TipRanks

Theres so much going on in the markets, that its hard to know where to start and what to look for. On the red side of the ledger, its clear that the headwinds are gathering. House Democrats are still rejecting the $1.8 trillion coronavirus aid and stimulus package put forth by the White House, saying that President Trumps proposal does not go far enough. The House Dems are pushing their own $2.2 trillion stimulus. At the same time, both Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson have paused their coronavirus vaccine programs, after the latter company reported an adverse event in early trials. This has more than just investors worried, as most hopes for a return to normal hang on development of a working vaccine for the novel virus.And earnings season is kicking off. Over the next several weeks, well see Q3 results from every publicly traded company, and investors will watch those results eagerly. The consensus is, that earnings will be down year-over-year somewhere between 20% and 30%. With this in mind, weve used theTipRanks databaseto pull up three dividend stocks yielding 6% or more. Thats not all they offer, however. Each of these stocks has a Strong Buy rating, and considerable upside potential.Philip Morris (PM)First on the list is tobacco company Philip Morris. The sin stocks, makers of tobacco and alcohol products, have long been known for their good dividends. PM has taken a different tack in recent year, with a turn toward smokeless tobacco products, marketed as cleaner and less dangerous for users health.One sign of this is the companys partnership with Altria to launch and market iQOS, a heated smokeless tobacco product that will allow users to get nicotine without the pollutants from tobacco smoke. PM has plowed over $6 billion into the product. Given the regulatory challenges and PR surrounding vaping products, PM believes that smokeless heated tobacco will prove to be the stronger alternative, with greater potential for growth.No matter what, for the moment PMs core product remains Marlboro cigarettes. The iconic brand remains a best seller, despite the long-term trend of public opinion turning against cigarettes.As for the dividend, PM has been, and remains, a true champ. The company has raised its dividend payment every year since 2008, and has reliably paid out ever quarter. Even corona couldnt derail that; PM kept up its $1.17 quarterly payment through 2020, and its most recent dividend, paid out earlier this month, saw an increase to $1.20 per common share. This annualizes to $4.80, and gives a yield of 6%.Covering PM for Piper Sandler, analyst Michael Lavery likes the move to smokeless products, writing, We remain bullish on PM's strong long-term outlook, and we believe recent iQOS momentum throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been impressive. iQOS has had strong user growth and improving profitability, and store re-openings could further help drive adoption by new users.Lavery rates PM shares an Overweight (i.e. Buy), and his $98 price target implies a one-year upside of 24%. (To watch Laverys track record, click here)Overall, the Strong Buy consensus rating on PM is based on 9 reviews, breaking 8 to 1 in Buy versus Hold. The shares are priced at $79.10 and their $93.56 average price target suggests an 18% upside potential. (See PM stock analysis on TipRanks)Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son (NTB)Butterfield is a small-cap banking firm based in Bermuda and providing a full range of services to customers on the island and on the Caymans, the Bahamas, and the Channel Islands, as well as Singapore, Switzerland, and the UK. Butterfields services include personal and business loans, savings accounts and credit cards, mortgages, insurance, and wealth management.Butterfield saw revenues and earnings slide in the first half of this year, in line with the general pattern of banking services globally the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic put a damper on business, and bankers felt the hit. Earnings in the last quarter of 2019 were 87 cents per share, and by 2Q20 were down to 67 cents. While a significant drop, that was still 21% better than the expectations. At the top line, revenues are down to $121 million. NTB reports Q3 earnings later this month, and the forecast is for 63 cents EPS. Along with beating earnings forecasts, Butterfield has been paying out a strong dividend this year. By the second quarter, the dividend payment was up to 44 cents per common share, making the yield a robust 7%. When the current low interest rate regime is considered the US Fed has set rates near zero, and Treasury bonds are yielding below 1% NTBs payment looks even better.Raymond James Donald Worthington, 4-star analyst with Raymond James, writes of Butterfield, robust capital levels [provide] more than sufficient loss absorption capacity in our view for whatever credit issues may arise. Its fee income stability has proven valuable given the impacts of declining rates on NII, where the bank has actively managed expenses to help support earnings. We continue to believe its dividend is safe for now given its low-risk loan portfolio, robust capital levels, and our forecast for a sub-100% dividend payout even under our stressed outlook.These comments support the analysts Outperform (i.e. Buy) rating, and his $29 price target suggests a 15% upside for the coming year. (To watch Worthingtons track record, click here)Overall, NTB has 4 recent reviews, which include 3 Buys and a single Hold, making the analyst consensus rating a Strong Buy. This stock has a $29 average price target, matching Worthingtons. (See NTB stock analysis on TipRanks)Enviva (EVA)Last on our list is an energy company, Enviva. This company holds an interesting niche in an essential sector, producing green energy. Specifically, Enviva is a manufacturer of processed biomass fuel, a wood pellet derivative sold to power generation plants. The fuel is cleaner burning than coal an important point in todays political climate and is made from recycled waste (woodchips and sawdust) from the lumber industry. The companys production facilities are located in the American Southeast, while its main customers are in the UK and mainland Europe.The economic shutdowns imposed during the corona pandemic reduced demand for power, and Envivas revenues fell in 1H20, mainly due to that reduced demand. Earnings remained positive, however, and the EPS outlook for Q3 predicts a surge back to 45 cents in line with the strong earnings seen in the second half of 2019.Enviva has shown a consistent commitment to paying out its dividend, and in last quarter the August payment the company raised the payment from 68 cents per common share to 77 cents. This brought the annualized value of the dividend to $3.08 per share, and makes the yield 7.3%. Even better, Enviva has been paying out regular dividends for the past 5 years.Covering this stock for Raymond James is analyst Pavel Molchanov, who rates EVA as Outperform (i.e. Buy) and sets a $44 price target. Recent share appreciation has brought the stock close to that target.Backing his stance, Molchanov writes, Enviva benefits from an increasingly broad customer base, and there is high-visibility growth via dropdowns. In the context of the power sector's massive coal retirements including (as of September 2020) 34 countries and 33 subnational jurisdictions with mandatory coal phase-outs (To watch Molchanovs track record, click here.)Envivas Strong Buy consensus rating is based on 4 Buys and 1 Hold. Its share price, which has gained in recent sessions, is $42.60, and as mentioned, it has closed in on the $44.80 average price target. (See EVA stock analysis at TipRanks)To find good ideas for dividend stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Living Health Integrative Medicine Celebrates its 19th Anniversary - Yahoo Finance

Milton internist and integrative medicine physician Dr. Uday Jani and Lewes chiropractor Dr. Krista Griffin invite the community to a follow-up online discussion from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 16, about the award-winning documentary Is Your Story Making You Sick? Those interested can visit udayjanimd.com for the Zoom link to the discussion to further explore and understand the innovative approaches to healing compellingly portrayed in the movie.

We had the opportunity to hold three virtual screenings of this moving documentary with the community last week and thank the more than 100 viewers who asked numerous thoughtful questions about the alternative modalities highlighted, said Jani. In response, weve planned this follow-up event via Zoom to continue the vital dialogue inspired by the movie. Were so grateful for the opportunity to share our knowledge and resources, and help individuals work together on healing in this anxious, uncertain time of COVID.

Drs. Jani and Griffin, clinical psychologist Dr. Richard Todd and integrative health specialist Dr. Carolyn Trasko will explore more deeply healing techniques such as narrative therapy, integrative medicine, ceremony, and mindfulness healing, and share insights on how an individuals story can affect their health and life choices. In addition, the panel of experts will lead a series of illuminating exercises to help participants identify their shadow selves and find the present moment.

Well provide practical tools and information that people can apply to their lives now, said Griffin. Our intent is to illustrate firsthand how to take these initial, important steps toward positive, meaningful change.

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Medical experts to discuss award-winning health film Oct. 16 via Zoom - CapeGazette.com

Oct 14, 2020 10:00 AM ET

iCrowd Newswire Oct 14, 2020

Laurel, Md. Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH) is pleased to announce a new partnership with the American Public Health Association (APHA). MUIH and APHA have entered an educational collaboration with the shared goal of promoting the use of holistic and natural approaches to promote well-being. This collaboration expands MUIHs role in supporting the health and wellness of public health professionals throughout the U.S.

MUIHs health promotion program faculty and students are collaborating with APHAs Integrative, Complementary and Traditional Health Practice (ICTHP) group to develop and deliver well-inars for APHA members. These well-inars are designed to promote the wellbeing of APHA members through mindfulness exercises designed to promote relaxation and relieve stress. They also provide MUIH health promotion students with the opportunity to apply the program development, delivery, and assessment skills and knowledge learned in their program.

Claudia Joy Wingo, chair of MUIHs health promotion program and a member of the ICTHP group says Were pleased to be able to share our expertise in the field of complementary and integrative medicine with members of APHA as it is the foundation of MUIHs educational purpose. By providing a virtual walk in nature using guided imagery, we endeavor to provide members with a relaxing respite for the stresses of daily life.

Health promotion faculty member Katherine Smith says We are combining two evidence-based integrative approaches, guided imagery and nature therapy, that can have significant positive health effects. Its an exciting opportunity to be able to offer these relaxation practices to APHAs 30,000 members during a stressful global pandemic.

MUIH has offered an online Master of Science in Health Promotion with a focus on integrative health practices since 2014, and in 2018 added a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Workplace Wellness. MUIH also offers masters and doctoral degrees and graduate certificates in acupuncture and Oriental medicine, Ayurveda, health and wellness coaching, herbal medicine, integrative health studies, narrative health, nutrition, and yoga therapy.

About Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH)

Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH) is a leading academic institution focused on the study and practice of integrative health and wellness and one of the few universities in the U.S. dedicated solely to such practices. Deeply rooted in a holistic philosophy, its model for integrative health and wellness is grounded in whole-person, relationship-centered, evidence-informed care.

Since 1974, MUIH has been a values-driven community educating practitioners and professionals to become future health and wellness leaders through transformative programs grounded in traditional wisdom and contemporary science.

MUIH has more than 20 progressive, graduate degree programs in a wide range of disciplines, offered on-campus and online. In the on-campus Natural Care Center and community outreach settings, MUIH provides compassionate and affordable healthcare from student interns and professional practitioners, which delivers more than 20,000 clinical treatments and consultations each year.

For more information visit http://www.muih.edu.

About American Public Health Association (APHA)

APHA champions the health of all people and all communities. We strengthen the public health profession. We speak out for public health issues and policies backed by science. We are the only organization that combines a nearly 150-year perspective, a broad-based member community, and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the publics health.

For more information visit http://www.apha.org.

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Kionne S. Johnson Communications Manager [emailprotected]

Keywords:MUIH, APHA, Educational Parternship, Health, Wellness, Integrative Health, Health Promotion, Science

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Maryland University of Integrative Health announces educational partnership with the American Public Health Association Wall Street Call - Reported...

It's difficult to out-Oz Dr. Oz, America's Quack, who has raked in giant piles of money by promoting pseudoscience on his TV show. But at least one person comes perilously close: Dr. Mark Hyman.

Hyman is the "Dr. Oz" of nutrition. He embraces legitimate science if and only if it suits his bottom line. Otherwise, he's promoting junk science and magical thinking. To get an idea of the sort of nonsense that he spews, his website features an interview with the Food Babe, as well as his infuriatingly stupid quote, "Food isn't like medicine, it is medicine." The comma splice just makes me that much angrier.

The Many Lies of Dr. Mark Hyman

Hyman made a recent appearance on the Rubin Report, which is hosted by conservative commentator Dave Rubin. Hyman took the inadvisable step of taking a cheap shot at ACSH, so we thought we would reciprocate by fact-checking some of the interview. (Note: The interview is 55 minutes long, and my head would explode if I actually listened to all of it.) Buckle up.

"I became a doctor and kind of got indoctrinated, literally, and became very focused on traditional, good medicine, but I realized the limits of it. And then I got sick myself and ended up having to fix myself using functional medicine.

Wow, the bullsh** is strong with this one. He claims that doctors are being force-fed lies in medical school and that the real truth is what he calls "functional medicine" -- which is just a different term for alternative medicine, holistic medicine, integrative medicine, or whatever rainbow-and-unicorn term these quacks prefer. I generally frown upon Wikipedia, but the first sentence in its entry on Functional Medicine is too good to pass up: "Functional medicine is a form of alternative medicine that encompasses a number of unproven and disproven methods and treatments."

Six out of ten Americans have a chronic disease. It kills 11 million people a year from food.

Huh?! His first statistic is true, but the second is a gigantic, whopping lie. (See figure taken from the CDC.) Considering that chronic disease includes everything from heart disease to Alzheimer's, there's a lot of territory to cover. Poor nutrition is simply one risk factor among many. Other risk factors are genetic or environmental. So, to single out food as the primary cause of chronic illness is just plain wrong.

Also, I have no idea where he gets his statistic that 11 million people die from food every year. Each year, about 2.8 million Americans die from all causes. Globally, there are about 56 million deaths from all causes. Hyman just fabricated the 11 million number, which he then refers to as "like a Holocaust" (at the 6:00 mark). Twinkies, Nazis? Basically the same thing.

"If I really want to cure my patients, I have to step back and look at the big picture of what's wrong with our food system, the impact it's causing on disease, on our economy, on social justice issues, poverty, mental health, kids' academic performance, national security, environment, climate. It's all one problem that is predominantly driven by our food."

Food is not the root cause of national security problems, let alone every other problem on the planet. Hyman sounds like that guy from The History Channel who blames everything on aliens. Anytime somebody fingersa singleboogeyman for causing every disease and problem known to mankind, this is a giant red flag indicating quackery.

"Most states have obesity rates over 40%."

Obesity is a substantial problem in this country, but this is another made-up statistic. Only one state (Mississippi) has an obesity rate over 40%, according to the CDC.

"We have one in three federal dollars that are spent on Medicare."

Yet another made-up statistic. Here are the federal outlays for 2019:

Medicare cost $644 billion. With $4.4 trillion in spending, that means the federal government spent about 15% of its budget (roughly 1 in 7 dollars) on Medicare. If we're generous and include Medicaid, that is 24% of the budget (about 1 in 4 dollars). Again, Hyman just fabricates numbers out of thin air. To add yet more absurdity, Hyman claimed a moment later that 80% of the spending is unnecessary because it's caused by food. Right, if only everybody ate broccoli everyday, nobody would have cancer or dementia.

(I'm now merely 7 minutes and 25 seconds into the video, and I simply can't take anymore of this. So let's fast forward to the point where he takes a swipe at ACSH. It begins at 13:00.)

"They create front groups... to confuse consumers saying, for example, that pesticides and high fructose corn syrup and trans fats and smoking are not bad for you, like the American Council on Science and Health."

By "they," I think Hyman is referring to aliens food companies. Anyway, Hyman is lying again. ACSH has always been anti-smoking. Always. In regard to trans fats, we're sort of ambivalent on the issue. Dr. Chuck Dinerstein wrote in 2018 that the FDA has largely eliminated trans fats from the American diet, but there doesn't seem to be much of an impact on cardiovascular disease. Pesticides are safe if used at appropriate doses (which they are). (Besides, plants make 99.99% of the pesticides we consume.) And when analyzed chemically, high fructose corn syrup is basically honey.

Don't ever listen to Mark Hyman.

See the original post here:
Mark Hyman, the 'Dr. Oz' of Nutrition, Says Food Is Killing People Like the Holocaust - American Council on Science and Health

Why risk your health or waste your time and money?

People are anxious about the coronavirus and eager to do whatever it takes to reduce their risk of infection or to treat potential symptoms. In this uncertain atmosphere, it's easy for false or unproven claims about so-called treatments or cures for COVID-19 to flourish.

Some do-it-yourself treatments are largely harmless but ineffective against COVID-19. However, other touted remedies -- like UV light to skin or silver solution products -- can be dangerous. Safeguard your health by taking a pass on ineffective and potentially harmful home "remedies."

UV light on your skin

Some medical facilities use high-intensity UVC devices, which use the highest-energy type of ultraviolet rays to disinfect surfaces against a variety of germs, including the novel coronavirus. UV sanitation devices, which are operated by trained professionals, work by damaging RNA and DNA in microbes -- not the kind of damage you want your body exposed to.

"UV light, in particular UVC light, can inactivate viruses in the air, water and on nonporous surfaces," says Dr. Yufang Lin, an integrative medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic. "However, direct application to the skin and eyes can cause damage contributing to flash burns." Eye pain, soreness, tearing, light sensitivity and possible vision loss -- similar to staring directly at the sun for too long -- can occur, Lin warns.

Drinking hand sanitizer

It's called "hand" sanitizer for a reason. Taking any antiseptic skin product by mouth is dangerous. Unfortunately, poison control centers nationwide are seeing spikes in episodes of hand sanitizer ingestion.

Drinking hand sanitizer that contains methanol, in particular, can be deadly. The U.S. has seen an increase in hospitalizations from ingesting methanol-containing products, cases of blindness and several deaths since the pandemic began.

Check labels on hand sanitizer products before buying and keep any type of hand sanitizer out of small children's reach.

Story continues

Alcohol overuse

Overdoing it with liquor, wine or beer may be tempting in this dreary pandemic. However, alcoholic beverages are not home remedies for preventing or treating COVID-19 -- despite whatever you've heard about "quarantinis."

If anything, rising alcohol use during these challenging times is putting people's health at risk. Compared to this time last year, women have increased their heavy drinking episodes -- four or more drinks within two hours -- by 41%, according to a study published Sept. 29 in the journal JAMA Network Open.

Overall, alcohol consumption increased 14% among adults over 30 years old, compared with the same time period last year, according to the study by the Rand Corporation, a nonprofit research organization dedicated to developing solutions to public policy challenges.

Skin spraying with bleach

Bleach is meant to sanitize inanimate objects, not for inhaling or spraying on skin. However, in a national survey of nonrecommended, high-risk practices used to prevent COVID-19 infection, 18% of U.S. adults said they had used household cleaning products or disinfectants like bleach on their hands or skin. In addition, 10% tried misting their bodies with these products, according to the June 12 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Bleach is corrosive and can irritate your skin. Accidentally getting bleach in your eyes can cause burning and permanent damage. Immediately rinse bleach-exposed skin areas or eyes with water and seek medical evaluation for possible bleach injuries to your eyes.

Chlorine dioxide products

AKA "Miracle Mineral Solution," "Master Mineral Solution" and other brands, chlorine dioxide-containing products are among those targeted in the Food and Drug Administration's Operation Quack Hack. Chlorine dioxide is a bleach-like cleaning agent formed by mixing sodium chlorite solution with a citric acid like lemon juice.

Drinking chlorine dioxide products has caused serious adverse events like these reported to the FDA:

-- Respiratory failure.

-- Abnormal heart rhythm, or arrhythmia.

-- Life-threatening low blood pressure from dehydration.

-- Acute liver failure.

-- Low red blood cell counts requiring transfusion.

-- Severe vomiting and diarrhea.

So far, the FDA has identified more than 700 fraudulent and unproven medical products related to COVID-19, the FDA's associate commissioner for regulatory affairs, Judy McMeekin, revealed in an agency podcast.

Garlic overload

Eating plenty of garlic makes social distancing easier, for sure. However, the bulb in itself has not been shown to protect against COVID-19.

"Garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties," according to public advice messaging from the World Health Organization. "However, there is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected people against the new coronavirus."

Lin notes that garlic (like ginger) has antiviral and antibacterial properties, and can help support a healthy immune response. "However, it important to pay attention to how much you are consuming," she adds. "In excess, garlic and ginger can increase a person's risk of bleeding -- particularly for those who are on blood thinners."

Saline nasal irrigation

If done properly, using a squeeze bottle or neti pot filled with a saline-and-water solution can help clear nasal passages of mucus, dust particles and allergens. But the jury's still out on whether saline irrigation has any protective effects against the coronavirus.

A few small studies on viruses other than the coronavirus purport that doing saline nose rinses decreases the amount of measureable virus, says Dr. Joseph Bocchini Jr., director of Willis-Knighton Children's Health Services in Shreveport, Louisiana, and a member of the pediatric faculty at Tulane University in New Orleans.

"But whether the saline washes just wash some of the virus away but really doesn't change the course of the infection is unclear," says Bocchini, who is also a former president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. "So, it would not be routinely recommended to use saline washes for management of a viral respiratory infection. Certainly there's no data on whether that would change the course of COVID-19."

If done incorrectly, saline rinses may cause inflammation, Bocchini adds. And if irrigation equipment isn't effectively cleaned and becomes contaminated, it could be associated with bacterial or fungal infections.

Gargling with household disinfectants

Do not poison yourself by gargling with household disinfectants like bleach, whether pure or diluted.

Gargling with safe solutions like salt water may be fine in general, although unproven against COVID-19. However, for a respiratory virus like COVID-19 that spreads from person to person through airborne droplets, it makes sense to avoid gargling when other people are nearby, like in a shared restroom.

"Gargling with antiseptic agents -- such as chlorohexidine or alcohol-based mouth rinse -- can help control gingivitis," Lin says. "However, long-term use can negatively impact gut microbiome, which is critical to your overall health. I do not suggest doing this as routine but only at the recommendation of your medical or dental provider."

Silver solution

Colloidal silver -- small silver particles in liquid form -- is among the fraudulent products included in a warning letter from the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission to offending companies.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health warns that colloidal silver can cause serious side effects:

-- Bluish-gray skin discoloration, usually permanent.

-- Poor drug absorption for certain antibiotics and thyroid medications.

"The FDA is particularly concerned that products that claim to cure, mitigate, treat or prevent serious diseases like COVID-19 may cause consumers to delay or stop appropriate medical treatment, leading to serious and life-threatening harm," the FDA website notes.

Essential oils, tinctures and herbal teas

Essential oils like lavender or peppermint smell nice but they don't cure COVID-19. Although many find it calming, aromatherapy with herbal essential oils or tinctures is ineffective against the novel coronavirus. Herbal teas may also be soothing -- but not protective against COVID-19 as promoted by certain brands.

Essential oils, tinctures and herbal teas are among fraudulent COVID-19 products targeted by the FDA. These are just a few of the misleading claims to consumers highlighted in FDA warning letters to certain aromatherapy manufacturers:

-- A wide range of essential oils have been clinically proven to possess antiviral properties. (FALSE)

-- Essential oils can boost your immune system naturally to fight coronavirus. (FALSE)

-- Branded blends of essential oils can treat pneumonia-like symptoms caused by the coronavirus. (FALSE)

If you're having respiratory symptoms such as persistent cough or shortness of breath, seek medical attention, doctors advise.

Vitamin C supplements

Although vitamin C is an important nutrient with anti-inflammatory action, there's little data that vitamin C supplements can help prevent or treat a cold, much less COVID-19.

"Vitamin C is certainly something that has been controversial for a number of years in terms of its ability to modify a viral respiratory infection," Bocchini says. "We still do not have confirmatory evidence that vitamin C in any dosing range has that outcome."

Vitamin D mega-doses

While having enough vitamin D in your body is healthy, overdoing it is counterproductive.

"COVID-19 affects individuals differently. Some people have severe (aftereffects) whereas others appear to have minimal symptoms," Lin says. "The strength of a person's immune system may play a role here. Vitamin D is a hormone that not only impacts your mood and bone health, it also has direct impact on your immune response."

Having low levels of vitamin D has been associated with increased risk of acute respiratory infections, Lin continues: "If someone is at risk for low vitamin D, or known to have low vitamin D, taking a supplement to support a healthy level can help. However, taking it in excess can cause a toxic level of vitamin D which can contribute to high calcium levels. These high levels can lead to kidney stones, confusion, muscle weakness and irregular heart rate."

Use common sense and follow standard guidelines for vitamin D, by getting the appropriate amount of sunshine and following a healthy diet, Bocchini advises. "If people have any questions about vitamin D, they should really speak to their physician to determine if there's any reason to evaluate their vitamin D level," he says.

Waiting for cold weather

Relying on seasonal changes to protect you from COVID-19 is only wishful thinking. Brisk fall weather or an approaching cold winter, in themselves, are unlikely to turn the pandemic around.

"Cold weather and snow cannot kill the COVID-19 virus," the WHO emphasizes. "The normal human body temperature remains around (97.7 degrees to 98.6 degrees) regardless of the external temperature or weather," according to the WHO website. "The most effective way to protect yourself against the new coronavirus is by frequently cleaning your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or washing them with soap and water."

Hydroxychloroquine

Asking your doctor for a prescription for hydroxychloroquine to prevent or treat COVID-19 won't help. Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial drug, which patients with lupus also use to manage the chronic disease. Despite early hype about hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus cure, on June 15, the FDA revoked its emergency approval of the drug as a COVID-19 treatment.

The FDA previously issued a warning that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, a similar drug, might cause dangerous abnormal heart rhythms. Several studies have concluded that the drugs were ineffective in terms of treating COVID-19.

"We have adequate evidence that hydroxychloroquine has no role in the management of COVID-19 infection," Bocchini says. "There's ample data for us to not recommend it for outpatient therapy."

Antibiotics

Antibiotics treat bacterial infections -- they're useless against viruses like the novel coronavirus. That's why primary care providers wouldn't prescribe antibiotics to treat COVID-19 at home.

Antibiotics are powerful drugs that come with potential side effects including severe diarrhea and allergic reactions. The overuse of antibiotics can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant "superbugs." And don't be tempted to take unused antibiotics from a previous prescription -- never a good idea -- as a possible COVID-19 remedy.

Methods that work

Until an effective COVID-19 vaccine is available, taking these proven measures is the best way to protecting against the spread of the novel coronavirus:

-- Masking.

-- Hand-washing.

-- Physical distancing.

Unhelpful COVID-19 remedies

Unproven -- and in some cases harmful -- remedies promoted for COVID-19 include:

-- UV light on your skin.

-- Drinking hand sanitizer.

-- Alcohol overuse.

-- Skin spraying with bleach.

-- Chlorine dioxide products.

-- Saline nasal irrigation.

-- Gargling with household disinfectants.

-- Silver solution.

-- Essential oils, tinctures and herbal teas.

-- Garlic overload.

-- Vitamin C supplements.

-- Vitamin-D mega-doses.

-- Waiting for cold weather.

-- Hydroxychloroquine.

-- Antibiotics.

See the original post:
Home Remedies Not to Try for COVID-19 - Yahoo News

Green tea is a type of tea made from steaming, pan-frying, and drying the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. It's one of the most popular beverages consumed worldwide and has been used for thousands of years.

In fact, green tea is thought to have many health benefits for those who drink it regularly. Here are five possible benefits of green tea and how to incorporate it into your diet.

The amount of caffeine in green tea is much lower than in coffee, so you can get some of the benefits of caffeine without the unpleasant side effects, like jitteriness.

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A small 2019 study observed the effects of drinking green tea on brain function, concluding that regular tea drinkers have higher cognitive functions and better-organized brain regions, as compared to non-tea drinkers. A 2017 review of 21 studies on the benefits of green tea also determined that drinking green tea is beneficial to cognition and brain function.

A large 2006 study also showed that people who consumed six or more cups of green tea day, compared to those who consumed less than one a week, were 33% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

"Green tea may address multiple classic heart risk factors, like lipids, blood pressure, and diabetes," says Melinda Ring, MD, Executive Director of The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern University.

Catechin is a major component of green tea. Catechins are natural antioxidants that have antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hypertensive effects. They lower cholesterol levels by decreasing the absorption of cholesterol into the body.

An 2011 analysis of 14 studies showed that drinking an average of two cups of green tea per day for 10 years resulted in significant reductions in LDL cholesterol levels. LDL cholesterol is also known as bad cholesterol, because it can cause plaque buildup in your arteries, which increases your risk of getting a heart attack or a stroke.

"Tea leaves contain fluoride, which might slow osteoporosis, as well as beneficial compounds such as flavonoids and phytoestrogens," Ring says. Flavonoids are and phytoestrogens are plant chemicals that can strengthen bone formation and prevent the breakdown of bone tissue.

A 2009 study also concluded that green tea may benefit bone health, after examining bone-forming cells. The researchers exposed the cells to epigallocatechin (EGC), gallocatechin (GC), and gallocatechin gallate (GCG), which are all main components of green tea. After several days, they observed that EGC promoted bone growth by up to 79%. They also observed that high concentrations of EGC disrupted the activity of osteoclast, a cell that weakens bones.

Green tea has also been shown to have anti-aging properties. A small 2005 study studied the effects of using oral supplements and applying green tea topically on aging skin for 8 weeks. Researchers found that the combination of using green tea topically and orally in the participants caused an improvement in the skin's elasticity.

Catechin, a polyphenol in green tea, also helps to soothe inflamed skin when used topically.

It's important to note that green tea contains caffeine, so if you have a caffeine sensitivity, you might want to consume it in smaller amounts.

Link:
5 benefits of green tea and how it can help your memory, skin, and bones - Business Insider India

TORONTO, Oct. 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CB2 Insights (the Company or CB2) (CSE:CBII OTCQB:CBIIF), one of the largest integrative healthcare systems in the United States, is pleased to announce it will be participating in the Gravitas Technology and Diversified Investor Day taking place Thursday, October 15th, 2020 virtually.

CB2s Chief Executive Officer, Pradyum Sekar, is scheduled to present on Thursday, October 15th at 3:00 PM EST. Mr. Sekar will also be fielding investor questions during the one-day virtual conference hosted by Gravitas Securities Inc. I am looking forward to sharing our growth strategy with investors at the Gravitas Technology and Diversified Investor Day, said Mr. Sekar. With the recent acquisition of Texas-based Maverick County Medical serving over 10,300 patients, the Gravitas Technology and Diversified Investor Day is an ideal venue to communicate our progress to investors.

This years Gravitas Technology and Diversified Investor Day will feature several leaders in Technology and Diversified industries and will be attended virtually by institutional and retail investors from North America and abroad. For additional details about the conference and Gravitas Securities Inc., please visit: http://www.gravitassecurities.com

Conference Details:

CB2 InsightsCB2 Insights (CSE:CBII OTCQB:CBIIF) is a healthcare services and technology company, working to positively impact patient health outcomes. The Companies mission to improve the lives of patients through the prevention and treatment of health conditions and using proprietary technology to monitor, assess, and generate insights to help improve patient outcomes. The Company owns and operates a proprietary virtual telehealth platform, and a network of over 30 medical clinics across 13 states in the US, providing integrative, primary, and urgent care services to over 110,000 patients annually.

The Company has created works primarily to roster and treat patients seeking traditional and alternative treatments due to the ineffectiveness of conventional medicine, inability to find support through their existing care network, or in some cases, inability to access a primary care network. The Company offers both primary care via a traditional insurable services model and a disruptive low-cost subscription based urgent care offering for patients seeking immediate need to a healthcare provider via telehealth.

The Company differentiates itself by being one of the largest integrative medical practices in the US that owns its own proprietary technology, data analytical assets, and clinical research expertise to support new market expansion, market access, data collection and analysis and drug discovery.

The Company operates a proprietary electronic health record platform Sail (Sail) to document, treat, monitor, and report on patient health outcomes. Developed in 2015, Sail is used internally across all of the Companys clinical operations. Sail features a robust telemedicine platform that the Company uses to provide care to its National patient base. To support patient care and positive health outcomes, the Company is also focused on advancing safety and efficacy research surrounding alternative health treatments by monitoring and assessing Real-World Data (RWD) and providing Real-World Evidence (RWE) through our proprietary technology, data analytics, and a full service contract research organization.

For further information, please contact:

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in CB2s filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding the Companys unaudited financial results and projected growth.

Although CB2 has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: dependence on obtaining regulatory approvals; investing in target companies or projects which have limited or no operating history and are subject to inconsistent legislation and regulation; change in laws; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; hindering market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and recreational-use marijuana industry and; regulatory or political change.

There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. CB2 disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and CB2 does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

No securities regulator or exchange has reviewed, approved, disapproved, or accepts responsibility for the content of this news release.

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CB2 Insights to Present at the Virtual Gravitas Technology and Diversified Investor Day - GlobeNewswire

Both kids and adults are spending more and more time using screens for everything from work and school to socializing and having fun. But spending too much time using screens can have harmful consequences for your health, your emotions, and brain development in children.

Here's what you need to know about how much screen time is healthy and when you need to set limits.

For older kids and adults, it's hard to put an exact number on how much screen time is too much. However, research shows that there are many ways excessive screen time can damage your physical and mental health.

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Putting on the TV or playing a YouTube video may calm your child in the moment, but too much screen time can lead to behavioral issues over time. "Excessive TV viewing is associated with delays in cognition, language, and social-emotional development," Mattke says.

The type of media a child sees can also have an effect on their behavior, as children can imitate actions they see on TV as early as 6 months old. "There are strong associations between violent media content and child aggressive behavior," Mattke says.

Most of the time when you are looking at a screen, you are sitting or lying down. This means that as you spend more time on screens, you also spend more time being sedentary, which can increase your risk of obesity, along with chronic issues like heart disease.

Adults who spend more time on screens are also at greater risk for obesity. A very large 2003 study that followed middle-aged women over six years found that for every two hours spent watching TV each day, women were 23% more likely to become obese.

"There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that media use negatively affects sleep for both children and adults," Mattke says. This is partly because electronic devices emit a type of blue light that can lower your levels of melatonin, a hormone that regulates when you sleep and wake up.

Experts recommend that you stop using screens ideally two hours, or at the least 30 minutes before you go to sleep.

A very large 2010 study found that teens who spent more time using screens were more likely to report having headaches and backaches than less frequent screen users.

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How much screen time is too much? Follow these guidelines for your child to avoid harmful health effects - Business Insider India

This state-of-the-art facility creates access to comprehensive, advanced cardiovascular and cancer care under one roof

"Novant Health is proud to open the doors of this premier facility offering leading-edge treatments, groundbreaking clinical research and personalized, whole-person care for patients with cardiovascular conditions and cancer," said Eric Eskioglu, MD, executive vice president and chief medical officer for Novant Health. "This is a historic moment for our entire Carolina community to celebrate."

The medical journey for cardiac and cancer issues is often long and complicated, requiring patients to visit multiple providers at different locations, at different times. This new centralized location on the corner of Fourth Street and Queens Road in midtown Charlotte is designed to streamline care and improve the patient experience.

"Two of the major leading causes of death in North Carolina are cancer and heart disease. This state-of-the-art facility will house expert clinical care teams at the forefront of detecting, treating and curing both and all under one roof," said Saad Ehtisham, president of Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center and Novant Health greater Charlotte market. "Patients and their families now have one home where they can access the most advanced care right here in the heart of Charlotte."

Every detail of the building is designed with the patient in mind and reflects an environment of healing, including the nature-inspired color choices, the modern artwork, the comfortable furniture and the use of natural light throughout the facility.

The facility's first floor features services and amenities, intended to support both cardiac and cancer patients and their families, include:

Belk Heart & Vascular Institute

The Belk Heart & Vascular Institute brings together 32 cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and vascular surgeons offering innovative and life-changing care for patients with heart and vascular diseases in one location. The specialty clinics include noninvasive cardiac testing, electrophysiology, cardiac rehabilitation, cardio-oncology, heart failure, interventional cardiology, preventive cardiology, structural heart intervention, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, valve replacement, noninvasive vascular lab and peripheral arterial disease.

"In the past, a patient may have had to walk as many as 7,000 steps in one day during their care journey from testing sites to clinics to a treatment center," said Gary Niess, MD, system physician executive, Novant Health Belk Heart & Vascular Institute. "Thanks to the Claudia W. and John M. Belk family, and a host of dedicated community members, we'll now be able to deliver the whole-journey care our patients need all in one place, saving those 7,000 steps for rehabilitation and recovery."

Special features:

Weisiger Cancer Institute

The Weisiger Cancer Institute brings together 32 cancer specialists representing 12 specialty clinics, including gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary, genitourinary, head and neck, gynecologic, breast, hematology and thoracic oncology. Additionally, the institute offers advanced treatments, radiation oncology, breast cancer care, cellular therapy and developmental therapeutics. The institute provides high-level treatment technology, including two linear accelerators.

"At Novant Health, we take cancer care personally," said Matt McDonald, MD, gynecologic oncologist and physician lead for the greater Charlotte market. "The Weisiger Cancer Institute will not only bring the patient experience to the next level, it will give our physicians the space they need to advance clinical trials, research and innovation. Our patients deserve, and will have, access to life-giving care right here in our region."

Special features:

The Novant Health Claudia W. and John M. Belk Heart & Vascular Institute and Agnes B. and Edward I. Weisiger Cancer Institute is located at 125 Queens Road, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28204 and has an eight-story dedicated parking deck for patients and visitors. Vannoy Construction is the lead contractor and McCulloch England Associates is the architect.

About Novant Health

Novant Health is an integrated network of physician clinics, outpatient facilities and hospitals that delivers a seamless and convenient healthcare experience to communities in Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia. The Novant Health network consists of more than 1,600 physicians and over 29,000 employees that provide care at nearly 700 locations, including 15 hospitals and hundreds of outpatient facilities and physician clinics. In 2020, Novant Health was the only healthcare system in North Carolina to be included on Forbes' Best Employers for Diversity list. Diversity MBA Magazine has also ranked Novant Health third on its 2019 list of "Best Places for Women & Diverse Managers to Work." Novant Health provided more than $993.2 million incommunity benefit, including financial assistance and services, in 2019.

For more information, please visit our website at NovantHealth.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

SOURCE Novant Health

https://www.novanthealth.org/

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Novant Health institutes for heart, vascular and cancer open new state-of-the-art facility - PRNewswire

The vegan diet is abundant in nutrients, but given the demanding world we live in, we can all benefit from some expert nutrition advice. To keep ourselves in balance, we look to the Instagram accounts and websites of vegan nutritionists and registered dietitians. These individuals keep us motivated to stay on track with their informational posts, satisfying recipes, and relatable captions. Here are nine vegan nutrition experts to start following today.

1. Tracye McQuirter, MPHI truly believe that being vegan is all about practicing love, freedom, and joynot deprivation, Tracye McQuirter (@byanygreens) says. Her work as a public health nutritionist and a proud vegan trailblazer clearly reflects that belief. As a 30-year vegan, McQuirter has dedicated herself to making veganism a positive and inclusive space for communities of color. Empowering and supporting the Black community to embrace a healthy vegan lifestyle is central to her mission, which is why she started the 10,000 Black Vegan Women Movement, a program equipped with nutritious meal-prep tips, wholesome recipes, and grocery shopping lists.

2. Taylor Wolfram, MS, RDN, LDNTaylor Wolfram is an inspiring embodiment of an anti-diet, anti-racist, and ethical vegan dietitian. Her work is centered on shunning diet culture, fighting back on the toxic narratives that perpetuate fatphobia and unhealthy relationships with food, and educating the public about fallacies on veganism and eating disorders. Wolframs core message? Advocacy and activism requires us to have a healthy relationship with ourselves so we can dedicate our best to the causes we are fighting for. Her Instagram (@taylorwolframrd) combines positive affirmations with enticing food photos while her website offers a deeper education on anti-racism, anti-diet, and body liberation resources.

3. Radhi Devlukia Shetty, AHCRadhi Devlukia-Shettys bubbly personality and fun dances in her kitchen are bound to bring joy to your days. While she has a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, she sought out a more holistic approach to wellness and later earned a degree in Ayurvedic Health Counselling. The Instagrammer (@radhidevlukia) uses the sacred knowledge of Ayurveda and her love for Indian cuisine to create recipes that bring Western and Eastern cuisines into one harmonious, mouthwatering meal. In addition to food, her content includes words of wisdom on mindful, conscious living.

4. Jennifer Rodriguez, RDNJennifer Rodriguez is a bilingual registered dietitian based in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Her private practiceFood is Vidaoffers nutrition consultation and food photography services. She embraces the concepts of food nourishing our souls, bringing communities together, and staying true to ones cultural roots. Follow her Instagram (@foodisvida) for vibrant vegan photography and delicious plant-based adventures!

5. Grace Pascale, MS, RDNGrace Pascale is all about living with intention. She focuses her work on encouraging a healthy attitude toward ones body image, abolishing the good and bad food labels, and communicating evidence-based nutrition science in a manner easily accessible to all. If you enjoy What I Eat in a Day videos for endless recipe ideas, her YouTube channel has plenty of them. On Instagram (@babybychickpeas), expect day-in-the-life-style photos including meals, homelife, and her adorable vegan daughter.

6. Dahlia Marin, RDN and James Marin, RDN, ENThis dynamic duo specializes in plant-based integrative medical nutrition. They co-founded the Institute of Plant Based Medicine (IOBPM)an organization that implements a multi-specialty approach combining plant-based nutrition with evidence-based medicine to prevent, treat, and/or reverse disease. Follow this vegan power couple on Instagram (@marriedtohealth) for vegan nutrition tips, recipes for kids and adults, safe DIY household cleaning products, and sustainable home hacks.

7. Catherine Perez, MS, RDCatherine Perez will get anyone on the bowl food bandwagon. Her satiating vegan recipes are packed with delicious lentil stews, beans, whole grains, and good-for-you greens. Along with mouthwatering food photos, she offers wellness tips, cooking classes, and accessible vegan grocery lists on her website and Instagram account (@plantbasedrd). Perezs mission is to showcase the delightful ways of living as a vegan and to educate those around her to make their own decisions at their own pace. If you need to baby-step your way toward healthier eating, Perez will hold your hand the entire time.

8. Emily Fitzgerald, APD Emily Fitzgerald is a vegan Accredited Practicing Dietitian based out of Australia. In addition to food, smoothie, and latte recipes, her Instagram (@thevegetitian) posts include nutrition comparisons, accessible plant-based sources of key nutrients, recommended reads for plant-based nutrition, and sustainability tips in the kitchen. Want more? Book a one-on-one virtual consultation with her through the plant-based dietitian coalition, PB Nutrition.

9. Alexandra Caspero, MA, RDN and Whitney English, MS, RDThese powerful moms are helping fellow parents navigate the misinformation around raising vegan kids. Backed by scientific research, their Plant-Based Juniors company offers a positive, inclusive, and open-minded space for parents of different dietary preferences. Their website and Instagram (@plantbasedjuniors) include resources for pregnant moms and new moms with picky eaters. Give them a follow to receive healthy recipes, supplement advice, feeding tips, simple swaps, and plenty of advice to feel less overwhelmed as a parent and more at ease with your growing childs health.

Shriya Swaminathan is a graduate student at the Washington University School of Medicine who is working on using alternatives to animal models to study kidney biology and disease.

Photo credit: Plantbasedrd

Pleasesupportindependent veganmediaandgettheverybest innews,recipes,travel,beauty,products, andmore.Subscribe now to the worlds #1 plant-based magazine!

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Here Are 9 Vegan Nutritionists and Dietitians We're Following - VegNews

Sign up for our COVID-19 newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest coronavirus news throughout New York City

On January 25, 2020, I found myself at Terminal 4 of Kennedy Airport, awaiting a speaker to arrive from the EU, from Belgium, to discuss religious freedom at our local Greek Christian Church. There were flights arriving from China, and I noticed almost all exiting passengers were wearing masks. Quite a few were coughing. I went into the restroom and several men were taking their masks off and appeared feverish, coughing and unwell. I decided to leave the bathroom, holding my breath while exiting.

I went to the caf to get a coffee and could hear two airport workers in mechanic outfits talking about many flights from China coming daily to JFK and Newark, but for some reason domestic flights on the master board in Wuhan were very limited. As a student of history and pandemics, I thought of the 191718 pandemic and how ships arrived from Europe in New York, followed by thousands of Spanish Flu deaths in the tri-state area. Because I have been involved with buying medical equipment in the past for our local hospital, missionary trips, and putting defibrillators in all the Southampton town and village police cars, an emergency meeting of the Hamptons Health Society was called to begin ordering masks, gowns, gloves, ventilators, high flow nasal oxygen machines, pulse oximeters, Lysol, alcohol and hand sanitizer.

With small and large donations, we were able to get many of the supplies we needed to keep our frontline hospital, EMS and police safe, as well as distribute masks to all of the East End towns and villages. Everyone came together like a big family, our congressmen, state senators, town supervisors, village mayors, police chiefs, the sheriff, PBAs, DA office, EMS, fire departments, doctors, nurses, cleaning teams, clerks and many more to prepare for a battle against an invisible, microscopic giant killer yet to be named COVID-19. This virus spread quickly and little was known about how to tackle it.

Out here we were blessed to have Howard Sklarek, M.D. running our ICU. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, ICU Critical Care, and Palliative Care. He is one of the few people in the world with four board certifications. In addition, we had Dr. Tassiopoulos, the Chairman of Vascular Surgery at Stony Brook University, developing protocols with his team to stop the peculiar blood clots, strokes and embolisms the virus caused. The entire health care system out on the East End rallied and was fortunate to have one of the highest success rates in the country for treating COVID-19. Hospital administrators such as Robert Ross and Bob Chaloner worked tirelessly seven days a week. There were more than 30 respiratory therapy heroes under the leadership of Jeff Russell, director of respiratory care, on the front lines, keeping people alive on ventilators and oxygen around the clock. We were in a war with an invisible monster with some scary moments and confusion. The Surgeon General and head of the AMA said masks were not needed early on. Dr. Anthony Fauci spoke on 970 AM Radio, CATS Roundtable radio show on January 25, and when asked if this was something we should worry about, said, I dont think so. Our supply chain of masks and gowns came mostly from China, as well as the components and medicines we needed. On TV, there would be news conferences, but never a real doctor who actually treats patientsonly government epidemiologists.

Before internet, social media and cable news, there was the 1967-68 Hong Kong Flu, with more than 100,000 dead in the USA and 1 million worldwide. Life continued and super spreader events like Woodstock went on. Throughout history, whenever humanity overcrowds in cities, viruses appear and shake off excess population from the planet. Most of these pandemics in history last 1618 months and go in two or three waves and eventually burn out. The virus mutates and learns that if it keeps killing off its human hotel hosts, it wont survive itself. These killer strains of RNA take over the cells in our body, launch an attack against them. The inflammation caused by our immune system response is what causes the cytokine storm in our lungs, and the fluid generated is like drowning as it blocks the oxygen from permeating into our lungs. Besides fever, cough, headache, body aches, nausea and vomiting, this virus has presented with symptoms like loss of smell, called anosmia.

I spoke with one of the leading dermatologists in the country from NYU, Dr. Kenneth Mark, who has offices in the Hamptons, who told me about a symptom called COVID Toesswollen, pink, red or even purple. This condition mimicked a diagnosis called Chilblains,in which painful inflammation of small blood vessels occurs in response to repeated exposure to cold; in the case of COVID, it was due to compromised circulation. In addition, he mentioned that several patients had peculiar head and body hair loss. Fortunately, we are learning more about therapeutics, ready-made antibodies and vaccines that will soon be available.

We are wearing masks, washing hands, social distancing, using UV-C lights in our central air and heating systems, and UV sanitizer boxes to zap our mail packages and groceries. (Shimon Peretz of Shape and Structure on Mariner Drive in Southampton makes them locally). Washing hands, wearing masks, social distancing, eating healthy and avoiding crowded indoor spaces will help tackle the virus.

In the coming weeks, we will cover the details of ways to help us all get through this. We will be speaking to an integrative medicine specialist, Dr. Magdalena Swierczewski, who will update us on vitamins, minerals and foods to boost our immune systems during COVID. We will also update you on the amazing work of Dr. Yianacopoulos, a Columbia University trained MD PhD, whose company will be releasing ready-made monoclonal antibodies to give many at-risk and frontline doctors, nurses and hospital staff protection. We will be reporting on the amazing work of Dr. David Ho of Columbia University, who invented the HIV Cocktail antiviral treatment that saved many lives from AIDS. His work at Columbia has isolated antibodies from COVID patients that will fit like a condom over the spike protein of coronavirus that is like a needle that enters and infects our cells with COVID. I look forward to sharing this news from real doctors and scientists on the frontlines with the Dans Papers audience.

Peter Michalos, MD is Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons; Past President of Medical Staff and Past Chief of Surgery Southampton Hospital; Chairman Hamptons Health Society. He has been a resident of Southampton for three decades.

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Health on the Frontlines: Coronavirus Update - Dan's Papers

e-Zine:Weekly Updates for Northern Berkshire

Dear Tammy,

This edition of the e-zine offers updates about our upcoming programming, local events of interest, and agencies and resources available during the COVID-19 epidemic. As things are constantly changing, please call these agencies to get the most up-to-date information.

If you do not subscribe to our e-zine and would like to continue to get updates, please sign up below.

Thank you and stay healthy,

The Staff at the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition

Upcoming nbCC Events & News

The Student Support Program at UNO Community Center is heldon Tuesdays from 10:00am-11:00am, Wednesdays from 1:00pm-3:00pm, and Thursdays from 4:00pm-5:00pm, the purpose of this program is to provide guidance and support to students navigating remote learning. Any child under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Walk-ins are permitted if space is available.nbCC staff will be following all COVID safety protocols. Face masks are required for everyone.Space is limited. Please call to sign up a week in advance. Register with Stephanie Puc at 413-663-7533.Note:This program is staffed by community volunteers and nbCC staff, not trained tutors.

ItTakesaVillage:Ittakesavillageto raise a child, but it alsotakesavillageto raise and support a parent. The mission of this group is to create a space where parents can feel connected to a community of peers, to share interests, experiences, and challenges in childrearing. You can vent your frustrations or celebrate your successes in a judgement-free, confidential space. Held on the first and third Mondays of every month, our next meeting is Monday, October 19. Give Bri Rousseau a call for more information or to sign up at 413-663-7588.

The Little Old Lady Who Isnt Afraid of Anything Story Walk October 3-November 1on the Born Learning Trail in North Adams (near Steeple Cat field): A nbCC and the Family Center collaboration. Dont forget to scan the QR code at the end the first 20 families will received a free book!

nbCC is thrilled to announce the return of BRCC Open Hours at the Green(85 Main Street, North Adams) on Wednesdays, from 10am-12pm. This All-Recovery Meeting welcomes all who struggle with addiction, are affected by addiction, and/or support the lifestyle of recovery.All pathways of recovery are embraced and our meeting is nondenominational. We'll be taking COVID-19 safety precautions that we will go over in detail during orientation. The schedule will be as follows:

Here's what you will need to know ahead of coming in: We'll be practicing social distancing, and everyone should wear a mask (or face shield). If you forget yours at home, we will have some on hand. Additionally, to keep everyone safe, we won't be serving refreshments and we ask that you not bring outside food or drink with you. We know these changes to protocol can be difficult, but on the upside, we can't wait to see your faces in person again! If you have any questions, please call Susan at 413-663-7588.

We are also continuing our All-Recovery phone-in/ZOOM meetings, Monday-Friday, 1:30pm-2:30pm.The information for logging in follows:

MEETING ID #:878 9287 2269

or call in via one of these numbers:312 626 6799,929 205 6099,301 715 8592,346 248 7799,669 900 6833,253 215 8782

MEETING ID #:878 9287 2269

UNO Park Temporarily Closed:The North Adams Department of Health has ordered UNO Park to close for two weeks as a precaution against the spread of parvovirus. Parvovirus is not dangerous to humans but is deadly to dogs.

UNO Park will reopen onFriday, October 16.

COVID-19 Updates(newer submissions are at top)

Child Care of the Berkshires Inc.staff have returned to the office as of June 15.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) BerkshireCountyhas announced the addition of a Warm Line, 413-445-1136,a phone number that people can call to talk toeither a NAMI BC staff or a community trained volunteer having lived experience with mental health issues, trauma, and/or to assist individuals through a difficult time, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.NAMI Berkshire County will provide support over the phone as well as resources as available. Calls will be accepted during the day and evening until 8 p.m. Callers experiencing isolation, fear, stress can speak to someone so they will not feel as isolated and find some coping strategies that have worked for the operators staffing the phone.If operators are not available callers can leave their phone number and first name and they will be called back within 24 hours or sooner. The information is strictly confidential.

BHS Helpline.People should contact their primary care physician if theyhave concerns. Testing must be authorizedthroughthe primary care. TheBerkshire Health Systems helpline can answer many questions regarding findinga primary care, testing, or other health related issues.The Nurse Triage line has reduced its hours to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, still available seven days a week. The number remains 855-BMC-LINK, or 855-262-5465.

Northern Berkshire Adult Education has gone virtual!All classes are offered online, even the PCA class. Free to all adult learners. Brush up your skills to get your GED or to prepare to return to college from the comfort of your home. Contact Bob or AnnaMaria at 413-662-5330 or 413-662-5386.

nbCC Changes to Open Hours and Programs-The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (nbCC), in an effort to help combat the spread of COVID-19, has made the following changes to open hours and programs:

All changes will be until further notice. nbCC's priority is to protect the safety and health of all nbCC staff, volunteers and visitors.For more information, contact Amber Besaw, Executive Director of nbCC at (413) 663-7588.

Al-ANON meetingswill be held via Phone-In Meetings, Thursdays & Sundays at 7:00pm. The call-in information is 1-401-379-0339 PIN# 159328.

The Ecu-Health Care Officeis currently closed to in-person appointments and drop-offs.Our staff is available to assist you over the phone during regular business hours of 8:30am-5:00pm Monday-Thursday and 8:30am-4:00pm on Fridays. For assistance please give us a call and we will do our best to help you. Should you need to drop off verifications to be forwarded to MassHealth or the Health Connector, please use the envelopes provided outside our office door and leave them in our drop box. To contact MassHealth directly, call 1-800-841-2900. To contact the Health Connector directly, call 1-877-623-6765. Thank you for your patience and cooperation. The Ecu-Health Care staff wishes you and your families all the best during this difficult time.

ROOTS Teen Centeris closed to the public until further notice.Meals are available for pick-up by appointment.Contact Paula Buxbaum, Executive Director, at 413-663-0250.

Adams Town Office Hours-Town offices will operate with essential staff on premises only from 9 to 1 Monday through Thursday via phone or email; the Community Development Office will operate remotely only through voicemail and email. The Adams Free Library is closed completely; parks are open but people are urged to remain at least 6 feet apart and be in groups of less than 10.

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nbCC E-Zine - Oct. 15 - News and Events in Northern Berkshire - iBerkshires.com

Green tea is a kind of tea produced using steaming, searing, and drying the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Its one of the most well known drinks burned-through worldwide and has been utilized for a huge number of years.

Truth be told, green tea is thought to have numerous medical advantages for the individuals who drink it consistently. Here are five potential advantages of green tea and how to consolidate it into your eating routine.

One of the primary fixings in green tea is caffeine. Caffeine can hinder a synthetic courier in the cerebrum called adenosine, which controls when you feel languid or alert. Hindering adenosine can forestall sluggishness, which is the reason endless individuals use caffeine to remain conscious and intellectually sharp.

An overproduction of adenosine in the mind has likewise been connected to psychological conditions like Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Examination shows that ordinary utilization of caffeine may decrease the danger of building up these conditions.

The measure of caffeine in green tea is a lot of lower than in espresso, so you can get a portion of the advantages of caffeine without the terrible results, similar to jumpiness.

Green tea additionally contains an amino corrosive called L-theanine, which has been found to help diminish pressure and lift your disposition. Examination shows that the mix of caffeine and L-theanine improves cerebrum work by fortifying working memory and consideration, and decreasing nervousness.

A little 2019 investigation watched the impacts of drinking green tea on cerebrum work, reasoning that standard tea consumers have higher intellectual capacities and better-composed mind districts, when contrasted with non-tea consumers. A 2017 survey of 21 examinations on the advantages of green tea additionally discovered that drinking green tea is useful to perception and mind work.

Green tea has been found to assume a function in heart wellbeing by diminishing the danger factors that cause coronary illness.

Hypertension is one of the most widely recognized danger factors for coronary illness. Exploration shows that burning-through green tea fundamentally brings down systolic and diastolic circulatory strain, which are the two distinct numbers by which an individuals pulse is recorded.

An enormous 2006 investigation likewise demonstrated that individuals who burned-through at least six cups of green tea day, contrasted with the individuals who burned-through short of what one per week, were 33% more averse to create type 2 diabetes.

Green tea may address multiple classic heart risk factors, like lipids, blood pressure, and diabetes, says Melinda Ring, MD, Executive Director of The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern University.

Also, an enormous long haul study distributed in 2020 followed two gatherings who had no set of experiences of coronary illness. The principal bunch was comprised of individuals who drank green tea multiple times each week, and the subsequent gathering was comprised of individuals who never drank green tea, or didnt drink it routinely. In a development around seven years after the beginning of the examination, researchers found that the individuals who drank tea consistently were probably going to have 1.4 more years liberated from coronary corridor ailment at the normal age of 50, than the individuals who didnt.

Catechin is a significant segment of green tea. Catechins are characteristic cell reinforcements that have antioxidative, calming, and against hypertensive impacts. They lower cholesterol levels by diminishing the retention of cholesterol into the body.

A 2011 examination of 14 investigations demonstrated that drinking a normal of two cups of green tea every day for a very long time brought about huge decreases in LDL cholesterol levels. LDL cholesterol is otherwise called terrible cholesterol, since it can cause plaque development in your corridors, which builds your danger of getting a cardiovascular failure or a stroke.

Some clinical research does show that drinking green tea or using green tea extracts can lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and increase levels of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). The mechanism for this isnt well-defined, though one theory is that epigallocatechin gallate (ECGC), a compound of green tea, affects the circulation of bile acids, which helps to regulate cholesterol, says Ring.

Green tea additionally assists with keeping your bones sound and solid. Examination shows that it might help treat and forestall osteoporosis, a condition that makes your bones more vulnerable and more inclined to cracks.

Tea leaves contain fluoride, which might slow osteoporosis, as well as beneficial compounds such as flavonoids and phytoestrogens, Ring says. Flavonoids are and phytoestrogens are plant synthetic compounds that can reinforce bone arrangement and forestall the breakdown of bone tissue.

In a recent report, 171 postmenopausal ladies with powerless bones and low bone mass were placed into four gatherings. The consequences of the investigation demonstrated that the gathering of ladies who were given mixes got from green tea encountered a remarkable improvement in their bone wellbeing.

A recent report likewise reasoned that green tea may profit bone wellbeing, subsequent to inspecting bone-framing cells. The scientists presented the cells to epigallocatechin (EGC), gallocatechin (GC), and gallocatechin gallate (GCG), which are largely primary parts of green tea. Following a few days, they saw that EGC advanced bone development by up to 79%. They likewise saw that high groupings of EGC disturbed the movement of osteoclast, a cell that debilitates bones.

Drinking green tea or utilizing it topically has numerous advantages for your skin.

Green tea contains a micronutrient called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) that might be liable for green teas skin fix properties. Some exploration shows that EGCG contains cell reinforcements, which help to forestall sun harm. It additionally helps skin hydration, dampness maintenance, and forestalls wrinkle development.

Green tea has additionally been appeared to have against maturing properties. A little 2005 examination considered the impacts of utilizing oral enhancements and applying green tea topically on maturing skin for about two months. Scientists found that the blend of utilizing green tea topically and orally in the members caused an improvement in the skins flexibility.

Catechin, a polyphenol in green tea, likewise assists with relieving kindled skin when utilized topically.

Green tea comes in various structures, however to appreciate the ideal advantages of tea, its ideal to drink it plain. Some examination proposes that including milk may balance a portion of the medical advantages of drinking tea.

Note that green tea contains caffeine, so in the event that you have a caffeine affectability, you should devour it in more modest sums.

Gloria Rhonheimer is originally from Newfoundland and now lives in waterloo. Her writing is more inspiring. She has written several articles, she obtained a B.A in English from Memorial University. She worked as a reporter for the A.T daily news before deciding to devote himself full-time to writing.

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Green Tea: 5 best benefits of green tea and how it can enable your memory, to skin, and bones - Broadcast Cover

As one of the first two states in the United States to legalize cannabis, Colorado has been at the forefront of research. The Institute of Cannabis Research at Colorado State University Pueblo has just kicked off a series of virtual events during which researchers discuss their work, and where research is headed.

The first such webinar featured Stephanie McGrath, an associate professor of neurology and neurosurgery at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. She focused her presentation on her work covering the use of cannabidiol (CBD) for dogs that have seizure disorders, and how glioma cancer cells in dogs respond to CBD treatment.

The next CU Pueblo research webinar will feature David Shurtleff, deputy director of the National Center of Complementary and Integrative Health, and will focus on the National Institute of Healths interest in cannabis research.

(Read Cannabis Wires previous coverage of research out of Baylor College of Medicine, within the Texas Medical Center, on the therapeutic potential of CBD for dogs experiencing pain from arthritis.)

Like many medical professionals, McGrath didnt enter medical school with a decision on which path shed like to pursue, but she eventually settled on neurology. McGrath referred to epilepsy in dogs, the most common neurologic disorder in canines, as an eye opener that hit home, because existing treatments seemed inadequate, she said.

Until you witness this, its really hard to appreciate what owners are going through, McGrath said, referencing dogs undergoing grand mal seizures. But when youre looking at this dogs eyes and youre looking into the eyes of this family that are going through this very emotional, very traumatic and violent disease, she said, you connect to the real emotional aspect of it like this.

While McGrath completed her residency in Colorado, legal adult use cannabis sales were taking off. McGrath referenced Charlotte Figi, a young girl whose family moved her to Colorado for access to CBD to treat her seizures. (Figi, who became internationally known for helping to catalyze the CBD-as-medicine movement, died in April). Watching the Sanjay Gupta special on Figi and CBD on CNN, McGrath wondered if CBD might have the same seizure-reducing effects on dogs.

I went through school knowing marijuana is toxic for dogs. Its terrible. Dont use it. Stay away from it. We see marijuana toxicosis in our emergency rooms, McGrath said.

McGrath began her research on CBD at CSU under the 2014 Farm Bill, which allowed for states to launch hemp pilot programs. Hemp is abundant in CBD. But, she said, her work became easier when lawmakers passed the 2018 Farm Bill, which removed hemp, defined as cannabis plants containing .3% THC or less, from the list of controlled substances.

I think its made it a lot easier for collaborators and other researchers and scientists to start exploring cannabis at their institutions as well, which is great, McGrath said. She added that her own research began, in some senses at ground zero, because there were so few studies on dogs and CBD that could serve as a starting point for additional work.

We had essentially no foundation for using this drug despite it being around forever. And so we had a lot of questions about bioavailability, whether this drug would even be absorbed, she said.

McGrath started with a pharmacokinetic study during which 30 dogs were given three different CBD formulations. The dogs received a six-week course of two doses daily. The beagles used for the study were research animals that were purpose-bred for pharmacokinetic studies and that are adopted out once they reach middle age. Researchers looked for safety, drug tolerance, and any major adverse effects.

It was very encouraging that at least we had a foundation, somewhere to go with this, McGrath said, referencing that the oral preparations were at least measurable in the dogs blood streams. Fortunately for adverse events, those were also fairly well-tolerated, she said. The only major side effect was diarrhea, which was transient, but it did occur in all dogs at all dosages at various time points. There also was an elevation in one of the liver enzymes, alkaline phosphatase, and while the researchers didnt have concerns related to short-term liver toxicity concerns, that was definitely something we noted and wanted to continue to monitor.

Overall, McGrath said, she felt that this studys results would allow her to proceed to clinical trials in client-owned animals, starting with epilepsy. Her first effort was on the short-term effect of CBD on seizure frequency in dogs suffering from poorly-controlled idiopathic epilepsy. A total of sixteen dogs participated in this study, a limitation with such a small cohort, with nine in the treatment group and seven in the control group. All of these dogs had a confirmed diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy, and they all had to remain on their standard anticonvulsant treatment during the three-month study. Researchers then added either CBD to the treatment regimen, or a placebo.

We did see a significant reduction in seizure frequency in the treatment group as compared with the control group, McGrath said. But, she added, when they looked at responders, a common way of recording antiepileptic drug efficacy, they wanted the dogs to have at least a 50 percent reduction in seizure activity, which didnt happen.

We concluded from this study that, although we did get some encouraging results, theres still a lot more work to be done, she said.

McGrath said the most interesting part of the study, to her, was that she saw a significant correlation between plasma level and seizure change.

As the dogs, that for whatever reason, metabolize the drug in such a way that they reached higher plasma levels, they actually had a further decrease in seizure activity than dogs that never reach that level. And so seeing that correlation really gave me a lot of hope that if we can get more dogs sort of across the arbitrary threshold, that we may be able to see better, more positive results, McGrath said.

McGraths next clinical study was funded by the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, and was much larger, with 60 dogs. It was a prospective double blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. The dogs in the study received either CBD or placebo in the first phase, and then CBD or placebo for the second phase.

It gives us a bit more of a powerful study because each dog is able to be compared to itself as well as the treatment group and the control group, she said. For this study, CBG was also added, and doses were increased in an effort to get more dogs into a higher-level plasma range. During the course of this study, Epidiolex, a CBD-based cannabis plant extract, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration, which McGrath and her team started using as part of the study.

Spoiler alert: I do not have results of the study yet, McGrath said. She and her team wrapped up enrollment last month, and the last dog is expected to finish in March, allowing them to publish results sometime next year.

Overall, we didnt see any clinical signs that were of concern. We are also measuring antiepileptic drug levels throughout the studies. So we are going to also assess whether CBD has any effect on raising or lowering the antiepileptic drug levels as well, she said.

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Colorado: Institute of Cannabis Research Series Launches With CBD and Dogs - Cannabis Wire