Given the new life circumstances caused by the coronavirus pandemic and with an aim and ambition of ensuring that members of the public in Doha remain safe and healthy, Qatar's Aspire Zone has launched a virtual summer program through its social network platforms (Instagram and YouTube). The initiative endeavours to ensure that younger individuals incorporate exercise into the framework of their day-to-day activity which is essential in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

The new Aspire virtual summer program features elements aimed at 5-10 year-old children and serves up several fitness activities on a weekly basis with the routines published on both the Aspire Instagram and YouTube feeds.

There will also be a series of videos presented by specialized coaches set to be aimed at young adolescents (11-14 years-old) and this will feature a fitness challenge consisting of 6 exercises, each one scheduled to last just one minute and the teenagers can interact with the coaches at the Academy.

The programmes is also set to focus on food and nutritional advice with videos set to be broadcast on Aspire's Instagram platform three times a week (Saturday, Monday, and Thursday). These videos are produced in conjunction with the Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, a subsidiaries of the Aspire Zone (which is located to the the Al-Khalifa International Stadium), the Academy of Sports Excellence, ASpetar, the Qatar Sports Museum, Anti-Doping Laboratory, The Torch Doha hotel along with the Aspire Zone head-office.

Excerpt from:
Aspire's online program aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle - AS English

Established during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Annas Place NOLA is moving ahead with its mission to support underserved youth in New Orleans while facing a different kind of adversity the coronavirus.

Throughout the year, the organization provides primarily Black youth, ages 5-18, with after-school music- and arts-based programming, along with academic education. Its annual summer camp typically runs five full days a week and offers instrumental music lessons and computer coding classes, along with field trips and activities that focus on virtual arts, dance, mindfulness and leading a healthy lifestyle.

This summer, because of COVID-19, Annas Place summer camp went virtual. Partnerships with local community groups and individuals have enabled it to supply students in need with laptops.

I have to say we are very lucky in this time to still be able to connect with them, and that people are still so motivated to help our students, said Brianna Carr, who became the director of Annas Place NOLA about a year ago. There have definitely been challenges in my first year, obviously, but it still brings me a lot of joy just to be able to connect with them, even in this virtual platform.

Annas Place also operates a food pantry, which has more than doubled its distribution within recent months. Around the time coronavirus began spreading throughout New Orleans, Annas Place was providing 25 families per month with bags of groceries. That number has grown to 63 families per month.

Our food pantry is doing amazing work, Carr said. They are working diligently to provide the homeless, out-of-work musicians and families with food.

Although Annas Place currently caters to youth and families in Treme, the Lower 9th Ward and Uptown Gentilly, the group initially concentrated its efforts on Treme, which carries high rates of poverty, crime and homelessness.

According to The Data Center, the average household income in Orleans Parish is $67,224, while the average in the area served by St. Annas Place is $28,970. The life expectancy in Orleans Parish is 75.8; in the St. Annas Place area, its 63.6.

Through collaborations with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, the New Orleans Museum of Art, Loyola University, NOLA Code, The Microsoft Store and Tulane University, among other institutions, Annas Place helps youth in struggling neighborhoods discover their potential and lead a healthy lifestyle.

Shalom Andersons 11-year-old son Caleb Montgomery has participated in Annas Place programs for more than four years. He is currently enrolled in the virtual summer camp.

He misses the interaction with the kids, which is not abnormal, but overall he loves it, said Anderson, noting that Caleb especially enjoys the music and art lessons. Hes drawing like crazy now.

Felicia Parish has three children enrolled in the program: Chyna Beaulieu, 15; Felein Beaulieu, 14; and Chy'anna Beaulieu, 13.

I signed them up because I needed them to stay busy. I didn't want them to not be doing anything, she said, explaining that they have participated in the organizations after-school programs for several years. I thought it was a good place for them to meet new friends and still learn at the same time.

Chyna and Felein now attend parochial schools.

(Annas Place) gives you great opportunities opportunities that you wouldn't get anywhere else, said Parish.

Although the youth centers fall programming will likely take place on a virtual platform, it will focus on academics and music lessons. Registration runs from July 17 through Sept. 15, via annasplacenola.org. Students who are disproportionately affected by poverty are given priority, Carr said.

We do make it a point to look at those applications first, because we are here to hopefully create some kind of equal footing in the system for Black and Brown youth, and for children highly affected by poverty, she said.

The transformation of certain students points to the programs success.

One (student), who (likely) would have followed down a path that most of his family did in the drug trade, has graduated high school and is looking into college. We're just beginning to see our older students' lives change from that of their parents and their grandparents, Carr said. I love seeing their perspectives change once they've been here for a while.

View post:
Anna's Place NOLA offers a helping hand in studies, arts and health for at-risk youth - NOLA.com

The TikTok social media platform has made headlines in the US recently for political reasons, but in South Africa one of the leading topfruit compnies, Tru-Cape Marketing, is using it to engage with young shoppers.

It is doing this through a healthy-lifestyle promotion aimed at increasing sales of the apple variety Kanzi.

Tru-Cape Marketing has engaged an interactive agency to produce a message which they believe young South African consumers will not be able to resist, and will hopefully send Kanzi onto a new level.

The company proposed the idea of a campaign using the Kanzi beat to interactive agency, Recode Media, and asked that they propose 'influencers' to help drive the message home.

According to Tru-Cape marketing director Conrad Fick, the group suggested TikTok for a successful lockdown campaign.

A TikTok competition where entrants demonstrate how they get healthy with Tru-Cape and Kanzi apples, essentially a repeat of what we did during lockdown, using their own song, dancing or lip-syncing and a Kanzi beat is the plan, Fick explained.

With exercising hour restrictions also lifted, entrants have the chance to get out and be active, in turn promoting an overall healthy lifestyle. Entrants will be asked to show us how they're getting active with Tru-Cape and Kanzi to stand a chance to win.

Tru-Cape has already secured strong Facebook, Instagram and Twitter followings, but TikTok seems particularly fast growing: In a short period we have already grown TikTok followers to 1,059 and, based on the advice of Recode, selected influencers to help amplify the message," he noted.

The Tru-Cape social media campaign is an indication how online activities will be used to promote the health-giving qualities of fruit.

Since the lockdown started in South Africa at the end of March, all gyms and fitness centres have been closed. One online fitness business, Jeff Together, changed the whole fitness business by combining healthy eating with exercise at home.

The initiative has shown unprecedented success with 45,000 people already signed up, in both South Africa and in 109 countries around the world.

The Kanzi hiphop or the Jeff skip it seems as if one of the positives to come out of Covid-19 is healthy lifestyles, which will particularly involve young people and healthy eating.

Read the rest here:
Tru-Cape turns to TikTok - Fruitnet

Dr. Michael Pourfar, an assistant professor of neurosurgery and neurology at NYU Langone Health, was used to patients reporting a loss of taste and smell. It's a symptom of Parkinson's disease, a focus of his work. But he was shocked when he suddenly experienced these symptoms himself a few months ago. Like many health-care workers, Pourfar contracted COVID-19. Loss of olfactory senses is one of the most common symptoms of the illness.

An ardent wine lover, Pourfar vividly recalled that a bottle of Williams Selyem Pinot Noir was the last wine he experienced before coronavirus took away his olfactory senses. And while scarier virus symptoms such as fever, aches and chills went away with time, the lack of taste and smell lingered. During his convalescence, Pourfar realized just how important wine was to his daily sense of well-being as one of the most comforting rituals in his daily life and one of his most reliable pleasures.

I can sympathize with Pourfar's struggles: My own normal was upended when I contracted the virus in mid-March and suffered the same loss of sense of smell and taste. The senses are returning, albeit slowly, but they are altered and distortedsomething that became especially clear to me when I tried to enjoy wine again. The following conversation with Dr. Pourfar was especially comforting because it reminded me that my walk to recovery isn't alone.

Wine Spectator: Could you give us a medical explanation as to how a virus could alter sense of smell?

Dr. Michael Pourfar: I don't think we have a full understanding yet of how specifically the virus causes anosmia [loss of sense of smell]. The nasal passages appear to be a common entry point for the virus and it's a pretty direct connection from there to the key neural connections that transmit smell to the brain. Early research suggests the virus may damage vascular support of the olfactory epithelium and bulb.

One of the first manifestations was a burning in my nose, as if it had been torched. A day later, my sense of smell was essentially wiped out. So I would postulate that the loss of smell occurs very much at the level of the nasal passages and disconnects the distal olfactory elements from the central connections in the brain, but I can't be certain. I would think the fact that it improves, in many cases, over days to weeks, would also point to a kind of local inflammatory response. But for some the loss is more long-lasting. So perhaps there is some variability in how the virus impacts olfactory function.

WS: Your sense of smell has been returning, little by little. Where is your sense of smell now? Have there been changes you believe may be long-lasting?

MP: I keep thinking my sense of smell is more or less completely back until something reminds me that that's not quite the case. Strange things like not tearing up when I cut an onion. I guess a sensory analogy many might relate to is thinking your eyesight is pretty good and then going to the optometrist and seeing something with a sharper lens and going, "Oh man, that's a lot clearer!" I think my nose could probably use one additional adjustment to get to full olfactory clarity. Maybe it will get there, maybe not. Still, I'm grateful I can once again determine when the milk is spoiled or the dinner is burning. The rest is luxury.

WS: Is it true that you can train yourself to regain these senses?

MP: I suspect my improvement was more a result of recovery than of any training, but I'd like to take some credit for moving things along with my concerted efforts at olfactory "training" (if I can ennoble sniffing with that term). I think psychologically it helped me feel like I was actively participating in my recovery.

WS: In an attempt to measure your rate of recovery you adopted the Cognac classification. V.S. meant a slight return of smell, V.S.O.P. a modest return and X.O. equaled back to normal. What gave you the idea to classify your recovery? And as a wine lover, why the choice of Cognac classification? (Mind you, this is a no-judgment zone.) You could have used wine classifications like Bordeaux or Italy .

MP: Neurologists love rating scales and love to track progression. I think it's in our DNA. So it was hardly a stretch for me to come up with my own scale. Wine was initially just too elusive. It smelled like nothing. I happened upon [smelling] Cognac. It imparted a kind of vaporous nuttiness that somehow got through my dulled senses.

As I improved, I extended my curiosity to wine and it was interesting to see how patchy the results were. I wondered whether recovery was a threshold phenomenon (e.g., the smell simply had to be strong enough) or a more smell-specific phenomenon (e.g., certain scents would return faster than others).

Though I can't claim the results to be rigorously scientific, I concluded it was a little of both: Some distinctive aromas (like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc) registered earlier than subtler ones. But some very particular scents, not necessarily strong, also registered earlier than others, like that "lead pencil" quality of Bordeaux wines. So yes, eventually I could have created a Bordeaux rating scale, but regularly opening fine Bordeaux for the sake of scientific curiosity seemed a dicey and expensive proposition.

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WS: Since your recovery, you've started appreciating wines you'd previously not normally gravitated to, like New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs and Zinfandel. Have you discovered any others? And which wine has been the greatest rediscovery, and why?

MP: I have a pretty adventurous palate and enjoy new discoveries. But I think when you lose something, you become acutely aware of the comforts of the familiar. I'm not really looking for the next great thing so much as the last great thing right now.

That's why it was so exciting to discover, after a couple months of enophilic no-man's land, that I could again appreciate that very particular lead-pencil fragrance of a Bordeaux. Like a lot of people of my generation, I started with and then moved away from Bordeaux. So in a way, it was my most welcome rediscovery.

In general it seemed, if I could borrow an analogy from another sense, that wines with more bass notes were easier to process than wines in a higher key. More acidic flavors overwhelmed my diminished sensory state. Gamay and Pinot Noir, two of my pre-COVID favorites, just smelled and tastedto my chagrinstrangely off-key. Some wines that I found more appealing than before included fleshier wines from Ribera del Duero and Gigondas, which I always liked but found more in sync. I've returned now to some of my pre-COVID favorites but have a newfound appreciationand gratitudefor the wines that accompanied my recovery.

WS: Is there a specific bottling that you tasted as you were recovering that has become a new favorite?

MP: I think one thing this has taught me is how fragile our love of wine is. So many of us have poured so much time, energy and money into this passion and have certainly been enriched by it well beyond what's in the glass. But I've seen how it can all be so quickly undermined by the loss of smell, the loss of health or any number of factors. All those special bottles I'd been saving what exactly was I waiting for?

But then again, I'm struck by how resilient that love is even if we need to adapt to changed circumstances. Tastes change. In that light, what I've come to enjoy most is not a particular bottle but the pleasure of opening any bottle with a loved one, breathing it in and thinking, Yes, thank you.

WS: What advice would you give other COVID sufferers who are experiencing diminished taste and smell?

MP: I think it's important to acknowledge that people have lost much more than their sense of smell. They've lost their liv
es, their livelihood, loved ones. But that should not take away our ability to empathize with those who have experienced lesser losses, whether it's missing a graduation or losing one's sense of smell.

To those who have lost their sense of smell, I'd certainly convey my empathy and try to give them hope that in most cases it will return even if not to what it was before. Hopefully you will find little preserved islands of sensory pleasure that remain or emerge or maybe even awaken a new receptivity. I can certainly say that if and when it does return, wine will never taste the same. No matter what you're drinking it will taste better.

WS: Finally, as a physician, how has this affected your own journey dealing with patients with COVID?

MP: My specialty is Parkinson's and, interestingly, loss of smell is often a very early manifestation, so for years I've been asking patients about it without really appreciating the significance on a person's quality of life. It seemed that there were always too many other issues that pushed it into the backgroundtrouble walking, difficulties with speech.

Now I've come to understand how loss of smell and taste impact appetite, impact emotional well-being. We all instinctively knowwithout reading Proust or understanding neurosciencehow smell serves as a powerful gateway for memory and emotion. When that gateway is shut, even for a brief period of time, you realize what a devastating loss it is. It's certainly made me more sensitive to how integral smell and taste are to our sense of self.

Excerpt from:
Health Talk: Wine Lovers, COVID-19 and Lost Sense of Smell - Wine Spectator

The novel coronavirus has infected close to 12 million people worldwide and resulted in more than 5 lacs 36 thousand fatalities globally. As the number continues to rise with every passing day, countries across the globe have slowly eased lockdown restrictions to prevent the economy from nosediving. While the adults are slowly beginning to step outdoors to get back to work, schools and other educational institutes are still closed shut for unforeseeable future.

As the little ones continue to stay confined between the four walls of the home, it can be a challenging task for the parents to take care of their overall wellbeing. In the absence of any fixed routine and a disrupted sense of normalcy, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ensure that the children stay healthy, both physically and mentally.

Link:
COVID-19 pandemic: How to ensure that your child has a healthy lifestyle during the pandemic - Times of India

The analyst has published a comprehensive research study based on a survey conducted to analyze the buying patterns, consumer behavior and impact of pricing on buying decisions

NEW YORK, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05927294/?utm_source=PRN

The report also provides insights into the marketing strategies and steps taken by the companies to retain their market position in the local as well as global market. The study also provides insights into the factors affecting the buying decisions, consumer preferences, and the demographic factors promoting the growth of the products of the global health drinks market.

The global health drinks market size was valued at USD 478.10 billion in 2019 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 6.06% in terms of value during the forecast period. Consumers approach wellness in a holistic view these days and they prefer drinks that give more health benefits to them. Several consumers want functional and healthy beverages and this trend is taking over drinks. Consumers have become more health-conscious, and they're willing to try healthier alternatives to traditional soft drinks. Healthy lifestyle trends have boosted the drinks industry as well as the frequent adoption of healthier beverages dominating social media channels and supermarket promotions. Enhanced beverages are gaining great market position, especially among consumers seeking out products good for their health with high sugar content as the price to pay. Celery juice cleanses are booming and celery juice has found itself being one of the trendiest beverages of the year so far. From improved digestion, to increase energy levels, celery juice appears to have what it takes to stick around for a while.

In the consumer survey, it is seen that 59% of consumers in North America purchase products that help save them time and effort. They prefer health drinks that support on-the-go lifestyles with less time in the working day to exercise. Nowadays, increasing the interest of the young generation in preventive measures shows a shift in awareness and behavior. Millennials are leading the charge by making health-promoting diet and lifestyle choices a priority, as recent studies indicate. These younger consumers are the most willing to take initiative on behalf of their well-being, and they are prepared to pay premium prices if necessary to achieve their goals. There's an emerging subcategory of drinkers, the "health-conscious drinker" that demands more than their simplistic drinking predecessors, and is looking to balance the social and physiological desires to consume alcohol, with the increasingly important need for health and support of the body and mind.

The United States, China, and Japan among top Markets for Health Drinks FIGURE 1 GLOBAL HEALTH DRINKS MARKET BY COUNTRY, 2018 (REVENUE % SHARE)

The U.S. is the largest health drink consuming nation as it holds more than 65% market share of the North America sports nutrition market and approximately 20% market share of the global health drinks market. The factors such as the increasing popularity of health drinks among the young population and aggressive marketing strategies adopted by market players to expand consumer base are the key growth drivers for the in this country. China holds the second-largest market share by country owing to government programs such as Healthy China 2030. Japan and India also hold a significant share of the global health drinks market.

FIGURE 2 SOURCE OF AN INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRODUCT

The analyst has published a comprehensive research study based on a survey conducted to analyze the buying patterns, consumer behavior, and consumer preferences. The above figure shows the sources of information about the product from which consumer comes to know about the products. The majority of consumers come to know about the product from television followed by family and friends. Television advertisements have a substantial influence on consumers. The effective advertisement also influences well educated adults. Family and friends are a big influence on drinking. If a friend or relative starts drinking healthy drinks then you're more likely to do the same. Display at the retail outlets is also the most influencing source of information for the consumers.

Among the regions, Asia Pacific dominates the global health drinks market. It holds approximately 40% market share of the global health drinks market. Increasing significant growth potential for health drink products in emerging economies such as India, Japan, and China is likely to further expand the growth of the health drinks market over the forecast period. Improvement in standard of living in these countries due to rising disposable income and urbanization are the major factors supplementing the growth of the Asia-Pacific health drinks market. North America is the second-largest market for health drinks as it holds near about 30% market share of the global health drinks market. The factors such as rising health consciousness along with changing lifestyle with fast-paced living in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico is expected to boost the growth of North America health drinks market over the period 2020 to 2026.

Research Methodology

Primary Research Our primary research involves extensive interviews and analysis of the opinions provided by the primary respondents. The primary research starts with identifying and approaching the primary respondents, the primary respondents are approached through Key Opinion Leaders associated Internal and External subject matter experts Professionals and participants from LinkedIn, Hoovers, Factiva and Bloggers Our primary research respondents typically include Executives working with leading companies in the market under review Product/brand/marketing managers CXO level executives Regional/zonal/ country managers Vice President level executives.

Methods of Primary Research Computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) Computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI) Computer-assisted web interview (CAWI) Questionnaires/Surveys

Secondary Research Secondary research involves extensive exploring through the secondary sources of information available in both public domain and paid sources. Each research study is based on over 500 hours of secondary research accompanied by primary research. The information obtained through the secondary sources is validated through the crosscheck on various data sources. The secondary sources of the data typically include Company reports and publications Government/institutional publications Trade and associations' journals Databases such as WTO (World Trade Organization), OECD (The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), Hoovers, Factiva, and the World Bank, among others. Websites and publications by research agencies

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05927294/?utm_source=PRN

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Link:
Global Health Drinks Market: Consumer Behavior Analysis by Countries, Buying Pattern Analysis, Demographics, Trends Analysis, Survey Findings and...

Domestic doctor Alexander Myasnikov debunked the major myths relating to healthy lifestyle. Some related with the latest rules had become obsolete.

For a long time it was believed that red meat and the fats harmful to the human body. In particular, it was felt that the product triggers an increased risk of a number of diseases and unpleasant conditions, including stroke and heart attack. However, a number of works of scientists talked about the fact that monogyny in the product is not so harmful. In the autumn of last year, the study showed that the cardiovascular system of the red meat risk is not responsible. At the same time, the product remains a risk factor for colon cancer. It contains many important vitamins and minerals, so in a week it can eat up to three times what would be useful.

The view that daily need to overcome 10 thousand steps, is not correct. We are talking about the approximate load volumes, the main thing to move. You can go swimming, Jogging or other physical activity. In the diet butchers advised to include plenty of vegetables, fruits and fish. Sausage is better to replace the boiled meat.

Excerpt from:
Dr. Alexander Myasnikov debunked the main myths about healthy lifestyles - The Times Hub

A lot has changed in the last several weeks, and it likely wont be going back to being completely normal soon. This time at home has taught us a lot, though. I think for many, we are learning life lessons and resetting our priorities.

We need to hang on to these essential life lessons even when we start moving forward and go back to whatever new normal awaits us. Think about it much of how we lived our lives before this point included a ton of social media, a bunch of keeping up with the Jones, and a sense of financial security and health invincibility because the stock market was doing well.

We as a society were traveling like crazy and doing all kinds of new things without getting sick; according to the World Tourism Organization, tourist arrivals across the globe were supposed to cross 1.5 billion by this year.

That has all come to a grinding halt. Mother Earth has made us a victim of her latest punishment. We as humans need to not only stay safe and sane during this time (and please do: work to relieve stress, and practice self-care, please), but we also need to take this wake-up call and learn from it. We CANNOT keep going as we were. Its not sustainable.

So what life lessons am I referring to? I made a list. See if you agree, or if youd have anything to add.

This is a must, and I dont think we were doing this enough. Now we are forced to, and Im sure some families are at each others last nerve. But I think we should take a minute and appreciate what we are being given: a chance to reconnect and understand each other. An opportunity to work on our interpersonal relationships, let go of past issues, forgive each other, make new memories and get creative with how we are spending our time together.

Life Lessons: I think this is an essential life lesson to take away. The people closest to you deserve your time and attention, and vice versa. Use this time to reforge these relationships so that you can carry them with you for the rest of ever. No more excuses for not having enough time to do so; we have enough technology at our fingertips to stay connected no matter what.

For those who feel they cant reach out to family, remember that not every family is made of blood. So find your people, your loved ones, and use this time to strengthen the bonds you do have.

I hope everyone who once took their health and their access to medications for granted now realizes how lucky weve been thus far. I also hope everyone says, OK, time to make health a priority.

Until you are taking care of yourself, you will not be able to fight not just COVID but any illness.

Life lesson: Take steps now to redefine your view of fitness and health. Im not saying you need to become a bodybuilder, but pay attention to your food and activity levels, and work on developing healthy habits and build a healthy lifestyle. Think of food like its medicine and use it to work for you and keep you fit (versus what a lot of people do with eating fast food and the like, and it makes them ill). Pay attention to your activity and movement.

Take care of yourself now so that your body and mind can fight for you later.

Climate change is real (polar ice caps are melting, earths surface temperatures have increased, sea levels have risen, and the ocean is warmer). This is all due to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. One of the good things to come from this situation is that it has put a halt on production and factories have shut down. Thus, air pollution levels are at an all-time low, and animals are coming out to play.

Life lesson: I think this is one of the most important lessons ever. The planet doesnt need us; we need it. Lets start respecting the ground we live on and take care of it because by doing so, we will extend our ability to live in it, and well make life better for ourselves.

Read:That 100-degree day in the Arctic underscores how this region is now warming twice as fast as Earth

How many people under normal circumstances would have online shopped and gone to the mall about five times now? I could probably fall into this category. Spending money is a wonderful stress reliever.

Life lesson: How much of our spending is actually necessary? Ive saved a lot of money in the last month alone, mainly by not eating out and not buying things I dont need. Funny thing, I dont feel like Im missing out.

Hopefully, this has shown us that we dont need much to be happy, what we have is good enough, and we need to be thankful for it, the rest is just excess and look how easy it is to cut it out of our lives! Those items you thought you couldnt live without? Guess what, youre living without them now, and youre surviving!

So lets reconfigure how we treat our hard-earned dollars and go forward spending wisely and showing more respect for our money.

Read:How to save money in tough times: 6 dos and donts

While youre creating that spending plan, take note of emergency funds. This is the longest rainy day/period ever. For anyone who couldnt figure out why they needed an emergency fund before, I hope it all makes sense now.

Life lesson: You should have about 3-6 months worth of living expenses put away, and it should be untouched except for in an emergency. This might seem like a lot. However, the purpose is to give you a cushion if you lose your job or need some time to transition between jobs. Going forward, this is also your pandemic relief fund. Basically, its so that you dont go into debt or have to sell you prized possessions to get by.

Read:I dont want to be someone in need of cash: How economic slumps inflicts permanent scars on spending and saving

Also:Are you bankrolling your adult kids in a crisis?

So many people are suffering pay cuts or losing their jobs during this time. Unemployment topped 13%! A common theme to address this that Ive noticed is advocating for multiple income streams or starting a side hustle. While I think thats a viable option, not everyone can do that. Their skill sets dont allow them to, or they are already bogged down so much by their primary jobs, or there is some other reason.

Life Lesson: Yes, multiple sources of income are one way to cushion yourself in the future, but I think we should all also consider career backup plans going forward. This crisis has shown us that you never know what can happen; even health care is not a secure profession (many people in the front lines are taking pay cuts, as are subspecialty services that only do elective procedures or outpatient care). We all should have an idea of what else we could do with our skills; or what areas wed be willing to learn so that if were forced to, we can pivot.

Times are changing, and more change is coming. We must adapt to these life-changing events and be prepared for any possibility.

Read:Midcareer? Your job is at risk heres what to do now

How many are completely overwhelmed or frustrated by social media? Theres only so much any brain can take. Now we all have so much time on our hands, and Im sure much of it is spent online. But, as Im sure you are finding out, it actually makes this worse.

Life lesson: Theres a lot on social media that is exaggerated, falsified or taken out of context. I had to stop reading stories because of all of these reasons. I hope that everything you read online from here on out, you take with a large grain of salt.

Find trustworthy news outlets to understand the facts; trust the experts who are doing their best and working tirelessly to bring you updates; and most importantly, take a break from your phones. You dont have to always be connected.

How many parents are home schooling right now? How many think that poking their eyes out with a hot stick would be less painful?

Life lesson: Our teachers are some of the most essential people in our society. They really work hard and deserve so much more respect and money than they currently get. When schools reopen and we continue moving forward with life, lets give our teachers a huge shout-
out and advocate for their support.

We live in a world that is go go go. We are constantly under pressure to be productive, to compete and be better than our peers or ourselves, and to never take breaks. While this has resulted in many of us having successful careers, as I mentioned earlier, this isnt sustainable. We are burning out, we are getting tired, and we are hiding our depression. In essence, we have lost our work-life balance. We need to get it back and start living our best lives.

Life Lessons: Lets slow down. We need to live one day at a time and pay attention to where we are at. I know this is much easier said than done, and Im not saying you shouldnt plan for the future. I just think that we need to do a better job of being present and being more mindful. We all know that life is short; lets wake up from this and try to really enjoy life and make every moment count.

What were going through right now, dealing with being confined, coping with boredom, going crazy in our homes, learning to cope with our fears, and struggling to keep our sanity. some people fight this battle every day, every week, every year. To simplify it further, life is made up of all kinds of nonsensical stuff we have to deal with, and now its worse due to the pandemic.

Recent research is showing that over one-third of Americans are suffering from depression and anxiety an increase from before the pandemic.

Life Lesson: Mental health is an integral part of our health and needs to be continuously addressed, just like our physical health is. Its not taboo. Its real, and its normal. I hope that this pandemic will bring to light the need to have regular mental-health checks and care.

Im sure our perspective has shifted in the last few weeks about who really matters for us to function as individuals and as a society.

Life Lesson: Its not the online influencers that matter most or the makeup artists that you cant live without. No, its our health-care workers including everyone who works in a hospital our minimum-wage workers and the labor force that does all the back-end work that we never notice, and our banks and grocery stores that provide us with the core essentials we cant survive without.

Lets all take a minute to recognize these people, be grateful that they exist, and that we have access to them. As we come out of this quarantine, lets continue to show gratitude, compassion, and kindness for them and recognize their hard work. Lets change our mindset and take care of them as they care for us. Lets NOT take them for granted anymore.

Illness and natural disasters are great equalizers, and they also highlight the disparities in our society.

Life Lesson: Money, status, fame and looks have no bearing on what happens to you, nor does it protect you in any way. At the end of the day, we are all susceptible to the same human vices, illnesses and consequences.

We need to remember that we are all human.

In summary, the situation, hopefully, is helping you to reprioritize your time and your life purpose. I hope you can use this time to find yourself and realize what truly matters to you and allows you to live your best life.

Lets carry these lessons with us as we move forward so that we, as a society, are better as a whole because of this experience. Lets not make the same mistakes we have been making.

Sanjana Vig is a physician anesthesiologist who also has an MBA. She blogs at YouBeThree, with the aim to empower people to be the best version of themselves. This was first published on Your Money Geek, a website that aims to make personal finance fun.

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Coronavirus is changing us but which of these lessons are we learning? - MarketWatch

Maison Jacynthe founder Jacynthe Ren.Handout / Maison Jacynthe

Maison Jacynthe is more than just a beauty brand to founder Jacynthe Ren.

Its a lifestyle.

Offering a comprehensive collection of skincare, home products and newly added makeup, the Quebec-based company aims to offer quality and performance without any chemicals.

We recently caught up with Ren to learn more.

Q. For those who arent familiar, what is Maison Jacynthe?

A. Maison Jacynthe is, first and foremost, a lifestyle. Its a way of living in harmony with natures intelligence. Its a vegan and all-natural way to cherish and love oneself and find inner harmony with all-natural ingredients.

We offer a wide range of skincare, homecare, makeup, perfume and nutrition products where natures beauty and wellness meet.

Q. When and why did you start the brand?

A. The desire was first to share. In 2013, prior to launching our Maison Jacynthe products, I launched JMagazine; an online platform for all-natural beauty and wellness practices where I shared the tips and tricks beauty regimens, recipes, etc. that I had learned and implemented over the years which greatly increased my overall well-being.

Around that time, I was interviewing an owner of a natural, organic skincare company and I asked if the products were edible. She looked at me, very surprised, and said Its better not to ingest them. I remember thinking, we are supposed to be able to eat our cosmetics. Our skin absorbs the ingredients. The idea to develop my own natural skincare line then began to form, as I had already been using at-home natural oil formulas that I had developed during my first pregnancy, when I was 30 years old. In 2014, after 11 years of enjoying these qualities and benefits for myself, I decided it was time to share my beauty tips and launched four products and it just took off from there.

Q. What makes it unique from other beauty/skincare brands?

A. All of our treatments & cosmetics are created to respect the skins integrity and have been conceived for those living a healthy, balanced lifestyle. We only use active and all-natural ingredients of the highest quality, no filling ingredients or petroleum derivatives that block pores, no common conservation agents, and no artificial fragrances that irritate the skin. All of our essential oils are pure and reliably sourced, and all of our plant oils are virgin. Every step of our production and packaging is made without compromise and without waste.

Q. Who is the target customer?

A. At first, our target customer was largely the young mother who recognizes the importance of natural products to promote a healthy lifestyle for herself and her family. In the last year-and-a-half, weve noticed a surge of consumers in their early 20s that seek out vegan and all-natural products. Its really amazing to see that these younger people are seeking out healthy and natural alternatives and are committed to leading a healthy lifestyle at such a young age.

Q. Where are the products developed/made?

A. All of our skincare treatments are developed and made in our own lab in Quebec. Our tonics are made in partner labs in Quebec. Our makeup is conceptualized here and made in Milano.

Q. Is there a hero product in the range? If so, which one, and what makes it so popular?

A. Our Rose Trio everyday beauty ritual is our hero product. It consists of our Cleansing Oil, which purifies the skin and removes makeup; Rose Floral Water, invigorating, slightly astringent, firming, moisturizing and anti-wrinkle; and our Rose Serum, which protects and regenerates your skin. This has been my go-to everyday beauty ritual for the last 17 years, ever since I was pregnant with my first child. In fact, the Rose Trio is the first skincare treatment we launched on our website.

Q. What is the price range for Maison Jacynthe products?

A. Our products typically range from $10 to $150. We want our products to be accessible to all, which is why our pricing is competitive and typically lower than other all-natural beauty and wellness brands, while still ensuring we use only the highest quality ingredients.

Q. Lastly, where can people check them out?

A. You can find all our products on Maisonjacynthe.ca. We ship worldwide. If youre based in Quebec, you can also visit any of our 6 Maison Jacynthe Homes where we sell our products, have a bistro section where you can indulge in our juices and salads, as well as salons where you can book appointments for Maison Jacynthe skincare treatments with our specialists.

Aharris@postmedia.com

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Style Q&A: Canadian natural beauty brand Maison Jacynthe is a 'lifestyle' - The Province

THE United States has an 84.1% share of the global market in organic food and beverages. This has come about because, over the past decade, organic producers have risen to the challenge of meeting increasing consumer demand for such products.

A review by the Centre for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture at Universiti Malaya revealed that the Malaysian organic food industry is still small, with more than 60% of such products being imported.

Over the past decades, the governments initiatives to encourage people to have a healthy lifestyle appear to have been successful demand for organically grown foods has increased significantly as people appreciate the possible health benefits of such foods and the assurance that such food is safe.

Agriculture and Food Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi has said that the increased demand for organic rice is attributable to Malaysians healthier lifestyles. He also stressed that organic padi farming offers a better return than traditional agriculture due to low water usage and limited use of padi seeds. It is also proven safe for public health because organic food is chemical- free. Other benefits of organically grown foods include higher dry matter levels, particularly for leafy vegetables and tubers, more top-quality proteins with better amino acid ranking in livestock reared organically, and more magnesium, iron, phosphorus and other healthy elements.

Among the environmental effects are the fact that organic farming increases the soils physical-biological properties as it offers more organic matter and biomass, higher enzyme levels, better soil stability, improved water percolation and holding capacity, and less water use and wind erosion. It also requires less energy and creates less waste per unit area of yield and is less environmentally harmful because it does not use synthetic pesticides.

In comparison, conventionally grown foods have adverse health effects due to pesticide residue; they contain more nitrates, heavy metals and hormones; they create antibiotic waste; and they can come from genetically modified organisms. They are also less nutritious and contain fewer protective antioxidants than organically grown foods.

According to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, which promotes organic farming, the four fundamental principles of organic agriculture are health, ecology, fairness and care. The principles are designed to enhance biological cycles in the agricultural system, preserve and enhance soil fertility, minimise all forms of pollution, avoid the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilisers, and produce high-quality food in sufficient quantities.

Locally, there are also many government policies and regulations aimed at promoting the development of the organic food industry, including the National Agro-Food Policy, Third National Agriculture Policy and the 10th Malaysia Plan. Still, the governments efforts seem futile without proper implementation plans and, crucially, without peoples willingness to join the industry.

A few decades ago, India was also far behind in adopting organic farming for various reasons but it achieved rapid growth and has now become one of the worlds largest organic food and beverage producers. The country could serve as a model for Malaysia to succeed in organic farming with the advent of various advanced technologies.

We would also have to remove obstacles to developing the organic food industry here, including the lack of incentives to go organic, the lack of public interest in the quality of natural products, and heightened scepticism among farmers about embracing organic agriculture. Because of this attitude, farmers tend to overlook the fact that organic food can gain peoples confidence in food products because of its safety.

Another obstacle to increasing general acceptance of organic foods is their price they do appear to cost a lot more than traditionally produced foods, typically appearing at premium prices in most supermarkets. Part of this is simply a matter of supply and demand; also, organic produce, meat and dairy often require more money than conventional products to grow unless the economies of scale come into the picture.

Various wellness websites and environment NGOs encourage people to shop at farmers markets, join food cooperatives and community-supported farms networks, purchase produce seasonally and compare prices at grocery stores, farmers markets, online and elsewhere to manage their spending on organic food.

Apart from this, the government should review organic farming policies on an ongoing basis and shift the paradigm to ensure that the organic food industry becomes a growth engine for Malaysias agricultural sector. Comprehensive strategies and collaboration from producers and marketers are needed to gain public cooperation and trust to ensure the industrys success.

FARHAN KAMARULZAMAN

Emir Research

Note: Emir Research is a think tank focused on research-based policy recommendations.

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A green engine of growth - The Star Online

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Maria Vittoria Cusumano is a fashion entrepreneur with coveted celebrity status and an ambassador of Komen Italia. A high-end socialite and a social media influencer, she uses her celebrity to inspire her fans on fashion and educate women under the age of 30 to maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent early-age cancer.

As a celebrity influencer and an entrepreneur, Cusumano is surrounded by media narratives spun around her life, including anything from the fashion trends that she sets at international events to details of her personal life. A closer glance would reveal the commendable work she performs to promote womens health and fitness practices. Beyond the glitz and glamour, Cusumano is a change maker striving to change lives and break societal stereotypes.

More than just fashion

Using her fame as a platform for change, Cusumano associates herself with Komen Italia, an organization that spreads awareness for womens health. There is no denying the fact that when celebrities speak, the world sits up and takes notice. Using her power and influence, Cusumano plays an essential role in advocating the need to encourage and motivate women to take care of their health, and prevent the onset of several life-threatening diseases such as cancer. Using her sway over the internet, Cusumano, with a fan following of more than 400, 000 ardent followers on Instagram sends across relevant messages to a broad audience.

The fashionista is an active supporter of eradicating disease and deaths due to health and wellness related issues. She believes that her long-term association with Komen Italia will help in educating young girls to lead an active lifestyle and consume healthy diets. Cusumano believes that neglecting health over a long time is one of the key reasons women below the age of 30 are diagnosed with cancer and several other lifestyle diseases. She is a fitness enthusiast and a strong believer in upkeeping health by participating in sports and games that positively impact heart health, blood circulation, and enhanced metabolism.

Surrounded by fashion since young

Born in the eventful city of Bonn that is steeped in German culture and traditions, Cusumanos journey through life too, has not been any less exciting. She spent growing up in Rome and parts of New York and pursued a degree in law and forensic genetics. Despite being an academic heavyweight, Cusumanos love for all things fashion started at a very young age. As someone who shared a home with her three sisters, there was no dearth of fashionable clothes in her closet. It was perhaps a childhood surrounded by opportunities to browse through the latest fashion trends that bred in her the hidden desire to learn more about this world. Her first true expression of this love was in her blog, The Scent of a Woman, which later transitioned to evolve as a digital fashion magazine MVC.

Support for social good

Though she is famous for being the fashion goddess inspiring one and all, she uses her popularity to vouch for social causes in her circle of influence. Cusumanos caring voice drives home a special message: staying fit to prevent the onset of a deadly disease like cancer. She also puts additional stress on the importance of conducting diagnostic screening for women that can help to treat tumors when they are still at a nascent stage and prevent the malignant spread of the same. She has also been a key spokesperson for Nursing Up, a campaign planned to curb atrocities faced by health workers.

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Award-Winning Entrepreneur Maria Vittoria Cusumano on Promoting Womens Health as the Ambassador of Komen Italia - TechBullion

New York, July 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Sports Nutrition Market: Consumer Behavior Analysis by Countries, Buying Pattern Analysis, Demographics, Trends Analysis, Survey Findings and Results, Leading Companies and their Market Strategies" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05927306/?utm_source=GNW

The report also provides insights into the marketing strategies and steps taken by the companies to retain their market position in the local as well as global market. The study also provides insights into the factors affecting the buying decisions, consumer preferences, and the demographic factors promoting the growth of the products of the global sports nutrition market.

The global sports nutrition market size was valued at USD 56,800 million in 2019 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 6.32% in terms of value during the forecast period. The sports nutrition market is going through a major transformation, muscling its way out of its athlete-focused niche into the mainstream. The mainstreaming of sports nutrition has pushed the category into new directions. As the consumer base evolves, manufacturers are changing their approach to address the diverse needs of serious athletes, as well as active lifestyle consumers. Manufacturers are connecting with active lifestyle consumers by showing them how the product fits into their daily lives as part of a healthy lifestyle. They are highlighting more moderate fitness activities, such as jogging, hiking, or yoga. Manufacturers are offering products in a variety of delivery formats to expand their reach due to the on-the-go consumption patterns of active lifestyle consumers. Consumers prefer the convenience of gels or ready-to-drink beverages.

The increasing concern about physical well-being is a major growth driver for the sports nutrition market. Sports nutrition plays a key role in optimizing the beneficial effects of physical activity of a bodybuilder, a professional athlete in training. It helps to improve performance, injury prevention, and quicker recovery. Sports nutrition helps to maintain physical well-being such as muscle health, weight management through increased satiety, and a slowing of age-related muscle loss. Sports nutrition has become increasingly mainstream over the past decade as interest in health, fitness, and wellbeing has grown.

The United States, Canada, and China among top markets for sports nutrition Figure 1. Global Sports Nutrition Market by Country, 2018 (Revenue % Share)

The U.S. is the largest sports nutrition consuming nation as it holds more than 60% market share of North America sports nutrition market and 29% market share of the global sports nutrition market. The factors such as increasing health awareness, healthy lifestyle, rising number of health clubs and fitness centers, and changing consumer preferences for nutritional products are the key growth drivers for the in this country. China holds an approximately 10% market share of the global sports nutrition market followed by Canada, Germany, and Japan. China sports nutrition market generated USD 5503.82 million in 2019 owing to the Chinese consumers interest in sports and wellness, especially among young.

Figure 2. Source of an Advice to Use Sports Nutritions

The analyst has published a comprehensive research study based on a survey conducted to analyze the buying patterns, consumer behavior, and consumer preferences. The above figure shows the source of advice to use sports nutrition given to the consumer before consuming sports nutrition. The majority of consumers got advice from the gym/health center to use sports nutrition which is highest than other sources. After the gym/health center, friends are the second-largest source from which consumers got advice to use sports nutrition. About 17% of consumers got advice from their health adviser to use sports nutrition.

Among the regions, North America dominates the global sports nutrition market. It holds more than 40% market share of the global sports nutrition market. The U.S. is the largest consumer of sports nutrition as it holds a 29% market share of the global sports nutrition market. Canada is the fastest-growing market for sports nutrition in the North America region. Europe is a second-largest market for sports nutrition followed by the Asia Pacific. The rise in obesity and an increase in the number of health centers & fitness clubs are driving the growth of the market in Europe. Growing demand among bodybuilders and athletes for various types of energy drinks and dietary supplements are the major driving factors for the Asia Pacific sports nutrition market.

Research Methodology

Primary Research Our primary research involves extensive interviews and analysis of the opinions provided by the primary respondents. The primary research starts with identifying and approaching the primary respondents, the primary respondents are approached through Key Opinion Leaders associated Internal and External subject matter experts Professionals and participants from LinkedIn, Hoovers, Factiva and Bloggers Our primary research respondents typically include Executives working with leading companies in the market under review Product/brand/marketing managers CXO level executives Regional/zonal/ country managers Vice President level executives.

Methods of Primary Research Computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) Computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI) Computer-assisted web interview (CAWI) Questionnaires/Surveys

Secondary Research Secondary research involves extensive exploring through the secondary sources of information available in both the public domain and paid sources. Each research study is based on over 500 hours of secondary research accompanied by primary research. The information obtained through the secondary sources are validated through the crosscheck on various data sources. The secondary sources of the data typically include Company reports and publications Government/institutional publications Trade and associations journals Databases such as WTO (World Trade Organization), OECD (The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), Hoovers, Factiva, and the World Bank, among others. Websites and publications by research agenciesRead the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05927306/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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Global Sports Nutrition Market: Consumer Behavior Analysis by Countries, Buying Pattern Analysis, Demographics, Trends Analysis, Survey Findings and...

Our mental health is as important as our physical health. Disturbances in our mental health could affect our physical health. So, we must take good care of both. Life is complicated and full of ups, downs, pain, joy, twist, turns, setbacks, and triumphs leading to acute mental distress. Acute mental distress is usually short-lasting with complete return to normal mental state. Sometimes in life, everyone experiences mental distress which is a natural way we respond to stress mentally. Mental problem is when mental distress fails to resolve within a reasonable period and often time, is associated with some level of impairment in functions. When not controlled, mental problem could progress to mental illness. Mental illness is a dysfunction involving the brain that negatively affects someones thoughts, emotions, and/or behaviors and significantly impairs functions and quality of life.

Mental problem and illness are very common in our society. Report from Canadian Mental Health Association and Canadian Mental Health Commission stated that every year, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental illness or addiction problem and by the time Canadians reach 40 years of age, 1 in 2 haveor have hada mental illness. The government of British Columbia estimated that annual cost of mental health problems in 2010 to be $6.6 billion.

Achieving and maintaining quality and optimal mental health is key in preventing mental health problem and illness. Self- management which include identification and effective practice of recommended healthy lifestyle are linked to sustainable and efficient mental health. Below are some proven self-care practice that influence mental health status.

Exercise-Exercise improves blood circulation to and in brain, maintaining balance of brain chemicals. This improves feeling of well-being, mental alertness and physical fitness. Aerobic exercises, such as jogging, swimming, cycling, walking, gardening, and dancing, have been proved to reduce anxiety and depression. In addition to improving functions of brain chemical, a physically fit individual is free of obesity and sedentary lifestyle which are known risk factors to mental problem and illness.

Chronic stress and relaxation Prolong stress leads to long term exposure of brain to stress chemicals. This is associated with changes on the structures and functional connections on some parts of brain, contributing to mental problem and illness. In contrast, quality relaxation improves mental health and includes yoga, mindfulness, meditation, adequate sleep and deep breathing.

Nutrition Eating a brain-healthy diet improves mental health. A recent study found that a long term consumption of Mediterranean-style (a diet high in vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, beans, grains, fish, and unsaturated fats such as olive oil), supplemented with fish oil leads to reduction in depression.

Social connection/support Human beings are social creatures. We need the companionship of others to thrive in life, and the strength of our connections has a huge impact on our mental health and happiness. Being socially connected to relatives , friends and others can ease stress, anxiety, and depression, boost self-worth, provide comfort and joy, prevent loneliness, and even add years to your life. On the flip side, lacking strong social connections can pose a serious risk to our mental and emotional health.

Chronic disease management- Chronic diseases are common in Canada. This include heart diseases, lung diseases, kidney diseases, diabetes mellitus and others. According to Mental Health Commission of Canada, approximately 87 per cent of Canadians are likely to be directly affected by chronic disease or major illness in their lifetime. An estimated 25 to 50 per cent of people living with a chronic illness and 20 per cent of their care givers will develop depression. Proper management of chronic disease could prevent possible complications including mental health problem and illness.

Abuse of alcohol, nicotine, and illicit drugs Chronic abnormal use of these drugs can lead to both short- and long-term changes in the brain, contributing to mental problem and illness. Compared with the general population, people addicted to drugs are roughly twice as likely to suffer from mood and anxiety disorders.

Sleep status Studies have demonstrated a clear connection between mental health and sleep. According to Harvard Health, chronic sleep problems plague 50 80 per cent of mental health patients. Our sleep status is linked to our feeling of wellbeing and mental health.

For more details and information on locally available support for your mental health, feel free to contact your health professional and your local health center. You can also visit government of BC website using below link to learn more about provincial mental health services and programs.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/bcs-criminal-justice-system/services-and-resources/services-by-need/mental-health-services

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My mental health and me - Houston Today

Among the towering spires and ceramic inlaid stupas of Bangkoks Wat Pho temple are a group of inscriptions from the 19th Century. Shaded by the wooden eaves, these large marble plaques, known as the Epigraphic Archives of Wat Pho, divulge the secrets of the Thai way of life and are one of the earliest recordings of the techniques of one of Thailands most revered therapies: Nuad Thai (Thai massage).

Thai massage helps close this gap, cure ailments and make a connection

Added to Unescos Intangible Culture Heritage of Humanity list in 2019, this ancient healing method practised by Buddhist monks at the temple uses a blend of stretching, yoga and acupressure techniques to relax the body. Unlike Swedish massage or Hawaiian lomi lomi massage, where the patient is a passive participant, in Thai massage, the patient who remains fully clothed bends, stretches and moves their limbs with the help of the therapist to boost flexibility. Some therapists in Thailand will even step on the patients back to more deeply massage the muscles, although its not a technique used by all.

Chiselled into the marble on the Wat Pho plaques are representations of sen lines crisscrossing energy paths on the body that therapists follow when placing their hands, feet or elbows on a person which are believed to be conduits of life force. Each plaque features the outline of a human figure with features such as a rib cage or spine, and the network of thin black lines is intersected with dots, depicting acupressure points. Each acupressure point is annotated with a label noting which ailment it corresponds to. In Nuad Thai, its thought that the body comprises four elements (earth, water, wind and fire), which the therapist rebalances by manipulating the acupressure points to remove any energy blockages from the sen lines.

In the mid-19th Century, before the introduction of modern medicine in Thailand, the 16th-Century temple served as a centre for medical education, which included Nuad Thai as part of its curriculum. And so, when King Bhumibol wanted to open a Thai massage school in 1955, it was no surprise that he chose the grounds of Wat Pho. Today, students from all over the world come here to study the practice; and while Nuad Thai can now be found in spas across the globe, the soul of the therapy hasnt changed much from its humble beginnings.

You may also be interested in: Taiwans 2,000-year-old knife massage Asias centuries-old healing technique The berry that keeps Asia looking young

While Wat Pho is conventionally known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage, the earliest adopters of this ancient Thai therapy lie far beyond the temple doors and can be found deep in the countryside within Thailands farming communities. Each village has traditionally had its own massage healer who the villagers visit to help cure their aches and pains from hard days of labour. The designated healer, often an elder, performs the back-cracking, body-folding therapy that has been handed down through the generations, and wont charge for his or her services as the practice follows the Buddhist tenets of caring for others in the community.

Wat Pho Massage School teacher Krairath Chantrasri, who is from the farming area of Phetchabun in northern Thailand, knows first-hand what an important part these healers play in village life. My grandfather is one of the massage healers who used to treat people in my community, he said. I wasnt very old, but I remember people visiting my grandfather at the house, and I would go and see what they were doing.

Nuad Thai is practised in nearly every rural household. Children are often taught the techniques so they can ease the aching muscles of their parents and grandparents after they have spent the day toiling in the rice paddies. While they might not understand the acupressure point theory behind it, they know how to pull and push limbs and how to step on the back to soothe the muscles of their hardworking relatives. The therapys humble roots can be seen in the way it is performed, usually on a mattress on the floor (similar to the ones seen in traditional Thai homes).

While Chantrasri was encouraged by his mother to perfect his skill at the Wat Pho Massage School, he had been practising massage from an early age. My mother would ask me to step on her legs or on her back to give her a massage. I was being taught massage techniques, but as a child I didnt realise it, he said. Although now, as a therapist at Wat Pho, he no longer practises these particular techniques as they are not part of the schools philosophy and curriculum.

The tablets at Wat Pho may be the most public record of Thai massage, but the earliest documentation of the therapy is a royal decree from 1455, which makes reference to the courts massage department. But how Nuad Thai came to exist originally in communities is due to a synthesis of various healing traditions says Jan Chaithavuthi, co-author of Ancient Thai Massage Healing with Prana. The idea of life force in Thai massage practise may be influenced by Chinese and Indian cultures. However, the practical techniques that make Thai massage unique have been invented by the Thai people and handed down through the generations, she said.

We give thanks and ask for them to help us heal the client

Thai massage takes two forms: folk Thai massage and royal Thai massage. Folk Thai massage is practised in the countryside, and the practitioner uses his or her hands, elbows, knees and feet to help ease the muscle aches of the villager. It is the most practised form in Thailand and around the world. Royal Thai massage is a more reserved method that was created in the palaces, where the healer only uses his or her hands and fingertips to apply the treatment, remaining at arms length. This is the method that the Ministry of Public Health advises massage clinics at community health centres and hospitals to follow.

No matter what, each Nuad Thai treatment begins as it has for centuries with the therapist saying a wai khru (prayer) to thank his or her teachers and ask for help in healing the client. We will think of our teacher and Chiwaka Komparaphat (Buddhas physician) who is respected as the first teacher of Thai traditional medicine, said Serat Tangtrongchitr, general manager at the Wat Pho Massage School. We give thanks and ask for them to help us heal the client.

After the image of Nuad Thai was tarnished by US military personnel seeking more than a massage during the Vietnam War, in 1985, the Thai government launched the Thai Massage Revival Project, a programme that would reclaim the practice as a spiritual therapy and help shed its tawdry image. Experts from the fields of public health, Thai traditional medicine and therapeutic massage worked together to create a series of curricula that would define the principles and techniques of Thai massage. The project took three years to complete and focused on safety, efficacy and etiquette. Today, Thai massage therapists must achieve 800 hours of study before they can become licensed practitioners.

The therapy that has helped to get Thai farmers get back onto their feet has also become part of mainstream medical care, as Thai hospitals now use Nuad Thai to rehabilitate stroke patients and diabetes sufferers, among others. It has also grown into a multimillion-dollar industry that provides livelihoods for many Thais, including those who might have previously been on the fringes of society. There are now massage schools for the blind in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and the Chiang Mai Womens Correctional Institution has a massage college for inmates.

Nuad Thai has also proven to be a big attraction for tourists either in the form of experiencing massage or learning the techniques themselves. Thai massage schools such as Wat Pho Thai Massage School and the Thai Massage School of Thailand in Chiang Mai (TMC), which was co-founded byChaithavuthi, attract international students from as far away as Peru and North America. Training is demanding, said UK therapist Ashlei
gh Guthrie who travelled to Wat Pho Thai Massage School to learn the discipline. The techniques require you to have a strong core as its quite an active method. Agility and flexibility are also required to master the art of the stretches.

Canadian Paul Buffel, a former marketing professional, chose to study at TMC in Chiang Mai. He believes that the 30-hour flight was more than worth it. Thai massage is best understood, integrated and expressed through the lens of Thai culture, he said. The people, land and culture of Thailand are intricately embodied within the practice of Thai massage.

Even though all Thais now have access to free government health care, village healers still influence Thai culture to this day. We still use Thai herbal medicine, and Thai massage is part of our daily lives, said Chaithavuthi.

Tangtrongchitr believes that this ancient therapy is relevant now more than ever. We may be surrounded by people, but the modern world can be a lonely place. Thai massage helps close this gap, cure ailments and make a connection.

BBC Travels Well World is a global take on wellness that explores different ways that cultures the world over strive for a healthy lifestyle.

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Butter is a much-loved ingredient and is a highlight in many baking recipes. But too much of it can cause a problem.

With the coronavirus lockdown in place, baking has been a real pleasure for many people, making it a self-care activity to relieve stress. But, health experts reveal that there are many reasons why you might want to replace butter with healthier ingredients.

They reveal that the fat found in butter is mostly saturated, the kind that raises LDL ("bad") cholesterol, a contributing factor in heart disease.

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa, up to 80 percent of heart disease and stroke can be prevented by simply living a healthy lifestyle and that includes healthy eating. That eating well and making good nutritional choices is one of the best weapons you have in the fight against heart disease, as well as many other chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and some cancers.

Luckily, there are plenty of ingredients that can easily stand-in for butter in your favourite recipes. So, when a recipe calls for butter, here are some common healthier substitutes and things to know about each that can help achieve the creamy taste and texture you enjoy shared by culinary artistJessica Gavin.

Greek yoghurt

Greek yoghurt is a dairy-based nutritional powerhouse that is excellent eating as is, yet even better adding to baking recipes. There are even non-fat options so that you only get a dose of protein. However, the whole milk version will give the softest baked goods since there is still fat being added. It works well to add moisture and structure for quick bread and cakes.

Olive oil

Olive oil is a favourite fat to use because of its naturally rich taste and healthy unsaturated fat profile. Due to its savoury and sometimes spicy flavour, olive oil isnt always the best option for sweeter baked goods, so its best used in bread, certain muffins, pot pie, or meat pie crusts and biscuits. Choose a light olive oil for a more neutral taste or extra-virgin olive oil for a more robust flavour.

Applesauce

Applesauce not only replaces butter in recipes, but it also adds additional natural sweetness if youre looking to cut down the added refined sugar. The cooked and pureed apples add structure and moisture to baked goods, plus extra fiber that helps bind water, keeping it in the baked product. Choose the unsweetened version to keep the calorie load at a minimum.

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3 healthier ways to bake without butter - IOL

A woman living with multiple personality disorder has spoken about the stigma around the condition.

Rachel Phoenix, 33, from Preston, was diagnosed with depression at 12 but was later told that she actually had multiple personality disorder (MPD) also known as unstable emotional personality disorder.

She says the stigma towards the mental illness is prevalent even amongst other mental health sufferers with many misnomers about what MPD is and how it manifests.

Rachel now runs Rise and Shine, a mental health support group, with Adam Graham, as she tries to raise awareness of what it is really like to live with MPD.

"The hardest thing to deal with in terms of MPD is the lack of understanding," Rachel told LancsLive.

"There's so much stigma and misunderstanding, I remember seeing websites that were supposed to support people with MPD and they were basically making us out to be manipulative and cruel.

"Some website told the partners of MPD sufferers to run and 'never look back' saying we are just horrific and need to be left alone.

"It's just wrong and hurtful."

Rachel was first diagnosed with depression and anxiety when she was just 12 years old.

But her diagnosis continued to change as she got older and she knew that her mental health issues went a lot deeper.

Rachel said: "My emotions were always a lot more intense then you would expect with someone with depression.

"Things that would irritate most people might make me really sad and possibly angry, there was something a little bit different with me.

"When I was older I got diagnosed with bipolar disorder."

Rachel kept experiencing terrible lows and extreme emotions which eventually led to doctor's diagnosing her with MPD.

The stigma started almost immediately for Rachel. She says that people misunderstand the illness just from its name and the way it was portrayed in films and the media.

"People think the 'borderline' part of the name comes from the idea that people are literally between personalities," said Rachel.

"It actually comes from the idea that people are between psychosis and neurosis.

"In England it is more often called unstable emotional personality disorder but that is a bit of a mouthful."

To be diagnosed with MPD you must meet five out of nine behavioural traits.

These include black and white thinking, strong reactions to feeling abandoned, suicidal thoughts and extreme mood swings.

Rachel said: "I was shown to have all nine of those.

"I have black and white thinking, its one thing or the other, it can be quite difficult to see any of the inbetween.

"I have quite intense mood swings, I can go through many in the space of a day, my temper used to be quite bad and my husband would bear the brunt of that.

"The feeling of emptiness and suicidal thought are the hardest thing to cope with, the suicidal thoughts can last for years."

In March 2019 Rachel and her friend Adam set up Rise and Shine which started as a healthy lifestyle club but rapidly changed into a mental health support group.

Before lockdown Rachel led weekly meetings in Preston, offering help and support to others living with mental illnesses.

She now runs four virtual meetings each week on Skype, taking place on Monday, Tuesday and twice on Thursday.

"We know what it feels like to have mental health problems, so we can relate," said Rachel.

"We are here to help people overcome their problems but also to overcome stigma."

If you are concerned about your mental health or someone else, please contact the Samaritans on 116 123.

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Preston woman reveals what it is really like to live with multiple personality disorder - Accrington Observer

An independent sector healthcare provider is urging adults across the country to check their blood pressure as huge numbers of people are living with serious health issues without realising it.

A poll carried out by Benenden Health suggests that a quarter of UK adults do not know what blood pressure is.

Two thirds (66%) do not know what to do to lower their blood pressure and three quarters (77%) feel there should be more information available on how to manage blood pressure, the poll shows.

Even if they showed symptoms of high or low blood pressure, such as headaches, black-outs and dizziness, a quarter of respondents to the poll (26%) said they would not visit a GP, with a fifth (20%) of these saying they would be put off by lengthy waiting times.

A further 20% said they felt it wouldnt be important enough to seek medical support about.

The research also shows that 5% of UK adults have never had their blood pressure checked and as many as one in five (18%) can not remember when it was last taken. One in ten (11%) said they were unsure where their blood pressure could be checked, with an additional 10% saying they wouldnt have it taken due to fear of the results.

A Benenden spokesman said that the organisation has produced a new online tool to help people understand what blood pressure is and offer tailored advice to users in order to achieve and maintain a healthy reading.

Despite resisting checks and medical advice, only half of all respondents could correctly identify a healthy blood pressure and nearly two thirds (60%) did not know what they can do to raise or lower their blood pressure, with three quarters (77%) of respondents thinking there should be more information available on how to manage a healthy blood pressure.

Cheryl Lythgoe, Matron at Benenden Health, said: As a result of our findings, weve developed an online tool to help people understand what blood pressure is, what the risk factors are and what they can do to raise or lower their reading. Checking and understanding your blood pressure can be a really simple, yet hugely important activity in monitoring and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

People shouldnt be afraid to get checked out as it is simple to do and even if your reading is outside of the normal threshold, blood pressure can be managed to minimise the threat of associated health risks. Despite the current climate, we shouldnt ignore our wider health and would encourage people to find out their reading either by visiting their GP or pharmacy or by purchasing a machine themselves at a very reasonable price.

The real danger with blood pressure comes when we ignore it or dont see it as important. As symptoms arent always easy to spot, without an accurate reading you could be in danger of missing out on a vital indication that you are at risk of a serious medical condition. We therefore highly recommend regular monitoring and if you do have any concerns, that you visit your GP and are not put off by the current climate in doing so.

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Benenden Health urges people to monitor blood pressure as health problems spike - Health Insurance and Protection Magazine