Daily Archives: November 28, 2021

I cant think of a better way to celebrate the holidays than with a new baby in tow. After all, a new baby does seem to be the ultimate holiday gift. And now my feelings are validated because Science Says December Babies Are The Best and I have to agree.

My husband is a December baby and while he seems to dislike it because people would celebrate his birth-mas (birthday and Christmas together) rather than separate the two, I always found it quite cool when he was born. His birthday is December 22 and he was taken home on Christmas Day. A Christmas baby? I think that is the ultimate coolness but that isnt the scientific reason why December babies are the best.

According to a study published in the Journal of Aging Research, December babies are born with some pretty unique traits and tend to live longer than babies born in any other month.

This study suggests that the December-born have a significantly higher risk of surviving up to age 105+ compared to the June-born (babies)

So, if you know someone born in December, chances are, they will be living a long and prosperous life and possibly years beyond 100.

We developed a large sample of validated centenarians, their siblings, and spouses to study early-life seasonal effects on human longevity. We found significant associations between month of birth and longevity: individuals born in SeptemberNovember have higher likelihood of becoming centenarians compared to March-born individuals. These results are consistent with the reports of higher life expectancy for persons born in the end of the year

In addition to living longer, babies born between November January were found to have unique traits such as being left-handed (prominently in males) although, that doesnt seem to hold true for my husband who is right-handed.

Other fun facts of December babies? Well, one report says that December babies are most likely to be rich and become dentists. Cha-Ching!

Now, if you dont have a December baby and are thinking of having another, youd need become pregnant in March. Ha youre welcome!

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Science Says December Babies Are The Best Kids Activities Blog - ToysMatrix

With winter (at least the beginning of it) come the holidays. Traditionally, this is a time for celebration and happiness. However, sadness during the winter months, despite the festive cheer that surrounds you, can be a real issue. This is often referred to as the winter woes or the winter blues. Feeling sad is a normal part of being human. As humans, we feel things quite deeply and changes in mood are normal and healthy. However, winter woes can have an impact on how you function on a daily basis. Even worse, they can develop into a seasonal depression; SAD.

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Symptoms include lethargy, craving carbs, and feeling unusually sad. If you are experiencing this, you might find yourself sleeping more and struggling to find motivation. Essentially, its a kind of seasonal depressive episode.

In the case of winter woes, its typically relatively mild. However, symptoms can progress into a more severe seasonal depression called SAD. Being sad is a part of who we are and not something that we want to get rid of. However, it can be a sign of the winter blues and can affect our ability to function properly in our lives.

The winter months can induce feelings of sadness and despair. During these times, we tend to leave our homes in the dark and go to work in the dark. This can really have an impact on our mood and general feelings of

wellness. It seems that the issue stems from a lack of sunlight. The shorter days of winter disrupt the natural, circadian rhythm. Some people are more sensitive to this disruption than others. Geography also seems to play quite a large role in both the winter woes and SAD. It seems that the further north you get from the equator, the more likely you are to develop SAD. The delay in sunlightreaching the body is what seems to play havoc with the brain and the body.

Michael Terman, Ph.D. explains that in the northernmost states of the USA, sunrise can be delayed by a massive 4 and a half hours in the winter. It also seems that low levels of vitamin D may be partly to blame. However, the only way to knowwhether your vitamin D levels are low is to get them tested.

Seasonal affective disorder, usually (and rather appropriately) shortened to SAD, its a bit more serious than winter woes. Ultimately, it has a lot to do with the severity of the symptoms. Its also much more complex than sadness.

Maridav/Shutterstock

People thatstruggle with SAD have all the symptoms of a major depressive disorder. This, according to Georgia Gaveras, a psychiatrist and co-founder ofTalkiatry can include large personality shifts. This might include a change in eating and sleeping habits as well as increased levels of lethargy.

SAD can be a huge issue as people can turn to self-medicating through drugs and alcohol. SAD causes the brain to produce excess melatonin which is the hormone that we rely on to regulate sleep patterns and the body clock.

According to Terman, the most obvious differences lie in the severity of the symptoms. Whilst many people might struggle to get up in the winter, people with SAD cannot get out of bed to make it to work on time. People with SAD also appear to gain a lot more weight than people who are struggling with winter woes. Usually, SAD results ina weight gain of more than 6 pounds. Essentially, SAD is the winter woes more serious sister.

The most obvious answer here is to get as much sunlight as you possibly can. However, when natural sunlight is scarce, you might need an alternative.

Africa Studio/Shutterstock

Unfortunately, simply standing by the window or flipping your light switch just doesnt do it. What you need is direct sunlight.

Lets be honest, even when there is sunlight, most of us dont want to go and stand outside in the freezing cold. So, what you need in order to simulate sunlight is a sunbox.

Sunboxes are lights with special fluorescent tubes that mimic the suns beneficial rays. When it comes to making use of a sunbox, it doesnt seem to matter how severe (or not) the symptoms are. Both people with SAD and winter woes benefited from the same amount of light therapy.

According to Terman, you need 30 minutes of exposure done first thing in the morning. The timing, Terman says, is vital. He explains by administering it first thing in the morning, you keep your body clock on its springtime cycle during the winter, and thats how the depressive symptoms are lifted. If you get this exposure while you eat breakfast or get ready, you dont have to dedicate 30 minutes to your sunbox.

There are also a number of natural products that can help you get through the winter blues. One of these is fish oil. Which is believed to be the number one supplement for treating seasonal depression.

If youre feeling low on energy, try avoiding refined carbohydrates and sugars. A healthy diet should include a variety of fruits, vegetables, and protein sources. But avoiding refined carbohydrates can help boost serotonin levels and reduce stress. However, you dont need to completely avoid carbohydrates. The best course of action is to just separate the two and eat protein and carbohydrates separately.

https://www.webmd.com/depression/features/beating-winters-woes

https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-beat-the-winter-blues-5087998

14 Effective Ways to Beat Winter Blues (comprehensive guide)

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Winter Woes or SAD? - Here's How To Cope - Longevity LIVE - Longevity LIVE

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Dear Editors

Andy Extances essay provides interesting fodder for thought but what is not discussed is the hysteria (initially over the availability for use then over the potential side effects), (vaccine) hesitancy (predominately over the relatively new technology which has never been used in large population) and hostility (as a result of the divide between those who are vaccinated and those who are not, and in response to government mandate for compulsory vaccination in gazetted workplace and occupation) during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Perhaps the article attempts to focus on scientific aspects of mRNA vaccine development but I would suggest the ink is still not dry yet when considering claims of success of mRNA vaccine based on experience of Pfizer BioNTech (PBNT) and Modernas COVID-19 products.

Of interest, Andy Extance is right to flag the results of Modernas previous foray into mRNA vaccine experience, (ref 1) whereby the 2015 trials of flu mRNA vaccine showed that immunity was short lived.

Remarkably I dont recall any discussion of the longevity of the immunity induced by mRNA vaccine when PBNT was approved for emergency use in the last days of 2020, nor even within the first 6 months of its rollout in the US, UK and EU; perhaps I move amongst the wrong crowd but the first hint of the limits of mRNA immunity in my consciousness only came when the CEO of Pfizer suggested publicly that booster shots may be needed after 6-12 months of the initial shots (ref 2); this is when the US was still trying to get the majority of the population vaccinated, and before reports of increased infection in vaccinated individuals in Israel 6 months after double vaccination (ref 3)

At the time this was attributed to the emerging dominance of the highly infectious delta variant, although it was later found that the vaccines are only slightly less effective to Delta variant compared to the original Alpha type (ref 4).

Hence it was not due to emergence of Delta variant after all (even though this was still being peddled in mainstream media)

Looking at the previous Modernas study in 2015 (published in 2019), this waning immunity 6 months after double vaccination could have been predicted, but was not flagged for some time.

Another important question should be raised regarding mRNA vaccines:The marketing department flogging the advantages of mRNA vaccines suggest the technology made it easy to tweak the mRNA genetic material to address evolving variants of COVID-19 and yet there does not appear to be any new trial to test new subtype of mRNA vaccine to address the apparently new delta variant which was behaving distinctly differently in transmissibility compared to preceding types. Granted the clinical research based on epidemiological data proved the original PBNT was almost just as effective (ref 4) but this data is only available after 5 months worth of data (and status quo in vaccine production).

Was it clinical inertia and more profitable to simply keep producing the same product in the hope that it was just as effective in the meantime? Was it not worthwhile to start testing and making new subtypes of the mRNA vaccine specifically for the delta variant? Were the clauses and restrictions with emergency authorisation for use by the FDA, EMA and MHRA make it too troublesome to have to resubmit new trial data to allow extension to new subtype of mRNA vaccines previously approved under different circumstances (and virus type).

And I havent even commented on the quality issues and stability of mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 and related cold chain logistic issues which is still unresolved.

How about the curious matter of how BioNTech managed to get to the first vaccine to be approved for use in many parts of the world, despite the apparent vast experience of Moderna in mRNA vaccine development prior 2020?

Albeit the fact the PBNT only beat Moderna by just 7 days for emergency use by FDA, there is no doubt that the dominant mRNA vaccine outside the US is PBNT. Granted Pfizer has a far bigger manufacturing capacity than Moderna, setting up a factory to produce mRNA vaccines is not a feat that can happen with a few months.

So many questions that would intrigue historians of the future, some of whom are now eligible for vaccination (ref 7).

Reference1. Feldman RA, Fuhr R, Smolenov I, et al. mRNA vaccines against H10N8 and H7N9 influenza viruses of pandemic potential are immunogenic and well tolerated in healthy adults in phase 1 randomized clinical trials. Vaccine2019;37:3326-34. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.04.074 pmid:310798492. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-16/pfizer-boss-says-third-covid-vacc...3. https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2021-09-09/covid-19-israel-vaccinatio...4. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa21088915. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa21142286. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-26/new-covid-variant-in-south-africa....7. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-pfize...

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More questions beyond the hype, hysteria, hesitancy and hostility: the greatest human trial ever (and the natural history of mRNA vaccine use) we had...

Having struggled with an eating disorder myself, there is no doubt that the festive season can be one of the most stressful times of the year. The holiday season is supposed to be a time for relaxation and fun. But, it seems like the whole festive season revolves almost entirely around food and eating. When you are already struggling with anxiety around food and eating, it can seem like the worst time of the year. But, though it doesnt necessarily help, you arent alone. In fact, some research suggests that one-third of all holiday stress derives from food-based overindulgence. Below is a combination of research and personal experience which I can only hope will help if you are in a similar position. This isnt medical advice and I still recommend seeing a professional who can help you in the long term and deal with your specific difficulties.Try to stop viewing food as good and bad

For me, this has been one of the most difficult things to do. To be totally honest, I still struggle with it. Seeing food as neutral rather than good or bad means letting go of all those toxic things youve been taught.

Abby Langer R.D. explained in an article for Self that going into the holiday season with the intention of restricting calories and strict plans usually ends in disaster. This all-or-nothing mentality can lead to even more negative feelings around eating and your body. Usually, these super restrictive rules lead to slip-ups. Once youve broken your rules, it can be easy to end up bingeing and ultimately, making yourself feel worse.

As difficult as it is when you begin to see food as neutral and simply eat what you feel like, at the time, it takes a weight off your mind. Ive found that focusing on listening to what my body wants has resulted in me eating less sugary snacks and more healthy foods that are nutritious and, generally good.

Its also important to realize that the low-calorie option isnt always the best option nutrition-wise. Eating a balanced and healthy diet is ultimately going to be better for you. That can include protein, salad, vegetables,and some sweet holiday snacks.

Its easy to get caught up in the holiday spirit and end up buying all the sweets and chocolates available. I have an awful tendency to fall for the pretty packaging and can end up buying things that, without that pretty container, I wouldnt usually buy. Making a list before you go shopping can be hugely beneficial for this and can help you to avoid falling into this trap.

It will also help you to eat better in the time surrounding the holidayswhen youre still cooking for yourself. Maintaining a normal way of eating as much as possible is of huge benefit and can make you feel that youre more in control.

Its also worth saying here that, if you dont have it, you cant eat it. If you are looking to avoid unhealthy snacks and foods, making sure you keep them to a minimum will inevitably help you to avoid them, at least when youre in your own house.

Planning to have healthy snacks on hand can also be of huge benefit to those last-minute invitations. You can bring something from home that you are comfortable eating, which means that youll have a safe option to rely on.

Unfortunately, there seems to be at least one in every family. It might be that random uncle whocomments on your body or weight that you can usually avoid.

Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

However, over the holiday season, you are forced to interact with him. Its definitely not great but, unfortunately, it can be unavoidable. When you are forced into interactions with those types of people, try to set boundaries with them right up front.

For instance, Langer suggests telling them that you wont discuss your body or your diet. She also suggests the thats none of your business angle might work. However, it could also cause issues so what I try to do is stay away from those types of people as much as I possibly can.

Alternatively, if you really cannot manage to avoid them, try to immediately re-direct the conversation when you start to feel triggered. Remember that you always have the right to take some time away from everybody to breathe and regain control of the situation. If you really struggle, try to chat to a friend about being on hand for a text if you need emotional support.

Remember that you are human and that things can affect your emotions differently even on a day-to-day basis. Trying to take some personal time away from people during the holiday season, as I find this can really be helpful in maintaining a more balanced perspective. Taking care of yourself and accepting the way you feel is also hugely helpful when it comes to dealing with food and the holidays.

As much as you can, try to actually enjoy the food itself and become more focused on the enjoyment than the calories or carbs. It can be a difficult time when it comes to food, forgive yourself when you are unable to cope, and really take time to analyze how you feel. Itll likely help you in the future.

https://www.self.com/story/holidays-food-anxiety

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Food Anxiety and The Festive Season - Longevity LIVE - Longevity LIVE

Denise Obrero understood the power of housing stability early in her career and learned a deep respect for elders and seniors from her family and community. The ability to combine those passions in her latest work with Community HousingWorks is an opportunity she welcomes.

The nonprofit organization develops, rehabilitates and operates affordable housing in San Diego County and California, providing programming, resources and services to help residents.

Last month, it was one of a number of local nonprofits awarded grants from The San Diego Foundation for efforts to enhance the quality of life for older San Diegans.

With a $30,000 grant, CHW is launching a yearlong pilot program for seniors 55 and older in their housing communities to work part time in areas that include education-related programs with children, health and wellness programs, and services that include food delivery or financial literacy support for fellow senior residents.

Obrero, 50, is director of programs for the nonprofit and has previously worked as a teacher and in managing public funding to support affordable housing developers. She divides her time between living in Golden Hill with her son, Kai Pele, and their dog, Chivo; and San Clemente to take care of her aging parents. She took some time to talk about the organizations pilot program and how her experiences growing up in Los Angeles in the 1990s, and her previous work in education, have influenced how she approaches her nonprofit work today.

Q: Where did the idea for this kind of program for seniors come from?

A: For some time, weve been discussing how the senior population in San Diego and in CHWs communities is growing rapidly. Weve made some move in terms of our development focus to address this, by building several senior-focused communities in the past few years (including North Park Seniors, which specifically serves the LGBTQ population, along with Mission Cove Seniors in Oceanside, and Windsor Gardens, which is a rehab project in Escondido).

This initiative is really about the programs and services we deliver once these communities are built. All of our programs and services are designed to provide residents with a platform for success, and what that looks like for seniors is the ability to age in a safe, stable and affordable home where they can rely on neighbors and engage in community activities that increase health and wellness.

Q: Why did your organization want to focus on employment, financial independence and decreasing isolation?

A: In conversations about seniors in our society, we hear that they still have a lot to contribute, even in retirement. There is a tremendous amount of leadership and energy that can benefit other generations of residents, while giving seniors a way to stay mentally and physically active. Theres a great deal of data to support that decreasing isolation leads to better health outcomes, which means greater longevity and independence. We saw a need with our after-school programming, which really excels when we have part-time support in helping with the children at each of our sites. This pilot will test whether these two needs can be met with the same initiative, and to see how that might function in terms of providing some additional resources to seniors living on a fixed income, particularly at a time when prices for so many things are rising.

Q: How have your experiences growing up in Los Angeles, and as a teacher in New York and Oakland, influenced the way youve approached your later work in nonprofit organizations?

A: All of my experiences in North America and living abroad have shaped the way that I approach working in high-need communities and raising my son. I am a compassionate, empathetic, tolerant and spiritual human being. The epidemic of gang-related homicides while growing up in L.A. was deeply impactful, and I have seen generational trauma in the communities that I have worked in. Looking back, I would not change one decision because in each of these urban cities, Ive learned a great deal about myself. I lean into taking risks and moving to new areas because I enjoy the challenges that come with not knowing everyone. I have intentionally continued to work in a nonprofit organization because I want to positively influence and move the needle in terms of using housing as a platform for resident success.

I was drawn to Golden Hill because it offers one of San Diegos most historic and architecturally eclectic buildings with many homes from before the 1900s. It is centrally located and close to downtown. It is a vibrant community of cool shops, restaurants and boutiques intermixed with small mom-and-pop businesses that I like to support. The neighborhood is very walkable, and the neighbors are friendly. Golden Hill has the type of vibe and diversity that reminds me of growing up in Los Angeles and parts of the Bay Area.

Q: Whats been challenging about your work?

A: Our current housing crisis is clearly a challenging health issue. We struggle to debunk and fight against the Not in My Backyard attitudes, and we cannot build homes fast enough to meet our current regional housing gaps. Another glaring layer to this is the historical context. When we analyze the federal housing policies in the 1940s and 1950s, there was a deliberate system of oppression targeted at people of color. The federal government created the Federal Housing Association (FHA) in order to spur homeownership. However, the long-term mortgage loan opportunities were only for White homeowners. Redlining occurred in areas like southeastern San Diego, which were earmarked as hazardous. If you are reading my story today and are intrigued to learn more about the history of subsidized housing, racial covenants and their role in housing segregation, please, take the time to read The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein.

Q: Whats been rewarding about this work?

A: Hearing our senior residents lived experiences and stories. They embody genuine humility, grace and grit. For me, I feel the human connection with people who have the same dreams for their children and grandchildren as I do. Since 1994, I have been working in this vibrant industry. My first career path was teaching in urban cities and when I conducted home visits to my students apartments in communities like West Oakland, I saw firsthand that opportunities began with housing stability. Seeing the smiles and successes from our residents has been the most rewarding part of this work. Knowing that neighbors are consistently caring for each other especially during last years lockdown was truly inspirational.

Q: What is the best advice youve ever received?

A: Doors will close, doors will open in your life and This, too, shall pass. My 78-year-old dads sage advice has helped me to clearly recognize that a negative event or circumstance often leaves room for the beginning of something positive. In 1977, my parents took a big leap of faith and became small business owners in South Central Los Angeles. During the 1992 Los Angeles riots, it felt like the world was closing in on all of us. My parents embodied the resilience that you need to carry on along with the residents. Our community rallied together and collectively became organized and stronger in many ways.

Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you?

A: People often ask about my nationality. On my fathers side, his mom emigrated from Hermosillo, Mexico, and his dad emigrated from the Philippines. On my mothers side, her parents emigrated from Japan to Los Angeles (via Angel Island). In 1942, my grandparents lost everything they owned when they were forced into the Japanese internment camps. When my grandparents and family returned from the Wyoming relocation center, they helped to create the close-knit neighborhood of Little Tokyo in downtown L.A. There was a strong sense of belonging that provided ongoing support for seniors and residents in need. Because of my multiracial background, I see the world from a multicultural lens. My relatives on both sides of my family have instilled a strong respect for all elders and seniors. Elders offer their life experiences and stories, and bring wisdom that is part of the fabric of our extended family and collective community.

Q: Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend.

A: It starts off with pretty strong coffee and lounging in the backyard garden patio. I would definitely (join) my two close friends from my UC San Diego days to get a body detox spa treatment at Karma Massage in Hillcrest. Afterward, we would find a Korean barbecue or sushi spot to share a leisurely lunch where were typically eating and talking for hours. That evening, I would get my dog and walk along the beach in Del Mar, watching the sunset.

On Sunday morning, I enjoy reading the print version of the paper and going to yoga in the park. My ideal day would be spent listening to podcasts and Common Kings island music, and maybe paddle boarding at the beach. I also enjoy stopping by The Ecology Center in Encinitas and purchasing a farm share fresh produce box for the rest of the week. My weekend would wrap up with barbecuing in the backyard and enjoying time with my aging parents and my son. We always try to plan Sunday dinners together.

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San Diego nonprofit gets grant to help seniors living in its affordable housing communities - The San Diego Union-Tribune