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The Drugging of the American Boy - By the time they reach high school, nearly 20 percent of all American boys will be diagnosed with ADHD
The Drugging of the American Boy - By the time they reach high school, nearly 20 percent of all American boys will be diagnosed with ADHD
https://ift.tt/2VmXfeC October 07, 2019 at 12:20AM https://ift.tt/1R552o9
Finding a Balance Between Saving the World and Savoring It
I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve (or save) the world and a desire to enjoy (or savor) the world. – E. B. White
If you’re a caring person who is concerned about the current state of affairs, perhaps you feel inclined toward saving the world — or at least improving our current condition. At the same time, you might be acutely aware of how quickly time passes and want to enjoy your life, while you have the good health and resources to do so. You may want to relish the beauty of nature and our planet before it deteriorates further, as well as enjoy time with your loved ones and friends.
Reading the news these days can be decidedly disturbing, with bleak reports almost daily about climate change, environmental destructive, and corrupt politics. Some people respond to unnerving news by trying to ignore it, fearful that if they’re exposed too much, they might sink into despair and hopelessness. It can certainly be demoralizing to hear about one alarming story after another.
Other people refuse to view themselves as powerless victims. They experience troubling news as a call to action, perhaps attending demonstrations, signing petitions, or volunteering in a way to help change things. A fortunate few find a meaningful way to make a living contributing to our troubled world.
Trying to find a balance between our desire to save our world and our inclination to savor it can be a daunting task. I wish I could offer a simple answer, but here are some thoughts to consider.
Living a Meaningful Life
Many years ago, Victor Frankl developed a form of psychotherapy he called “Logotherapy,” which is based upon his experience surviving a concentration camp. He found that what helped him and others to survive was to find a sense of meaning amidst suffering. He believed that the main drive in life was not for pleasure, as Freud believed, or power, as Adler maintained, but instead meaning. After the war, Frankl wrote the classic book,Man’s Search for Meaning, which encourages us to move toward greater mental and emotional well-being by discovering what gives meaning to our lives.
Making a positive contribution to our world is something that gives many people a sense of meaning. Trying to be even a small part of the solution, instead of part of the problem, offers a way to live with a greater sense of purpose and dignity.
Finding Balance
If you’re doing good things in our world, I wouldn’t want you to stop. But I might wonder whether you’re pacing yourself so that you don’t succumb to burnout. You won’t be much help to the world, nor to yourself, if you run yourself into the ground.
An antidote to burnout is to balance your life with whatever truly nurtures you. A symphony is more robust when a variety of instruments are in play. A walk in the park, a bike ride, going to the gym, doing your artwork, meditation, yoga, or whatever nurtures you can recharge your batteries and boost to your immune system.
If your work is solitary and you spend much time consuming the daily news, you may especially need to add nurturing connections to your daily diet. Being wired for connection, we humans do better when we’re not isolated and disconnected.
Don’t Overlook the Small Things That Make a Difference
It might seem like a daunting task to nudge our world in a positive direction—and it certainly is. But don’t overlook the small, yet meaningful ways you can make your corner of the world a better place. “Think globally and act locally” has long been an operating principle for those wanting to change our world for the better.
If you can manage your internal state in a way where you can maintain a smile in your eyes, or spring in your step, or kindness in your voice, you’re more likely to touch people in a positive way than if your mood is dour and depressed. As you balance your life with activities and relationships that nurture you, you will generate more inner resources, thereby allowing you to touch others with a kindness and caring that might buoy their spirits and help keep them going.
There is no simple formula for how to balance saving our world with savoring it. But I do believe that if we’re not adept at taking care of ourselves, whatever good we’re doing in the world may not be sustainable. Self-care is an important foundation for helping others.
Each of us needs to keep re-finding our own balance and what works for us in an ever-changing, dynamic world. The more capable we are of nurturing ourselves and savoring the beautiful things of this world, the more inner resources we can bring to bear on saving it.
Living Better through Lifelong Learning
Max is an old friend of mine (both a very long time friend and old). At 92, he has been retired almost longer than he worked as a professor. But being retired hasn’t stopped him from reading, writing, taking classes (he just started a course on Greek Mythology), and exploring brain exercises and activities on the internet. Max continues to be actively engaged in his field and an enthusiastic mentor to students and professionals who seek him out.
Why doesn’t he just relax and putter around in his garden or cruise YouTube? Because, as Max says, “If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it!” He is convinced that his sharp memory and keen intellect at his age are because he hasn’t neglected his mind.
Studies are proving him correct. There’s a substantial body of research that shows that keeping the brain active and stimulated contributes to brain health. Active learning helps the elderly stay mentally alert and sharp. Exercising the brain by seeking out novel information and interesting problems stimulates and nurtures it.
I suspect that being a lifelong learner has always been the case for some portion of the population. People with active minds don’t give it up as they age. My own grandfather studied German and took up the mandolin when he was in his late 70s. He once told me his grandfather started writing poetry at age 80. Historical figures like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were life-long thinkers and writers, working right up to the time of their deaths.
In the United States, more and more senior citizens are purposefully embracing lifelong learning as a way to stave off dementia and the other common mental deficits that are often associated with advanced age. A 1999 study for the AARP showed that more than 90% of the adults (age 55 and older) who were surveyed planned to continue learning. Another study, this one by the Pew Research Center, showed that 73% of adults consider themselves to be lifelong learners.
Those people know that we can’t stop our minds from getting older. But we can retain much of the mental capacity we’ve got. Studies do give us some guidance about what is most useful:
Don’t buy that “Old dogs can’t learn new tricks.” You can. You should. A 2013 study published in Psychological Sciences, found that “sustained engagement in cognitively demanding, novel activities enhances memory function in older adulthood.” Elders may process new information more slowly but scientists are finding more and more evidence that the brain does remain “plastic” — able to take in new information and master new tasks — as we grow older.
Try out brain games: There is some evidence that using video and web-based brain games can stave off dementia and help seniors maintain working memory. A 2014 study at The University of California at Irvine showed that using computer games that target improving working memory do help visual-spatial skills. The most practical application for older adults is possible reduction in falls since it is visual-spatial skills that help us navigate stairs and uneven ground and to get in and out of a tub safely. Another study, this one by neurologists at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, found that engaging in mentally challenging activities throughout life may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Take that class you’ve always wanted to take: Many colleges and universities offer reduced or free college tuition to senior citizens. Since you are not amassing credits towards a degree, you can choose your own areas of interest. Best of all, freed of the pressure for grades and the deadlines for papers, you can relax and enjoy lectures and discussions in a new way. Most professors enjoy having another adult in the room who can offer broad experience and knowledge to a class discussions so long as you are respectful of the young students.
Learn a second (or third) language: A study published in 2014 the Annals of Neurology, found that acquiring a second language to the extent that we can communicate has a positive effect on cognition as we age.- even when we study a new language later in life. A study by the American Academy of Neurology found that found that translating between languages activates the part of the brain that manages executive function (planning, prioritizing, organizing, impulse control, and flexible thinking). Taking adult language classes and going to such things as film festivals that feature another language can also increase your social circle.
Investigate what a local senior center offers: According to the National Council on Aging, “Compared with their peers, senior center participants have higher levels of health, social interaction, and life satisfaction and lower levels of income.” Senior Centers connect people to community social services and often provide a daily meal. But many do more than that. They also offer educational programs, discussion groups, book clubs, and opportunities to learn new hobbies. People who attend regularly often find new friends.
Increase your friend census by being a joiner: People do need people. Having a social circle is good for your spirits and beneficial to your mental and physical health. But it’s not uncommon to start to become more isolated as we age. Friends move away to be near grandchildren or to live in a better climate. Some friends become sick and die. In the U.S., one in three women and one in seven men aged 65 or older lives alone.
The cure for loneliness is to be a joiner. Participating in group activities can introduce you to new people, will keep you engaged in your community, and is just plain fun. Go to a weekly bingo game, join a book club, attend community and church events, or sign up for a senior-focused group travel adventure. Friendships naturally form among people who are interested and excited about the same thing.
As a society, Americans are living longer. Taking advantage of opportunities to learn can also help us to live better — both physically and mentally. Choosing to expand our knowledge and skills throughout our lifetime is to choose life!
Bayer says another U.S. glyphosate trial is delayed
Bayer says another U.S. glyphosate trial is delayed
Reuters: Health
A pending U.S. lawsuit over claims related to Bayer's glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup has been delayed, the company said on Sunday.
Reuters: Health
A pending U.S. lawsuit over claims related to Bayer's glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup has been delayed, the company said on Sunday.
Primal (or) Keto Fudgy Brownies
Keto eating should always put nutrients first, but there’s nothing wrong with having treat recipes on hand for when you’re making the conscious choice to enjoy something sweet. This recipe offers it all—whole food, Primal friendly ingredients for whipping up either a Primal brownie batch…or a keto version. You’ll enjoy the rich texture and deep chocolate taste without the typical sugar rush.
Tips: This recipe has a primal option sweetened with dates and a keto option sweetened with a granulated monk fruit sweetener. Feel free to use Swerve in lieu of the monk fruit. These brownies are extra fudgy and taste even better after being refrigerated, so we highly recommend allowing them to cool, cutting them and then placing them in the fridge for a few hours or overnight before enjoying.
Servings: 12 Brownies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
Primal Brownies Ingredients:
- ¼ cup Salted Butter
- 3.5 oz. (100g) 70% Chocolate, chopped
- 1/4 cup Full Fat Coconut Milk
- 10 Dates, soaked (we used Deglet Nour dates)
- 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 cup Almond Flour
- 5 Tbsp. Cacao Powder
- Pinch of Espresso Powder, optional
- 2 Large Eggs
Keto Brownies Ingredients:
- 5 Tbsp. Salted Butter
- 3.5 oz. (100g) 85% Chocolate, chopped
- 5 Tbsp. Cacao Powder
- 1/2 cup Almond Flour
- ¼ cup Granulated Monk Fruit Sweetener or Swerve
- 5 Tbsp. Coconut Milk
- 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
- Pinch of Espresso Powder, optional
- 2 Large Eggs
Instructions:
Primal Option:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Set up a double boiler by filling a pot with a few inches of water and placing it over medium heat. Once it begins to boil, reduce to a simmer and place a heat-safe bowl on top of the pot. Add the chopped chocolate and butter to the bowl and gently mix using a spatula until the mixture is melted.
Soak the dates in hot water for at least 10 minutes. Drain the dates and add the dates, coconut milk and vanilla extract to a food processor. Blend until the mixture is fairly smooth, making sure to stop the processor occasionally to scrape down the sides. Add the chocolate and butter mixture and pulse a few more times. Add the almond flour, cocoa powder and espresso powder and pulse until combined. Add the eggs and blend until smooth.
Pour the brownie batter into a greased or parchment lined baking dish (the one we used was about 7”x7” but made fairly thick brownies, so you can also use a larger dish). Feel free to top with chopped chocolate or walnuts. Bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until the center is fairly firm. Allow the brownies to fully cool before slicing.
Keto Option:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Set up a double boiler by filling a pot with a few inches of water and placing it over medium heat. Once it begins to boil, reduce to a simmer and place a heat-safe bowl on top of the pot. Add the chopped chocolate and butter to the bowl and gently mix using a spatula until the mixture is melted. Remove the bowl from the heat.
To the bowl, whisk in the monkfruit sweetener, and sift in the almond flour and cocoa powder. Add the coconut milk, vanilla extract and espresso powder. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl and fold them into the brownie batter.
Pour the brownie batter into a greased or parchment lined baking dish (the one we used was about 7”x7” but made fairly thick brownies, so you can also use a larger dish). Feel free to top with chopped chocolate or walnuts. Bake for approximately 18-20 minutes, or until the center is fairly firm. Allow the brownies to fully cool before slicing.
Primal Brownie Nutrition Information (1/12 of pan):
- Calories: 159
- Total Carbs: 10 grams
- Net Carbs: 8 grams
- Fat: 12 grams
- Protein: 3 grams
Keto Brownie Nutrition Information (1/12 of pan):
- Calories: 149
- Total Carbs: 5 grams
- Net Carbs: 2 grams
- Fat: 13 grams
- Protein: 4 grams
The post Primal (or) Keto Fudgy Brownies appeared first on Mark's Daily Apple.
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), nearly 2 million diabetics, many of them poor, got health insurance, a new study shows (n=2,400). Increasing coverage rates can enhance health equity, because people with undiagnosed or untreated diabetes disproportionately belong to underserved groups.
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), nearly 2 million diabetics, many of them poor, got health insurance, a new study shows (n=2,400). Increasing coverage rates can enhance health equity, because people with undiagnosed or untreated diabetes disproportionately belong to underserved groups.
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), nearly 2 million diabetics, many of them poor, got health insurance, a new study shows (n=2,400). Increasing coverage rates can enhance health equity, because people with undiagnosed or untreated diabetes disproportionately belong to underserved groups.
https://ift.tt/2AJcCV8 October 06, 2019 at 04:29PM https://ift.tt/1R552o9
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