Families worried about possible long-term effects of pandemic-related disruption can learn from these proven strategies. SDI Productions / Getty Images
By Amanda Sheffield Morris and Jennifer Hays-Grudo
Parents are dealing with huge demands on their time and energy. Children may not be attending school or involved in regular activities. As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on families, routines have collapsed, patience is wearing thin and self-care is a distant memory.
<p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/0000177-000" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Decades of research</a> have <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=7ML3dNEAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao" target="_blank">taught</a> <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=BHBN1dUAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra" target="_blank">us</a> that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-3797(98)00017-8" target="_blank">adversity during childhood</a> has <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-005-0624-4" target="_blank">damaging effects on health and development</a>. Many studies have shown that kids who have faced abuse, neglect and family conflict struggle forming friendships, have academic difficulties and face physical and mental health problems in adolescence and adulthood.</p><p>Fortunately, developmental scientists have identified ways to help children <a href="https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Handbook+of+Child+Psychology+and+Developmental+Science%2C+Volume+3%2C+Socioemotional+Processes%2C+7th+Edition-p-9781118953891" target="_blank">survive and thrive</a> <a href="https://www.guilford.com/books/Ordinary-Magic/Ann-Masten/9781462523719" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">during times of adversity</a>. The beneficial effects of protective and nurturing experiences are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03110-7_1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">powerful antidotes to stress and adversity</a> and prepare children to cope with hard times for years to come.</p><p>Families worried about possible long-term effects of pandemic-related disruption can learn from these proven strategies. Here are 10 ways parents can foster children's resilience during challenging times.</p>
<h2>1. Connect With One Another</h2><p>Make time to talk, listen and play without distractions. Be sure children know they are loved unconditionally. This can include taking breaks to check in during the day when learning and working at home, having a special bedtime routine that includes talking about the day, taking walks together, or playing favorite games. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/13948-000" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Making the effort to connect</a> helps children know they're valued and creates a sense of security.</p><h2>2. Support Children's Friendships</h2><p>Think about ways for children to play together outdoors, talk via technology or play a video game virtually with friends. Some families are creating safe zones or bubbles, where they allow children to pick a close friend or two whose family is practicing recommended coronavirus precautions that they can interact with more closely. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025401" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Maintaining friendships</a> gives children opportunities to learn from peers and reduces stress, providing support and acceptance.</p><h2>3. Find Ways Children Can Help Others</h2><p>Talk about how others are also struggling. Encourage them to donate toys they've outgrown, save money for a special cause or help a neighbor with errands like shopping, bringing in mail, doing yardwork or dog-walking. When you do things for others in the community, include your children and talk about why you do it. This helps children <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9507.1996.tb00073.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">learn about the needs of others and cultivates empathy</a>.</p><h2>4. Help Children Stay Involved in Clubs or Groups</h2><p>Some groups that work well during a pandemic include outdoor Scouting, Zoom clubs and other special-interest clubs such as outdoor sports, fishing, hiking or biking. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.42.4.698" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Being part of a group</a> helps children feel a sense of belonging and promotes identity development. It can also help build morals and values and even promote academic success.</p>
<h2>5. Stay in Touch With Important Adults</h2><p>Children benefit from <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.20106" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">relationships with other grown-ups</a>, like grandparents and teachers. They can be another source of support and someone to talk to about problems or successes. They're particularly important when parents are unavailable due to work or other obligations. Help kids stay connected through Zoom, email, phone calls, FaceTime and special activities like outdoor events. Some social media groups have targeted programs to link children with others to play games or chat.</p><h2>6. Keep Up With Hobbies</h2><p>Boredom is a parent's worst enemy. Having an enjoyable hobby is rewarding for kids; it provides engaging leisure time and opportunities to master something. Such activities provide connections with others, can teach discipline and how to manage one's emotions and behavior, and promote self-esteem. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913917712283" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Explore art, music</a>, science projects, writing, chess and other hobbies that develop physical, artistic and intellectual skills while providing hours of enjoyment.</p><h2>7. Be Physically Active</h2><p>Make exercise a part of family routines. Take walks or ride bikes, play active video games like Wii, go to the park, stretch or do yoga together. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2013.780505" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Exercise has many of the same benefits</a> as hobbies. It also helps children handle the physical effects of stress on the body and improves mood and mental health.</p><h2>8. Create Routines</h2><p><a href="https://theconversation.com/4-good-practices-for-anyone-caring-for-quarantined-kids-135626" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Routines are a powerful nonverbal signal</a> to children's brains that they are safe and that life is predictable. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/01.IYC.0000290352.32170.5a" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Keeping a routine</a> can reduce the number of conflicts, and children know what to do and expect during different points of the day.</p><p>Create and display (together, ideally) daily or weekly calendars with words or pictures that remind children when learning, playing, resting, sleeping and eating activities occur. Invent little rituals that comfort as well as accomplish goals, especially at bedtime: read, tell stories, sing a special song, say a prayer or list loved ones. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2014.12.002" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Such activities ensure better sleep</a> than allowing children to drift off watching a video. Children may push back if they've gotten used to less structure during the day, but most will welcome knowing what to expect.</p>
<h2>9. Keep Realistic Expectations for Learning</h2><p>Children's involvement in schooling varies widely during the pandemic, with some hardly affected and others learning entirely at home. Virtual schooling requires parents to be more involved than before – monitoring assignments, checking in during the day and seeking help when children are struggling.</p><p>While schoolwork is indeed important, not all learning takes place in class. Involve children in opportunities to learn during everyday tasks such as cooking (measuring, timing), gardening, shopping (figuring sales prices, adding), and games (cards, dominoes, board games) that build memory and thinking skills. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2018.11.018" target="_blank">Read with your child every day</a>. Depending on the level of the book, you can read to your child or take turns reading pages.</p><h2>10. Maintain a Healthy and Safe Home</h2><p>In addition to maintaining COVID-19 precautions, make nutritious meals, declutter and organize toys, games, hobby supplies and learning materials. Find ways to involve children in preparing meals, organizing their work and play spaces, cleaning up after activities, and sharing in conversations about family rules. Chaos and clutter are the enemies of calm. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000087" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Creating safe and orderly spaces</a> helps children manage stress. Eating healthy foods together benefits physical and mental health.</p><h2>Parenting in the Time of Coronavirus</h2><p>Many parents naturally do the things listed above. However, with increased stress and demands on time, these activities are difficult to maintain. Now is a good time to pick a few of these strategies and get back on track.</p><p><span></span>Every family is different, and what's appropriate <a href="http://www.acesandpaces.com/uploads/6/4/3/1/64312853/morris___hays-grudo_parent_tips_during_covid-19.pdf" target="_blank">differs by children's ages</a>, whether infants and toddlers, school-age children or teens and young adults. But adjusted for age and circumstances, these tried-and-true techniques can help youngsters make it through tough times and come out the other side OK.</p>
<p>
<em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amanda-sheffield-morris-1183546" target="_blank">Amanda Sheffield Morris</a> is a </em><em>Professor of Human Development and Family Science, Oklahoma State University.</em>
</p><p>
<em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jennifer-hays-grudo-1183558" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jennifer Hays-Grudo</a> is a </em><em>Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Oklahoma State University.</em>
</p><p>
<em>Disclosure statement: </em><em>Jennifer Hays-Grudo receives funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number P20GM109097. </em><em>Amanda Sheffield Morris does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</em>
</p><p>
<em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/10-parenting-strategies-to-reduce-your-kids-pandemic-stress-151419" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.</em>
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A dementia patient with her guide spends the day at an alpaca farm as therapy in the village of Krukow on April 20, 2017 near Geesthacht, Germany. Morris MacMatzen / Getty Images
Therapeutic riding as occupational therapy, dogs visiting children with learning disabilities in school or hens spending time with seniors in elderly homes – so called animal-assisted interventions are manifold.
<p>But administering treatments by professionally trained therapists and maintaining animal welfare are key, says Dr. Andrea Beetz. She is a psychologist, researcher and teacher and has worked in the field of human-animal interaction for more than 20 years. </p>
<p><strong><em>DW: In what contexts have animal assisted interventions been particularly successful or used ?</em></strong></p><p><strong>Dr. Andrea Beetz:</strong> Animals have been integrated in all kinds of education and therapy for children. Children are very open. They have a natural affinity towards animals. They're curious about them.</p><p>So you can find a lot of school-visiting dogs or animal-assisted education approaches like therapeutic riding for the disabled, for instance.</p><p>We have a lot of success because children who are often tired of being in therapy and being in special kinds of support trainings, they are motivated again to participate in these interventions.<span></span></p><p>Another group that is highly visible in the field of animal-assisted interventions are seniors. One of the earliest interventions was a visiting program with dogs in homes for the elderly.</p><p>These visits were aimed at improving wellbeing, lightening the mood, occupying them, getting their mind off their age and illnesses.</p><p>So dogs are a great distraction and they are also social catalysts. They enable and facilitate conversations between humans.</p>
<p><em><strong>DW: What do we know about the effectiveness of animal-assisted interventions?</strong></em></p><p> <strong>Dr. Beetz: </strong>During the last 10 to 15 years, there have been numerous studies that document very positive effects of animal-assisted interventions.</p><p>For instance, there are several studies documenting that animal-assisted interventions can reduce <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/53-million-germans-suffer-from-depression-each-year/a-46506088" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">depression</a> and <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/psychology-what-are-anxiety-disorders/a-48390054" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">anxiety</a>, they can improve mood, trust and also empathy. They reduce all kinds of stress indicators.</p><p>Blood pressure goes down, heart rate goes down. The levels of the stress hormone cortisol are reduced. And one hormone is especially interesting – the hormone oxytocin – the levels of this hormone increased.</p><p>And you have a lot of positive effects from that because it governs the whole system for calm and connectedness.</p>
<p><em><strong>DW: If one has a pet, does that offer any kind of benefits just on its own?</strong></em></p><p><strong>Dr. Beetz:</strong> I would say yes, if you have <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/covid-demand-for-dogs-and-cats-surges-in-germany/a-56318208" target="_blank">contact with animals</a> or you visit a horse every second day that's on the pasture where you go for a walk, you get some kind of interaction that can have positive effects for you.</p><p>It's not the same as a structured therapy or an educational approach. But yes, if you manage to pet the horse and both of you enjoy it, it can reduce your stress level and you can feel more connected and calm.</p><p>Studies have shown that <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/not-so-aloof-cats-capable-of-strong-bonds-with-humans/a-50562714" target="_blank">pet owners</a> actually are, on average, a bit healthier than non-pet owners. They sleep better. They have better cardiovascular parameters, like blood pressure. They have a higher survival rate after heart attacks. </p>
<p><em><strong>DW: Does that mean that any animal can be used in animal-assisted interventions?</strong></em></p><p><strong>Dr. Beetz: </strong>No. We, at the <a href="https://www.aat-isaat.org/" target="_blank">International Society for Animal-Assisted Therapy</a>, say that only certain species should be used. These species are usually domesticated species like dogs, cats, horses, cows, goats, sheep. But also llamas and alpacas are very popular. They also have a long history of being domesticated by humans.</p><p>This is important because these animals are more used to and they are less stressed by interactions with humans.</p><p>In addition to being a domesticated species, they also need to be well socialized with humans from a young age so that they are not stressed by the interaction and they actually enjoy it.</p><p>This group of animal species are also the most suitable for animal protection reasons. We also do not recommend working with snakes or other kinds of reptiles because there is a risk of salmonella infections.</p><p>So there's a lot of thought behind it. Even though you will find different examples where other species like dolphins are used, this is a wild species. But in the field we say, please keep it to domesticated animals.</p>
<p><em><strong>DW: Are there certain limitations to animal-assisted interventions?</strong></em></p><p><strong>Dr. Beetz:</strong> One exclusion criteria could be that there's a strong allergy to the species involved.</p><p>People who are immunosuppressed or on immunosuppressants due to some kind of sickness are also at higher risk.</p><p>And another reason could be that people are just afraid of certain kinds of animals. Then you really need to consider, if you're going to take the time to first work on that fear and then have the positive effects of animal-assisted interventions, or if another kind of animal-free therapy would be better.</p><p><em><a href="https://www.animalsandsociety.org/human-animal-studies/defining-human-animal-studies-an-asi-video-project/defining-zoophilia-with-andrea-beetz/" target="_blank">Dr. Andrea Beetz</a> works at the IUBH University of Applied Sciences in Germany.</em> <em>Beetz is also active on the board of the International Society for Animal-Assisted Therapy (ISAAT).</em></p><p><span></span><em>The interview was conducted by Mira Fricke for TV and has been edited for clarity. </em></p><p><em></em><em>Reposted with permission from </em><em><a href="https://www.dw.com/en/animals-as-therapists/a-56368730" target="_blank">Deutsche Welle</a>. </em></p>
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<p>Here you can learn about the importance of organic hemp oil, why it's better for the environment, and which CBD companies actually make trustworthy products with sustainable farming processes. origins which weigh heavily on many consumers who want to buy a product that's produced in the best way possible for not only themselves to ingest, but for the environment as well through sustainable farming methods. </p><h2>What Is CBD Oil?</h2><p>First things first, CBD stands for cannabidiol, and it's a cannabinoid found within cannabis sativa plants. This plant compound is believed to have many potential benefits, and it is primarily derived from hemp plants via a CO2 extraction process. </p><p>Since CBD is extracted from industrial hemp, which contains only trace amounts of THC (the psychoactive component in cannabis plants), this means that CBD won't make you feel high like marijuana, which has much higher levels of THC that causes psychoactive effects. Instead, the effects of CBD are much more subtle and promote a general sense of calm and relaxation in most users.</p><h2>What Makes a CBD Oil Organic?</h2><p>In terms of organic labels, perhaps the most important (and prominent) certification comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This government organization has been labeling foods as "organic" for many years, but what exactly does this certification entail? Essentially, a label indicating that a product is "USDA Organic" or "Certified Organic" means that at least 95% of the ingredients are obtained from organic sources.</p><p>For a crop to be considered organic by the USDA, it must be grown without the use of industrial solvents, irradiation, genetic engineering (GMOs), synthetic pesticides, or chemical fertilizer. Instead, farmers rely on natural substances and <a href="https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2012/03/22/organic-101-what-usda-organic-label-means" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mechanical, physical, or biologically based farming</a> techniques to cultivate healthy and organic crops.</p><p>Before the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, no hemp-derived products could be dubbed as "certified organic" since the hemp plant and its extracts were still categorized as a Schedule I Controlled Substance. However, it's still difficult for CBD companies to obtain a USDA certified organic label for their products due to the legal grey area that still surrounds CBD extracts. </p><p>Because of these challenges, and due to the fact that industrial hemp has only recently become an agricultural crop, very few CBD oils are USDA certified organic. Rather, many CBD products contain hemp extracts from plants that were grown in organic conditions but may not be federally certified.</p><h2>What are the Best Organic CBD Oil Brands?</h2><p><em>Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.</em></p><em><br></em>
<h2>Why Organic Hemp Oil Matters</h2><p>Hemp is a unique plant, not only for its rich cannabinoid content, but also for its ability to absorb a wide variety of components in soil. But this trait poses great risks when it comes to the creation of CBD products derived from hemp.</p><p>Because hemp has a high capacity for compound uptake, this means that the plants can retain <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/industry/lab-test-results/" target="_blank">harmful chemicals like pesticides</a>, heavy metals, and other residual solvents. This is especially true when it comes to synthetic chemicals that are more toxic to humans, and difficult to remove once they have been absorbed by the hemp plant.</p><p>Organic farming practices help reduce the risk of hemp crops absorbing harsh chemicals that may later end up in CBD oil after extraction. When you're taking CBD as a wellness supplement to help alleviate your symptoms or improve your overall well-being, the last thing you want is to ingest compounds that might negatively outweigh the benefits of CBD. This is an important reason to look for third party lab test results when shopping for CBD products since these certificates of analysis can show the full cannabinoid and terpene profile of a hemp extract, as well as test results that search for the presence of any residual solvents.</p><p>In addition to creating a better end product, organic farming practices are also better for the environment. Sustainable and organic farming methods may <a href="https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/organic-foods.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy</a>. The use of natural pest deterrents as opposed to chemical pesticides is also better for nearby animal populations and ecosystems.</p><h3>Organic vs. Natural</h3><p>While there are only a select few companies offering certified organic ingredients in their products, almost every brand in the CBD market creates "natural" products. The term "all-natural" or "plant-based" does not mean that a product is organic, and since hemp oil is a natural derivative of hemp plants, these products are often referred to as all-natural. However, there are some synthetic CBD oils that should be avoided because they are chemically constructed and may produce unwanted side effects that are not caused by naturally derived CBD extracts.</p><h2>What are the Benefits of Organic CBD Oil?</h2><p>There's a long list of potential CBD oil health benefits, and some of the most common wellness advantages include:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/" target="_blank">Chronic pain relief</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/" target="_blank">Anti-anxiety effects</a></li><li>Better sleep</li><li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inner-source/201901/cbd-oil-mental-health-should-you-take-it-too" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Improvements in mood</a></li><li>Internal balance and regulation</li></ul><p>When dealing with pain, inflammation, sleep issues, and mental health struggles, it can be hard to find sufficient treatment options. The use of certain prescriptions can cause unwanted side effects, yet they are often the only solution for patients with these medical conditions. In search of other therapies, people have started to flock towards CBD oil as an alternative remedy for a variety of conditions. However, it should be noted that CBD products are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and you should seek your doctor's advice before using CBD if you have a serious medical condition.</p><h2>Look at the Labels Before You Buy CBD Oil</h2><p>When you go online to buy CBD oil, you'll quickly realize there is an overwhelming number of brands that are saturating the market. It can be difficult to determine which products are truly as good as they make themselves out to be. Always look for up-to-date third-party lab tests so you know you are getting a great product, and don't hesitate to contact the brand if you have any additional questions. And if you're intent on purchasing 100% organic CBD oil, it's best to look for certified products or brands that are held to strict regulatory standards.</p><p><strong>Melena Gurganus </strong>is the Reviews Editor at EcoWatch. She is passionate health and wellness and her writing aims to help others find products they can trust. Her work has been featured in publications such as Health, Shape, Huffington Post, Cannabis Business Times, and Bustle.<br></p>
Spruce
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CBDistillery
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FAB CBD
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NuLeaf Naturals
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Charlotte's Web
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwMjk3NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MzQ0NjM4N30.SaQ85SK10-MWjN3PwHo2RqpiUBdjhD0IRnHKTqKaU7Q/img.jpg?width=980" id="84700" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a2174067dcc0c4094be25b3472ce08c8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="charlottes web cbd oil" data-width="1244" data-height="1244" /><p>Perhaps one of the most well-known brands in the CBD landscape, Charlotte's Web has been growing sustainable hemp plants for several years. The company is currently in the process of achieving official USDA Organic Certification, but it already practices organic and sustainable cultivation techniques to enhance the overall health of the soil and the hemp plants themselves, which creates some of the highest quality CBD extracts. Charlotte's Web offers CBD oils in a range of different concentration options, and some even come in a few flavor options such as chocolate mint, orange blossom, and lemon twist.</p>
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There are new lifestyle "medicines" that are free that doctors could be prescribing for all their patients. Marko Geber / Getty Images
By Yoram Vodovotz and Michael Parkinson
The majority of Americans are stressed, sleep-deprived and overweight and suffer from largely preventable lifestyle diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. Being overweight or obese contributes to the 50% of adults who suffer high blood pressure, 10% with diabetes and additional 35% with pre-diabetes. And the costs are unaffordable and growing. About 90% of the nearly $4 trillion Americans spend annually for health care in the U.S. is for chronic diseases and mental health conditions. But there are new lifestyle "medicines" that are free that doctors could be prescribing for all their patients.
<p><a href="https://www.lifestylemedicine.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lifestyle medicine</a> is the clinical application of healthy behaviors to prevent, treat and reverse disease. More than ever, <a href="https://adventisthealthstudy.org/?rsource=publichealth.llu.edu/adventist-health-studies" target="_blank">research</a> <a href="https://www.nurseshealthstudy.org/" target="_blank">underscores</a> <a href="https://sites.sph.harvard.edu/hpfs/" target="_blank">that</a> <a href="http://www.commissiononhealth.org/Home.aspx" target="_blank">the "pills"</a> today's physician should be prescribing for patients are the six domains of lifestyle medicine: whole food plant-based eating, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, addiction reduction or elimination, and positive psychology and social connection.</p><p>We are a primary care <a href="https://www.workpartnersblog.com/workpartners-thought-leaders-to-present-at-2019-health-benefits-conference-expo/" target="_blank">preventive medicine physician</a> and a <a href="https://mirm-pitt.net/our-people/faculty-staff-bios/yoram-vodovotz-phd/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">computational immunologist</a>, both committed to applying state-of-the-art research to <a href="https://www.ardmoreinstituteofhealth.org/lmrsummit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">inform the clinical practice of lifestyle medicine</a>. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2020.585744" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Our findings and recommendations</a> were just published. We highlight the key take-home points for each of the areas below.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU0MTcxNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNjU1OTYyMn0.vx49NmD7LdCrMdp7X5fspiRcqGsz0eb4sbub_5noFrI/img.jpg?width=980" id="e93c6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8ffb03955ed95a9c49ad34848dd8677b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1200" data-height="946" />
Use the Healthy Eating Plate as an evidence-based guide for creating healthy, balanced meals. ©2011, Harvard University, CC BY-NC
<h2>Whole-Food, Plant-Based Eating</h2><p>Diets high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains and lower in animal products and highly processed foods have <a href="https://eatforum.org/content/uploads/2019/01/EAT-Lancet_Commission_Summary_Report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">been associated</a> <a href="http://doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.20.2569" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">with prevention</a> of many diseases. These diets have also <a href="http://doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.20.2569" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">improved health</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/17-025" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">and even reversed</a> common <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/costs/index.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">cardiovascular, metabolic, brain, hormonal, kidney and autoimmune diseases as well as 35% of all cancers</a>.</p><p>We believe that future research should include larger trials or new research methods with <a href="http://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.2790" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">emphasis on quality of diet</a>. This would include more data on the micronutrient composition and protein sources of plant versus animal-based foods – not just proportion of fat, carbohydrates and protein. Such trials should include children, as many adult disorders are seeded as early as infancy or in utero.</p><h2>Regular Physical Activity</h2><p><a href="https://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/m0042984/m0042984.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">For decades, surgeon generals' guidelines</a> have emphasized that daily moderate-to-vigorous aerobic physical activity has both immediate and long-term health benefits. For example, why we age and the rate at which we age – chronological age versus biological age – is determined by multiple molecular processes that are directly influenced by physical activity. And now scientists are gaining a better understanding of the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2015.05.011" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">cellular and molecular changes that exercise</a> induces to reduce disease risk.</p><p>Research priorities for scientists and physicians include obtaining a deeper understanding of the type, intensity and frequency of activity, and better insights into the molecular and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pmbts.2015.07.005" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">cellular alterations</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.irn.2019.06.002" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">that occur with exercise</a>.</p>
<h2>Restorative Sleep</h2><p>Sleep helps the cells, organs and entire body to function better. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/how_much_sleep.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Regular uninterrupted sleep</a> of seven hours per night for adults, eight to 10 hours for teenagers and 10 or more for children is necessary for <a href="https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.3298" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">good health</a>.</p><p>Though understudied, there is evidence that high-quality sleep can reduce <a href="https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.3298" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">inflammation, immune dysfunction, oxidative stress, and epigenetic modification</a> of DNA, all of which are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S1389-9457(08)70013-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">associated with or cause chronic disease</a>.</p><p>Therefore, research into the biological mechanisms that underlie the restorative properties of sleep could lead to environmental or population-based and policy approaches to better align our natural sleep patterns with the demands of daily life.</p><h2>Stress Management</h2><p>Though some stress is beneficial, prolonged or extreme stress can overwhelm the brain and body. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2006.00450.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chronic stress increases the risk of cardiovascular disease</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/cns.12490" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">irritable bowel disease</a>, <a href="http://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2016.04.007" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">obesity</a>, depression, asthma, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, neurological disorders and obesity.</p><p>One of the most powerful mechanisms to reduce stress and enhance resilience is by <a href="https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp1917461" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">eliciting a relaxation response</a> using mind-body therapies and cognitive behavioral therapy.</p><p>More research is need to gain a better understanding of how these therapies work.</p>
<h2>Addiction Reduction and Elimination</h2><p>Many social, economic and environmental factors have fueled the national rise in substance abuse generally and, most tragically, the opioid epidemic.</p><p>Physicians and researchers are beginning to understand the underlying physiology and psychology of addiction.</p><p>Yet the <a href="https://doi.org/10.17226/25310" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">continued stigma and disjointed or absent access</a> to services remains a challenge. Clinicians and scientists need to explore how to predict who is more vulnerable to addiction and find ways of preventing it. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2018.1546862" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Treatment that incorporates integrated care</a> focused on all the patient's needs should be prioritized.</p><h2>Positive Psychology and Social Connection</h2><p>Maintaining a positive mindset through the practice of gratitude and forgiveness has a significant impact on psychological and subjective well-being, which are, in turn, associated with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00082-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">physical health benefits</a>.</p><p>Social connectivity, namely the quantity and quality of our relationships, has perhaps <a href="https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674503816" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the most powerful health benefits</a>.</p><p>Conversely, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.119.3.488" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">social isolation</a> – such as <a href="https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303431" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">living alone, having a small social network</a>, participating in few social activities, and feeling lonely – <a href="https://doi.org/10.1212/01.WNL.0000147473.04043.B3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">is associated with greater mortality</a>, increased morbidity, lower immune system function, depression and cognitive decline.</p><p>Further study is needed to uncover how an individual's biology and chemistry change for the better through more social interactions.</p>
<h2>Inflammation's Role in Lifestyle-Related Diseases</h2><p>Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors produce a vicious cycle of inflammation. While inflammation is a healthy, natural way the body fights infections, injury, and stress, too much inflammation actually promotes or exacerbates the diseases described above.</p><p>The inflammatory response is complex. We have been using machine learning and computer modeling to <a href="https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030565091" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">understand, predict, treat and reprogram inflammation</a> – to retain the healing elements while minimizing the detrimental more chronic ones. Scientists are unraveling new mechanisms that explain how chronic stress can turn genes on and off.</p><h2>Overcoming Challenges and Barriers</h2><p>We and others who study lifestyle medicine are now discussing how we can leverage all of these approaches to improve <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/files/Articles/585744/fmed-07-585744-HTML/image_m/fmed-07-585744-g001.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">clinical studies on the impacts</a> of lifestyle interventions.</p><p>At the same time we and our colleagues realize that there are environmental challenges and barriers that prevent many people from embracing these lifestyle fixes.</p><p>There are food deserts where healthier foods are not available or affordable. Unsafe neighborhoods, harmful chemicals and substances create constant stress. Poor education, poverty, cultural beliefs and racial and ethnic disparities and discrimination must be addressed for all people and patients to appreciate and embrace the six "pills."</p><p>The application of lifestyle medicines is particularly important now because unhealthy lifestyles have caused a pandemic of preventable chronic diseases that is now exacerbating the COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827620950276" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">afflicts those with these conditions</a>.</p><p>Ask your doctor to <a href="https://www.guidetogoodhealth.com/Articles/LifestyleMedicine.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">"prescribe" these six "pills"</a> for a longer and better life. After all, they're free, work better than or as well as medications and have no side effects!</p>
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<em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/yoram-vodovotz-1193610" target="_blank">Yoram Vodovotz</a> is a </em><em>Professor of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh.<br/>
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<em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-parkinson-1193974" target="_blank">Michael Parkinson</a> is a </em><em>Senior Medical Director of Health and Productivity, UPMC Health Plan & Workpartners, University of Pittsburgh.<br/>
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<em>Disclosure statement: </em><em>Yoram Vodovotz is a co-founder of, and stakeholder in Immunetrics, Inc. </em><em>Michael Parkinson, MD, MPH is founder of P3 Health (Prevention, Performance & Productivity).</em>
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<em></em><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/they-dont-come-as-pills-but-try-these-6-underprescribed-lifestyle-medicines-for-a-better-longer-life-152791" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.</em>
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How Biden’s Dogs Could Make the Oval Office a Workplace With Less Stress and Better Decision-Making
26 January
Animals
First Lady Jill Biden with First Dog Champ outside the White House on Sunday, Jan. 24. Adam Schultz / Official White House photo
By Ellen Furlong
On Jan. 24 the White House welcomed two new residents: Champ and Major, the newly minted first dogs of the United States. The first dogs are poised to offer special benefits to workers in the White House.
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<span></span>Since entering the political spotlight, Champ and Major have achieved <a href="https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a34680434/joe-biden-dogs/" target="_blank">celebrity status</a>, making news when then-<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/29/politics/biden-twisted-ankle/index.html" target="_blank">President-elect Joe Biden fractured his foot while playing with Major</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/joebiden/status/1189327302733238272?lang=en" target="_blank">stumping for Biden on the campaign trail</a>. The dogs even share a <a href="https://twitter.com/firstdogsusa" target="_blank">Twitter account</a>, which features <a href="https://twitter.com/firstdogsusa/status/1349845039434887168" target="_blank">photos</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/firstdogsusa/status/1352404292049711106/photo/1" target="_blank">doggie press releases</a>. Major, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/10/style/biden-german-shepherd-champ-major-rescue.html" target="_blank">the first shelter dog to live in the White House</a>, has delighted so many people, the Delaware Humane Association, from which Major was adopted, <a href="https://delawarehumaneassociation.salsalabs.org/indoguration/index.html" target="_blank">held an "indoguration" ceremony</a> for him.
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<a href="https://www.whitehousehistory.org/white-house-pets/top-dogs-at-the-white-house" target="_blank">Pets in the Oval Office</a> have long fascinated many on both sides of the aisle. George H.W. Bush's springer spaniel, <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Millie_s_Book/VIxTPgAACAAJ?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Millie, "authored" a book</a> on life in the White House that charmed many readers – and even <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/all-the-presidents-pooches-136909816/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">outsold her presidential guardian's autobiography</a>. More recently, <a href="https://www.whitehousehistory.org/photos/fotoware?id=4223CE23619B4E05%20A387769923767980" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Buddy Clinton</a>, <a href="https://www.georgewbushlibrary.smu.edu/Home/The-President-and-Family/The-Bush-Family/Barney-and-Miss-Beazley-Biography.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Barney and Miss Beazley Bush</a> and <a href="https://www.obama.org/gallery/bo-sunny/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bo and Sunny Obama</a> have captivated the American public while roaming the halls of the White House.
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As a dog enthusiast, I too take enormous delight in seeing presidents' dogs <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-17/president-obama-runs-with-bo-the-dog/8188148?nw=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">run down the White House hallways</a>, <a href="https://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/pets/spot/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">deplane from Air Force One</a> or <a href="https://theconversation.com/could-a-dog-pick-the-next-president-132719" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">campaign with their guardians</a>. But as a <a href="https://www.iwudogscientists.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">psychologist studying dog cognition and behavior</a>, I must add a crucial point: <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Decoding-Dogs-Inside-the-Canine-Mind-Audiobook/B08FXRKSK3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dogs have much more to offer</a> than feel-good stories and cute photo ops. A growing area of research suggests that <a href="https://www.medicaldaily.com/how-spending-time-dogs-significantly-improves-your-life-423091" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">dogs can provide real benefits</a>, not only to their daily companions, but also to those in their orbit.
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Promoting Well-Being
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTUzNjM4OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3NDQxNTg1MX0.3wAaMwHIdVaRh9cIyfTesDpQMK0Pwg9nyUNCtfuTuCU/img.jpg?width=980" id="443d8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4cb3d440ff15ab78cd8309e1ca58050f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1120" data-height="746" />Presidential pup Major Biden stretches his legs on the White House lawn. Adam Schultz / Official White House photo
<p>These benefits explain why many workplaces – from <a href="https://thebark.com/content/barks-directory-best-dog-friendly-companies" target="_blank">Amazon to Zygna</a> – have begun welcoming dogs into their offices. Recent research suggests that dogs in the workplace can lead to <a href="http://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00138" target="_blank">increased worker engagement, lower employee turnover</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0021943605277399" target="_blank">greater work satisfaction</a> and even enhanced employee <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010089" target="_blank">cohesion and communication</a>.</p><p><span></span>The Oval Office, the site of momentous decisions, enormous stress and complex social dynamics, may benefit from dogs even more than typical workplaces. After all, stress can compromise <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2012.02.003" target="_blank">decision-making</a> and <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/11/051117174336.htm" target="_blank">problem-solving abilities</a>. Pets can alleviate stress, however, dampening these effects and leading to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1161/hyp.38.4.815" target="_blank">improved performance on difficult tasks</a>.</p><p>Not only do people <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2019.1550280" target="_blank">report feeling less workplace stress around dogs</a>, but their very bodies tend to support this claim. A growing area of research suggests human <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-013-9546-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">heart rates slow, levels of the stress hormone cortisol shrink</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.1992.tb137178.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">blood pressure decreases</a> when people hang out with dogs. Interestingly, the positive effects of pups on stress levels exceed that of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000024236.11538.41" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">even a close friend or family member</a>: A dog will reduce your stress more than your spouse or best friend will. After all, dogs are <a href="https://theconversation.com/your-dogs-nose-knows-no-bounds-and-neither-does-its-love-for-you-148484" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">naturally inclined to love you unconditionally</a> and will never find fault with the way you slurp your soup.</p><p>Dogs may reduce stress because they <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-right-balance/201804/how-dogs-drive-emotional-well-being" target="_blank">provide social support</a>. You may feel supported by your pooch, in part, because of the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1261022" target="_blank">oxytocin feedback loop between humans and dogs</a>. Oxytocin, a hormone involved in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-6123(08)00427-5" target="_blank">promoting social bonds</a>, is released in both dogs and humans when <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/dog-gazes-hijack-brains-maternal-bonding-system-180955019" target="_blank">gazing into each other's eyes</a>.</p><p>People report <a href="https://doi.org/10.2752/089279306785593928" target="_blank">improved mood</a>, <a href="https://news.ubc.ca/2018/03/12/sit-stay-heal-study-finds-therapy-dogs-help-stressed-university-students/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">increased happiness and greater energy levels</a> around dogs. And, on the flip side, they enjoy reduced feelings of <a href="https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/February-2018/How-Dogs-Can-Help-with-Depression" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">depression</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2007.11.007" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">loneliness</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024506" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">negativity</a> when dogs are present.</p>Creating Connection
<p>Given dogs' skill at providing these supports and boosting mood, it may not surprise you to learn they work their magic not only one on one, but also in group settings. In the presence of a dog, people in groups have <a href="https://doi.org/10.2752/089279304785643203" target="_blank">better social interactions, engage in more conversations</a> and are more likely to form <a href="http://doi.org/10.1163/156853007X169333" target="_blank">long-term friendships</a> with one another.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTUzNjMxMC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNzA3NzIyN30.NpV2TIQAIBPvEkJpq_YYdbcbwsOkedIlNPVbrjUuqg8/img.png?width=980" id="d5467" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f3cd33e6849a76002c4db29ae9fb36b3" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1584" data-height="1262" />
<script async="async" data-counter="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/153406/count?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" id="theconversation_tracker_hook" src="https://theconversation.com/javascripts/lib/content_tracker_hook.js" type="text/javascript"></script>President Clinton and President Chirac of France showing Buddy some love in 1999. National Archives and Records Administration
<p>The effects of dogs as social lubricants can go further: Dogs even foster development of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1348/000712600161673" target="_blank">social support networks</a> among their humans, leading to a sense of community, and more social interactions between people in their vicinity. These engagements offer opportunities for even more social support in high-stress environments. And perhaps most importantly, <a href="https://doi.org/10.2752/175303708X371564" target="_blank">people are more likely to offer help</a> when a dog is present.</p><p>Having Champ and Major in the White House may help President Biden and his staff navigate the stresses and tensions of the current political landscape. Beyond "indogurations," tweets and cute photo ops, Champ and Major will offer physical, psychological and social benefits in the Oval Office.</p><p>In short, pets (<a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-being-cat-lover" target="_blank">yes, cats too!</a>) improve the quality of life in almost every context – including presidential ones. Perhaps they can, even in a small way, play a role in uniting a divided country. After all, personal politics aside, isn't it comforting to know there will be paws pattering around the White House again?</p><p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ellen-furlong-1165354" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ellen Furlong</a> is an associate professor of Psychology at Illinois Wesleyan University.</em></p><p><em>Disclosure statement: Ellen Furlong has written for Audible / The Great Courses. She has received funding from The National Institute of Health. She is a member of The Animal Behavior Society, The Comparative Cognition Society, The American Psychological Association, and The Society for Teaching of Psychology.</em></p><p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-bidens-dogs-could-make-the-oval-office-a-workplace-with-less-stress-and-better-decision-making-153406" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Conversation</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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The "DEMON" at home stands for: D - Device Addiction, E - Eye strain, M - Mental health problems, O – Obesity, N - Neck and Back pain. nensuria / Getty Images
By Alisha Moopen
As the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic gains strength in many parts of the world, it is evident that the old normal has slipped, and a new sense of normalcy is setting in. This has been evident with the arrival of the work-from-home, study-from-home and socialize-from-home model, whenever possible.
<p>But while we retreat into the safety of our houses, we must stay vigilant as the battle has not been won yet. Rather, there are an array of dangers lurking within our own four walls, brought about by this pandemic, which can negatively impact our health. These dangers are the DEMON – Device addiction, Eye strain, Mental health, Obesity, and Neck and back pain – and if left unchecked, can quickly escalate into lifelong challenges.</p><h2>1. Device Addiction</h2><p>While the use of electronic devices has enabled work, study and communication with family and friends, the move into the digital world from the physical world has come with a price. We are ever more dependent on our screens.</p><p>From Zoom (which <a href="https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/LWNvCYMZyhLVWDps0kSy1?domain=engadget.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">surpassed 300 million daily meeting participants </a>in 2021) and Microsoft (which saw its productivity suite users generate <a href="https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/DU-KCZWgzs5Kq78HjSXdE?domain=microsoft.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">more than 30 billion collaboration minutes in a single day</a>) to Netflix (which <a href="https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/9-TNC19MGTMJA6Bfp7uBI?domain=fool.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">added nearly 26 million subscribers in the first half of this year</a>) and Google Classroom (which saw <a href="https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/8z-0C29X7Tp52VZF2XcpS?domain=bloombergquint.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the number of users double compared to last year as quarantines spread</a>), we have become dependent on a small number of apps provided by these tech companies to enable the basic functioning of our lives.</p><p>"Nomophobia," or the fear of being without a mobile device, became more entrenched in the global vocabulary during 2020. In such scenarios, a routine conscious digital detox that involves disconnecting from smart devices for short periods can be the answer.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTI2NDgwMy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3NTI2NzI2M30.uo0uQKQzRAA_tr89hrFwHGPpEGtKtv27dBUVXJP4c5A/img.png?width=980" id="9f5fe" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ac369d8dd7ef5ce38901b5f70c393fa0" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1704" data-height="1052" />
The effects of COVID-19 on workers' lives. Ipsos-World Economic Forum
<h2>2. Eye Strain</h2><p>A direct consequence of device addiction and increased screen time is eye strain which can result in eyesight problems. For students, the advent of online learning – which supplemented existing screen time for gaming and entertainment – has been paired with the significant increase in the probability of developing myopia or near-sightedness. In fact, the rate of <a href="https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/nSWFC393yTpDgX9FQAdHo?domain=theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">myopia has been rising globally</a> with its prevalence among children in 6 to 19 years bracket estimated at around 40% in Europe and North America and even higher in Asia. Among adults, the "computer vision syndrome" or digital eye strain is becoming more prevalent with symptoms like dry eyes, persistent headaches, blurred vision or reduced visibility. To keep this at bay, one should factor in regular eye-health check-ups while also embedding a break every 20 minutes to look at an object 20 feet away, and reducing screen time when possible.</p><h2>3. Mental Health Deterioration</h2><p>The third issue – and one that has been widely discussed – has been the deterioration of mental health for many people. The past year has seen challenges for all ages and groups. Students have been unable to interact physically with their peers and teachers and they have suffered growing anxiety about their futures. Many people have not been able to see parents or loved ones. For working adults, <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/01/covid-19-work-mental-health-world-economic-forum-ipsos-survey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">more than half globally</a> have experienced anxiety relating to job security and stress due to changes in their working patterns. Entrepreneurs have also had to make significant changes to try and keep their businesses afloat.</p><p>Last year undoubtedly saw turmoil as worries and fear for the future have crept into our everyday reality. The World Health Organization expects that <a href="https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/9z-DC492zTB42z9SMGl9v?domain=who.int" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the need for mental health and psychosocial support will substantially increase in the coming months and years</a>. Hence, it is paramount that self-care strategies become a part of the daily routine to protect mental and physical health. Simple and effective measures include maintaining a daily rhythm, limiting exposure to negative news media, focusing on positive thoughts, setting priorities and staying busy, while also staying connected with family members.</p>
<h2>4. Obesity</h2><p>Obesity had been highlighted as a global problem even before the heightened risks of COVID-19 were apparent. Various factors have contributed to a rise in obesity, including <a href="https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/OegVCmEkYUjyopPFxtppu?domain=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">inexpensive calorie-dense food, screen dependance and the changing structure of communities that reduces or replaces physical activity, and inexpensive nonphysical entertainment</a>. With quarantine and stay-at-home guidelines becoming normal, the opportunity to step out of the house for exercising and simple activities like walking dwindled.</p><p>But, while staying home might have been safe in the short-term, it runs the risk of aggravating diseases like diabetes and hypertension in the long-term, which in turn increase our vulnerability to COVID-19. In fact, just a few years ago, <a href="https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/OegVCmEkYUjyopPFxtppu?domain=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">more than $400 billion of excess direct health care expenditure was due to obesity in the United States</a>.</p><p>To ward off obesity, simple steps like getting 8 hours of sleep every day, regular exercise (even if it is at home), a well-balanced and healthy diet, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, and setting some time to relax and recharge can make the difference.</p>
<h2>5. Neck and Back Pain</h2><p>The final challenge is the neck and back pain from the long hours spent in the home office. Limited movement can stiffen neck and back muscles, causing severe pain and discomfort. If left unchecked, this can result in permanent pain which may transform into numerous visits to doctors and chiropractors for healing. Moreover, this can also be aggravated by make-shift workstations which may not always be appropriate for long-term regular work. A few solutions include standing and working as a part of the work set-up through adjustable stands and tables, investing in a chair that provides good lumbar support and taking frequent breaks to stretch arms, neck and back. A small break, perhaps once an hour, does the trick.</p><p>Given we are in for the long-haul, people need to recognize the DEMON lurking in their homes – and stay away from it.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/01/household-demons-to-be-mindful-about/" target="_blank">World Economic Forum</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Matt Porteous / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Essential oils have many health benefits, but anxiety management is where they really shine.
<p>Like a bullet straight to the heart of your biochemistry, their phytochemicals can swiftly enter the bloodstream and relieve anxiety fast.</p><p>Here are the four best essential oils for anxiety:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Lavender</li><li>Bergamot</li><li>Rose</li><li>Chamomile</li></ul><p>What makes these essential oils so effective at calming the nervous system?</p><p>Keep reading to find out.</p>
What Are Essential Oils?
<p>Essential oils are extracted from the roots, stems, flowers, leaves, and bark of certain plants.</p><p>Their therapeutic compounds can promote relaxation, improve mood, reduce anxiety, and ameliorate depression.</p>How Essential Oils May Help Anxiety
<p>Most compounds have to be digested or injected in order to enter the bloodstream.</p><p>However, the phytochemicals in essential oils, like linalool and linalyl acetate, are small enough to pass through the skin and nasal cavities.</p><p>From there, they can readily travel across the blood-brain barrier to potentially relieve anxiety.</p><p>People with anxiety often have concurrent digestive issues that inhibit nutrient absorption, making essential oils an especially valuable treatment.</p>How to Use Essential Oils for Anxiety
<p>Essential oils can be ingested, applied topically, or inhaled.</p><p>Aromatherapy massage, however, can provide particularly fast-acting relief.</p><p>A <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18753801" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2008 study</a> found that aromatherapy hand massages with a blend of bergamot, lavender, and frankincense can effectively reduce anxiety, pain, and depression in hospice patients better than regular massage alone. The essential oil blend contained a 1.5 percent dilution of essential oils, using sweet almond oil as a carrier oil. </p><p>Carrier oils like almond, coconut, and <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/health/how-is-hemp-oil-made/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hemp seed oil</a> can spread the essential oil across a wider surface area and extend its aromatic effects.</p><p>However, oral lavender oil can be effective as well.</p><p>A 2009 study published in the journal <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19382124" target="_blank"><em>Human Psychopharmacology</em></a> found that oral lavender oil capsules can reduce anxiety in participants watching stressful film clips.</p>4 Best Essential Oils for Anxiety
<p>Essential oils can reduce stress hormone production and boost calming neurotransmitters.</p><p>Here's a closer look at the four best essential oils for anxiety:</p><p><strong>1. Lavender</strong></p><p>Lavender is the queen of anti-anxiety oils, and there's a mountain of evidence to prove it.</p><p>Over the years, lavender essential oil has been studied as a treatment for wounds, burns, and seizures, but recent research suggests that it may also have potent anti-anxiety, mood stabilizing, and sedative effects.</p><p>It can also be consumed as a lavender tea.</p><p>Here's what the research as to say about lavender essential oil for anxiety:</p><ul><li>According to a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3612440/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2013 meta-analysis</a>, lavender may promote the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA and reduce glutamate, which tends to be overactive in anxious individuals. </li><li>A 2012 study published in the journal <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22402245/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Phytomedicine</em></a> found that lavender may reduce anxiety by acting on acetylcholine: the primary neurotransmitter involved with higher thinking. </li><li>Inhaled <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12112282/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">lavender may target the limbic system</a> by targeting the hippocampus and amygdala: the emotional center of the brain.</li><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17291597" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Animal studies</a> show that inhaled lavender can reduce cortisol: the main hormone linked to chronic stress and anxiety. </li><li>In a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24456909" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2014 human study</a>, researchers determined that oral lavender oil can outperform the prescription anxiolytic paroxetine in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).</li></ul><p>Although the FDA <em>does not</em> officially recognize lavender oil as a treatment for anxiety disorders, the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5437114/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">European Medicines Agency</a> (EMA) does.</p><p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26247152" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Recent research</a> shows that lavender oil may also reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, and slow heart rate.</p><p><strong>2. Bergamot</strong></p><p>Bergamot is another widely-researched essential oil that may reduce anxiety, pain, stress, and inflammation.</p><p>According to a 2011 rodent study published in the journal <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21105176" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Phytotherapy Research</em></a>, "Both BEO [bergamot essential oil] and diazepam [prescription medication] exhibited anxiolytic-like behaviors and attenuated HPA axis activity by reducing the corticosterone response to stress.</p><p>In other words, bergamot treated stress and anxiety by calming the stress response.</p><p>Human studies are also promising.</p><p>A <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5434918/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2017 pilot study</a> found that bergamot oil aromatherapy can enhance positive feelings in the waiting room of a mental health treatment center.</p><p><strong>3. Rose</strong></p><p>Studies show that rose essential oil may balance hormones, reduce stress, and treat anxiety.</p><p>Here's what the research has to say about the health benefits of rose essential oil:</p><ul><li>In a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17693981" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2007 Japanese study</a>, rose oil aromatherapy effectively reduced cortisol levels in both female and male volunteers. Plus, it decreased testosterone in women but had no effect on testosterone in men.</li><li>According to a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5111093/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2016 clinical trial</a>, patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment may experience reduced anxiety with rose oil aromatherapy. </li><li>On a similar note, a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5511972/#B23" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2014 study</a> indicates that inhaling rose oil may increase feelings of comfort by inhibiting neurotransmitter activity in the prefrontal cortex. </li><li>According to another <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4270653/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2014 study</a>, rose oil foot baths can be significantly more effective at reducing anxiety than regular foot baths.</li></ul><p>Rose essential oil also contains eugenol: one of the strongest antioxidants in the world.</p><p><strong>4. Chamomile</strong></p><p>Chamomile tea is widely used as a natural sleep aid, and that's because the plant contains several therapeutic phytochemicals, including the soothing compound chamazulene.</p><p>These properties also make chamomile well-suited for reducing stress and anxiety.</p><p>Both chamomile aromatherapy and oral chamomile appear to be equally effective.</p><p>In one <a href="https://nccih.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/040310.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2009 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study</a>, researchers at Pennsylvania State University tested the effects of oral chamomile capsules on 57 patients with mild generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).</p><p>Compared to the placebo, participants experienced a statistically significant reduction in anxiety symptoms.</p><p>According to the study's authors, "These results suggest that chamomile may have modest benefits for some people with mild to moderate GAD."</p><p>At the same time, a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6428160/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2013 aromatherapy study</a> found a significant difference in the anxiety scores between the chamomile group and the control group.</p><p>To top it all off, chamomile contains several terpenes and flavonoids that may treat gastrointestinal inflammation and reduce pain.</p>What to Know Before Using Essential Oils for Anxiety
<p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6428160/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Other anti-anxiety oils</a> to check out include, sage, frankincense, geranium, and orange oil.</p><p>It's also a good notion to never ingest essential oils without first making sure they're food-grade. Many oils are manufactured with synthetic perfumes that can upset and irritate the stomach.</p><p>If you have a history of serious medical conditions or are currently taking prescription drugs, make sure to consult a specialist before adding essential oils to your regular health practice.</p><p>All in all, many people have found aromatherapy and other essential oil applications to be very beneficial in the reduction of anxiety — and you might too.</p><p><em>Justin Fowler-Lindner, a former EMT turned freelance writer, spends his days popping supplements and soaking up the sun in tropical destinations around the world.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Anna Blazhuk / Moment / Getty Images
The holidays can be overwhelming for many people. With shopping lists to check off, holiday dinners to cook and visitors to make room for, it's usually an eventful time of year. But in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, herbal supplements help you stay calm, cool and collected. Whether you're trying to avoid the in-laws or learning how to make a new meal for the first time, you can stay prepared with the best herbs for stress.
Holiday Stress, Cortisol and You
<p>While the holiday season is a cheerful time to spend with friends and family, it is also one of the most stressful times of the year. With all of the added pressure related to finances, traveling and family commitments, your health can suffer.</p><p>Ultimately, the body ends up produces too many stress hormones, which elevates blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. At the same time, glucose is released into the bloodstream, digestion slows and the immune system becomes suppressed. Over time, this can lead to increased anxiety, hormone imbalances, sickness and <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/health/natural-ways-to-restore-gut-health/" target="_blank">gut health issues</a>.</p><p>In the end, many of these complications are linked to cortisol, whose job it is to regulate several essential functions, including:</p><ul><li>Keeping you alert</li><li>Preventing brain fog</li><li>Reducing inflammation</li><li>Promoting healing</li><li>Burning fat for energy</li><li>Controlling blood pressure</li><li>Supporting memory</li></ul><p>With cortisol levels out of control, it's easy to see how holiday stress can make you feel scattered, tired and overwhelmed. Luckily, the right herbs for stress may offer you some relief.</p>9 Herbs for Holiday Stress
<p>Many of the best herbs for stress are adaptogens, which reduce cortisol, normalize bacteria levels and affect stress in a variety of ways. Others are familiar teas and essential oils that work to calm the mind and body.</p><p>The best herbs to reduce holiday stress are:</p><p><strong>1. Ashwagandha</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/remedies/the-best-ashwagandha-supplements/" target="_blank">Ashwagandha</a> has been widely studied for its effects on stress tolerance and cortisol production.</p><p>In one 2012 human study published in the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3573577/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine</em></a>, 64 test adults with a history of chronic stress were treated with either ashwagandha extract or a placebo for 60 days. According to the study's authors, "The findings of this study suggest that a high-concentration of full-spectrum <em>Ashwagandha</em> root extract safely and effectively improves an individual's resistance towards stress and thereby improves self-assessed quality of life."</p><p>This herbal supplement can also help with <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/remedies/natural-stress-relief/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">chronic stress</a>, which if left untreated can lead to hormone imbalances throughout the body, including the thyroid. A <a href="https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2017.0183" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2018 human study</a> found that supplementing with ashwagandha for eight weeks can help regulate thyroid levels in patients with underactive thyroids.</p><p>To top it all off, <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/13880208209083282" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">animal studies</a> show that ashwagandha can prevent weight gain due to chronic stress, as well as prevent stress-related gastric ulcers. </p><p><strong>2. Astragalus Root</strong></p><p>Astragalus is an adaptogenic herb that's been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years to support the immune system and guard against stress. Now, modern research is beginning to support these claims.</p><p>A <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16282615" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2005 animal study</a> found that astragalus root can decrease stress hormones and <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/health/cbd-oil-for-inflammation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reduce inflammation</a> in piglets. At the same time, a 2019 study published in the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6745106/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine</em></a> found that astragalus root can boost antioxidant levels and support immunity in sheep.</p><p><strong>3. Chamomile</strong></p><p>Nothing takes the edge off of holiday stress like a hot cup of tea, and <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/anxiety/the-benefits-and-uses-of-chamomile/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">chamomile</a> is just the tea for the job.</p><p>For starters, it's full of potent antioxidants like flavonoids and terpenes to help you fend off colds. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26483209" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Studies also show</a> that chamomile tea can <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/health/natural-sleep-aids/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">improve sleep quality</a> and relieve depression in postpartum women. Quality sleep is important for reducing stress and chamomile is an ideal way to unwind and catch some Z's. Chamomile essential oil can also have stress reducing benefits when used in aromatherapy diffusers.</p><p><strong>4. Cordyceps</strong></p><p>Cordyceps is an adaptogenic medicinal mushroom with potent antioxidant properties. Not only can it calm the stress response and strengthen immunity, but it can also boost energy and improve exercise performance.</p><p>For example, a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5236007/" target="_blank">2016 randomize, double-blind, placebo-controlled study</a> found that cordyceps can improve tolerance for high-intensity exercise after just 1-3 weeks of supplementation. At the same time, a <a href="http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-SZGY201010028.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">separate human trial</a> found that cordyceps can reduce cortisol and help you recover from stress faster.</p><p><strong>5. Ginseng (Panax)</strong></p><p>Ginseng is another adaptogen that has been shown to promote calmness, improve memory and reduce certain functions of the stress response. There are several strains of ginseng, but Panax ginseng contains the highest concentrations of therapeutic compounds.</p><p>In a 2010 human study published in the journal of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20737519" target="_blank"><em>Human Psychopharmacology</em></a>, 30 healthy volunteers received either panax ginseng or a placebo for eight days. Researchers found that a 400 mg dose of ginseng improved calmness and enhanced mental arithmetic. A <a href="https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jphs/93/4/93_4_458/_article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">separate study</a> also found that ginseng can reduce several indicators of chronic stress in rodents.</p><p><strong>6. Holy Basil</strong></p><p>Holy basil, also known as tulsi, has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years as an anti-aging treatment, as well as for skin disease, infections and the common cold. More recently, researchers have conducted several studies on its ability to reduce stress and enhance cognition.</p><p>For example, a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26571987" target="_blank">2015 human study</a> found that holy basil can improve reaction times, reduce error rate and decrease cortisol compared to a placebo.</p>
<p><strong>7. Lavender</strong></p><p>Lavender is one of the most widely-studies <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/remedies/calming-herbs-to-relieve-stress-and-anxiety/" target="_blank">herbs for reducing stress and anxiety</a>. It's also one of the most common essential oils worldwide. Most importantly, <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/remedies/lavender-essential-oil/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">lavender aromatherapy</a> can reduce stress fast because its phytochemicals are small enough to pass through the nasal cavity, enter the bloodstream, and immediately cross the blood-brain barrier.</p><p>One <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27095995" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2016 human study</a> found that inhaling lavender can reduce stress, anxiety and depression in postpartum women. However, lavender oil can also be absorbed through the skin and taken orally as <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/remedies/the-many-health-benefits-of-lavender-tea/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">lavender tea</a> or an herbal supplement. Lavender oil is a powerful anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral that can boost immunity while reducing stress.</p><p><strong>8. Passionflower</strong></p><p>Passionflower can reduce stress and anxiety, and promote sleep by acting on GABA receptors in the brain. GABA is the primary neurotransmitter that's responsible for calming overactive brain activity.</p><p>One comparative study in the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11679026" target="_blank"><em>Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics</em></a> tested passionflower against the prescription anti-anxiety medication oxazepam. 36 patients diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) were treated with either passionflower, oxazepam, or a placebo. Researchers concluded that passionflower extract can be an effective treatment for GAD and exhibits fewer side effects than oxazepam.</p><p><strong>9. Rhodiola</strong></p><p>Rhodiola rosea is another powerful adaptogen that boosts the body's resistance to stress. A 2007 study published in the journal <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3155223/" target="_blank"><em>Drug Target Insights</em></a> found that Rhodiola can improve mental performance under stress. A separate <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19016404" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2009 human trial</a> found that rhodiola can decrease cortisol, improve mental performance and increase energy in patients with burnout syndrome and stress-related fatigue.</p>
Other Ways to Avoid Holiday Stress
<p>The holidays have a stressful side that many of us know all too well. When your head is spinning with family events, shopping and gift wrapping, plus your bank account is dwindling, stress can get the best of you. This can take a toll on your sleep quality, mental health, and general well being, but natural herbs can help combat holiday stress when it's at its worst.</p><p>In addition to taking natural herbal supplements, other practices like mindful meditation, exercise and healthy eating (even though it may be hard to do during the holidays) can be great ways to stay stress-free during the holiday season.</p>From Your Site Articles
- 6 Healthy Holiday Spices - EcoWatch ›
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A new study demonstrates the link between birds and happiness. TorriPhoto / Getty Images
A new study reveals that greater bird biodiversity brings greater joy to people, according to recent findings from the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research. In fact, scientists concluded that conservation is just as important for human well-being as financial security.
<p>The study, published in <em>Ecological Economics</em>, focused on European residents, and determined that happiness correlated with a specific number of bird species. </p><p>"According to our findings, the happiest Europeans are those who can experience numerous different bird species in their daily life, or who live in near-natural surroundings that are home to many species," says lead author Joel Methorst, a doctoral researcher at the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center, the iDiv and the Goethe University in Frankfurt.</p><p>The authors calculated that being around fourteen additional bird species provided as much satisfaction as earning an additional $150 a month.</p><p><span></span>For the study, researchers used data from the 2012 "European Quality of Life Survey" to explore the connection between species diversity around homes, towns and cites, and how it relates to satisfaction. More than 26,000 adults from 26 European countries were surveyed.</p>
<p>According to the study authors, birds are some of the best indicators of biological diversity in any given area because they are usually seen or heard in their environments, especially in urban areas. However, more bird species were found near natural green spaces, forested areas and bodies of water. </p><p>In the U.S., <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/r/entryeditor/According%20to%20the%20study%20authors,%20birds%20are%20some%20of%20the%20best%20indicators%20of%20biological%20diversity%20in%20a%20given%20area%20because%20they%20are%20usually%20seen%20or%20heard%20in%20their%20environments,%20especially%20in%20urban%20areas.%20However,%20more%20bird%20species%20were%20found%20near%20natural%20green%20spaces,%20forested%20areas%20and%20bodies%20of%20water." target="_self">birding </a>has become a more common and accessible hobby during the pandemic.</p><p>Although not new, thousands of amateurs and expert birders participate in Audubon's long-running annual <a href="https://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count" target="_blank">Christmas Bird Count</a>, a three-week activity to count birds in a specific area for the group's data compilation.</p><p>"Nature conservation therefore not only ensures our material basis of life, but it also constitutes an investment in the well-being of us all," says Methorst. </p>
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Connecting to Nature Is Good for Kids – But They May Need Help Coping With a Planet in Peril
17 November 2020
Health + Wellness
Children need support when learning about the climate crisis. Ghislain & Marie David de Lossy / Getty Images
By Louise Chawla
As an environmental psychologist who works to improve young people's access to nature, I recently completed a review that brings two bodies of research together: one on connecting children and adolescents with nature, and the second on supporting healthy coping when they realize they are part of a planet in peril.
<p>My review shows that children and adolescents <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pan3.10128" target="_blank">benefit from living near nature</a> and having adults in their lives who encourage free play and outdoor discovery. When they feel connected to nature, they are more likely to report good health and a sense of well-being, more likely to get high scores for creative thinking, and more inclined to show cooperative, helping behaviors. They are also more likely to say they are taking action to conserve nature, such as by feeding birds, saving energy and recycling.</p><p>On the flip side, lack of access to nature has adverse effects. For example, COVID-19 restrictions on travel and social gathering led <a href="https://kinder.rice.edu/urbanedge/2020/04/10/covid-19-era-renewed-appreciation-our-parks-and-open-spaces" target="_blank">more people to visit parks</a> to escape stress and move freely. But some families don't have safe, attractive parks nearby, or their local parks are so heavily used that it's hard to maintain safe distances. Under these conditions, city families stuck indoors reported <a href="https://nyti.ms/2BrX9fH" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">mounting stress and deteriorating behavior</a> in their children.</p><p>My research literature review also shows that <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pan3.10128" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">feeling connected with nature can bring difficult emotions</a> as well as happiness and well-being. When young people are asked about their hopes and fears for the future, many describe environmental breakdown. For example, when a doctoral student I supervised asked 50 10- to 11-year-olds in Denver what the future would be like, almost three-quarters <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2011.602131" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shared dystopic views</a>:</p>
<blockquote>"Everything will die out, and there will be less trees and less plants, and there will be less nature. It just won't be such a great Earth anymore."<br><br>"I feel sad because the animals are going to die."<br><br>"I feel sad because when I die I am probably gonna have a grandson or a great grandson by then and maybe them or their son or nephew is going to have to experience the end of the world."<br></blockquote><p>Children who worry about the environment are likely to report that they are doing what they can to protect nature, but they almost always <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2012.02.004" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">report individual actions</a> like riding their bike to school or saving energy at home. Knowing that climate change and biodiversity loss are bigger problems than they can solve themselves can affect their mental health.</p><p>Fortunately, the research also shows some key ways adults can help children and teens work through these feelings and maintain hope that they – in alliance with others – can address environmental problems constructively.</p>
<h2>1. Create Safe Opportunities to Share Emotions</h2><p>When family, friends and teachers listen sympathetically and offer support, young people are more likely to feel hopeful that people's actions <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916518763894" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">can make a positive difference</a>. Opportunities to envision a promising future, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2017.1367916" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">plan pathways to get there</a> and have hands-on experiences of working toward this goal also <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2020.1765131" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">build hope</a>.</p><h2>2. Encourage Time Outdoors in Nature</h2><p>Free time in nature and opportunities to develop comfort and confidence in nature are positive experiences in themselves; and by <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916518806686" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">boosting well-being</a>, providing time in nature can contribute to young people's resilience.</p>
<h2>3. Build Community With Others Who Care for Nature</h2><p>Meeting other people who love and care for nature <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pan3.10128" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">affirms young people's own feelings</a> of connection and shows them they're not alone in working for a better world. Learning individual actions that add up to making a difference, or joining collective efforts to improve the environment, simultaneously demonstrate a sense of connection with nature and commitment to its care.</p><h2>4. Empower Their Ideas</h2><p>It's important to <a href="https://nyupress.org/9781613321003/placemaking-with-children-and-youth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">treat young people as partners</a> in addressing environmental problems in their families, schools, communities and cities. A boy who was part of a group of children who created climate action proposals for his city in the Mountain West summarized the benefits. After they presented their ideas to their city council and got approval to launch a tree-planting campaign, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2019.1675594" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">he noted</a>, "There's something about it … getting together, creating projects, knowing each other, working together."</p><p>Research is clear: Children and young people need free time to connect with nature, but it's also important to support them when they struggle with the consequences of feeling part of a natural world that is currently at risk.</p>
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<em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/louise-chawla-1160522" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Louise Chawla</a> is a </em><em>Professor Emerita of Environmental Design, University of Colorado Boulder.</em>
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<em>Disclosure statement: </em><em><em>Louise Chawla is affiliated with the Children and Nature Network as a member of their Scientific Advisory Committee.</em></em>
</p><p>
<em><em></em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/connecting-to-nature-is-good-for-kids-but-they-may-need-help-coping-with-a-planet-in-peril-148162" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.</em>
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Florida National Guard / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
From broken buildings to uprooted trees, extreme weather can leave behind a lot of visible damage. But there is invisible damage, too. Many survivors face mental health struggles after a storm.
<p>"They've experienced traumatic loss, fear, displacement. It's very traumatizing, and that's an abnormal feeling," says social worker Darcy Abbott. "And people need reassurance that it's normal to feel that way — an abnormal event has occurred — and that there's resources and support there … and that they will be resilient and they will get through this."</p>
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<p>Abbott became the mental health coordinator for disaster recovery at the Florida Division of Emergency Management last year.</p><p>After an event such as a hurricane, her job is to work with state agencies, relief organizations, and private counselors to coordinate services so that the state can respond to residents' needs during the recovery process.</p><p>Abbott says that her position is unique. Other states have mental health coordinators, but Florida is the first to connect the role with emergency management.</p><p>And in a state vulnerable to hurricanes and rising seas, the role will be crucial as the climate changes.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2020/11/florida-hires-mental-health-coordinator-to-help-people-recover-from-disasters/" target="_blank">Yale Climate Connections</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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The earth's warming is not immediate, but gradual, and without a direct or immediate impact on our everyday actions. wildpixel / Getty Images
By Gero Rueter
The science is clear. If we continue to emit greenhouse gases at the same rate we have been doing for the past decades, 80 years from now, our planet will be at least four degrees warmer than pre-industrial levels.
<p>"And the warming won't stop there," climate researcher and oceanographer Stefan Rahmstorf told DW. "It will continue to rise to seven or eight degrees over the next 100 years. Human civilization won't survive that."</p><p>Normally, we respond to danger quickly; we put out fires, run away when we feel at risk, and protect our children in every way we can. So why are people so slow to react to the existential <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-the-chilling-reality-of-a-warming-world-its-up-to-us/a-50462117" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">threat of global warming</a>?</p><p>"In evolutionary terms, we are not built for this kind of danger," explains Andreas Ernst, Professor of Environmental Systems Analysis and Environmental Psychology at the University of Kassel. "We react to a rustling in the bushes with lightning speed. But the threat posed by climate change is abstract."</p><p><span></span>The earth's warming is not immediate, but gradual, and without a direct or immediate impact on our everyday actions, Ernst says the <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/fridays-for-future-uganda-climate-change-africa-activism-food-security-water/a-54732304" target="_blank">complex correlations are hard for us to grasp. </a></p>
Figures Remain Incomprehensible
<p>Although the findings of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports are unambiguous, many laypeople, as well as politicians, find their details hard to understand. This can impact the implementation of recommendations. Such, at least, is the conclusion reached by an international team of researchers who analyzed the IPCC reports.</p><p>Many struggle to picture a ton of the greenhouse gas CO2. Such figures "don't really reach the human psyche," Ernst said.</p><p>Yet dealing with CO2 is essential in the climate crisis, because the more <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/climatechange-emissions-fossilfuels-gdp-economy-renewables/a-55089013" target="_blank">greenhouse gases</a> there are in the air, the faster the earth warms up. CO2 is mainly produced by the burning of oil, coal and natural gas. In order to limit global warming to a maximum of two degrees, CO2 emissions need to be reduced as quickly as possible, and neutralized <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/european-parliament-confirms-2030-climate-target-to-cut-emissions/a-55197301" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">no later than 2050.</a> In order to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees, however, the world would have to become climate-neutral even sooner.</p><p>Christoph Nikendei, psychotraumatology expert at University Hospital in the southern German city of Heidelberg says it's important to use easy-to-understand figures, and to address the emotional brain so that climate change can become a real and tangible part of life.</p>How Many Trees Need to Grow to Compensate for My Flight?
<p>To stay with that example: One ton of CO2 is produced, for example, by burning 422 liters (111 gallons) of gasoline, which would allow a car to travel an average of 5,400 kilometers (3,355 miles).</p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NDQyMy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMjM3MTQyMH0.DI7m0IORfi_yT5vg2CqLIptK5G9ACd9fT9Meb3vuZW8/img.png?width=980" id="ebc11" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="986c72034c820ca60fed0eb43cb70276" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1920" data-height="1915" />
<p>Conversely, plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. This enables them to grow. A beech tree, for example, takes in around 12.5 kg of CO2 per year. That means a single ton of CO2 corresponds to the annual growth of 80 beech trees.</p><p>If we compare the CO2 emitted and absorbed, we can calculate how many trees are needed to compensate for a certain distance traveled by car, and which means of transport "consumes" the least amount of tree growth.</p><p>For example, 20 beech trees would have to grow for one year to offset a 1,000-kilometer (621-mile) journey with a combustion engine. For 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/to-fly-or-not-to-fly-the-environmental-cost-of-air-travel/a-42090155" target="_blank">air travel</a>, it would take 33 beech trees per person. The same distance traveled by train would equate to the growth of just one beech tree. </p>
Collective Behavior: Silence and Repression
<p>Another obstacle to tackling the climate crisis is repression, which is a very common psychological protection mechanism.</p><p>"People don't want to hear how bad things are, so they push it away. Smokers also do this when confronted with the consequences of their behavior," Ernst said, adding that many who don't want to deal with the climate issue, look away and leave it for others to solve.</p><p>Nikendei sees this behavior as a collective pattern of action: a <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-and-climate-change-collective-action-is-the-only-way-forward/a-53595386" target="_blank">collective social norm of silence</a>, and likens the reluctance to acknowledge the climate crisis to the social taboos of aging, illness and death.</p>Rejection and Paralysis Can Be Overcome
<p>Nikendei regards it as the role of psychologists to acknowledge this collective rejection and the emotions associated with it while simultaneously assisting the necessary change in values. This includes mourning the end of the fossil fuel era, recognizing one's own involvement in climate change and a shift in values towards cooperation over competition.</p><p>Excessive behavior in society needs to be replaced by more sharing, repairing and preserving, the psychotrauma expert says. Reconnecting with nature is also important. In pursuing this approach, he believes <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/psychology-behind-climate-inaction-how-to-beat-the-doom-barrier/a-48730230" target="_blank">psychologists can help</a> people to cope with the climate crisis and overcome feelings of fear, paralysis and helplessness.<br><br>More than a thousand psychologists and psychotherapists in Europe are trying to do just that with the Psychologists for Future network, says co-initiator Lea Dohm. "Our campaign has struck a nerve. Lots of people from all walks of life want our help in tackling the climate crisis."</p>From Your Site Articles
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Few U.S. Students Repeat a Grade but That Could Change Due to COVID-19
19 September 2020
Health + Wellness
54% of parents with school-age children expressed concern that their children could fall behind academically, according to a poll conducted over the summer of 2020. Maria Symchych-Navrotska / Getty Images
By Pamela Davis-Kean
With in-person instruction becoming the exception rather than the norm, 54% of parents with school-age children expressed concern that their children could fall behind academically, according to a poll conducted over the summer of 2020. Initial projections from the Northwest Evaluation Association, which conducts research and creates commonly used standardized tests, suggest that these fears are well-grounded, especially for children from low-income families.
<p>Based on the association's findings and my own research <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=sFKNk7EAAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank">regarding academic achievement and socioeconomic status</a>, I believe it's likely, based on these early projections, that the widespread and rapid switch to remote schooling will have negative long-term academic consequences.</p><p>One possibility is that the share of students who end up repeating at least one grade at some point could rise due to this unprecedented disruption.</p><p>According to government data collected in 2018, only about <a href="https://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/9713-children-ages-6-to-17-who-repeated-one-or-more-grades-since-starting-kindergarten" target="_blank">6% of U.S. students</a> <a href="http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/graderet.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">had to repeat a grade</a> before graduating from high school prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDI5NzkxNi9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNzMxNzExOH0.selMyETdcP84ZFiYNqsaFZRjPHh0Zwj9HI9ySU77Yl4/img.png?width=980" id="952f7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="99b9ddf4c6e5e0c4bcdbf9c2d9150f22" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="600" data-height="300" />
<p>Any potential effort to make students repeat a grade when they can't demonstrate they have learned enough to advance to the next one would build on some recent precedents.</p><p>Starting in 2001 with the <a href="https://www2.ed.gov/nclb/methods/reading/reading.html#4" target="_blank">No Child Left Behind Act</a>, reading proficiency by third grade became one of the federal mandates for schools to receive designated streams of federal funding.</p><p>This <a href="https://www.fcd-us.org/assets/2016/04/DoubleJeopardyReport.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">federal legislation, combined with research</a> indicating that children who couldn't yet read <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2017.06.004" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fared better when they repeated a grade</a>, brought about a wave of state-level legislation. So far, a total of <a href="https://www.ncsl.org/research/education/third-grade-reading-legislation.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">16 states have enacted laws</a> that prevent students from moving on from third grade until they are considered <a href="http://hermes.cde.state.co.us/drupal/islandora/object/co%3A26127/datastream/OBJ/view" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">proficient on standardized reading tests</a>.</p>
<p>These <a href="https://www.ncsl.org/research/education/third-grade-reading-legislation.aspx" target="_blank">state laws vary</a>. Some states, like <a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2011/1008.25" target="_blank">Florida</a>, require students who aren't reading well enough to repeat third grade altogether. Others, such as <a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/120B.12" target="_blank">Minnesota</a>, let children move onto fourth grade and provide them with supplemental reading assistance until they can read at what the state deems to be a third-grade level. In practice, students typically don't repeat more than one grade.</p><p>I consider it likely that the academic consequences of the extended period of remote learning that began in March 2020 will be unequal. These consequences are bound to fall more heavily on students who are growing up facing persistent <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.19.2.294" target="_blank">economic hardship</a>.</p><p>The practice of making children who are struggling to learn how to read repeat third grade, however well-intentioned, can be risky. For example, students who repeat a grade can feel <a href="http://hermes.cde.state.co.us/drupal/islandora/object/co%3A26127/datastream/OBJ/view" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">stigmatized and less motivated to learn</a>.</p><p>Therefore, I believe parents, educators and policymakers will all need to try to address the inevitable gaps in learning bound to arise from widespread remote learning during the pandemic.</p>
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<em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/pamela-davis-kean-1142666" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pamela Davis-Kean</a> is a </em><em>Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan.</em>
</p><p>
<em>Disclosure statement: </em><em>Pamela Davis-Kean receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institute for Child Health and Development (NICHD).</em><span></span>
</p><p>
<em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/few-us-students-ever-repeat-a-grade-but-that-could-change-due-to-covid-19-143883" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.</em>
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