Dear Dietitian: Over the last several months, Ive heard more about functional foods and the health benefits they provide. Is there science to back these health claims, or is this just crafty marketing? Thanks, Jerry

Dear Jerry: A functional food is one that provides a benefit beyond that of nutrition. Some of us drink a strong cup of coffee every morning to help us wake up. Others eat prunes to assist with regularity. Still others sip a cup of chamomile tea to help them sleep at night. In these examples, food and drinks provide a purpose beyond providing calories and nutrients.

To some degree, all foods are functional. While there is no legal definition of functional food, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics defines them as whole foods, along with fortified, enriched or enhanced foods, that have a potentially beneficial effect on health when consumed as part of a varied diet regularly at effective levels.

The term functional food is considered to be marketing by some, while others believe these foods make us feel better and help prevent diseases. When it comes to making health claims, the Food and Drug Administration regulates food manufacturers can place on packaging labels. That is why you will see claims that state may help reduce cholesterol when used as part of a diet that is low in saturated fats and low in cholesterol.

Try one of these functional foods.

Fatty fish. Youve probably heard of the omega-3-fatty acids found in salmon, tuna, trout, sardines, and mackerel. Health experts recommend two servings per week to possibly reduce the risk of heart disease.

Nuts are a great source of fiber and monounsaturated fats that may promote heart health. Try one ounce of your favorite nuts mixed with a few raisins for a healthy afternoon snack.

Leafy greens contain folate for your heart and the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin that function to protect the eye from damaging sunlight. These nutrients are plentiful in kale, spinach and turnip greens.

Berries contain phytochemicals known as anthocyanin pigments, which give them color. Anthocyanins have been found to have anti-cancer effects in laboratories and animal studies. However, this does not mean the same thing occurs in the human body. More studies are needed to provide a meaningful link. Whether you prefer strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries, these colorful fruits are not only pleasing to the palate, they may promote better health.

Orange juice with added calcium is an example of a fortified functional food. Of course, calcium is not found naturally in orange juice, and adding it promotes strong bones.

When it comes to sizing up functional foods, a little common sense goes a long way. In some cases, it is difficult to provide a recommendation of how much of a particular food to consume for health benefits simply because it has yet to be hammered out in the research. As part of a varied diet and a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and good mental health, functional foods may help you live a healthier life.

Until next time, be healthy! Dear Dietitian

LEANNEMCCRATE, RDN, LD, CNSC, aka Dear Dietitian, is based in Missouri. Her mission is to educate consumers on sound, scientifically-based nutrition. Do you have a nutrition question? Email her today at deardietitian411@gmail.com. Dear Dietitian does not endorse any products, health programs, or diet plans.

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LEANNE MCCRATE: The function of functional foods - The Independent

That is roughly 13.7 million children and adolescents in this country that are obese. I believe many people today know obesity is a rising problem that can lead to more harmful conditions and diseases later in life. Also, I am confident many people are aware of solutions to help decrease the prevalence! However, the secret to success is not just in the knowledge, but in the action. It is not a complex formula, but it is not easy either. Living a healthy lifestyle and being at a healthy weight does not need to include a magic pill, fad diet, or widgets found on TV.

Instead of a short-term fix, it is important that we help instill long-term change as well as tools and habits that can set up children today, to be healthy adults in the future! So how can we instill healthy habits and behaviors in children?

1. Move more, sit less. Be active.

2. Food is fuel, not the enemy. Eat nutritious foods.

3. Have accountability. Make it a family endeavor.

These three bullets are very beneficial for keeping your child healthy and at a healthy weight.

Isaac Bitter with his wife Emily and family. Submitted photo

Exercise daily! Move everyday and make it fun! I discourage parents, coaches, etc. from talking poorly about exercise. If you use it as punishment or as some grueling event, what do you think that young moldable mind will think about an active lifestyle? They will associate that as bad or as a punishment! Promote movement and exercise as a good thing and make it fun.

Food is fuel to our bodies and gives us energy throughout the day. Avoid using food to punish or reward your child. Instead, practice mindful eating. Mindful eating is the philosophy that you eat when you are hungry and stop when you are satisfied. It focuses on being attentive and present when you are eating. Leave the distractions of watching TV, playing on the phone, or reading a magazine. Also, incorporate your child in grocery shopping and preparing meals. When children get to enjoy what they prepared, they will be more apt to eat it and not waste it. When preparing the meal, try to add more color to the plate by adding a serving of fruit and a vegetable.

Lastly, be an accountability partner and help your children keep you accountable also. When you can have an accountability partner, successful results exponentially increase. Do not discourage, poke fun, or insult their efforts. When one slips for a day, understand we are human and are prone to make mistakes. Rather than giving up, encourage them to get back on the wagon and work to accomplish their goal.

These strategies listed above are not groundbreaking, so why is obesity a perpetual (growing problem) in the United States?

My wife is a dietitian and I am a physical therapist. Over time we have noticed that clients that develop a support system, take in quality food (in proper quantities) and consistently exercise get better, faster! In short they take responsibility for their current state and take action.

How exactly does one help his or her child apply these practices? I believe there are a few fundamental principles that go beyond the three keys to success listed above that not only will help your childs health, but also his/her confidence and overall well-being.

1. Having a why that is bigger than that mammoth muffin in front of them. To have you and your children be successful for the long run, your why needs to be visible and on the forefront of your mind. It might be to make it on a sports team or fit into a certain dress. It might be to no longer be made fun of, or to simply be more healthy I cant pick your why, that is up to you!

For me, the decision to get healthy was multifactorial. Yes, I am saying this from experience. I was an overweight, insecure, freshman in high school. I was tired of getting picked on because of my weight. I wanted to prove mean people wrong and had a burning desire to start on the varsity hockey team as a sophomore.

My aspirations, goals, priorities in life have changed, but habits gained during that season stuck with me. I have learned to love exercise and crave many healthy foods that fuel my body. It has not always been easy, but it has been totally worth it.

Motivation will get you started, discipline will carry you through. My why was bigger than some of the initial pains of consistent exercise and saying no to sugary food.

2. I believe another important factor to overall health is a mindset shift and an attitude adjustment! I believe this develops gradually as one begins working toward their goal. It is important to develop the attitude that exercise and nutritious food is your friend and not the enemy and that your body should be respected and cared for.

In order to create a healthy mindset around physical activity and quality food choices, parents should promote a mindset for your child that says, I am a healthy person, and do the things a healthy person would do.

James Clear speaks on this in his book, Atomic Habits. If you dont know how to get healthier, ask yourself, What would a healthy person do? A healthy person would exercise today, even if it is for only a couple of minutes. A healthy person would have some fruit and vegetables with most meals and probably would say no to second helpings. Dessert would be eaten with discretion! So saying no to dessert more often than not, may be a good idea. As a parent, by incorporating these strategies into your own life, you are setting an example for your children. Create a family environment that says, We are a family that is healthy. If you are not that family currently, start today.

The beautiful thing about a mindset is that you can start thinking like a victor rather than a victim immediately! Set the example for the adolescents in your own life. Move with them, try tasty and nutritious dishes with them, make it a team effort and create an environment of accountability.

3. Help your kids see themselves as a valuable creation. I dont want to get preachy, but understand that mind, body and spirit are all huge factors in how one treats and views him or herself. A positive attitude and mindset early in life will help build confidence in that child throughout his or her lifetime. Creating a mentality from an early age that stewards ones body by intentional eating and consistent exercise is important.

In fact, eating well, getting enough sleep and exercising have all been shown to reduce anxiety and depression. It also has been linked to improved performance and concentration in the classroom and in life. Helping your kids understand they have worth is paramount!

How you do that is beyond the scope of this article.

To recap, here are all the principles discussed in this article that are important for creating a healthy lifestyle and environment for your child(ren) and family.

Photo illustration by Metro Newspaper Service

Developing a healthy lifestyle and weight is not a sprint. The tips and suggestions provided in this article dont include a crash diet or how to lose weight fast. The microwave approach isnt sustainable for long-term success. What I am talking about is real, long-term victory. It is throwing the ingredients in a crockpot and seeing the plan come to fruition overtime. This way of doing and thinking requires discipline. If you commit to it, it will work! Unfortunately, because it is work, some will not take action over their situation.

I hope you begin to reshape your family tree today by building a mindset of mental toughness, hard work, and positive relationships today!

My wife, Emily and I are passionate about people reaching their full potential. If you have questions or would like to chat about any of the above content, dont hesitate to reach out to us at ibitter4@gmail.com or emilylouise724@gmail.com.

Charles Duhigg is an expert on habit formation. He notes that every habit includes three things: 1. Cue. 2. Habit. 3. Reward.

Whether you are working to quit smoking, biting your nails, hitting the snooze a
larm, to quit drinking pop, etc. the solution is the same. One needs to use the cue that triggered the old habit and reward the new habit the same way!

For example, a family has a big dessert every night. The cue is we just got done with dinner. The reward is that we are spending time as a family. If one is working to build a better habit to maintain a healthy weight, one could use the cue of being done with dinner and implement a different family activity like playing a board game or (better yet) go outside for a walk, shoot hoops, etc. The reward for the child remains the same: spending time with his/her family, and doing something they enjoy with people they care about.

Read the original here:
Crow Wing Energized: Keys to success on road to healthier living - Brainerd Dispatch

Smoothie King CEO Wan Kim

Wan Kim didnt live a healthy lifestyle as a college undergrad. A smoker and social drinker, one of the only times Wan felt healthy was when he would grab a smoothie and get his nutrients for the day. Soon, he became hooked on health and his love for smoothies launched a career as the current CEO and Chairman of the Board of Smoothie King. Now, Wan and his team lead the franchise with one pivotal goal: to inspire people to live a healthy and active life.

As the CEO of a company built on health and wellness, Wan knew he had to contribute to supporting his communities during the pandemic. He and his team launched a mission to donate $1,000,000 worth of smoothies to local hospitals, testing centers, police and fire stations and other essential workplaces across the country a goal the company reached last month.

I originally spoke with Wan this past fall on an episode of Brand on Purpose about his journey with the smoothie company, and recently reconnected with him to chat about his pledge and why he chose to support COVID-19 relief one smoothie at a time.

Healthy living is a huge part of your ethos. When COVID-19 hit, did you recognize a role for the company right away in terms of responding to those impacted?

Inspiring people to live a healthy and active lifestyle is our mission. We have always been focused on that, so we knew we could respond by breaking through and reminding our guests we are here to support their health.

We started right away in March and April. First, we offered our guests a free immune support enhancer, which could be added to any smoothie they ordered. Building off that, we launched the new Immune Builder Veggie Superfood Smoothie in April to provide additional immune support.We followed that up with our donation of $1,000,000 in smoothies to essential workers and front-line responders, which directly supported their health and wellness as they continued to keep us safe and healthy. We also highlighted our contactless service options online ordering, drive-thru and curbside pick-up and even launched delivery in the middle of the pandemic.

Altogether, we believe theseinitiatives were critical in our response to the pandemic. It showed we were still open and able to serve our guests safely and conveniently, and it reinforced our mission and commitment to their healthy and active lifestyles.

Individual franchisees were responsible for reaching out to their local first responders. With that being the case, how did you go about ensuring a consistent, wide-reaching effort?

During the $1,000,000 donation in smoothies initiative, our operations and marketing teams assisted the stores by coordinating the donations and helping stores engage with hospital systems in our largest markets.From there, we shared these strategies with the entire system and encouraged them to utilize the donation plans in their markets as well.

We could not have been this successful and consistent without our franchisees, who really drove the success of this initiative.They carved out the time and budget necessary to make this happen, and for that, I am grateful.It would not have been possible without them.

You also gave guests an opportunity to participate in the pledge. Why was that important?

We heard from some franchisees that they had guests who also wanted to help, and we thought it was a great idea. So, we designed the guest program for this initiative and saw great success.Over the course of the initiative, our guests donated over $5,000 in smoothies to first responders.I believe this is important because it shows our guests are inspired by our mission and vision, and they wanted to pass it on to those that needed it most during this time.

Have there been any special blends or flavors as part of this effort - perhaps particularly aimed at boosting immune systems and that sort of thing?

Yes! We launched a new flavor to our line of Immune Builder Smoothies: Veggie Superfood. It is made with organic veggies and an immune support enhancer, which combined create a delicious, immune-supporting smoothie. This new flavor joined our Immune Builder Mixed Berry, which also contains powerful antioxidants. We also gave each guest a free immune support enhancer in any smoothie, which allowed them to support their immune system while still enjoying their favorite blend.

We know all of the hard work we put in from 2016 - 2019 to create our Clean Blends initiative gave us the perfect menu to talk to our guests about how Smoothie King supports their healthy living lifestyle.

How can our audiences support your efforts?

The biggest way at this point is to be a Smoothie King ambassador and inspire others to live a healthy and active lifestyle.I believe that with thousands of Smoothie Kings, the world will be healthier and more active than it is today.

Is there anything else youd like our readers to know about this initiative - the thinking behind it, its execution, and/or whats next?

I want people to know we were able to accomplish this because of our guests and our franchisees. Without their efforts, this would not have been possible. We wanted essential and front-line workers to know that we are grateful for all their efforts during this pandemic.We did this because we my team, franchisees and guests all wanted to do something to help.We also wanted to raise awareness around our stores still being open and ready to support guests on their health and fitness journeys both now and in the future.

Read this article:
Donating $1,000,000 In Smoothies To Support COVID-19 Relief Efforts: A Conversation With Smoothie King CEO Wan Kim - Forbes

Heart healthy

Natures Eats a family-owned brand of Texas Star Nut & Food Company is launching an almond flour that performs just like traditional all-purpose flour.

According to the company, the Ultimate Nut Flour: Almond+ a proprietary blend of almond flour and other natural ingredients will also rise better than other almond flours on the market.

The one to one almond flour mix is non-GMO, kosher-Star K certified and has an enhanced bake and rise formula, which means no need for conversion tables as all ingredients are included and ready to use. The flour can easily be substituted in existing recipes to make gluten-free crackers, breads, cookies or doughnuts.

Suitable for keto, paleo and gluten-, grain- and wheat-free diets, almond flour is cholesterol free, low in carbs and high in protein: One ounce of almond flour contains over 6g of protein and 3g of fibre. It is also rich in magnesium, vitamin E, manganese, copper and phosphorus.

Natures Eats is committed to showcasing the benefits of nut flours in new and innovative ways, said John Taylor, president and CEO for Natures Eats.

The Ultimate Nut Flour: Almond+ will bring new life to baking by enhancing taste, usability, performance, versatility and product longevity. Were excited to bring a key ingredient for innovative cooking to match market demand and expected growth.

The 16oz convenient re-closable bags of Ultimate Nut Flour: Almond+ will be launched exclusively on Amazon in August 2020 with nationwide store availability in 2021.

Munchy Seeds has won a listing in Wholefoods Markets seven London-based outlets with three of its variants Honey Roasted, Mega Omega and Sweet Chilli in 125g sharing bags.

According to the Suffolk-based snack producer, its Munchy Seeds are a perfect fit for Wholefoods customer base, as they are 100% natural, gluten and dairy free and suitable for vegetarians. Five flavours in the range are also vegan.

We are delighted to be working with Wholefoods Market and supplying such prolific stores in the capital, said Lucinda Clay, co-founder of Munchy Seeds.

We feel that Munchy Seeds and Wholefoods Market are a brilliant match as we share a passion for high quality, locally-sourced products that can be enjoyed as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Munchy Seeds produces a range of seed mixes in six sweet and savoury flavours: Sweet Chilli, Mega Omega, Honey Roasted, Warm Cinnamon, Mild Chilli and Salted Caramel, in three formats: 25g snack packs (RRP 80p), 120g resealable pouches (RRP 2.99) and 450g resealable sharing packs (RRP 8.75).

Fatherson Bakery has launched three premium fours available on its online platform and delivered to your doorstep including Fatherson Premium Plain Flour, Self-Raising Flour and Strong Bread Flour.

The flours are milled and packed in the UK and have smart packaging to stop flour mess getting everywhere with their easy to open and close resealable packaging. The inside foil wall packaging helps to keep the flour fresh over its 12-month shelf life.

People are falling back in love with baking, and while we are spending more time around the home its the ideal time to try new recipes or even experiment, said Laurence Smith, owner of Fatherson Bakery.

Our new range of flours will meet every bakers dreams. The flour range is a best in quality, signature flour, milled from British crops that we use in our very own baking daily. As a result, people will be able to enjoy delicious results.

The flours each come with a recipe suggestion, are natural, contain no preservatives and are suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Available in 1.5kg bags with a RRP of 2.75-2.95.

Baking mix brand Krusteaz has launched its newest innovation, Energizing Oat Bites Mix.

Available in two varieties Chocolate Chip Oat and Cinnamon Oat the products require no baking and feature whole grain oats, flaxseed and chia.

The mixes are made without artificial flavours, artificial colours or artificial preservatives and contain 8g of plant-based protein per serving.

After the great success of our protein and whole-grain line of pancakes, muffins and cornbread, we were eager to provide consumers with options for convenient anytime snacking, said Andy Heily, president & CEO of brand owner Continental Mills.

At Krusteaz, we believe that nutritious protein-filled snacks dont have to sacrifice great taste, so were excited to continue to add more products that combine the energising benefits of whole grains and protein with the classic taste that consumers expect from the brand.

The Oat Bites Mix is easy to make in just 30 minutes and can be glammed up with nut or seed butters, honey or agave and rolled in chopped nuts or flaked coconut.

Available at Walmart across the US with a RRP of $3.99.

Organic and gluten-free brand Jovial Foods has launched a cassava flour pasta, the first of its kind on the market.

Available in five shapes Spaghetti, Fusilli, Penne, Elbows and Orzo the cassava pasta is crafted in Italy by artisan pasta makers, using traditional techniques and two simple ingredients: organic cassava flour and water.

The plant-based, grain-free line is also free of the top 8 allergens, as well as gluten and gums, and has no added starches, making it suitable for any lifestyle.

Jovials cassava pasta can be found across the US at Sprouts, Wegmans, Heinens and online with planned expansion to Amazon, Thrive Market, Whole Foods and Hannaford soon at a RRP of $4.99.

Carla Bartolucci, founder of Jovial Foods, found that cassava could make a high-fibre and nutrient dense pasta that satisfies like real pasta. It is also aligned to Jovials mission of sustainable farming, growing in marginal soil with little water and producing more calories per acre than wheat and corn, making it a staple for over half a billion people worldwide.

Quinn Foods, known for reimagining classic snacks with real, transparent, great tasting ingredients, has launched Grain Free Pretzel Chips, made from cassava flour, also known as yuca.

The chips are non-GMO, certified gluten-free, grain- and dairy-free, and suitable for Paleo and vegan lifestyles.

The plant-based chips are baked not fried and seasoned with rock salt. They contain 2g of protein and fibre, along with only 100 calories per serving.

At Quinn, we want everyone to be able to enjoy the mouth-watering flavour and texture of pretzels regardless of special diets or restrictions, said Kristy Lewis, founder and CEO of Quinn Foods.

Our grain free, pretzel chips allow so many people with allergies or special diets, the chance to enjoy the nostalgic taste of pretzels once again.

Quinns Grain Free Pretzel Chips are available at Whole Foods Market stores across the US and also on Amazon.

UK bakery Patisserie Valerie has created a Thank You Cake for people to show their appreciation for those who have gone above and beyond during the UKs lockdown period, with 10% of proceeds being donated to Silver Stories.

Silver Stories links young readers with elderly people many of whom who are in care homes to enable them to read to them over the phone. The charity was created in response to knowledge concerning the loneliness that can be felt by the elderly in the community and their often separation from the younger generation.

Many people have come together in recent weeks during the coronavirus crisis to support each other in communities throughout the UK and Patisserie Valeries cake provides an opportunity to say Thank You.

It can be ordered online for delivery direct from the bakery to any postcode in the UK. Order by midday for next day delivery, where available.

The Great British Porridge Co. has furthered its listing with Ocado to include two new flavours to its 385g 7-serving bag range, as well as its recently launched 60g porridge pots.

The new Caffe Latte and Classic Chocolate porridges in bags, and range of convenient single serve porridge pots in Classic Chocolate, Bl
ueberry & Banana and Caffe Latte are all 100% natural, contain no added sugar and are suitable for vegans and those following gluten-free diets.

We are very excited to be able to offer all of our products on Ocado, said Jacqueline Barleycorn, founder of The Great British Porridge Co.

Launching a new range during lockdown has proved hard work, particularly in creating new retail relationships, so securing our offer on Ocado so quickly is just fantastic.

We have built up a loyal Ocado customer base over the years, so its great to be able to give our customers even more choice.

The Great British Porridge Co. 385g bags have an RRP of 3.99 (also available in Banana & Blueberry, Strawberry & Peanut Butter and Red Berry & Pumpkin Seed), while the porridge pots have an RRP of an RRP of 1.29.

Razor USA has kick-started scooter culture and design to the next level with its first-ever limited-edition collaboration series, featuring Takis Snacks-themed kick scooters. The company also partnered with Sriracha, AriZona Iced Tea and Sharpie for the collection, with each collaboration injecting the essence and personality of the four hip brands via visual styling and colourways.

According to Takis Snacks brand owner Barcel USA the US snack division of Grupo Bimbo its rolled tortilla chips are no ordinary corn chips. Available in five punchy flavours Fuego, Crunchy Fajitas, Nitro, Wild and Guacamole they have been created for the strong, brave and daring.

Razors Takis Snacks scooter brings that boldness to life with its purple body and T-bar, contrasted with striking yellow wheels.

When Razor launched twenty years ago, our goal was, and still is, to inspire joy, excitement, and fun everywhere our riders go, said Jim Wagner, president of Razor USA.

To be able to collaborate with such culturally influential brands that align with these values is a testament to the breadth and ability of Razors influence in this space of iconic brands, and we cant wait to see where this collaboration takes Razor in the future.

The themed scooters are available at select Target locations as well as online only while supplies last.

Continue reading here:
Product showcase 2020: From No bake Energizing Oat Bites to the ultimate almond flour - BakeryAndSnacks.com

When will this covid-19 pandemic end? No one can know for certain, but one public health expert, Dr. David Katz, said last week that well enter a new phase with far fewer cases in "something like another four to eight weeks." Meanwhile, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has been rethinking its own projections based on what were learning about the disease.

Lets start with Katzs encouraging analysis. Hes the founding director of Yale Universitys Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center and was director of medical studies in public health at the Yale School of Medicine.

In an interview with radio host Michael Smerconish Aug. 4 and in an article on his own LinkedIn page, Katz said were much closer to the end than it might seem. Thats because new research is suggesting that the actual number of Americans who have been infected with the virus is 10 times the 5 million who have tested positive. Moreover, research is suggesting that 20-50% of Americans may have partial immunity gained from past infections to other coronaviruses, including the common cold. Some people fight the disease off without producing measurable antibodies.

In other words, we may be at the point where 80% of the population already has some protection from the disease, though its not evenly spread across the United States. He says thats more than enough for herd immunity, which is when enough people are immune that the virus stops spreading. He doesnt expect a second wave because the first wave never ended.

In the meantime, Katz advises people to wear masks and to continue to keep their distance because a large "dose" of the virus can be more dangerous than a small one.

"I think we continue to take precautions, but Im quite hopeful that the end of this tunnel is not that far away," he said during the interview.

Katz said the United States response to the pandemic has been haphazard, and testing has been inadequate. He also believes strategies should have been "risk stratified" with a focus on the vulnerable, and should be moving forward. We know, for example, that the disease is often fatal to older people, but as of Saturday no Arkansans under age 25 had died from it.

Katz noted that, after age, health has been a major predictor of how a person responds to the disease. A healthy lifestyle does not guarantee a good outcome, but it certainly helps, and its something we can control. Now is the time to get healthy because it will protect us against COVID-19 and also offer long-term benefits, he said.

Katz emphasized that he could be wrong about his projections about the pandemics end. Im writing about him because he offers a credible and hopeful alternative viewpoint that also doesnt deny the pandemics seriousness. If youre looking for some encouraging news, read his LinkedIn article and listen to his roughly 18-minute interview with Smerconish.

Meanwhile, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Public Health has been reassessing its predictions about the pandemic.

Previous projections have been discouraging if not frightening. The July 17 biweekly report by the College of Public Health faculty said the pandemic would peak in Arkansas on Nov. 26, when 2,591 Arkansans would be hospitalized and 543 would be on ventilators.

That would be terrible. By comparison, 508 Arkansans were hospitalized and 117 were on ventilators on Aug. 10.

But the writers of the biweekly report dated July 30 decided not to make long-term projections because of new research about the disease. The report said the number of asymptomatic cases is 10 to 20 times higher than previously thought, which would bolster Katzs case. The bad news is that children may be more infectious than previously thought. Thats an ominous piece of news as schools prepare to reopen.

Almost none of us were infectious disease experts when this started, and were still not. Im giving extra weight to Dr. Katzs projections because they make sense, because I want to believe him, and because he offers an evidence-based timeline for when this might end. It helps to have a goal. So in the Brawner household, well continue to take precautions like he said to do, while hoping the end of the tunnel is near and knowing it might not be.

Steve Brawner is a syndicated columnist in Arkansas. Email him at brawnersteve@mac.com. Follow him on Twitter at @stevebrawner.

Continue reading here:
When will the pandemic end? Soon, says one expert - Greenwood Democrat

Mother-of-four, Brandi Morrison, right, have trained her children how to lift weights to build muscle (Picture: Brandi Morrison/Metro.co.uk)

A bodybuilder mother lets her three year-old son lift weights and says pumping iron, clean-eating and protein shakes have given her other boys aged seven and 10 insane abs.

Fitness buff, Brandi Morrison, 33, lets her youngest son Ragnar, three lift dumbbells even though he is still a toddler. He can be seen confidently working with a dumbbell in a video Brandi shared with Metro.

She has also taught his older brother Preston, seven, and Cedrik, 10, how to bench press, dead lift and bicep curl during lockdown and says her young sons are thrilled with their newly-honed muscles.

The boys, from Peoria in Arizona, started pumping iron earlier this year to help them get bigger for football. They now workout with their bodybuilding parents at home almost every day. Stay-at-home mom Brandi also insists the children must eat a clean and healthy diet to help them get stronger and has admitted her four kids have never had a McDonalds. She also lets the older boys drink protein shakes to boost their fitness progress.

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Brandi, who is married to quality control officer, Rocky, 36, said: I make sure (Ragnar) uses a low weight, like 3lbs or 5lbs dumbbells. He does squats, squat jumps, push ups, pull ups and hell lift with weights a couple of times a month.

Its a lot more body weight stuff for him. He enjoys it and we show him the movements and correct him if its something that would hurt him, but typically hes amazing at picking up the movements.

When we ask him to show us his muscles he flexes and we compliment how big and strong hes getting. Hell say things like Yes I am with a big smile on his face.

I think his favorite part is when we use him as the weight. Like benching him, bicep curls, tricep extensions behind our head. Its us being all together and to him its a sure way of playing and having fun.

I dont anything wrong with it, we would never put our kids in harms way and if they didnt want to lift weights anymore then thats fine, but they want to and really enjoy it.

A lot of kids nowadays sit in front of the TV or on electronics and that does more harm than what weightlifting does for my kids. Nutrition is a big part of their lives too, they know that protein is good for their muscles and carbs are good for recovery, weve taught them you cant outwork a bad diet.

I dont think theyve ever had a McDonalds, we encourage healthy eating all the time. Sometimes after practice they will have protein shakes when I do, they are good for you.

Brandi and Rocky are both competitive powerlifters who usually train in a gym, but when the coronavirus lockdown led to public gyms shutting up for months on end, the couple decided to start working out at home instead. The lockdown also meant Preston and Cedrik could no longer attend football training for the teams they had only just joined.

As a fitness substitute, the brothers asked their parents if they could join in to help them bulk up and get stronger for when they are allowed to re-join their teammates on the football field. Over the last few months, since March, theyve become hooked on pumping iron and according to Brandi, have made some impressive gains.

They work out with their parents most days, and are even joined by their other brothers Rocky, eight and Ragnar, three, on the odd occasion, who also use low weights under supervision.

Brandi said: We are watching our kids enjoy fitness and we are proud of them, its amazing to see them develop. I dont force it on them at all, I just ask them if they want to join in when its time for me to work out.

I am being careful not to overwork them, but Preston and Cedrik have been doing it for so long now that they do all types of bodybuilding exercises. Only they do the more serious weightlifting exercises with us, they want to get bigger for football so asked if they could join in.

I think its really good for them, I dont think there is anything wrong with them wanting to lift weights and be healthy. I know some people dont agree with it but everyone brings their kids up in their own way.

We dont push them too hard and they do use low weights, but we have shown them how to do all of the main bodybuilding exercises. We do squats, dumbbell curls, lateral raises, bench press, shoulder press and deadlifts.

Preston can deadlift 65lbs now, its insane how well they are doing. Both of them are getting really strong and they have got insane ab muscles too.

Whilst light strength training can be good for a childs development, research by academic medial centre, Mayo Clinic, suggests that a high amount of bodybuilding or weightlifting can have a negative impact on a childs growth.

The site advises against children trying to build muscle mass because doing so can put too much strain on young muscles, tendons and areas of cartilage that havent yet turned to bone. Instead children should only take part in light resistance and controlled movements and doing so can have positive impacts on endurance, bone health and injury prevention.

Alongside daily workouts, Brandi has said she ensures all six members of the family eat a healthy diet day in and day out, with fast food and sugary snacks banned.

She said: We all eat super well, nutrition is such an important part of living a healthy lifestyle. We have taught them about what is good to eat and what is bad to eat and they know what foods help them get stronger.

We never buy cookies or chocolate treats and we never have fast food. Their grandma bought them doughnuts recently and they barely ate them because its not what theyre used to.

Childhood obesity is such a big problem and we dont want that for our kids.

I dont think anyone can say were doing anything wrong with the lifestyle our boys have, they are really healthy and are enjoying it, and as long as thats the case then they will keep on working hard.

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Schoolboy brothers use protein shakes and lift weights with bodybuilding parents - Metro.co.uk

Participants in the Swim Teal Lake Benefit for Diabetes Short-n-Sweet event swim away from the beach in Negaunee toward a buoy about a third of a mile from shore, then turn around and head back to the beach on Saturday. (Journal photo by Renee Prusi)

For the second year, Julie whos going to be a sophomore this fall came all the way from Sault Ste. Marie to take part in the Swim Teal Lake benefit for diabetes Saturday.

We came last night and stayed in a hotel, Julie said about her preparations for the 17th annual event. Last year, the swim was long, but it was fun. I do it to support others like me who have diabetes.

Julie, a member of the Sault High School swim team, said shes been training in a small lake in her hometown.

My events are the butterfly and the 200 free(style), she said. This event is good training, too.

Sisters Irene, left, and Annabella Neumeier of Escanaba smile after finishing the Swim Teal Lake Benefit for Diabetes's Short-n-Sweet event held in Negaunee on Saturday. Annabella took first place while Irene finished second. (Journal photo by Renee Prusi)

The first event of the day the Short-n-Sweet swim was the only one that started on the Negaunee side of Teal Lake. Because of the wind, the other longer races reversed their courses and started on the Ishpeming side of the lake, swimming east with the wind back to Negaunee.

Among the 10 participants in the Short-n-Sweet race were sisters Annabella Neumeier, 15, and Irene Neumeier, 12, of Escanaba. Both are members of the Northern Lights Y swim team in their hometown.

We wanted to take part because this event helps people of all ages, said the girls mother, Susan Neumeier. This supports a healthy lifestyle and thats awesome.

Susan cheered from the lake shore as her daughters dove into the water, setting off to reach a bright yellow buoy a third of a mile into the lake, then racing back to shore.

Annabella finished first, with her sister coming in a close second.

All I wanted to do was beat Renie, Annabella said with a smile.

Irene added: There was a ton of seaweed in the lake so that got me going.

Being active in swimming all year, will they try an even longer Teal Lake race during next years event?

Maybe, said Annabella.

No, answered Irene emphatically.

Renee Prusi can be reached at 228-2500, ext. 240. Her email address is rprusi@miningjournal.net.

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IRON MOUNTAIN The Marquette Blues were eliminated by Gladstone 4-3 in the semifinals of the Upper Peninsula ...

MARQUETTE Both the Marquette Blues and Marquette Reds split a pair of Upper Peninsula Under-19 Baseball League ...

HANCOCK Conference championship tournaments have been suspended for fall sports due to the coronavirus pandemic ...

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More than just a dip: Participants motivated to support diabetes efforts at 17th annual Swim Teal Lake - Marquette Mining Journal

Ludhiana, July 26

The University Institute of Laws, Panjab University Regional Centre, Ludhiana, organised an informative online session, Holistic View of life: Health, Beauty, Happiness and much more with Pooja Gandhi, an expert on holistic health. The session commenced with a welcome by Prof Ravi Inder Singh, director PURC, which was followed by a formal introduction of the keynote speaker by convener Dr Meera Nagpal, assistant professor. Gandhi covered a variety of topics such as how to build immunity in challenging times such as Covid-19 and fitness and importance of exercise in daily lives.

She talked about nine life practices to lead a healthy and happy life. She discussed about the role of yogasanas and pranayamas for taking care of lifestyle disorders such as constipation, stress/depression, PCOS/PCOD, thyroid, diabetes and addictions.

Later, Prof Arti Puri, coordinator of the University Institute of Laws, proposed a vote of thanks and encouraged students to make best use of their time and energy to imbibe healthy lifestyle in their lives. TNS

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Students given tips to lead healthy life - The Tribune India

Image: Black Womens Health Imperative

Tis the season to be enlightened: were now months into perhaps the most challenging crises of our lifetimes (plural), and were being called upon to go deep in our analysis, understanding, activism, and ability to adapt to new realities. Here at The Root, well be doing our part with our inaugural monthlong Root Institute this August, but as July closes, Black Womens Health Imperative (BWHI) will be setting the tone, celebrating its 38th anniversary with a weeklong series of special events titled BWHI Anniversary Week: A Celebration of Life, Legacy, and Service to Black Women presented by Bumble.

Per a press release provided to The Glow Up, the weeklong series of virtual events will take place from July 26 to August 1 with participation by over 30 dynamic speakers, including cultural icon, activist and professor Angela Davis, BWHI Founder & Board Member Byllye Avery, actresses Jurnee Smollett, AJ Johnson, and Angelica Ross, recording artists Keri Hilson and Syleena Johnson, television personalities Cynthia Bailey, Egypt Sherrod, Eboni K. Williams, and Erica Cobb, and a host of other health professionals, community activists and non-profit leaders who share in our organizations mission.

And all of this Black female excellence is free and can be accessed by RSVP-ing online, where you can also find the complete schedule of BWHI Anniversary Week events.

For more details on BWHI and what to expect from Anniversary Week:

The Black Womens Health Imperative is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing health equity and social justice for Black women, across the lifespan, through policy, advocacy, education, research and leadership development. The organization identifies the most pressing health issues that affect the nations 22 million Black women and girls and invests in the best of the best strategies and organizations that accomplish its goals.

...

BWHI Anniversary Week will include an informative and action-packed week of virtual forums featuring more than 30 speakers about healthy lifestyles, mental health and emotional wellness, challenges within the LGBTQ community, maternal mortality, uterine fibroids, and solutions to address disparities plaguing our health systems both now and in the future. Panels like Its My Time! Committed to A Lifestyle of Wellness are presented by AARP and will explore strategies for committing to self-care with BWHIs signature program CYL2 (Change Your Lifestyle. Change Your Life.) as the source of viable solutions for maintaining a healthy lifestyle at all ages. Generation NEXT! Empowering the Next Generation of Womens Health Advocates will explore how young women are balancing activism, advocacy and self-care, which are components of BWHIs MSK (My Sisters Keeper) Program. Other programming partners, like Silence The Shame, and the Take What You Need Podcast will provide expertise and content to frame panels about emotional wellness and about health disparities within the LGBTQ community.

G/O Media may get a commission

While 2020 has been a year of unprecedented challenges, our commitment to supporting, empowering and educating Black women has remained the same as its always been for the past 38 years, said President & CEO of Black Womens Health Imperative Linda Goler Blount. During this time of heightened awareness about issues impacting Black communities, we are excited to amplify the needs of Black women of all ages with the goal of mobilizing action for self-care and support for our work to uplift Black women.

Read more from the original source:
Angela Davis, Angelica Ross, Cynthia Bailey and More to Appear at Black Women's Health Imperative Anniversary - The Root

Retro Fitness CEO Andrew Alfano on the coronavirus pandemic keeping gyms closed and why they should be deemed essential instead of dangerous.

The fitness industry has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic, leaving hundreds of thousands of employees without jobs while gyms are closed.

We're a group that has been hit really hard by this pandemic, but largely left out of any relief given by the government, Chris Craytor, a board member of the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) told FOX Business.

While restaurants and hotels received specific waivers in the first PPP loan package, fitness centers did not, Craytor explained.

Gym and fitness center jobs are being hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and state-mandated closures across the U.S. (iStock)

We have a pretty similar employee base, with quite a few part-time employees as well as full-time, Craytor said. While we're not as large as those industries, we're also still pretty important because what we do is keep people healthy. And it's probably never been a better time to be healthy and lead a healthy lifestyle.

Craytor, who is also the president and COO of acac Fitness & Wellness, a regional chain of fitness clubs in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, said that without government help, 25 percent of fitness businesses in the U.S. are expected to close for good this year.

GYM-LOVING NEW YORKERS HINDERED BY CORONAVIRUS SHUTDOWN ARE CROSSING STATE LINES FOR WORKOUTS

On Monday, IHRSA sent a letter to Congress describing the job losses and the long-term effects of the pandemic on the fitness industry. The association also asked lawmakers to pass legislation that would give the industry financial assistance for the long term, including allowing mid-sized health and fitness chains to access PPP loans.

According to that letter, the fitness industry is estimated to have lost $7 billion in revenue through July 1.

The letter also said that 489,000 fitness employees are unable to work in states including Michigan, New York, Washington, North Carolina, Arizona and California, because of state-mandated closures.

Another 280,500 employees may be out of work again soon in Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania if those states order fitness centers to close a second time -- as they are expected to, IHRSA said.

IS IT SAFE TO GO TO THE GYM DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC?

The uncertainty about whether gyms will be allowed to reopen and stay open is a huge challenge for the industry, Craytor said.

We dont know when [government regulation is] going to be turned on or turned off, it can happen any time, Craytor said. That uncertainty has been really hard for our workforce Once you're shut down again, anybody who came back to you is now immediately back on unemployment and with the current stimulus, we really don't know how long that's going to last.

Its particularly difficult because many owners of fitness centers are small regional or local players, Craytor said.

These are people who built their business from the ground up, he said. These are small business owners, these arent big corporate business owners. They are small companies that are just going to go away.

I think what were going to hear is that these jobs go away and then they dont come back, he added. Where are these people going to go work?

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Even in the midst of the pandemic, fitness centers and gyms are still doing their best to stay afloat.

I think many clubs are doing absolutely everything they can to maintain their workforce and their membership, whether that be offering virtual classes, whether that be renting out their equipment or even doing things outside if they're not allowed to open their doors, Craytor said. So our clubs across the country are pivoting very quickly, but that does not replace in any way their core business. So what we're doing is holding on. And what we're doing is trying to make sure that we survive.

Ultimately the fitness industry needs outside help, he added.

I think that we really need people to recognize that this is a really important industry that serves billions of visits a year and millions of employees and 40,000 locations across the country and it's been largely ignored, Craytor said.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

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Coronavirus is crushing fitness industry pros - Fox Business

Loss of smell may be an early sign of an increased risk of dementia, according to research published this month in the journal Alzheimers & Dementia.

The study found that people in their 70s who were unable to identify odors from such items as roses, lemons, onions and turpentine were significantly more likely to develop dementia over the next decade than their peers who could depict the smells.

Declines in other sensory functions vision, touch and hearing were also found to be associated with an increased risk of dementia, but not nearly as strongly.

The olfactory bulb, which is critical for smell, is affected fairly early on in the course of the disease, says Willa Brenowitch, the studys lead author and a neuroscientist at UCSF, in a released statement. Its thought that smell may be a preclinical indicator of dementia, while hearing and vision may have more of a role in promoting dementia.

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Brenowitch and her colleagues believe that assessing peoples sensory impairments could be a useful tool to help identify or prevent dementia.

An estimated 5 million adults aged 65 and older are living with dementia in the United States a number that is expected to grow to 14 million by 2060, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For the study, Brenowitz and her colleagues followed 1,794 adults aged 70 to 79 for up to 10 years. None of the participants had dementia when they entered the study, but 328 (18 percent) developed the condition by the studys end.

In addition to undergoing annual cognitive testing, the participants had four sensory functions hearing, vision, touch and smell assessed between years three and five of the study. (Eyeglasses were permitted during the tests, but not hearing aids). Based on the results of those assessments, each participant received an overall sensory function score from 0 to 12 (0-3 points for each sensory domain). The best score was 0 (no impairments).

The study found that the participants who remained dementia-free not only tended to score higher on the cognitive tests at the start of the study, their sensory functions tended to remain unimpaired as well. Specifically, people with a poor (high) multi-sensory function score were two times more likely to develop dementia over the course of the study than those with a good (low) score.

The risk rose as the impairment scores fell. Each point less on the 12-point assessment scale was associated with a 14 percent higher risk of dementia.

But loss of smell had the strongest effect on the risk. For each 10 percent decline in smell, the risk of dementia rose by 19 percent. That compared to a 1 percent to 3 percent higher risk for similar declines in vision, hearing and touch.

These findings held even after adjusting for underlying medical conditions.

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The study did find, however, that people with good multisensory function were more likely to be healthier than those with poor function. They also tended to have better mobility and were less likely to be depressed. These findings suggest that healthy lifestyle habits, such as a nutritious diet, not smoking and exercising regularly as well as the socioeconomic factors that promote healthier habits may play a role in reducing the risk of dementia.

The studys participants were all healthy at the start of the study and within a specific age range. The findings may not be generalizable, therefore, to younger (middle-aged) or older populations. Another limitation of the study is that the sensory functions were measured only once. The participants scores might have been different if they had been assessed on an alternative day.

Still, this isnt the first study to link sensory decline with an increased risk of dementia (although it appears to be one of the first to try to establish an assessment tool for measuring that risk). The reasons for the association are not yet clear, however.

Sensory impairments could be due to underlying neurodegeneration or the same disease process as those affecting cognition, such as cerebrovascular disease, Brenowitz and her co-authors write. Alternatively, sensory impairments, particularly those due to hearing or vision, may accelerate cognitive decline, either directly impacting cognitive load or indirectly through the effects of sensory impairment on other health-related outcomes.

Of course, no one should jump to the conclusion that theyre developing dementia simply because they can no longer tell the difference between the odors of an onion and a rose. Many factors ones having nothing to do with dementia can trigger a loss of smell, including sinus infections, growths in the nasal cavities, dental problems and certain medications. This year, COVID-19 has been added to that list as well.

If a loss of smell persists, however, you should have it checked out by your doctor.

FMI: Youll find an abstract of the study online, but the full study is behind a paywall. The journal is published by the Alzheimers Association.

Go here to read the rest:
Loss of smell linked to increased risk of dementia - MinnPost

The preventative steps with the most impact are mentally stimulating activities, including reading and chess; avoiding stress, depression and head trauma; and avoiding diabetes, high blood pressure and weight gain in midlife and beyond, according to a meta-analysis released Monday.

Regular physical exercise, quality sleep, no smoking, maintaining good heart health in later life and including vitamin C in the diet are among the nine preventative actions with slightly weaker but still supportive evidence.

"If risk factors can be modified, the evidence suggests that at least one out of every three cases of Alzheimer's may be preventable, " said neurologist Dr. Richard Isaacson, director of the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine.

"People can take different roads to Alzheimer's disease," said Isaacson, who was not involved in the study. "This paper helps to provide an evidence-based framework for doctors and patients to consider when managing a person's Alzheimer's risk."

The study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

Top-tier preventions

Two-thirds of the most promising interventions focused on healthy lifestyle changes and targeting risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

The study analyzed 395 observational prospective studies and randomized controlled trials. These efforts, the researchers said, were the "most comprehensive and large-scale systematic review and meta-analysis for Alzheimer's disease to date."

The top 10 preventative actions backed by science that the study found included:

"One of the most important and commonly overlooked modifiable factors is a high level of homocysteine in the blood," Isaacson said. In his New York-based preventative clinic, he said he will often suggest B-complex vitamins to combat elevated homocysteine levels.

"However, past research has shown that B-vitamin supplementation 'works' better if these people also have sufficient levels of Omega3s, which are a brain-healthy fat found in fatty fish, for example," Isaacson explained.

"So, this is just one of the many examples of the complex web of decision-making that goes into the clinical care of people at risk for the disease."

Other positive measures

Nine actions that had weaker, but still positive, impacts on reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's were:

Of the 21 study recommendations, the last two were actions that physicians should avoid when working with patients at risk of Alzheimer's disease. Strong evidence was found against giving postmenopausal women estrogen replacement therapy to improve cognition.

"I wholly agree with this statement but for women in the peri-menopause and early menopause, hormone replacement therapy may sometimes be considered based on a variety of other factors," Isaacson said.

Finally, weaker evidence indicated that acetylcholinesterase inhibitors -- drugs like donepezil and galantamine, which are often prescribed to treat memory loss in people with diagnosed Alzheimer's disease -- should not be used as a prevention tactic.

"Those are drugs for symptomatic people with mild or worse dementia," Isaacson said. "Those drugs work for symptoms but don't slow disease progression."

People who are concerned about their risk of developing Alzheimer's should work with a doctor trained in the field to develop an individualized plan to reduce their risk, Isaacson said.

"It's also important to note that there is not a single 'magic pill' or action that can prevent Alzheimer's," he said.

"Risk reduction care is not 'one size fits all' -- it needs to be comprehensive and individually tailored, ideally under a doctor's supervision."

Read more:
21 ways to reduce your Alzheimer's risk, backed by research - CNN

Swagger Magazine is excited to present our latest feature taking a deep dive into everything CBD. We have sampled a wide selection of gummies, creams, cigars, skincare routines, male performance capsules, coffee, sprays, first aid, and roll-ons. You name it; we have tried it in order to bring you the best of every form of CBD imaginable. CBD has numerous health benefits to those who use it infrequently or as part of a wellness routine. CBD or cannabidiol is a molecular compound found in cannabis and hemp plants. Backed by scientific evidence, the benefits of CBD are numerous and widely renowned. CBD can relieve pain, anxiety, and depression, reduce acne and further studies are ongoing into helping to relieve symptoms of cancer and neurogenerative diseases such as Alzheimers. Research suggests that CBD modulates many physiological functions in the brain and body through the endocannabinoid system and other intrinsic mechanisms. Use CBD for health ailments and peace of mind. It is important to note if you are having any severe and recurring health problems, you should always speak with your doctor to find the root of the problem. Available to anyone now, CBD can be used safely and effectively as part of a long term treatment plan discussed with your doctor or your own at home natural wellness strategy. Read along for Swaggers top picks and information on CBD products to try.

You may find it nearly impossible to navigate the winding labyrinth of online information about CBD. Early research on the cannabis-derived substance points to a range of possible benefits. But some CBD disciples and unscrupulous companies twist this information into wild claims.From CBD oil tinctures and vape juices to drinks and snacks, its challenging to figure out where to start. To make matters worse, there are thousands of brands vying for your attention.But were going to make this easy for you. Start with these 300 mg CBD gummies from cbdMD perfect for beginners and experts.

There are endless CBD products to choose from, and many provide incredible wellness support. But gummies represent an easy and most pleasant way to start your CBD journey. Theyre convenient, they allow for adjustable serving sizes, and they make taking CBD a far more enjoyable experience than other methods. For instance, some of the biggest complaints consumers make about CBD oil tinctures center around undesirable flavors and oily consistency.But who doesnt like deliciously sweet gummies? cbdMDs CBD gummies are a favorite among CBD enthusiasts. They recently won the award for Best CBD Gummies in a poll of the largest CBD users group on Facebook.Its also worth mentioning that cbdMD offers CBD-infused gummies, while many other companies simply apply a CBD coating. Thats a crucial distinction since the CBD crystals can fall off of coated products.

CBD, short for cannabidiol, comes from various species and strains of cannabis. Its typically most abundant in hemp strains of Cannabis Sativa L.Not to be confused with marijuana, which is still illegal in the United States, hemp is legally defined as cannabis that contains 0.3 percent THC or less. THC is the compound in marijuana that causes its intoxicating effects.CBD is non-psychoactive and does not cause impairment.While many people tout CBD as a wonder in the everyday wellness space, its best to think of CBD as a way to support a healthy lifestyle as opposed to a cure-all for a wide range of health concerns. For instance, you wouldnt expect to experience muscle gains by taking protein supplements, but never working out and eating junk food. So if you follow a smart diet, exercise regularly, and engage in healthy sleep routines, youll get the most out of your CBD experience.Most experts also suggest a low and slow method for starting CBD. To find the correct serving for your individual needs, start with a small amount of CBD daily, then increase the serving size until you see optimal results.

cbdMD truly stands out among all of the other options out there.For one, their prices rank among the best in the industry, and many pro athletes have stepped forward to endorse cbdMD. But more importantly, theyre also committed to superior quality and safety. cbdMD has recently discovered it is one of only two CBD companies out there that have achieved independent registration for good manufacturing practices (GMP) through NSF International.And while that may sound like a bunch of industry nonsense, its incredibly important. It means that cbdMD meets or exceeds all federal GMP standards for dietary supplements, and they can prove it. Currently, thats a rare achievement in the CBD industry.

While adverse reactions to CBD are not commonly reported, its smart to speak with your doctor before using any wellness supplement. Its especially important to speak with a physician if you have underlying health problems or take prescription medication.

In botany, a calyx [kay-liks, noun] is the sepals of a flower forming a whorl that encloses the petals and creates a protective layer around a flower in the bud. We see a connection between the purpose of a calyx and the properties of the cannabidiol (CBD) molecule. At Calyx Wellness, they capture the essence of these qualities by doing the same for their community, being a trusted provider of hemp-derived CBD infused products that have been developed to harvest, maintain and protect good health. In paying homage to wellness, Calyx believes in the protection of wellness itself.

Calm CBD Spray consists of 600mg of CO2 extracted CBD isolate from certified organic, non-GMO hemp plants with an infused flavor sensation. This application method provides convenient, on-the-go dosing with 6mg per spray, also providing flexibility to get a precise read on what dosage works for their unique body chemistry and bio-availability. CBD works within your endocannabinoid system to encourage homeostasis within the body, making it an effective natural treatment for a wide variety of ailments: mental health, pain management, and digestive safekeeping. CBD is a natural potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotectant. This is holistic self-care, maintenance, and regeneration.

Wellness lives in the Calyx community. It is a complex and multilayered experience. There are dimensions to wellness social, emotional, spiritual, environmental, intellectual, and physical. Calyx believes hemp and CBD can touch upon all of these areas. Calyx Wellness consistently aims to be a channel for funneling the versatile benefits of hemp to our consumer circle. Amazing things are happening here, and Calyx wants to invite everyone to join in becoming part of it.

Joe Daddy Burt Burton was a leading Kentucky hemp farmer in the 1930s and 40s. He also ran a barge on the Kentucky River from Madison County to Woodford County, moving his and other farmers harvested hemp for processing near Versailles. Known for never cutting corners and always doing it right, Daddy Burt wascommissionedby the Governor of Kentucky to increase his operations and assist Kentucky farmers in growing hemp during the World War II Hemp for Victory campaign of 1942.

To continue his great-grandfathers legacy, Bob Estes founded Daddy Burt Hemp Co. in the Bluegrass State. It is of great importance that our products are derived from hemp grown in the sunshine of Kentucky, Estes said. The healing and wellness comments from our customers is gratifying to me personally. Bob Estes gives accolades to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture for initiating Kentuckys hemp program. Farmers from other states are coming into Kentucky to model our craft of cutting-edge genetics, cultivation, innovative harvesting, and rigorous product quality control program.

Daddy Burt Hemp Co. is recognized by the U.S. Hemp Authoritys Official Certification for hemp processors/manufacturers. The voluntary certification program demonstrates a commitment to working with Congress, regulatory agencies, and law enforcement at a time when the Food and Drug Administration continues its evaluation of how
to handle hemp products.

Bob Estes is excited tocarry onhis great-grandfathers legacy of hemp production in a new era and to be on the front of the industry. Central Kentucky is the center of unprecedented growth in farming and manufacturing for this revived crop, he said. I believe Daddy Burt would be pleased with the quality we are producing. With great respect to Joe Daddy Burt Burton, Daddy Burt Hemp Co. stands committed to offer products of superior quality by never cutting corners and always doing it right.

At Swagger, we recommend you try the Daddy Burt Hemp Co Rejuvenating Lotion and Muscle and Joint Cream. Their smooth non-greasy and effective formulas make this company our choice for topical applications of CBD.

Acme 420 was created in 2009 by Andy Scheer and their family. Andy Scheer, the creator of the Magar (the Original Cannagar / Marijuana Cigar), was asked to produce Magars to be sold to the public when it became legal in Colorado to do so. Up till then, since 1973, the Magars were made and given as gifts only to close family and friends. By 2010 Acme 420 was producing Magars for sale to Medical Marijuana Patients at Lincoln Herbal Dispensary in Denver. Acme 420 snowballed by 2012. Magars were in dispensaries all over the state in approximately 100 locations. Speed forward to 2018, Acme 420 had created the fully legal Hemp Cigar version of the Magar under the name of Hegar through their sister company Acme Hemp Labs.

Acme Hemp Labs hemp cigars are 100% hemp-based cigars, meaning they are not a blunt, and they are not a wrap; they are also NOT a palm leaf knock off. Hegars are completely wrapped fully with hemp leaf around high CBD hemp flower, reaching up to 24%~. Hegars have gained a vast internet response and testimonials over the last couple of years. Testimonials like Cari Carmona from High Times saying this about Acme Hemp Labs Hegar:

thanks again for the Hemp Cigar! It was so great, and you wouldnt be able to tell the difference honestly if no one told you it wasnt THC. Wow-what an amazing product you have

Acme Hemp Labs has created a unique opportunity to socialize and medicate.

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Zool Organics carefully curates Super Coffee for java and CBD lovers from all walks of life. Decades of experience working with CBD, coffee, and endless passion have resulted in a perfectly-smooth, evenly-roasted cup of coffee every time. Zool Organics is committed to producing a perfect roast to ensure a premium coffee drinking experience enhanced with CBD. The coffee comes in four bold, rich flavors that come in different strengths and roasts infused with premium CBD. The experiences include Colombian Supremo a perfect balance of caramel sweetness and mellow acidity with subtle nutty undertones, Donut Shop a straightforward medium roast bright and beloved with a crispy finish and no overwhelming acidity, Breakfast Blend gently roasted for pure brightness underscored by a subtle sweetness, and Swiss Water Decaf with no caffeine, low acidity and the perfect blend of earthy and nutty tones.There is something for everyone from the coffee connoisseur to those only looking for a caffeine boost with the perfect balance of CBD. One of Swaggers top ways to indulge is in our morning mug, and Zool Organics is here to make your day extraordinary. Exclusively for Swagger Magazine readers Zool Organics has given us a 25% off discount code! Use the code ZOOL to receive 25% off your purchases.

Looking for something to help you in the bedroom? CBD can help you here as well. Zool Organics Male Performance Capsules contain 25mg of CBD per capsule. These performance capsules help stimulate libido, promote increased energy levels, improve circulation, boost your immune system, and enhance your mood. Everything you need to have a great time all in one capsule. Sexual health, mental health, and body health all go hand in hand, and this Male Performance capsule touches every system. The ingredients include Raw Organic Maca, Longjack Root, Korean Ginseng Extract, and DHEA. The synergistic combination of these organic ingredients, along with hemp-derived cannabidiol, makes this a premium product, just for men.

Boulder Medicinals Full-Spectrum CBD Oil extracted from 100% U.S.D.A. certified organic hemp grown on the family farm in Boulder, Colorado. The oils used in their premium products are processed and formulated in their lab right down the road in Boulder. The 500mg Craft CBD Tincture ismainly used for relief from muscle and joint pain but is also known to help alleviate anxiety, depression, nausea, and sleeplessness. Administer Boulder Medicinals Craft Tincture sublingually. 1 to 2 dropperfuls under the tongue for rapid absorption into the veins.Boulder Medicinal customers like to take a few dropperfuls to start their day, before & after a workout, or to help get a good nights rest. Boulder Medicinals offers their full-spectrum CBD tincture in 4 strengths: 250mg, 500mg, 1000mg, and 1500mg and in 3 delicious flavors: Peppermint, Orange-Vanilla, and Natural.

There are three main kinds of CBD. The most beneficial is known as full-spectrum, which means it includes the full spectrum of the entire cannabis plant and its 100+ cannabinoids.When CBD is combined with a minuscule amount of THC (<0.3% by law in the United States), it produces whats known as The Entourage Effect. Think of a lock and key mechanism: all it takes is a minimal amount of THC to provide powerful pathways for CBD.All Boulder Medicinals products are made with only full-spectrum CBD oil to ensure optimal benefits for its customers.

Cannaisseur Brands CBD Essentials includes their bespoke First Aid Kit. The First Aid Kit is an assortment of essential CBD products for all your emergency needs. Included in this deluxe kit are 1.5oz Green Tea and Cucumber Cream, 1oz Lavender Oil, 1oz Eucalyptus Salt, Peppermint Lip Balm, and an unscented CBD patch. A safe and natural alternative to relieve pain and reduce stress, this kit offers premium CBD infused products beneficial for all your minor injuries.

The Recovery Oil Roll-on provides powerful all-natural pain relief on the go. This therapeutic, nongreasy topical oil is specially formulated to help rejuvenate aching joints, soothe sore muscles, and hydrate dry skin. Organic fractionated coconut oil is known for its anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. This is combined with a hydrating Jojoba and Hemp seed oil blend, anti-inflammatory essentials oils such as green tea and cucumber, lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint and infused with full-spectrum, premium CBD and select terpenes. The result is this fantastic all-natural, fast-acting roll-on. The recovery roll-on is recommended for use pre/post-workout or lifestyle activity, headaches, minor injuries such as cuts and bruising, and post waxing or shaving. Apply directly to the affected area and massage well. Repeat as needed for desired relief.

From Cannaisseur Brands, the First Aid Kit and Recovery Oil Roll-on may relieve symptoms associated with arthritis, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, muscle and joint pain, acne, headaches, psoriases, rosacea, and eczema. All-natural and fast-acting, Cannaissuer Brands full-spectrum CBD products are lab formulated,and third party tested. Check out our social media contest @swaggermag today through Monday (July 17th-20th) as we pick lucky entrants to win each of these two amazing CBD products!

KULCBD beauty skincare products contain Full Spectrum, farm-to-factory-to-formulation in the US, by controlling the CBD hemp extracts source and manufacturing. Every product provides for you the potency of CBD, so there is no guesswork. KULCBD has made it easy to experience all the benefits CBD offers with a luxurious 5-step, easy to use system called Get Glowing Beauty Kit. Designed to work synergistically together, the Get Glowing Beauty Kit provides the most effective results for healthy skin appearance. In addition to Full Spectrum CBD, each product contains hydrating essential fatty acids, repairing vitamins, essen
tial antioxidants, and balancing probiotics that provide calmness, smoothness, and clarity of tone. Overall you will enjoy a healthy, youthful appearance inside and out. Your Get Glowing Beauty Kit includes:

Exfoliating Cleanser

A sulfate-free cleanser with apricot seed powder to gently clean and polish the skin. The benefits of CBD, Apple Fruit Extract, Probiotics, Green Tea, and Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5) do their job hydrating, brightening, unclogging pores, and strengthening lackluster skin.

Anti-Aging Moisturizer

This daytime moisturizer contains Trehalose, Galactorabinan, and Scendesmus Rubescens Extract to work together to provide a physical barrier against harmful polluting agents. This helps to neutralize and strengthen the skin from damage and premature aging. The moisturizer also contains Hemp Seed, CBD, Jojoba, Shea, Green Tea, Chia Seed, and Marshmallow Root extracts. Rich in antioxidants and nourishing fatty acids, these ingredients form a protective seal over the skins surface to protect you from the damaging effects of the environment.

Gl Serum

A cocktail of natural Hemp Oil, CBD, Squalene, Sweet Almond Oil, Milk Thistle, Borage Oil, Elderflower, Tamanu Oil, Camellia Oil, Rose Hips, and Evening Primrose Oil. These ingredients are rich in Omega-3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants that fortify and strengthen the natural skin barrier while trapping in extra nourishment and moisture retention. This serum provides calmness, smoothness, protection, clarity of skin tone resulting in an overall healthy youthful glow.

Night Repair Cream with Retinol

When it comes to reversing the signs of skin aging, Retinol is hands down the industrys gold standard ingredient. It can assist in accelerating skin renewal and reduces the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, clogged pores, and age spots. Overnight the cream reveals firmer, smoother, and more evenly-toned skin. This luxurious, restorative cream includes Probiotics Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, and Lactobacillus Ferment. These ingredients boost the production of collagen, which helps restore moisture to dry skin and helps reduce redness. Also included are anti-pollution and digital device repairing ingredients Trehalose, Galactorabinan, and Scendesmus Rubescens Extract. This newly introduced technology strengthens the skin barrier function from the exposure and damaging effects caused by cell phone and computer use.

KULCBD Tincture

This special Tincture contains 800 mg of Full Spectrum hemp-derived cannabidiol extract, essential oils, and potent terpene plant extracts blended perfectly for maximum effectiveness. MCT oil is effortlessly absorbed by the body, making it an excellent carrier for CBD Oil.

Using a skincare system is essential because it assures that all of the ingredients of each product works in harmony without interference with the next. This minimalist line contains ingredients that will benefit every skin type. Order yoursto begin the most luxurious skincare regime your face has yet to experience.

That concludes our roundup of the best products and most diverse modes of taking CBD out there. The verdict is in and CBD is officially a beneficial health and wellness product. Now its just up to you to figure out how youd like to take it in. Look out for the Swagger social media contest to win your own CBD products to try. Welcome to the holy grail.

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CBD The Holy Grail of Health and Wellness - SWAGGER Magazine

For the ninth year in a row, Digital Vibez, a local non-profit 501(c)(3) is hosting the KidsFit Jamathon in partnership with Prime Time Palm Beach County and Palm Beach County Youth Services.

The annual KidsFit Jamathon is a showcase of activities, dance, and fitness where everyone is invited for free to shake, twist, move and groove to Island rhythms, Latin beats, and todays hits.

The Jamathon will begin tomorrow from 1:30 to 3 pm online. It will be streaming across multiple platforms including Facebook, YouTube, and the Digital Vibez Mobile App.

Despite the increase of coronavirus cases, Digital Vibez Founder, Wil Romelus rose to the occasion by continuing to host the annual event virtually.

Digital Vibez, Inc. is dedicated to providing avenues for children to maintain a healthy lifestyle through physical fitness and recreational activities that incorporate technology and dance fitness.

They anticipate more than 4,600 children and their families logging in for Jamathon to stay active at home and have fun while participating.

This years theme is Vibing Out and kids are encouraged to express themselves through dance with a concert experience filled with a showcase of dance routines and skits as well as a Tik Tok competition. The winning team will take home a prize of $500.

Since 2012, Digital Vibez has brought together 70-plus camps, countywide, to participate in the Digital Vibez 8-week program of Fitness Jamz and Wellness Workshops filled with classes in health education, exercise, dance, technology, and the arts.

Program Manager of the Boys and Girls Club of Palm Beach County, Evan Reif stated that We have been able to offer the program to all 13 of our Club locations covering all of our served age groups K-5 and 6-8. It has been an awesome opportunity for our members both in club and at home to still experience the fun and enjoyment that they bring!

Romelus is a strong advocate for encouraging kids and teens to dance, stay fit, and live healthy lives. The youth Digital Vibez serve live in areas where childhood obesity is prominent and they are using programs and events like this to change that.

The KidsFit Jamathon is a day to put aside everything thats happening right now and come out and have a good time. We want to give children a concert feel experience they might not have anywhere else, said Romelus.

Partners and Sponsors for the Jamathon include Palm Health Foundation, United Way of Palm Beach County, Childrens Services Council Palm Beach County, and others.

Digital Vibez serves youth in Belle Glade, Riviera Beach, Delray Beach, and Palm Beach Gardens area.

At the end of the program last year, teens got an opportunity to perform live in front of thousands of people at the KidsFit Jamathon and at the Gang Awareness Event with For the Children in Lake Worth.

I cant think of a better way for youth to engage in a fun, interactive style of exercise. Its one thing to take a walk with the familya completely different experience to create your own choreographed dance routine and compete against your peers in a healthy and productive way, said Community Planning and Partnerships Officer, LaNita Sanders.

Digital Vibez is positively impacting the School District of Palm Beach Countys 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) students who are excited by their explosive and dynamic approach to fitness and wellness.

The kids and staff are excited to do the warm-up activities and the contemporary modern style of dance. What an opportunity to have elated students dancing to be fit! said 21st CCLC Program Director, Lynette Myers Edwards.

To learn more about Digital Vibez, make a donation, or get involved as a volunteer or sponsor, visit http://www.digitalvibez.org.

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9th Annual KidsFit Jamathon Invites Thousands Of Campers To Get Movin' and Shakin' Online - The Boca Raton Tribune

The Maui community has come together to support the well-being of residents and families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. On Friday, two groupsorganized distributions:

With so many unforeseen difficulties in our daily lives with the COVID-19 pandemic and itseffects, we wanted to use this opportunity to do something small in hopes that it might makesomeones day a bit easier and a bit more fun, said Roselani Ice Cream Operations Manager,Buddy James Nobriga who handed out the pineapple dreamsicle flavored ice cream appropriately named Pauwela Sunrise. The sun will rise again on Maui when we get through this and those of us who can, should do whatever we can to take care of our community.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui CEO, Kelly Pearson noted, This is ourfirst event of this kind in the last 20 years of our organization. With extended school closures thereis a real potential for significant learning loss. We see these enrichment kits as an opportunity toengage youth and encourage healthy lifestyle choices at home especially for families with limitedaccess to technology.

We are grateful for our community partners and supporters, without whom, these collaborationswould not be possible, she said.

Among the volunteers distributing kits, was Joycelyn Victorino, wife of Maui MayorMichael Victorino.

The effort on the part of BGCM was made possible by with the help of MauiUnited Ways seed funding to launch the program as well as additional support from the Countyof Maui, The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Hui No Ke Ola Pono, Hawaii DentalAssociation, Maui County Dental Society, FiveStar Transportation, The Rotary Club of LahainaSunset, Lahaina Restoration Foundation, Obachans, Barnes & Noble, Kahului Walmart andOfficeMax.

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The Sun Will Rise Again on Maui: Pauwela Sunrise Ice Cream and School Kits Spread Happiness - Maui Now

Blake Mallen's Alive by Design podcast wakes people up to what they're 'meant to' do in life

LOS ANGELES (PRWEB) July 20, 2020

Blake Mallen, a billion-dollar-brand entrepreneur, TED Talk speaker and community marketing expert, has just launched his podcast series, ALIVE by Design, created to ignite peoples purpose, passion and potential so they can shift from being alive to feeling truly alive. Intentionally released during the time of the coronavirus pandemic when anxiety, fear and self-doubt are seemingly at an all-time high, the show speaks to those who feel stuck in life and want to find a more fulfilling and meaningful way to live.

The seeds for this podcast really go back about twenty years ago when a mentor asked me why I was working so hard to get the grades, the accolades, the high powered job so that I could be seen as successful. My answer of because thats what Im supposed to do, hit me hard and ignited a lifelong journey to pursue a life off the script and search for answers to creating a more meaningful, fulfilling and impactful life, said Mallen. Those lessons learned and insight gained over two decades evolved into my mission to shift the script and, later, a TED Talk about just how to do that. And now, my ALIVE by Design podcast was created to bring that message to even more people who are wanting to make the shift.

ALIVE by Design features an enlightening mix of live shows, conversations with the worlds most impactful people, and inspired ideas and thoughtsall providing transformation principles that help people to discover what theyre meant to do and who theyre meant to become. The show provides a variety of format types and locations, from #WalkWithMe episodes walking alongside Mallen on hikes in the hills, to the more formal studio style #QuarantineConversations that feature Mallen and guests discussing trending topics and issues. Show guests include high-profile and relevant thought leaders, industry experts, creatives, entrepreneurs, advisors and influencers in the business, leadership, marketing, lifestyle, wellness and entertainment industries.

The show has already hit the top of trending podcasts list, including #4 in Apple Podcasts -- Italy for Entrepreneurship category and Top 50 in U.S. Entrepreneurship category.

Now is the perfect time for people to wake up to what theyre meant to do and who theyre meant to be, said Mallen. I designed this show to help others not only get through difficult times but also grow through periods of uncertainty and challenge them to use their gifts and talents in ways that positively impact others.

The ALIVE by Design podcast is now available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and Google Podcast. For information about the show, visit alivebydesign.com and subscribe at alivebydesign.com/subscribe.

About Blake Mallen

Blake is a Billion-Dollar Brand Builder, Community Marketing Expert, TED Speaker, and the host of the popular ALIVE by Design Podcast, with over two decades of experience turning ideas into iconic healthy lifestyle brands that have transformed millions of lives. Blakes TED Talk on how to shift the script is inspiring a movement to move toward your meant to and make the shift from being alive, to feeling fully ALIVE. Learn more at https://blakemallen.com and connect at @blakemallen.

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Blake Mallen Launches 'Alive by Design' Podcast to Wake People Up to Their Purpose and Potential - PR Web

Healthy lifestyle changes may lower blood levels of a marker linked to heart disease risk, a new study finds. The substance, C-reactive protein (CRP), is a byproduct of inflammation, an immune-related response involved in the formation of artery-clogging plaque. CRP levels of 3 milligrams per liter (mg/L) and higher are associated with an elevated risk of heart disease.

The study involved people at risk for heart disease who were part of an ongoing study in the Netherlands. Researchers looked at 1,794 people with known heart disease who had CRP levels between 0.8 and 3.1 mg/L at their first visit. At the second visit, after a median follow-up period of nearly 10 years, the participants' CRP levels had dipped only slightly on average. However, CRP levels fell more substantially among people who quit smoking, lost weight, or increased their physical activity levels. The results suggest that healthy lifestyle changes help to lower inflammation, which in turn may lower cardiovascular risk, according to the authors. Their study appeared in the May 2020 issue of the journal Atherosclerosis.

Disclaimer:As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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Healthy habits may lower harmful inflammation - Harvard Health - Harvard Health

Published Friday, Jul. 17, 2020, 3:49 am

Front Page Business An explanation of healthy lifestyle incentives, and how they impact businesses

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There are many ways that employers like to show their employees that they appreciate them. They might give them a 401K and make matching contributions to it. They may provide them with holiday or quarterly bonuses.

Other possibilities might bestock in the companyor free managerial training. There might be something like a company car or even season sports tickets. Its all meant to make the employee as happy as possible.

Another program that many companies implement now is a healthy lifestyle incentive. Lets talk about what exactly that entails, and how it impacts businesses.

Because of privatized healthcare in this country, many individuals need to pay for medical costs out of pocket. A company might give an employee healthcare, but the plan might not be the best. It could have a high deductible.

In this country,healthcare spending makes up more than 17% of the GDP. Thats considerably more than in many other countries. It goes toward things like:

The reason that employers came up with healthy incentive programs is so that they can keep their costs down. If an employer is giving its workers healthcare and the workers are healthier, the employer wont have to pay out as much money to care for them every year.

From a practical standpoint, it is a way to keep expenditures down, which the bosses can then redirect elsewhere in the company.

There are plenty of ways that an employer can try to keep its workers healthy. They might:

Many employers get creative with these programs and try to make them fun. They may offer yoga classes on the premises daily, or spin or SoulCycle classes. They might bring someone in to conduct daily meditation sessions.

At-work massages could be an option. They might bring in ergonomically designed furniture to help with employee posture. They might incentivize employee weight loss in different ways.

These sorts of initiatives have all kinds of positive impacts. One of the most evident is that there isless employee turnoverin companies with effective lifestyle incentive programs.

Most people want to eat healthy, exercise, etc., because they know that theyll look better and feel better that way. They want to have these sorts of programs in place because it makes it easier for them to reach their goals.

If an employer has such a program, it lets the workers know that the employer appreciates them, and wants to retain them. If youre happy in your job, then youre less likely to want to leave.

This means that the business can promote from within more often. They do not have to spend as much time interviewing and hiring to fill empty positions.

Some businesses are inherently boring. One day is much the same as the last. If a company has fun programs having to do with the healthy lifestyle initiative, it makes the days much more tolerable.

If you know that theres a competition going on to see who can lose the most weight or take the most steps during the week, then it can lead to some friendly banter around the water cooler.

Employees actively engage and mingle with each other. Its a healthy competitive spirit in which everyone can participate.

If you have unhealthy workers, that also means theyre not going to be at the office to do their work that much. Even if they work from home,which is happening more during the pandemic, they still wont do the job if theyre sick enough.

If companies sincerely want their employees to be more productive and physically present more often, these types of programs are a huge step in the right direction. The employees are more likely to be there to do the work, and the company thrives.

Its also true that when these programs exist, fewer employees have to go on disability. Disability claims mean the worker isnt doing the job for which the company hired them.

Its the same as absenteeism. The employees are not doing the work, so usually, the company has to hire someone to replace that worker, even if they are technically still on the payroll.

No one wants to go on disability, and with one of these programs in place, it is far less likely that it will happen.

These programs also lead to more happiness and less depression. That matters a lot right now with Covid-19 causing a housing crisis, and so many people getting sick.

If a healthy lifestyle program incentivizes employees to lead an active lifestyle, do yoga, eat right, work out at home, etc., then they are less likely to submit to depression. Some people right now feel the temptation to give up on their lives. They must fight to remain positive.

Things like physical activity help them do that. If a company can take an active role in keeping their employees in a better mental state, it makes sense for them to do so.

These programs have not existed for very long, and its a shame that more companies didnt think of them sooner. Many more modern companies in the tech industry have had them for a while, but their growth is becoming more widespread.

If these programs had existed decades ago, then maybe fewer people would have died as early as they did from heart attacks, strokes, or heart disease. An active lifestyle, healthy eating, and things of that nature are always going to be a great idea. We should applaud companies that encourage these behaviors.

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The Amazfit Bip S isn't the best smartwatch I've ever tested -- not even close. But it's definitely the longest running one. I wore it for almost 10 days straight without having to charge it once, and that's a lot more than I can say for its pricier competitors. But if battery life alone isn't enough to get your attention, the Bip S' $69 price tag should seal the deal.

The Bip S is the third variant of the Amazfit Bip (along with the Amazfit Bip Lite). Created by Chinese company Huami in 2018, the original Bip was a fan favorite from the get-go. It did the basic smartwatch tasks for much less than competitors, and it lasted up to 45 days on a single charge. CNET editor Scott Stein gave it high praise as one of the best low-key smartwatches around.

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The Bip S has better fitness features and a slightly better screen than its predecessor, but it hasn't changed much in the last two years. And while it's still one of the best deals out there, it lags a bit behind others, like the Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch, when it comes to features and connectivity.

The Amazfit Bip S comes in four colors, with a new two-toned pink option.

Save for a few new color options (pink and green) and a brighter display, the Bip S looks like a carbon copy of the original Bip. And by that, I mean it looks like a plastic Apple Watch, with a much thicker bezel and lighter frame.

It's definitely not the most attractive smartwatch I've laid my eyes on, but it's practical and more comfortable to wear than some of the more premium, heavier watches that are bulkier. It's so light that I even forgot I had it on when I slept.

But the biggest price compromise comes at the expense of the screen. It's always on, which is a nice perk, but it's not quite as sharp, bright or responsive as a phone screen. The backlight also didn't always turn on when I needed it to. Sometimes it works on demand, but I had to exaggerate raising my wrist more often than I'd like to get it to turn on. And as mentioned before, it's not as sensitive to touch. I had to swipe or tap the screen a few times to get it to respond. When it does light up or brighten though, it's clear to see in broad daylight.

The Bip S includes a few more watch faces than its predecessors, as well as the ability to customize some of the existing ones.

The original Amazfit Bip covered the basics when it came to fitness tracking, but the Bip S takes it a step further by adding more workouts and better metrics.

It can now log up to 10 different activities including yoga, weights and swimming. Its 5ATM water resistance makes it safe for both pool and open-water swims, and its built-in GPS means you can leave your phone on dry land while you're in the water or out on a run.

Since testing the Amazfit Bip S, I've been able to track my stats accurately. But I have to remember to do it properly. For example, the dial button can be programmed as a shortcut to start workouts, which is convenient. But for running (or other outdoor workouts) I still have to press the screen to confirm GPS connection before actually registering the run. This defeats the purpose of having the shortcut in the first place. The first few times I took it out, I forgot to confirm and it didn't log my run. Because it doesn't have automatic workout detection, you have to start it manually to actually log your workouts -- yet it will pause automatically when it senses that you've stopped moving for a while.

Like its predecessor, the Bip S has continuous heart-rate monitoring. During exercises, it broke down my information into zones on the mobile app to show whether I was in a light, intensive, aerobic, anaerobic or Vo2 max (maximum oxygen consumption) heart-rate zone. This is similar to what other sports watches like Fitbit and Garmin do, but because the Bip S' results didn't always reflect the intensity at which I perceived my workout, I'm skeptical of its accuracy.

The biggest upgrades on the Amazfit Bip S are health and fitness related.

In addition to the usual steps and distance, the Bip S adds a new metric called PAI (Personal Activity Intelligence)., which grades you on how much activity you've done during the day This means that rather than relying on step count or calories burned, the Bip S uses heart rate data (along with basic demographic information) to determine whether or not the user was able to raise their heart rate long enough throughout the day to maintain a healthy lifestyle. When this is achieved, the risk of developing chronic illnesses like heart disease, hypertension and diabetes lowers, according to Huami.

The idea itself is not novel and it's similar to the move ring on the Apple Watch and zone minutes on Fitbit devices -- all of which are activity metrics that go beyond step counting. But it's new to the Bip family, and it was a good way to keep myself honest about how much activity I was doing (or not doing) during the day. Having it actually motivated me to keep going throughout the week.

The biggest deal-breaker for me about the Amazfit is that it didn't really work well as a "smart" watch. Technically it's compatible with iOS and Android, but when I tried to use it with my iPhone, the connection was unreliable. I'd stop receiving phone notifications on the watch, and I'd have to re-pair the app with the phone a few times. A firmware update did help with the connectivity issues, but it didn't completely solve the problem. Seeing my data on the phone app also took a while to sync, too.

Even when the Amazfit displayed my notifications properly, I couldn't do much with them. Because it doesn't have a microphone, dictation is also out of the question, so don't think about programming quick replies.

All in all, besides a few basic apps for the weather and music control (which is a step up from the original Bip), the watch basically mirrors your phone and doesn't have many standalone functions. Even the alarm app has to be programmed on the phone, and there are no mobile payments of any sort.

Even with its spotty connectivity and mediocre smart features, this watch keeps going long after its competitors give up. The fact that I didn't have to sideline it to a charger at the end of the day meant it never left my wrist.

Huami says it can go up to 40 days on a charge if you're doing the bare-bone functions, although realistically I'd expect about 15 days worth of battery life. Or 10 days if you're firing on all cylinders, like myself (max screen brightness and GPS workouts on a regular basis, for example).

Beyond the convenience of not having to charge it at the end of each day, having it on 24-7 meant I tracked my sleep a lot more regularly than I did with other smartwatches.

The Bip S gave me a sleep score in the morning based on a number of different factors, like sleep duration, bedtime and quality of sleep compared to other users. As a mother of two small children, I know my sleep habits have room for improvement, so I was shocked to find that I've been averaging about a 90 (out of 100) every night. So either Amazfit users have deplorable sleep habits, or it's not very good at determining whether I'm in bed nursing the baby or actually asleep. I suspect it might be a combination of both.

But even with my skepticism, having this data over a longer period of time helped me identify the times when I was getting the most restful sleep and it changed my bedtime habits (to an earlier hour) so I could maximize that deep sleep cycle. Whether it actually helps me feel more rested during the day is TBD.

If you're looking for a smartwatch to free you from your phone once in a while, this is not it. In that case you're better off getting an Apple Watch Series 3 or Galaxy Watch Active 2. The Amazfit Bip S is more in line with the Fitbit Charge, a dumb sidekick tha
t tracks your sleep and activity levels and occasionally lets you know when someone is trying to reach you. But for some, that's all they really need. And for $69 it's as good of a deal on an entry-level smartwatch as you can get, especially if you're on the fence about getting one in the first place.

After this review, I'm probably going to retire the Bip S for a smarter alternative. But I'm definitely going to miss that enduring battery life. And as CNET editor Rick Broida pointed out, I may even consider going back to it when I travel to save me from losing yet another cable to the hotel room power outlet. But we'll see about that once "traveling" becomes a thing again.

Continued here:
Amazfit Bip S review: This smartwatch has two standout features that are hard to beat - CNET

Healthy eating can help people maintain a healthy weight, ward off diseases and boost energy.

Experts are increasingly looking at a disorder known as orthorexia, or an obsession with healthy eating, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic.

Orthorexia is not recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders, but experts say its becoming more common.

Orthorexia starts out as a focus on healthy eating, but morphs into an unhealthy fixation on food quality.

The focus on food quality sets orthorexia apart fromeating disorderssuch as anorexia and bulimia, which tend to have more of a focus on quantity of food consumed.

While it begins as a healthy trend, those withorthorexiacan become so restrictive in their choice of food that it can lead to nutritional deficiencies and lowered quality of life.

People with orthorexia can get frustrated when their eating plan is thwarted, feel guilt and self-loathing when they go off their strict schedule, and spend a significant amount of time planning meals and researching food.

Watch for thesewarning signsof orthorexia:

Compulsive checking of ingredient lists and nutritional labels

An increase in concern about the health of ingredients

Cutting out an increasing number of food groups (all sugar, all carbs, all dairy, all meat, all animal products)

An inability to eat anything but a narrow group of foods that are deemed "healthy" or "pure"

Unusual interest in the health of what others are eating Spending hours per day thinking about what food might be served at upcoming events

Showing high levels of distress when "safe" or "healthy" foods arent available

Obsessive following of food and "healthy lifestyle" blogs on Twitter and Instagram Body image concerns may or may not be present

Social media and the clean eating trend can push people toward orthorexia.

Its a difficult-to-diagnose disorder, as those with it appear to be living a healthy lifestyle. Some with orthorexia focus on eating only organic foods.

Some eliminate all sugar, fat and salt. Often the person eats an increasingly restrictive diet.

A combination of therapy and education can help people recover from orthorexia.

For instance Linden Oaks Behavioral Health provides group therapy, individual/family therapy, nutrition education and exercise counseling to help individuals address complex psychological issues while treating physical and dietary needs.

For more information, visit EEHealth.org/services/behavioral-health.

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When healthy eating becomes unhealthy: orthorexia | The Herald-News - The Herald-News