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Parents need to be role models once marijuana is available | Parentally Speaking (2021, January 10). My Central Jersey. Retrieved from https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/education/2021/01/10/parents-need-role-models-once-marijuana-available-parentally-speaking/6578851002/

This article, by My Central Jersey, discusses the impact a parent’s legalized marijuana use by have on their child. Studies have found that children are more likely to use marijuana when they know their parent(s) smoke it. Additionally, if their parent(s) smokes it they are more likely to see it in a favorable light. A parent(s) marijuana use can also increase their child’s risk for additional substance abuse and psychiatric problems. Parents need to discuss marijuana with their child and tell them that substance abuse will not be tolerated. If a child has a friend whose parents smoke marijuana, a dialogue needs to take place between parents to ensure the children do not use marijuana and that marijuana is not tolerated.

This article would be one of many I would use to teach about marijuana abuse. It’s important that children realize the chances of them abusing the drug increase when their parents also abuse the drug. Their parents may be role models in many ways, but smoking marijuana is not something to model.

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As I write this column, the law enabling the sale of marijuana in New Jersey has not gone into effect yet. But don't assume that sale of the plant will go into effect immediately. There is more work for the legislature to do. There is a need for the state legislature to establish guidelines for anything cannabis-related.

What the state legalized was what is referred to as "regulated" cannabis. Translated, it means that there is a need for a system of regulations that cover cultivation, production, testing, distribution, and sales to be created. "Regulated" marijuana means that it was obtained at a dispensary. All other recreational cannabis is still illegal in the state. And as important - you also can't grow your own.

Research found that when parents use marijuana, that act could easily increase the likelihood that their own children's use of marijuana may commence, or possibly increase. And definitely, their view of marijuana-use is likely to become more favorable. This study found that children's risk of marijuana and alcohol use and attitudes toward marijuana were influenced by their parents' marijuana use pattern over time. And children whose parents used marijuana primarily during adolescence/early adulthood and those whose parents continued to use marijuana from adolescence through adulthood were at highest risk.

When parents use drugs, including marijuana, their children may also be affected. Numerous studies have shown that current parental marijuana use increases the children's risk of substance use and other psychiatric problems. A recent National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) study demonstrated that the parents' history of marijuana use throughout their lifetime may also affect their children's outcomes and that some lifetime use patterns are more harmful than others.

Data from the most recent annual Monitoring the Future survey, conducted by the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, show that from 2017 to 2019, the percentage of teens who said they vaped nicotine in the past 12 months doubled. The survey also found that after a twofold increase over the past two years, rates of past-year vaping of marijuana also remained steady in 2020.
READ: APP.com reporter Mike Davis discusses marijuana decriminalization
With the number of adults who use marijuana rising following the drug's legalization in several other states, the effect of prior and current parental marijuana use on their children is an increasingly significant public health concern. This NIDA study further suggests that efforts to reduce children's risk of drug use must take into consideration not only the parent's ongoing marijuana use but also their use history.

If you are an active user of marijuana, you need to stop. Please seek help to do so. There are many resources available for you to do just that. If you want to locate help locally, visit https://wellspringprevention.org/information-referral/treatment-referrals.

Have a conversation with your youth and be clear that drug use will not be tolerated, and set the terms of any ramifications to follow, such as grounding or earlier curfew. It is critical to then implement any such repercussions in order to underline the severity of the situation. Make sure you provide children with opportunities to re-establish the bond of trust, such as supervising homework and chores but also recognizing a job well done. Make sure you are responsive to your child's efforts to correct the behavior, as a punishing attitude alone can jeopardize or damage the emotional bond between parent and child.

And remember, if a friend is involved, consider contacting the parents. First, it will send a message that drug use will not be tolerated. Second, it can help the other parents to take measures to prevent their children's drug abuse. Third, it creates a dialogue around drug use between concerned parents.
Ezra Helfand is CEO/Executive Director of the Wellspring Center for Prevention (formerly NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc.) You can reach him at ezra.helfand@wellspringprevention.org.
There are various factors involved in identifying the best treatment for marijuana abuse. A parent who decides that a structured rehab program is the best course of action will need to decide whether or not to pick a specialized adolescent/teen program. The next step may be to determine whether an inpatient or outpatient program is most suitable. A rehab admissions counselor can help a parent to understand which program type and services are most advisable. You may also wish to approach an individual private practitioner who can help guide you through the right steps. Any of this information can be had by calling the Wellspring Center for Preventionat 732-254-3344.

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Parents need to be role models once marijuana is available | Parentally Speaking

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As I write this column, the law enabling the sale of marijuana in New Jersey has not gone into effect yet. But don't assume that sale of the plant will go into effect immediately. There is more work for the legislature to do. There is a need for the state legislature to establish guidelines for anything cannabis-related.

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Proposed bill would allow students to take mental health days from school (2021, January 8). KSL News Radio. Retrieved from https://kslnewsradio.com/1940069/proposed-bill-would-allow-students-to-take-mental-health-days-from-school/

This article by KSL News Radio out of Utah addresses the concern of rising cases of suicide in children by introducing a new protective factor. In Utah, a new bill is being considered that would allow mental health days to be a valid reason to miss school. Mental health days would then be treated the same way as sick days are and would not require a note from a psychiatrist or counselor to be excused. While not every student has a mental illness, every student has a mental health just like they have a physical health. Those who support the bill hope it will help de-stigmatize mental health and address suicide and depression. If this bill passes and a student is suicidal or depressed and uses a mental health day, it can be tracked by the school. And if a student has 3 or more mental health days in a quarter, invention can take place to get the child the help they need. Cases of child suicide have risen dramatically, especially in Utah.

While my students would not be able to pass a bill allowing mental health days (which would be awesome!) they can learn to be more aware of their mental health. They can learn that speaking up about it when they are feeling particularly down can lead to help and intervention before it becomes too much to bear.

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Under Utah schools would begin recognizing mental health days as a valid reason for missing class. The proposed legislation adds "mental or behavioral health" as an accepted reason for a student's absence.

In practice, the bill would treat mental health days the same as sick days. Under current law, it's acceptable for students to miss school for mental health reasons if it's classified as a mental illness.

" Not all of us have mental illness, but all of us have mental health we're trying to take care of, just as we all have physical health," said Rep. Mike Winder, who is sponsoring the legislation. "I think having flexibility in our state code will ultimately lead to better students and save lives."

If passed, the bill would eliminate the need for students to have an appointment with a counselor or psychiatrist to be excused.

Furthermore, Winder said it would assist teachers and counselors in identifying students who may need help - allowing them to step in if needed.

The idea was brought to the state lawmaker by his daughter Jessica Lee, a senior at Southern Utah University studying psychology. Lee also volunteers at the National Alliance for Mental Illness, which is where she heard about the idea.

The legislation is similar to Oregon law that allows students to miss school for documented mental health days. The law was initiated by Hailey Hardcastle, who created the Students for a Healthy Oregon committee advocating to end the stigma surrounding mental health.

As a student, Hardcastle said her mother allowed her three mental health days each semester. Some semesters she used all three; others, she didn't need any.

"The fact they were always an option is what kept me a happy, healthy and successful student," Hardcastle said in a Ted Talk .

After watching her video, Lee said she was inspired to see that kind of change in Utah. She sent a link to her father and was thrilled when he told her he'd make it one of his priority bills.

"I started jumping up and down, I was so excited," Lee said. "It was amazing."

As a student pursuing a career in social work, Lee said it's crucial to de-stigmatize mental health and advocate for increased education.

"I think it's important to have legislation like this because we all have mental health," she said. "This bill helps to decrease mental health stigma which increases validation, acceptance and wellness for everyone. I think that's really important."

Rep. Winder said he hopes the bill will also address depression and suicide among Utah youth, noting it's a widespread issue across the state.

"What they found in Oregon is that kids will often skip school anyway if they are having a mental health crisis, but since this legislation has been in place it can actually be tracked," Winder said. "If a school counselor sees somebody with three or more mental health days in a semester they view that as a cry for help and can intervene and help elevate the child's situation."

The Utah Department of Health reported 42 suicides among Utah children ages 10-17 in 2019. That's up from 40 the year before.

In 2017, Utah had the fifth-highest suicide rate in the country for children ages 10 and older, according to the state health department. Through this legislation, Winder said he hopes teachers can keep tabs on their student's well-being - helping to identify any "cries for help."
Related stories: Utah bill allowing any doctor to recommend medical marijuana prompts concern among some experts Lawmaker hopes for 'mental change' to prevent child sexual abuse through bill Proposed bill encourages schools with Native American mascots to &#8216;retire&#8217; symbol

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Proposed bill would allow students to take mental health days from school

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Under Utah schools would begin recognizing mental health days as a valid reason for missing class. The proposed legislation adds "mental or behavioral health" as an accepted reason for a student's absence. In practice, the bill would treat mental health days the same as sick days.

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How can parents and caregivers explain Capitol violence to children? (2021, January 8). 9News. Retrieved from https://www.9news.com/video/news/local/mile-high-mornings/how-can-parents-and-caregivers-explain-capitol-violence-to-children/73-201e52bd-073e-4858-bbbf-e1bee4870d18

How to talk to your kids about violence at the U.S. Capitol (2021, January 6). The Denver Post. Retrieved from https://www.denverpost.com/2021/01/06/talking-to-kids-about-violence-capitol-trump/

The above 2 articles, one by Channel 9 News out of Denver, Colorado and one by The Denver Post, address how to discuss the violence that occurred in Washington D.C. on the 6th of January. Supporters of current President Donald Trump violently broke into the U.S. Capitol on the same day that Congress was scheduled to meet to confirm the election of President-elect, Joe Biden. Many teachers, like the 7th grade teacher interviewed in the one article, noticed it was on most of her student’s minds the day after the violence. She took the time to have an open and honest conversation with her students about what happened on the 6th and why it happened. She also acknowledged that we may feel fearful because of events such as this but that there are measures in place to keep everyone, especially children, safe. It’s important to let children bring up sensitive and uncomfortable topics and talk through them together.

Children as young as kindergarten were not unaware of the events that took place on January 6th. They should have the opportunity the next day to process and discuss violent or unsettling events such as this while also receiving reassurance that they are safe from harm.

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Supporters of President Donald Trump violently breached the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday as Congress convened to confirm the election of President-elect Joe Biden.

As rioters stormed the building and lawmakers were ushered to undisclosed locations, Americans were left grappling with the scenes appearing on their televisions and phones - and that includes children.

Madeleine St. Marie couldn't help but feel distracted while teaching her middle school social studies class at West Early College in Denver. So she shared those feelings with her students and used the event as a jumping-off point for class discussion.

"This is an extremely American event," she said. "It's the culmination of a bunch of tensions that have been cooking for 70-plus years."

How to talk to children about current events that are scary

Parents should have open and honest conversations with children about what is happening and why, including acknowledging that a child is scared and anxious. It can also help to list some of the things that are being done to keep a child safe, according to Children's Hospital Colorado.

"Children are naturally curious, and parents shouldn't shy away from potentially uncomfortable topics or questions," according to a blog by the hospital.

Child psychiatry advice for today:
- Limit kids' exposure to the media
- Provide reassurance and make sure they know they're safe
- Talk about wrong actions over labeling people as bad (latter is confusing for younger kids)
- Give them the space to ask questions#psychtwitter

- Neha Chaudhary, MD (@NehaChaudharyMD) January 6, 2021

It is also important to keep conversations age-appropriate. The National Association of School Psychologists has broken this up by age group, noting that the conversations on violence will vary depending on whether a child is in elementary, middle or high school.

For example, when talking about violence, young elementary school children will need brief and simple information and reassurance that adults will protect them.

Turn the conversation into a teaching moment

Denver teacher St. Marie used the day's events to educate her students about coups and primary sources, or the things humans leave behind as evidence of history, she said.

On a day like Wednesday, that includes the videos and images captured by journalists on the ground, as well as tweets and commentary from academics, politicians and others watching or experiencing the insurrection in real time. Teachable moments abounded.

"Marco Rubio said this was behavior suitable for a third-world country, and so part of it is the inability to understand that democracy only works if we make it work," she said. "The system doesn't work in and of itself. It has to be enforced."

Yes, discussing the importance of the transition of power is important, but what about the extreme differences in responses between the BLM protests and tonight's attack on our nation's capitol? Social and racial inequity needs to be addressed #sschat

- Olivia Roehri (@RoehriSStudies) January 7, 2021

While St. Marie guided the class conversation, she mostly let the students do the talking. When talking about subjects that bring up sensitive or uncomfortable emotions, she said it's important to offer a space in which kids can openly and honestly process them.

Conversations surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement have been productive in this way. West Early College serves largely Latinx students, so those students have different reactions based on their lived experiences, she said.

"They see videos of older Latino men, paleteros, being attacked by Black teens, and so some feel extremely ambivalent about BLM. They don't get the rioting. Others are terrified of police," St. Marie said. "When these conversations occur, I let people express themselves respectfully... because they need to talk to each other about this, not to me."

Limit exposure to the news (and ask what they're seeing online)

Parents should also consider limiting access to the news, even when it is on in the background as they play. Instead, be intentional with what children are allowed to watch and ask them about what they are seeing and if they have any questions, according to Children's Hospital.

Children, particularly older ones, will likely see images, video and other information about the events online and through social media. It is important for parents to check in and ask kids about they are seeing.

"By checking in often, parents give their children a safe space to talk about what they're seeing and hearing, and how their opinions might be different than a family member, friend or neighbor," according to Children's Hospital.

With teens it is also helpful to remind them to be aware of disinformation that is not entirely truthful about the event, according to the hospital.

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How to talk to your kids about violence at the U.S. Capitol

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As rioters stormed the building and lawmakers were ushered to undisclosed locations, Americans were left grappling with the scenes appearing on their television and phones - and that includes children. Here's how you can talk to them about the events of Jan. 6.

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Peer-reviewed report on Moderna COVID-19 vaccine publishes (2020, December 20). NIH. Retrieved from https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/peer-reviewed-report-moderna-covid-19-vaccine-publishes

This article by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) discusses how effective scientist have found the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to be so far. Obviously some of the wording is a little advanced for young readers, but the article states that the vaccine was effective 94.1% of the time in preventing COVID-19 symptoms during the Phase 3 trials. Over 30,000 people were part of the Phase 3 Trial. They found no safety concerns to those people who got the vaccine. Moderna, the creator of the vaccine, is based out of Cambridge Massachusetts and worked with the NIH to develop the vaccine. The fast pace development of the vaccine shows us all that can be possible when people come together to benefit the greater good.

Not a day goes by that a child does not hear or think about COVID-19. Learning about the safe and effective vaccine will lessen many children’s worries about sickness and death and also show them that the world may return to “normal” sometime soon.

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Data from Phase 3 clinical trial confirm vaccine is effective.

What

The investigational vaccine known as mRNA-1273 was 94.1% efficacious in preventing symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to preliminary results from a Phase 3 clinical trial reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. The vaccine also demonstrated efficacy in preventing severe COVID-19. Investigators identified no safety concerns and no evidence of vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory disease (VAERD).

The vaccine was co-developed by Moderna, Inc., a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. Moderna and NIAID previously shared initial results from the COVE trial. On Dec. 18, 2020, the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization allowing Moderna to make the vaccine available for the prevention of COVID-19 in adults in the United States.

The trial was led by principal investigators Lindsey R. Baden, M.D. of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Hana M. El-Sahly, M.D. of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and Brandon Essink, M.D., of Meridian Clinical Research. The trial was implemented under the U.S. government's Operation Warp Speed program and supported by NIAID and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.

The trial began on July 27, 2020, and enrolled 30,420 adult volunteers at clinical research sites across the United States. Volunteers were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either two 100 microgram (mcg) doses of the investigational vaccine or two shots of saline placebo 28 days apart. The average age of volunteers is 51 years. Approximately 47% are female, 25% are 65 years or older and 17% are under the age of 65 with medical conditions placing them at higher risk for severe COVID-19. Approximately 79% of participants are white, 10% are Black or African American, 5% are Asian, 0.8% are American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.2% are Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, 2% are multiracial, and 21% (of any race) are Hispanic or Latino.

From the start of the trial through Nov. 25, 2020, investigators recorded 196 cases of symptomatic COVID-19 occurring among participants at least 14 days after they received their second shot. One hundred and eighty-five cases (30 of which were classified as severe COVID-19) occurred in the placebo group and 11 cases (0 of which were classified as severe COVID-19) occurred in the group receiving mRNA-1273. The incidence of symptomatic COVID-19 was 94.1% lower in those participants who received mRNA-1273 as compared to those receiving placebo.

Investigators observed 236 cases of symptomatic COVID-19 among participants at least 14 days after they received their first shot, with 225 cases in the placebo group and 11 cases in the group receiving mRNA-1273. The vaccine efficacy was 95.2% for this secondary analysis.

There were no concerning safety issues with vaccination, according to the authors. Local reactions to the vaccine were generally mild. About 50% of participants receiving mRNA-1273 experienced moderate-to-severe side effects - such as fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain and headache - after the second dose, which resolved in most volunteers within two days.

Investigators also observed no evidence of VAERD among those who received mRNA-1273. This rare complication was seen in individuals vaccinated with a whole-inactivated respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine in the 1960s, before there was a capacity to define protein structures and measure immune responses with precision. VAERD can occur when a vaccine induces an immune response that is not strong enough to protect against infection.

Although mRNA-1273 is highly efficacious in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, there is not yet enough available data to draw conclusions as to whether the vaccine can impact SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Preliminary trial data suggests there may be some degree of prevention of asymptomatic infection after a single dose. Additional analyses are underway of the incidence of asymptomatic infection and viral shedding post-infection to understand the vaccine's impact on infectiousness.

The authors concluded by discussing the unprecedented efficiency of the candidate vaccine's development, noting, "this process demonstrates what is possible in the context of motivated collaboration among key sectors of society, including academia, government, industry, regulators and the larger community."

Article

LR Baden, et al. Efficacy and Safety of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine. The New England Journal of Medicine. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2035389.

Who

NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. is available to comment on this study. John R. Mascola, M.D., director of NIAID's Vaccine Research Center, is also available to comment.

Contact

To schedule interviews, please contact the NIAID News & Science Writing Branch, (301) 402-1663, niaidnews@niaid.nih.gov.

NIAID conducts and supports research - at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide - to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID website.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health®
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Peer-reviewed report on Moderna COVID-19 vaccine publishes

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Data from Phase 3 clinical trial confirm vaccine is effective. The investigational vaccine known as mRNA-1273 was 94.1% efficacious in preventing symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to preliminary results from a Phase 3 clinical trial reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. The vaccine also demonstrated efficacy in preventing severe COVID-19.

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Nickelodeon, Michael Phelps Team-Up For PAW Patrol Water Safety Campaign (2020, November 24). B and T. Retrieved from https://www.bandt.com.au/nickelodeon-michael-phelps-team-up-for-paw-patrol-water-safety-campaign/

This article, by B & T, a journalism group based out of Australia, focuses on Michael Phelps and PAW Patrol’s combined efforts to teach water safety to children. I had heard about this campaign on Michael Phelps’s Instagram page and so I purposely found an article that discusses it. In this initiative, Michael Phelps serves as the PAW Patrol Safety First! Global water safety ambassador. Recorded public service announcements (PSA) will play on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. and their social media platforms. These PSA feature sing-alongs with Michael Phelps and his oldest son to help teach children the basics of safe swimming practices, including adult supervision, barriers, and classes (an ABC song), and another song organized in a 1, 2, 3 format.

I think it would be great to play some of these PSA in the classroom as it gets closer to the summer time. No one is ever too old to drown and everyone would benefit from listening to a fun song reminding them of how to safety swim.

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PAW Patrol's heroic pups are on a roll this summer and ready to spread the word about the importance of water safety, through the PAW Patrol Safety First! prosocial initiative.

The water safety program, created in partnership with world champion swimmer and water safety advocate Michael Phelps, launches today with a public service announcement.

Starring Phelps, who also serves as the PAW Patrol Safety First! global water safety ambassador, the spot will be featured on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. channels, as well as both channels' social media and digital platforms.

The PSA, which features the PAW Patrol pups as well as Phelps and his son Boomer, utilises a sing-along format to teach the "ABCs and 123s of Swim Safety"-the core principles that will help kids keep safe as they try to beat the heat this summer with water-based activities.

An important way to make sure everyone feels safe and confident in the water, the ABCs for adults include:

A-Adult Supervision: always be within arms distance of kids, providing focused supervision

B-Barriers: all pools should have a barrier for entry and a self-latching gate, and

C-Classes: that concentrate on swimming for kids and CPR for adults.

While the 123s of Swim Safety for kids include:

1-Never swim alone: ask a grownup if you want to jump in

2-Know your surroundings: look around and know which is the shallow and deep end, and

3-Take swimming classes: learn basic swimming skills like floating and strokes before getting in the pool.

"Water Safety has been a priority in my family since I was a child as my mum was adamant that my sisters and I learn to swim for safety purposes," Phelps said in a statement.

"The statistics around accidental drowning are alarming and we want to help educate and encourage families with a few basic tips in a fun and informative way, thanks to Nickelodeon and the PAW Patrol pups."

Royal Life Saving Australia's 2020 National Drowning Report found 50 per cent of drowning fatalities of children between 0 and four happened in a swimming pool with 75 per cent as a result of a fall.

Moreover, 25 per cent of drowning fatalities of children aged between five and 14 were also in a swimming pool, with 56 per cent as a result of swimming and recreation.

In addition to the PSA, Nickelodeon has partnered with the Michael Phelps Foundation to develop an interactive PAW Patrol Swim Safety toolkit, currently available at nickjr.com.au/watersafety.

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Nickelodeon, Michael Phelps Team-Up For PAW Patrol Water Safety Campaign - B&T

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PAW Patrol's heroic pups are on a roll this summer and ready to spread the word about the importance of water safety, through the PAW Patrol Safety First! prosocial initiative. The water safety program, created in partnership with world champion swimmer and water safety advocate Michael Phelps, launches today with a public service announcement.

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Just 11 Minutes of Exercise a Day Can Help You Live Longer, According to New Study (2021, January 10). Travel and Leisure. Retrieved from https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/yoga-wellness/11-minutes-exercise-day-health-benefits

This article, by Travel and Leisure, explains that even the smallest amount of exercise each day can help us live longer, healthier lives. After describing the participants in the study, the author states that while those who exercised 35 minutes a day saw the best health results, those who exercised just 11 minutes a day also walked away with some health benefits. Exercise during those 11 minutes should be described as moderate, which could include brisk walks, cleaning (vacuuming or mopping), mowing the lawn (not a ride on!), or riding a bike. Going outside in nature is a great way to achieve the 11 minutes of exercise while also improving your mental health at the same time.

This is great news as children, especially those in this new virtual schooling format, find themselves sitting for a good part of their day. It could be a daily goal for each student to achieve just 11 minutes of exercise by doing different forms of activity and exercise each day of the week and then sharing the different activities they came up with.

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It only takes a few minutes a day to stay healthy and live longer.

A longer, healthier life takes less effort than you might think.

According to new research from the Norwegian School of Sports Medicine, just 11 minutes of moderate exercise can give you some long-term health benefits and longevity, reported.

The study itself sampled over 44,000 men and women for a period between four and 14 and a half years, during which 3,451 participants died (7.8% mortality rate). Using activity monitors to measure "moderate-to-vigorous" physical activity, scientists used these calculations and compared them to participant's time while sedentary.

Over all, people who worked out 35 minutes a day saw the biggest results in terms of health, especially joint health, but the study also showed that people who exercised at least 11 minutes a day could also see some benefits, Metro reported.

Sedentary lifestyles certainly have a strain on people's health. While sitting may seem harmless, being stuck in a chair at least eight hours a day for work could be hazardous to long-term health. In fact, a study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, showed that people who work desk jobs are twice as likely to die early.

11 minutes is definitely a lot less time than most previous studies reported to have real health benefits, however, this recent study concluded that past studies relied on "self-reported exposure data," which means they worked off of people's recollections of physical activity rather than hard data. And, of course, human memory can prove faulty.

"Self-reported assessment of physical activity and sedentary behaviours is prone to misclassification and socialdesirability bias, likely underestimates sedentary time, and has limited validity for estimating both light-intensity and total amount of physical activity," it says in the study.

So, luckily, moving around and breaking a light sweat every day is easier than committing to 90-minute workouts. Some examples of moderate exercise include brisk walks, major cleaning (such as vacuuming or mopping), mowing the lawn, or taking a light bike ride, according to Harvard University.

And as an even bigger boost, spending some time in nature while you move around can also improve your mental health as well as physical health.
Andrea Romano is a freelance writer in New York City. Follow her on Twitter @theandrearomano.

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Just 11 Minutes of Exercise a Day Can Help You Live Longer, According to New Study

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It only takes a few minutes a day to stay healthy and live longer. A longer, healthier life takes less effort than you might think. According to new research from the Norwegian School of Sports Medicine, just 11 minutes of moderate exercise can give you some long-term health benefits and longevity, reported.

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Five myths about Nutrition (2020, December 31). The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/five-myths/five-myths-about-nutrition/2020/12/30/a76d691a-49e5-11eb-839a-cf4ba7b7c48c_story.html

This article from The Washington Post discusses 5 big nutrition myths that the diet industry has created. The first myth discussed is “sugar is addictive”. The author provides more current research which does not support this statement and also states that by restricting our sugar intake, we end up craving it more. The second myth explained is “processed foods are unhealthy”. The author argues that almost all foods have been changed from their natural state and that processed foods can end up being more nutrient dense than unprocessed foods. The third myth described is “you need to drink 8 cups of water a day”. However, this recommendation was given back in 1945 and there is no scientific evidence to support this statement. The fourth myth is “cooking destroys nutrients in your food”. However, as in the case of many processed foods, cooking foods often increases the amount of nutrients in the food. The last myth is “don’t eat after 7 pm”. However, the author argues that even during the night the body uses energy. It comes down more to what you choose to eat later at night (a bag of cheese curls versus an apple with peanut butter).

Coming from a recovered anorexic who believed every one of these myths, I loved this article. I have students as young as 5 years old who talk about “being fat” and “bad food”. Teaching them the facts instead of the myths is vital to forming a healthy young adult.

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WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 20: Fresh produce at Good Food Markets on Rhode Island Ave.. (Jonathan Newton /The Washington Post)

Modern nutrition is a relatively new science and one that can feel uniquely personal. Each of us makes multiple food choices daily, and our beliefs about nourishment are often shaped more by popular culture than by science. We are especially vulnerable to food evangelists - particularly at the beginning of a new year, when we're bombarded with messages about health and diet goals. Americans spend billions of dollars annually in search of the next weight loss miracle. The following are common nutrition myths that form the cornerstones of this lucrative market.

Sugar is addictive.

Though people have used terms like "chocoholic" since the 1960s, language about food addiction has intensified in recent decades. Food Addicts Anonymous lists sugar, along with flour and wheat, as addictive in nature. People have written in the New York Times, Fast Company and elsewhere to raise the alarm about sugar as uniquely habit-forming. Multiple companies sell supplements to help people "detox" from sugar.

According to proponents of this model, sugar activates the pleasure center of the brain, releasing chemicals like dopamine, much like alcohol or illicit drugs do. But behaviors like smiling and hugging also affect those neural pathways, and we don't consider them addictive. If sucrose were addictive, plain sugar eaten by the spoonful would elicit the same emotional response as a cupcake shared with your kids - but most of us would agree that those are very different eating experiences.

A 2016 literature review in the European Journal of Nutrition found "little evidence to support sugar addiction in humans." Ironically, the idea of sugar addiction can, in and of itself, perpetuate the myth. People who believe that a food is addictive, and restrict their diet as a result, may experience increased thoughts about off-limits foods, according to a study by psychologists at the University of Liverpool. Such cravings further reinforce the belief in the food's addictive properties.

Processed foods are unhealthy.

Can timing your meals help you lose weight? What about living on a paleo or gluten-free diet? Here's what science says. (The Washington Post)

Social media influencers, wellness corporations and celebrities tell us to avoid all processed foods, since they are supposedly less nutritious. If we eliminate them, the website Eat This, Not That claims that we can slow down aging, have less cellulite and even have better bowel movements. Broadly speaking, humans have been "processing" food for centuries, by grinding and curing meat and cooking meals, among other activities. So let's refine this myth (pun intended) to the notion that processed food became unhealthy at the onset of agricultural industrialization, in the late 19th century.

Even so, we shouldn't demonize this huge category, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture defines as including all food that has undergone any changes to its natural state, from washing to preserving to packaging. That includes not only products such as microwaveable meals but also white rice (which is mechanically processed and a staple food for more than half the world's population).

Modern food processing includes a range of methods - canning, grain-husk removal, fermentation and freezing - that can preserve nutrients. Frozen produce can be more nutrient-dense than those same items sold fresh in the grocery store. Another way to process food is to fortify it: Pregnant women benefit from the folate, which can help prevent neural tube defects, that the Food and Drug Administration mandates in enriched grain products. The vitamin D added to foods such as milk and tofu helps many of us during the winter months when the sun doesn't hit our skin. Salt enhanced with iodine is often our primary source of this essential nutrient.

And if the canning jar and lid shortage during this pandemic is any sign, many folks seem to have discovered that processing their food themselves can have emotional benefits.

You need to drink eight cups of water daily.

In 1945, the U.S. Food and Nutrition Board estimated that the average man needed 2,500 calories each day and would therefore need 2.5 liters of water daily (though the group also noted that most of that water would come from prepared foods). From there, the notion of an eight-cup daily requirement got applied to the general population. The myth has found staying power in messaging from groups sponsored by bottled-water companies, such as Hydration for Health and Nestlé Waters, which backed studies aiming to show that people were not hydrating enough.

A literature review published by the American Physiological Society found no scientific evidence for the eight-cups-a-day recommendation. Many factors can influence an individual's hydration needs, including climate, physical activity, sweat rate, body weight and hormones. "No single formula fits everyone," confirms the Mayo Clinic. Some body cues can help us gauge our fluid needs, such as urine color and sweat rate - and it's worth noting that when we feel thirsty, we're often mildly dehydrated. Don't gulp down glasses of water at a time, though: Taking sips throughout the day can lead to better absorption.

Cooking destroys nutrients in your food.

One fad diet dictates that raw foods, in their " natural state," have more nutritional value. Advocates recommend that people not consume any foods prepared at temperatures higher than 118 degrees. "The most fragile of enzymes start to die off at that 42C/115F degree mark," claims one blogger. Cooking supposedly "denatures" those enzymes and "destroys" vitamins, minerals and proteins. (Proponents rarely detail which enzymes, specifically, are more prevalent in raw food or note that the hydrochloric acid in our stomachs may destroy these mysterious enzymes by digesting them.)

Cooking with heat, or "thermal processing," actually improves the bioavailability of many nutrients and phytochemicals, such as the lycopene in tomatoes. Foods including sweet potatoes, dry beans, grains and rhubarb also have nutrients that are better absorbed and digested when cooked. Different methods of cooking can have different effects on overall nutrient density: Boiling vegetables can reduce their water-soluble vitamins, such as thiamin and vitamin C, but steaming, baking and stir-frying can minimize this loss.

Don't eat after 7 p.m.

When people are trying to lose weight, they often invent or adopt rules to keep them from eating - and a common one is to not eat after dark, or to have a cutoff time for eating. As a result, many have internalized the idea that consuming food after a specific hour leads to weight gain and ill health. Writing in O, the Oprah Magazine in 2003, Oprah Winfrey described how she didn't eat after 7:30 p.m. - "not even a grape." Under the headline "Why Not to Eat After 7 p.m.," the website Livestrong.com claims that people should not eat "beyond the traditional dinner hour."

Some research shows that people who consume most of their daily calories in the evening tend to choose less nutrient-rich foods (and drink more alcohol), but that doesn't make nighttime eating inherently unhealthy. While it's true that our circadian rhythms directly affect our digestive activity, as biologist Lawrence Scheving detailed in the journal Gastroenterology, those individual patterns rarely sync up with the time on a clock. For some people, 7 p.m. might be an hour before they go to bed; others will stay awake for six more hours. In fact, imposing arbitrary time restrictions on eating can have negative effects on health. Since the body continues to use energy overnight, the drops in blood sugar associated with forgoing food can disturb sleep patterns. Meanwhile, some research has shown that pre-sleep snacking might have benefits: Scientists in the Netherlands found that having a bite before bed can improve muscle recovery after exercise training.

Twitter: @jessicawilsonRD

Five myths is a weekly feature challenging everything you think you know. You can check out previous myths, read more from Outlook or follow our updates on Facebook and Twitter.

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Perspective | Five myths about nutrition

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Modern nutrition is a relatively new science and one that can feel uniquely personal. Each of us makes multiple food choices daily, and our beliefs about nourishment are often shaped more by popular culture than by science. We are especially vulnerable to food evangelists - particularly at the beginning of a new year, when we're bombarded with messages about health and diet goals.

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South Philadelphia man copes with past trauma by helping others (2021, January 2). The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved from  https://www.phillytrib.com/lifestyle/south-philadelphia-man-copes-with-past-trauma-by-helping-others/article_72ff92b3-a8d1-53ef-9c72-63befda36c34.html

This article from The Philadelphia Tribune is about overcoming poverty and the mental health problems (depression) it created. The article follows the story of Waltkeen Jenkins and starts by stating he had been jumped and shot at when he was a teenager (I would not explicitly state this event). Violent experiences like this, as well as a toxic, abusive household, contributed to his depression. Jenkins sought help to overcome his depression and decided to become a community health worker to help others like himself. He firmly believes that helping other people in situations similar to his own helps himself heal. He looks forward to people remembering him for the positive impact he made in their lives.

I would use an article like this one to show my students that we are not incapable of change and we can all improve and better ourselves. We may come from a difficult past but we can work to overcome these challenges by reaching out to others for help.

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Before he was out of his teens, Waltkeem Jenkins had been jumped and shot at and was diagnosed with depression.

At the age of 19, Jenkins, now 23, missed a bus he usually took to get home after performing music at an open mic night at a theater in Germantown. While walking home, alone and in the dark, he noticed a group of men following him. After turning and confronting them, one of the men pulled a gun and pointed it at Jenkins' head. Jenkins dared the man to shoot.

"Which I knew was a stupid thing to do," he said. "But I didn't care." He then walked away, only to hear a gunshot fired towards him. Fortunately, he was unhurt.

In Jenkins' South Philadelphia neighborhood, experiences like these were common. There was near-constant violence, as rival gangs shot at each other over drugs, status and even "petty" things such as girls and perceived slights, he said. "The police were always around."

These, and many other traumas, made growing up for Jenkins an often toxic and chaotic experience. Trauma in childhood, or adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), include divorce, domestic violence, physical and sexual abuse, a parent who suffers addiction, and many others.

ACEs are common: 61% of adults surveyed across 25 states reported that they have experienced at least one type of ACE, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In Philadelphia, 40.5% of adults witnessed violence growing up. This includes seeing or hearing someone being beaten, stabbed, or shot, according to the Philadelphia ACE survey.

A 'toxic' childhood home

Jenkins's experience of trauma as a child, while not unique, set him on a path to his current job and passion for helping other young people cope with trauma.

Jenkins lived in what he referred to as a "toxic" household. Between the ages of 11 to 13, his parents argued often. His dad would sleep in Jenkins' room to avoid the fighting, he said, which would just bring the arguments there, where he had to experience it firsthand.

"Sometimes it was so bad, that I didn't even know how I was getting to school," he said. In middle school he almost got held back due to all the craziness, he said.

Jenkins' father said he believed boys shouldn't express any emotion, he said, and that boys have to be tough all the time or else they are "feminine or weak."

This "toxic masculinity," Jenkins said, drove a wedge between him and his father. "The consequences of this was having him not fully understand me back then."

Finally getting some help

Things started to change for Jenkins in the sixth grade, when his mother realized he was struggling and signed him up for CATCH, or Citizens Acting Together Can Help, a program for kids having difficulty with mental health and struggling with school because of it. Jenkins saw a school therapist, and had someone come to his classes to help him with certain subjects. He attended CATCH every day.

That's around the time he realized helping others is what he wanted to do, he said.

After graduating from high school, Jenkins completed training to become a community health worker peer (CHWP) through Drexel University's Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice. A CHWP is a combination of a community health worker (CHW), a community member who acts as a liaison between his community and health institutions such as hospitals and public health authorities, and certified peer specialist, role models of recovery from trauma, mental illness or addiction.

At Drexel, CHWPs like Jenkins who have experienced violence in their neighborhoods are trained to work with individuals, groups and the larger community to promote healing.

After securing a two-year internship with Drexel's Healing Hurt People program, a hospital-based violence intervention program based out of Drexel University College of Medicine's Department of Emergency Medicine, Jenkins began co-facilitating groups with young men his age talking about their experiences of trauma and how the community could have been affected by the violence they both saw and perpetrated. In the groups, the men discussed their safety, emotions, letting go of the trauma and thoughts of retaliation, as well as their futures.

In 2019, he was offered a full-time position at Healing Hurt People, a trauma care model now offered across the city and in Chicago and Portland, Oregon.

Helping other men helps him

Jenkins now works with teenagers who he meets in the emergency department of St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, who are usually the victims of violence. He mentors them so they can see what a positive young Black man looks like, he said, and helps them with schoolwork, case management work, and their relationship with their parents, if needed.

Jenkins' relationship with his own father, Walter, has gradually improved. The younger Jenkins often tells his father how important it is for men to be in touch with their feelings.

Sometimes when working with clients, Jenkins is reminded of his past and he has to ask to be excused and take a moment to regroup. It can be hard at times for him to balance his own mental health with that of his clients, he said.

Making and listening to music, seeing his therapist, and playing basketball when it's warm out, going to the recreation center, journaling and live streaming on his YouTube channel all serve to keep Jenkins grounded and mentally healthy enough to keep working with kids in his community, he said.

Jenkins' goal is to have people remember him for what he has done.

"I would like to be remembered in a positive way," he said.
Editor's note: Kayla Johnson is a ninth-grader at Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School. She worked with Urban Health Media Project (UHMP) instructor and former Cleveland Plain Dealer health and poverty reporter Brie Zeltner on this story. Johnson was a participant in UHMP's workshop "Surviving and Thriving Despite Trauma" in fall 2020. The workshop was funded by The National Council for Behavioral Health (www.thenationalcouncil.org).

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South Philadelphia man copes with past trauma by helping others

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Before he was out of his teens, Waltkeem Jenkins had been jumped and shot at and was diagnosed with depression. At the age of 19, Jenkins, now 23, missed a bus he usually took to get home after performing music at an open mic night at a theater in Germantown.