Good Living Guide

HEALTH

Virologist Says Coronavirus Can Survive On Fresh Grocery Store Produce

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Don’t skimp on washing your fruits and vegetables as soon as you get them home from the grocery store or farmer’s market. That’s the word from a specialist in infectious illnesses who’s warning us to take the coronavirus threat seriously.

Virologist Says Coronavirus Can Survive On Fresh Grocery Store Produce

Are You Bagging Bacteria?

The advice also applies if you’re getting grocery delivery.

Timothy Newsome is a virologist who teaches at the University of Sydney in Australia. In an interview with the British newspaper Mail Online, he reminded us that the virus can survive on the surfaces of fruits and vegetables.

“We have to remember that every surface is potentially contaminated and with any surface there is a risk,” he said.

Virologist Says Coronavirus Can Survive On Fresh Grocery Store Produce

Soapy Scrubbing

Newsome suggests using soap and warm water, but he doesn’t say what kind of soap to use.

On a Canadian news show, two infectious disease specialists also suggested washing your produce if you’re not going to peel it or cook it.

Is That Extreme?

Some experts say using soap to wash our produce is going overboard.

A simple water rinse can remove more than 90% of pesticides and bacteria.

In fact, according to food safety expert Teresa Hunsacker, “There is no data that suggests anything more than water will do a better job of eliminating coronavirus on produce.”

You can add a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar to the rinse water. Both are antibacterial.

Virologist Says Coronavirus Can Survive On Fresh Grocery Store Produce

Staying Safe

Here are some tips for food safety:

  • Wash your hands in soap and warm water before you handle food.
  • Wash fruits and vegetables in clean water. Use a scrub brush for hard produce like carrots and potatoes.
  • Don’t wash produce until you’re ready to eat or cook it.
  • If you use reusable grocery bags, spray or wipe them with sanitizer.

Would you consider washing your produce with soap? We hope everyone is staying safe out there.

Study: Elderberry Has A Potent Direct Antiviral Effect Against The Flu Virus

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If your grandmother told you to take elderberry syrup for a cold or flu, she was right. Scientists in Australia have published an important study finding that elderberry extracts can fight the viruses that cause these illnesses.

Elderberry

New Research for an Old Remedy

Elderberries are an old-fashioned remedy for the cold, flu, bronchitis and fever. Now that researchers have given them the stamp of approval, you can rest easy knowing that you’re not wasting your money by taking these supplements.


How Elderberry Heals You

According to the researchers, concentrated elderberry extract works in several ways to help you heal. It stops viruses from getting larger, weakens their power and strengthens the human immune system. The study’s findings hit the news while Australia struggled with a record-breaking flu epidemic.

Another study found that taking a commercial elderberry fruit extract shortened the duration of flu symptoms by more than 50% and reduced the severity of muscle aches and fever.

How Should You Take Elderberries?

There are many commercial elderberry extracts on the market.


You can turn fresh elderberries into jam, pies, tea and wine. Never eat raw elderberries, which are poisonous.

Elderberry Jam

You can use dried elderberries to make elderberry syrup. One natural health expert suggests using this syrup on desserts and pancakes. That sounds like a medicine that will go down very easy.

You can buy elderberry remedies over the counter in most places. Doctors warn that you still need to get proper medical care for the flu, especially if you’re very young, very old or have a weak immune system.


Study: Elderberry Has A Potent Direct Antiviral Effect Against The Flu Virus

Alcohol-Related Liver Disease Is Skyrocketing Among Young Adults

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Leading doctors are sounding the alarm about a growing medical menace among young people. It’s common, its devastating, and it’s totally preventable. It’s alcohol-related liver disease, and it’s killing America’s young people.

Alcohol-Related Liver Disease

Reputation and Reality

Serious, alcohol-related liver diseases used to strike older people, but now, they’re happening among younger people.

Young people have a reputation for partying and hard drinking. Recently, that reputation has become reality. Experts think a rise in so-called binge drinking has fueled the rise in deaths from liver disease.

Death Rates From Cirrhosis Have Doubled

On a recent, eye-opening discussion on the Mayo Clinic Radio Show, doctors discussed various studies which find that deaths from alcohol-related diseases have doubled among people aged 25 to 40.

Doug Simonetto, a Mayo Clinic hepatologist or liver specialist, said it doesn’t even take that much alcohol to damage the liver. He said the big danger to young people is their tendency to binge drink.

What’s In a Binge?

Health professionals define binge drinking as having more than four drinks in two hours for women, and more than five drinks in two hours for men.

Hepatologist Joseph Galati, known as “Dr. Joe,” is also sounding the alarm. In a YouTube presentation, the popular doctor said cirrhosis rates are up 65% among young adults. Rates of liver cancer, which is linked to excessive drinking, have doubled.

We Need to Wake Up

“These are our children,” Galati says. “This is unbelievable and unacceptable. It’s alarming, and we all need to wake up to what is happening.”

This Implantable Artificial Kidney Could Eliminate Need For Dialysis

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Dr. William Fissell has created an artificial kidney that uses cellphone technology and lightweight plastic. Fissell, a medical researcher at Vanderbilt University, says the device shows true hope for the many people suffering and dying from kidney disease.

Artificial Kidney

WBIR

Facing Grim Choices

The development could have incredible implications for the more than 700,000 people who suffer from kidney disease.

In most cases, their choices are grim. They can get on a waiting list for a kidney transplant, which can take years, or they can face the pain, inconvenience and expense of dialysis treatments.

Artificial Kidney

WBIR

The Holy Grail of Medical Research

Medical researchers have long tried to develop a usable artificial kidney that would replace both of those options. Developing a kidney transplant that was lightweight, usable and workable was their Holy Grail.

At a 2019 medical conference, researchers from the University of California announced that they had been able to implant an artificial kidney into a pig.

Turning the Corner

The successful transplant was the first time a large mammal successfully used a fake kidney. At the time, they predicted that a true artificial kidney was just around the corner.

Fissell’s prototype is part of his work at Vanderbilt University’s Kidney Project. It will still have to go through clinical trials and human testing.

Eyes On the Future

Fissell’s research team recently won an international prize that gave his research a major financial boost.

“We still have our eyes on the prize,” Fissell said.

Artificial Kidney

Dr. William Fissell / WBIR

Husbands Are Taking Way Too Long To Poop, Experts Say

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Does your husband spend a suspicious amount of time in the bathroom? If you suspect he might be using bathroom time as break time, you might be right. On the other hand, spending unusual amounts of time on the throne could point to a serious health problem.

What’s Normal?

According to health professionals, the most time a healthy adult should spend perching on the porcelain is five minutes.

While it’s true that some men use their bathroom time to primp, read, chill out, get away from work or even take a nap, some of them really are taking a long time to poop.

Husbands Are Taking Way Too Long To Poop, Experts Say

Longer Pooping Times Could Mean Serious Problems

Here are some troubling reasons your favorite guy might be spending too much time on the throne:

  • He’s dehydrated. Men who don’t drink enough water produce dry, hard stools that are hard to pass.
  • His diet is bad. A high-fiber diet full of vegetables, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats makes it easy to empty your bowels.
  • He could be getting hemorrhoids. Taking too long to do his business can result in painful, embarrassing hemorrhoids.

Husbands Are Taking Way Too Long To Poop, Experts Say

What Can You Do About It?

If you’re concerned about all the time your partner is spending behind closed doors, it’s time to speak up. You might discover that he’s doing something harmless like reading his email or checking sports scores.

On the other hand, if it’s genuinely taking him a long time to get moving, it’s time to consider some lifestyle changes or a call to your doctor.

Cities Are Building Elder Playgrounds For Boomers To Exercise And Play

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Playgrounds aren’t just for children anymore. These days, recreation areas are designed for an aging population. These elder playgrounds come with fitness equipment, free exercise classes and a chance to work out in the great outdoors.

Elder Playgrounds

Health and Happiness

Studies have found that these fitness-themed playgrounds do wonders for seniors’ health. Movement is important at all ages. Keeping fit helps seniors develop better balance and core strength while staying mentally alert.

The parks also give seniors a new option for meeting other people. Loneliness is a serious problem for the elderly, and these parks are a great way for them to socialize.

Beach Views and Balance Wheels

In one Galveston, Texas park, seniors can use a variety of fitness equipment, climbing bars and balance wheels while enjoying a gorgeous view of the beach.

Some of the playgrounds are designed to let kids and their grandparents play together. The health organization Humana has declared a mission to build these so-called intergenerational playgrounds in at least 50 cities across the U.S.

They have caught on like wildfire as seniors discover a great alternative to gyms or sitting at home alone. As one senior told a news report, “I don’t mind acting like a kid again.”

Elder Playgrounds Provide Fun For All Ages

The trend began in China and has spread to countries everywhere. In Spain, elderly people are flocking to parks where they can play with their grandchildren instead of just watching them play.

These seniors are enjoying fresh air, exercise and fun with their families. It sounds like the perfect recipe for health and happiness at any age.

 

Going Barefoot Benefits Brain Development

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You love going barefoot, especially if you happen to be walking barefoot on the beach. The next time you’re enjoying the sensation, don’t let anyone nag you into putting on some shoes.

It turns out that walking barefoot is great for brain development.

barefoot brain development

Feel the Ground and Feel Grounded

How does walking barefoot help? For one thing, it boosts something called kinesthetic awareness. In simple terms, this refers to our consciousness of where we are and how our bodies feel. When we walk directly on the earth, we know exactly where we’re walking and what it feels like.

Children who never walk barefoot don’t develop this skill, because there’s always a layer of shoes between their feet and the earth.

barefoot brain development

Train Your Brain

Walking barefoot also enhances your proprioception, which is the ability to walk correctly on any type of surface. It’s what teaches your feet to keep their balance on rocks, sand, grass and pavement.

You aren’t born knowing how to do this. Your body has to learn it through experience.

A Balancing Act

At Natural Child magazine, Kacie Flegal explains that proprioception is “the ability to perceive the motion and position of our bodies in space.”

Learning how to keep your balance on any surface engages your brain. A healthy brain keeps you mentally sharp.

Kick Off Your Shoes

Get out there and enjoy that barefoot beach stroll. Your mind, body and brain will thank you for it.

 

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New Cytophone Laser Detects and Destroys Cancer Cells In Bloodstream

Grandparents Who Babysit Are Less Likely To Develop Dementia And Alzheimer’s

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If spending time with your grandkids is your favorite activity, you’ll be happy to know that it’s also one of the best ways to prevent mental decline as you get older.

Researchers have found that spending time with your grandchildren can ward off dementia and Alzheimer’s.

grandparents alzheimer's babysit

On Your Toes

Staying on your toes to watch your grandkids keeps your brain sharp and your body moving.

The close, warm bond you share will help both of you in future years. Children who share a loving bond with their grandparents are less likely to experience depression in later years.

grandparents alzheimer's babysit

It’s Good for Both of You

Researchers say that babysitting your grandkids has many benefits.

  • You ward off loneliness. Loneliness is one of the major causes of failing mental abilities in older people.
  • You stay physically and mentally alert.
  • You and your grandchildren develop good social skills.
  • Grandparents who take care of their grandchildren live longer than those who don’t.

grandparents alzheimer's babysit

Just Don’t Overdo It

Before you run out and kidnap the little darlings, take note. Spending too much time with your grandchildren can be just as bad as not seeing them at all.

What’s too much? According to researchers, grandparents who spent five days a week with their grandchildren were too stressed out to enjoy the interaction.

You’re the best judge of what you can handle. If you’re spending so much time with the munchkins that you’re running yourself ragged, you may want to cut back on “together time.”

Caring Is the Key

If you don’t have any grandchildren to cuddle, don’t worry. The studies also found that sharing a close bond with anyone will give you the same benefits.

Caring and sharing will fill your days, prevent loneliness and keep you mentally strong. It’s a win-win.

 

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New Cytophone Laser Detects and Destroys Cancer Cells In Bloodstream

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A new medical discovery could make it easier for doctors to contain cancer and keep it from spreading. The treatment uses a cytophone laser to kill cancer cells without surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.

Cytophone Laser

Credit: Ekaterina Galanzha / UAMS

Introducing the Cytophone Laser

Scientists at the University of Arkansas have discovered a way to stop cancer cells in their tracks using a handheld laser device. This breakthrough technique allows doctors to destroy cancer cells before they spread to other parts of the body.

The cancer-killing device is called a Cytophone. It finds cancer cells and destroys them before they can do more damage. The Cytopone:

  • Requires no surgery or incisions.
  • Is painless.
  • Is a simple, handheld device.
  • Works quickly and efficiently.

What is Metastasis, and Why Does it Matter?

One of the biggest concerns related to cancer is the fact that cancer cells metastasize. That means they grow and spread to other parts of the body.

The Cytophone laser could be an answer to this problem. It’s able to pinpoint the cancer cells while they’re in the bloodstream, hunt them down and kill them before they spread.

According to Science Translational Medicine, where the research was published, the “system accurately detected these cells in 27 out of 28 people with cancer, with a sensitivity that is about 1000 times better than current technology.”

What Does This Mean for the Future of Cancer Treatment?

The Cytophone is still in an early stage of development. Vladimir Zharov, the lead researcher on the study, found that the laser was able to destroy 96% of the cancer cells in one patient.

The device gives cancer researchers hope for a simple, noninvasive treatment to prevent cancer from getting worse. It offers a bright glimmer of hope for everyone facing this disease.

21 Popular Breakfast Cereals Contain Cancer-Causing Weed Killer, Tests Reveal

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A new report released by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that several popular breakfast foods are contaminated with glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup weed killer. All 21 of the products tested had glyphosate levels that were “higher than what EWG scientists consider protective for children’s health.”

21 Popular Breakfast Cereals Contain Cancer-Causing Weed Killer

The three highest levels of glyphosate were found in Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch at 833 parts per billion (ppb), Cheerios Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal at 729 ppb and Nature Valley Crunchy granola bars, Maple Brown Sugar at 566 ppb. These levels are well over the EWG children’s health benchmark of 160 ppb.

Out of the 21 items tested, glyphosate levels were highest in the following products:

  • Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch (833 ppb)
  • Cheerios Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal (729 ppb)
  • Nature Valley Crunchy granola bars, Maple Brown Sugar (566 ppb)
  • Nature Valley Granola Cups, Almond Butter (529 ppb)
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios (400 ppb)
  • Nature Valley Baked Oat Bites (389 ppb)
  • Nature Valley Crunchy granola bars, Oats and Honey (320 ppb)
  • Nature Valley Crunchy granola bars, Peanut Butter (312 ppb)
  • Nature Valley Granola Cups, Peanut Butter Chocolate (297 ppb)
  • Cheerios Oat Crunch Cinnamon (283 ppb)

The report comes less than a month after a California jury awarded a couple more than $2 billion in damages after determining their cancer was caused from long-term exposure to Monsanto’s glyphosate-based Roundup.

Although the tested products have detectable levels of glyphosate that the EWG considers unsafe, the levels are well within the EPA’s legal limit of 30 parts per million for glyphosate on oats. It appears there is no end in sight to the ongoing debate concerning glyphosate’s alleged cancer-causing properties. What is your opinion on this subject?

 

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