Healthy Support

Resources to help your kids eat healthy on a budget

Now that summer is here, kids are likely eating most meals at home.

If you’re concerned about your children eating healthy, or simply getting enough food, this is for you.

Neftali Duran is part of a national campaign through Share Our Strength called “Cooking Matters” that educates families how to shop and cook healthy meals on a tight budget.

When going to the grocery store, Duran suggests making a grocery list ahead of time on your phone (so you don’t forget it). He also suggests not going to the grocery store on an empty stomach. If possible, he says leave the kids at home so they aren’t asking for extra items.

For the healthiest food options, you’ll want to shop around the perimeter of the store. That’s where you’ll find fruits, veggies, milk, meat and eggs.

Make sure you’re shopping fruits and veggies that are in season

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Healthy Body

social media contributing to youth mental health crisis

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – Western Mass News is getting answers on a new social media warning from the United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, who is warning people that social media is contributing to a ‘youth mental health crisis’ in a major advisory released on Tuesday.

The Surgeon General recommended creating media plans and encouraging kids to develop in-person friendships. One child psychiatrist is breaking down more social media tips for those who feel a negative impact from social media usage.

Dr. Murthy issued a major advisory on Tuesday, warning that social media is feeding into a ‘youth mental health crisis.’

“The advisory suggested there are some potential benefits for kids for social media, but there’s also significant concerns and risks related to their behavior and mental health,” said Baystate Medical Center Chief of Child Psychiatry Dr. Bruce Waslick.

The lengthy 25-page advisory listed several red flags pertaining

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Healthy Support

When Others Sabotage Our Intentions for Healthy Eating and Exercise

mohd izzuan | iStock

mohd izzuan | iStock

The research is clear. When someone is trying to make some healthy changes to manage their weight, the role of social support for the effort is critical. Changing habits and behaviors around food consumption and exercise to make long-term health gains is not easy. Many begin the process with trepidation, often wondering if they can really pull it off.

Having a social network that offers caring, reinforcement of self-esteem, and a buffer to potential surrounding stressors or negativity is so important. When possible, so is material support, such as helping with shopping, cooking, or even child care (so the person can find time to exercise and do food planning).

Ways that support can fail

But such is very often not the case. Even if some of our friends or family are on our side, chances are very high that many of the people around us will

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Healthy Body

How these science-backed practices can improve mental health

“Mindfulness” and “self-compassion” are now buzzwords for self-improvement. But in fact, a growing body of research shows these practices can lead to real mental health benefits. This research — ongoing, voluminous, and worldwide — clearly shows how and why these two practices work.

One effective way to cultivate mindfulness and self-compassion is through meditation.

For more than 20 years, as a clinical psychologist, research scientist, and educator, I taught meditation to students and clinical patients, and took a deep dive into the research literature. My recent book, The Self-Talk Workout: Six Science-Backed Strategies to Dissolve Self-Criticism and Transform the Voice in Your Head, highlights much of that research.

I learned even more when I evaluated mental health programs and psychology classes that train participants in mindfulness and compassion-based techniques.

Defining mindfulness and self-compassion

Mindfulness means purposefully paying attention to the present moment with an

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Healthy Body

Social Media Could Pose ‘Profound Risk of Harm’ to Young People’s Mental Health, Surgeon General Warns

The U.S. surgeon general warned Tuesday of the potential risks of social media to young people, and urged policy makers and technology companies to strengthen standards for adolescents.

Dr. Vivek Murthy’s office said a growing body of research shows the detrimental effects of social media on adolescents. The office’s public advisory said more research is needed to better understand the effects of social media on children and teens.

The advisory noted the benefits of social media, including its use as an outlet for creativity and for finding community. But, the report said, “there are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”

“We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis—one that we must urgently address,” Murthy said

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Healthy Body

Surgeon General issues advisory linking social media and youth mental health

Vivek Murthy asked lawmakers, tech companies, researchers, families, and young people to take action

With nearly every person aged 13 to 17 now having a social media account, and growing evidence that these sites can have a negative effect on the mental health of young people, some states and institutions have started taking steps to combat the negative effects.

For example, earlier this year, Seattle Public Schools sued social media companies, including Meta, Facebook, Instagram, Alphabet, Google, YouTube, TikTok, and Snap, for creating “a youth mental health crisis,” including an increase in  anxiety, depression, thoughts of self-harm, and suicidal ideation. In April, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed legislation requiring minors to get their parents’ permission to create a new account.

Now, United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy is also making his voice heard as well, releasing a new Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental

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Healthy Information

Sir Keir Starmer questioned on how Labour’s ‘five missions’ plan for NHS will be funded | Politics News

Keir Starmer has come under scrutiny over how he will fund the vast reforms he is planning to secure the future of the NHS.

The Labour leader gave a news briefing in Essex where he laid out his vision for the health service, as well as specific policy proposals and pledges for what his government would do if it wins power at the next election.

The NHS formed one of the five missions Sir Keir laid out in February that will be the core of his election manifesto heading into 2024.

They are:

  • Secure the highest sustained growth in the G7
  • Build an NHS fit for the future
  • Make Britain’s streets safe
  • Break down the barriers to opportunity at every stage
  • Make Britain a clean energy superpower

In his speech, Sir Keir set out three goals for the NHS, including that it would be “fit for purpose” with ambulances arriving

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Healthy Support

Type of Intermittent Fasting Helps Manage Blood Sugar Levels

  • A small new study links intermittent fasting to better blood sugar management.
  • Eating 80% of calories before 1 p.m. was more effective at blood sugar management than following a regular eating pattern.
  • Experts say more research is needed before this strategy can be recommended—and it could pose some problems for certain groups.

A new study finds that a restricted eating plan that involves eating the bulk of your calories earlier in the day may help with blood sugar management—and reduce the chances of developing type 2 diabetes in people at risk of the condition.

The study, which was just presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, followed 10 people who had obesity and high blood sugar levels.

The researchers had participants follow either an early time-restricted feeding pattern, where 80% of their calories were consumed before 1 p.m., or a normal eating pattern, where half the day’s

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Healthy Body

Mind and body workouts at Beach Cities Health District

The Beach Cities Halth District offers a full range of physical and mental health programs throughout the summer, beginning with a focus on Mental Health Month of May. 

 

  •  Mental Health First Aid Trainings 

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training teaches how to recognize and support individuals experiencing mental health challenges. You’ll learn how to assess risk factors, provide initial support and connect individuals to professional resources when needed.  

Tuesday, May 23 or Friday, May 9

9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

Beach Cities Health District  

514 N. Prospect Ave, Beach Cities Room (Lower Level)  

Redondo Beach, CA 90277  

Register here 

 

  • National Senior Health & Fitness Week 

Join the Center for Health & Fitness for National Center Health & Fitness Week, the nation’s largest health event encouraging all older adults to take action toward maintaining and improving their health. Enjoy FREE classes, educational lectures and assessments. 

 May 30 – June 2 

Center

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Healthy Information

The Rise Of #HowToReduceCortisol On TikTok

how to reduce cortisol trend danger

The Rise Of TikTok’s #HowToReduceCortisolGetty Images

Living a stress-free life seems like a far-flung dream. As far back as Ancient Greek civilisations, we’ve been expressing concern over stress. Indeed, the Greeks invented stoicism at least in part to help manage stress, anxiety and depression. In current times, the global pandemic – with its enormous health and socio-economic impact – has seen stress hit its highest spikes in decades. Gov. uk cited a 10% increase in psychological distress among adults over 18, thanks to Covid-19. And the implications of this have been clear to see, with people at their wits ends calling for the Great Resignation, ‘quiet quitting‘ and struggling with burnout.

So it’s unsurprising, given *TikTok’s role as a modern-day guidebook for life, whether it’s offering beauty hacks or advice for hopping on celibacy 2.0, that app-users would be looking to tackle stress. And lo

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