tag:www.funtimesmagazine.com,2005:/categories/health-wellness?page=3Health+Wellness | FunTimes Magazine Page 3Celebrating Africa And Its Diaspora2023-08-04T14:31:54-04:00urn:uuid:56783269-80e2-476b-b7b1-7a9f977bf7d72023-08-04T13:52:35-04:002023-08-04T14:31:54-04:00Examining Pedestrian Safety to Avoid Traffic Death in Ghana2023-08-06 14:00:00 -0400The Conversation via Reuters Connect<span><p>Image: Busy street in Accra, Ghana. Source: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Accra_Central,_Accra,_Ghana.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></p><p><br></p></span><span><p>Walking has health and environmental benefits – but it’s not always a person’s choice for getting around. And it does come with hazards. <a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/02-05-2013-more-than-270-000-pedestrians-killed-on-roads-each-year" target="_blank">One-fifth</a> of the people killed on the roads globally are pedestrians.<br></p><br><p>In Ghana, like other developing countries, walking is the main method of moving from place to place. A 2012 survey found that <a href="http://https://www2.statsghana.gov.gh/docfiles/publications/Second%20National%20Household%20Transport%20Survey%20Report%202012.pdf#page=iv" target="_blank">64.4%</a> of the workforce went to work on foot.</p><br><p>Ghana’s <a href="https://www.ghana.gov.gh/mdas/3c5160e416/" target="_blank">National Road Safety Authority</a> reported <a href="https://myjoyonline.com/road-accidents-claimed-2924-lives-in-2021/" target="_blank">2,930 pedestrians</a> were knocked down in 2021 and 831 died.</p><br><p>Pedestrians are vulnerable for several reasons. The design of road infrastructure is one. <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259715300_Urban_Infrastructure_Design_and_Pedestrian_Safety_in_the_Kumasi_Central_Business_District_Ghana" target="_blank">Research</a> has shown that the absence of sidewalks forces pedestrians into the road, exposing them to motorized transport that heightens the risk of traffic crashes and injuries.</p><br><p>Risky in-traffic pedestrian walking behavior is also a factor. Consuming alcohol, chatting with others, and using a mobile phone all increase the risk of injuries.</p><p><br></p><p>Read also:</p><div class="media clearfix"><span class="pull-left"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2023/07/27/442420/what-are-the-policies-needed-to-support-data-of-ghanas-young-and-urbanizing-population" target="_blank"><img alt="What are the Policies Needed to Support Data of Ghanas Young and Urbanizing population " src="https://cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1017073/fit/80x80/ghana_20population.png?timestamp=1691172248" class="media-object"></a></span><div class="media-body"><h4 class="media-heading"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2023/07/27/442420/what-are-the-policies-needed-to-support-data-of-ghanas-young-and-urbanizing-population" target="_blank">What are the Policies Needed to Support Data of Ghana's Young and Urbanizing population</a></h4><p>Ghana’s population has reached 30.8 million according to the 2021 population census. <span class="pull-right"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2023/07/27/442420/what-are-the-policies-needed-to-support-data-of-ghanas-young-and-urbanizing-population">Read More »</a></span> </p></div></div><p> </p><p> </p><p>As transport geographers, we set out to discover what distracts pedestrians in Accra’s main business district. Our <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21650020.2023.2220574" target="_blank">study</a> discovered that the use of mobile devices, poorly designed infrastructure, and advanced age all played a role. We suggest the city needs pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and local laws to regulate walking behavior.</p><br><p>We chose to study the central business district of the capital, Accra, since it <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21650020.2023.2220574" target="_blank">accounts</a> for 57.6% of pedestrian accidents within the <a href="https://www.ama.gov.gh/" target="_blank">Accra Metropolitan Assembly</a>. It also records high foot traffic, being a major economic hub in Ghana.</p><br><p>The study engaged 400 commuters. We asked respondents to rank various activities they commonly engage in while walking. A five-point scale indicated the extent of their engagement in these activities.</p><br><p>The respondents’ top four distracting activities involved using digital devices like mobile phones. Listening to music on a mobile phone emerged as the major distraction: 79% of respondents ranked it as their most common distractive activity. Making or receiving phone calls and conversing with other people while walking (2nd and 3rd) followed. Browsing the internet on mobile phones ranked 4th, and was widespread among those aged 9-24 and 27-42.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1019270/fill/700x0/pexels-cottonbro-studio-5083010.jpg?timestamp=1691171611">Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-in-white-dress-shirt-holding-black-smartphone-5083010/" target="_blank">cottonbro studio</a></div></span><span><br><p>The study also indicated that sex, age, level of education, occupation, reasons for walking, and weekly time spent walking were significant predictors of distractions.</p><br><p>Male pedestrians were more than twice as likely to engage in distractive activities. This is consistent with the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ssqu.13079" target="_blank">expectations</a> of some behavior experts.</p><br><p>On age, the data revealed a significant association between commuters aged 49-59 and distracted walking. A growing body of <a href="https://www.hindawi.com/journals/np/2012/131608/" target="_blank">literature</a> has identified older people as engaging in distracted walking since they are less likely to estimate their walking environment accurately. Even looking at signage or objects of interest, buying items, or conversing with other pedestrians may increase their risk of injury.</p><br><p>Respondents with senior high school education (nine years of basic education) were also more prone to distraction. Evidence shows that most Ghanaians end their education at this level. Working in the informal economy as hawkers or in other businesses encroaching on sidewalks, people are likely to compete with pedestrians for space or run after moving cars to sell their wares.</p><p><br></p><p>Read also:</p><div class="media clearfix">
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/06/05/437299/black-students-in-ghana-talk-about-their-social-media-addiction-and-how-it-affects-their-use-of-english" target="_blank">Black students in Ghana talk about their social media addiction, and how it affects their use of English </a></h4>
<p>English is Ghana’s official language and is the medium of instruction for all levels of education. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/06/05/437299/black-students-in-ghana-talk-about-their-social-media-addiction-and-how-it-affects-their-use-of-english">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><br><p>Relative to respondents who walked only for short trips, respondents who walked as part of their job recorded a far higher likelihood of engaging in distractive behavior. Most of their day is spent walking, engaging in activities like sales or marketing, providing courier service, or hawking.</p><br><p>Finally, time allocated to walking made a difference in behavior. Whether weekly or daily, respondents who dedicated more time to walking in the CBD were more likely to walk in a distracted way.</p><br><p>Accra already has a <a href="https://www.ama.gov.gh/documents/Pedestrian-Safety-Action-Plan-FOR-PRINT-INDIVIDUAL-PAGES.PDF.pdf" target="_blank">pedestrian safety action plan</a>, but it focuses on the built environment rather than on behavior. This study suggested the plan should include a policy statement on pedestrian walking behavior.</p><br><p>The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (the administrative authority) can enact laws restricting pedestrians from listening to music with headphones, making phone calls while crossing roads, or engaging in unwarranted conversations.</p><br><p>Additionally, the National Road Safety Authority and Ghana Police Service should collaborate on educational outreach programs on all media platforms. They should focus on the dangers and causes of distractive walking.</p><br><p>Interventions like these offer the chance to reduce pedestrian injuries in Accra.</p><p><br></p><p>Read also:</p></span><div class="media clearfix"><div class="media clearfix">
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<p> </p><div class="media clearfix"><span class="pull-left"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2023/05/27/436160/accra-the-ga-peoples-annual-ban-on-noise-restores-a-spiritual-connection-with-the-sea" target="_blank"><img alt="Accra the Ga peoples annual ban on noise restores a spiritual connection with the sea" src="https://cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1002812/fit/80x80/ga_20tradition.png?timestamp=1691172199" class="media-object"></a></span><div class="media-body"><h4 class="media-heading"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2023/05/27/436160/accra-the-ga-peoples-annual-ban-on-noise-restores-a-spiritual-connection-with-the-sea" target="_blank">Accra: the Ga people's annual ban on noise restores a spiritual connection with the sea</a></h4><p>Once every year, between May and September, the Ga impose a ritual ban on noise-making and funeral rites in Ga towns for a period of one month so as to commemorate their annual harvest fe... <span class="pull-right"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2023/05/27/436160/accra-the-ga-peoples-annual-ban-on-noise-restores-a-spiritual-connection-with-the-sea">Read More »</a></span> </p></div></div><p></p><p> </p><div class="media clearfix"><span class="pull-left"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2023/03/10/428403/ghana-needs-more-astronomers-astrophysicists-aerospace-engineers-and-astronauts-how-to-develop-them" target="_blank"><img alt="Ghana needs more astronomers astrophysicists aerospace engineers and astronauts -- how to develop them" src="https://cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/986447/fit/80x80/ghana_20radio_20astronomy_20observatory_20kuntunse.jpeg?timestamp=1691172219" class="media-object"></a></span><div class="media-body"><h4 class="media-heading"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2023/03/10/428403/ghana-needs-more-astronomers-astrophysicists-aerospace-engineers-and-astronauts-how-to-develop-them" target="_blank">Ghana needs more astronomers, astrophysicists, aerospace engineers and astronauts -- how to develop them</a></h4><p>There have been some pan-African attempts to develop and promote planetary and space science. <span class="pull-right"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2023/03/10/428403/ghana-needs-more-astronomers-astrophysicists-aerospace-engineers-and-astronauts-how-to-develop-them">Read More »</a></span> </p></div></div><p> </p></div><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:48e38b36-a18a-43b7-b876-4a539ce161f22023-07-27T13:02:41-04:002023-07-31T11:05:46-04:00Must-Have Vegan Cookbooks By Black Culinary Creatives2023-07-31 14:00:00 -0400Boitumelo Masihleho<span><p><br></p><p>Food is often a representation of ourselves and our heritage. It can connect our past to our present, with recipes often passed down through generations. For far too long, the culinary scene has been dominated by White male chefs taking the spotlight. Inspired by dishes from the Caribbean, West Africa, Puerto Rico, and the Southern United States, these vegan cookbooks by Black culinary creatives and chefs are bursting with flavors. Whether you’re a long-time vegan or just dipping your toes into the movement, getting into a new cookbook is a great way to explore new foods and broaden your horizons. </p><p><br></p><h2>1. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Makinis-Vegan-Kitchen-Anniversary-Plant-Based/dp/163217457X" target="_blank"><i>Makini's Vegan Kitchen</i></a> by Makini Howell</h2><br><p>Nationally renowned chef and entrepreneur Makini Howell shares her innovative plant-based recipes in this anniversary edition of the original <i>Plum</i> cookbook. These inspired recipes from one of the highest-ranked vegan fine-dining restaurants in the country are not only mouthwatering and hearty but are also allergen-friendly and often gluten-free, soy-free, or both. Cooking vegan with Makini proves that living a meat-free life can include satisfying and tasty food.</p><p><br></p><h2>2. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Spirit-Delicious-Plant-Based-Inspirations/dp/006308032X/ref=asc_df_006308032X/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=564690365196&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10180598351178156110&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007386&hvtargid=pla-1645280080998&psc=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwq4imBhBQEiwA9Nx1Bgctm-s_zRj6NGnh-zAYagRGbV_lSTWgWtnUXcabquH4RbuLvTQvABoCn1kQAvD_BwE" target="_blank"><i>Cooking From The Spirit: Easy, Delicious, And Joyful Plant-Based Inspirations</i></a> by Tabitha Brown</h2><br><p>Tabitha Brown’s <i>Cooking From The Spirit </i>is a delightful cookbook filled with heartwarming stories and over eighty family-friendly vegan recipes. Whether you’re an experienced cook or a newcomer to vegan cuisine, Tabitha’s warm voice and encouraging approach will make your culinary adventures both enjoyable and delicious.</p><p><br><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1017140/fill/700x0/image5.png?timestamp=1690475812"></div><p> </p><p><br></p><div><span><h2>3. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Plants-tch-Recipes-Meat-Loving/dp/1982178310" target="_blank"><i>Eat Plants, B*tch: 91 Vegan Recipes That Will Blow Your Meat-Loving Mind</i></a><i> </i>by Pinky Cole</h2><br><p>Famed restaurateur and philanthropist, Pinky Cole invites you to savor irresistible comfort food. Her cookbook includes 91 dynamic vegan recipes like Avocado Egg Rolls, Brussels Rigatoni Carbonara, and Oyster Mushroom Parm. “This book is dedicated to all of the people who might not want to be vegan but who want choices that actually taste good,” says Cole in her book. In 2018, Cole opened her first vegan burger joint, Slutty Vegan, in Atlanta, and in 2022, she opened another in Brooklyn. Cole’s restaurant is known for its over-the-top sandwiches stacked with multiple patties, fried vegan seafood, and the infamous Slut Sauce (her version of secret sauce). </p><p><br></p><h2>4. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Soul-Food-Cookbook-Plant-Based/dp/1646117212" target="_blank"><i>Vegan Soul Food Cookbook: Plant-Based, No-Fuss Southern Favorites</i></a><i> </i>by Nadira Jenkins-El</h2><br><p>Nadira Jenkins-El is a vegan chef and holistic nutritionist with a passion for soul food and Caribbean cuisine. In 2014, she founded Global Fusion, a home-based vegan and gluten-free bakery and confectionery. Today, she co-owns and operates The Cutting Board Bakery and Café in Mesa, Arizona. Jenkins-El has created the ideal plant-based soul food cookbook for beginners. Her cookbook features 101 tasty, plant-based alternatives to popular dishes like Gumbo, Biscuits and Gravy, and Cajun Fried Chicken.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1017141/fill/700x0/image4.png?timestamp=1690475989"></div><p> </p><p>Read also:</p><div class="media clearfix">
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/09/16/411837/5-reasons-why-black-american-women-find-men-who-cook-attractive" target="_blank">5 Reasons Why Black American Women Find Men Who Cook Attractive </a></h4>
<p>It is said that cooking is an important part of a healthy relationship and Black American women have a history of cooking well making it hard for them to find guys who like to cook <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/09/16/411837/5-reasons-why-black-american-women-find-men-who-cook-attractive">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><div><span><h2>5. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Afro-Vegan-Farm-Fresh-African-Caribbean-Southern/dp/1607745313" target="_blank"><i>Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean, And Southern Flavors Remixed</i></a> by Bryant Terry</h2><br><p>Bryant Terry is a vegan chef, food justice activist, and author. He has written four vegan cookbooks and co-wrote a book about organic eating. He won a 2015 James Beard Foundation Leadership Award for his food justice work. This cookbook was named one of the best vegetarian cookbooks of all time by <i>Bon Appétit</i>. Chef Terry masterfully blends the vibrant culinary traditions of Africa, the Caribbean, and the American South, resulting in a collection of over 100 modern and delectable dishes. <i>Afro-Vegan </i>takes you on an international food journey. Accompanying the recipes are Terry’s insights about building a community around food, along with suggested music tracks from around the world and book recommendations.</p><p><br></p><h2>6. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Good-Vegan-Recipes-Flavor-Packed/dp/164567634X#:~:text=Book%20details&text=These%2060%20plant%2Dbased%20recipes,your%20kitchen%20clean%2Dup%20easier." target="_blank"><i>Crazy Good Vegan: simple and economical recipes for home cooking full of flavors</i></a> by Lloyd Rose</h2><br><p>This cookbook offers 60 simple and budget-friendly plant-based recipes that deliver incredible flavor. Lloyd’s emphasis on simplicity means your grocery trips will be cheaper, your prep time shorter and your kitchen clean-up easier. From quick dinners to chill weekend brunches and snacks to share with friends, this collection of Lloyd’s best vegan recipes will quickly become your go-to resource anytime you crave something tasty without the fuss.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1017143/fill/700x0/image6.png?timestamp=1690476117"></div><p> </p><p>Read also:</p><div class="media clearfix">
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/11/04/373416/6-black-owned-vegan-restaurants-that-are-too-delicious-to-miss" target="_blank">6 Black-Owned Vegan Restaurants That Are Too Delicious to Miss</a></h4>
<p>In Black communities around the world, plant-based eating has been a part of traditions and cultures for centuries. Many Black entrepreneurs are starting their own vegan restaurants and w... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/11/04/373416/6-black-owned-vegan-restaurants-that-are-too-delicious-to-miss">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><p><br></p><h2>9.<i> </i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Amas-Vegan-Eats-plant-based-ebook/dp/B07MJ8YD4M" target="_blank"><i>Rachel Ama’s Vegan Eats</i></a> by Rachel Ama</h2><br><p>Rachel Ama is a dancing, cooking, powerhouse of vegan inspiration. She can be found dancing and singing along to her favorite tunes cooking up a vegan storm on <a target="_blank">her YouTube channel</a> where she shares recipes and vegan lifestyle and beauty advice. In cadence with Ama’s homemade-made simple style, the book highlights dozens of one-pot wonders, foolproof British classics, quick homey meals, and comforting classics from her Caribbean and West African roots. She also authored <a href="https://www.amazon.com/One-Pot-Vibrant-Versatile-Recipes/dp/1529369940" target="_blank"><i>One Pot: Three Ways</i></a>, a compilation of delicious one-pot recipes. Some of the top recipes in this book are cinnamon French toast with strawberries, plantain burger, and chickpea sweet potato falafel. </p><p><br></p><h2>10. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Nigerian-Kitchen-classic-plant-based/dp/B09M5HRZGL" target="_blank"><i>Vegan Nigerian Kitchen</i></a> by Tomi Makanjuola</h2><br><p></p><p><span>From one-pot porridges to spicy soups, stews, savory snacks, sweet treats and cocktails <i>Vegan Nigerian Kitchen</i> is the essential cookbook for anyone who wants to embark on a unique and delicious culinary journey. Author Tomi Makanjuola will make your mouth water with over 100 plant-based Nigerian recipes. </span></p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1017146/fill/700x0/image2.png?timestamp=1690476309"></div><p> </p><h2>11.<i> </i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Taymer-Mason-Caribbean-Meat-Free-Dairy-Free/dp/B00HTKHUAM" target="_blank"><i>Caribbean Vegan</i></a> By Taymer Mason<br></h2><br></span><span><p>Barbadian chef Taymer Mason shares vegan recipes that showcase the complex and delicious cuisine of the Caribbean. Plus, she explains the key kitchen skills she learned growing up: how to cut breadfruit, make your own cassava flour, choose a ripe coconut, and more. Here, African, French, Asian, and Spanish influences combine with the local flavors of Barbados, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and more.</p><p><br></p><h2>12.<i> </i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Plentiful-Vegan-Jamaican-Guide-Nyammin/dp/1784885495" target="_blank"><i>Plentiful</i></a> by Denai Moore</h2><p><br></p><p>Jamaican food is often generalized into spicy, meat-heavy dishes. As with any cuisine, there are nuances those unfamiliar with it just don’t get. Author Denai Moore covers the spectrum of Jamaican dishes in this cookbook from Rice & Pea Arancini to the heart of palm-based ‘Salt Fish’ paired with fried savory green plantains.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1017148/fill/700x0/image1.png?timestamp=1690476393"><br><br><br>Read also:<br><div class="media clearfix">
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<p> </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/776121/fill/300x0/boitumelo.jpg?timestamp=1690476825"></div><p> Boitumelo Masihleho is a South African digital content creator. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Rhodes University in Journalism and Media Studies and Politics and International Studies. She's an experienced multimedia journalist who is committed to writing balanced, informative and interesting stories on a number of topics. Boitumelo has her own <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/BoitumeloM" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">YouTube channel </a>where she shares her love for affordable beauty and lifestyle content. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Read more from Boitumelo Masihleho:</p><p><br></p><div class="media clearfix">
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/07/23/441808/8-podcasts-about-black-history-for-your-playlist" target="_blank">8 Podcasts About Black History for Your Playlist </a></h4>
<p>These shows explore the untold narratives and nuances of Black history, infusing stories with personality and passion. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/07/23/441808/8-podcasts-about-black-history-for-your-playlist">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/07/22/441649/what-black-parents-need-to-know-about-infertility" target="_blank">What Black Parents Need to Know About Infertility </a></h4>
<p>Infertility challenges can arise for anyone, but recent research has suggested a disparity between Black and White birthing women when it comes to access to information, testing, and care. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/07/22/441649/what-black-parents-need-to-know-about-infertility">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2023/06/23/438983/10-must-read-books-by-amazing-black-queer-authors" target="_blank"><img alt="10 Must-Read Books by Amazing Black Queer Authors" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1008897/fit/80x80/image1.jpg?timestamp=1690476949" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/06/23/438983/10-must-read-books-by-amazing-black-queer-authors" target="_blank">10 Must-Read Books by Amazing Black Queer Authors</a></h4>
<p>There has never been a time more crucial to amplify the voices of Black LGBTQIA+ activists, authors, and creators. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/06/23/438983/10-must-read-books-by-amazing-black-queer-authors">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p><br></div><p> </p><div><br></div></span></div></span></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:94a46bc0-cf0b-44fa-bf28-4d9bb2174b742023-07-21T13:38:11-04:002023-07-24T08:40:28-04:00Overcoming Repetitive Negative Thinking Through Meditation2023-07-24 14:00:00 -0400The Conversation via Reuters Connect<p>Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-blue-long-sleeve-shirt-looking-stressed-7579109/" target="_blank">Antoni Shkraba</a><br></p><span><br><p>Do you ever find yourself caught in a cycle of negative thoughts? Maybe you ruminate on past mistakes, worry excessively about the future, or imagine worst-case scenarios?</p><br><p>Do you sometimes have a great day, everything goes well, and then your brain says, “Hey, remember that time you embarrassed yourself in front of everyone? Let’s relive that moment for the next 20 minutes.” And suddenly, your good day turns into a cringe-fest.</p><br><p>If so, know that you’re not alone. Many people struggle with repetitive negative thinking, and this can have a serious impact on mental health and well-being.</p><br><p>As the coordinator of expertise in caregiving at the <a href="https://www.creges.ca/en/" target="_blank">Centre for Research and Expertise in Social Gerontology</a> and an associate member of the <a href="https://cerias.uqam.ca/" target="_blank">Centre for Study and Research on India, South Asia and its Diaspora</a>, I would like to shed light on the negative impact of repetitive negative thinking on the mental and physical health of caregivers.</p><br><p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/file.PostFileLoader.html?id=56492e8660614bd60f8b456a&assetKey=AS%3A296223585128448%401447636614233">Repetitive negative thinking (RNT)</a> is a cognitive process characterized by persistent and intrusive contemplation on past events, commonly known as rumination, and apprehensions about future possibilities, often referred to as worries.</p><p><br></p><p>RNT is a recurring, unwelcome, and difficult to dislodge pattern of thinking that has been implicated in the onset and perpetuation of diverse mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Furthermore, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.134.2.163">RNT has been found to be associated with physical health and has been linked to an increased likelihood of future health issues</a>. RNT may negatively <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/file.PostFileLoader.html?id=56492e8660614bd60f8b456a&assetKey=AS%3A296223585128448%401447636614233">impact one’s quality of sleep, decrease efficiency, and hinder decision-making abilities</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>Recent studies have revealed that the severity of RNT is connected with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pscychresns.2021.111353">changes in brain morphology</a>, leading to a decline in general cognitive abilities and increasing the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12116">risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease</a>. Even at low levels, RNT can have <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00534">detrimental effects on the cardiovascular, autonomic nervous, and endocrine systems</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>So, what would be the most effective strategy for managing repetitive negative thinking? <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-017-9665-x">Research has demonstrated a negative correlation between RNT and mindfulness</a>, implying that a low level of mindfulness can increase one’s susceptibility to RNT.</p><p><br></p><p><img alt="" src="https://cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1015889/fill/700x0/pexels-timothy-yiadom-14033738.jpg?timestamp=1689961128">Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-woman-in-activewear-meditating-on-the-terrace-14033738/" target="_blank">Timothy Yiadom</a><br></p><p><br></p><p>Read also:</p><div class="media clearfix">
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/03/15/428956/positive-affirmations-how-talking-to-yourself-can-let-the-light-in" target="_blank">Positive affirmations: how talking to yourself can let the light in</a></h4>
<p>Despite being a source of constant bad news, the internet is also awash with attempts at countering negativity. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/03/15/428956/positive-affirmations-how-talking-to-yourself-can-let-the-light-in">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><br><p>Mindfulness can be seen as a mental faculty or skill that can be developed through regular practice. It entails cultivating <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.10.015">a non-judgmental and non-reactive awareness of the present moment</a>. The objective is to be fully engaged in what’s happening right now, rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.</p><p><br></p><p>There are two main styles of mindfulness practice: <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01083">focused attention meditation and open monitoring meditation</a>. Focused attention meditation involves choosing a specific object, such as the breath, and bringing your full attention to it. Whenever the mind wanders, it is simply brought back to the object of focus. In contrast, open monitoring meditation involves being aware of everything occurring in the present moment. Instead of trying to focus on a specific object, one simply observes whatever arises in the experience, including thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations.</p><p><br></p><p>But what’s happening in the brain during these practices? Recent studies have revealed that only during focused attention meditation, there is a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.03.021">deactivation of the “default mode network”</a> — a network of brain areas that are typically active when we’re not focused on any particular task. This network is implicated in “resting-state” thinking, which involves repetitive negative thinking. By deactivating the “default mode network,” focused attention meditation can help reduce this harmful type of thinking.</p><p><br></p><p><img alt="" src="https://cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1015890/fill/700x0/pexels-kampus-production-7551668.jpg?timestamp=1689961231">Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-woman-in-yellow-sweater-preparing-medicine-for-an-elderly-man-7551668..." target="_blank">Kampus Production</a><br></p><p><br></p><p>Read also:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2023/05/16/435381/for-black-social-workers-anxiety-and-depression-are-on-the-rise" target="_blank"><img alt="For Black social workers anxiety and depression are on the rise" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1001021/fit/80x80/pexels-polina-tankilevitch-5234573.jpg?timestamp=1689961306" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/05/16/435381/for-black-social-workers-anxiety-and-depression-are-on-the-rise" target="_blank">For Black social workers, anxiety and depression are on the rise</a></h4>
<p>As social workers, we are trained mental health professionals who prioritize social justice. But how do we cope when faced with the collective trauma of a global pandemic and the mental a... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/05/16/435381/for-black-social-workers-anxiety-and-depression-are-on-the-rise">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p></span><p><br></p><p>As part of <a href="https://www.creges.ca/en/publication/explorer-limpact-de-la-pratique-de-la-presence-attentive-mindfulness/">our project</a>, we will develop and examine an intervention targeted at reducing RNT in family caregivers.</p><p><br></p><p>According to a <a href="https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/75-006-x/2020001/article/00007-eng.pdf?st=Ryqnxh65">recent report</a>, over eight million Canadians aged 15 and older, or 25 per cent of the population, provide care to a family member or friend with a long-term health condition, disability, or aging-related needs.</p><p><br></p><p>While caregiving can be rewarding, it can also be challenging and stressful, particularly for those who provide extensive or complex care. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.6.946">Chronic stress</a> is a common experience for family caregivers, and it can take a toll on their health and well-being. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610219000243">A survey of caregivers</a> found that the top areas of need for caregivers were emotional health (58 per cent) and physical health (32 per cent). <a href="https://www.creges.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/CREGES_Revue-narrative-Presence-attentive-Mindfulness-2022-4.pdf">RNT is strongly associated with caregiver burden</a> and predicts negative impacts on the physical and mental health of caregivers.</p><p><br></p><p>We will recruit 100 caregivers with high levels of RNT. The intervention will be presented to participants in the form of interactive videos that guide them through the practice of focused attention meditation. We will measure changes in RNT, stress, anxiety, depression, and quality of life before and after the intervention, as well as at a six-month follow-up.</p><p><br></p><p>If the intervention is effective, it could serve as the basis for the development of an innovative tool for monitoring and reducing RNT. This tool could be deployed as a mobile app or on virtual reality platforms, providing caregivers with access to an intervention that they can use at their convenience. This could significantly expand the reach of the intervention, making it more accessible and convenient for caregivers who may not have the time or resources to participate in traditional face-to-face interventions.</p><p><br></p><p>Overall, the potential of the focused attention meditation intervention to improve the mental and physical health of caregivers, as well as the development of new innovative tools, represents a promising avenue in the field of caregiver support services. Further research and implementation of such interventions could significantly improve the quality of life for caregivers and the people they care for.</p><p><br></p><span><p>After all, to echo the words of philosopher Marcus Aurelius, “the happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”</p><p><br></p><p>Read also:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2023/05/18/435541/helping-male-victims-of-domestic-abuse-can-benefit-society-as-a-whole" target="_blank"><img alt="Helping male victims of domestic abuse can benefit society as a whole" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1001335/fit/80x80/pexels-rdne-stock-project-9064731.jpg?timestamp=1689961356" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/05/18/435541/helping-male-victims-of-domestic-abuse-can-benefit-society-as-a-whole" target="_blank">Helping male victims of domestic abuse can benefit society as a whole</a></h4>
<p>Men who experience violence, and efforts to prevent violence against men and boys, are conspicuously lacking from the gender-based violence discussion. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/05/18/435541/helping-male-victims-of-domestic-abuse-can-benefit-society-as-a-whole">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2023/05/21/435559/black-mothers-trapped-in-unsafe-neighborhoods-signal-the-stressful-health-toll-of-gun-violence-in-the-u-s-" target="_blank"><img alt="Black mothers trapped in unsafe neighborhoods signal the stressful health toll of gun violence in the US" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1001672/fit/80x80/pexels-pnw-production-7328448.jpg?timestamp=1689961371" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/05/21/435559/black-mothers-trapped-in-unsafe-neighborhoods-signal-the-stressful-health-toll-of-gun-violence-in-the-u-s-" target="_blank">Black mothers trapped in unsafe neighborhoods signal the stressful health toll of gun violence in the U.S.</a></h4>
<p>Black mothers are the canaries in the coal mine when it comes to the mental and physical harms of stress from living with gun violence in America. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/05/21/435559/black-mothers-trapped-in-unsafe-neighborhoods-signal-the-stressful-health-toll-of-gun-violence-in-the-u-s-">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2023/05/29/436420/the-importance-of-taking-mental-health-seriously-in-the-black-community" target="_blank"><img alt="The Importance of Taking Mental Health Seriously in the Black Community" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1003295/fit/80x80/pexels-mental-health-america-_mha_-5543538.jpg?timestamp=1689961397" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/05/29/436420/the-importance-of-taking-mental-health-seriously-in-the-black-community" target="_blank">The Importance of Taking Mental Health Seriously in the Black Community</a></h4>
<p>Mental health has been stigmatized and overlooked in the Black community for many years, resulting in negative consequences for individuals and society. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/05/29/436420/the-importance-of-taking-mental-health-seriously-in-the-black-community">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:b5ad0768-12dc-4959-a74d-9260915118042023-07-18T10:36:48-04:002023-07-21T12:06:23-04:00What Black Parents Need to Know About Infertility 2023-07-22 10:00:00 -0400Boitumelo Masihleho<span><p>Infertility challenges can arise for anyone, but recent research has suggested a disparity between Black and White birthing women when it comes to access to information, testing, and care. <a href="https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/infertility">The National Institute of Health (NIH)</a> defines infertility as the inability to get pregnant before the age of 35, after at least one year of actively trying to conceive. Infertility is often silent, but sometimes, your body does provide signs behind why you may have trouble conceiving.</p><p>Women put off starting a family for a variety of reasons, including educational and career opportunities, delayed marriage, and increased access to contraception. The rates of women experiencing infertility and/or utilizing reproductive technology to become pregnant will continue to rise as women and couples wait to have children and start a family. </p><p><br></p><h2>What causes infertility?</h2><br><p>There are many factors that affect fertility, including difficulties surrounding ovulation, which can prevent eggs from being fertilized. Many different medical conditions and other factors can contribute to fertility problems, and an individual case may have a single cause, several causes, or no identifiable cause. </p><p>Hormonal imbalance, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) could be root causes if a patient is not ovulating and struggling to conceive. Other common causes of infertility are blocked fallopian tubes due to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, and/or uterine fibroids. Of course, fertility declines with age in all birthing women, while the risks of pregnancy complications arise over time. </p><p>Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is another cause of ovulation problems. POI occurs when a woman's ovaries stop working normally before she is 40. POI is not the same as early menopause</p><p>Infertility causes unique psychological stresses and anxieties, as well as affecting relationships.</p><h2><br></h2><h2>How are Black women affected differently?</h2><br><p>There are many factors that contribute to these disparities, including health conditions that disproportionately impact Black women. Black women of fertile age are also more likely to have chronic comorbidities—such as diabetes, or obesity—which are linked to lack of access to healthcare, and other social determinants of health, including education level and socioeconomic status. Factors like hormonal imbalances or irregular ovulation tend to affect Black women more.</p><p>One common cause of infertility is fibroids, and although they can be completely harmless, they can have an effect on fertility and cause complications when giving birth. Black women are three times as likely to have fibroids than White women. Age is a significant factor for anyone with ovaries—as we age, fertility declines at a faster rate. Black women often seek fertility treatment later than women of other races. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1015281/fill/700x0/7082964.jpg?timestamp=1689691185">Image: the IVF (in vitro fertilization) process. Source: <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-flat-design-ivf-infographic_27596569.htm#query=IVF&position=0&from_view=search&track=sph" target="_blank">Freepik</a>.</div></span><span><p><br></p><h2>What about IVF and other fertility treatments?</h2><br><p>Low fertility can sometimes be treated by assisted reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization (IVF). The use of such treatments has increased significantly in recent decades, particularly in states which have mandated their inclusion as part of healthcare coverage. The statistics on the racial disparities of women seeking IVF treatment are stark.</p><p>According to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr073.pdf">CDC data</a>, White women between the ages of 25 and 44 were almost twice as likely (15%) as Black women (8%) or Hispanic women (7.6%) to have used fertility services to get pregnant. Black women experience longer periods of infertility by the time they see their doctor (4 years) when compared with White women (3 years).</p><p>Research shows that it’s common for Black women to start fertility treatment after experiencing infertility for multiple years, whereas their </p><p>White counterparts usually seek care sooner. Black women are often in their late 30s or early 40s when they start, older on average than White women. Michelle Obama started IVF when she was 37, and Tyra Banks, Kandi Burruss, Angela Bassett and Gabrielle Union started treatments when they were in their 40s.</p><p>The delay in fertility treatment may cause higher rates of death in Black newborns conceived with fertility treatment versus White newborns. <a href="https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/150/5/e2021055855/189747/Racial-and-Ethnic-Disparities-in-the-Perinatal?autologincheck=redirected">An October 2022</a> study in the journal Pediatrics found the neonatal mortality rate in Black moms using fertility treatments was four times higher than in White moms.</p><p>Infertility can be an isolating experience so it’s especially important to find a community of women with whom you can share. Numerous support groups and organizations, like <a href="https://www.oshunfertility.com/">Oshun Fertility Services</a>, <a href="https://blackwomenandinfertility.org/">Black Women and Infertility</a>, <a href="https://blackmamasmatter.org/">Black Mamas Matter Alliance</a>, <a href="https://www.fertilityforcoloredgirls.org/">Fertility for Colored Girls</a>, <a href="https://thebrokenbrownegg.org/">Broken Brown Egg</a>, and <a href="https://www.cadefoundation.org/">the Cade Foundation</a>, can help families access infertility treatments by providing grants and other valuable information.</p><p><br></p><h3>Source</h3><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.verywellfamily.com/what-black-women-need-to-know-about-infertility-5272521">VeryWell Family</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.parents.com/parenting/money/family-finances/starting-out/ivf-cost-prohibitive-black-brown-families/">Parents</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/planning-a-pregnancy/fertility-and-causes-of-infertility">Tommys</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://qz.com/1980790/why-are-black-women-at-higher-risk-of-infertility">Quartz</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://progyny.com/blog/fertility-family-building/inequality-in-infertility-black-indigenous-and-people-of-color/">Progyny</a><br><br><br><br></p></li></ul><p>Read also:</p><div class="media clearfix">
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/02/09/425998/sepsis-affects-black-children-differently-heres-what-you-need-to-know" target="_blank">Sepsis Affects Black Children Differently: Here's What You Need To Know</a></h4>
<p>Sepsis is one of many health challenges people encounter but is rarely discussed in the media. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/02/09/425998/sepsis-affects-black-children-differently-heres-what-you-need-to-know">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/09/21/412208/what-black-women-need-to-know-about-ectopic-pregnancy" target="_blank">What Black Women Need to Know About Ectopic Pregnancy</a></h4>
<p>The maternal mortality rate for Black women has increased over the years with a spotlight on the lack of medical support given to them by medical professionals. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/09/21/412208/what-black-women-need-to-know-about-ectopic-pregnancy">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/08/07/364754/9-best-breastfeeding-tips-for-new-mothers" target="_blank">9 Best Breastfeeding Tips For New Mothers</a></h4>
<p>Nursing your baby is no easy feat and breastfeeding can be overwhelming at times. Luckily, we've rounded up some great breastfeeding tips that will help you make the most of your time wit... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/08/07/364754/9-best-breastfeeding-tips-for-new-mothers">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<br><br><br><div><br><br><br><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/776121/fill/300x0/boitumelo.jpg?timestamp=1689690889"></div> Boitumelo Masihleho is a South African digital content creator. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Rhodes University in Journalism and Media Studies and Politics and International Studies. <br></div><p></p><p>She's an experienced multimedia journalist who is committed to writing balanced, informative and interesting stories on a number of topics. Boitumelo has her own <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/BoitumeloM" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">YouTube channel </a>where she shares her love for affordable beauty and lifestyle content. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Read more from Boitumelo Masihleho:</p><div class="media clearfix">
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<p>Pauline Forlenza, Director of The American Federation of Arts (AFA) has been at the forefront of curating exhibits nationwide that highlight the work of Black artists and increase access ... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/05/22/435591/the-amazing-black-woman-behind-some-of-the-biggest-black-art-exhibits-in-america">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/05/31/400845/black-owned-swimwear-brands-for-your-next-trip-to-the-beach" target="_blank">Black-Owned Swimwear Brands for Your Next Trip to the Beach </a></h4>
<p>It’s almost time to think about which new swimsuit you plan on showing out in this season to safely soak up that sweet sweet vitamin D. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/05/31/400845/black-owned-swimwear-brands-for-your-next-trip-to-the-beach">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> If you’re on the hunt for new clothes, gear, or toys for your little one, check out these Black-owned baby brands, which make innovative and chic products for young kids. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/03/29/393892/10-black-owned-businesses-that-sell-top-notch-baby-and-maternity-products">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p><br><br><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:502bf875-9585-4f92-ba88-2b88fcbc913d2023-07-10T13:21:13-04:002023-07-10T13:40:34-04:00Unraveling African American Mental Health Struggles and Challenges2023-07-11 10:00:00 -0400Anand Subramanian<p>Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/shallow-focus-photo-of-man-in-gray-shirt-4719936/" target="_blank">Ketut Subiyanto</a></p><span><p><br></p><p>Mental health is a crucial aspect of well-being, influencing one's thoughts, feelings, and behavior. However, it is essential to recognize that mental health is not experienced uniformly across all individuals and communities. Different cultural and ethnic groups may face distinct challenges and perspectives regarding mental health. The mental health landscape for African Americans cannot be fully understood without acknowledging the historical context of their experiences. The African American community has endured centuries of slavery, segregation, racial discrimination, and systemic racism, all of which have profoundly impacted their mental well-being. These historical traumas continue reverberating through generations, leading to intergenerational trauma, cultural disconnection, and persistent social inequities that shape the African American mental health landscape.</p><br><h3>Historical Legacy of Struggle</h3><br><p>To fully comprehend the contemporary mental health landscape for African Americans, we must acknowledge the historical context that has shaped their experiences. Centuries of slavery, segregation, racial discrimination, and systemic racism have immensely affected the African American community. These enduring traumas have given rise to intergenerational wounds, cultural disconnection, and social disparities that significantly impact mental health.</p><br><h3>Stigma and Barriers to Treatment: Silence and Suffering</h3><br><p>The stigma surrounding the topic is one formidable barrier preventing African Americans from seeking mental health support. Rooted in historical and cultural factors, this stigma has cultivated a reluctance to discuss mental health concerns openly. Some view mental illness as a sign of personal weakness, while others perceive therapy or counseling as unnecessary except in extreme circumstances. Such perceptions hinder timely and appropriate help-seeking, perpetuating the challenges faced by African Americans.</p><p><br></p><p>Read also: <a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/pages/mental-health" target="_blank">FunTimes Magazine's 988 Hotline Campaign</a> </p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1013741/fill/700x0/pexels-samson-katt-5257630.jpg?timestamp=1689010786" title="Image: //cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1013741/fill/700x0/pexels-samson-katt-5257630.jpg?timestamp=1689010786">Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-hugging-her-dog-5257630/" target="_blank" title="Link: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-hugging-her-dog-5257630/">Samson Katt</a></div></span><span><p><span><br></span></p></span><span><h3>Lack of Access to Quality Care</h3><br><p>Accessing quality mental health care poses significant challenges for African Americans. Limited financial resources, lack of adequate health insurance, geographical constraints, and deep-seated mistrust of healthcare systems all contribute to the difficulty in obtaining mental health services. Moreover, the scarcity of culturally competent mental health professionals compounds the issue, as the unique needs of African Americans may go unaddressed, perpetuating disparities in mental health outcomes.</p><br><h3>Cultural Factors: Seeking Solace in Community</h3><br><p>Cultural factors play a pivotal role in shaping African American mental health perspectives. The concept of communalism, emphasizing interconnectedness and support within the community, often leads individuals to seek solace from family, friends, or religious leaders instead of mental health professionals. While informal support networks can be valuable, they may lack the specialized care required for mental health conditions. Balancing the benefits of community support with the necessity of professional mental health services poses a complex challenge within the African American community.</p><p><br></p><h3>Racial Trauma and Microaggressions: The Lingering Wounds</h3><br><p>Experiences of racial trauma and subtle microaggressions have a profound impact on the mental health of African Americans. The constant exposure to discrimination, racism, and prejudice generates increased stress, anxiety, depression, and a pervasive sense of diminished self-worth. These experiences exacerbate existing mental health conditions and contribute to developing new ones. Understanding and addressing racial trauma's unique mental health effects is crucial in fostering healing and resilience within the African American community.</p><p><br></p><p>Read also:</p><div class="media clearfix"><div class="media clearfix"><div class="media clearfix"><div class="media clearfix"><span class="pull-left"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2022/07/03/404596/mental-health-issues-are-a-symptom-of-being-black" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/932717/fit/80x80/New_20Project_20-_202022-06-30T125057.979.jpg?timestamp=1689010038" class="media-object"></a></span><div class="media-body"><h4 class="media-heading"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2022/07/03/404596/mental-health-issues-are-a-symptom-of-being-black" target="_blank">Mental Health Issues are a Symptom of Being Black</a></h4><p>When someone says, “Black Lives Matter!,” you always have that one white person that rebuttals with “well, all lives matter!” <span class="pull-right"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2022/07/03/404596/mental-health-issues-are-a-symptom-of-being-black">Read More »</a></span> </p></div></div><p> </p></div></div></div><br><h3>Coping Strategies and Resilience: Harnessing Inner Strength</h3><br><p>Despite the myriad challenges African Americans face in mental health, it is imperative to recognize their resilience and strength. Many individuals and communities have developed coping strategies based on cultural traditions, spirituality, and community support. Cultural practices, including music, dance, storytelling, and religious involvement, serve as protective factors and promote well-being. Recognizing and building upon these strengths is essential to support the mental health of African Americans.</p><p><br></p><h3>Addressing the Challenges Towards Equitable Care</h3><br><p>Addressing the unique challenges faced by African Americans in mental health necessitate a multifaceted approach. This requires raising awareness and challenging the stigma through education and community engagement. Efforts should focus on improving access to quality mental health services by expanding affordable healthcare options and diversifying the mental health workforce. Culturally competent care should be prioritized to ensure that mental health professionals possess the knowledge and sensitivity to address the specific needs of African Americans.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1013737/fill/700x0/pexels-mental-health-america-_mha_-5543224.jpg?timestamp=1689010566" title="Image: //cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1013737/fill/700x0/pexels-mental-health-america-_mha_-5543224.jpg?timestamp=1689010566">Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/stressed-man-touching-his-face-5543224/" target="_blank">Mental Health America (MHA)</a></div></span><h2><br></h2>Read also:<div class="media clearfix"><span class="pull-left"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2023/04/20/432184/whats-the-411-on-the-new-988-hotline-5-questions-answered-about-a-national-mental-health-service" target="_blank"><img alt="Whats the 411 on the new 988 hotline 5 questions answered about a national mental health service" src="https://cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/995019/fit/80x80/pexels-negative-space-33999.jpg?timestamp=1689009944" class="media-object"></a></span><div class="media-body"><h4 class="media-heading"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2023/04/20/432184/whats-the-411-on-the-new-988-hotline-5-questions-answered-about-a-national-mental-health-service" target="_blank">What's the 411 on the new 988 hotline? 5 questions answered about a national mental health service</a></h4><p>988 is not just a shorter, easier-to-remember replacement for the current suicide hotline. Congress and the Federal Communications Commission also established the 988 Lifeline to address ... <span class="pull-right"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2023/04/20/432184/whats-the-411-on-the-new-988-hotline-5-questions-answered-about-a-national-mental-health-service">Read More »</a></span> </p></div></div><p></p><p> </p><div><br></div><h2><br>Resources - </h2><br><span><p><a href="https://www.nami.org/home?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw2K6lBhBXEiwA5RjtCZyY6zZ-YSSTlf6zT-qQGfm36m7_bZB3jFVSLWG9OedIP8hDrGd-ihoC68kQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)</a>: NAMI is a national organization that provides support and resources to people with mental illness and their families.</p><br></span><p><a href="https://www.blackmentalwellness.com/" target="_blank">Black Mental Wellness</a>: Black Mental Wellness is a website that provides information and resources about mental health from a Black perspective.<br><br></p><span><p><a href="https://www.stevefund.org/" target="_blank">The Steve Fund</a>: The Steve Fund is a non-profit organization that addresses the Black community's mental health crisis.</p><br></span><p><a href="https://nul.org/" target="_blank">The National Urban League</a>: The National Urban League is a civil rights organization that works to improve the lives of African Americans. They offer several mental health resources, including a helpline and online chat.<br><br></p><span><p><a href="https://borislhensonfoundation.org/" target="_blank">The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation</a>: The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation is a non-profit organization that works to change the perception of mental illness in the African-American community. They have a website with information and resources, as well as a fellowship program that supports Black mental health professionals.</p><br></span><span><p><a href="https://blackmentalhealth.com/" target="_blank">The Black Mental Health Alliance (BMHA)</a>: The BMHA is a non-profit organization that provides culturally relevant mental health services to African Americans. They offer a variety of services, including therapy, support groups, and educational workshops.</p><br></span><span><p><a href="https://therapyforblackgirls.com/" target="_blank">Black Girl Therapy</a>: Black Girl Therapy is a website and podcast that provides resources and support for Black women who are struggling with their mental health. They have a directory of Black therapists, as well as articles and podcasts on a variety of mental health topics.</p><br></span><span><p><a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/liberate-cx/id1451620569" target="_blank">The Liberate Meditation App</a>: The Liberate Meditation App is a mindfulness app that was created specifically for Black people. The app includes guided meditations, educational content, and a community forum.</p><p><br></p><p>Read also:</p><div class="media clearfix">
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/01/31/425188/black-men-heal" target="_blank">Black Men Heal</a></h4>
<p>“All Black men are capable of being whoever they want to be and we gave them a space to transform the narrative about what a Black man is supposed to look like.” - Zakia Williams, founder... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/01/31/425188/black-men-heal">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><p><br></p><p><br></p></span><p><br></p><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/814912/fill/300x0/anand.jpg?timestamp=1689008158"></div><p> Anand Subramanian is a freelance photographer and content writer based out of Tamil Nadu, India. Having a background in Engineering always made him curious about life on the other side of the spectrum. He leapt forward towards the Photography life and never looked back. Specializing in Documentary and Portrait photography gave him an up-close and personal view into the complexities of human beings and those experiences helped him branch out from visual to words. Today he is mentoring passionate photographers and writing about the different dimensions of the art world.</p><p><br></p><p>Read more from Anand Subramanian: </p><div class="media clearfix">
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/06/14/438092/the-life-and-legacy-of-bill-withers" target="_blank">The life and legacy of Bill Withers</a></h4>
<p>Withers's inspirational words and soulful voice grabbed millions of hearts, influencing the music business. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/06/14/438092/the-life-and-legacy-of-bill-withers">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/06/30/439678/juneteenth-wrap-up-unveiling-the-historical-significance-community-commerce-and-lasting-importance" target="_blank">Juneteenth Wrap-Up: Unveiling the Historical Significance, Community Commerce, and Lasting Importance</a></h4>
<p>As the summer of 2023 unfolds, we reflect on Juneteenth's powerful and transformative celebration. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/06/30/439678/juneteenth-wrap-up-unveiling-the-historical-significance-community-commerce-and-lasting-importance">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/06/22/438934/unveiling-the-top-african-american-innovators-in-healthcare-revolutionizing-the-field" target="_blank">Unveiling the Top African American Innovators in Healthcare: Revolutionizing the Field</a></h4>
<p>These African American innovators have left an indelible mark on the healthcare industry through their pioneering work, visionary thinking, and relentless pursuit of better healthcare out... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/06/22/438934/unveiling-the-top-african-american-innovators-in-healthcare-revolutionizing-the-field">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:54e450e0-b2cf-44fc-854c-59756264dd312023-06-29T12:42:24-04:002023-06-29T13:32:10-04:00The ugly side of beauty: Chemicals in cosmetics threaten college-age Black women’s reproductive health2023-07-01 10:00:00 -0400The Conversation via Reuters Connect<p>Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/cosmetics-makeup-brushes-and-powder-dust-explosion-1926620/" target="_blank">Marcelo Moreira</a></p><p><br></p><p>Walk through the personal care aisles of your local store and you’ll see dozens of products that promise to soften your skin, make you smell better, extend your lashes, decrease wrinkling, tame your curly hair, or even semi-permanently change the color of your lips, hair or skin.</p><p>Remember the adage “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is”?</p><p>Many of product promises like these are based on chemicals that can also be hazardous to your health, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can interfere with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/mrd.23541">fertility and reproduction</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.11681">fetal growth</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1003178">infant development</a>.</p><p>That’s a big concern, because these products are heavily marketed to young women in the years before they might consider starting a family.</p><p></p><div></div><p></p><p>Recent studies have demonstrated that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-019-0170-1">college-age women</a> use cosmetic products <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2022.100117">at higher rates</a> than other groups. Additionally, many of these young women are unaware of the health risks from frequent use of popular products containing <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-153X-8-15">contaminants of emerging concern</a>. And finding cleaner alternatives often means paying more.</p><p>As <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=en&user=tQJksK8AAAAJ">an epidemiologist</a> who has fought my own fertility battles, I study exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in everyday products, such as cosmetics, shampoos, lotions and plastics. I have been working to raise awareness of the health risks to young people and encourage prudent use of cosmetic products.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1010896/fill/700x0/peter-kalonji-LH74lRYvBY4-unsplash.jpg?timestamp=1688058889">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@peter_kp007?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Peter Kalonji</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/backgrounds/things/makeup?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a><br><br>Read also:<br><div class="media clearfix">
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/05/30/436700/we-have-all-heard-social-media-can-impact-womens-body-image-but-it-isnt-all-bad" target="_blank">We have all heard social media can impact women's body image – but it isn't all bad</a></h4>
<p>It is clear social media can negatively affect women’s relationships with their bodies, but our recent research revealed a more complex and nuanced picture. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/05/30/436700/we-have-all-heard-social-media-can-impact-womens-body-image-but-it-isnt-all-bad">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p></div><h2>Unregulated and potentially risky</h2><br><p>According to the <a href="https://www.fda.gov/industry/fda-basics-industry/are-all-personal-care-products-regulated-cosmetics">U.S. Food and Drug Administration</a>, the term “cosmetic” can include deodorants, perfumes, lotions, nail polish, shampoos and other hair products, as well as eye, lip and face makeup.</p><p>This is important to know, because unless these products are used to treat a condition, such as dandruff or perspiration, they are not federally regulated in the same way drugs are. That leaves it up to cosmetic companies to decide how to communicate product safety.</p><p>Personal care products contain many types of chemicals that manufacturers add for specific purposes, including some that can interfere with or disrupt the normal functioning of the endocrine system. For example, they commonly add UV filters like oxybenzone <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/Benzophenone-3_FactSheet.html">to protect skin from sun damage</a>, phthalates to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2011.01.013">enhance fragrance</a>, parabens and triclosan for their <a href="https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/parabens-cosmetics">antimicrobial properties</a>, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00240">enhance durability</a>.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1010737/fill/700x0/chemicals-often-found-in-daily-use-cosmetic-products.png?timestamp=1688051760"></div><p>Table: <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-ugly-side-of-beauty-chemicals-in-cosmetics-threaten-college-age-womens-reproductive-health-206572" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>/CC-BY-ND Source: Leslie Hart, based on research. <span>Created with <a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/0B09y" target="_blank">Datawrapper</a></span></p><p><br></p><p>However, not all of these chemicals are present in all products, so figuring out how to avoid exposure can be complicated. For example, in a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122642">2021 review</a> of studies detecting endocrine-disrupting chemicals in daily-use cosmetic products, phthalates were present in perfumes, shower gels, shampoo and nail polish. Parabens were detected in lotions, creams, shampoos, body wash, face cleansers and lipstick. Triclosan was detected in toothpastes, soaps and other cleansers. And UV filters were present in sunscreens, lotions, toothpaste, and lipstick.</p><p>Many of these chemicals can co-occur in products, putting consumers at risk of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1104052">exposure to multiple chemicals</a> at once, and sometimes without warning, as labels <a href="https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-labeling-regulations/summary-cosmetics-labeling-requirements">do not always list</a> endocrine-disrupting chemicals among the ingredients.</p><p><br></p><p>Read also:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2023/04/17/431850/lack-of-diversity-in-clinical-trials-is-leaving-women-and-patients-of-color-behind-and-harming-the-future-of-medicine" target="_blank"><img alt="Lack of diversity in clinical trials is leaving women and patients of color behind and harming the future of medicine" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/994630/fit/80x80/pexels-anna-shvets-4672299.jpg?timestamp=1688058934" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/04/17/431850/lack-of-diversity-in-clinical-trials-is-leaving-women-and-patients-of-color-behind-and-harming-the-future-of-medicine" target="_blank">Lack of diversity in clinical trials is leaving women and patients of color behind and harming the future of medicine</a></h4>
<p>A whole range of treatments – from drugs to testing – could be much more effective if they were designed to work with many different kinds of bodies, not just some abstract, generic human. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/04/17/431850/lack-of-diversity-in-clinical-trials-is-leaving-women-and-patients-of-color-behind-and-harming-the-future-of-medicine">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><h2>Why are chemicals in cosmetics a health risk?</h2><br><p>As you rub cosmetic products onto your skin, breathe in their scent or use them to brush your teeth, <a href="https://www.ewg.org/the-toxic-twelve-chemicals-and-contaminants-in-cosmetics">the chemicals</a> found within can travel throughout your body, targeting your endocrine, nervous and cardiovascular systems.</p><p>When these chemicals are endocrine disruptors, such as phthalates, parabens, triclosan <a href="https://theconversation.com/toxic-chemicals-in-cosmetics-and-personal-care-products-remain-in-our-bodies-and-environments-for-a-very-very-long-time-201137">and PFAS</a>, they can mimic naturally produced hormones or block hormone receptors. Their presence can result in abnormal hormone production, secretion or transport throughout the body.</p><p>These hormonal changes can lead to reproductive problems, including <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/01.EDE.0000059950.11836.16">poor sperm quality</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-023-00533-1">miscarriage</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110342">endometriosis</a>. They can also lead to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.05.005">thyroid disruption</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2008.08.007">abnormal growth and development</a>.</p><p>Neurological conditions such as <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052849">attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.01.023">cognitive impairment</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139031">depression</a> have also been linked to chemicals added to cosmetic products. So have cardiovascular issues such as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2367-6">high blood pressure</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158218">insulin resistance</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c06488">coronary heart disease</a>.</p><p>The level of risk is often difficult to measure and depends in part on the amount of exposure, the type of chemical and how the chemical interacts with the endocrine system. One study of women ages 18-44 in Utah and California found increased exposure to a common phthalate was associated with twice the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.fertnstert.2013.03.026">odds of developing endometriosis</a>, which can be painful and interfere with pregnancy. In a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1289%2FEHP208">meta-analysis</a> of pregnant women with occupational exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, researchers calculated a 25% increase in the odds of low birth weight when mothers were exposed to more than one type of endocrine-disrupting chemical.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1010762/fill/700x0/pexels-cottonbro-studio-10609766.jpg?timestamp=1688054785">Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-holding-mirror-while-putting-makeup-10609766/" target="_blank">cottonbro studio</a><br><br>Read also:<br><div class="media clearfix"><span class="pull-left"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2022/05/08/399824/infertility-awareness" target="_blank"><img alt=" Infertility Awareness" src="https://cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/920398/fit/80x80/pexels-nadezhda-moryak-8680388.jpg?timestamp=1688059457" class="media-object"></a></span><div class="media-body"><h4 class="media-heading"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2022/05/08/399824/infertility-awareness" target="_blank">Infertility Awareness</a></h4><p>Infertility is not anyone’s fault. There are many factors that lead to difficulty with conception. Infertility affects 7.3 million Americans. We can show support by being non-judgemental... <span class="pull-right"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2022/05/08/399824/infertility-awareness">Read More »</a></span> </p><div><br></div></div></div><div class="media clearfix"> <br></div></div><h2>States are starting to ban these chemicals</h2><br><p>Our <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-019-0170-1">study of college-age females</a> found that, on average, young women use eight different personal care products each day that can contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals, but some report as many as 17. This is concerning, as the number of products people use has been <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-017-0003-z">linked to higher exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals</a>.</p><p>Furthermore, 80% of the women we surveyed did not know whether their cosmetic products contained harmful chemicals.</p><p>Studies have found significantly higher exposure to phthalates and other chemicals among adolescent girls who <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-017-0003-z">wore foundation, blush and mascara</a> than among those who did not. One found that when adolescent girls <a href="https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1510514">stopped using products containing endocrine-disrupting chemicals</a>, the concentrations in their urine dropped by as much as 45%.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.safecosmetics.org/resources/regulations/">European Union has led</a> the way on regulating the use of these chemicals in cosmetic products, with U.S. policies generally lagging behind, but that’s changing.</p><p><a href="https://toxicfreefuture.org/press-room/strongest-law-in-the-u-s-regulating-toxic-chemicals-in-cosmetics-signed-by-washington-state-governor-today/">Washington</a> state recently passed legislation that bans <a href="https://toxicfreefuture.org/toxic-chemicals/pfas-forever-chemicals/">PFAS</a>, <a href="https://toxicfreefuture.org/toxic-chemicals/lead/">lead</a>, <a href="https://toxicfreefuture.org/toxic-chemicals/phthalates/">phthalates</a>, <a href="https://toxicfreefuture.org/toxic-chemicals/formaldehyde/">formaldehyde</a> and other harmful chemicals starting in 2025 and creates new incentives for companies to produce safer products. <a href="https://toxicfreefuture.org/press-room/strongest-law-in-the-u-s-regulating-toxic-chemicals-in-cosmetics-signed-by-washington-state-governor-today/">New York</a> banned mercury, a neurotoxin that can be used as a skin lightener, effective June 1, 2023. <a href="https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2023/02/california-bill-would-ban-cosmetics-chemicals-linked-cancer">California</a>, <a href="https://legiscan.com/MN/text/HF458/id/731206">Minnesota</a> and <a href="https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/maine-makes-a-bold-move-in-banning-most-3530524/">Maine</a> also have broad restrictions on chemical additives in cosmetics.</p><p>While many cosmetic companies offer alternative products without endocrine-disrupting chemicals, they tend to cost more, which can put safer products out of reach of young people. I believe a national ban on the use of harmful chemicals in cosmetic products would be the most equitable means for reducing everyone’s exposure.</p><p><br></p><p>Read also:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/03/01/391775/endometriosis-causes-infertility-in-women-but-there-is-a-way-out-of-it" target="_blank"><img alt="Credit Pexels Klaus Nielsen" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/903306/fit/80x80/endometriosis.jpg?timestamp=1688059457" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/03/01/391775/endometriosis-causes-infertility-in-women-but-there-is-a-way-out-of-it" target="_blank">Endometriosis Causes Infertility in Women, but There Is a Way out of It</a></h4>
<p>Endometriosis is one of the leading causes of infertility. Here are the causes, symptoms, and four ways you can still get pregnant while living with this disease.
<span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/03/01/391775/endometriosis-causes-infertility-in-women-but-there-is-a-way-out-of-it">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><div class="media clearfix"><span class="pull-left"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2023/05/19/435550/air-pollution-harms-the-brain-and-mental-health-too-a-large-scale-analysis-documents-effects-on-brain-regions-associated-with-emotions" target="_blank"><img alt="Air pollution harms the brain and mental health too a large-scale analysis documents effects on brain regions associated with emotions" src="https://cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1001401/fit/80x80/pexels-markus-distelrath-3044479.jpg?timestamp=1688059427" class="media-object"></a></span><div class="media-body"><h4 class="media-heading"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2023/05/19/435550/air-pollution-harms-the-brain-and-mental-health-too-a-large-scale-analysis-documents-effects-on-brain-regions-associated-with-emotions" target="_blank">Air pollution harms the brain and mental health, too – a large-scale analysis documents effects on brain regions associated with emotions</a></h4><p>People who breathe polluted air experience changes within the brain regions that control emotions, and as a result, they may be more likely to develop anxiety and depression than those wh... <span class="pull-right"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2023/05/19/435550/air-pollution-harms-the-brain-and-mental-health-too-a-large-scale-analysis-documents-effects-on-brain-regions-associated-with-emotions">Read More »</a></span> </p><div><br></div></div></div><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2023/04/07/431463/activities-you-can-complete-towards-your-total-health-and-wellness" target="_blank"><img alt="Activities you can complete towards your total health and wellness" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/992942/fit/80x80/cdc-aeh1dbI_a7I-unsplash.jpg?timestamp=1688059765" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/04/07/431463/activities-you-can-complete-towards-your-total-health-and-wellness" target="_blank">Activities you can complete towards your total health and wellness</a></h4>
<p>Today is World Health Day! Interestingly, it is also the 75th Anniversary of the World Health Organization (W.H.O). <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/04/07/431463/activities-you-can-complete-towards-your-total-health-and-wellness">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:a8d9d23b-8502-4d20-a459-856f656daf0a2023-06-26T10:40:29-04:002023-06-27T12:06:14-04:00Drawing, making music and writing poetry can support healing and bring more humanity to health care in US hospitals2023-06-27 10:00:00 -0400The Conversation via Reuters Connect<p>Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-paper-painting-close-up-photography-2543260/" target="_blank">Ravi Kant</a><br></p><p><br></p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic shined a light on the deep need that people feel for human touch and connection in hospital settings. Having relatives peering through windows at their loved ones or unable to enter hospitals altogether exacerbated the lack of human intimacy that is all too common in health care settings.</p><p>Opportunities for creative expression through arts in medicine programs are increasing in U.S. hospitals, and it may be because art-making offers something that medicine can’t. Evidence shows that taking part in art programs <a href="https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2008.156497">has many therapeutic benefits</a>, such as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735617739967">reducing anxiety</a> and <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160615134946.htm#">stress</a>, supporting <a href="https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2022.1012020">mental health</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-006-9024-3">well-being</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246078">connecting people to one another</a>.</p><p>Research has also shown that these programs can bring <a href="https://doi.org/10.4037/aacnacc2020619">relief from the stresses and burnout</a> that health care workers regularly experience.</p><p><a href="https://www.kpwashingtonresearch.org/our-research/our-scientists/gray-marlaine">As a medical anthropologist</a> studying how to support people who are facing serious illness, as well as those who care for them, one of my research interests is the intersection of arts and medicine.<br><br></p><p>Participating in creative activities helps with expressing emotions. This <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797610362061">can improve optimism</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000116782.49850.d3">boost the body’s immune</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.582083">response</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1348/135910707X251207">improve healing times</a>.</p><p>Arts in medicine programs are also correlated with improved <a href="https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2005.11.030">blood pressure and less pain and depression</a> for some patients. Some music activities can help stroke victims <a href="https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9386095">recover balance and rhythm</a>.</p><p>These types of clinical benefits are certainly valued. But what people I spoke with shared that was the most transformative for them were the ways art-making allowed them to feel more fully human.</p><p><br></p><p>Read also:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2021/10/30/372886/small-doses-big-difference-how-a-young-philadelphia-artist-creatively-addresses-mental-and-health-wellness" target="_blank"><img alt="Isis Kirton 25 in her Philadelphia home and creative space Photo by Tezarah Wilkins for Love Now Media" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/863835/fit/80x80/isis_20kirton.jpeg?timestamp=1687790074" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/10/30/372886/small-doses-big-difference-how-a-young-philadelphia-artist-creatively-addresses-mental-and-health-wellness" target="_blank">Small Doses, Big Difference: How a young Philadelphia Artist creatively addresses mental and health wellness</a></h4>
<p>“A small dose of healing can lead to an ease of pain, even if just for a moment.” – Jason Stuckey <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/10/30/372886/small-doses-big-difference-how-a-young-philadelphia-artist-creatively-addresses-mental-and-health-wellness">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><p><br></p><h2>Art therapy reduces the sense of isolation</h2><br><p>One example is at the MD Anderson Cancer Centers in Houston. Ian Cion founded the hospital’s <a href="https://www.spaceforartfoundation.org/ian-cion">arts in medicine program</a> in 2010. In 2014, he worked closely with more than 1,300 MD Anderson patients, their family members and staff to <a href="https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/how-an-art-project-gave-our-patients-hope-and-community.h00-158911701.html">create a life-size paper dragon sculpture</a> – one scale at a time.</p><p>Cion built the dragon’s frame in his home out of popsicle sticks, wire and cardboard and then placed the 9-foot frame inside a high-traffic area in the hospital. Young cancer patients, their families and the entire hospital community were invited to create scales, which they filled with their hopes, prayers and favorite images. A row of scales could be finished and placed on the dragon in 45 minutes or less, but it still took months for the project to be completed.</p><p></p><div><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530206/original/file-20230605-27-4j0uwh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"></a></div><p></p><p>Cion’s goal with <a href="https://www.yaktrinews.com/news/national-news/hope-courage-and-unity-the-story-behind-the-young-cancer-patients-who-painted-space-suits/article_d8c42406-c794-59f2-a335-51be1c461016.html">such collaborative projects</a> was to pull people out of the isolation of illness and into community, and to celebrate and embrace the unknown.</p><p><br></p><div><div><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1009628/fill/700x0/Screenshot_202023-06-26_20at_2010.16.36.png?timestamp=1687789087">Paper dragon created by patients, family, and staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. Marlaine Figueroa Gray, <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/">CC BY-NC-ND</a></div></div><div><br></div></div><p><br></p><h2>Detachment and routine are rife in hospital settings</h2><br><p>For my 2022 book, “<a href="https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781793648617/Creating-Care-Art-and-Medicine-in-US-Hospitals">Creating Care</a>,” I conducted a multi-site ethnographic study of creative expressive activities in U.S. hospitals. I interviewed more than 70 people, including those who facilitate, participate in and support art-making in hospitals. Some were licensed mental health professionals who were professionally prepared for such work, such as <a href="https://arttherapy.org/about-art-therapy/">art therapists</a>, <a href="https://www.musictherapy.org/">music therapists</a> and <a href="https://poetrytherapy.org/">poetry therapists</a>. Others were artists who simply chose to work in hospitals.</p><p>I wanted to understand why art-making is happening more frequently in hospitals, what benefits it provides and how these programs function alongside traditional medical care.</p><p>Medical care in the U.S. can be dehumanizing for both the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1353/nib.2019.0056">people giving</a> and receiving care. Medical students have historically been trained to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.05.027">practice detached concern</a> and to prioritize efficiency and quantity of care.</p><p>Studies show that this has harmful effects for providers. It affects both how they <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.05.027">cope with their own emotions</a> and how they practice medicine. As a result, some health care providers believe that the current medical standard does not result <a href="https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp0807461">in the best care for patients</a>.</p><p>People experiencing hospitalization have shared with me that they often don’t feel seen for who they are when they enter the hospital setting. One gentleman stated that he felt literally stripped of his social identity when he was asked to don the anonymous hospital gown.</p><p>But when artists enter the hospital room, they recognize patients as whole people, apart from their diagnosis. Artists and therapists who facilitate creative expressive activities in hospitals have shared with me that one of their major goals is to acknowledge people’s humanity and agency.</p><p>For example, when they approach a patient’s room, they ask permission before coming in – and they are often the only person in a hospital that patients can say no to. They structure arts activities to provide multiple opportunities for practical and creative choices – such as when to start, what colors or materials to use and how to hold the tools.</p><p><br></p><p>Read also:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2023/04/15/431846/how-an-african-church-choir-made-a-difference-to-care-home-life-in-greater-manchester" target="_blank"><img alt="How an African church choir made a difference to care home life in Greater Manchester" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/994428/fit/80x80/ephrata_20choir.png?timestamp=1687790232" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/04/15/431846/how-an-african-church-choir-made-a-difference-to-care-home-life-in-greater-manchester" target="_blank">How an African church choir made a difference to care home life in Greater Manchester</a></h4>
<p>Singing, in particular, is a good tool for breaking down social barriers, reducing isolation and improving wellbeing. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/04/15/431846/how-an-african-church-choir-made-a-difference-to-care-home-life-in-greater-manchester">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><p><br></p><h2>Embracing uncertainty</h2><br><p>Art-making activities in hospitals <a href="https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2022.1012020">have many documented functions</a> including supporting biomedical care, reaching specific clinical goals and helping patients pass the time. But my research shows that art-making also provides an important opportunity to engage with the unknown.</p><p>In medicine, the focus is typically on imaging and other testing to reach a diagnosis and a course of treatment. But many patients find themselves somewhere in between – awaiting a hoped-for outcome or grappling with how long they might be in the hospital or living with their illness.</p><p>It takes courage to complete cancer treatment as well as to confront the ultimate unknown – death and what comes after. As Cion shared with me when I interviewed him in 2015, he thinks about the fact that confronting a blank page is also an exercise in building courage.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1009633/fill/700x0/pexels-ekaterina-bolovtsova-4049455.jpg?timestamp=1687790035"></div><p> Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/focused-young-ethnic-man-lying-on-couch-in-living-room-4049455/" target="_blank">EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA</a></p><p><br></p><h2>Building trust through poetry</h2><br><p>Many of the providers I spoke with are engaged in the creative arts themselves. Some, like physician-poet <a href="https://poets.org/poet/rafael-campo">Rafael Campo</a>, share their creativity in meetings with patients. Campo is an internal medicine specialist who sees patients with complex chronic conditions.</p><p>I, like some of Campo’s colleagues, wondered how there was room for poetry in the very short time doctors get to spend with their patients. Campo explained to me that he uses poems to build trust with patients, to express empathy and to enter into a narrative contract that assures patients he is interested in the story of who they are.</p><p>He shared that many doctors are wary of what is known in health care as the “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2017.08.004">doorknob phenomenon</a>” – when patients who are leaving the room at the end of a doctor’s visit put their hand on the door, and then turn and ask the question they are really worried about. Rather than taking up time, the use of poetry builds trust so that patients share their deepest worries more quickly, he noted, giving him more time to meaningfully address them.</p><p><br></p><h2>The need for a new language around loss and death</h2><br><p>Nearly everyone will face a point in their lives where medicine cannot provide a solution or sustain life. Our cultural and medical narratives of illness often do not have adequate language for these moments. When therapies don’t work, people are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.9-6-719">described as “failing</a>” their treatment. And facing one’s imminent death is often characterized as “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1200/OP.22.00348">giving up the fight</a>.”</p><p>But artists who work with people at the end of life offer meaningful ways for patients to prepare for these stages and for the impact their death will have on others.</p><p>One art therapist who worked in a large cancer hospital shared with me stories of patients who were parents of young children who used their art therapy sessions as opportunities to process their own feelings about their mortality. She told me about a mother who created collages of her very worst fears as well as what brought her hope and strength. She also crafted “legacy art” in the form of letters that would support her son after her death, to be opened at certain future milestones like a first kiss or high school graduation.</p><p>Some of the most powerful examples I saw of how art can transform one’s sense of humanity came in these moments – when art-making provided ways to not just document one’s social relationship during life, but to continue it after death.</p><p><br></p><p>Read also:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2021/05/10/356052/dealing-with-grief-how-to-cope-with-loss" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/821549/fit/80x80/grief.png?timestamp=1687790461" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/05/10/356052/dealing-with-grief-how-to-cope-with-loss" target="_blank">Dealing with Grief - How to Cope with Loss</a></h4>
<p>When you have an ailing relative battling for his life in the hospital, your mind expects the worst, but your heart beats with hope. I dreaded receiving the calls from his primary caregiv... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/05/10/356052/dealing-with-grief-how-to-cope-with-loss">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2023/05/12/434744/strategies-to-combat-mental-health-challenges-taking-care-of-your-well-being" target="_blank"><img alt="Strategies to Combat Mental Health Challenges Taking Care of Your Well-Being" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/999791/fit/80x80/pexels-guilherme-almeida-1858175.jpg?timestamp=1687790471" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/05/12/434744/strategies-to-combat-mental-health-challenges-taking-care-of-your-well-being" target="_blank">Strategies to Combat Mental Health Challenges: Taking Care of Your Well-Being</a></h4>
<p>In today's fast-paced world, mental health challenges have become increasingly prevalent. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/05/12/434744/strategies-to-combat-mental-health-challenges-taking-care-of-your-well-being">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2023/05/20/435551/losing-a-grandmother-can-have-long-lasting-mental-health-effects-for-kids-and-adolescents-a-new-study-finds" target="_blank"><img alt="Losing a grandmother can have long-lasting mental health effects for kids and adolescents a new study finds" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1001423/fit/80x80/portrait-grandmother-grandchild-taking-selfie-with-digital-tablet-while-sitting-sofa-couch-home-family-lifestyle-concept.jpg?timestamp=1687790480" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/05/20/435551/losing-a-grandmother-can-have-long-lasting-mental-health-effects-for-kids-and-adolescents-a-new-study-finds" target="_blank">Losing a grandmother can have long-lasting mental health effects for kids and adolescents, a new study finds</a></h4>
<p>Losing a grandparent can increase adolescents’ risk of having a depressed parent and of having higher depressive symptoms themselves. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/05/20/435551/losing-a-grandmother-can-have-long-lasting-mental-health-effects-for-kids-and-adolescents-a-new-study-finds">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p><div><div><div><div><div></div></div></div></div></div><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:eb409448-bafe-43b3-9c06-442cb39634fb2023-06-22T13:42:31-04:002023-06-25T19:59:59-04:00Do you need to wash rice before cooking? Here’s the science2023-06-25 10:00:00 -0400The Conversation via Reuters Connect<p>Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-white-rice-grains-4110251/" target="_blank">Polina Tankilevitch</a></p><p><br></p><p>Rice is a staple food for billions of people in Asia and Africa. It’s also a versatile ingredient for many iconic dishes from around the world, including dolmades from Greece, risottos from Italy, paella from Spain and rice puddings from the United Kingdom.</p><p>Despite its universal appeal, the question asked in every kitchen, be it a professional one or your own home, is whether you should pre-wash (or rinse) your rice before cooking.</p><p><br></p><h2>What do chefs and cooks say?</h2><br><p>Culinary experts claim pre-washing rice <a href="https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/3946-do-you-really-need-to-rinse-your-rice">reduces the amount of starch</a> coming from the rice grains. You can see this in the cloudy rinse water, which <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924224416300619">studies have shown</a> to be the free starch (amylose) on the surface of the rice grain produced by the milling process.</p><p>In culinary circles, washing is advocated for some dishes when a separated grain is sought after. Yet for other dishes such as risottos, paella and rice puddings (where you need a sticky, creamy effect), washing is avoided.</p><p>Other factors, such as the type of rice, family tradition, local health warnings and even the perceived time and effort required will influence whether people pre-wash their rice.<br></p><p><br></p><p><img alt="" src="https://cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1009023/fill/700x0/ofada_20rice.jpeg?timestamp=1687456087">Image: Ofada rice, a Yoruba dish garnished with fried plantain egg and assorted meats. Source: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cooked_Ofada_rice_garnished_with_fried_plantain.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a><br></p><p><br></p><h2>Is there evidence that washing rice makes it less sticky?</h2><br><p>A <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814618313293#b0005">recent study</a> compared the effect of washing on the stickiness and hardness of three different types of rice from the same supplier. The three types were glutinous rice, medium grain rice and jasmine rice. These different rices were either not washed at all, washed three times with water, or washed ten times with water.</p><p>Contrary to what chefs will tell you, this study showed the washing process had no effect on the stickiness (or hardness) of the rice.</p><p>Instead, the researchers demonstrated the stickiness was not due to the surface starch (amylose), but rather a different starch called amylopectin that is leached out of the rice grain during the cooking process. The amount leached differed between the types of rice grains.</p><p>So, it’s the variety of rice – rather than washing – that’s critical to the stickiness. In this study, glutinous rice was the stickiest, while medium grain rice and jasmine rice were less sticky, and also harder as tested in the laboratory. (Hardness is representative of the textures associated with biting and chewing.)</p><p><br></p><p>Read also:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2023/04/07/431387/beans-are-a-favourite-food-in-nigeria-4-safe-ways-to-preserve-them" target="_blank"><img alt="Beans are a favourite food in Nigeria - 4 safe ways to preserve them" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/992728/fit/80x80/Nigeria_beans.jpeg?timestamp=1687456373" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/04/07/431387/beans-are-a-favourite-food-in-nigeria-4-safe-ways-to-preserve-them" target="_blank">Beans are a favourite food in Nigeria - 4 safe ways to preserve them</a></h4>
<p>The beans known as oloyin in Yoruba, or as cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata), are a favourite food among Nigerians, who eat them in a variety of dishes including soups and stews or as a standal... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/04/07/431387/beans-are-a-favourite-food-in-nigeria-4-safe-ways-to-preserve-them">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><h2>You may still want to wash your rice, though</h2><br><p>Traditionally rice was washed to rinse off dust, insects, little stones and bits of husk left from the rice hulling process. This may still be important for some regions of the world where the processing is not as meticulous, and may provide peace of mind for others.</p><p>More recently, with the heavy use of plastics in the food supply chain, microplastics have been found in our foods, including rice. The washing process has been shown to rinse up to 20% of the plastics <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389421007421?via%3Dihub">from uncooked rice</a>.</p><p>This same study found that irrespective of the packaging (plastic or paper bags) you buy rice in, it contains the same level of microplastics. The researchers also showed plastics in (pre-cooked) instant rice have been found to be fourfold higher than in uncooked rice. If you pre-rinse instant rice, you could reduce plastics by 40%.</p><div><p>Rice is also known to contain relatively high levels of arsenic, due to the crop absorbing more arsenic as it grows. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23245893/">Washing rice has been shown to remove</a> about 90% of bio-accessible arsenic, but it also rinses out a large amount of other nutrients important for our health, including copper, iron, zinc and vanadium.</p><p>For some people, rice offers a small percentage of their daily intake of these nutrients and hence will have a small impact on their health. But for populations that consume large amounts of heavily washed rice daily, it could impact their overall nutrition.</p><p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29363749/">Another study</a> looked at other heavy metals, lead and cadmium, in addition to arsenic; it found that pre-washing decreased levels of all these from between 7–20%. The <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/arsenic#:%7E:text=Long%2Dterm%20exposure%20to%20arsenic,increased%20deaths%20in%20young%20adults.">World Health Organization has warned </a> of the risk of arsenic exposure from water and food.</p><p>Arsenic levels in rice vary depending on where it’s grown, the cultivars of rice and the ways it is cooked. The best advice remains to pre-wash your rice and ensure you <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/guidelines/australian-guide-healthy-eating">consume a variety of grains</a>. The most <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16124284/">recent study in 2005</a> found that the highest level of arsenic was in the United States. However it is important to keep in mind that arsenic is present in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969714010614">other foods</a> including products made from rice (cakes, crackers, biscuits and cereals), seaweed, seafood and vegetables.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1009025/fill/700x0/Jollof_rice_with_fried_fish_and_plantains_garnished_with_cucumber_and_tomatoes.jpeg?timestamp=1687456254">Image: Jollof rice with fried fish and plantains garnished with fresh cucumber and tomatoes. Source: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jollof_rice_with_fried_fish_and_plantains_garnished_with_cucumber_and_tomatoes.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></div><p><br></p><h2>Can washing rice prevent bacteria?</h2><br><p>In short, no. Washing rice will have no effect on the bacterial content of the cooked rice, as high cooking temperatures will kill all bacteria present.</p><p>What is more concerning is how long you store cooked rice or washed rice at room temperature. Cooking rice does not kill the bacterial spores from a pathogen called <em><a href="https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/safety/foodborne-illness/Pages/bacillus-cereus-.aspx">Bacillus cereus</a></em>.</p><p>If wet rice or cooked rice is kept at room temperature, this can activate the bacterial spores and they begin to grow. These bacteria then produce toxins which can not be deactivated by cooking or re-heating; these toxins can cause severe gastrointestinal disease. So, make sure you avoid keeping washed or cooked rice at room temperature for too long.</p><p><br></p><p>Related articles:</p><div class="media clearfix">
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/04/07/431463/activities-you-can-complete-towards-your-total-health-and-wellness" target="_blank">Activities you can complete towards your total health and wellness</a></h4>
<p>Today is World Health Day! Interestingly, it is also the 75th Anniversary of the World Health Organization (W.H.O). <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/04/07/431463/activities-you-can-complete-towards-your-total-health-and-wellness">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2023/05/06/434146/who-invented-jollof-rice-senegal-beats-ghana-and-nigeria-to-the-title" target="_blank"><img alt="Who invented Jollof rice Senegal beats Ghana and Nigeria to the title" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/998750/fit/80x80/pexels-keesha_s-kitchen-13915043.jpg?timestamp=1687456406" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/05/06/434146/who-invented-jollof-rice-senegal-beats-ghana-and-nigeria-to-the-title" target="_blank">Who invented Jollof rice? Senegal beats Ghana and Nigeria to the title</a></h4>
<p>The authorship – and therefore origins – of jollof rice (called ceebu jën in Senegal according to the Wolof spelling) is the subject of a spicy debate between West African nations. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/05/06/434146/who-invented-jollof-rice-senegal-beats-ghana-and-nigeria-to-the-title">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2023/06/04/437290/nigeria-s-street-food-adds-to-the-plastic-problem-green-leaves-offer-a-solution-to-black-people" target="_blank"><img alt="Nigerias street food adds to the plastic problem green leaves offer a solution to Black people" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1005116/fit/80x80/eko.jpeg?timestamp=1687456431" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/06/04/437290/nigeria-s-street-food-adds-to-the-plastic-problem-green-leaves-offer-a-solution-to-black-people" target="_blank">Nigeria’s street food adds to the plastic problem – green leaves offer a solution to Black people</a></h4>
<p>We studied the possibility and sustainability of using natural leaves as packaging material for traditional foods in Nigeria. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/06/04/437290/nigeria-s-street-food-adds-to-the-plastic-problem-green-leaves-offer-a-solution-to-black-people">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p></div><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:f07f00b4-ea21-4a8d-b9c6-023d6653c0972023-06-21T10:46:29-04:002023-06-21T13:21:13-04:00Unveiling the Top African American Innovators in Healthcare: Revolutionizing the Field2023-06-22 14:00:00 -0400Anand Subramanian<p>Image by <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/nurse-measuring-patient-blood-pressure_2769131.htm#query=healthca..." target="_blank">rawpixel.com on Freepik</a><br></p><span><p><br></p><p>Innovation is a powerful force that transcends boundaries, and this holds true even in the healthcare sector. Over the course of history, numerous remarkable individuals, hailing from diverse backgrounds, have emerged as trailblazers in driving change and advancing healthcare. Among them, African American innovators have played a crucial role, bringing their expertise and groundbreaking solutions to enhance the quality of healthcare. Today, we highlight and celebrate the accomplishments of some of these exceptional individuals who have not only shattered barriers but also served as inspirations for future generations.</p><br><p>These African American innovators have left an indelible mark on the healthcare industry through their pioneering work, visionary thinking, and relentless pursuit of better healthcare outcomes. Their contributions have spanned various domains within healthcare, including medicine, research, technology, and advocacy.</p><br><p>By pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo, these innovators have introduced novel approaches, techniques, and inventions that have revolutionized healthcare practices. Their dedication and commitment have led to advancements in disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and patient care. Through their transformative contributions, they have helped bridge gaps in healthcare disparities and championed equitable access to quality healthcare for all.</p><p><br></p><p>Related article:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/09/22/411303/7-black-women-making-history" target="_blank"><img alt="7 BLACK WOMEN MAKING HISTORY" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/948960/fit/80x80/5_20Black_20Women_20_1_.jpg?timestamp=1687365651" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/09/22/411303/7-black-women-making-history" target="_blank">7 BLACK WOMEN MAKING HISTORY</a></h4>
<p>Black women have contributed significantly to the advancement of American culture throughout history in every sphere, including politics, medicine, and athletics. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/09/22/411303/7-black-women-making-history">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><br><h2>Dr. Patricia Bath - </h2><br></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1008731/fill/700x0/Patriciabath.png?timestamp=1687365155">Dr Patricia Era Bath, Source: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Patricia_Bath#/media/File:Patriciabath.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></div><span><br><p>Patricia Era Bath, an American ophthalmologist and humanitarian, achieved several groundbreaking milestones in her career. She made history as the first woman to join the Jules Stein Eye Institute and lead a post-graduate training program in ophthalmology. Additionally, she became the first woman to be elected to the honorary staff of the UCLA Medical Center. Bath's achievements also extended to being the first African-American resident in ophthalmology at New York University and the first African-American woman surgeon at the UCLA Medical Center. Notably, she obtained a patent for a medical purpose, making her the first African-American woman doctor to do so. Alongside her accomplishments, Bath established the <a href="http://www.blindnessprevention.org/index.php" target="_blank">American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness</a>, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C.</p><br><h2>Dr. Joycelyn Elders -</h2><br></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1008732/fill/700x0/Joycelyn_Elders_official_photo_portrait.jpeg?timestamp=1687365312"></div><p>Dr. Jocelyn Elders. Source: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joycelyn_Elders#/media/File:Joycelyn_Elders_official_photo_portrait.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joycelyn_Elders#/media/File:Joycelyn_Elders_official_photo_portrait.jpg" target="_blank">Public Domain</a></p><span><br><p>Minnie Joycelyn Elders, originally named Minnie Lee Jones, is an American pediatrician and public health administrator who held the position of Surgeon General of the United States from 1993 to 1994. With her appointment, she became the second woman, second person of color, and the first African American to assume the role of Surgeon General. Elders served as a vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps during her tenure. Elders gained significant attention for her candid discussions on controversial topics, including drug legalization, masturbation, and the distribution of contraception in schools. Her open and frank approach to these matters sparked controversy and ultimately led to her resignation in December 1994. Despite the challenges she faced, Elders continues to contribute to the field of medicine as a professor emerita of pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.</p><br><br>Related article:<br></span><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2021/08/31/366990/celebrating-seven-black-women-in-medicine-that-you-should-know" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/849494/fit/80x80/black_20women_20medicine.jpeg?timestamp=1687365630" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/08/31/366990/celebrating-seven-black-women-in-medicine-that-you-should-know" target="_blank">Celebrating Seven Black Women in Medicine That You Should Know</a></h4>
<p>August is Women’s Month in South Africa and we’re ending it off celebrating seven inspiring Black women in medicine who are true trail-blazers. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/08/31/366990/celebrating-seven-black-women-in-medicine-that-you-should-know">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p><span><br><h2>Dr. Regina Benjamin -</h2><br></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1008733/fill/700x0/Regina_Benjamin_official_portrait.jpeg?timestamp=1687365428">Dr. Regina Benjamin. Source: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regina_Benjamin#/media/File:Regina_Benjamin_official_portrait.jpg" target="_blank">Public Domain</a></div><span><br><p>Regina Benjamin is an American physician and former vice admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. She served as the 18th Surgeon General of the United States from November 2009 to July 2013. Benjamin was born on October 26, 1956, in Mobile, Alabama. She attended Xavier University of Louisiana for her undergraduate studies and later earned her medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Benjamin also holds an MBA from Tulane University. Prior to her appointment as Surgeon General, she directed a nonprofit primary care medical clinic in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, and served on the board of trustees for the Morehouse School of Medicine. Benjamin has been involved in various organizations and committees related to healthcare, including the American Medical Association and the Federation of State Medical Boards. During her tenure as Surgeon General, Benjamin focused on issues such as obesity, breastfeeding, and suicide prevention. She has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to public health.</p><br><h2>Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett -</h2><br></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1008734/fill/700x0/Kizzmekia_Corbett_portrait.jpeg?timestamp=1687365516">Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett. Source: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kizzmekia_Corbett#/media/File:Kizzmekia_Corbett_portrait.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></div><span><br><p>Dr. Corbett applies her expertise in viral immunology to drive the development of new vaccines for pandemic preparedness, notably contributing to the creation of mRNA-1273, a highly effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. The concept for this vaccine was developed by Dr. Corbett's team at the NIH using viral sequences, and it was rapidly transferred to Moderna, Inc., their industry partner, for Phase 1 clinical trials. Remarkably, these trials began only 66 days after the release of the viral sequence. mRNA-1273 demonstrated an efficacy rate of 94.1% in Phase 3 trials and has received authorization for use in multiple countries. In addition to her work on mRNA-1273, Dr. Corbett has an extensive patent portfolio that includes innovative concepts for universal coronavirus and influenza vaccines, as well as novel therapeutic antibodies. With over 15 years of experience studying various viruses such as dengue, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, and coronaviruses, she has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Benjamin Franklin Next Gen Award and the Salzman Memorial Award in Virology. Beyond her research endeavors, Dr. Corbett dedicates a significant amount of her time to underserved communities, serving as an advocate for STEM education and vaccine awareness. She combines her research goals with a passion for mentorship, making a positive impact in these communities.</p><br><br>Related article:<br></span><div class="media clearfix">
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/03/01/391767/from-the-tuskegee-experiments-to-the-covid-19-vaccine-understanding-covid-19-vaccine-hesitancy-part-i" target="_blank">From the Tuskegee Experiments to the COVID-19 Vaccine: Understanding COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Part I</a></h4>
<p>FunTimes Magazine offers a three-part article series that explores the backdrop of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/03/01/391767/from-the-tuskegee-experiments-to-the-covid-19-vaccine-understanding-covid-19-vaccine-hesitancy-part-i">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p><span><br><p>The healthcare industry owes a debt of gratitude to these exceptional African American innovators who have shattered barriers, challenged the status quo, and improved healthcare outcomes for individuals across the globe. Through their groundbreaking inventions, advocacy, and research, they have paved the way for a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system. As we continue to celebrate their contributions, let us be inspired to foster an environment that embraces diversity, promotes equality, and encourages innovation in healthcare for the betterment of all.</p><p><br></p><p>Related article:</p><div class="media clearfix">
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/05/01/433701/5-major-historical-contributions-by-black-inventors" target="_blank">5 Major Historical Contributions by Black Inventors</a></h4>
<p> It is critical to acknowledge and appreciate Black innovators' accomplishments, not just for their historical value but also for the inspiration they bring to future generations. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/05/01/433701/5-major-historical-contributions-by-black-inventors">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p></span><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/814912/fill/300x0/anand.jpg?timestamp=1687365687"></div><span><p> Anand Subramanian is a freelance photographer and content writer based out of Tamil Nadu, India. Having a background in Engineering always made him curious about life on the other side of the spectrum. He leapt forward towards the Photography life and never looked back. Specializing in Documentary and Portrait photography gave him an up-close and personal view into the complexities of human beings and those experiences helped him branch out from visual to words. Today he is mentoring passionate photographers and writing about the different dimensions of the art world.</p><p><br></p><p>Read more from Anand Subramanian: </p><div class="media clearfix">
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/06/14/438092/the-life-and-legacy-of-bill-withers" target="_blank">The life and legacy of Bill Withers</a></h4>
<p>Withers's inspirational words and soulful voice grabbed millions of hearts, influencing the music business. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/06/14/438092/the-life-and-legacy-of-bill-withers">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p>Intercultural weddings provide a unique opportunity to blend traditions, create new experiences, and foster understanding between families. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/06/17/438504/one-love-two-cultures-how-to-plan-a-wedding-for-intercultural-couples">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/11/29/419525/best-hospitals-in-west-africa" target="_blank">Best Hospitals in West Africa</a></h4>
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<p> </p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:0ab16832-606d-42c7-a44e-8b211064b1242023-05-29T12:30:07-04:002023-05-30T15:45:00-04:00We have all heard social media can impact women's body image – but it isn't all bad2023-05-30 10:00:00 -0400The Conversation via Reuters Connect<p>Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-using-smartphone-during-daylight-3755749/" target="_blank">Andrea Piacquadio</a><br></p><p><br></p><p>The “Cost of Beauty”, a short video recently released by global beauty brand <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVEW6_SBmUI">Dove</a>, highlights the damaging effects of social media on young womens’ body image and self esteem. It forms part of a <a href="https://realcostofbeauty.dove.com/">wider campaign</a> that raises awareness about the devastating effects of social media on young women’s mental and physical health.</p><p>It is clear social media can negatively affect women’s relationships with their bodies, but our <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01490400.2021.1884628">recent research</a> revealed a more complex and nuanced picture.</p><p>More than <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144515000893">a decade of research</a> has shown that unrealistic beauty standards, the rise of “fitspiration”, body shaming and online gender-based violence, are having <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15213269.2016.1257392">a significant impact on young women</a>.</p><p>That said, social media users are not naive about the toxic beauty ideals being promoted across digital platforms.</p><p>Our research found that women were very aware of the risks and vulnerabilities associated with using social media. And women were developing habits and online communities to counter these negative elements.</p><p>We focused on the emergence of “#fitspo” (short for “fitspiration”) content – think rippling six pack, sweaty sports bra, and smiling face mid-workout.</p><p>Despite being seemingly health positive, one of the consequences of fitspiration is that women now experience pressures to be <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10410236.2016.1140273?src=recsys">both thin and fit</a>. Increasingly, many women and girls actively avoid these online spaces, while others find <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14680777.2020.1713841">support, inspiration and even care</a> in these online communities.</p><h2><br></h2><h2>Instagram’s potential as a positive space</h2><br><p>In our work with exercising women who use Instagram, we found many everyday examples of how they thoughtfully navigated online spaces to reduce risk and minimise harm to themselves and others.</p><p>For instance, when confronted with unrealistic body standards, women were making active choices to strategically curate their social media worlds by blocking, unfollowing – also known as <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1461444820926503">“pruning”</a> – content they found unhealthy or unrelatable. They also increasingly blocked and reported followers who are offering unsolicited advice and negative or sexualised comments.</p><p>To challenge the pressures enhanced images can bring, many women chose to <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1461444819891699">represent their “real”, “raw” and imperfect bodies</a> without editing out stretch marks or body fat. Some <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144522000559">women promoted this practice by using hashtags</a> such as #filterfreefriday or #noedit.</p><p>Women also made choices about how they engaged with other bodies online. Body shaming is rife on social media. But in many exercising communities women avoided posting comments that could make other women feel self-conscious or negative about their bodies.</p><p>Making comments about someone’s image could be seen to contribute to <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14680777.2021.1996427">body surveillance</a>. So, <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/14614448231171560">participants in our research</a> explained that they focused on how women were looking strong or confident, or celebrated their efforts and achievements in a sport. Knowing how it felt to have one’s body judged online prompted women to avoid judging others.</p><p><br></p><p>Related articles:<br></p><div class="media clearfix"><span class="pull-left"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2023/05/14/434933/black-twitter-shaped-the-platform-but-its-future-lies-elsewhere" target="_blank"><img alt="Black Twitter shaped the platform but its future lies elsewhere" src="https://cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1000375/fit/80x80/alexander-shatov-k1xf2D7jWUs-unsplash.jpg?timestamp=1685377721" class="media-object"></a></span><div class="media-body"><h4 class="media-heading"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2023/05/14/434933/black-twitter-shaped-the-platform-but-its-future-lies-elsewhere" target="_blank">Black Twitter shaped the platform, but its future lies elsewhere</a></h4><p>“Black Twitter” describes a digital gathering of culturally connected Black people who use Twitter to discuss matters related to Black communities. <span class="pull-right"><a href="https://www.funtimesmagazine.com/2023/05/14/434933/black-twitter-shaped-the-platform-but-its-future-lies-elsewhere">Read More »</a></span> </p></div></div><p> </p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/1003681/fill/700x0/pexels-mart-production-8846565.jpg?timestamp=1685377670">Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/sweaty-woman-exercising-using-dumbbells-8846565/" target="_blank">MART PRODUCTION</a></div><p><br></p><h2>The power of connection</h2><br><p>Social connection was also an important feature for women and girls using social media.</p><p>We found that for many women, their motivations for sharing images of themselves online were not simply about “showing off” their bodies or promoting themselves. Instead, they were trying to build safe online communities to seek validation and support. Posting pictures of their unfiltered bodies pursuing their sport and fitness goals was one of the ways they built a collective online presence.</p><p>Social media was also important for women to <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1329878X1515500112?journalCode=miad">promote their offline communities, relationships and skills</a>, not just how they looked. This was particularly <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14680777.2022.2112738">important during the pandemic</a>, with fitness professionals using digital technologies to support their movement communities during challenging times.</p><div><div><p>Importantly, women from diverse social, cultural and religious backgrounds experienced both the same and different sets of risks (such as racist and sexist trolling or body shaming) when using social media.</p><p>Scholars have identified the ways <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/2167479519898447?journalCode=coma">Muslim sportswomen have navigated such risks</a>, carefully considering gender, religion and culture in managing their accounts, their audiences, and taking time to consider the types of images and text they share.</p><p><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/2167479520961370?journalCode=coma">Researchers in Turkey</a> have also revealed the potential in such imagery for challenging racialised and patriarchal norms and expectations of women’s bodies in sport and fitness.</p><p><br></p><h2>Minimising the harm of social media</h2><br><p>Whether we intend it to or not, posting about our bodies online and in public makes us vulnerable.</p><p>Our findings suggests that we need alternative ways of thinking about women and girls’ social media usage, where the risks and vulnerabilities of social media use become the basis for a more nuanced way of understanding how participation on social media can affect our lives.</p><p>Paying attention to women’s efforts to minimise harm through their own everyday actions on social media is an important first step towards cultivating social media encounters that account for <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/14614448231171560">broader impacts of what we post</a>, based on care, consideration and respect.</p><div><br><br>Related articles:<br><div class="media clearfix">
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2023/03/16/429031/social-media-as-a-tool-for-the-advancement-of-good-governance-in-nigeria" target="_blank">SOCIAL MEDIA AS A TOOL FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA</a></h4>
<p>The entrance of Social Media platforms in the Nigerian political space has upturned the applecart of censored or programmed news stories. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2023/03/16/429031/social-media-as-a-tool-for-the-advancement-of-good-governance-in-nigeria">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p></div></div><div></div></div><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>