocal: radical system-wide change is required, with business as usual no longer a viable option.

See the article here:
What has COVID-19 changed for the EU's Farm to Fork Strategy? - EURACTIV

Have you abandoned your bras? Or are you still getting dressed up in lockdown? (Pictures: supplied/Metro.co.uk)

We are about to enter week eight of lockdown. Which means, for those of us with the privilege of being able to work from home, real clothes are a distant memory.

Most of us are slobbing through our days in an odd mixture of pyjamas and fitness gear, slippers with socks, bird nest hair, and absolutely, unequivocally, no bra.

But, not everyone has let their standards slide off a cliff in lockdown. Some women are still wearing real clothes including bras, jeans, even full make-up despite not seeing another human being in the flesh for weeks.

And they say it is making a world of difference to their mental health, attitude and overall well-being. They say there is power in wearing real clothes and making an effort particularly when it is only for yourself.

We spoke to some of these denim-clad heroes to find out how theyre doing it, and why they are refusing to succumb to the loungewear life.

Wearing normal clothes like jeans and makeup helps give me some routine and regularity to the situation were all in.

Plus, Im still working full-time from home, so I dont really want to go bare-faced on a video call with my colleagues. I want to maintain some professional decorum, even if it is only from the waist, up!

My eating habits have changed since lockdown, and Im only just settling back into my usual healthy diet that would take me from Monday-Friday. Something simple like wearing mom jeans helps me to normalise the situation. It keeps me motivated as a work outfit, and I dont feel so stressed about weight gain because Ive allowed myself to wear something with a bit of give in them.

I made sure not to give myself any added pressure and things to worry about from the moment we started WFH.

I put on clothes that make me feel happy to go to the Post Office in my local Tesco Metro.

I live alone and dont see anyone, so I treat it as an opportunity to remember what freedom feels like.

I tend to wear floaty dresses, bright flat shoes, maybe some earrings.

Im still wearing things that are super comfortable but they make me feel good and have turned something that I dreaded (leaving the house) in to a little adventure.

The sales of my art prints are whats keeping me afloat so I have to go to the Post Office most days at the moment.

I think there are a couple of different reasons Im still wearing real clothes.

Lockdown has given me a chance to reconnect with different parts of my creativity because I am unable to work in the same way.

I am channeling more of a festival vibe, whereas work normally means I need to dress very practically. It is kind of nice to get up in the morning and put on something from my wardrobe that might have lacked a bit of love.

I have a shed load of vintage stuff which is fun to wear but rarely gets an outing because of what I have to do in a day I often look after young nieces and nephews.

I guess it is a self care thing too, taking the time to make yourself feel good. When it is just me and my screen why not mix it up.

Not only am I keeping up my nails and glam at home, I got rid of 80% of my clothes to welcome in my upgraded wardrobe.

Paying attention to beauty has helped me feel like Im prioritising myself and looking after myself. Wearing my favourite colours cheers me up.

I also feel like Ive been dressing and staying beautiful for me which reflects my values rather than trying to dress to be appropriate for others.

I threw out the other clothes because they were drab and thats not who I am!

I refuse to dress like a slob during lockdown. Ive been working from home for a few years now so been dressing up to stay in, but I feel so much better if Im showered and looking nice.

My friend who runs the village store told me I was the most stylish customer in Lockdown (not sure about that) and my husband said he can see why I bother dressing up because you get in a better mindset.

My days currently consist of home schooling and looking after my three boys and trying to run my business in the moments around that.

I work full-time as an ops manager and I feel that its important to present myself well, even though we are all working remotely, as it sets a good example to the team.

In general, it makes me feel 100% more productive and in the work frame of mind, other than being in loungewear/no makeup as I maybe would on a lazy Sunday.

I am often having video calls with people external from the business and the impression I wish to make is the same as if we were meeting in person, that I am a smart person who looks after myself.

For me wearing real clothes, especially jeans makes me feel ready for the day and most like myself.

When I try to work in pjs for example, I struggle to differentiate between my work day and home life, which is never good, especially at a time like this.

I personally find jeans super comfy and have no plans to stop wearing them no matter how long lockdown goes on for!

During lockdown, I have been dressing up and wearing a little bit of makeup every day. I enjoy wearing clothes I love and I do so for myself.

Picking an outfit I like and wearing mascara and lipstick brightens up my day, even though I only leave the house to go to the supermarket and to walk my dog and nobody sees my lipstick under a facemask.

I even wore heels in the park a couple of times!

The reason I do this is because it makes me feel good and it gives me a sense of normality and routine during not very normal times.

The only thing I let go a bit wild is my hair.

Its partly for a morning routine; if I do the same things as I did on a morning travelling in to work, I find it wakes me up and my mind focuses a lot more easily on the tasks I need to tackle.

Since I work in IT/digital, my days are still very busy and I need that focus.

Dressing for the office also helps me tap into my work face now we are all online, the boundaries between professional and personal have become a lot more blurred, and it helps me retain a layer of between who I am at home and who I am at work.

Like moving my desk to its own corner of my flat so when I leave it, I know I am finished with the day.

I use makeup, perfume and different styles of outfit to draw lines between work, socialising and pure relaxation and help me be wholly in the moment of whatever I am doing.

It just makes me feel more like my self.

Its a form of self-care, I think. Much needed in these times where emotions go up and down in an instant.

And given that I work full-time and parent and study too, it helps get into the active business as usual mindset.

I love my activewear, but I reserve that for evenings, mornings and weekends when I exercise.

Getting dressed in the morning and putting together a great outfit for the rest of the day motivates me to get up and start the day as does having my morning tea.

I use clothing as a means of comfort, distraction and fun. I feel making a effort helps me to feel a little better and lifts my mood, which I think is great for your mental health and self-esteem.

One of my favourite things before lockdown was buying nice pieces in charity shops, buying these pieces always cheered me up if Id had a bad day.

Now, putting together a cool outfit in the morning instead of staying in my pjs all day makes me feel great and motivates me at the same time.

To get dressed in a nice outfit is a form of taking control and it helps structure your day, giving you a routine, which is hugely important.

Wearing real clothes to WFH really helps give me a sense of purpose and helps me get into a routine.

I found that wearing pjss and sportswear doesnt get me in the right frame of mind for work plus it doesnt look so professional when we as a company are part of webinars.

I even use my handbag to help keep me organised and file away my work stuff so when the working day is done I can put it all away, keep organised, change into my loungewear and switch off.

I find this routine really empowers me to make sure that I know when my work time is and when my work time isnt.

What do you think about abandoning bras in lockdown? We want to hear from you.

Get in touch: metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.

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Read more from the original source:
Meet the women still wearing jeans and makeup in lockdown - Metro.co.uk

We're all looking for easy ways to boost the nutrition of our meals as we remain safely at home during the coronavirus outbreak. So, youve heard chia seeds have superpowers. But, how exactly, does this little seed work wonders for your health? First up, theres their omega-3 fatty acid content, which is a veritable boon for your body: Chia seeds are high in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid that plays a key role in heart health, explains vegan nutritionist Tiffany Ma, RDN. Diets high in ALA may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, increase healthy cholesterol and improve blood pressure, she continues, noting that the ALA content in chia seeds exceeds the recommended Dietary Reference Intake for Americans, which is 1.6 grams per day for adult males and 1.1 grams per day for adult females. Just one tablespoon of chia seeds provides 1.32 g of ALA, surpassing the recommended daily amount for women and providing 83% recommended for men.

Monica Nedeff, RDN, echoes Mas praise of the tiny superfoods,pointing to a 2019 research article on the health benefits of chia seeds. [The scientific review found the] high omega-3 content of chia seeds to be helpful in reducing inflammation, decreasing cholesterol, and lowering blood pressuregreat in supporting a healthy heart, says Nedeff. Additionally, the study discussed the benefits of antioxidants in chia seeds for reducing the risk of chronic diseases, such as cancer, as well as the protective benefits in preventing diabetes, Alzheimers, and Parkinsons Disease. Its also worth noting that chia seeds, especially for vegans, are a great choice for protein and calcium. For a seed smaller than a piece of couscous, well certainly take benefits this big.

Unfortunately, however, when we think of chia seeds, many of us can think of few uses beyond put them in your smoothie. Prior to being enlightened, I could think of a few uses for them beyond watching them collect dust and march towards their expiration date in that overlooked drawer in the fridge. No more! Below, nutritionists weigh in on fun and creative ways to add chia seeds to your diet. Grab your trusty tablespoons and read on.

Chia seeds dont need to be relegated to the AM smoothie aisle. I love using chia seeds in baked goods, concedes Ma. Sneaking them into freshly baked oatmeal raisin cookies, banana bread, and homemade bread loaves is a great way to get your daily dose of chia seeds. The addition of chia seeds also adds an extra bite to baked goods, making it fun to eat, she adds. Try our healthy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies with chia seeds and youll never look back.

Pancake day is always the best day, and given these trying times, well take pancakes just about any day of the week. Add them into the batter of pancakes before [cooking], suggests Nedeff. (If youre making waffles, its the same deal.) We dare you to find pancakes you love more than these fluffy vegan banana pancakes.

We promise that even self-proclaimed non-cooks can execute this recipe. Chia seeds can absorb nine-to-12 times their volume in liquid, so try making a chia seed pudding by mixing 1 tablespoon chia seeds in a cup liquid such as juice, almond milk or another plant-based milk, says Nedeff. Stir every few minutes and within 15 minutes youll have a chia seed pudding, she continues. For more flavor, try jazzing up your chia pudding with Nedeffs favorites like vanilla extract, honey (if you eat it) or maple syrup, berries, and granola. Another smart tip: If you dont like the texture of the seeds, put the chia pudding in a blender and the seeds will be finely ground so that theyre less noticeable, Nedeff suggests.

Another savvy tip of Nedeffs? Sprinkle chia seeds on top of bagels and breads for extra texture and a no-effort nutrition boost without changing the flavor profile of a dish (your late-night PB&J will still taste just as delicious, we promise). If youve whipped up a batch of homemade granola, you may also want to spoon some chia seeds into the finished product before eating. Crunchy cinnamon granola for an afternoon procrastination session, nothing better.

Ma is a fan of slipping chia seeds into homemade jam recipes, experimenting with different types of berries like strawberries and blueberries. Chia seeds have a unique ability to gel due to [their] soluble fiber content, contributing to the overall texture of jams, she notes. All youll need to make a chia jam is a fruit, a sweetener like maple syrup or agave, and chia seeds. To fancy things up, consider adding a squeeze of citrus like lemon or lime juice, or even zesting a bit of these fruits rinds into your jam.

Originally posted here:
5 Genius Ways to Use Chia Seeds, According to Nutritionists - The Beet

After weeks of working from home, furloughs or unemployment, millions of Americans are returning to the workplace as COVID-19 restrictions lift. The transition may cause fear and anxiety. Experts at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and The Ohio State University College of Nursing say its important to take precautions to avoid infection, but also to deal with the stress of transitioning back to their offices or businesses after an extended period of isolation.

Uncertainty and unpredictability can really create an unhealthy amount of fear and stress, especially when its sustained over such a long period of time, said Dr. K. Luan Phan, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. Challenges will remain as businesses reopen, and the typical workplace will look very different following this pandemic. Well have to find new ways to connect with colleagues and work as a team while maintaining our distance and preventing the spread of infection.

Precautions like taking every employees temperature upon arrival, providing face masks, keeping workspaces at least six feet apart and being vigilant about wiping down surfaces are important to preventing the spread of the virus. Those actions can also make everyone feel safer and less anxious.

Physical and mental health are closely intertwined. While you practice good hygiene and physical distancing in the office, you should also practice stress-reduction, said Bernadette Melnyk, dean of the College of Nursing and Chief Wellness Officer at Ohio State. For example, while you wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, take the opportunity to take five deep, abdominal breaths. Doing this at least five times a day can reduce anxiety and even lower your blood pressure.

In addition to stress relief, healthy lifestyle choices like daily physical activity, a healthy diet and getting at least seven hours of sleep per night can boost your immune system and help stave off serious illness. Experts say its also more important than ever to stay home when you feel sick to help keep yourself and your co-workers healthy.

To help ease their fears, Phan encourages employees to ask about what will change at work to keep them safe.

Ask their employer, ask their team leader, how are they being protected? What precautions are in place? What new setups to the workplace environment have been established in order to keep themselves and their co-workers safe so that they don't get infected, said Phan, who is a professor at Ohio States College of Medicine. Handshakes, things that we usually do to show physical support for one another, will also not be allowable. So we'll have to find new ways to connect in this new work environment.

There can be a lot of fear surrounding the return to normalcy or what will now become normal, so Phan and Melnyk offer these tips to help transition safely to a post-COVID-19 work life:

Manage Stress: Many people already have a lot of stress and anxiety during this time, and adjusting to being back in the workplace may add to those feelings. Utilizing stress-reduction apps, practicing mindfulness and self-care that calms your breathing and nerves, and making a plan for you and your family to manage the transition back to work can all go a long way to building resilience and helping you feel better about returning.

Dont let your guard down: Just because theres an ease on restrictions doesnt mean the threat is gone. You still need to take precautions wash your hands for at least 20 seconds while taking five big deep breaths, keep sanitizer and disinfecting wipes handy and clean surfaces often. Wear a mask and avoid shaking hands in common areas, meetings or when interacting with customers. (Editor's Note: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that hand sanitizers should contain at least 60 percent alcohol.)

Keep your distance: Avoid crowding into conference rooms and keep your workspace at least six feet from your nearest co-worker. Continue holding virtual meetings and limit direct contact. Many adjustments were made to help employees work from home during the coronavirus outbreak. Health experts recommend continuing with remote work or staggering which employees are in the office when possible.

Stay fit to be well: Make changes that help you boost your immune system and fight off illnesses. About 80 percent of chronic conditions are preventable by engaging in a few lifestyle behavior changes, such as regular physical activity, eating at least five fruits and vegetables per day, not smoking and limiting alcohol intake if you drink to one drink a day if you are a woman and two a day if you are a male. Those small changes can make a major difference in fighting the virus if youre infected.

Look out for your co-workers health: Stay home if you dont feel well, get your flu shot and, if a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available in the future, get that too. As workplaces begin to re-open, many are monitoring employee health with measures such as daily temperature checks. If your employer doesnt take precautions you feel are needed to prevent the spread of illness, speak up so that your entire office can be and feel safer.

See the original post:
Ohio State experts offer tips for healthy transition to workplace as state reopens - Pike County News Watchman

You are quite right in looking to your diet along with external factors. All too often people tend to focus on topical products and forget the importance of considering what goes in the body.

Still, it is worth checking as to whether or not there have been any changes to the water - such as an increase in chlorination measures for additional disinfecting in response to COVID-19. There are shower and bath filter systems which are very effective in reducing chlorine exposure.

It is well worth the money to invest in a shower filter if you are sensitive to the chemicals in treated tap water.

We actually absorb more toxins from our bathing water than our drinking water, with around two thirds of chlorine exposure occurring via skin absorption and vapour inhalation during a shower.

Women, children and the elderly are the most likely to react to changes in the water or chemicals in topical preparations.

This happens more frequently with women because of their higher body fat ratio (toxins accumulate in fatty tissue); in children, it is because of their sensitive and young skin; and the elderly because of their more delicate and thin skin tissue.

The chlorine in tap water also destroys hair and skin proteins, which is why a shower filter can help to eliminate itching scalp conditions and dry or frizzy hair.

Now to look at dietary measures that may help. Essential fatty acids are crucial whenever dry skin or hair is an issue.

You can increase these in your diet by consuming more oily fish, increasing your intake of nuts, seeds, and fatty fruits (such as avocado), or simply taking a supplement.

If you know that you are sensitive, intolerant, or reactive to a certain food or food group, then you must cut it out completely to allow your scalp to settle down.

Sugar is often the culprit when it comes to flaking and itching scalp, as it overfeeds the unhealthy yeast and bacteria naturally found on our skin and in our bodies causing it to multiply out of control.

Many cases of flaking and itching scalp are a result of the overgrowth of the yeast Pityrosporum oval.

This imbalance in scalp flora then triggers an overproduction of oil from the sebaceous glands, which in turn means that you feel the need to wash your hair more frequently, which makes the flaking and itching even worse.

You may benefit from taking a probiotic supplement to help balance out the beneficial bacteria found in your gut and on your skin. Intestinal issues are closely linked with skin health, as is our immune health.

Finally, stress can certainly play a role in changes in hair and skin, so go gently on yourself this is a most challenging time.

Some people simply produce wax more frequently than others. Earwax, or cerumen, is produced to help protect your ear canals from dust, dirt, and infection.

It also helps to maintain the pH balance within the ear canals.

The glands responsible for wax production are located in the outer area of the ear canal, with the amount of wax in our ears typically being kept in check by the tiny hairs within the canals moving the build-up to the outer ear where it is easily removed.

This is our natural self-cleaning process.

One of the best natural products out there for cleaning ears safely is Audiclean.

It is a spray which can be used in the bath or shower, utilising the gentle action of bicarbonates to remove excess wax build up without removing the protective layer of wax from the ear canal. The company also makes a natural wax softening product, should you need it.

Audiclean is available from most pharmacies.

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Natural Health: 'My scalp has got itchy and flaky since I've started working from home' - Irish Examiner

After weeks of working from home, furloughs or unemployment, millions of Americans are returning to the workplace as COVID-19 restrictions lift. The transition may cause fear and anxiety.

Experts at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and The Ohio State University College of Nursing say its important to take precautions to avoid infection, but also to deal with the stress of transitioning back to offices or businesses after an extended period of isolation.

Uncertainty and unpredictability can really create an unhealthy amount of fear and stress, especially when its sustained over such a long period of time, Dr. K. Luan Phan, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. Challenges will remain as businesses reopen, and the typical workplace will look very different following this pandemic. Well have to find new ways to connect with colleagues and work as a team while maintaining our distance and preventing the spread of infection.

Precautions like taking every employees temperature upon arrival, providing face masks, keeping workspaces at least six feet apart and being vigilant about wiping down surfaces are important to preventing the spread of the virus. Those actions can also make everyone feel safer and less anxious.

Physical and mental health are closely intertwined. While you practice good hygiene and physical distancing in the office, you should also practice stress-reduction, said Bernadette Melnyk, dean of the College of Nursing and chief wellness officer at Ohio State. For example, while you wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, take the opportunity to take five deepabdominal breaths. Doing this at least five times a day can reduce anxiety and even lower your blood pressure.

In addition to stress relief, healthy lifestyle choices like daily physical activity, a healthy diet and getting at least seven hours of sleep per night can boost your immune system and help stave off serious illness. Experts say its also more important than ever to stay home when you feel sick to help keep yourself and your co-workers healthy.

To help ease their fears, Phan encourages employees to ask about what will change at work to keep them safe.

Ask their employer, ask their team leader, how are they being protected? What precautions are in place? What new setups to the workplace environment have been established in order to keep themselves and their co-workers safe so that they don't get infected? said Phan, who is a professor inOhio States College of Medicine. Handshakes, things that we usually do to show physical support for one another, will also not be allowable. So we'll have to find new ways to connect in this new work environment.

There can be a lot of fear surrounding the return to normalcy or what will now become normal, so Phan and Melnyk offer these tips to help transition safely to a post-COVID-19 work life:

Manage Stress: Many people already have a lot of stress and anxiety during this time, and adjusting to being back in the workplace may add to those feelings. Utilizing stress-reduction apps, practicing mindfulness and self-care that calms your breathing and nerves, and making a plan for you and your family to manage the transition back to work can all go a long way to building resilience and helping you feel better about returning.

Dont let your guard down: Just because theres an ease on restrictions doesnt mean the threat is gone. You still need to take precautions wash your hands for 20 seconds while taking five big deep breaths, keep sanitizer and disinfecting wipes handy and clean surfaces often. Follow existing guidelines about wearing a mask and avoid shaking hands in common areas, meetings or when interacting with customers.

Keep your distance: Avoid crowding into conference rooms and keep your workspace at least six feet from your nearest co-worker. Continue holding virtual meetings and limit direct contact. Many adjustments were made to help employees work from home during the coronavirus outbreak. Health experts recommend continuing with remote work or staggering which employees are in the office when possible.

Stay fit to be well: Make changes that help you boost your immune system and fight off illnesses. About 80 percent of chronic conditions are preventable by engaging in a few lifestyle behavior changes, such as regular physical activity, eating at least five fruits and vegetables per day, not smoking, and limiting alcohol intake if you drink up to one drink a day if you are a woman and two perday if you are a male. Those small changes can make a major difference in fighting the virus if youre infected.

Look out for your co-workers health: Stay home if you dont feel well, get your flu shot and, if a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available in the future, get that, too. As workplaces begin to re-open, many are monitoring employee health with measures such as daily temperature checks. If your employer doesnt take precautions you feel are needed to prevent the spread of illness, speak up so that your entire office can be and feel safer.

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Ohio State experts offer tips for healthy transition to post-COVID-19 workplace - The Ohio State University News

It's time to get back to the basics of good health. Although we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians are taking precautions to safely resume preventive care, both in their offices and virtually, with telehealth audio and video options.

While you have been at home, and away from work or school, you may have let some healthy habits slip. Its easy to do. The pandemic has turned our usual way of life upside down, and for many people, diet, exercise, and mental health are suffering.

Primary care physician Meghan Hunter, DO, with Memorial Hermann Medical Group, encourages patients to "get back to the doctor. You may not have symptoms, but your numbers may have changed. Things like blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and BMI.

Start here: checkups and well visitsDid you miss your annual checkup or well-woman exam during the stay-at-home order? Its not a problem to postpone your checkup by a few months, but dont skip your annual physical, Dr. Hunter says.

Seeing your physician regularly is an important part of staying well. Early detection is the one of the best defenses against illness. Having an annual checkup can help you and your physician identify health problems early, when treatments are most successful.

Your healthcare appointments may look different for a while, but providers are taking important steps to minimize your risk of infection so you can feel safe in the waiting room and exam room.

We are screening patients over the phone when they schedule an appointment, and again when they arrive in the office, and we are taking temperatures, Dr. Hunter says.

Know your numbersOne of the best ways to maintain good health is to know your health statistics. Do you know your current blood pressure? What about your cholesterol levels? As you get back on track with good health, it is important to know whether your numbers are in the healthy range.

Your primary care provider will assess your overall health, and if your numbers are in an unhealthy zone, you can work together to develop a plan to restore your good health.

Take control of your dietWhile daily schedules are disrupted, you may be tempted to graze on snacks instead of eating sensible meals. People are home, and they often snack out of boredom, Dr. Hunter says. Stress eating is also very common these days.

If your diet needs some help, a good place to start is sticking to a consistent meal schedule every day, including plenty of fruits and vegetables. Healthy snacks can be part of your food plan, but be sure to keep an eye on portion size and limit the number of snacks you have each day.

Stay activeSocial distancing does not mean you cant leave your home. Get outside and enjoy the spring weather, Dr. Hunter says.

It is safe to leave your home, and exercise is important to your health. If you have been sedentary during the stay-at-home order, then be sure to start out slowly. Activities like walking and biking are great options because you can easily maintain social distance and go at your own pace.

Be mindful of your mental healthThis is a really tough time with mental health issues, Dr. Hunter says. Everybody is under a great deal of stress, and those with underlying anxiety or depression are having those issues exacerbated.

If you are struggling with fear and nervousness about contracting the virus, or if you have lost your job, or if you feel unprepared to homeschool your children, know that you are not alone.

To help ease the stress of feeling isolated, Dr. Hunter advises finding ways to connect with family and friends. Pick up the phone, send a text, or connect through video platforms.

Talking to other people is a stress reliever, she says. If you feel that stress, anxiety or depression is more than you can handle, reach out to your primary care provider or a therapist.

COVID-19 has interrupted our lives, but it has also given us time to identify things in life that are meaningful. One of those meaningful parts of life is good health. As we begin to move back to normal, remember to take care of yourself and be proactive in seeking preventive care.

Looking for a new primary care physician? Memorial Hermann Medical Group can help.

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Houston medical experts on how to be healthy during and after COVID-19 - CultureMap Houston