Editor:

Voters in the Edmonds School District will soon be receiving ballots with a Capital Levy proposal to maintain a steady, local education tax rate over the next six years. I hope you will join me with an enthusiastic yes vote!

We have all seen our southwest Snohomish County region continue to grow, even through the pandemic. Ensuring our school buildings and facilities are safe, maintained, and upgraded to meet the evolving needs of our communities must be a top priority. These levy funds are only available for capital improvements including addressing building capacity issues in response to overcrowding. They cannot be used for staff salaries.

Far beyond the vital function of education, this last year has underscored stronger than ever the roles our local public schools fill as a backbone for social development, athletics, and basic life necessities like daily nutrition and family support.

As many community members may be sending their students back to buildings, we need to set up our school facilities, our children and our communities for success. Please support the Edmonds School Districts 2021 Capital Levy this April to make long-term improvements to our public schools.

More detailed information is available at edmonds.wednet.edu.

Luke DistelhorstEdmonds School District parent

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If youve had migraine with aura that triggered an epileptic seizure, you might have experienced migraine-induced epilepsy.

Another name for this phenomenon is migralepsy.

Scientists have debated the existence and terminology of this phenomenon for some time.

Currently, the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) acknowledges it as migraine aura-triggered seizure.

However, epilepsy authorities do not acknowledge the condition.

Migralepsy is a rare event in which you experience a migraine episode with an aura and then a seizure soon afterward. The migraine episode triggers the seizure.

However, a 2018 review noted that epilepsy and migraine can often be hard to tell apart. Both cause episodes or attacks, and both conditions can cause similar symptoms, such as:

You might experience a migraine episode after a seizure during whats called the postictal state, but experts dont consider this migralepsy.

If you experience migraine episodes and you have epilepsy, but the two dont seem to be related, thats not migralepsy either.

Here are the symptoms youll experience in the order they appear in migralepsy, according to the ICHD-3.

First youll have a migraine episode with an aura.

The aura happens minutes or hours before the headache starts and each symptom can last about an hour. An aura can also happen during the headache.

An aura is a collection of neurological symptoms that usually come on gradually. You might experience all or just some of them.

Less common aura symptoms include motor weakness and speech disturbances, like slowed speech or feeling unable to speak.

There are several subtypes of migraine with aura. Your doctor will be able to help you identify which subtype youre experiencing.

Migralepsy isnt normally associated with migraine episodes that do not come with an aura. However, more research is needed.

With migralepsy, you experience a seizure within 1 hour of having migraine with aura.

A seizure is an episode in which you move involuntarily for a short period of time. It can affect all or part of your body and you may lose control of your bladder or bowels. Sometimes seizures cause you to lose consciousness.

Types of epileptic seizures include:

Migraine and seizures may be connected by similar patterns of brain activity. However, scientists dont currently understand exactly how theyre related.

About 1 to 17 percent of people who have migraine also have epilepsy, and people with epilepsy have reported a frequency of migraine episodes of 8.4 to 20 percent, according to a 2011 review of research.

In a seizure, massive waves of electrical activity pass through areas of the brain, activating many neurons in sync.

In a migraine episode, your brain experiences a similar slowly spreading wave of electrical activity. It can last for several minutes, and scientists have found its associated with experiencing migraine aura.

Scientists have proposed that the electrical wave in a migraine episode can lower the threshold for a seizure to occur, meaning you may be more likely to experience a seizure.

Factors that might increase your risk of migralepsy include having:

Some drugs or surgery that help with migraine and epilepsy may help with migralepsy.

Some migraine-preventing drugs may prevent cortical spreading depression the slow wave of electrical activity in your brain that happens when you experience migraine with aura.

These include sodium valproate or valproic avid (Depakene, Depakote, Epival) and topiramate (Topamax, Trokendi XR, Qudexy XR), which are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

If you have migralepsy that isnt going away with treatment, your doctor may consider trying opioids. Opioids are a prescription medication used to treat moderate to severe pain. They have a risk of serious side effects, including addiction.

A 2017 review of five case studies found that opioids might have a strong preventive effect against migralepsy.

The review followed five people who experienced a combination of migraine and drug-resistant epilepsy, in which migraine episodes appeared to trigger the seizures.

In all five people, migraine episodes and seizures completely stopped when people took the opioid drug oxycodone daily. When they stopped taking the drug, the migraine episodes and seizures resumed.

Its important to note that these were case studies, so theyre not conclusive. More research is needed on the use of opioids as a treatment for migralepsy.

Some people with epilepsy who dont respond to drug treatment to resolve their seizures may find surgical interventions effective.

If you think you have migralepsy, start by talking with a neurologist. You may need to get a referral from another healthcare professional first. Neurologists can diagnose your condition and help you find the treatment thats most appropriate for your circumstances.

Changing your diet may also help reduce migralepsy episodes. Many studies suggest that the ketogenic diet can help treat epilepsy.

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that makes the body shift from using blood sugar as fuel to using fats instead.

When this happens, a metabolic process breaks down fat into molecules called ketone bodies. Your body, including your brain cells, uses these for energy instead of glucose from carbohydrates.

Several studies have shown that the ketogenic diet may help reduce or completely eliminate seizures in some children and adults with epilepsy.

A ketogenic diet may also help reduce migraine episodes, although theres less research on this. A 2013 case study found twin sisters migraine episodes stopped when they went on a low-calorie ketogenic diet.

A 2014 study in women with overweight who also had migraine found more promising evidence. One group of participants went on a very-low-calorie ketogenic diet for 1 month, then a standard low-calorie diet for 5 more months.

The other group went on the standard low-calorie diet for the whole 6 months.

The group that started their regimen with 1 month of the ketogenic diet had significantly reduced:

Meanwhile, those who ate a standard low-calorie diet for the whole study period only started experiencing improvements at the 3-month mark.

The researchers suggested that the ketogenic diet might help improve metabolism in brain cells and potentially reduce inflammation.

However, more research is needed on the effects of diet on migralepsy.

According to the ICHD-3, a person needs to show the symptoms listed above to be diagnosed with migraine aura-triggered seizure.

However, experts still debate the diagnosis of migralepsy. If you think you have migralepsy, its best to see a neurologist and tell them what you experienced.

Theyll ask you about your particular symptoms and history and make a diagnosis and treatment plan based on your particular needs.

If youre driving and you sense youre about to have a seizure, pull over immediately.

Some states ask people to tell the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that they have epilepsy and require them to be seizure-free for a certain number of months before allowing them to drive.

Migraine symptoms may also make you unable to drive safely. These might include:

If youre driving and you start to have a migraine, pull over and wait until the distracting or impairing symptoms pass.

If youre taking medication for migralepsy, epilepsy, or migraine, the drug might also impair your ability to drive. Ask your healthcare team or pharmacist whether its safe to drive while youre taking it.

Call for emergency medical help if a seizure lasts for more than 5 minutes or if you or someone youre with has experienced an injury during a seizure.

If you had migraine with aura that triggered a seizure, you may have experienced migralepsy.

However, even if you arent sure, but you have experienced one or more severe headaches, its worth visiting a healthcare professional.

Write down all the information you can about what happened before, during, and after the episode, and tell your doctor. This will help them make a diagnosis and identify triggers.

If you had a seizure for the first time, whether or not you also had a migraine, see a healthcare professional.

Scientists argue about whether migralepsy, or migraine-induced epilepsy, actually exists as its own condition.

However, migraine and seizures are both serious conditions.

If you experience either independently, or if you experience them together and think you may have migralepsy, record information about the event and see a healthcare professional right away.

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SPRINGFIELD As more people receive their COVID-19 vaccinations, polling shows people across the state are feeling hopeful the pandemic is on the wane. But many still have some reservations about making dinner reservations, going to a movie, or working out at a gym.

A poll conducted by the Western New England University Polling Institute showed Massachusetts residents generally are feeling a little less worried about the coronavirus, but there are significant differences in views when the data is broken down by race and ethnicity or by political affiliation.

The survey was conducted over the month of March. The Polling Institute contacted 415 adults by randomly dialing both landlines and cellphone numbers. The surveys were conducted only in English.

Of the 415 people surveyed, 377 said they were registered voters, and of those 133 identified as Democrats, 42 as Republicans and 188 were unenrolled.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 6 percentage points.

The survey found that 44% of respondents had concerns about contracting COVID-19, while 54% had few to no worries.

This is a basically reversal from a similar survey conducted in October, where 64% were either very or somewhat worried, and 32% were either not worried very much or not worried at all.

Just over a third of those surveyed in March reported having at least one vaccination shot.

In Western Massachusetts, 34% had concerns about exposure, while 61% did not.

Sixty-one percent of those surveyed said they feel life will return to normal in a year or less, a slight uptick from October, when it was 59%.

Statewide, 85% favored wearing masks in public and 13% opposed it. In October, 90% favored masks.

Tim Vercellotti, director of the Polling Institute and a professor of political science at the university, said the survey indicates people are ready for things to return to what they were like a year ago, before the pandemic, but many are cautious about getting their hopes up.

More people are willing to get vaccinated, and there is some sense of diminished threat from COVID-19, he said. But people remain worried about contracting the virus and a significant number believed that the pandemic is far from over.

Just over half, or 51%, expressed feeling safe or somewhat safe eating inside a restaurant, an increase of 5 percentage points from October. Also 46% felt safe attending a religious service, an increase of 7 percentage points, and 42% felt safe going to a movie, an increase of 11 points.

Most people, however, seemed reluctant to resume their gym membership. While the percentage feeling comfortable in a gym increased by 5 percentage points from the fall, it remained at 39%.

Perception of risk for these activities has softened somewhat since our last survey, but a lot of people still view these as potentially dangerous undertakings, Vercellotti said.

The survey also shows that, statewide, 60% supported elementary school students returning to school for in-person instruction five days a week. Twenty-nine percent expressed either strong or partial opposition. Many schools across the state resumed in-person instruction on Monday.

Among Western Massachusetts residents, the support for returning to the classroom was not as strong, with 49% in favor, 41% opposed and 10% with no opinion.

When the question is broken down by race or ethnicity, there appears to be a large split between whites and nonwhites.

Sixty-two percent of whites surveyed favored reopening schools, 26% opposed it, and 13% were neutral or had no opinion. Among nonwhites, 47% were in favor, 50% were opposed and 2% were neutral or had no opinion.

Overall, a majority of those surveyed gave Gov. Charlie Baker passing grades for the rollout of the vaccines, although his overall numbers for job performance and for leading the pandemic response each showed a dip from October.

His approval rating for overall job performance and for pandemic leadership were both 62%. This marks a decline of 6% in job performance and 5% in leadership since the previous survey.

When the data is broken down by political affiliation, Baker, a Republican, is less popular with his own party than he is among Democrats or unenrolled voters. Sixty-three percent of Democrats and 69% of unenrolled voters said they approve of Bakers job performance, compared to 47% of Republicans.

In terms of Bakers handling of the pandemic, 63% of Democrats and 70% of the unenrolled approved, compared to 51% of Republicans.

That same split by political affiliation turns up in a number of other areas when one drills down into the data, which could be a reflection of how politicized the pandemic response has become over the last several months.

Overall, 54% of Democrats and 45% of unenrolled voters were worried or somewhat worried about exposure to COVID-19, compared to 33% of Republicans. Sixty-four percent of Republicans said they have little to no worries about the coronavirus, including 39% who said they are not worried at all.

In the five categories chosen for public activity, Republicans felt relatively safe eating in a restaurant, going to a movie, attending religious services, flying in an airplane or working out in a gym.

For example, 61% of Republicans said they feel safe eating inside a restaurant, compared to 53% of independents and 36% of Democrats. Also 56% of Republicans feel safe working out in a gym, compared to 41% of independents and 27% of Democrats.

Ninety-five percent of Democrats and 84% of independents favored requiring people to wear masks in public, compared to 71% of Republicans.

Also 49% of Democrats reported receiving at least one dose of the vaccine, compared to 22% of Republicans and 30% of independents.

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The new Netflix documentary Seaspiracy made a splash of controversy on more than its content about the horrors of the fishing industry; this controversy came from many viewers who believed it should have been called ConspiraSea instead. But hate the name or love it, the film is sure to make anyone think twice before eating seafood.

The name controversy worked out surprisingly well for producers, Ali Tabrizi and Lucy Tabrizi, who said they have received more attention than they expected simply from people commenting on the fact that they believe the name should have been ConspiraSea. The reason for the name Seaspiracy was to relate to the movies predecessor Cowspiracy and because they thought the name ConspiraSea would have been confusing to spell.

But the documentarys intended controversy was in its bold claims regarding slavery in the fishing industry in addition to the damage caused to the ocean and sea creatures by the industry and the health risks from eating fish. And while these claims may be a shock to some people, many of the facts in the film have been known for a while. One bold claim is that approximately 46% of the 79 thousand tons of ocean plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is made up of fishing nets, some as large as football fields. This is true according to a study published in March 2018 in Scientific Reports. According to the Chief Scientist at the Ocean Conservancy, George Leonard, At least half of [ocean plastic waste] is not consumer plastics, which are central to much of the current debate, but fishing gear.

But the darkest side of the film shows shocking footage of interviews with victims of slavery at sea. This issue has been reported on before by the Environmental Justice Foundations (EJF) report, Blood and Water which details numerous cases of abuse, on vessels flying the flags of both developing and developed nations, from the E.U. and U.S. to Asia and South America. According to an article from The Maritime Executive, The report details cases of slavery, debt bondage, insufficient food and water, filthy living conditions, physical and sexual assault and murder aboard fishing vessels from 13 countries operating across three oceans.

This slavery at sea showcases a horrifying human rights issue. Other claims in the documentary showcase the harm done to sea life, like sharks, whales and dolphins.

Something that may shock tuna lovers is that the Dolphin-Safe label on tuna cannot guarantee that all tuna with that label actually didnt harm or kill dolphins. The Dolphin-Safe label is supposed to signify that no dolphins were killed or seriously injured as a result of the catching of the tuna contained in certain brands. Mark Palmer of the Earth Island Institute, the organization behind the Dolphin-Safe logo, confessed to a conflict of interest between the companies and organizations that dole out Dolphin-Safe and related labels and the fishing operations they give them to. He admitted that they could not fully guarantee that no dolphins were harmed during the catching of tuna, even with Dolphin-Safe labels.

Seaspiracy also managed to showcase an organization doing hard work to stop illegal fishing, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Sea Shepherd is an international, non-profit marine conservation organization that engages in direct action campaigns to defend wildlife, and conserve and protect the worlds oceans from illegal exploitation and environmental destruction. In an interview regarding the Dolphin-Safe tuna label, Sea Shepherds Captain Peter Hammarstedt explained that the biggest threat to whales and dolphins is commercial fishing.

The end of the film encourages viewers to move towards a vegan or plant-based diet, but Seaspiracy makers also emphasized in an Instagram Q&A that it is still important for people to cut down on their individual plastic use as well. The end of the film also featured information about the health downsides to eating fish, such as mercury contamination, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and microplastics in almost every fish that is consumed. They also showed some of the terrible conditions of farming fish that show that keeping fish in close proximity increases chances of disease. Farmed salmon in particular are susceptible to outbreaks of sea lice, according to the British Broadcasting System (BBC).

I went vegan in the beginning of January for environmental and animal rights reasons, but one of the hardest things for me to give up was tuna. Back when I ate tuna, I would always look for the Dolphin-Safe tuna and even now it feels discouraging to realize that the labels cant guarantee they are not harming dolphins.

I also loved sushi and always believed salmon was healthy for you because of the omega-3 fatty acids in it. The one part of the equation I was missing was that fish dont actually make omega-3s; they get them from eating algae. So now I eat what the fish eat and skip the middleman. According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, omega-3 fatty acids are readily available in a wide variety of plant foods, like walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, edamame, seaweed, and algae. Other green leafy vegetables and beans also contain small amounts. Additionally, omega-3s from a source like algae dont have toxic chemicals like PCBs found in some sea creatures. If you get to the end of Seaspiracy and realize you want to cut down on your fish intake, do not fear, there are lots of omega-3 sources available for you.

But its important to note after watching this film who the real culprit is, the commercial fishing industry. Small populations of people, or native, or indigenous people catching fish and eating it isnt where the problem lies. Its the large fishing industry destroying our seas and taking fish from the local people as well. And if you get to the end of the film and want to know more about the environmental impact of animal agriculture, make sure to watch Cowspiracy, my favorite documentary. If you cant quit seafood, maybe try to cut back a bit to help save our planet.

Photo courtesy of Netflix.

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If you give blood regularly, don't fret. Contrary to common misconceptions, blood donations are not associated with premature death or cancer. By donating blood, you'll be saving multiple lives.

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs some type of blood transfusion, and a single donation can save as many as three lives. Moreover, it's safe to donate blood several times a year, and institutions use sterile equipment for each donor to eliminate the risk of contracting infections.

That said, not everyone can become a blood donor. Certain health conditions may affect your eligibility to donate blood, such as dementia or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Here's what you need to know about how to become a blood donor safely.

When donating blood, there are several different ways to go about it. You can donate whole blood everything in the vial. Or, you can donate blood components like plasma, red blood cells, and platelets, where a machine separates your blood into the various components and then returns the leftovers to your body.

The main difference between each donation is how often you can safely do it.

"You can donate whole blood every 56 days or up to 6 times a year," says Bruce Sachais, MD, PhD, chief medical officer of the New York Blood Center. That's because, "it takes the body four to eight weeks to replace red blood cells," says Sachais." On the other hand, you can donate platelets and plasma more frequently.

Medical term: Platelets are blood cells that form clots to stop the bleeding, and plasma is the liquid part of blood that carries the proteins that are vital for blood clotting.Red blood cells are bring oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body and carry away CO2.

"Platelets may be donated up to 24 times a year and plasma up to 12 times a year," says Sachais. You can donate more frequently because the body replaces plasma and platelets faster than red blood cells.

"Donating blood is a safe activity," says Tho Pham, MD, chief medical officer of the Stanford Blood Center. However, if you donate too often, you may develop anemia, a condition where your blood doesn't have enough red blood cells, he says.

"That's one of the main reasons why we check the donor's hemoglobin level before every donation [] to ensure that it is high enough," says Pham. "Based [on] extensive research over a long period, the FDA has established federal guidelines around how often and how much individuals can donate blood so as not to compromise their health."

Blood donors should usually be at least 18 years old, but 16 to 17-year-olds may donate with written consent from their parent or legal guardian. There is generally no upper age limit, but some institutions require a physician's letter for donors above 75 years old.

"While about 38% of the US population can donate blood, others may be ineligible for a wide variety of reasons designed to protect patients who may be receiving the donated blood products or even to protect the donors themselves," says Pham.

Some factors temporarily prohibit you from donating blood, such as:

There are plenty of eligibility criteria to become a blood donor. If you're unsure whether or not you qualify, you can get in touch with a blood center near you to walk you through your eligibility.

Prior to your blood donation, there are several things you have to keep in mind, such as:

"Since donating whole blood temporarily decreases the amount of red blood cells, and therefore hemoglobin, in your system, it's advisable to take an iron supplement, especially after your donation, to give your body a little extra boost as it starts creating more red blood cells," says Pham.

Eating foods that are rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, bell peppers, strawberries, helps you absorb iron better.

You can donate one pint of blood every eight weeks, and it will take your body four to eight weeks to replace the number of red blood cells that you lost. You might not be allowed to donate blood depending on your medications, recent travel history, or certain health conditions like HIV, hepatitis B or C, or dementia.

Avoid drinking alcohol and eating fatty foods before your blood donation. Instead, get adequate sleep, drink plenty of water, and eat foods that are rich in iron and vitamin C to stay healthy and help your body create more blood cells.

"Long-term donation is safe. Many blood donors donate regularly over decades without health issues. Good nutrition, including eating iron-rich foods, help ensure blood levels return after each donation," says Sachais.

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Donating blood regularly is safe and an important public service here's how often you can donate - Insider

With the COVID-19 pandemic drawing more attention to America's obesity problem, a growing body of research indicates that our genetics should be used to determine what we eat.

Decades of research shows that, at least for most people, the secret to staving off disease is getting plenty of exercise and eating diet high in vegetables and with a healthy mix of fats, protein and carbs. But now a budding field called "nutrigenomics" aims to offer people personalized lifestyle advice based on each person's DNA.

Though still a new area of scientific study, researchers hope food plans based on genetic makeups will be more effective than traditional one-size-fits-all recommendations.

"Given the greater concern for high blood pressure, high blood sugar and obesity, and their association with severe COVID-19, I foresee a great emphasis on personalized nutrition, with the use of data from genetic tests and monitoring blood glucose, to help people make positive choices and decrease their risk," said Brigid Titgemeier, a functional medicine dietitian and founder of beingbrigid.com.

It's not the supplements or the food that we eat, it's what the food does to our body to make it heal itself.

Decades after the Human Genome Project mapped the genes of humans, scientists now are using this information to better understand how food can modify predispositions to disease and immune functions.

Nutrigenomics is described as a genetic approach to personalized nutrition, including not just diet but sleep patterns and one's overall lifestyle.

A doctor consults with a patient regarding diet nutrition in an undated stock image.

"It embraces this idea that despite all of us being 99.9% the same, there is that 0.1% that truly determines how you respond to the world around you," said Dr. Yael Joffe, founder and chief science officer of 3X4 Genetics.

"Following a diet that is restrictive or one seen on social media may result in some improvement, but they aren't sustainable and aren't data driven," said Dr. Marvin Singh, an integrative gastroenterologist and founder of Precisione Clinic. "Nutrigenomics provides an understanding of your predispositions and deficiencies. In terms of weight loss, it can provide data on particular gene mutations you have that might favor you acting or eating a certain way -- or even exercise patterns that may be more helpful."

Accessing one's genetic makeup can be done with saliva sampled from a cheek swab and sent to a lab. Using the data a subject gets back, Joffe said, can help inform that individual which foods can be eaten to turn on or off certain genes.

"We are all going to respond a bit differently when we eat a salad," said Kristin Kirkpatrick, a nutritionist and the president of KAK Nutrition consulting, "since there is no diet that is one-size-fits-all. We need to look at our DNA if we want to lose weight."

Diet and exercise is the first recommended treatment for the majority of the chronic diseases in the U.S. -- hypertension, obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol. But personalized nutrition based on genetics, research has shown, is more effective in reaching long-term weight-loss goals.

"Genetics is an extremely powerful behavioral tool to implement long-standing changes," Joffe added. "It's about you. It's your story. Not something you read on social media or the internet."

In his clinic, Singh finds that patients are more likely to stick to treatment plans tailored to their own genetics, so having access to that data helps him provide a framework for better treatments.

"A low-salt diet is recommended if someone has high blood pressure," Singh said, "but everyone's blood pressure may not respond to this. Using genetic information, I can see if a person's blood pressure would respond favorably to this dietary change and if there is something else that is driving their disease."

A doctor checks the weight of a patient in an undated stock image.

By changing variables such as sleep patterns, diet and exercise, it is ultimately difficult to measure the impact of a genetic test, explained Joffe.

Nutrigenomics is new and constantly evolving, and experts told ABC News there's much left to learn.

"More research needs to be done so we can have even more specific dietary guidance," Titgemeier said. "Right now, certain mutations in our genes can tell us to have a diet low in saturated fat, however, what we don't know is the percentage."

Health care consumers also need to be careful their genetic information doesn't end up in the wrong hands -- some companies have been found to collect and sell data to third parties. One of the best ways to avoid being scammed? Talk to your doctor.

"The best way to start is with your primary care [physician] and asking if they know someone who does nutrigenomics or if they can get some information on this," Kirkpatrick said.

Eventually, experts said, using food as medicine may help reduce the risk of other serious diseases such as Alzheimer's dementia or heart disease.

"It's not the supplements or the food that we eat, it's what the food does to our body to make it heal itself," Joffe said. "This area of gene expression is really the extraordinary power of where nutrition lies."

L. Nedda Dastmalchi, D.O., M.A., an internal medicine resident physician at The George Washington University, is a contributor to the ABC News Medical Unit.

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With obesity on the rise, the best diet may be tailored to our genes, experts say - ABC News

THURSDAY, April 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- For children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), a diet and exercise intervention might improve disease response, according to a study published online April 1 in Blood Advances.

Etan Orgel, M.D., from the Cancer and Blood Disease Institute at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and colleagues enrolled 40 patients aged 10 to 21 years newly diagnosed with B-ALL in the Improving Diet and Exercise in ALL trial and compared them to recent historical controls (80 participants). The intervention was intended to achieve caloric deficits 20 percent during induction, reduce fat intake and glycemic load, and increase activity. Fat mass (FM) gain, minimal residual disease (MRD; 0.01 percent), and adherence/feasibility were assessed as trial end points.

The researchers found that the intervention did not significantly reduce median FM change from baseline overall (+5.1 versus +10.7 percent; P = 0.13), but in a stratified analysis, there was a benefit for overweight/obese participants (+1.5 versus +9.7 percent; P = 0.02). The intervention significantly reduced the risk for MRD after adjustment for prognostic factors (odds ratio, 0.30; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.09 to 0.92; P = 0.02). The adherence and feasibility thresholds were exceeded (75 percent of overall diet and 80 percent completed visits, respectively). Circulating adiponectin was increased, and insulin resistance decreased with the intervention.

"This is the first trial to test a diet-and-exercise intervention to improve treatment outcomes from a childhood cancer," Orgel said in a statement. "This is an exciting proof-of-concept, which may have great implications for other cancers as well."

One author disclosed financial ties to Servier Pharmaceuticals.

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Diet, Exercise Intervention Explored in Children With B-ALL - HealthDay News

After months of anticipation, millions of Americans have been vaccinated for COVID-19, and millions more continue to schedule their appointments each day. If you are among the latter group, it is important to know that when the day comes for your own shot, you want to make sure it has the maximum effect on your immune system, but also keep some of those potential unpleasant side effects to a bare minimum. And one way you can do that, experts say, is monitor your daily diet and food intake. Read on to discover what you should be eating once you've been vaccinated, and for some things to avoid during that time, Don't Do This for 2 Days After Your COVID Vaccine, Doctors Say.

Experts say that incorporating a sufficient amount of protein in your post-vaccine diet can help strengthen your body's immune response and put you on the road to a smooth recovery. Integrative physician Ronald Hoffman, MD, told HuffPost that "the development of immunity depends on the body 'reading' instructions from the vaccine and synthesizing antibodies and white blood cells, which requires adequate protein in the diet."

In addition, preventative global health expert Sandra El Hajj, PhD, said eating protein after your vaccine can help you avoid feeling physically weak. "Your body will need to burn a lot of energy. If you do not offer enough proteins through your diet, your muscle mass will start decreasing. As a result, you will feel weaker," she said.

Nutrition consultant Jeanette Kimszal, RDN, also noted that foods high in protein are also rich in amino acids that can help improve immune system function. And for the info you should remember to get before heading home from your appointment, check out The One Question You Should Ask Before You Leave Your Vaccine Center.

The days following your vaccination may seem like a good time to hit your system with some fruits and vegetables in the form of a juice cleanse or detox regimen, but experts say you should hold off on that for a while. "A juice cleanse is devoid of protein and fiber. These are two nutrients that can protect and strengthen the immune system," Kimszal said. And for something that you should do after getting your COVID shot, check out The First Thing You Need to Do After You're Fully Vaccinated, Experts Say.

There's no big secret when it comes to your post-vaccine diet other than making sure it is healthy and well-balanced.

"Eat a normal healthy meal, mostly plant-based with whole foods and healthy oils," suggested physician, scientist, and authorWilliam Li, MD. "Avoid ultra-processed foods and artificial sweeteners." It also can't hurt to throw in some foods that are known help strengthen the immune system. "Mushrooms, broccoli sprouts, and blueberries all have evidence for supporting immunity in human studies," Li said. "These are delicious and have many health defense-boosting properties." And for more information on the COVID vaccine delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.

The food you're consuming isn't the only thing you need to be thoughtful about following your vaccine. Li also stressed the importance of staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water and avoiding alcohol because it can depress the immune system.

Tania Elliott, MD, a clinical instructor of medicine at NYU Langone Health, told Health that drinking alcohol after your vaccine could even make your side effects more severe. "Vaccine side effects include muscle aches and pains and feeling under the weather," she said. "Compounding that with the side effects of alcohol runs the risk of making you feel worse." And for the things that remain off limits even after being vaccinated, check out The CDC Says Don't Do This Until 4 Weeks After Getting Vaccinated.

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I have followed the Mediterranean diet for years, and I've come across a lot of myths and misconceptions about it along the way.

A traditional Mediterranean diet encourages a balanced way of eating with plenty of vegetables, citrus fruits, whole grains, beans, seafood, and a little red meat. It's even been voted the best diet in the world for the fourth year in a row and touts benefits related to heart health and energy levels.

But I'm oftentimes confronted with questions about the diet, and whether it's even a diet at all.

Read on for some popular debunked myths about the Mediterranean diet based on my experience as a longtime follower.

The Mediterranean diet isn't really a diet it's a lifestyle.

The word "diet" is usually tied to limiting the amount of food a person eats, often to have some sort of impact on their weight. Diets like keto, paleo, and Atkins, often restrict certain food groups, too.

But the Mediterranean way of eating promotes a balanced diet made up of vegetables, legumes, whole grains, seafood, and poultry. In this sense, the Mediterranean diet instead refers to the style of eating and type of foods encouraged not a restrictive weight-loss program.

Inspired by Mediterranean traditions of leisurely meals and small plates, this way of eating also encourages individuals to really enjoy their food and eat it slowly.

This diet is more of a lifestyle, not a restrictive weight-loss mechanism. Linda Raymond/Getty Images

The Mediterranean diet predominantly focuses on the cuisine of Greece, Spain, Morocco, and Southern Italy.

The Mediterranean coast covers many countries, and not all of them follow the same food-related practices. For example, Northern Italy uses far more lard and butter in cooking than Southern Italy, which prioritizes olive oil.

And I'm sure even the healthiest of Mediterranean people still enjoy a Big Mac from time to time. I certainly do.

Most Mediterranean recipes encourage healthier polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats from olive oil, nuts, and fatty fish. According to the University of Michigan's health library, an average of 30% to 40% of the calories consumed in the Mediterranean diet can come from fat.

This diet is typically lower in saturated fats, often found in cheese, yogurt, and red meats. Cheese and red meat often make appearances in this eating style I, for one, adore feta and halloumi cheese but saturated fats are served in small portions and paired with plenty of vegetables and grains.

The diet includes olives, hummus, cheese, and more. Shutterstock

Olive oil has a beautiful flavor and is a traditional ingredient in Mediterranean cooking. But I've seen plenty of people criticize the sheer amount of olive oil used in this eating style.

You can use alternative oils, like flaxseed or sunflower, which are much higher in polyunsaturated fats but have nearly the same amount of calories. Personally, I recommend extra-virgin olive oil as a less-processed option that also retains the traditional Mediterranean flavor.

Extra-virgin olive oil can also get expensive but it's truly a staple and it's often better than using more refined oils, like canola, vegetable oils, and very light olive oil.

One of the Mediterranean diet's big selling points is that you can drink red wine while following it because it's good for your heart.

An occasional glass is OK, but this way of eating definitely doesn't encourage lots of alcohol consumption.

Sure, red wine can have antioxidant properties and benefit your heart health but there are other ways to get antioxidants, like a handful of blueberries with breakfast.

Red wine can be consumed in moderation on the Mediterranean diet. Nikuwka/Shutterstock

Whenever my Mediterranean lifestyle pops up in conversation, I'm asked questions like, "So you just eat pasta and pizza? How is that a diet?"

Pasta and pizza are included in some Mediterranean recipes, especially ones originating in Southern Italy, but these dishes come in small portion sizes, dressed with olive oil and plenty of veggies. For instance, a Mediterranean pasta side dish is only about half a cup and the carb-loaded recipes are often paired with salads and roasted vegetables.

I'm not a huge fan of pasta, anyway. As for pizza, I much prefer a puff-pastry tart over a greasy pepperoni slice.

It can be tricky to follow this diet if you're not in the Mediterranean region and you will likely need to find alternatives for traditional ingredients and ways to use nontraditional favorites.

For example, avocado isn't traditionally part of the Mediterranean diet but I still incorporate it into my Mediterranean-style recipes daily.

It'd also be ideal for me to have fresh fish every day on this diet, but tinned or frozen seafood is about as fresh as you can get in the rural English countryside. I find ways to make it work with plenty of veggies and Greek-style toppings.

Zucchini boats are one of my favorite low-cost meals. George Arkley for Insider

The Mediterranean diet can take a hefty chunk out of your weekly food budget but there are plenty of ways to save money while following this way of eating.

You can save money if you buy whole grains and beans in bulk and incorporate expensive ingredients, like red meat, in smaller portions.

For example, I use beans and lentils as my primary protein source. When I have pricier ingredients, like fresh fish and red meat, I use a small amount paired with lots of quinoa, chickpeas, and veggies.

It all depends on how you eat, shop, and prepare food.

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I've followed the Mediterranean diet for years. Here are 8 things people always get wrong about it. - Insider

Making the choice to stop eating meat or animal-based products seems to be increasingly common among college-aged people.

Whether pescatarian, vegetarian or vegan, each diet can draw up certain emotions within people, both positive and negative.

However, despite the constant media attention around these diets and the relatively new production of meatless meat products, choosing to stop eating meat is a personal and individual experience.

In my experience, I first chose to stop eating meat my senior year of high school because I honestly just wanted to try something new.

While I was really nervous about it at first, my decision to go more plant-based was one of the best things I had ever done for myself at that point in my life.

While I am not here to try to convince anyone that going plant-based is the only option for the future (we all know that one vegan), I have found that not eating meat does have its benefits.

The biggest and most notable benefit is in regard to sustainability.

Animal products produce far more carbon emissions than plant products so, in reducing individual demand, there is a slight environmental advantage.

While of course I have found my own personal benefit to not eating animal products, there is still value in limiting meat consumption. So, people who do not stick to a strict vegan diet can still have less of an environmental impact.

The second benefit that I have found from a vegetarian or vegan diet is the fact that eating and cooking this way forced me to get out of my comfort zone in the kitchen.

I have ended up trying and making so many new things that I never would have if I was not vegetarian.

All of the plant-based hacks to make food that is not meat seem like meat or egg substitutes are so interesting and have really helped me grow when it comes to making meals.

I always like to say to people that even if they are not considering a plant-based diet, just try to cook at least one tricky meatless meal. This hands-on experience of just how easy it is to make a delicious meal out of plants is something that everyone needs to experience at least once in their life.

The third major advantage that I have found to a plant-based diet is that it forces me to pay more attention to what I eat and how much I spend on food.

It is really easy to just go out to eat and order anything off the menu not really thinking about what might be in the dish.

However, when I need to consider whether they used butter or fish sauce or eggs as a binding agent, this moment of consideration leads to a much more intentional meal and a greater appreciation for the food that I am eating.

A major misconception about a plant-based diet is that it is much more expensive than a normal diet.

While this may be true if someone is buying exclusively meat replacements or high-end plant-based products, a vegetarian diet can be less expensive than other diets if done right.

For example, fresh produce, a can of beans and a block of tofu would be less expensive than a standard meal but buying a pack of two Beyond Burgers would not.

After three years of a vegetarian diet, I have found that not all plant-based products are the same and there are clear discrepancies between certain things.

For example, while it may seem like the more mainstream product, almond milk is actually worse for the environment than oat milk. Or splurging for a good dairy-free cheese replacement is worth it even though it might not feel like the right move in the moment.

Although a plant-based diet may seem overwhelming and restrictive, I think the positives far outweigh the negatives and, although it seems scary, trying one plant-based meal a week might change your entire outlook on food and your understanding of it.

Georgia Cosola is a staff writer.

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