Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/-gftb2MimL8

When you brew tea contained in a plastic teabag, it can release nearly 15 billion microscopic plastic particles into the liquid you’re consuming.  A new study from the American Chemical Society tested four different commercially-available teas that are packaged in completely or partially plasticized teabags.

A single teabag released 11.6 plastic microparticles and 3.1 billion even smaller nanoparticles.  We don’t yet know how dangerous such contaminants can be to humans, but experimental tests on small aquatic organisms, ok water fleas, show that plastic particles drive serious anatomic and behavioral changes.

Buyer beware so read labels and check online.

If you’re a tea lover, buy teas in bags without any plastic.  Those include Able & Cole, Clipper, Pukka Herbs, Teapigs, Twinings pyramid, and Waitrose Duchy.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190925083805.htm

https://www.countryliving.com/uk/create/food-and-drink/news/a3291/plastic-tea-bags-environment/

#plasticteabags #microparticles

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/-gftb2MimL8

When you brew tea contained in a plastic teabag, it can release nearly 15 billion microscopic plastic particles into the liquid you’re consuming.  A new study from the American Chemical Society tested four different commercially-available teas that are packaged in completely or partially plasticized teabags.

A single teabag released 11.6 plastic microparticles and 3.1 billion even smaller nanoparticles.  We don’t yet know how dangerous such contaminants can be to humans, but experimental tests on small aquatic organisms, ok water fleas, show that plastic particles drive serious anatomic and behavioral changes.

Buyer beware so read labels and check online.

If you’re a tea lover, buy teas in bags without any plastic.  Those include Able & Cole, Clipper, Pukka Herbs, Teapigs, Twinings pyramid, and Waitrose Duchy.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190925083805.htm

https://www.countryliving.com/uk/create/food-and-drink/news/a3291/plastic-tea-bags-environment/

#plasticteabags #microparticles

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/ogsadES_aa4

Cancer survivors facing sleepless nights can be cured with basic sleep education.  Psychologists at Harvard’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, looking for a less resource-intense alternative to individual cognitive-behavioral-therapy, tested a simple 2 step program on some 51 participants.

It begins with a sleep-education class that makes that dry information about healthy sleep found in pamphlets come alive.  This session alone cured 41% of the group.

A second step for those with continuing problems is a short series of additional group meetings led by a psychologist or social worker.  This step brought the success rate up to 71%.

Healthy sleep is critical for all of us but particularly for cancer patients.  It stokes up the immune system and keeps the remainder of the body firing on all cylinders.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. "Chronic insomnia can be cured in cancer survivors with a basic sleep education class." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 24 September 2019.

#sleep #cancer #sleepeducation #grouptherapy 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/ogsadES_aa4

Cancer survivors facing sleepless nights can be cured with basic sleep education.  Psychologists at Harvard’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, looking for a less resource-intense alternative to individual cognitive-behavioral-therapy, tested a simple 2 step program on some 51 participants.

It begins with a sleep-education class that makes that dry information about healthy sleep found in pamphlets come alive.  This session alone cured 41% of the group.

A second step for those with continuing problems is a short series of additional group meetings led by a psychologist or social worker.  This step brought the success rate up to 71%.

Healthy sleep is critical for all of us but particularly for cancer patients.  It stokes up the immune system and keeps the remainder of the body firing on all cylinders.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. "Chronic insomnia can be cured in cancer survivors with a basic sleep education class." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 24 September 2019.

#sleep #cancer #sleepeducation #grouptherapy 

Vidcast:  ttps://youtu.be/IC2HBiQBqf8

You’ll turboscharge your self-confidence by seeing yourself in the eyes of those outside your circle of peers.  A Brigham Young University study of 213 college students analyzed the phenomenon called the imposter syndrome in which even competent trainees feel they are faking it and will be embarrassingly exposed any minute.

The study shows that one in every 5 students suffers from imposter syndrome.  The most effective remedy for this self-defeating mindset is reaching out to parents and professors rather than peers for feedback on your work.

Even those suffering from imposter syndrome can perform well.  Eliminating the self-doubt just makes it easier and more pleasant for you to excel at school or work.

Richard G. Gardner, Jeffrey S. Bednar, Bryan W. Stewart, James B. Oldroyd, Joseph Moore. “I must have slipped through the cracks somehow”: An examination of coping with perceived impostorism and the role of social support. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 2019; 115: 103337 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvb.2019.103337

#Selfconfidence #impostersyndrome #selfdoubt

Vidcast:  ttps://youtu.be/IC2HBiQBqf8

You’ll turboscharge your self-confidence by seeing yourself in the eyes of those outside your circle of peers.  A Brigham Young University study of 213 college students analyzed the phenomenon called the imposter syndrome in which even competent trainees feel they are faking it and will be embarrassingly exposed any minute.

The study shows that one in every 5 students suffers from imposter syndrome.  The most effective remedy for this self-defeating mindset is reaching out to parents and professors rather than peers for feedback on your work.

Even those suffering from imposter syndrome can perform well.  Eliminating the self-doubt just makes it easier and more pleasant for you to excel at school or work.

Richard G. Gardner, Jeffrey S. Bednar, Bryan W. Stewart, James B. Oldroyd, Joseph Moore. “I must have slipped through the cracks somehow”: An examination of coping with perceived impostorism and the role of social support. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 2019; 115: 103337 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvb.2019.103337

#Selfconfidence #impostersyndrome #selfdoubt

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Icbiaal4Abg

If you crack open that can of nuts and consume even half a serving each day, you’ll keep your weight in a healthy range and avoid obesity.  Harvard nutritional researchers conducted longitudinal studies on nearly 145,000 professional men and women for up to 24 years.

Subing in nuts for less healthy fare such as processed meats, refined grains, and sugary treats lowered the risk of gaining more than 10 pounds over a 4 year period by 23% and reduced the risk of obesity by 16%.  The investigators theorize that chewing nuts and digesting the fiber they contain tends to satisfy your appetite.

Eat those nuts, especially walnuts, instead of junk food each day.  You only need 7 walnut halves, 12 almonds, 8 cashews, 14 peanuts, or 23 pistachios.

Xiaoran Liu, Yanping Li, Marta Guasch-Ferré, Walter C Willett, Jean-Philippe Drouin-Chartier, Shilpa N Bhupathiraju, Deirdre K Tobias. Changes in nut consumption influence long-term weight change in US men and women. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, 2019; bmjnph-2019-000034 DOI: 10.1136/bmjnph-2019-000034

#Nuts #weight #obesity 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Icbiaal4Abg

If you crack open that can of nuts and consume even half a serving each day, you’ll keep your weight in a healthy range and avoid obesity.  Harvard nutritional researchers conducted longitudinal studies on nearly 145,000 professional men and women for up to 24 years.

Subing in nuts for less healthy fare such as processed meats, refined grains, and sugary treats lowered the risk of gaining more than 10 pounds over a 4 year period by 23% and reduced the risk of obesity by 16%.  The investigators theorize that chewing nuts and digesting the fiber they contain tends to satisfy your appetite.

Eat those nuts, especially walnuts, instead of junk food each day.  You only need 7 walnut halves, 12 almonds, 8 cashews, 14 peanuts, or 23 pistachios.

Xiaoran Liu, Yanping Li, Marta Guasch-Ferré, Walter C Willett, Jean-Philippe Drouin-Chartier, Shilpa N Bhupathiraju, Deirdre K Tobias. Changes in nut consumption influence long-term weight change in US men and women. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, 2019; bmjnph-2019-000034 DOI: 10.1136/bmjnph-2019-000034

#Nuts #weight #obesity 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/SH6daqtuf0c

More than one in every 10 young persons with medical illness is currently using marijuana each day.  Public health researchers at the Universities of Nebraska and Kansas reviewed survey records from nearly 170,000 participants.

Frequency of use is highest in the youngest.  Twenty-five percent of young patients 18-24 use marijuana while only 2.4% of those over 65 do so.    The majority who use cannabis for medical purposes smoke it.

As more and more states pass medical marijuana laws, its use will continue to rise.  As that happens, standardization of available products and careful FDA oversight will help to assure safety and effectiveness.

If you are a user, be certain that your clinicians know it so that cannabis may be properly integrated into your care plan.

Dai H, Richter KP. A National Survey of Marijuana Use Among US Adults With Medical Conditions, 2016-2017. JAMA Netw Open. Published online September 20, 20192(9):e1911936. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.11936

#MedicalMarijuana

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/SH6daqtuf0c

More than one in every 10 young persons with medical illness is currently using marijuana each day.  Public health researchers at the Universities of Nebraska and Kansas reviewed survey records from nearly 170,000 participants.

Frequency of use is highest in the youngest.  Twenty-five percent of young patients 18-24 use marijuana while only 2.4% of those over 65 do so.    The majority who use cannabis for medical purposes smoke it.

As more and more states pass medical marijuana laws, its use will continue to rise.  As that happens, standardization of available products and careful FDA oversight will help to assure safety and effectiveness.

If you are a user, be certain that your clinicians know it so that cannabis may be properly integrated into your care plan.

Dai H, Richter KP. A National Survey of Marijuana Use Among US Adults With Medical Conditions, 2016-2017. JAMA Netw Open. Published online September 20, 20192(9):e1911936. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.11936

#MedicalMarijuana