Healthy Support

Hints and habits to help oceans stay healthy

SAN FRANCISCO — It all seems so daunting: plastics in the ocean, dying coral reefs, entire species being wiped out – but don’t click away in despair!

There really are things everyone can do to help make the ocean cleaner and keep our environment healthier.

Here are some easy (or mostly easy) life changes that have a big impact on our environment.

Eat fish responsibly

Whenever you eat fish, make sure you choose a sustainable variety that isn’t endangered.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s “Seafood Watch” program has online guides detailing which fish are your best bets. All of these directories, broken up by region, can be downloaded into a printable pocket guide – so if you’re a seafood lover, it’s a handy resource to keep nearby.

The most consumed seafoods in the U.S. are shrimp, salmon and tuna. If those are among your go-to choices, some more environmentally responsible

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Healthy Support

How food affects mood: Eating healthy reduces the risk of depression, anxiety

It’s no secret that the foods people consume have major impacts on their physical health. But they also influence well-being. That’s why ordering a pizza after a stressful day may not be the best option, even if it is the most appealing. 

An emerging field of science known as nutritional psychiatry is based on research linking food to mental health. It’s centered on the gut microbiome, a community of bacteria — both good and bad — that supports digestion and the health of the immune system, among other roles. 

Positive changes to the gut microbiome have been shown to reduce inflammation, boost the immune system and improve mood. Disturbances can contribute to physical health issues like obesity, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriatic arthritis. And they also can impact a person’s mood.

That’s because the production of serotonin, which helps regulate sleep, appetite and mood, is highly influenced by the gut’s

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Healthy Support

6 things experts say can help keep kids healthy in school amid flu, RSV and COVID

The public health emergency may be over, but COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are back on the rise as the winter cold and flu season approaches and school is back in session.

Experts say families and schools can stay healthy by going back to basics — hand washing, ventilation, vaccines, masking and staying home when needed — and that schools should be prepared to respond to possible outbreaks.

More than 6.5 million children miss 15 days of school or more per year, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. School absenteeism has been linked to a number of negative health and socioeconomic outcomes.

So far this school year, at least two school districts have had to cancel classes due to respiratory illnesses in Texas and Kentucky.

“We know that healthy students are better learners and that kids who have the opportunity to be in school and engaged with their

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Healthy Support

‘Starfield’ Announces Nvidia DLSS Support, Food-Eating Button, Future City Maps

Bethesda has just published a new blog post detailing updates coming to Starfield in support-september-13-2023″ class=”color-link” title=”https://bethesda.net/en/game/starfield/article/3DKJAom2GjFh4P3gprf5E9/starfield-updates-and-mod-support-september-13-2023″ data-ga-track=”ExternalLink:https://bethesda.net/en/game/starfield/article/3DKJAom2GjFh4P3gprf5E9/starfield-updates-and-mod-support-september-13-2023″ aria-label=”the short and long term”the short and long term, including a ton of popular requests, most of them on the technical side, initially.

The first Starfield update for the game will be a small hotfix about a few “top issues” but after that there will be more consistent updates that will include:

  • Brightness and Contrast controls
  • HDR Calibration Menu
  • FOV Slider
  • Nvidia DLSS Support (PC)
  • 32:9 Ultrawide Monitor Support (PC)
  • An eat button for food

Those first four have come up time and time again as seeming industry standards that Starfield has lacked at launch for whatever reason. And Starfield’s AMD partnership has been blamed for the game not launching with Nvidia DLSS support, where the game just does not run as well

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Healthy Support

Don’t forget health, safety steps

The beginning of the new academic year also sets in motion parental concerns of the health and safety of their wards. The Ministry of Health and doctors advise parents as well as school staff to pay more attention to the health of the children.

Doctors feel that school reopening often brings a host of health issues like flu, fever, diarrhoea as children face summer heat, consume food from eateries and are careless about cleanliness. The parents are also worried about safety on the school bus. The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has advised all drivers as well as assistants on the buses to check to avoid risks of asphyxiation inside the bus as the tiny tots tend to fall asleep often after hectic school hours.

Dr Hilal bin Ali al Sabti, Minister of Health, after careful review of the national plan for school and university health for this year, said the

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Healthy Support

Programs help Sunnyvale residents get fit, eat healthy

Shape-Up Sunnyvale

Sunnyvale residents are invited to shape up with a free program designed to help them get active and cook healthier meals. Participants in Shape-Up Sunnyvale can join as an individual or family. Priority will be given to new participants and those enrolled in MediCal, Supplemental Security Income, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a free and reduced-cost lunch program and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants and Children.

Through the program, funded by the El Camino Healthcare District, participants take home a healthy meal kit with recipe instructions each week and choose from a list of fitness activities.

Email CNC@sunnyvale.ca.gov to join the interest list or call 408-730-7800 for more information.

Veggie Rx

The city of Sunnyvale is inviting residents to join a free eight-week program to learn about healthy living. The welcome packet includes a workbook, cookbook, and voucher guide, and each participant is provided coupons for

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Healthy Support

Is there anything I can do to help my body return to producing cortisol?

I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica two years ago and have been on steroids since. I’m slowly reducing my steroid intake and hope to come off them. Is there anything I can do to help my body return to producing cortisol? I am also taking tablets to protect from stomach bleeds and vitamin D and calcium to protect from osteoporosis.

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a musculoskeletal condition. It has similar symptoms to fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, the main difference being that PMR usually responds well to treatment. PMR is characterised by severe pain and stiffness in the muscles and joints. However, it doesn’t cause progressive disability or deformity, unlike other arthritic conditions.

The corticosteroid Prednisone is the usual prescription for PMR and symptoms typically decrease rapidly. Most PMR patients require steroid medication for two years, with the condition being considered “in remission” once you have managed two to three months

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Healthy Support

Healthy eating doesn’t have to be expensive: An expert offers tips

Healthy eating doesn't have to be expensive. an expert offers tips

Groceries cost a lot, but it is possible to eat healthy foods without overspending.

Experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham offer tips for healthy eating on a budget.

“Maintaining a healthy diet is not only about what you eat but also about making mindful choices,” said Emily Davidson, employee wellness manager at UAB. “A little planning, creativity and smart shopping can help people enjoy a nutritious diet without breaking the bank.”

Planning your meals is key. It saves money that you might otherwise spend on impulse buys.

Plan for incorporating fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables, Davidson suggested.

“When planning meals, look for what’s in season,” she said in a university news release. “Notice that some fruits and vegetables are more expensive during different seasons because not all produce grows year-round. Getting fresh fruits and veggies in their off-season is expensive because it requires extra travel and shipping costs.”

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Healthy Support

From Eating Certain Foods to Reducing Stress and Tension

While it’s impossible to stay forever young, there are plenty of things one can do to naturally ease the aches and pains of aging. From eating foods that have anti-inflammatory properties to breathing exercises to lessen chronic muscle pain, these five tips from experts can help reduce tension and aches in simple and easy ways.

Eat Right

“What we eat has a dramatic impact on levels of pain in the body,” says Beth Reardon, Director of Integrative Nutrition at Duke Integrative Medicine. Fruits such as blueberries and tart cherries, spices à la ginger and turmeric, as well as fish and soy products, all have anti-inflammatory properties that can help to give you some relief.

Be Active

“Physical activity reduces chronic pain by building muscle strength and flexibility, reducing fatigue, reducing pain sensitivity and reducing inflammation,” say the experts at Utah State University. For starters, try gentle aerobic activities like

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Healthy Support

Healthy Eating May Turn Your Gut Bacteria Into Cancer-Fighting Heroes

The human body is only one percent human, microbiologists like to say. Each of us plays host to an ecosystem of thousands of species of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses that amount to trillions of microorganisms. Together these compose our microbiome. If you factor in their total genomic content as part of our own, we are 99 percent microbial.

Over the last decade and half, there’s been what Dr. Andrew Koh, a professor of pediatrics and microbiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, calls a “microbiome explosion,” a tremendous increase in research and commercial interest in understanding and manipulating how our microbiome affects our health. The greatest number of microorganisms live in our intestines, but they can be found throughout the body, and they play a major role in our immune system. A host of conditions, ranging from irritable bowel syndrome to depression, has been explored in

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