By: Cormac Riordan, Staff Writer

Like a lot of us, one solace in this new era for me has been Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This peaceful world of foraging and animal pals is both escapist and rewarding, something that has united my recent film, music, and book selections. From the island paradise of Portrait of a Lady on Fire to the sense of community fostered by the March sisters in Little Women, my current media diet is not just calming visions but works that encourage a sense of community.

Its hard not to see the March sisters, and others like Marmee and Laurie, in the helpful and loving visages of your animal companions. Although when Louisa May Alcott wrote her magnum opus in 1868/9, I dont think digital frogs and bears were on her mind, both communities have similar ethea. The chapter in which the sisters desire a world where they can do as they please and ignore their chores strikes the most similarities. Their mother agrees and allows herself and the help to take care of the work around the house, only for the girls to realize that a balance of work and play is what makes the downtime special. New Horizons works in a similar way, combining tasks like cleaning up your island with a rewards system and an arrestingly adorable style. Just like how doing chores, more or less, in Animal Crossing becomes less chore-like and more rewarding, one can imagine having to work becomes much more pleasant when joined by Jo or Beth.

Sharing the island aesthetic with New Horizons and the bond between women of Little Women, Cline Sciammas newest feature, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, is now available on Hulu. I caught up with it last year, but have been waiting anxiously for it to be widely available to revisit. It packs just as much emotional punch the second time, the setting as lush and picturesque as my memory served. Theres so much to praise about Sciammas vision of two women finding each other in the late 1700s, from the incredibly sparse yet devastating diegetic score to way the cinematographer, Claire Mathon, captures the two leads surrounded by this natural beauty. But it is in those two lead performances that the movie stands almost completely. Nomie Merlant is wonderful as the hired portrait maker, quiet and subdued by never vage. Who really steals the show, however, is Adle Haenel as the woman Merlants character is hired to paint. Haenel is Sciammas ex, and that energy both informs and compliments the film. There is a final moment, quite literally the last shot of the film, that I wont spoil here, but I cant imagine anyone coming away from that long take on Haenel and be able to doubt her incredible talents.

Heaven/Heaven is a place/a place where nothing/nothing ever happens is a line David Byrne sings on a Talking Heads song called Heaven. The second song in the bands incomparable concert film Stop Making Sense, when I heard those lyrics early this week two things struck me. Firstly, how Byrnes words almost seem mocking right now, when we are all pretty much forced to do nothing. But secondly, how right he is about this idea of blissful emptiness, and how the film Portrait of a Lady on Fire, the book Little Women, and the video game Animal Crossing: New Horizons reflect that idea. All of these works have quiet, peaceful moments where little happens, but the audience understands the significance of moments like when the women in Portrait argue over a Greek myth or in Little Women when much is made about pickled limes. One could argue in the case of the whole Animal Crossing franchise, that nothing does ever happen. But isnt that kind of calming?

Excerpt from:
A Quarantine Media Diet - The Free Press of the University of Southern Maine

A friend of mine takes a statin medication each day to lower his cholesterol. More than once Ive heard him say I ate too much! Im going to have to take an extra pill.

Never mind that it doesnt work that way a single additional statin pill wont make much difference to his cholesterol or his health. And never mind that you shouldnt self-adjust the dose of your medications (talk to your doctor before making any changes in medication dosing).

But my friends overindulging does bring up the question of whether starting medications for conditions like high blood pressure or high cholesterol might lead people to pay less attention to healthy lifestyle choices. Would my friend have been as likely to overeat before he was started on a statin?

The thinking might go like this. If your cholesterol or blood pressure is not ideal, your doctor will likely recommend changes in your diet, regular exercise, and loss of excess weight, as these measures will lower cholesterol and blood pressure in many people. But if that doesnt work well enough, a medication may be prescribed. Once the medicine is doing its job, it may seem like its not so important to continue with the diet and exercise routine.

A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests that this way of thinking might be widespread: people with hypertension (high blood pressure) or high cholesterol seem to let their healthy habits slide once they start taking medications.

Researchers collected data on weight, smoking, physical activity, and alcohol use among more than 40,000 adults with no history of cardiovascular disease. Compared with people who were not prescribed medications for high cholesterol or high blood pressure, those who were prescribed medications

The news wasnt all bad. Those starting medications tended to drink less alcohol and to quit smoking more often than those not taking medicines.

These results can be interpreted in a number of ways. Perhaps people who start taking medications assume they no longer need to be as careful with how they eat or other lifestyle choices. Its also possible that people who ultimately needed medications were less careful with following a healthy lifestyle even before medications were prescribed and that may explain, at least in part, why they needed medications in the first place. Or, it could be that those destined to require medication therapy inherited more high-risk genes for future obesity.

Whatever the explanation, people with high blood pressure or high cholesterol should maintain a healthy weight and get regular physical activity, regardless of whether medications are prescribed. In fact, it may be even more important for those who were prescribed medications, because if their conditions were severe enough to warrant a prescription, they may be at higher risk for complications (such as heart attack or stroke) than those able to avoid medications.

For many conditions, a medication can only do so much. Healthy lifestyle habits can improve the chances that a medication will be effective.

For people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and many other conditions, medications should be in addition to lifestyle changes, not instead of them. Not only will these lifestyle choices improve the chances your medicines will work to lower blood pressure or improve cholesterol, they come with a long list of other health benefits, such as improved mood, a reduced risk of diabetes, and a lower risk of certain cancers. And if you stick with the lifestyle changes, theres a chance you will be able to stop the medication in the future.

If youve been prescribed a medication after trying diet, exercise, or other lifestyle changes, ask your doctor whether its still important to focus on these lifestyle factors. And dont be surprised if the answer is yes.

Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling

Link:
Lifestyle changes are important even if you take medications - Harvard Health Blog - Harvard Health

Weight loss at home or perhaps more accurately, avoiding weight gain at home is suddenly a big deal for a lot of us. A few weeks into self isolation and/or social distancing and you start noticing something peculiar: although you are not eating more, your favourite jogging pants feel a bit tighter than they used to. That's because you do less physical activity than before; but even that is the case, with our handy tips, you'll see that it is not all that difficult to avoid weight gain in isolation.

Managing your weight is beneficial for both your physical and mental wellbeing. With a few simple tricks and lifestyle adjustments, you can make sure the pounds stay off and who knows, you might even shed a few kilos in the process. The fact is, the best way to lose weight fast is to pay close attention to your diet. Not surprisingly, the best way to get a six pack is to eat right (and, to some degree, to work out).

The tips below can be used on their own or you can even combine them as you see fit. Very important, however, is not to overdo it and do vigorous exercising while not eating much at all. That is just plain dangerous and can get you injured in no time. Be sensible and if you had any issues with obesity before or really unfit, consider talking to a health professional first before you implement any drastic changes in your lifestyle.

(Image credit: The Protein Works)

It's really not rocket science: if you don't want to out on weight, you have to stop eating more than your body needs. Even if before the mandatory isolation you have been living a relative sedentary lifestyle, being indoors for 99% of time means you are burning less calories than you used to. And this means you should eat less to adjust to this new lifestyle.

Of course, you can offset the lack of outdoor exercising with indoor exercising but there are other ways to keep the waist slim that doesn't involve gruelling physical activity. And the best of them all is to be more mindful about how and what you eat.

Without trying to convert anybody to mindfulness and being present, try stopping for a second anytime before you raid your cupboard for some food. Ask yourself the question: am I hungry or just bored? Was there anything I was supposed to do before I decided to eat? Something I had to deal with? Unhealthy eating habits often stem from procrastination and us not wanting to deal with the task at hand.

If you are a big fan of fried food, one obvious way to reduce calorie and fat intake is to get one a best air fryer. Air fried food isn't necessarily as delicious as deep- or even shallow-fried, but it does retain a fried/roasted taste and mouth-feel whilst using as little as a tenth of the fat of frying or roasting. We know they're in demand right now, cos they keep selling out.

Tefal Actifry Genius 2in1 Air Fryer | Sale price 270 | Was 300| Save 30 at AmazonThis air fryer is also a slow cooker and casserole/curry maker, with a robotic stirring paddle doing all the actual work for you while you work out. With a 1.2 kg capacity, it's very family friendly, and that dome on top is actually see-through, so you can view your dinner as it cooks.View Deal

Tefal Optigrill | Sale price 120 | Was 170 | Save 50 at VeryJust like a George Foreman grill, but without the George Foreman element, this has presets for cooking burgers, chicken, bacon, sausage, 'red meat' and fish, with a further setting for cooking food from frozen. There's 600 square centimetres of non-stick, die-cast aluminium cooking surface, and a large juice tray to catch all that fat you are now not consuming. Serves 2-4.View Deal

Another way to to eat less is to face how much we eat in general. Considering the amount of processed food we eat, it's easy to count the amount of caloriesand macronutrients (lipids[fat]/carbs/protein) we consume by using apps that scan barcodes of food items and does the adding up for us.

The best known of these apps is MyFitnessPal, but there are many other apps that can do the same thing. Garmin watches can integrate with it o you can see calories consumed vs calories burned on your wrist. Fitbit does a similar thing with its Fitbit Premium service. You can currently grab a free, three-month trial of Fitbit Premium, which should hopefully belong enough

By realising just how many calories are in certain food items we eat, we can make more educated decisions about snacking in the future. Can you eat a box of Jaffa cakes in one sitting? That's 450 'bad' calories consumed and to burn it off, you would have to do an hour of HIIT workouts. Which you probably won't.

Fitbit Versa 2 | Sale price 159.99 | Was 199.99 | Save 40 at AmazonThe Fitbit Versa 2 is always getting price cuts and is currently 40 off at Amazon UK. See below for the best prices in your country. The stylish Versa 2 features advanced cardio tracking as well as step and sleep tracking, and has Alexa built in. It's not got GPS but, of course, you don't need that indoors anywayView Deal

Fitbit Charge 3 | was 149.99 | now 89.99 at AmazonThe new Fitbit Charge 4 with GPS will be on sale shortly but as we noted, if you are concerned with activity and avoiding weight gain at home, that is less useful. So why not try to snap up one of the remaining stocks of the Charge 3 at a knockdown price instead? If you're outside the UK, see below for the best prices for Fitbits near you!View Deal

Today's best Fitbit prices in your location

Fitbit FB507BKBK Versa 2,...

Fitbit Versa Special Edition...

Fitbit FB507RGNV Versa 2 SE,...

Fitbit Charge 3 Advanced...

Fitbit Inspire Heart Rate...

Fitbit Inspire Fitness...

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Even if you don't want to swap out Mars bars for kale and broccoli, you can drastically reduce calorie consumption by only eating in a certain time-window a day. Probably the most popular way is to do intermittent fasting. There are two ways to go about it: either the 5:2 diet or the 16:8 fast diet.

With the 5:2 diet, you restrict calorie intake for two days a week, down to 700-800 calories, while for the rest of the weeks you eat normally. The 16:8 diet is a daily fast, where you eat only in an 8-hour window. With the latter, the most convenient way is to fast while you sleep: have your last meal at around 8 pm, and have the next one at 12 pm the next day. This way, you sleep through most of the fats, making it super easy to do so. Well, somewhat easier anyway.

Wild West Original Jerky, 12 x 35g bags | 21 at AmazonFor a calorie-dense but nutritious snack, nothing beats jerky or biltong cured meat snacks high in protein. This Wild West Original comes in handy 35g bags, to keep yourself fuller for longer. It's packed full of protein to help build muscle after a workout (13.2g per pack, to be precise), and is gluten free.View Deal

Today'a best protein snack deals

Barebells Protein Bar, 55 g,...

(Image credit: Sundried)

Drinking more water is beneficial for a lot of reasons and now that we are all grounded in our homes, people can't really use the usual excuse not to drink more, which is "I'll need to go to the toilet more often", since the loo is really always available at home (we hope so anyway).

Drinking plenty of water can help metabolism and, most importantly, it can also help you feel fuller for longer. The best combination is eating more fibrous food more vegetables, mainly and drinking plenty of water. Cold-pressed bars are okay as a snack too with lots of water, although they are by nature quite high in sugar.

Low-sugar protein bars and savoury snacks like beef or vegan jerky are a great alternative to chocolate bars as a mid-afternoon snack. Nuts are okay although they are very energy dense (high in good fats) so you should only eat a small portion at the time.

Today's best gym water bottle deals

ion8 Slim Bottle 500 ml,...

Sundried BPA Free Leakproof...

Takeya Australia Takeya...

(Image credit: Fitbit)

Although we are stuck indoors, having a fitness tracker or running watch around your wrist can still be beneficial. One of the more casual feature of these fitness wearables is the 'movement reminder' that prompts you, once every hour, to get up and walk for a bit. Now, being in isolation doesn't help but getting off from the sofa periodically can be beneficial for your overall wellbeing nevertheless, even if it is just to have a stretch or to put away some washing.

Fitness trackers and running watches also measure calories burned so you it can adjust your calorie consumption to your calorie expenditure. These devices are not ultra precise but they will give you a good estimate nevertheless.

Garmin Forerunner 645 Music 249 | Was 349 at Wiggle | Save 100|Not the best Forerunner watch perhaps, but the 645 Music is an excellent deal at this price. Offering advanced calorie tracking as well as expert analysis of your steps, cardio, running, cycling and sleep, this Garmin watch has long battery life and looks great. It also doubles as a smartwatch, with alerts for messages, calendar appointments etc.View Deal

Today's best prices on Garmin Forerunner watches

Garmin Forerunner 645 Music,...

Garmin Forerunner 945 GPS...

Garmin Forerunner 245 Music,...

Today's best prices on the best current Fitbit fitness trackers in our order of preference

Fitbit FB507BKBK Versa 2,...

Fitbit Versa Special Edition...

Fitbit Charge 3 Advanced...

Fitbit Ionic Smart Fitness...

Fitbit Inspire Heart Rate...

Fitbit Inspire Fitness...

(Image credit: Sixpad)

SIXPAD Abs Fit 2 | Buy it for 222 at AmazonAs used by Cristiano Ronaldo, no less, this is certainly not going to help you avoid weight gain on its own, but it could help add the finishing touches to your six-pack, if your home weight-loss drive is really successful. Amazon also sells all manner of abs belts by brands we have never heard of, for about 20. Needless to say we dont recommend these.View Deal

(Image credit: Tanita)

Just like fitness trackers, bathroom scales the smart scale variety can also measure energy expenditure and tell you how many calories you burn, as well as other deets about your body, like bone/muscle mass and, most importantly, body fat percentage. They don't even cost the earth either: the Tanita BC-401 body composition monitor is less than 80 and measures 10 different body metrics. Cheaper than getting a Garmin Fenix 6 Pro, for sure, although the Tanita BC-401 won't be that much of a help when it comes to navigating forest trails, unlike the Garmin's offline topographic maps.

Today's best Tanita scales deals

Tanita RD-953 InnerScan...

TANITA [Japan domestic...

(Image credit: Fitbit)

HIIT workouts have never really gone out of fashion but they are definitely 'in' at the moment, mainly because they are an effective way to burn calories and can be done indoors, using your bodyweight only, a kettlebell, dumbbells, treadmills, exercise bikes, rowing machines and basically everything you can think off. We have seen a gym water bottle tabata workout before, too.

Should you be considering doing HIIT workouts, we have an article about why should you try HIIT and also an ever expanding list of free apps and online workouts that can help you get started. Or you can follow along Joe Wicks' daily HIIT workouts for kids on Youtube as well.

Today's best gym & fitness deals - stock checked every 30 minutes

Gaiam Yoga Straps, Natural

Infinity Yoga Strap for...

Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro...

SKLZ COREwheels COREwheels, 2...

See.Sense ICON Rear Light

dhb Aeron Speed Women's Bib...

Theragun liv Percussive...

(Image credit: Vivobarefoot)

Best way to motivate yourself to move more and therefore to burn more calories more efficiently is set up a challenge for yourself. Although you can't leave the house for leisure activities but you still have plenty of options. How about a 30-day push up challenge? Start with doing one on day one and adding one more every day and see if you can keep up with the pace.

Have you got a pull up bar? How about learning how to do pull ups properly? Or mastering chin ups. Don't know what the difference is? Here is a handy article on the subject: chin up vs pull up which one is better for you? If you have an ab wheel knocking about somewhere in the house, you can challenge yourself to actually learn how to use roller properly.

Maybe you can improve your mobility? Improving hamstring flexibility can be quite challenging for some but being more flexible can improve your general comfort levels significantly. Shoulder mobility is also a massive issue among the adult population: get some resistance bands and do two-arm shoulder circles.

How about making your feet more flexible? Having flexible toes can improve balance and alleviate some back problems too. There is an excellent article on the subject at Vivobarefoot: engage your feet with a spot of toega (as in toe-yoga). While you are at it, get a pair of their shoes too, they are light and super responsive too.

Link:
How to lose weight at home and avoid weight gain: our 7 best tips for home weight loss - T3

There could be something about turmeric thats beneficial, but its not curcumin, she says. Plus, if turmeric is cooked as part of a meal, she says, its added alongside other foods, and heated up, so its chemical components change.

There might be something else in turmeric worth looking at, but not curcumin, and it might not be one thing. It might need to be chemically modified or added to something to be beneficial.

She says consuming lots of turmeric isnt harmful, but she wouldnt advise using it as self-medication.

Correlation vs causation

Chilli and turmeric have been widely studied, but most trials have only compared data on consumption and different health outcomes, which doesnt separate cause from effect. And research done in labs doesnt necessarily translate to the human body.

And as is true for so many nutritional studies, its difficult to tease out correlation versus causation.

Take the 2019 Italian study finding that there was a lower risk of death associated with chilli consumption. It was observational, so its impossible to know whether eating chilli made people live longer, whether already healthy people tend to consume more chilli, or if something else is at work.

One clue could, however, lie in how chillies are consumed by Italians and other Mediterranean cultures, says the studys author Marialaura Bonaccio, epidemiologist at Italy's Mediterranean Neurological Institute.

Chilli is common in Mediterranean countries, says Bonaccio. Its mostly eaten with pasta and legumes or vegetables.

Excerpt from:
Are there benefits to eating turmeric and other spices? - BBC News

AMHERST Throughout his life, David Julian McClements has devoured meat, gone veggie, retreated back to animal products and finally, settled on a vegetarian diet.

Now the University of Massachusetts at Amherst professor is working on research to expand the variety of tasty, nutritious plant-based products that provide protein and other ingredients necessary for a healthy diet.

"There are so many advantages to plant-based foods. They are ethical as well as environmental, with better use of our land and water and reduction of greenhouse gases,'' McClements said.

McClements team at UMass will be bolstered by a grant of $200,000 over two years by the Good Food Institute to create tasty, plant-based, protein-rich food thats similar in texture to whole chicken, pork or beef.

His own dietary evolution speaks to changing customs, advanced learning and ultimately, personal choice.

"I grew up in England. My grandmother would make delicious roast beef, roast pork and lamb,'' McClements said.

"Then I took a food science the University of Leeds, and people from the meat industry showed us pictures (of the process) that were just horrific. I became a vegetarian, but there was nothing good to eat.

"About five years ago, my daughter became a vegetarian, so I returned to plant-based diet as well.

The research project is not a coronavirus story, but like all else in American life these days, the pandemic has had its effect.

"I have 20 to 25 students involved, and our lab has been shut down. We did have a lab meeting on Zoom, but no students can go in the lab, which is devastating. All of them are anxious to get back,'' McClements said.

Even though plant-based food research is not a direct result of the coronavirus crisis, healthy practices are dramatically front and center these days. Other types of disease such as swine flu or avian influena (bird flu) have links to animal proximity, McClements said, and plant-based products would reduce those risks.

He said the reasons to promote plant-based foods goes behind communicable diseases. Pork products are rejected not just for reasons of health but, for many people, on religious or ethical grounds. Treatment and slaughter of animals, in both method and number, is a far more sensitive and debated topic than was once true.

Plant-based products with a meaty taste surged into the popular culture with Burger Kings Impossible Whopper, which was advertised as 0 percent meat. There was some controversy (and at least one court case) attached; some strict vegans and vegetarians objected to the chains use of the same grills to produce both meat and meatless burgers, which they said soiled the purity of the meatless brand.

McClements sees truth in the objection, but there was value to the news generated by Burger King and other outlets that introducedso-called meatless meat. Not only were vegetarians interested, but meat eaters were curious to try them, creating a potentially expanded interest in plant-based alternatives.

McClements is convinced the market will only continue to grow.

"Our work is to make plant-based foods healthier, safer and more convenient to consumers,'' he said.

The grant will help this work with chicken, beef and pork products. Other areas of food and nutrition also have the interest of researchers.

Dairy products have already seen alternative advances such as almond, soy or coconut milk. McClements thinks more advancement is attainable. A more long-range interest is what he calls test tube meat, a result of cellular agriculture where meat substitutes are grown in fermentation with the goal of reproducing the necessary dietary ingredients in safe, healthy form.

Creating plant-based alternatives is not that easy.

"Some of the essential amino acids and minerals are hard to get from plants. Were working to make the next generation of foods with all the vitamins and nutrients (from meat), McClements said.

Is there a market? Theres no question about that.

In 2003, a California judge rejected a vegans objection to a turberculosis test by saying the class of strict ethical vegans was too small. He referred to their reactions a "rare, idiosyncratic, hypersensitive, or unusual.

Those days are gone. Recent court rulings show acceptance of vegans. Grand View Research predicts the vegan market will grow at a compounded rate of 9.6 percent over the next six years.

In 2018, a Gallup survey said 3 percent of Americans, or 7.6 percent, were vegan - a dietary regimen with even stricter restrictions than those of vegetarians.

McClements is convinced that once Americans stop assuming plant-based protein products offer nothing good to eat, as he once did, more will join.

"People who dont want to kill animals will be interested in plant-based, cultivated or cultured meat. I think that includes people of all ages,'' he said.

"Vegans are vegetarians are generally just healthier people. Along with the ethical and environmental advantages this brings, this is creating a big push in this direction>

Read more:
UMass-Amherst professor researching expanded plant-based food choices - MassLive.com

Some new beginnings are so promising, it feels like youve somehow landed yourself in a real-life fairy tale. When I moved to France for my first job after earning my bachelors degree, I felt that way, and for good reason -- my newly adopted hometown, Versailles, was once inhabited by actual royalty. For a girl whod grown up on a steady diet of princess movies, living within walking distance of a world-famous palace was nothing short of a dream come true.

Before long, though, a string of real-world hassles and minor humiliations -- from scrambling to acquire basic necessities for my unfurnished apartment to enduring the embarrassment of having my French grammar corrected by a 5-year-old -- brought me back to reality. Suddenly, life in Versailles was no fairy tale. One night, after a particularly challenging encounter with the French bureaucracy, I broke down in tears while on the phone with my parents, questioning whether my decision to move to France had been a terrible mistake.

Spoiler alert: I hadnt made a mistake. I was going through the early stages of culture shock. And in time, I came to understand my feelings of infatuation with the local environment/culture, followed by waves of angst, uncertainty and frustration, were completely normal way posts on the path to adapting to life in a new country. By the time I returned to the United States at the end of my one-year contract, some of my most exasperating early experiences in France had become some of my best stories.

We can expect to encounter culture shock when tackling major life changes, like moving abroad. But culture shock can also sneak up on us when we dont anticipate it -- as in times of career transition. Sometimes even seemingly minor professional moves can leave us feeling as if weve teleported to a foreign land. I learned this lesson the hard way years later, when I took on a new role at the same university where I had been working for nearly 10 years. Adjusting to the implicit attitudes, assumptions, expectations and rhythms of my new department was every bit as challenging, if not more so, as learning how to navigate the expectations of the job itself.

For graduate students, potential culture shock-inducing career transitions are as varied as they are numerous. They can be either academic (switching advisers, shifting focus within your area of research, transitioning from coursework to thesis/dissertation writing) or professional (transitioning from a part-time graduate teaching assistant position to a full-time faculty role, moving from academe to industry, or vice versa) in nature. In recent weeks, many graduate students have taken on the unexpected challenge of migrating from on-campus to online learning and work environments in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Whatever type of career transition you find yourself facing -- expected or unexpected, academic or professional, big or small -- here are five strategies to help you navigate any feelings of culture shock you may encounter along the way.

No.1: Recognize and understand the stages of culture shock. Culture shock doesnt always look like we think it will -- especially in the beginning. If you walk away from your first day at a new job raving about how perfect everything is (the people are so friendly, the cafeteria food is so delicious, your supervisor is so supportive!), chances are you may be experiencing the first stage of culture shock: the honeymoon stage.

Alas, honeymoons are temporary, and soon you may begin to notice attitudes and behaviors in your new professional environment that confuse or even irk you. (Why does everyone always seem to be working through lunch? And why are meetings called to resolve issues that could be handled by email?) Welcome to the frustration stage.

In most cases, frustration fades over time as you adapt to and eventually come to accept the culture of your new academic/professional environment. In the meantime, simply recognizing and understanding the stages of culture shock can be of great value as you work to navigate through your new reality.

No.2: Build relationships in your new environment and ask questions. While theres no magic fast-forward button you can hit to skip over culture shocks more challenging moments, making connections and building relationships with your new colleagues are great ways to help accelerate the process. After all, who better to help you navigate the implicit attitudes, values and beliefs of your new professional environment than a local guide (or two or three?) If youre part of a team, start by getting to know the people youll be working with closely. Both long-term veterans of the team and those who have recently transitioned into their role can offer valuable insights into spoken and unspoken organizational/team expectations. To broaden your professional network, consider asking your supervisor who they think you should meet outside of your immediate team, or inquire into potential opportunities for mentorship. (Get more strategies for building relationships and networking with co-workers here.)

Having colleagues whom you feel comfortable reaching out to can be especially helpful when the frustration stage strikes. Particularly in collaborative/team environments, those you work with will often have an incentive to help you succeed, as well. If youre struggling to make sense of your new academic/professional culture, dont be afraid to ask questions, especially in the early days of a new position. As a graduate student, youve been trained to be an expert in your field of study, but no one is expected to have mastered every detail of their new role during their first days on the job. Posing questions born of genuine, judgment-free curiosity and an open mind can not only help you decode your new workplace culture (and your role within it), it can also inspire conversations and connections that can help form the foundation for long-term professional relationships that will enhance your network for years to come.

No.3: Prioritize your well-being and actively engage in self-care. Academic and professional transitions can be mentally and physically draining, especially if youre struggling to adjust to a new workplace culture. For this reason, its important to focus on nurturing yourself as well as your career during this time of adjustment. Make it a priority to actively engage in self-care strategies that work for you. Dont neglect the basics -- sleep, diet, exercise, social interactions (in person or online) and time alone to recharge are all vital. Taking steps early on to prioritize your own well-being, even as you seek to acclimate yourself to the rhythms and expectations of your new professional environment, is essential to establishing a healthy work-life balance. After all, surviving workplace culture shock is no great achievement if it comes at the expense of your physical or mental health.

No.4: Establish realistic expectations. Speaking of your mental health, periods of change can be especially emotionally taxing if, like many graduate students, you struggle with perfectionism or feel compelled to do it all. To lessen the mental load, remember that this is a time of transition, and dont demand perfection of yourself. Trust that your best is good enough and that you will continue to learn and grow in your new role/environment over time. Easier said than done, I know, but the value of giving yourself permission to do less during challenging career transitions cannot be overstated.

No.5: Remember you have options. While it takes time to work through the phases of culture shock, and I certainly would not recommend running for the door the first time frustration strikes, you may ultimately find yourself in a situation that isnt healthy or simply isnt the right fit for you. In a worst-case scenario, remember that a job choice is not permanent. If your work environment is toxic and/or your position doesnt mesh with your core values, you can and should make a new plan.

Even if your new environment is healthy over all and aligns well with your values and goals, keeping your mind open to alternatives can still be helpful during those inevitable times when the going gets tough. During my most challenging moments in France, I told myself that I could always break my temporary employment contract and go home early if I wanted -- only to realize thats not what I wanted at all. Sometimes, simply reminding yourself that you have other options is all thats needed to reaffirm youre exactly where you need to be.

Above all, be patient with yourself and just keep swimming. Periods of transition are, by nature, temporary. Eventually, you will adjust to the cultural waters of your new academic/professional environment -- and with any luck, you may find that you are a stronger swimmer on the other side.

Read more:
Five strategies to help you navigate career transitions (opinion) - Inside Higher Ed

Just because youre stuck inside these days doesnt mean you cant eat well. But coming up with healthy meal ideas daily and actually having the ingredients you need can be a challenge.

Thats where healthy meal delivery services come in. There are so many options out there right now that can you pick one that meets pretty much any dietary need. There are meal delivery services designed for overall healthy eating, as well as ones created for people following diets that are gluten-free, all organic, Paleo and even vegan.

Theres even variety with the meal delivery services themselves. Some offer meal kits with recipes and ingredients that are already portioned out; others will send you meals that are already created. Some even feature everything you need to make smoothies at home.

Of course, there are a lot of options out there to choose from. Not sure where to start? Check these healthy meal delivery services.

Sakara Life sends users 1oo percent plant-based, organic ready-to-eat meals. The company has a slew of different options, ranging from getting breakfast, lunch and dinner delivered two days a week for $169, up to five days a week for $420. Sakaras meals come from a set weekly menu that rotates weekly and seasonally. Dishes include things like a sweet potato Thai burger, strawberry maca shortcake and lentil bowl with beets and macadamia feta.

Freshly send you healthy meals that you can heat in two minutes. Freshly customers simply choose their lunch and/or dinner from the companys weekly menu offering, and its delivered on the day of your choosing. Meal options include herbed chicken romesco, super pesto and sausage fusilli and slow-cooked beef chili. Meals show up fully cooled and all you have to do is heat them up. Freshly service will cost you anywhere from $46 a week for four meals to $96 a week for 12 meals.

Hungryroot takes a slightly different spin on meal delivery services. The company lets you choose how much food you want to receive 11 items for $69, 16 items for $99 and 21 items for $129. Its basically like a really nice grocery service that gives you the tools you need to make delicious, healthy food. Items include things like shaved Brussels sprouts, rainbow veggie mix, Beyond burgers and ancient grain pancake mix.

Daily Harvest has a thing for stuff that comes in cups. The company focuses on serving up soups, smoothies, chia parfaits, oats, harvest bowls and lattes. Some dishes are gluten-free, vegan or keto-friendly, and Daily Harvest lets you pick and choose what will be delivered to your door. The company offers up both weekly and monthly plans that run from $48 for six cups to $168 for 24 cups.

Sun Basket serves up organic, non-GMO and sustainable meals that can meet the dietary needs of vegetarians, as well as those who are gluten-free or on a Paleo diet. the foods include things that have simple cooking instructions, as well as ones that you just have to heat up. Sample dishes include things like a southwestern turkey and sweet potato skillet, quinoa black bean tacos and butter chicken with basmati rice. The brand offers up different plan options, but four recipes a week for two servings each will cost about $88.

Factor75 sends prepped meals your way. All you have to do is heat them up in the microwave or oven. Dishes include Italian roasted pork, Paleo BBQ salmon and jerk jackfruit on coconut rice. Prices range from $60 for four meals a week to $198 for 18 meals a week.

Snap Kitchen sends you ready-to-eat meals that are healthy and delicious. Each meal comes in microwave- and oven-safe containers, so no need to dirty up dishes. Meals can be personalized to fit your dietary needs and include dishes like almond butter pancakes, cauliflower satay bowl, and chicken piccata. Plan options include your choice of six meals for $70 a week and 12 meals for $115 a week.

Cooking for kids can be a challenge, and thats where Yumble comes in. The meal delivery service is specifically geared toward kids (who are notoriously picky eaters) and serves up a range of fun, healthy meals that are fully cooked and ready to heat. Dishes include things like savory meatballs and veggies, pizza pockets with broccoli parmesan and gluten-free mac n cheese and veggie-packed nuggets. Prices range from $48 for six meals a week to $72 for 12 meals a week.

Veestros meals are 100 percent plant-based and organic, and theyre preservative-free. The meals arrive frozen just heat them up, and youre good to go. Entrees include options like carrot Osso Bucco, golden chickpea stew and Asian noodle salad. Plans include 10 meals for $117, 20 meals for $216 and 30 meals for $297.

More:
9 Of The Best Healthy Meal Delivery Services - Trailwatch

World Health Day: The body needs around 1 gm of protein per kilo of body weight

World Health Day is observed on April 7. This global health campaign is an initiative of the World Health Organization in order to raise awareness about overall health and well-being of people across the world. As part of World Health Day 2020, we are going to talk about proteins and what happens if you do not consume sufficient protein in your diet. Protein is a macronutrient which is required by your body on a daily basis. Depending on your physical activity, diet and lifestyle, you need around 1 gm of protein per kg of your body weight.

From aiding weight loss to building muscles, proteins play multiple important roles in the body. Celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, in her book Don't Lose Your Mind Lose Your Weight, says that the primary function of protein is to build and repair your body.

"When we are deprived of a nutrient like protein, weight loss occurs because the body breaks down its muscle to make up for the resultant lack of amino acids. Your lipid profile, cholesterol and triglyceride levels can go up because in the absence of a primary nutrient like protein, the body experiences stress," she writes in the book.

Also read:Khichdi With A Twist: You Have To Try This Protein-Rich Quinoa Khichdi By Shilpa Shetty Kundra

Diwekar says this with reference to one of her clients, who lost weight by being on a fruit-only diet. It helped him lose 20 kgs. At the same time, his haemoglobin levels reduced, his cholesterol levels increased and he also began to look much older.

His diet included no protein, but only carbs, that too in restricted amounts. Also, the diet gave him some fibre. Proteins and fats were being completely avoided.

"Haemoglobin is not just iron but iron (heam) + protein (globin)," she explains in the book.

According to Diwekar, the many preconceived notions about dieting-like dark circles, chopped nails, hair loss, frustration and anger-are all linked to protein deficiency.

Protein deficiency can lead to hair lossPhoto Credit: iStock

Also read:High Protein Diet: Top 4 Facts You Need To Know About High Protein Intake

When it comes to weight loss and eating healthy, you need to consume proteins, carbs and fats all in a balanced way. Carbs and fats are needed to enable the proteins to work properly.

"Our protein requirement stands roughly at 1 gm per kilo of body weight. So if you are a 60 kilo individual, you will need 60 gms of protein in a day," Diwekar says.

This World Health Day, know that eating protein-rich foods are important for weight loss and multiple other functions in the body.

Also read:Weight Loss Tips: Top 5 High Protein Vegetables That Should Be A Part Of Your Weight Loss Diet

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

See the original post:
World Health Day 2020: What Happens When Your Diet Is Low In Protein? Nutritionist Explains - NDTV News

A new report is urging New Zealand to reduce its reliance on animal agriculture in favor of plant-based farming.

The Green Protein Reportpublished by The Vegan Society of Aotearoaencourages New Zealands government to support plant-based farming for environmental, health, and ethical reasons.

We have one of the highest methane emissions per capita, our soils are being eroded, our native wildlife has been decimated and we are losing our clean and green image even further in the eyes of the world, the Vegan Society stated in a press release.

The report also explored the health benefits of a whole-food, plant-based diet.

As a result of our excessive consumption of meat and dairy, it continued. Kiwis have become obese and at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, we suffer heart attacks and get cancers, all of which can be reversed by a fully plant-based diet, using mostly wholefoods.

International nonprofit animal welfare organization World Animal Protection ranks 50 countries around the world based on their animal welfare standards. It recently ranked New Zealand in 30th place. In 2014, New Zealand was ranked in first place.

In spite of claiming that animals are sentient beings, we do not treat them as such. It is no longer acceptable to treat animals as commodities, the Vegan Society added.

New Zealanders are already shifting away from meat to plant-based foods.

A study from 2019commissioned by non-profit think tank Food Frontier and plant-based food brand Life Health Foodsrevealed that approximately one-third of New Zealanders limit their meat intake.

The report found one in three New Zealanders consciously limited the amount of meat they consumed. They primarily did so for health reasons, but also for animal welfare, cost, and the environment.

Studies show the environmental impacts of factory farming are much higher than the farming of whole, plant-based foods. New Zealanders shift in eating habits could help to reduce the countrys food-related greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).

Recent research by the University of Otago found a population-wide shift to a plant-based diet could reduce the countrys GHGs by as much as 42 percent.

Summary

Article Name

New Zealand Pushed to Replace Animal Agriculture With Plant-Based Crops

Description

A report is urging New Zealand's government to reduce its reliance on animal agriculture in favor of plant-based farming for the sake of the environment.

Author

Audrey Enjoli

Publisher Name

LIVEKINDLY

Publisher Logo

Continue reading here:
New Zealand Pushed to Replace Animal Agriculture With Plant-Based Crops - LIVEKINDLY

Stateside's conversation with Dr. Arash Javanbakht and Alison Miller

Pretty much everything about the COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful.

Dr. Arash Javanbakht, director of the Stress, Trauma, and Anxiety Research at Wayne State University, says situations COVID-19 has forced on us create major stress triggers. Stay-at-home orders and social distancing have caused abrupt changes, leaving us feeling a lack of control. Javanbakht and Alison Miller, associate professor of public health at the University of Michigan, gave some advice on how to cope with stress and some tips to get a handle on the situation.

Go on a news diet

Even before there was a worldwide pandemic, the news could seem overwhelming. Now, with countless hours to just sit and scroll, all of the new information can feel crushing. Javanbakht and Miller both recommend keeping a healthy news diet and not constantly checking on new updates.

Limit your exposure to news, just get what you want to know, Javanbakht said. Dont get obsessed with it. At least give yourself several hours of break from the news.

Stick to your routines

Working from home or being out of work completely have thrown many people for a loop. One way to mitigate this stress and confusion is for people to try and maintain the schedules they had before COVID-19. Javanbakht says that its important to go to bed and wake up as usual and eat at regular mealtimes.

He also heard a creative tip from one of his patients about maintaining a sense of normalcy: keeping your commute schedule!

In the morning and late in the afternoon, in the time we were supposed to be commuting to work, we now go for a walk every day.

Kids and parents alike have had their routines thrown off by schools being closed. This can be very stressful for both. Allison Miller recommends parents be aware that this is not a normal time period.

Take a moment for yourself to de-stress and give yourself a break. Also: to be kind to yourself and forgiving of parenting goals that you have under normal circumstances that you might let slide during these circumstances.

Stay social

Javanbakht and Miller agree the term social distancing can be misleading.

I would love people to call it 'physical distancing,' Javanbakht said. We can be physically distant and safe and not be asocial. The idea of social distancing from other people, not being connected to others is scary to us. We are social creatures.

He says there are many ways to be social and physically distant: having happy hours with friends over Zoom, exercising at home and FaceTiming their friends. Miller says its important to reach out, especially to friends and family you may not talk to as often in regular life.

Go outside

Miller recommends taking a walk, if possible, and thinking of it as a restorative activity.

If we can go outside, if we can be in a little bit of nature, we also know that from research, looking at nature and experiencing nature can be calming to the biological stress system.

If you do plan on going outside remember to practice physical distancing, which means staying at least 6 feet away from other people.

You can hear the full conversation above.

This article was written by Stateside production assistant Olive Scott

Follow this link:
Staying afloat during the mental health challenges of COVID-19 - Michigan Radio