The Scoop: Do we appreciate our healthy living community now that we have a national health crisis? – Greenville Journal

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No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, you have to respect at the most recent press conference, Governor Henry McMaster mentioned exercise and mental health a dozen times. In his recent mandate exercise is permitted. We have all seen more people walking dogs, biking (all kinds) and running (all speeds!) in our neighborhoods.

Is a national pandemic actually going to make us appreciate the sidewalks, trails, bike lanes, local and state parks more than ever? (Remember weve paid for those sidewalks with our taxes so we should use them!)

What about the Swamp Rabbit Trail? The County portion of the Swamp Rabbit Trail remains open and busy! Ty Houck, Greenways Director for Greenville County is encouraged by the recent growth in the trail as long as people are following recommended standards. We ask that those who do use it during this time adhere to social distancing and other safety elements expressed by Governor McMaster and the CDC. Greenville Mayor Knox White said the first thing the Council wants to open is the city portion of the trail so it may be soon.

What about the bike businesses? Did you know bike shops are considered essential? Because bicycles are a method of transportation, they have remained open. Carolina Triathlon owner Randy Macdougal has been energized by people dusting off old bikes and bringing them in for tune-ups. Macdougal said their business is seeing a big uptick in repair work for people whose bikes are their sole means of transportation. These are not only the speedy spandex-wearers, but people of all ages and stages who are getting back to bike riding.

Macdougal has even seen a rise in sales in people getting new bikes for the first time as means of stress release and their desire to get out of the house and stay healthy. (Hint: What a great graduation gift for the class of 2020! ) West Pelzer Mayor Blake Sanders said the 8 miles of Doodle Trail from the City of Easley to Pickens is open and seeing a huge rise in walkers and bikers.

Supporting Small Business? Now more than ever, it is critical to shop small. Our local businesses sponsor the road race and the bike races downtown..not the global companies. Our neighborhood business owners are on the backs of Little League tee shirts. They are the ones who support our churches, schools and public safety. We want to remember to thank them with our support!

Josh Boggs, Sales Manager for Trek Bicycle Store located on Laurens Road in Greenville said we have changed more flat tires than probably any two day period in my 20 years in the bike business. Ok, thats a lot of tires.

What about running shoe stores? We have several locally owned running stores and they support the running community whole heartedly. (Just check out any road race and they are all there cheering on!) Local business owner of Greenville Running Company on Haywood Road, Jeff Milliman prides his store on custom fitting for running shoes but he has adjusted to curbside pickup. I think the new normal will be that people realize the least expensive way to stay fit, healthy and have a strong immune system will be running and exercise walking.

I remember running the Boston Marathon one year and an 8 year old held up a sign that said YOU WILL ALWAYS BE FASTER THAN YOUR SOFA. which made me laugh for miles

Keep moving! Stay safe! Stay healthy, Greenville.

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The Scoop: Do we appreciate our healthy living community now that we have a national health crisis? - Greenville Journal

HEALTHY LIVING DR. LEVISTER Stay Connected During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Black Voice News

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Like most of us, Ive been sheltering in place since mid-March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As I try to make sense of my new realitybalancing my indoor free time while working from home, managing medical video conferencing, daily walking, binging movies, and news mediaIve been relieved to discover an unusual number of acquaintances coming out of the woodwork to check in. What a small mercy it is to receive a call from an old college roommate or long lost colleague, a kind text message, or hilarious meme from a friend.

While the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting our daily routines with changes here at home and around the globe such as; self-isolation, quarantine and physical distancing, its comforting to know that amid the uncertainty, there are still moments of strength and hope that showcase the resilience, or grit, that people share in times like these that will help us get through this together.

People are reaching out more, either by telephone, text messaging, email, social media or video-calling, due to a need for support, connection, and hope during this difficult time.

People can easily get lonely and crave a boost to their morale. Self-isolation can cause more anxiety, which in turn leads to weakened immune systems. Despite quarantines and physical distancing connections are still being made all around the world. During the lockdown, some of those quarantined are lifting their spirits through music or dance, another wonderful example of how community is showing resilience. Inspiring moments can help individuals feel a little less lonely and a little more hopeful.

To help people stay connected through this self-isolation period, some music artists and bands are offering fans free concerts on social media or online music lessons. COVID-19 is changing routines and its also an opportunity to reconnect in new ways.

Families can slow down and reflect on their relationships with each other. For family members living in the same house, assuming, no one is ill, there is now more time to do old-fashioned bonding through board games, talking, eating together, cooking or baking together, or sharing stories. One way of staying active together is going for a walk, but its important to keep a distance of six feet from others and to stay home when youre sick.

A chance to get closer, connect, and see the good happening in these difficult times, and despite the uncertainty, know that there is hope and resilience in the world. This is a unique time in which we can slow down, reflect, listen, and show gratitude towards one another.

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HEALTHY LIVING DR. LEVISTER Stay Connected During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Black Voice News

Living With Someone Who Has COVID-19? Here’s How To Stay Healthy : Shots – Health News – NPR

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If one person in the household is sick with COVID-19, everyone else in the home should consider themselves as possibly having an asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic infection, even if they feel fine, doctors say. sorbetto/Getty Images hide caption

If one person in the household is sick with COVID-19, everyone else in the home should consider themselves as possibly having an asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic infection, even if they feel fine, doctors say.

By now, you've likely heard the advice: If you suspect that you're sick with COVID-19, or live with someone who is showing symptoms of the disease caused by the coronavirus, be prepared to ride it out at home.

That's because the vast majority of cases are mild or moderate, and while these cases can feel as rough as a very bad flu and even include some cases of pneumonia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says most of these patients will be able to recover without medical assistance. (If you're having trouble breathing or other emergency warning signs, seek medical help immediately.)

But this general advice means anyone living in the same household with the sick person could get infected a real concern, since research so far suggests household transmission is one of the main ways the coronavirus spreads. So how do you minimize your risk when moving out isn't an option? Here's what infectious disease and public health experts have to say:

Physically isolate the person who is sick

If you live in a place with more than one room, identify a room or area like a bedroom where the sick person can be isolated from the rest of the household, including pets. (The CDC says that while there's no evidence that pets can transmit the virus to humans, there have been reports of pets becoming infected after close contact with people who have COVID-19.)

Ideally, the "sick room" will have a door that can be kept shut when the sick person is inside which should really be most of the time.

"It would make sense for the person to just to be in their [contained] area in which we presume that things have virus exposure," says Dr. Rachel Bender Ignacio, an assistant professor of infectious diseases at the University of Washington and spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. That way, she says, everyone else can move about the home more freely. A door would also make it easier to keep kids out of the isolation room.

Things get trickier if you all live in tighter quarters, like a one-bedroom or studio apartment, or have shared bedrooms. Everyone should still try to sleep in separate quarters from the sick person if at all possible "whether it's one person on a couch, another person on a bed," Bender Ignacio says.

That said, when multiple people share a small living space like that, "it may be very near impossible to avoid exposure," says Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security. "If you are somebody that has other medical conditions or you're an advanced age and you're at risk for having a more severe course [of COVID-19], I do think you should take that into consideration and, if it's feasible, move out."

Limit your physical interactions but not your emotional ones

Even as you try to limit your face-to-face interactions with the sick person, remember, we all need human contact. Try visiting via text or video options like Facetime instead. Old-fashioned phone calls work too.

Whenever you are in the same room together, the CDC recommends that the sick person wear a cloth face covering, even in their own home. In practice, however, Adalja notes that "it can be uncomfortable for someone who's sick to wear a mask all the time in their own house" hence, another reason to limit those interactions.

Just make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after every visit with the ill person.

Consider yourself quarantined, too

Bender Ignacio says if one person in the household is sick, everyone else in the household should consider themselves as possibly having asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic infection, even if they feel fine.

That means you should quarantine yourselves at home, too, she says, and ask a friend or neighbor to help with essential errands like grocery shopping so you don't run the risk of exposing other people in the store.

"The important consideration is that the entire house should be considered potentially infected for up to two weeks after people who are ill stop having symptoms," Bender Ignacio says. It's important to understand "that anybody leaving that house also has the possibility of bringing the virus out."

If others in the household do get sick, one after the other, that two-week quarantine should restart with each illness, she says which means you all could end up quarantined together for a long time.

If you have to share a bathroom ...

The CDC says anyone sick with symptoms of COVID-19 should use a separate bathroom if at all possible, but for many of us, that's not an option. If you do share a bathroom, the CDC advises that the caregiver or healthy housemates not go into the bathroom too soon after it's used by a person who has the virus.

"The hope is that with more time, if the patient was coughing in the room, fewer infectious droplets would remain suspended in the air," explains Dr. Alex Isakov, a professor of emergency medicine at Emory University and one of the creators of Emory's online tool for checking for COVID-19 symptoms at home. "It would help if you could ventilate the bathroom by opening a window, or running the exhaust fan, if so equipped."

If feeling well enough, experts say, the person who tested positive for the virus should disinfect the bathroom before exiting, paying close attention to surfaces like door knobs, faucet handles, toilet, countertops, light switches and any other surfaces they touched. If they can't do that, then the healthy housemate should wait as long as feasible before entering to disinfect, then wash their hands thoroughly afterward. And this is key each person in the household should use only their own frequently laundered towel.

Bender Ignacio says it wouldn't be a bad idea to try to remove all the bottles and lotions people tend to keep in the bathroom, so you can minimize the number of surfaces you have to disinfect in there. One idea: Everyone in the home might carry the items they'll need to use in the bathroom with them in a caddy, and remove them when they exit.

Handling food and dirty dishes

The whole goal of isolating a sick person is to minimize the areas they might be contaminating, so having them cook their own food in a shared kitchen should be considered a no-no, Adalja and Bender Ignacio agree.

"You just want to limit that person's interaction with other people and around common-touch surfaces" like the kitchen, says Adalja.

Instead, someone else in the house should prepare food for the sick person and take it to their isolation spot. The CDC recommends using gloves to handle and wash their dirty dishes and utensils in hot, soapy water or in the dishwasher. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling the used items.

Parenting challenges

Of course, Facetime chats aren't likely to cut it if you're the parent of a young child who is sick. "I think that it's probably unfeasible to mask a sick child in their own home," says Bender Ignacio, adding, "If the child is the one who's sick, they need physical contact. That's important."

Keeping small children away can also be difficult if it is the parent who is sick. "If you have a child and you have a partner and that child is satisfied with the partner's hugs, then that's great," she says.

But "if the sick person is the only caregiver, then there has to be physical interaction," she says. "And I think we should be reassured to some extent that even though children are as likely as adults to get sick, we know now they're much less likely to get severe disease."

As with most things when it comes to parenting, "you just do the best you can," she says.

Laundry

"The good thing about the coronavirus is that it is easily killed by soap and water," says Bender Ignacio.

The CDC advises washing clothes and other fabric items using the warmest water setting appropriate. The agency says it's fine to wash a sick person's clothes with everyone else's and make sure to dry items completely. Wear disposable gloves when handling the sick person's laundry, but don't shake it out first, the CDC says. When you're done, remove the gloves and wash your hands right away.

And don't let the sick person's clothes linger on the floor, says Bender Ignacio. "Make sure that laundry takes the shortest line between the hamper and the washing machine." Consider putting soiled clothes directly in the washer. If you use a hamper, it's a good idea to use a washable liner or a trash bag inside of it, says Bender Ignacio. Otherwise, she advises wiping down the hamper with soapy water afterward.

Disinfecting

Commonly touched, shared surfaces in the house such as tables, chairs, door knobs, countertops, light switches, phones, keyboards, faucets and sink handles should be disinfected daily with a household disinfectant registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, according to the CDC. (It doesn't have to be spray bleach, or a fancy product Comet disinfecting bathroom cleaner, Windex disinfectant cleaner, and many other easily found products are on that list.) The agency advises wearing disposable gloves when disinfecting surfaces for COVID-19.

However, unless you have to change soiled linens or clean up a dirty surface, try not to go into the sick person's room to clean, the CDC says, so you can minimize your contact. Give them their own trash can, lined with a paper or plastic bag that they can then remove and dispose of themselves if possible. Use gloves when taking out the trash and wash your hands right after you remove the gloves, the CDC says.

Protecting vulnerable people in the home

Recovering from COVID-19 at home poses particular challenges if someone else in the home is at higher risk of developing a severe case of the disease. That's of particular concern in multigenerational households. It would probably be safest for that at-risk household member say, a grandparent, or person with cancer or an autoimmune disease to move someplace else temporarily, until everyone else in the family is symptom-free, says Adalja.

However, moving out isn't an option for lots of people, and there's also the chance that the at-risk person might already be infected, in which case they could potentially transmit the virus to anyone else they moved in with, notes Bender Ignacio.

"The best option is to essentially find the safest room or rooms in the house for the most vulnerable people and then exclude everyone else from those rooms," she says. "Visit those people with meals in their room if there is a high concern."

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Living With Someone Who Has COVID-19? Here's How To Stay Healthy : Shots - Health News - NPR

Dr. Nicole Saphier: Coronavirus projections this is what the models couldn’t measure – Fox News

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When we look back on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the United States, it will be clear who led the charge to defeat it: the American people.

Less than two months ago, epidemiological modeling from the Imperial College of London suggested nearly 2 million Americans could die during the COVID-19 crisis. The earliest model from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggested the number of U.S. deaths couldrange from 200,000 to as many as 1.7 million.

Thanks to the ingenuity of Americans everywhere, we are currently proving them wrong.

BETSY MCCAUGHEY: CORONAVIRUS MASKS WHAT WORKS, NEW RULES AND EXPLAINING THE SHORTAGE

Now, in an update published lastweek, the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) lowered its projection of total deaths from 68,841 to just over 60,308 (with an estimated range of 34,063 to 140,381).

Why were the prior models so off?

Models have no control over our country, but Americans do.

Epidemiological estimates can be useful tools but should not be over-interpreted as we need to allow them to be fluid, accounting for important and unanticipated effects, which makes them only useful in the short term. So, the models of last month, last week and maybe even yesterday will be wrong, because they underestimate the resolve of the American people.

The scientific side of modeling is straight-forward, but model outcomes vary extensively depending on the characteristics and transmission of a pathogen. In the case of COVID-19, the spread of the virus hinges on exactly what is done to stop cases from doubling, hence the stay-at-home orders to slow community transmission.

We are beating all the projections by taking common-sense steps to protect ourselves and the people we care for. Heres the thing: thats not something weve ever tried before.

The abysmal estimates were based on the reality that Americans frequently depend on doctors and medications to save them, rather than taking charge of reducing their individual risk of illness.We know this because of the alarming rate of preventable, chronic illness throughout the country.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), six in 10Americans live with at least one chronic disease, such as heart disease, stroke, canceror diabetes. Not only are these the leading driver in health care costs in our country, but they also are the leading causes of death and disability.

The nations aging population, coupled with existing risk factors (tobacco use, poor diet, sedentary lifestyles), coupled with medical advances that extend longevity, tell us that the chronic disease problem will only worsen as our population ages. A recent Milken Institute analysis estimates that modest reductions in unhealthy behaviors could delay or evenprevent 40 million cases of chronic sickness per year.

Although it feels like an eternity, less than a month after stay-at-home orders were enacted, the courageous actions of our country have made a tremendous difference as we see promising signs of flattening the curve

If we learn how to effectively prevent chronic conditions through lifestyle changes, thus avoiding hospitalizations and serious complications, the health care system would be better equipped to handle any recurrent spikes in COVID-19 cases and future pandemics. Not to mention that decreasinghospitalizations would reduce the cost burden we all share in addition to improving the quality of life for millions of Americans.

Although it feels like an eternity, less than a month after stay-at-home orders were enacted, the courageous actions of our country have made a tremendous difference as we see promising signs of flattening the curve. But we cant do this forever.

As our unemployment is ticking closer 20 percentfrom people staying home, we must be reminded of a grave reality: based on information from the National Bureau of Economic Research: with every 1 percentincrease in unemployment, we can see up to a 3.6 percentincrease in overdose deaths and a 1 percentincrease in suicide across the country.If unemployment hits 32 percentthe worst-case scenario prediction of a St. Louis Federal Reserve economistsome 77,000 Americans may die in addition to those who were stricken with COVID-19.

Just as the threat of staying shut down is absolute, the danger in reopening and relaxing measures, however, is also very real. Singapore experienced a spike in new COVID-19 cases lastweek after initially seeing major successes as a result of its lockdown measures. Thiscould happen here as well

But a national shutdown is not a sustainable long-term solution.

That means, absent a vaccine or effective COVID-19 treatment, reopening must be gradual andspecific to individual states.Reopening measures can only occur when the rate of new infections has slowed substantially, hospital capacity is manageable, effective outpatient testing is in place and we are consistently able to contact trace and quarantine the infected and potentially infected.

In addition to securing adequate personal protective equipment, another key to maintain hospital preparedness for reopening is by lessening the burden on the system through healthy lifestyle choices such as improving our diets, increasing physical activity and getting our recommended wellness screenings for early disease detection.

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Social distancing measures and healthy behaviors recommended by health officials dont just lower disease mortality, they can reduce a pandemics long-term adverse economic effects.Unlike the secular stagnation that plagued America during the Great Depression, our country is chomping at the bit to reopen with people even protesting to be able to leave their homes again.

As our government attempts to put together the most appropriate opening strategy, the best economic package will be the best public health one. Even when stay-at-home orders are lifted the only way to improve the economy is to make Americans feel safe enough to go out and spend money rather than continuing to remain in the protection of their homes.

Until we have a vaccine ortreatment to lessen the severity of this novel coronavirus, we must rely onwhat we do have right now:theamazing ingenuity of the American people.I look tothe private business sector to implement measures that ensure proper sanitization, enhancecontact-free delivery and payment systems, and encourage digital platform utilization to limit unnecessary crowding of small spaces.

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For the rest of us, we can all contribute to a healthier America through continued useof social distancing, common-sense measures likeavoiding large crowds, staying home when sick, washing hands frequently throughout the day, wearing a mask if in close contact with others, and living the healthiest lives we can.

The renaissance will come, and it will be in an America with better hygiene and less chronic disease. I am counting on you, America, to make it happen.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE BY DR. NICOLE SAPHIER

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Dr. Nicole Saphier: Coronavirus projections this is what the models couldn't measure - Fox News

Taking heart medications? Don’t forgo healthy habits – Harvard Health

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Published: May, 2020

People may let healthy eating and exercise habits slide after starting prescription heart medications, according to a study in the February 18 Journal of the American Heart Association.

The study involved more than 40,000 Finnish people whose average age was 52. From 2000 to 2013, researchers surveyed them at least twice every four years about their body mass index and their exercise, smoking, and drinking habits. They used pharmacy records to track if the participants began taking blood pressure drugs or statins.

People who started taking those heart-protecting drugs were more likely to gain weight and exercise less than those who didn't take the medications.

Because the study involved mostly white women living in Finland (where a large public health effort to prevent diabetes began during the study period), the findings may not be generalizable to all people. Still, it's a good reminder to be vigilant about healthy habits, especially after starting heart medications.

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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Taking heart medications? Don't forgo healthy habits - Harvard Health

Urban farming is the future of healthy living – DAWN.com

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Exploring the ins and outs of how you can begin to start growing in your own backyards and balconies.

Whether its a window, balcony, garage, patio or lawn what makes urban farming a particularly viable avocation in our fast-paced daily lives is that it can be tailored to fit the budget and space you have at hand.

And while eating food youve grown yourself sits at the junction of fulfilment, tradition and modernity, adapting to a rapidly changing world and new ways of eating it isn't an easy feat.

In fact, it requires seriousness and commitment.

Essentially, urban farming is all about growing food in a densely populated city or urban environment for sale, barter or consumption, and varies greatly in terms of productivity and scale and even extends to include raising animals as well.

In Pakistan, there exists a growing urban farming community that is not only involved in promoting sustainability and adaptive food consumption but also in encouraging habits of slow food, organic eating, buying local, seasonal produce and using traceable ingredients in cooking.

By speaking to those who know the ins and outs of urban farming and gardening, Images explores how you can begin to start growing in your own backyards and balconies.

Years ago, Sanaa Zubairi started her garden when she and her aunt decided to bring a dormant turai (gourd) creeper back to life in their yard with their gardeners help. It worked, and they added a few banana trees and a lemon tree.

They grew well and we had a lot of fruit, says Zubairi, a 36-year-old mental health counsellor, clinical supervisor and life coach.

Our maali started teaching me about [farming] since he had done it before in his village. Gradually, we experimented, researched online, picked up ideas and added more vegetables to the garden.

Zubairi and her aunt were never alone on their journey. The pair was inspired early on by others in their circle with already thriving kitchen gardens and consulted with their local Karachi chapter of Ikebana International the 20,000-strong international organisation to promote the Japanese art of flower arrangement where members meet once a month for workshops, lectures and discussions of plant and flower-related subjects and Tofiq Pasha, a renowned local farmer who regularly opens his farm to the public for planting workshops and lessons.

Along the way, we started hearing a lot about others growing their own food. I also met with Tofiq Pasha and saw his farm. It was pretty clear it is possible to grow [food] at home. The best part is opening up my window to a lush garden every morning, seeing the fruit hanging all around. Theres nothing like picking your own food, heading into the kitchen and cooking up a storm.

Zubairi revealed that for the past six or seven years, they havent needed to purchase the vegetables they already grow at home. That includes loki, turai, karaila and kakri, as well as spinach for six to eight months of the year and seasonal veggies besides.

There is always something that you can grow even if you don't have resources. Our pantries are packed with seeds; potatoes, garlic and ginger are always available to begin with. When you don't have everything listed in a gardening book or website, then you truly learn how to be creative and how nature finds a way to keep producing.

We have our lemons, basil and mint throughout the year. Seasonal vegetables like broccoli, tomato, eggplant, coriander and peppers keep us going for some months. We've added more fruit and have been enjoying mulberries (shaitoot) for a while now.

Every season, she says, We assess what we want to grow that time around and how much. Some stuff we manage to freeze as well and use whenever.

With a lot of produce coming through, Zubairi shares it with family, friends and house staff, and has also set up a barter system with other growers like her.

Seema Khuled has been regularly conducting gardening workshops and training sessions across Lahore and Islamabad for years.

Each session is three hours long and begins with basic theory the hows and whys followed by a tea break and an interactive practice session.

Workshops are registration-based and cover the basics like organic kitchen gardening, but also go beyond for the more serious enthusiasts with sessions on bonsai, vertical gardening, espaliering and growing mushrooms.

We have quite an informal interactive session where the participants are at ease to ask [questions] and understand. The best part which is very encouraging is that participants execute all the ideas that we discuss during the workshop, says Khuled.

I am always there whenever they need any further guidance but they are well equipped to try on their own.

And the interactive guidance goes beyond the weekend workshops. Khuled helps run Our Gardens, a Facebook group with over 114,000 members who use the platform for everything from help identifying plants (Is this lettuce edible?), to advice on techniques (Will this trellis be strong enough to hold up my vine?; Should I repot or transfer this into the ground?) to why their tomatoes arent thriving.

People also trade seeds and plants there are even giveaways from time to time and share photos and videos of the literal fruits of their labour for others to see. Plus, lots of wholesome memes.

I believe that nobody knows everything but everybody knows something. That is why an urban gardening community is important, says Khuled.

Everyone has something to contribute [with their] experience and knowledge.

Though she'd always had an affinity for nature and the outdoors since childhood, Karachi-based sustainability educator and writer Zahra Ali became a full-time urban farmer in 2008 after she had an accident that caused her to put her career on hold as a result.

During that one year, I asked myself, what will really make me happy if I had no pressures from society and no worry about my future?

I wanted to grow my own food and since then, I have found my way in the most magical ways possible. I gave up my career, which was all about consumerism and was totally not making me happy. It was a daring thing to do back then but amazing things happen when you follow your heart.

Around the same time, she started Crops In Pots, a blog that has since blossomed into a community of urban farmers and led to other projects and initiatives. Organic City, the organisation she started with her husband Yasir Husain, holds horticulture therapy sessions with The Recovery House, runs an heirloom seed bank and opened up the Organic City Eco-Store in 2016.

Then theres The Learning Garden, an initiative that promotes sustainability and conservation in schools through classroom and experiential learning via planting and caring for an organic vegetable patch. Over 7,000 children have participated in the programme over the last 12 years.

I learned gardening skills mainly through reading online and emailing experts from around the world who were very supportive. I watched [videos] and practised. That is why I started my blog in 2008: to share what works and what doesn't, says Ali.

I also got in touch with a group of urban farmers in the Philippines that emerged after the [2004] tsunami hit their area. They used trash to make fertilisers and planters; that truly inspired me.

At home and in the gardens she manages across the city, Ali mainly grows organic heirloom vegetables, herbs and fruits in containers or grow boxes and native trees for tree plantations, along with flowers, which help attract pollinating bees.

Flowers are always a part of any organic and permaculture garden. I have grown all kinds of plants, from orchids, cacti, bonsai [to] tropical and water plants as well. All these years, I have never planted hybrid or genetically modified seeds, and all my initiatives [have also grown] only heirloom vegetables each year since day one.

Lahore-based software project manager Muhammad Khabbab has a similar story. Back in 2008, he first got into gardening because of rising tomato prices at the time. Apart from the standard vegetables and some dwarf fruit trees, he is now growing hundreds of plants on his rooftop and is also a collector of rare and exotic flowers which can get tricky thanks to the fluctuating exchange rate and import restrictions.

Like Ali, he too created a community when he could not find one.

An active member of international gardening forums like Dave's Garden and Houzz, Khabbab started a blog, discussion board and an online store selling local and exotic bulbs, seeds and plants. His forum, Gardening Pakistan, often organises workshops and he makes sure to attend workshops run by others in the city.

I always learn a thing or two whenever I attend a workshop, says Khabbab. When you meet with other gardeners who see things from another perspective, then you get to know many new ideas and many solutions which you did not know in the first place. Learning is a process which never stops.

But for the urban gardening community, the learning is not all online.

Those who have access to or contacts in the rural farmlands regularly travel to interact with farmers on the ground to gain a deeper understanding of how to grow and how to grow better.

For example, Dr Sabeeka Kazilbash, who grows guava and mango trees at her home on the outskirts of Karachi, often visits her aunts in Punjab during the sugarcane or rice harvest seasons and consults with local farmworkers there to add to her knowledge.

She also writes directly to local nurseries in Karachi to ask what theyre up to and shares her own progress.

Extreme temperatures and deadly heatwaves in Pakistan over the past decade led to recognising the impact of losing green spaces in cities to concrete and urbanisation, resulting in government and private efforts to restore tree cover and urban forests.

Although climate change was named as a key contributing factor behind the exceptionally high temperatures of up to 49 degrees Celsius during the deadly 2015 heatwave which killed nearly 2,000 people in mostly Karachi and Sindh, what really drove the phenomenon (and subsequent heatwaves) are deforestation and the loss of green spaces in densely populated areas. This is known as the urban heat island effect.

Though urban gardening and farming also took off around the same time, campaigns calling to increase greenery in cities apparently arent responsible for their popularity.

According to Ali, heatwaves have not been the driving factor behind the growing interest in growing.

Speaking of lawns, Its important to point out that the gardens under discussion almost tend to be privately-held in homes and not, for example, public or commonly-held allotments or gardens, as is often the case in contemporary cities around the world.

Heatwaves did encourage mass tree plantations, she notes, referring to drives to plant trees in public spaces but people have always wanted to be closer to nature.

Over the years, so many gardening societies have bloomed and established, garden stores are spreading and nurseries are [more] accessible. People have also started growing vegetables now and are more aware of the harmful effects of genetically-modified seeds and chemicals used in agriculture.

Khuled concurs with Ali and says growing things has been an integral part of home life for generations. If we rewind our memories, we can see our elders growing a few things and surely having one or two fruit trees in our houses. It's kind of reviving that culture again.

Though they say the heatwaves arent directly behind the rising interest in gardening, both Khuled and Ali do credit a greater awareness of climate change and its effects and declining air quality among young people.

Zubairi who is also an active member of a Karachi-based gardening Facebook group acknowledges there are lots of pitfalls when it comes to growing and sustaining your own food and garden.

In fact, she says, failure is an important teacher. It hasnt been easy dealing with bugs and birds, but the experts shared their experiences, and desi fixes, totkas and failures here and there prepped me.

It takes patience and work.

While water is a constant and omnipresent challenge in Karachi, there are ways to work around it.

Dr Kazilbash, for example, grows according to Karachis climate in a limited space and is lucky her home is on the outer edge of the city, so the soil is richer.

Certain limitations of space and resources are a common factor here [in Pakistan] and turning them into opportunities is a collective effort beneficial to all. Small space gardening is one of the primary examples on which we have gone quite far, Khuled adds, referring to the most common type of setup group members have.

For the last 10 years, 29-year-old digital marketer Mavra Azeemi and her family have grown mostly fruit trees, flowers and ornamentals within their Lahore home: kinnow, mosambi, chikoo, red and green grapes, papaya, curry leaf, lemongrass, basil, date, guava, aloe, jasmine and rose.

Then theres the empty plot of land next door, where theyve planted moringa described as a miracle tree for all its nutritious benefits and a diverse vegetable patch.

She says, Thanks to the empty plot next to our house, we've been lucky enough to grow a whole bunch of different seasonal vegetables.

And though Lahore has better soil conditions and season differentiation, the smog and other irregularities can lead to an uneven or sometimes no output, which can get expensive in terms of time and effort.

Although, for Ali, who grows heirloom and organic, it was all about learning slowly through experience over the years.

She says, It was very challenging to find organic experts, garden shops or even local gardening social media groups back then.

Nearly a decade ago, she created a guide for starting a vegetable garden on a less than shoestring budget based on her own experience.

Dr Kazilbash, who is in her 30s, grew up watching her grandparents harvest their own kitchen essentials and took on gardening as a hobby as her interest grew.

Their encouragement, however, came from the pain of their own experience.

My grandfather often recalled his pre-Partition days and always advised that if a war-like situation [like that] happens again, [you must be prepared and] you have to plant food for your own survival. I always laughed, but this point always remains in my mind.

For some, the drive and satisfaction of growing food lies in maintaining family tradition and a kind of modern pastoral nostalgia. Linked to that are concerns like eliminating food miles or avoiding pesticide biomagnification. Plus, when you grow spinach and lettuce in your own yard, you know they havent been watered with sewage.

There is nothing as rewarding as picking up fresh food from your garden just before cooking, says Ali, who grows organic produce in all her gardens.

We are missing out [on] a diverse range of vegetables thanks to commercial farming. We need to revive heirloom seeds especially because over the past few decades, the world has lost a huge percentage of heirloom seed diversity.

The joy of picking a fresh orange from the tree that grows in your garden can never be matched by anything you get in the market, explains Azeemi, who comes from a landowning family in Punjab.

The connection you feel to the food you grow runs a lot deeper. You've shared the same piece of earth and gotten the same sun, grown up together, it's like the most beautiful friendship.

Food is the basic fuel for our body, says Khuled, who notes that pesticide intake tends to be highest when it comes to raw leaves and vegetables.

Growing your own food is taking charge of your health with your own hands. It also tastes much better.

I know we cannot grow everything but at least we can grow those which are consumed raw.

Organic farming can be challenging enough at subsistence level but even more so at scale, and is much less commercially viable in comparison to conventionally grown crops. Even when produce is labelled organic, its difficult to ensure it is 100% so and hasnt been exposed to harmful pesticides or fertilisers at some point.

This means the Pakistani urban garden is atomic, individual and domestic, with no infrastructure or sustainable model to turn it into a true community project that can build social cohesion and empower people.

Commercial farms cannot be completely organic even if they try [to be] due to pesticide sprays in adjacent farms, says Khuled, alluding to the fact that, though there are exceptions, organic farms are often located near or on the same properties as conventional ones.

For Zubairi, however, the benefits of urban farming go far beyond solely clean food: it can be revitalising in terms of mental health too.

Kitchen gardening and nature are a huge personal resource to help reconnect with the world and nature, ground the self and teach and encourage others to do the same.

It also helps to enjoy the many things we discover every now and then: butterflies, all kinds of winged bugs and different birds coming in to share the fruit. Some are just absolutely fascinating.

Dr Kazilbash, who also grows herbs, garlic, ginger, eggplant, potatoes and chillies, finds similar happiness when she gives much of her produce away.

When a friend shares her experience of how she used brinjal Ive grown in tarkari and raita, Im just overwhelmed with joy.

So what does the future of urban farming look like in Pakistan?

Ali is optimistic. It is bright, especially since [many] schools have started educating children about being close to nature. I am very hopeful to see our future community leaders shaping greener communities.

Urban gardeners are getting more active with the food growing movement now, says Khuled, which indicates a break from pristine balconies and the primly landscaped yet monotonous lawn.

"Along with beautiful, colourful and fragrant gardens, we are seeing edibles grown all along. This is very encouraging.

It's going to get even better if kitchen gardening can be introduced in every school and college, Khuled echoes.

She says, It's important to bring young children close to nature. I am seeing a much greener and healthier environment in years to come with all these youngsters joining us.

Speaking of lawns, Its important to point out that the gardens under discussion almost tend to be privately-held in homes and not, for example, public or commonly-held allotments or gardens, as is often the case in contemporary cities around the world.

This means the Pakistani urban garden is atomic, individual and domestic, with no infrastructure or sustainable model to turn it into a true community project that can build social cohesion and empower people.

Mid-February to early April is the spring planting season, which means right now is the perfect time to plan and start your very own garden.

Ali recommends growing locally available flowers, herbs and vegetables.

Try to include a water feature for bees, butterflies and birds, she adds.

There is always something that you can grow even if you don't have resources. Our pantries are packed with seeds; potatoes, garlic and ginger are always available to begin with. When you don't have everything listed in a gardening book or website, then you truly learn how to be creative and how nature finds a way to keep producing.

If that seems too daunting, Khuled recommends starting small.

Start with growing things you love to see or eat, she says. Always ask others for help and information with your gardening. Don't get discouraged if you fail to grow something. That is a part of learning.

Gardening is addictive. Once youre in, there is no way back.

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Size & State of the South African Health & Beauty Spa Industry, 2020 – Increasing Interest in Alternative Treatments such as Yoga, Reiki,…

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DUBLIN, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Health and Beauty Spa Industry in South Africa 2020" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report focuses on the Health and Beauty Spa Industry including the latest trends and developments and factors that influence the sector. There are profiles of 25 companies including national chains and franchises such as Mangwanani, Amani, Africology Imbalie and Sorbet. There are also profiles of hotels that operate in the sector such as the Mount Nelson and One and Only.

The Health and Beauty Spa Industry:

Spending on spa products and services had been growing in line with a growing middle class, booming wellness tourism industry and interest in healthy living and stress reduction. However, the coronavirus lockdown and travel restrictions have effectively stopped travel and tourism, which will have serious implications for the tourism and spa industries. The lockdown has seen all spas in South Africa close their doors. Many spas and beauty salons had already closed prior to the lockdown in order to protect their staff and customers. As an industry that comes into direct, close contact with the public, the spa industry will experience significant losses, even after the virus is contained, as customers may continue to exercise social distancing.

New Trends:

Spas have responded to a rising need for mental wellness, stress reduction and improved health with additional services such as nutritional assessments, counselling, holistic personal wellness plans and coaching. Wellness tourism grew faster than other tourism, and there has been an increasing interest in alternative treatments such as yoga, reiki, mindfulness sessions and sound, light and water therapy. More spas were also offering medical aesthetics treatments, which include micro-needling, chemical peels, laser and intense pulsed light treatments. Other trends include demand for tandem or group sessions and mobile spas.

Opportunities for SMEs:

There are many franchise and entrepreneurial opportunities in the sector including nail bars and mobile spas which have been growing in popularity at company events and wellness days as well as by people who prefer to have these treatments at home. Manufacturing and selling product ranges to spas and other retail outlets is an opportunity for SMEs.

Key Topics Covered

1. Introduction

2. Description of the Industry

2.1. Industry Value Chain

2.2. Geographic Position

3. Size of the Industry

4. State of the Industry

4.1. Local

4.1.1. Corporate Actions

4.1.2. Regulations

4.1.3. Enterprise Development and Social Economic Development

4.2. Continental

4.3. International

5. Influencing Factors

5.1. Coronavirus

5.2. Tourism

5.3. Economic Environment

5.4. Rising Operating Costs

5.5. Technology, Research & Development (R&D) and Innovation

5.6. Labour

5.7. Cyclicality

5.8. Environmental Concerns

6. Competition

6.1. Barriers to Entry

7. SWOT Analysis

8. Outlook

9. Industry Associations

10. References

10.1. Publications

10.2. Websites

Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tq45qc

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [emailprotected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

http://www.researchandmarkets.com

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What is secret to a long, healthy and meaningful life? – Mirage News

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Here, we asked Professor Fontana to elaborate on just a few of the many questions and myths his book tackles.

The first step is to acknowledge our health problems and limitations and challenge the underlying assumptions. Most of us will reshape our behaviours only if we have a clear understanding of why it is important to change, and we approve of it. Then we just need to set our goals, pursue them and have faith in them.

Smart people never stop learning, because they know that this is the way to deeper insights and revolutionary changes.

None of these: many are just fads, oversimplifications of a complex reality. Our society has become obsessed with losing weight, but the real question we should ask is not How can I drop some extra kilos?, but How can I avoid developing chronic diseases as I age, and possibly live a much longer and healthier life?

As I have tried to explain in this book, the knowledge we have acquired over the past couple of decades about the metabolic and molecular mechanisms that regulate ageing is allowing us to more accurately choose what to eat, how much of it and when, to meet our nutrient needs.

Sleep regenerates the brain, improves the efficiency of the immune system and reduces the risk of infections, while also playing a vital role in consolidating memories and reducing the risk of dementia.

There is no magic number of hours that works for everyone. The most important thing is that sleep is deep and restful, and you wake feeling restored. This can be difficult for some so the book explores strategies like endurance exercise to improve sleep quality or using yoga and meditation.

One of the features of centenarians living in Okinawa and Sardinia is the strong sense of belonging to the family and to a broader social group of friends. One of the Okinawans mottos is Shikinoo chui shiihii shiru kurasuru, which means: We live in this world by helping one another.

Positive social relationships and friendship play a key role in promoting metabolic, emotional and mental health so seek them out as challenging as that may be in current times.

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Why we ought to create a healthy lifestyle rut? – Updates Junction

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Some people overwork, and have ill health, while some people underwork, and still, they suffer from ill-health. Couple hundred years ago, people used to possess a healthy life just because of their healthy lifestyle. If we had to live the same life over again, we would have been doing 20 times more activities as to what we have been doing so far. Its an undeniable fact that people back then were way more strong both physically and mentally than the people of today.

That means we are weakening humanity, and over time, we will be degenerative humanity.

Considering the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, it is found that people having a healthier immune system have recovered from the infection as compared to those whose immunity has been compromised due to various factors. It all relates and this is the reason why we have to start living a healthier lifestyle to be better prepared to overcome such challenges.

Also Read: Healthy life hacks for busy people

When wesay health that means physical health, you must usethis bodyto get things done instead of letting technology do it for you. The more you use it, the better it gets. If you do workoutsufficiently, the body will remain healthy.

If we physically use our body as much as we should, then 80 percent of the ailments on this planet would just disappear, and out of the remaining 20 percent, 10 percent is because of our bad eating habits. But, now the number of diseases is so high because we neither eat nor exercise properly.

Health is not something you can invent, health is not a medical idea, health is all about making our life disciplined. But we act as if health is our idea and as if we have created health. But the truth is that what we have created is ill-health.

Today, we all are building gadgets, but if we build activity into our lives, activities like physical, mental and energy, health will automatically come.

Medical fraternity and medical knowledge have become more and more essential because we have built a very unhealthy lifestyle. Never before in the world, medicine had got this kind of importance as it is having today because we are becoming more and more sedentary and because of this we are becoming more and more unhealthy.

The whole world is going through a lockdown because of the ongoing pandemic. Think of it as an opportunity to start working on developing a healthier lifestyle and also making it a daily routine so that one could adjust to it later when things go back to normal.

So, just knuckle down, and lift yourself to start living a healthy life. After all, a healthy life is a wealthy life.

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Why we ought to create a healthy lifestyle rut? - Updates Junction

Life Time Expands Presence in Missouri with Grand Opening Celebration of Massive Athletic Resort in Frontenac – Club Industry

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Club Industry was not involved in the creation of this content.

FRONTENAC, Mo., Dec. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --Life Time, the premier healthy lifestyle brand, is bringing its second athletic lifestyle resort to Missouri. The opening ofLife Time Frontenac, located just 15 minutes from the heart of St. Louis, brings the Life Time count to 149 destinations across 40 states and 30 major markets in the U.S. and Canada.

To celebrate the massive opening, city officials and Life Time leaders will be present for a grand opening ribbon-cutting and event on Thursday, December 12 from 6pm-8pm. Following an exclusive weekend opening for its first Founding Members from December 13-15, the club will officially open to all members on Monday, December 16 at 5am.

Life Time Frontenac will provide its members with an unmatched, complete health and wellness experience including personalized training programs, an array of group fitness classes, a fast-casual caf, luxurious spa, and other world-class amenities.

"It's been more than 11 years since Life Time first came to Missouri with our West County-Chesterfield location and we've been honored to help so many members live healthier, happier lives," saidJeff Zwiefel, executive vice president and chief operating officer. "With the opening of Life Time Frontenac, we're eager to bring ourunmatched health and wellness experience to even more people with first-class services, amenities and programs for all ages."

Highlights of the more than $55 million Diamond Club destination include:

Life Time Frontenac will be open seven days a week from 5am to 11pm at 2051 South Lindbergh Blvd, Frontenac, MO 63131. A wide range of membership options are available for individuals, couples, and families. For more information, please call (314)-888-0806 or visit theirwebsite. You can also check out Life Time onFacebook,TwitterandInstagram.

About Life Time Healthy Way of LifeLife Time champions a healthy and happy life for its members across 149 destinations in 40 major markets in the U.S. and Canada. As the nation's only Healthy Way of Life brand, Life Time delivers an unmatched athletic resort experience that goes well beyond fitness to encompass the entire spectrum of daily life. Building upon its current portfolio,Life Timeis building its brand through thedevelopment of large, mixed-use lifestyle centers that feature Life Time resorts,Life Time Workco-working spaces andLife Time Livinghigh-end leased residences. These concepts, combined with distinctive programming, encompass the full spectrum of a healthy living, healthy aging and healthy entertainment experience for individuals, couples and families of all ages.

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Food and our bodies | Health – Citrus County Chronicle

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I will be giving a public talk on Oriental medical nutrition at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, at the YMCAs Health Living Center Auditorium, 4127 W. Norvell Bryant Highway, Lecanto.

Dr. Joseph Samuels/Oriental Medicine

This talk, which is open to the public, will give all participants the opportunity to ask questions about how Oriental medicine addresses nutrition, as well as questions about medicine in general.

Oriental medical nutrition is one of the modalities that make up the field of Oriental medicine. It is called medical nutrition because from an Eastern perspective, food is considered to be a form of medicine.

A few thousand years ago, doctors of Oriental medicine discovered that different foods have different properties to them and each food will affect our internal organ or internal organ system in a very specific way. The physicians of that time compiled vast amounts of medical literature on the subject and separated foods into many different categories.

As for the properties of food, some foods have a warming effect on the body, some have a cooling effect and some have a neutral effect on the body.

In the preparation of food, preparation, cleaning, harvest time, storage and more have an effect on the food.

Some food combinations are very beneficial to our health, while other food combinations can be upsetting to our system. Also, whenever possible, avoid eating foods that contain hormones or preservatives, as well as chemically processed foods.

Never eat large amounts of food. This behavior taxes our digestive system and can lead to a variety of medical conditions, including an overall deterioration of our general health. A good rule of thumb is to eat until you are 2/3 full.

The order that food is eaten is important. One of the main points here is not to drink too much liquid one half-hour before, during or one half-hour after a meal. This will affect the digestive system in a negative way. Also, drinking a little soup broth after a meal can help keep the esophagus clean and healthy.

The time of day we eat and what we eat has a great impact on our health. This point is extremely important from an Oriental medicine perspective. Also, the types of food we eat at a certain time (seasons) of the year will affect our overall health.

After being properly diagnosed by a doctor of Oriental medicine and a full medical evaluation of the patient is completed regarding an illness, a diet can be created and tailored specifically for that individual. This diet will aid in the healing process of internal organ conditions, disease, injuries, etc.

Incorporating Oriental medical nutrition into our health care plan is a wonderful addition that brings great benefit to our overall physical, mental and emotional health and well-being.

Dr. Samuels is the medical director of Citrus Alternative Medicine. Citrus Alternative Medicine is located at 2639 W. Norvell Bryant Highway, Lecanto. Contact the office at 352-746-5669 or visit http://www.citrusalternativemedicine.com.

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Food and our bodies | Health - Citrus County Chronicle

HEALTHY LIVING Unhappy holidays: What is seasonal affective disorder? – NWAOnline

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Feelings of sadness and anxiety during the cold weather months may be caused by a common condition called seasonal affective disorder, otherwise known as SAD.

In the midst of football season and holiday gatherings, many people experience unexpected anxiety and depression caused by SAD. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, 4 to 6 percent of people in the United States experience this condition, and an additional 10 to 20 percent of the American population has a mild form of SAD during the winter. The cause of SAD remains unknown, but the condition may be related to lack of vitamin D from sunlight.

Signs of SAD

A form of clinical depression, SAD may cause an array of symptoms, including:

Fatigue

Feelings of emptiness

Insomnia

Irritability

Suicidal thoughts

Trouble concentrating

Unusual pessimism

Weight gain or loss

If you notice that any of these symptoms are impacting your quality of life, talk with your provider about your condition and treatment options.

Natasha Clayton, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, and Abbey Shields, MNSc, APRN, FNP-C, of Siloam Springs Family Medicine, are accepting new and walk-in patients. Same-day appointments are available. To schedule an appointment today, call 479-215-3035. Siloam Springs Family Medicine is located at 3721 E. U.S. Highway 412 in Siloam Springs.

Finding solutions

Behavioral changes, light therapy, talk therapy and certain prescription medications may be used to treat SAD. Your provider may recommend one therapy or a combination of treatments depending on your individual condition.

Exercise and healthful eating may help manage milder cases of SAD, while more severe conditions may need to be treated with antidepressant medications.

Tips to fill yourself with positive energy

Living life to the fullest is often easier said than done. When juggling work, family, friends and other responsibilities, it's natural to get caught up in the daily grind. But negative energy can often result from not living mindfully.

Giving your life a positive makeover may sound overwhelming and unrealistic when you look at the challenge in the big picture. By choosing just one point of focus each week or month at a time, you can take impactful steps to energize your body, mind and spirit.

Expect the best -- While preparation for worst-case scenarios can help us manage challenging circumstances if and when they arise, anticipating negative situations can negatively impact emotional and mental health. Try to maintain a positive outlook in every situation. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, optimism may improve everything from cancer outcomes to heart health.

Get moving -- Our bodies are happiest when they are doing what they are designed to do -- move. Find opportunities to exercise throughout the day to help boost your mood, control your weight, and reduce your risk of developing certain diseases such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Practice gratitude -- According to Harvard Medical School, being grateful for your blessings in life may benefit physical health, help improve your relationships and increase productivity in the workplace.

Remember, focus on one change at a time to establish realistic, sustainable changes.

General News on 12/11/2019

Print Headline: Unhappy holidays: What is seasonal affective disorder?

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Ryan Barshop: Making the move to healthy living – BusinessWorld Online

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PER ASPERA AD ASTRA.

This Latin phrase, which translates to through hardships to the stars, is how United States immigration lawyer Ryan Barshop describes his health transformation journey.

A lifestyle shift that started two years ago, the 40-year-old New York native said that while the change has not been easy, it has however made a huge difference in his life that has seen him transform from being morbidly obese to be in incredible shape right now.

It is something that Mr. Barshop, in hindsight, said he is very thankful of being able to do before it was too late.

Mr. Barshop originally came to the Philippines 16 years ago as a volunteer for the US Peace Corps, returning for good in 2012 and has since been a practicing immigration lawyer, focusing on consular processing, a specialized type of immigration law dealing with embassies and consuls.

His expertise is the embassy here in Manila and the US consul in Ho Chi Minh City, work that requires him to alternate between Manila (he resides in a condominium unit at the Bonifacio Global City area when here) and Vietnam every other week.

Mr. Barshop said that he was a very active individual when he was in his 20s, engaging in muay thai and kickboxing and was then in tiptop shape.

A sedentary life caught up with him when he started law school and went on to practice. The days that he would exercise and be active dwindled, and his eating habits were anything but ideal.

And the damage of such neglect grew through the years the once active and vibrant Barshop gaining over 100 pounds in a span of 10 years and grew very depressed, which he said affected not only his personal life but also his work.

It all came to a halt three years ago when Mr. Barshop said he hit rock bottom.

I started to hit rock bottom in November 2016, and I was kicked very hard because of work reasons. May 30 the following year was when I took the plunge to change my ways, said Mr. Barshop, who said that at his biggest he tipped the scales at 260 pounds.

I was just unhappy with myself, with my life, and it was affecting my work. I was just not a happy person at all. I literally felt I was going to die. I felt I had 10 years before I die. It was that bad.

So on my 38th birthday I realized I have nothing else to lose but if I dont get healthy now its gonna be too late. So I made a lifestyle change and the rest is history, said Mr. Barshop.

Mr. Barshop intimated that his health and wellness transformation journey has been a roller-coaster with its ups and downs but the reason he is doing it is not lost to him, which serves as the motor that keeps him going.

NUTRITIONHe said that change for him came largely through nutrition eating the right food coupled with the needed exercise.

The change is 70 to 80 percent nutrition. I started realizing that whatever I consume in my body has consequences. They say abs (abdominal muscles) is made in the kitchen because if you dont have a healthy lifestyle, you dont focus on good nutrition, going to the gym means nothing, the lawyer said.

You have to constantly focus on nutrition. I saw a weight change within weeks and I started developing muscles and so on, he added.

Work also has not gotten in the way of his lifestyle shift.

While eating the right food, Mr. Barshop makes sure he follows his workout regimen both here and in Vietnam.

I have two workouts, here and in Vietnam. I prefer working out after work. So here, three days a week, I have personal training which I do in my condo gym. I frequently do circuit classes at Saddle Row and most recently have become active in adidas Runners Manila, and then I train by myself, he said.

He went on to say that since embracing a fit and healthy lifestyle, the impact on him has been thorough.

It helps me to be a better person. Being healthy allows me to do many things. Physically, mentally and emotionally I feel better. I have more fun doing things shopping, travelling and others. People come up to me and be amazed and I love sharing my experience, Mr. Barshop said.

CELEBRATIONAs a form of celebration of the gains he has made in his fitness journey, Mr. Barshop went on a two-week trek to the Base Camp of Mount Everest in September, joining a group of hikers.

He said that making the trek was on his bucket list and being able to survive and do it made him more determined to continue the fitness path he has chosen to go on.

Everest is a pinnacle of success, symbolic for someone who thought he would die. It was my way of saying I survived, said Mr. Barshop, who described the trek as the toughest he has had to do, both physically and psychologically, so far.

He drew parallel as well between his move to healthy living and his Everest trek, saying, Anybody can do it. You dont have to settle with what you have. Its not going to be comfortable and it takes self-control. Anything is possible. Its realistic.

Two years since his shift towards fitness, Mr. Barshop said the challenge continues but he is undeterred, just as he encourages others to go on their own journey of health transformation.

One of the quotes I live by now is Per aspera ad astra, which translates to hardships to the stars. Getting to where I am right now was not easy. I had to undo 10 years of hard damage in my life. Its going to be a process, so give it time, he advised.

You start when you are ready, and youll know when you are ready. I did it when I was ready. People were telling me about being healthy and all, but I had to realize it for myself. You dont have to hit rock bottom though like I did. Some people would be content with what they have, but I wasnt, Mr. Barshop added. Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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WellSky Tries to Bridge Gap Between Payers and Providers with REACH – Home Health Care News

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The shift to value-based care can sometimes be seen as a challenge for the tens of thousands of home-based care providers that operate in the U.S. But WellSky is trying to make sure it can be viewed more as an opportunity.

The Overland Park, Kansas-based health care software company recently launched WellSky REACH, which it dubs a new initiative to help post-acute and personal care providers more effectively collaborate with health payers and risk-bearing health systems.

As part of the initiative, WellSky has already partnered with three well-known providers: Intrepid USA Healthcare, Concierge Home Care and Healthy Living Network.

REACH which stands for risk-enabled, analytical and coordinated health care is a tool for these providers to ride out the storm that is value-based care, WellSky CEO Bill Miller told Home Health Care News. As more people aged and more dollars and care got pushed into post-acute settings, WellSky recognized that the solutions of yesterday would no longer be adequate, which would lead to foreign and problematic environments for providers.

The theory behind WellSky is that we are the company thats helping our providers thrive in those environments, Miller said. Those three providers, a lot of their business is predicated off the fact that they are going to be one of those progressive health providers in home care, hospice and other settings. And they realize theyre going to need a great technology partner.

Healthy Living Network had already recently switched over to the WellSky platform before the REACH partnership because of the recommendation from its clinical leadership.

What also helped WellSkys case was its predictive analytics capabilities. The analytics department at WellSky is in-house, and thats what intrigued Healthy Living Network CEO Julio Quiones about it the most. They were building that analytical component into their tool, and it wouldnt be from an outside source.

Were working with some payers on starting this journey from volume to value, Quiones told HHCN. And for us, the predictive analytics is critical in our ability to execute on that journey.

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The Folsom, California-based Healthy Living Network is a home health and hospice provider. It operates 33 agencies across seven states in the west. Quiones, who came on as the Healthy Living Network CEO in 2017, is also bullish on WellSkys ability to connect provider to payer in general.

The REACH team is helping us create a platform between payer and provider, where they can help get data from both sides, tie it together, create insights and work with us on creating protocols around actions depending on what the data says, Quiones said. We really saw them as forward thinking, and it really fits the path we want to head down.

Miller believes that REACH is an enticing tool to all of WellSkys potential clients, and eventually will be applicable for all of them as well.

WellSky REACH does not yet have quantifiable goals, as to how many clients they want to work with or a number of patients they want to reach. For now, the idea is simply focusing on driving better care.

Theres a great alignment in world views between our companies, Quiones said. We think that alignment with WellSky leads to better results over time, and I think you see that with them creating the REACH platform.

On a high level, increased collaborations between at-home care providers like Healthy Living Network and technology partners like WellSky is becoming far more common, especially when it comes to non-medical home care.

Historically, non-medical home care agencies havent been great at collecting and acting on data. Thats changing, however, prompted by payers realization that the home is often the lowest cost and most effective site of care.

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Most Aussie kids not eating their veggies – 7NEWS.com.au

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The latest snapshot of the habits and health of Australia's children shows two-thirds are in front of screens for more than an hour every day while 96 per cent don't eat enough vegetables.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare on Tuesday released its first report on the country's kids since 2012, revealing its data on the experiences of children - generally aged between zero to twelve - at home, at school and in their communities.

While the nation's kids excelled in some areas of healthy living - in 2017-18 almost three quarters ate enough fruit each day - there were definite areas for improvement with only four per cent eating enough vegetables and almost half having at least one sugar-sweetened drink a week.

In 2018, the majority of the nation's kids were participating in organised physical activities outside of school however, in 2011-12 less than a quarter of kids between five and 14 were getting the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity a day and less than a third met the screen-based activity guideline limit of no more than an hour a day.

The report also noted that bullying registered as an issue for many children - in 2015 almost three in every five year 4 students reported that they had experienced bullying monthly or weekly during the school year.

The rise of the internet has enabled that bullying to spread online, according to AIHW spokeswoman Louise York.

"In 2016-17, receiving unwanted contact and content was the most commonly reported negative online experience for children aged eight to 12, experienced by about a quarter of all children," Ms York said in a statement.

In the decade to 2017-18 the number of children who registered as obese or overweight remained around the 25 per cent mark.

The report noted the impact of household finances - including whether adults living in the household have jobs - on children's health, emotional wellbeing, education and ability to take part in social activities.

In 2017-18 it found there were two million low-income houses in Australia, with about a quarter of those having at least one child aged between zero and 14.

However, Ms York says data shows most Australian children have the foundations to support good health and wellbeing as they grow up, with the numbers of mothers who smoked or drank during pregnancy down.

In 2018 nine out of 10 children aged two were immunised.

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Tivity Health Announces Formation of New Scientific Advisory Board – BioSpace

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NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --Tivity Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: TVTY), a leading provider of nutrition, fitness and social engagement solutions, announces the launch of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The role of the Tivity Health SAB is to review and advise on product strategy and new product concepts to provide an objective, external perspective in the context of proven evidence, emerging research, and trends in nutrition, exercise and social sciences.

The Tivity Health SAB is comprised of eight experts in the fields of nutrition, obesity and weight loss, fitness and exercise, aging, social health, and precision medicine. Its members include former Nutrisystem SAB members Arthur Agatston, M.D.; Caroline Apovian, M.D., FACN, FACP, FTOS; Ted Kyle, RPh, MBA; and Jay Satz, Ph.D. who are joined by new board members Evan Forman, Ph.D.; Sandro Galea, M.D., MPH, DrPH; Chris Mason, Ph.D.; and Christine Rosenbloom, Ph.D., RDN, FAND.

"We are excited to announce the new Tivity Health Scientific Advisory Board, and we are grateful for their commitment to the Tivity Health mission," said Donato Tramuto, Chief Executive Officer, Tivity Health. "These distinguished professionals help us evolve our products and ensure that we are delivering highly impactful solutions to improve the health and vitality of our members and customers."

Tivity Health is actively addressing the social determinants of health, (SDOH) defined by the World Health Organization as the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. With its family of healthy life-changing solutions, Tivity Health's goal is to transform the aging experience and reduce factors that lead to serious health issues and high medical costs; including chronic conditions, obesity, inactivity, social isolation, and loneliness.

The Tivity Health SAB will ensure product strategies and solutions to impact SDOH are supported by scientific evidence. They will also advise the company's research strategy and approaches to test and optimize product effectiveness and value.

The former Nutrisystem SAB was instrumental in the success of programs and products such as Turbo10, Lean13, Turbo13, and DNA Body Blueprint, as well as the development of the South Beach Diet program.

The new Tivity Health SAB has the expertise to ensure a strong scientific foundation for effective, differentiated products for healthy living and aging across all Tivity Health brands including SilverSneakers, Nutrisystem, South Beach Diet, and the recently announced Wisely Well, a new meal delivery program that will offer fully prepared meals to meet the dietary needs of older adults.

For more information on Tivity Health's SAB and its members, please visit http://www.tivityhealth.com/scientific-advisory-board.

About Tivity Health, Inc.

Tivity Health (Nasdaq: TVTY) is a leading provider of healthy life-changing solutions, including SilverSneakers, Nutrisystem, Prime Fitness, Wisely Well, South Beach Diet and WholeHealth Living. We are actively addressing the social determinants of health, defined as the conditions in which we work, live and play. From improving health outcomes to reversing the narrative on inactivity, food insecurity, social isolation and loneliness, we are making a difference and are transforming the way we do health. We are also proud to host an annual Connectivity Summit that brings together stakeholders from all over the United States to discuss and create opportunities for older adults to live their best healthy lives. Learn more at TivityHealth.com

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SOURCE Tivity Health, Inc.

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New UB institute to address health disparities in Buffalo – UB Now: News and views for UB faculty and staff – University at Buffalo Reporter

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By DAVID J. HILL

In collaboration with the community, UB is focusing the expertise and passions of researchers and students from across the university on a major new effort to address one of the most pressing problems facing the city of Buffalo: health disparities among people who live on the citys East Side.

The university today announced the launch of the UB Community Health Equity Research Institute, a center that will conduct research that addresses the root causes of these health disparities, while developing and testing innovative solutions to eliminate health inequities in the region.

The vision of the institute is to ensure that wellness and social well-being become a reality for all people in Buffalo, including people of color residing in underserved neighborhoods and who are more likely to have serious, chronic and often preventable diseases, as well as significantly higher mortality rates.

Faculty researchers and students from 10 UB schools will collaborate within the institute.

The Community Health Equity Research Institute exemplifies UBs longstanding commitment to engage with our local partners to build a healthier, stronger, more prosperous region, President Satish K. Tripathi said. We have founded this institute on principles of social justice that our university community hold dear specifically, the belief that all of our neighbors across all neighborhoods deserve the right to a bright, healthy future.

The new UB institute builds on the work of the community-wide African American Health Equity Task Force formed in 2014 in response to the striking health disparities experienced by African Americans in Buffalo, particularly in the East Side zip codes of 14204, 14206, 14211, 14212 and 14215.

The task force is a coalition that includes UB, Cicatelli Associates Inc., Concerned Clergy of WNY, Erie County Medical Center, Millennium Collaborative Care, NeuWater & Associates, the Population Health Collaborative of WNY and other community groups and community members.

I know in the communities I represent poor health care continues to be a major issue for many of the residents who live there, said Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes.

We know that some of the root causes for poor health among many African American communities are lack of access to health care, lack of healthy food options, environmental pollution, poor housing, lack of exercise and unemployment, among others, Peoples-Stokes added.

Thanks to the new UB Community Health Equity Research Institute and the hard work of the African American Health Equity Task Force, were now taking some real action in addressing these issues in our most underserved communities. All residents deserve the chance to lead healthy and happy lives. The UB Community Health Equity Research Institute is a major step toward health equity for all residents.

African Americans living in the citys East Side experience higher rates of poverty and suffer from higher rates of lung cancer and infant mortality in addition to increased risks of hospitalization for heart failure and diabetes compared to the white population, according to the 2017-19 Erie County New York Community Health Assessment by the Erie County Department of Health.

In addition, 3 in 5 African Americans living in Buffalo die prematurely, twice the rate of whites.

Much of this health inequity is caused by social determinants: high unemployment, underdeveloped neighborhoods, absence of grocery stores and poor access to health care, among others.

By uniting UB researchers who possess a broad range of expertise from medicine and public health to law and management the institute aims to negate the effects of decades of federal and local policies that have created racial, residential and educational segregation and disinvestment in communities of color.

This interprofessional community of faculty, students and community partners will perform research that employs a community participatory research model to inform regional health and social policy. This model engages the community by allowing residents to drive the research agenda and participate in the design of the research and the studies conducted.

This is a historical moment, for not only the University at Buffalo but for the community, said George F. Nicholas, pastor of Lincoln Memorial United Methodist Church and convener of the African American Health Equity Task Force.

The issues of health disparities are caused by the social determinants of health, which are rooted in generations of racial oppression beginning with the enslavement of African people and continuing now in uneven distribution of resources and public policy, Nicholas added.

I am encouraged that the university, under the leadership of President Tripathi, is willing to be bold in engaging in problem-solving with the goal of bringing health equity for all in this region. This goal can only be attained with the major contributions by this multidisciplinary institute working in close collaboration with other community partners.

The institute will be comprised of faculty and students from the following UB schools: Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Nursing, Public Health and Health Professions, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Social Work, Architecture and Planning, Law, Management, the Graduate School of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences. It will also leverage the expertise and resources of UBs Community for Global Health Equity, the Clinical and Translational Science Institute and the Office of Research Advancement.

With the launch of the UB Community Health Equity Research Institute, were further developing a strategic plan to address the health disparities that exist on Buffalos East Side and among African American and poverty-stricken populations, said State Sen. Timothy M. Kennedy.

I commend President Tripathi for dedicating significant resources to this endeavor, and thank the UB educators and students who will help shape this important conversation and identify comprehensive, long-term solutions that will improve wellness and city-wide health outcomes, Kennedy said.

Timothy Murphy, SUNY Distinguished Professor and senior associate dean for clinical and translational research in the Jacobs School, will lead the institute. He is also director of UBs Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

Leadership will also include the following associate directors: Susan Grinslade, clinical professor, School of Nursing; Henry Louis Taylor Jr., professor of urban and regional planning and director of the Center for Urban Studies, School of Architecture and Planning; and Heather Orom, associate professor of community health and health behavior, and associate dean for equity, diversity and inclusion, School of Public Health and Health Professions.

The institute will also name a research administrator and a steering committee that will meet monthly to guide strategic priorities.

Were pioneering some unique and innovative approaches to medical research and health care in Buffalo, Murphy said. With the talent and expertise at UB and other local institutions, we have the opportunity to become a national leader in developing solutions to health inequities.

Three key goals will guide the centers work:

As we continue our work to make the city of Buffalo a place of inclusion and opportunity for all, it is essential that all our residents have access to the health care and health tools necessary to achieve the healthy lifestyle they deserve, Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown said.

This new initiative, which will include UB staff and students, as well as numerous nonprofit, neighborhood and church organizations, will help us develop and deliver innovative health solutions to our most underserved residents, especially those who live on Buffalos East Side, Brown added.

Funding for the centers research will come from a variety of sources, with a heavy focus on National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. The center aligns closely with NIHs funding priorities, which include health disparities research.

The work of the institute will build upon several new and ongoing grant-funded projects underway at UB focused on improving health and access to health care in Buffalo. The projects include:

Launch of the Community Health Equity Research Institute is an example of UBs ongoing efforts to deepen its impact and outreach in the many communities it serves. The institutes objectives are aligned with the strategic goals of the university focused on providing students with transformative, innovative and research-grounded educational experiences; promoting a university-wide culture of equity and inclusion; deepening the universitys engagement with the community; and achieving greater societal impact locally and globally.

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3 Easy Habits That Can Help You Retire Sooner – The Motley Fool

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For many workers, retirement can't come soon enough. You may be counting down the days until you can leave your job and start living life on your own terms, traveling or spending time with family -- or simply relaxing.

However, many workers also end up needing to work longer than they'd like. Roughly half of baby boomers have no retirement savings at all, according to a report from the Insured Retirement Institute, and one-third of boomers say they don't expect to retire until at least age 70 -- if they ever retire at all.

If you want to keep working in retirement, there's nothing wrong with that. But if you're forced to work longer than you'd like because you can't afford to leave your job, that could put a damper on your retirement plans. By making a few simple lifestyle changes, however, you can get into the habit of saving more money so you can retire sooner.

Image source: Getty Images

One of the easiest ways to save for retirement is to set up automatic contributions, so that a set amount of money goes straight from your paycheck or bank account to your retirement fund every week or month. This makes saving effortless, because you don't have to think about it. However, it is important to check in on your savings regularly and increase the amount you're contributing.

There's no exact formula as to how much you should save or how often you should increase your contribution rate, but aim to boost your savings rate at least once a year, or whenever you get a bonus or raise.

Also, you don't have to boost your contribution rate significantly to see your savings spike. Even if you can only save an extra $10 or $20 per month, that adds up to hundreds of dollars per year. And if you're able to increase your savings by that rate year after year, your retirement fund will grow exponentially.

If you're not tracking your spending, it's tough to get a clear picture of exactly where all your money is going. And when you don't know where all your money is going, it's challenging to figure out if you're overspending, and where you can cut back.

Tracking your spending doesn't have to involve complex spreadsheets and calculators. In fact, there are several apps that can manage your money for you, even breaking your expenses down into different categories to make it easier for you to see all your costs in one place. From there, you can set spending limits and goals for yourself so you can save a little more each month.

Be sure to be consistent when tracking your expenses, too. Try your best to stick to your spending limits every month, and if you notice any patterns -- like if you consistently overspend on the weekends, or when you're out with friends -- be especially diligent about keeping your spending in check during those times. After a while, tracking your spending will become second nature, and it will feel like more of a healthy lifestyle habit than a tedious task.

When retirement is still decades away, you may be tempted to focus more on the short-term goal of saving a little each month. But it's just as important to think about your long-term goals, because that can help you determine whether you're doing enough right now to reach them.

Especially when it comes to saving for retirement, if your savings are off track, it's much easier to correct the problem when you catch it early. If you wait until you're 5 years away from retirement to realize you're hundreds of thousands of dollars short of reaching your saving goal, there's not much you can do at that point.

Every year or two, take some time to think about your retirement goals. Consider factors like the age you'd like to retire, how much you think you'll spend each year in retirement, and how long you estimate you'll live. All of these things will impact how much you need to save, so if any of these goals change, you'll need to adjust your retirement plan.

Next, throw all this information into a retirement calculator to see how much you should aim to save. Even if you've already done this, it's a good idea to recalculate your retirement number every year or two to make sure you're still saving enough. If your results show that you should be saving more each month than you currently are, that's a sign that you're falling behind. The earlier you can make adjustments and start saving more, the better shot you have at retiring when you want.

If your goal is to retire sooner rather than later, you'll need to supercharge your savings to ensure your money will last the rest of your life. Fortunately, you don't have to win the lottery or inherit a fortune to do that. By integrating a few healthy financial habits into your lifestyle, you can save more and increase your chances of enjoying an early retirement.

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Queensland sets rules for building healthy neighbourhoods – Construction Index

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Minister for planning Cameron Dick said the changes followed extensive consultation with the community, industry and local government. Earlier this year we released our proposed model code for neighbourhood design and asked Queenslanders which elements should be made mandatory, he said.

There was an overwhelming response to this, with more than 20,000 pieces of feedback received, he added. Residents, industry groups and councils all agreed we could do more to create active and healthy neighbourhoods for Queenslanders. So weve listened and acted, introducing five mandatory elements, while leaving cul-de-sacs in the hands of councils to determine standards best suited to their local areas.

The five mandatory neighbourhood design elements being introduced are:

Heart Foundation Queensland CEO Stephen Vines said it was important new neighbourhoods were designed to get Queenslanders moving. Good design is at the heart of healthy living, and the way our neighbourhoods are designed is connected to how much physical activity we do, he said. With exercise levels low and obesity on the rise, we must create walking-friendly environments that encourage Queenslanders to be more active, more often.

Introducing minimum standards across the state will go a long way towards encouraging residents to be more active. It will also help to reduce the risk of heart disease, our single biggest killer, and other chronic conditions.

Dick said the model code and the mandatory elements were about getting the fundamentals of new development right, in a consistent manner across the state. This is a step in the right direction to enhance quality of life for all Queenslanders, regardless of where they live, he said. These changes prioritise people and walking, and will ensure the foundation of neighbourhood design in Queensland is right.

Further consultation will now take place with industry and local government to finalise the technical aspects of how mandatory elements of the model code will be implemented.

The revised model code is expected to come into effect in the first half of 2020.

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HEALTHY LIVING Getting control of blood sugar levels – Port Arthur News – The Port Arthur News

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There are about 27 million people in the U.S. with Type 2 Diabetes. Another 86 million have pre-diabetes, meaning their blood glucose is not normal, but not high enough to be diabetes yet.

For the majority of healthy individuals, normal blood sugar levels are as follows: Between 4.0 to 6.0 millimoles per liter, or mmol/L (72 to 108 milligrams per deciliter, or mg/dL) when fasting; and up to 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) 2 hours after eating.

Diabetes is when your blood sugar or glucose levels are higher than normal. The goal is to bring down those sugar levels. Its high carbohydrate foods like breads, cereals, rice, pasta, fruits, milk, alcohol, and desserts that can cause this rise.

Your eating plan should focus on the amount and type of carbs you put on your plate throughout the day. You should include these items:

If you have diabetes, drinking alcohol may cause your blood sugar to either rise or fall. Plus, alcohol has a lot of empty calories, meaning no nutritional value. If you drink, do it occasionally and only when your diabetes and blood sugar levels are well controlled.

If you are following a calorie-controlled meal plan, one drink of alcohol should be counted as two fat exchanges.

Exercise in Spurts: Its important to get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day to help manage your diabetes. Too busy? Break it up into three shorter spurts. Try 10 minutes of strength training in the morning. Play an active game with the family during the day, or take a brisk stroll at lunchtime. Then, walk your dog in the evening. This combo can help improve your blood sugar control and make heart disease less likely.

If you are on medication and the medication doesnt seem to be working, there are variables. Maybe dosage needs adjusting. Perhaps another drug needs to be considered. Home testing kits help you monitor levels and regular visits with your doctor are a must.

Dont give up. Stay diligent, ask questions and research information. Its your body and you are 100% responsible for taking good care of it. Stay healthy, my friends.

Jody Holton writes about health for The Port Arthur News. She can be reached at jholton3@gt.rr.com.

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