I teach them that it's a plant that can be medicine, but it's for adults," says Weed Mama's Shannon Chiarenza

Before rushing to the hospital following a heart attack scare, Andrea Meharg had tried it all.

She gave prescription medications a shot, went into therapy, practised yoga and meditation. Nothing seemed to shake off the depression she had been struggling with as an elementary school teacher. I was in a really dark place, unable to get out of bed, not being a mom to my kids, says Meharg.

The stress and anxiety finally caught up to her. In 2016, Meharg was briefly admitted to the hospital in London, Ont. with what she presumed to be a heart attack, but turned out to be an anxiety attack. By then she was nearly 100 pounds overweight.

By the time I was put off work on leave, I was close to my heaviest, says Meharg. The following Christmas, her mom gave her a bag of weed. [She] said, I think this might help.

My mom gave (her) a bag of weed and said, I think this might help, says Andrea Meharg.Photo provided

Months went by before she and her husband tried it. I consumed cannabis as a teenager, but I got away from it in my early 20s and didnt touch it again until I was 38, she says. We had to watch YouTube videos on how to roll a joint! He uses it for his moods, and to manage back pain and migraines.

Cannabis came in handy as she went on a lifestyle journey too. I decided to go through with weight loss surgery. I lost about 30 pounds before surgery and another 60 after, using cannabis the whole time. Now Im able to successfully manage my weight and cannabis is a key tool in my toolbox, she says.

As cannabis helped with multiple facets in her life, including being a good parent to her two kids, Meharg transitioned from her role as an elementary school teacher to becoming a cannabis coach where she helps people figure out how best to use cannabis through her online platform, Reveal Cannabis.

I heard from people who said they wanted to try cannabis but didnt know how. Now Im on a mission to ensure that you can start using this amazing plant to reach your best health without all the trial and error, she writes.

Like a glass of wine at the end of a long day, B.C.-based Shannon Chiarenza has been using cannabis to relax.

Parents need some way to unwind, and are looking to try cannabis, especially CBD, says Shannon Chiarenza.Photo provided

As for her two kids, aged 9 and 5, she feels no reason to hide her cannabis. I teach them that its a plant that can be medicine but its for adults. My daughter loves to help me with the cannabis plants when I grow them out in the yard. She loves the smell.

From fellow frazzled parents, Chiarenza has been receiving an influx of inquiries at her online cannabis platform, Weed Mama. Parents need some way to unwind, and are looking to try cannabis, especially CBD, the non-impairing cannabis compound.

Although with smoking-related concerns, she finds many are switching to edibles. Ive tried dark chocolate bars by Foray; taking one square would be a safe bet for the daytime and a nice treat for yourself, she recommends. For those struggling to wake up in the morning, infused tea could be the kicker they need. One thing you can do with their tea is to make a pot, stick it in the fridge with some ice and have an infused iced tea on hand. This allows you to microdose THC over a few days, getting more use out of one teabag.

Alone time for B.C.-based Gill Polard has become a thing of the past. Helping them understand their school assignments is tough. Half the time I have to re-educate myself before trying to explain things to them, says Polard, who has been homeschooling her two kids aged 9 and 12 while her partner goes to work.

Gill Polard has been using cannabis sparingly throughout the day and depends on it for a good nights sleep.Photo provided

Founder of the cannabis publication, The Herb Life, Polard has been using cannabis sparingly throughout the day and depends on it for a good nights sleep. It helps me get into a frame of mind that reminds me that were doing alright and were going to be okay, she says. Youll often hear parents talking about how cannabis use can help them appreciate playtime with their kids, and I think when youre cooped up in a house with your family, its easy to start annoying one another.

For moms looking to try cannabis for the first time, she recommends staying away from sugary edibles. It is far too easy to overdo it and wind up feeling sick. I would recommend a drop oftincturein a cup of tea or evenlow dose capsules(aim for no more than 2.5 mg of THC) for a low level buzz.

To keep things chill and calm with a toddler around, Toronto-based Paige Greene has been turning to cannabis as a natural alternative.

Having my daughter in the U.S., I saw a lot of doctors prescribing heavy pharmaceuticals for postpartum. Ive always preferred to explore more natural alternatives, so I started experimenting with a variety of ways to consume like edibles and micro-dosing oils, says Greene, director of marketing at cannabis retailer Superette.

Greene has been combining Vapium vaporizers, cannabis bath bombs and candlelight after a long workday, and CBD tinctures as a sleep aid.

Its common for women, and especially mothers, to live in a constant circle of self-doubt and criticism, she says. [Cannabis gives] moms an opportunity to relax, unwind, and give themselves some space. That is the greatest gift you can give them.

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Coping with cannabis: Four Canadian moms on consuming safely, economically and why they don't hide it from their kids - The GrowthOp

Boris is the wise ol CEO of TNW who writes a weekly column on everything about being an entrepreneur in tech from managing stress to embracing awkwardness. You can get his musings straight to your inbox by signing up for his newsletter!

Ive got a tiny cabin by a lake, which is a great place to unwind during these challenging times. The cabin is only accessible by boat, which isnt so much a downside as an excellent quality to have in the case of a zombie apocalypse. It also means I spend a lot of time on a boat, and lately Ive been pondering the similarities of piloting a boat and navigating life and business.

Seems far-fetched? Let me explain: Actions taken behind the steering wheel rarely have an immediate effect, but can have delayed, yet serious consequences. This means theres a lot of anticipating, planning, and projecting involved.

My boats pretty small (less than 5 meters long) and easy to maneuver, but almost everything has a delay on a boat: I turn the steering wheel, which turns the engine, which then gently pushes the boat to go into a particular direction. Between the turning of the wheel and the turning of the ship is a noticeable delay.

[Read: If cocktail bars and strip clubs can adapt their businesses, then so can you]

Then, way before the boat has turned into the right direction, Im already counter steering, or Ill overdo the turn. A small turn of the wheel doesnt seem to have much of an effect, but once the whole boat starts turning, that change off-course can make you miss your target by miles.

Small steps can have grave consequences, and although a lot of things happen in slow-motion, the effects of your actions have a certain inevitability to them especially mooring, which I almost always get wrong.

It should be just as simple as parking a car, but it isnt. First of all, a turn isnt a turn. While drifting is really only for skilled drivers to show off, its a totally normal part of boating. Every turn you make, theres some drifting. Some boats are more stable than others, but theres always some drift and the current, wind, and how heavy your boat is loaded all have an effect.

Another thing you dont need to worry about when parking a car? Tying the ropes to the dock. Thats where the management exercise of boating kicks in.

Its best everybody on board has a clear idea on what their role is, but if you start to micromanage you end up forcing yourself to do everything on your own which can lead to your own hilarious downfall.

Give contradicting instructions, and three people will jump off at the same time, holding the same rope. Take the captain role too seriously, and your children will complain they thought this was supposed to be a fun boat ride, so why are you suddenly screaming at them to follow orders?

My most infamous incident of trying to take on all the roles by myself was when I tried to move a floating tree limb with my boat. My daughter was watching from the shore as I was tying a rope around the tree, witnessing my great undertaking.

While I was busying myself with the rope, I thought the engine was idling safely, but I had accidentally moved the gas handle forward a millimeter or two while trying to catch the tree.

The movement was slow, and I didnt notice it at first, but the tree suddenly felt very heavy (because of the forward motion). I knew I had to make a split second decision; do I follow the tree into the water, or do I lose the tree and stick with the boat? I let go of the tree the smart move but Id forgotten to think one step ahead: The sudden loss of dead-weight hurtled the boat forward.

I lost my balance, falling backward into the boat while losing my glasses and hat in the process. Suddenly the boat shot forward with great speed, with me upside-down in it, and we shot onto the shore and straight into the trees.

Only later did I conclude that after falling, I had landed on the gas handle with my butt, pushing it forward into the full-throttle position.

It all happened within seconds, and my daughter almost peed herself with laughter, as the whole thing looked like a well-choreographed comedy routine: Dad tries to lift tree, unexpectedly drops tree, falls upside down, boat takes off, dads legs are sticking out of the boat, hat floats through the air, boat ends up on the shore, in the trees. Embarrassed dad rises from a stranded boat, wet and confused and disoriented.

Anyway, Im not complaining, just saying that there are similarities. When youre running a company or pursuing a career, a lot of small decisions will have a much larger impact later. And anticipating which way your well-meaning intentions float can save you a lot of aggravation and damage, and not just to your ego.

Cant get enough of Boris? Check out his older stories here, and sign up for TNWs newsletters here.

Published May 7, 2020 16:00 UTC

Read more here:
Falling out of a boat reminded me how to be a good CEO - The Next Web

Now, listen, I get it. Movement is my life. I love it in all of its incredibly sweaty glory and you might too. So I get why not being able to go to the gym, pound the pavement with your running group, take a class, or teach a class might be a big deal to you. I, too, am now sweating at home. I, too, am teaching classes from home. And I, too, am privileged to be doing so.

In the spirit of getting through this thing together, here are nine assorted tips I want to share with anyone whos thinking about their fitness right now.

I know I said it already, but Im going to say it again. Being in a position to think about your fitness goals during this time is a privilege. Take a moment to let that sink in. And I mean sink all the way in. Let it seep into your veins until you are radiating with gratitude. Your body is an incredible vessel, and movement is a blessing. So its not that you cant or shouldnt focus on your fitness goals if thats what you want and are able to do, but I do think its important to remind yourself of how fortunate you are to do so. Value and appreciate your ability and position during this chaotic time. Maybe meet yourself on your mat or living room floor with a little more compassion and rejoice in your progress with a little more awe.

Of course, understanding that our society is basically built on some of us having privilege while others don't or, even more specifically, that some people suffer so that others have certain privileges, is imperative. Social stratificationbased on race, class, gender, sexuality, size, ability, and moreis deeply woven into the fabric of this country. So whether were speaking of fitness or literally anything else, disentangling these threads of privilege necessitates acknowledgement that they do, in fact, exist and then figuring out how we can challenge the systems that continue to weave them deeper. It means being cognizant of the fact that some of us having what we need and want probably means that other people arent getting what they need and want. This pandemic is shining an extra-bright light on all of this.

If youre feeling like I often dothat merely acknowledging privileges we might have doesnt really do that much to right any wrongsI suggest doing some things to put your privileges to good use.

Think through some ways you can contribute to your community that makes use of your privilege. Can you donate money to a mutual aid fund? Can you volunteer to shop for groceries for an elderly or immune compromised person in your neighborhood? Can you sew masks or provide tutoring or other virtual services? Or, in the context of these online classes, can you donate maybe a bit extra for someone else to be able to take class?

Just because a lot of us have more time at home, it doesnt mean we are obligated to spend it working out. While everyone is on all the Insta and FB Lives, its okay if you sit out to be live in your own life. Even though I, myself, am one of the trainers/instructors offering live classes and other online offerings, I hope that you look at all these options as exactly that: options. Offerings. Opportunities. Not pressure-filled, FOMO-inducing obligations. If you sit one or two (or all) of them out, its okay. They will still be there later. And if youre just not that into working out at home, thats okay too!

Maybe nows not the time to dial in your next-level fitness goals. Maybe you couldnt even if you wanted to because you dont have access to the space or equipment youd need to do it. Thats fine. Try not to let the pressure to keep going as you always have contribute to the stress that is already surrounding us. Because it is surrounding us on every platform and channel, empty grocery store aisles, and taped-off markers on the ground. Instead, use movement for release and relief, for fun, and to keep yourself healthy when and how it best serves you.

Theres no one right way to feel now. Feeling upset about an event being canceled, to feel lost or confused about how to switch up your routine, or to be frustrated that you feel like your hard-earned progress has suddenly been thwartedthis is all natural and okay.

See more here:
Lets Talk About the Privilege and Pressure to Work Out Right Now - Self

When our disabled or elderly patients are admitted to either an acute or sub-acute rehab, the focus is typically on therapy.This is appropriate because these patients have probably just spent time in an acute stay hospital for something like stroke, pneumonia, a fracture, surgery, urinary tract infection, or injury from a fall. Since they likely spent most of their hospitalization in bed and are now weaker than before they were admitted, they need therapy to get them back to at least their prehospital level of activity and hopefully better.

The problem is that these patients are only in acute or sub-acute therapy a few hours per day so that leaves over 20 hours each day that they are the responsibility of nursing.A few hours of therapy each day without continued mobility support from nursing is very likely not enough for the patient to reach their rehab potential.Unless they are encouraged and assisted by nursing to walk and exercise, they tend to remain immobile and immobility results in weakness and adversely effects every system of the body.The reasons for immobility are numerous: loss of the use of a body part, pain, fear of falling, weakness, depression, feelings of hopelessness, and lack of balance, to name a few.

After a stroke, as an example, the patient may be dealing with multiple issues.They may have difficulty swallowing, loss of center of gravity that can make them more prone to falls, left or right sided neglect, vertigo, loss of self-image, loss of use or weakness of at least one body part, loss of bowel or bladder control, and potential for increased muscle tone or lack of muscle tone (flaccid body part) that may require intermittent appropriate splinting to reduce the incidence of deformity.

Pain monitoring

Pain is a significant reason a patient may desire to limittheir movement so nursing must monitor their pain and be consistent withpain-relieving measures. This might be a cold or warm pack to an area, pressurerelief and other positioning and repositioning strategies, and pharmaceuticalpain relievers (given before therapy to decrease the potential for pain during theirtherapy session but not enough medication to adversely affect their ability todo quality therapy). Sometimes just reassuring them the pain medication willhelp does wonders. Patients do betterwhen they have trust that they will be given the best care.

Adequate nutrition and hydration are important for healing and for energy and energy is required to safely exercise and take part in therapy. A weak patient may have greater fears of falling and require more assistance and encouragement with transfers, standing, toileting and walking. They must feel confident that the staff person will support them and not allow them to fall. These patients are frequently dehydrated or close to it.Nothing in your body works properly if it is not adequately hydrated.

If not contraindicated, encourage fluids at mealtimes and with any contact.Just sitting a glass full of water near them will most likely not be successful.Their thirst mechanism is decreased, they may not have a steady hand to maneuver a glass, and they may forget to drink. Choosing the best size and shape of glass for the individual patient, how much liquid to put into the glass, learning if they like room temperature or cold drinks, and if they like a bit of flavor in their water can encourage them to drink more.If a hot beverage, discover the best shape of mug/cup and the style of handle.These specifics may sound insignificant but can make the difference in them feeling comfortable that they can handle the weight and not spill the beverage.

If a patient seems to be confused, especially if they are part of the older population and especially if they are female, it is recommended to check their urine for infection. The longer an infection might be allowed to grow, the more confused they may become and the UTI can become a very serious situation even reaching sepsis. Even mild UTIs can waste therapy days as the patient will not be as compliant or productive. If the infection is not recognized and addressed, they could even be discharged from therapy for lack of improvement when they may have been successful if not for the infection.

Importance of rest and sleep

Adequate rest and sleep are vital to overall health and definitely for success with therapy.After the patient has worked in therapy, consider assisting them to lie down and even nap for 30-60 minutes but then get them back up, straighten their clothes and hair and, if appropriate, bring them to an area where they can have socialization or a comfortable place to watch TV or read.They are getting over some insult to their body anyway and the extra exertion of exercise can be exhausting.Once they know they can rest after their efforts, they may be more inclined to push themselves.

Quality sleep at night is a must!If they are intermittently awakened and not allowed to go through complete sleep cycles, they can actually become sleep-deprived and may become confused and even depressed.Drawing blood for labs and doing bed checks (especially for incontinent persons) should be scheduled as much as possible when they do not disrupt sleep.Using a flashlight instead of turning on the overhead light when possible is a much better option.

Make sure you have physician orders to cover whatever nursing might do to work with these patients. Therapy can decide when it is safe for nursing to transfer and walk with patients and how far. Therapy should also train nursing on the appropriate way these activities should be done.

These nursing measures need to be on the patients overall plan of care and scheduled on their daily task list or they will not be accomplished. Make sure the patient and their family are kept informed.

In order to assist these sometimes frail and fragile patients to their highest potential, we have to train staff to automatically think of all of the holistic needs of their patients and the importance of follow-through with patience, kindness and respect.Care plans and schedules must reflect all needs and potential needs of the patient.Assignment changes must be carried over from shift to shift.Therapy is vital to get people back on their feet and as independent as possible, but it is nursing that is the glue that makes true rehabilitation a success.

Karen Bonn founded and incorporated Restorative Medical Inc. (RMI) in January 1992. Today she is the companys clinical specialist.

Continued here:
Strong nursing care helps to reinforce therapy - Marketplace - McKnight's Long Term Care News

With everyone staying at home in their family's individual bubbles, it feels like all should be well as long as we're social distancing. However, don't get complacent: staying at home doesn't mean accidents are on pause or that kids can't get injured during this time. Kids are accident-prone in general, and left to their own devices at home they have even more opportunities to hurt themselves. And, because visiting emergency rooms and hospitals is risky right now due to the overwhelming number of coronavirus cases around the country, it's even scarier to imagine a scenario in which you have to rush your child to the ER for an injury.

We spoke to two experts: Dr. Adrian Rawlinson, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Upswing Health, who shed a bit more light on typical kiddo injuries and which types require immediate medical attention versus the ones you can keep an eye on as they heal at home, and Dr. Jean Siri Moorjani, a board-certified pediatrician at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital in Florida, who offered some preventative tips.

As it turns out, even though families are encouraged to stay home right now, there aren't any major injuries that would previously require a trip to the ER that can now be monitored from home (broken bones haven't gotten the whole social distancing memo, apparently). Dr. Rawlinson says: "All severe injuries should be seen by a doctor in the ER. Examples would include severe traumatic head injuries, concussions, loss of consciousness, major fractures with bony deformities, major injuries with blood loss, etc."

If you're not sure exactly what to look out for in the case of your kids (or you!) suffering a major injury, Dr. Rawlinson shared a list of warning signs to be aware of both now and post-pandemic.

Additionally, Dr. Rawlinson outlined the warning signs of a fractured bone, specifically, which include "severe pain that is getting worse, swelling around the joint, and the inability to walk, bear weight, or use the joint."

Although overcautious parents with a "just in case" mindset may have brought their kids into an ER for a minor injury before this pandemic, it's encouraged to keep kids at home right now unless they require medical attention. According to Dr. Rawlinson, "minor sprains and strains, bruising, and abrasions can be safely treated at home."

With minor injuries like these, he recommends following the "RICE rule" to help it heal at home.

R: Rest the injured part.I: Ice the area several times a day to reduce swelling.C: Compress the area with a splint or bandage to prevent swelling.E: Elevate the injured part so that it's above the heart.

If you're not completely sure how to differentiate between a minor and major injury, it's always advised to speak to your child's doctor or another medical professional first. Especially in these times, a phone call before showing up to the emergency room is prefered to minimize the risk of infections of COVID-19 and to potentially help you understand the type of attention a specific injury or illness warrants.

Although Dr. Moorjani hasn't seen many COVID-19 cases in children herself, she says she's definitely seen an increase in household accidents because everyone has been home and parents are juggling so much. "We're seeing children not necessarily getting sick or injured from coronavirus, but they are still getting hurt in other ways because of the situation everybody's been living in right now," she told POPSUGAR. She added that she's noticed more accidents such as children ingesting things like medications or chemicals partially because it may be difficult to keep an eye on kids 100 percent of the time if you're busy homeschooling another child or trying to work from home.

To prevent some of these household injuries and accidents, Dr. Moorjani shared a few general tips for families to help make sure kids are safe while everyone is home more. "Make sure you keep household cleaners and medications locked away where children can't access them," she said. "Make sure that if you have a pool that you do have a tall fence around it and an alarm for the door" or one that can detect children in the pool. Dr. Moorjani added as reminder that because kids are playing outside more than usual, to always make sure that they're wearing a helmet and other protective gear when riding things like bikes, roller blades, and scooters.

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If Your Child Gets Hurt While Social Distancing, Heres When to Take Them to the ER - POPSUGAR Australia

New York

There are celebrities who do everything to reach the weight they want, whether for work or for personal reasons

Adele.

Photo:Gareth Cattermole / .

Losing weight is something that matters to many, whether for health or just for looking good there are those who resort to extreme diets to achieve its purpose and this is often not good for the body. And as celebrities always set the example, today we are talking about some of them who took their dedication to the extreme.

The singer recently showed the impressive weight loss it has had in recent years. Since he started his career has always struggled against being overweight And now some of his fans insist that he should no longer go down.

What was your extreme diet? The singer is said to consume only a thousand calories a day which can be dangerous because low calorie consumption can cause irritability and brain fog.

The actor has been characterized by the different roles he has performed and in which have had to lose weight. For the movie The Machinist, he lost 28 kilos and looked very thin.

What was your extreme diet? Bale turned to eat only one apple and a can of tuna a dayIt goes without saying that few people should live consuming just that.

The singer had a healthier and controlled weight loss, and that is that after her pregnancy she lost her slender figure, as she weighed more than 100 kilos.

What was your extreme diet? Along with his personal coach, Simpson lost 45 kilos combining a Healthy diet with light exercise. The extreme thing here was the discipline with which he did everything because he slept for seven hours, he took exactly 12 thousand steps every day before sleeping and even had to disconnect from technology for at least an hour.

Another actor who he is extremely dedicated to his roles, for the movie Joker that gave him his Oscar award He had to lose 20 kilos with the help of a special medical orientation.

What was your extreme diet? He ate nothing but a steamed apple, lettuce, and green beans every day. This behavior was extremely dangerous because descended from knock.

For the movie Les Miserables, the actress had to lose weight quickly, as did Phoenix. Came down 11 kilos and the consequences were noticed in the filming.

What was your extreme diet? She only ate oats and water a day, like her colleagues, this was controlled by a professional and may be very dangerous to imitate it.

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New York : Adele and other celebrities who have gone on extreme diets - Explica

Last week, Gov. Pete Ricketts declared May as Beef Month in Nebraska.

When we think of beef, we often think of ranches, pastures, and rolling hills, Ricketts said. But its more than that. Its a main economic driver in our state. It generates jobs throughout the entire supply chain.

But the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant challenges to Nebraskas agricultural economy, especially for cattle, pork, and poultry producers. They have been affected by both price decreases and significant logistical challenges connected to the slowdown or closure of meat-processing facilities.

Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) has determined that Nebraska revenue losses alone will total $823 million, or 10% of the states cattle receipts in 2018.

To address those problems, NEFB is urging Congress to support additional funding for agriculture in any pandemic response package that moves through Congress.

For pork and poultry producers, the possibility of needing to euthanize animals is quickly becoming a reality due to the closure of packing plants across the country, said Steve Nelson, NEFB president. It is hoped President Trumps recent executive order will provide for the safe reopening of those plants, as soon as possible.

In this next round of funding, Nelson said, NEFB would strongly support three specific efforts that would help the entire agriculture industry.

We hope more funds can provide any necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) to meatpacking facilities to ensure the safety of those who are working so hard to process the livestock produced by our members and needed by the rest of the nation and world, Nelson said. Additional funds are needed to support an indemnity program to help compensate producers who have had to euthanize animals.

He said funds are also needed to provide monetary assistance to those contract producers who dont own the animals but are contracted to care for and feed them.

Those producers were unfortunately left out of the USDAs Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) but will likely still see monetary losses due to fewer or even no animals running through their facilities, said Nelson.

He said cattle and dairy producers are also experiencing significant economic loss during this crisis as market downturns and packing plant slowdowns are hitting their bottom lines.

According to a recent analysis conducted by a number of agricultural economists and led by Dr. Derrell Peel from Oklahoma State University, the U.S. cattle industry is expected to experience losses of $13.6 billion due to the pandemic. Those losses are expected to largely occur within the cow-calf sector, with losses totaling an estimated $3.7 billion, or $111.91 per head for each mature breeding animal in the United States.

Nelson said NEFB broke the analysis down further to determine Nebraskas loss in cattle receipts.

He said NEFB also estimates that Nebraska dairy producers stand to lose $69 million to $87 million, depending on the class of milk. While cattle and dairy producers will likely see some support from USDAs CFAP, it will likely fall short of covering the needs of these industries.

We hope Congress can include another round of funding for our states cattle and dairy producers who make up billions of dollars in economic activity in our state, and ensure any payment limits, if needed, would be significantly increased to realistically capture the capital needed in all segments of the livestock industry, Nelson said.

Coming into 2020, Nebraskas animal slaughter industry was part of a record year of commercial red meat production across the country.

Nelson said the livestock industry is extremely important to Nebraskas economy as well as our nations food supply.

According to the USDA, Nebraska placed second in commercial red meat production, behind Iowa, in 2019. Nebraska produced 8.289 billion pounds, compared to 8.106 billion pounds in 2018. Iowa had 8.624 billion pounds in red meat production.

Last year, Nebraska packing plants processed 7,660 million head of cattle, compared to 7,452 million head in 2018. That 2019 total represented 10.727 billion pounds in 2019, compared to 10.483 billion pounds in 2018. Average live weight in 2019 was 1,401 pounds, compared to 1,408 pounds in 2018.

Nebraska hog packing plants slaughtered 8.012 million head in 2019, compared to 7.873 million head in 2018. Last year, that represented 176.6 million pounds, with the average live weight at 284 pounds.

Last year, Nebraska beef producers marketed 9 billion pounds of beef for a value of $10.562 billion. Also, Nebraska pork producers marketed 1.5 billion pounds of pork for a value of $872 million.

Nelson said as Congress continues to provide much-needed aid to many segments of the nations economy, We believe our nations agricultural industry, and more specific our livestock industry, must be included in the next package that moves to the presidents desk.

More here:
Nebraska Farm Bureau seeks additional help for agriculture industry - Grand Island Independent

Editors note: The opinions in this article are the authors, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft News or Microsoft. MSN Health Voices features first-person essays and stories from diverse points of view. Click here to see more Voices content from MSN Lifestyle, Health, Travel and Food.

I've been following the 16:8 intermittent fasting (IF) plan for over seven months now, which means I don't eat for 16 hours a day and only eat during the other eight hours. I find a lot of inspiration and information from watching YouTube videos on IF. Recently, I'd been seeing a lot about the Warrior Diet. It's a stricter form of intermittent fasting, during which you have a much shorter eating window of just four hours and then a fasting window of 20 hours.

It seems extreme, right? Yet so many people rave about it. You're meant to obtain more mental clarity, increased energy, better digestion, reduced sugar cravings, and, for those looking for it, faster and better weight-loss and muscle definition results.

I never gave it serious thought, though. I mean, how can you only eat for four hours?! But one day, it happened accidentally. I meant to eat at noon as usual, but I was running around doing tons of errands, and it was 4 p.m. by the time I realized I was hungry and able to eat. If I could do it one day, I could do it for one week, right?

One of the best things I've experienced from intermittent fasting is getting a handle on my sugar cravings and food addiction. Not eating until noon was so freeing. It was beginning to help me not obsess about food all the time. I wanted to see how shortening my eating window to four hours would affect that.

I felt like an eating window of 3:00/3:30 p.m. to 7:00/7:30 p.m. would be good for my work, life, and family schedule. I decided to commit to one week on the Warrior Diet because I thought I'd be starving the entire time and wouldn't be able to stand another day. But by the sixth day, I was feeling so good, I wanted to keep going. I decided to commit to two weeks.

This surprised me, too, but no, I wasn't. I felt a little hungry around 10 a.m., so I'd have a cup of black coffee or green chai tea. The first couple of days I felt a little hungry around noon, since that's when I was used to eating. But by the fourth day that passed, and I instead noticed noon was the time of day when my mental clarity, focus, energy, and happiness really started kicking in.

One thing I noticed about the Warrior Diet compared to the 16:8 plan is that eating eight hours a day still didn't entirely prevent me from overeating or wanting sugar, which always made me feel uncomfortably bloated. Eating just four hours a day made it impossible to overeat - my belly filled up so quickly and I felt so satisfied that I didn't want to eat more. Because I had no desire to overeat, I didn't feel bloated at night or in the morning.

Mentally speaking, before I started IF, I was always thinking about food, stressing about counting calories, feeling hungry and deprived, or feeling bad if I ate too much or ate "bad" foods. I realized I was so unhappy back then because all my hard work was just making me gain weight. Only eating in a four-hour window helped me think even less about food, and when I ate, I didn't feel restricted or bad about it. I wasn't expecting to feel such an emotional weight lifted, and this is what kept me inspired to stick with it.

When 3:00/3:30 p.m. rolled around, I felt a subtle sense of hunger but wasn't completely famished. I craved mostly healthy foods and would eat a big tofu kale salad, leftovers, or a bowl of roasted tofu, sweet potatoes, and red peppers. I followed that with a banana, sometimes two, with raw almonds or cashews and plenty of water. Dinner was around 6:00 p.m., and I'd have whatever was on the menu: black bean burritos, avocado pasta with Trader Joe's meatless meatballs and steamed broccoli, lentil soup and bread, or veggie burgers with roasted veggies. If I felt like it, I'd eat a little dessert after. Sometimes it was some trail mix and fresh fruit . . . annnnd sometimes it was a vegan brownie sundae.

I ate what I craved, and as much as I wanted. That was one of my favorite parts about the Warrior Diet. I never felt deprived. I was able to sit down to a huge plate of food and feel completely satisfied and not guilty because my meal was over 400 calories. Another surprising benefit was that my taste buds became so sharp that even basic foods like fresh mango tasted mind-blowingly delicious.

Yep, my 5:45 a.m. CrossFit classes still happened. I felt the same as I always do, but this shortened eating window made for amazing deep sleep, so I felt super rested and energized. I was still able to box jump and burpee as usual, and today I even got a personal record for my squat snatch. One thing I noticed was that from not feeling bloated, I felt lighter and more agile and just more excited to move my body.

I was surprised that I lost about two pounds - I've been about the same weight for years! This doesn't seem major, especially since it's hard to tell from the before-and-after photos, but for me, it was all in my belly. I noticed zero bloating (zero!) and a flatter tummy. I've also noticed more muscle definition in my arms and thighs, but that's not just from the past two weeks; it's because I've been doing intermittent fasting for over seven months now.

Someone expressed their concern to me that intermittent fasting is an eating disorder. I actually feel like it's the exact opposite. I feel more in control and have a healthier relationship with food than I ever had. I finally know what true hunger feels like and am learning to listen to my body to eat when I'm hungry and - this is the most important thing - to STOP when I'm full. I'm no longer overeating or obsessing about food, and I feel more free from the thoughts about how eating affects my weight.

I've been wondering this every single day over the past 14 days. Some days I'm like, "Hell, no!" I especially felt that way on the third and 13th days. But then on the other days I just felt so good; I felt like I wanted to keep this up.

There are two main reasons I've contemplated sticking with the Warrior Diet. One, not being bloated has been huge for me, since I have been struggling with that since July 2016. It's made me so self-conscious and uncomfortable - on my worst days, I felt really depressed about it. So to look down and see a flatter tummy and not feel pain makes me tear up; I'm so happy.

And two, I can't get over how I'm not obsessing about food. Even when I begin my eating window, I'm not scarfing food down or craving sweets, and I'm not overeating. And during my fasting window, I'm not daydreaming about the food I'll eat. Restricting my diet for over 20 years and obsessing about weight loss really messed me up, and intermittent fasting feels like free therapy. It's slowly curing me of all my worries and detrimental body-negative thoughts.

OK, so the one thing that was hard was the weekends. I had my best friend visiting on the sixth day, and we went out for brunch. Sipping on coffee while she ate pancakes was tough - I'm not gonna lie. But that's what's cool about choosing IF as a lifestyle. I can tailor it to meet my needs, which means sticking with it most days and being lenient about not fasting when I want to.

I've loved the heightened benefits of the Warrior Diet vs. the 16:8 plan - I'm blown away that I haven't been famished all day and that I've been so energized. I'm over the moon that I'm feeling zero belly bloat because I'm not overeating all day long, and I love not obsessing about food.

I think I'm going to keep going! I'm not sure I'll be strictly Warrior-ing it up every single day. Maybe some days I'll have a five- or six-hour eating window. Some days I'll do 16:8, and, well, other days (like on the weekends), I'll wake up and hit up my local vegan bakery for a sticky bun and keep eating all day long.

If you're considering intermittent fasting, I definitely would not try the Warrior Diet right off the bat. I'd start with a 12-hour fasting window, not eating from, say, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Gradually increase the amount of time you're fasting by 30 to 60 minutes every few days. I took a few weeks to get on the 16:8 plan, so just ease your body into it, and you'll find more success. As always, chat with your doctor before making any serious changes to your diet.

Aside from jumping into IF too fast, avoid these other intermittent fasting mistakes, such as eating the wrong foods. Once you get into a rhythm, you'll love the benefits of weight loss, increased energy, and the lowered risk of disease and feel inspired to keep going. You just might inspire someone else to hop on the IF train, too!

Slideshow: Shannon lost 85 lbs. in 10 months with barely any exercise (Courtesy: PopSugar)

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I Fasted 20 Hours a Day For 2 Weeks, and This Was My Experience - msnNOW

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Teff is a traditional grain in Ethiopia and one of the countrys staple foods. Its highly nutritious and naturally gluten-free.

Its also commonly made into a flour for cooking and baking.

As gluten-free alternatives to wheat are growing in popularity, you may want to know more about teff flour, such as its benefits and uses.

This article tells you everything you need to know about teff flour.

Teff is a tropical grain crop belonging to the grass family, Poaceae. Its grown primarily in Ethiopia and Eritrea, where its thought to have originated thousands of years ago (1, 2).

Resistant to drought, it can grow in a range of environmental conditions and comes in both darker and lighter varieties, the most popular being brown and ivory (1, 2).

Its also the worlds smallest grain, measuring just 1/100 the size of a wheat kernel.

Teff has an earthy, nutty flavor. Light varieties tend to be slightly sweet as well.

Much of its recent popularity in the West is because its gluten-free.

Teff is a tiny grain grown primarily in Ethiopia that has an earthy, sweet taste. It naturally contains no gluten.

Because its so small, teff is usually prepared and eaten as a whole grain rather than being split into the germ, bran, and kernel, as is the case with wheat processing (1).

Teff can also be ground and used as a whole grain, gluten-free flour.

In Ethiopia, teff flour is fermented with yeast that lives on the surface of the grain and used to make a traditional sourdough flatbread called injera.

This spongy, soft bread usually serves as the base for Ethiopian meals. Its made by pouring fermented teff flour batter onto a hot griddle.

Additionally, teff flour makes a great gluten-free alternative to wheat flour for baking bread or manufacturing packaged foods like pasta. Whats more, it commonly serves as a nutritional boost to wheat-containing products (2, 3).

You can use teff flour in place of wheat flour in numerous dishes, such as pancakes, cookies, cakes, muffins, and bread, as well as gluten-free egg noodles (2).

Gluten-free recipes call only for teff flour and other gluten-free options, but if youre not strictly gluten-free, you can use teff in addition to wheat flour (2).

Keep in mind that teff products, which lack gluten, may not be as chewy as those made from wheat.

Teff can be cooked and eaten as a whole grain or ground into flour and used to make baked goods, breads, pastas, and traditional Ethiopian injera.

Teff is highly nutritious. Just 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of teff flour provide (4):

Its important to note that teffs nutrient composition appears to vary significantly depending on the variety, growing area, and brand (1, 5).

Still, compared with other grains, teff is a good source of copper, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, and selenium (1, 5).

Additionally, its an excellent source of protein, boasting all the essential amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein in your body (1).

Its particularly high in lysine, an amino acid thats often lacking in other grains. Essential for the production of proteins, hormones, enzymes, collagen, and elastin, lysine also supports calcium absorption, energy production, and immune function (1, 6).

However, some of the nutrients in teff flour may be poorly absorbed, as theyre bound to antinutrients like phytic acid. You can reduce the effects of these compounds through lacto-fermentation (1, 7).

To ferment teff flour, mix it with water and leave it at room temperature for a few days. Naturally occurring or added lactic acid bacteria and yeasts then break down the sugars and some of the phytic acid.

Teff flour is a rich source of protein and numerous minerals. Fermentation may reduce some of its antinutrients.

Teff flour has several advantages that may make it a great addition to your diet.

Gluten is a group of proteins in wheat and several other grains that gives dough its elastic texture.

However, some people cannot eat gluten due to an autoimmune condition called celiac disease.

Celiac disease causes your bodys immune system to attack the lining of your small intestine. This can impair nutrient absorption, leading to anemia, weight loss, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, and bloating.

Additionally, some people without celiac disease may find gluten difficult to digest and prefer to avoid it (8).

As teff flour naturally contains no gluten, its a perfect gluten-free alternative to wheat flour (9).

Teff is higher in fiber than many other grains (2).

Teff flour packs up to 12.2 grams of dietary fiber per 3.5 ounces (100 grams). In comparison, wheat and rice flour contain only 2.4 grams, while the same size serving of oat flour has 6.5 grams (1, 10, 11, 12).

Women and men are generally advised to eat 25 and 38 grams of fiber per day, respectively. This can be made up of both insoluble and soluble fibers. While some studies claim that most of teff flours fiber is insoluble, others have found a more even mix (1).

Insoluble fiber passes through your gut mostly undigested. It increases stool volume and aids bowel movements (13).

On the other hand, soluble fiber draws water into your gut to softens stools. It also feeds the healthy bacteria in your gut and is involved in carb and fat metabolism (13).

A high fiber diet is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, bowel disease, and constipation (1, 14).

Teff is said to be extremely high in iron, an essential mineral that carries oxygen throughout your body via red blood cells (15).

In fact, intake of this grain is linked to decreased rates of anemia in pregnant women and may help certain people avoid iron deficiency (16, 17, 18).

Incredibly, some research reports iron values as high as 80 mg in 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of teff, or 444% of the DV. However, recent studies show that these astonishing numbers are likely due to contamination with iron-rich soil not from the grain itself (1).

Additionally, teffs high phytic acid content means that your body probably doesnt absorb all of its iron (19).

Nonetheless, even conservative estimates make teff a better source of iron than many other grains. For example, 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of one brand of teff flour provides 37% of the DV for iron while the same amount of wheat flour offers just 5% (4, 10).

That said, wheat flour in the United States is usually enriched with iron. Check the nutrient label to find out precisely how much iron is in a particular product.

The glycemic index (GI) indicates how much a food raises blood sugar. Foods above 70 are considered high, which means they raise blood sugar more quickly, while those below 55 are deemed low. Anything in between is moderate (20, 21).

A low GI diet can be an effective way for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar (22, 23, 24).

Whole, cooked teff has a relatively low GI compared with many grains, with a moderate GI of 57 (25).

This lower GI is likely due to it being eaten as whole grain. Thus, it has more fiber, which can help prevent blood sugar spikes (1).

However, the GI changes based on how its prepared.

For example, the GI of traditional injera ranges from 7999 and that of teff porridge from 94137 making both high GI foods. This is due to water gelatinizing the starch, which makes it quicker to absorb and digest (1).

On the other hand, bread made from teff flour has a GI of 74, which while still high is lower than bread made from wheat, quinoa, or buckwheat and similar to that of oat or sorghum bread (1).

Although teff may have a lower GI than most grain products, remember that its still moderate to high GI. Anyone with diabetes should still carefully control their portion sizes and keep carb content in mind.

Teff flour is gluten-free, making it ideal for people with celiac disease. Its also rich in fiber and iron.

Given that the production of teff flour is currently limited, its more expensive than other gluten-free flours.

Cheaper gluten-free flours include rice, oat, amaranth, sorghum, corn, millet, and buckwheat flours.

Some restaurants and manufacturers may add wheat flour to teff products like bread or pasta to make them more economical or enhance texture. As such, these products are unsuitable for people on a gluten-free diet (1).

If you have celiac disease, you should ensure that pure teff is used without any gluten-containing products. Always look for a gluten-free certification on any teff products.

Teff flour is relatively expensive compared with other gluten-free flours. Some teff products are mixed with wheat flour, making them inappropriate for anyone who avoids gluten.

Teff is a traditional Ethiopian grain thats rich in fiber, protein, and minerals. Its flour is quickly becoming a popular gluten-free alternative to wheat flour.

Its not as widely available as other gluten-free flours and may be more expensive. All the same, its a great addition to breads and other baked goods and if youre feeling adventurous, you can try your hand at making injera.

Shop for teff flour online.

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Teff Flour: Uses, Nutrients, and Benefits - Healthline

Dodds announces two skills initiatives in response to the pandemic

Economy Minister Diane Dodds today announced a free skills programme for small businesses and a free post-graduate certificate in software development for people whose career has been impacted by Covid-19.

The Skills Focus programme, available for SMEs with fewer than 250 employees, is now offering free upskilling for staff, including those who are furloughed. The 25% cost to businesses has been removed, until 31 March 2021, to support companies throughout the pandemic. The courses, with accredited qualifications, are delivered by the local further education colleges.

The Minister also confirmed 100 fully funded places for a part-time postgraduate certificate (PgCert) in software development with Queens University Belfast. The part-time course, starting in late May, is open to people whose careers have been impacted by the pandemic and who have a 2:2 degree in any non-computing subject or appropriate work experience.

The postgraduate certificate in software development is a part-time course running from late May to December 2020. There is also the option of accelerated learning to finish in September and progress directly into Year 2 of study on the full MSc in Software Development, complete the Masters in Sept 2021 and enter graduate-level roles (software engineer, analyst, etc.).

The part-time PgCert is open to those who have been furloughed, lost their job, economically inactive or are self-employed and lost their income because of the pandemic. Applicants must either hold a 2:2 degree in any non-computing subject or have appropriate work experience.

All applicants must have access to a computer and internet connection and will be required to complete a short online aptitude test.

The two measures represent an investment of around 500,000.

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Coronavirus Northern Ireland live updates as Chief Medical Officer says there will be a future after lockdown - Belfast Live