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Grand Slam-winning tennis champion Venus Williams has launched a vegan protein brand, called Happy Viking.

The first product is a vegan protein shake inspired by the post-workout recipe shes used for the past 10 years. It contains 20 grams of plant protein made from peas and brown rice as well as all nine essential amino acids, which aid in recovery and prebiotic fiber to help digestion. It comes in two flavors: chocolate and vanilla.

The decision to launch the new Happy Viking range was inspired by the prolific athletes own diet.

In 2004, Williams found herself in a battle against her own body. She struggled with fatigue, shortness of breath, and muscle and joint pain. Her symptoms continued to grow progressively worse until she could no longer bear it and in 2011, the highly decorated tennis player was forced to take time off to seek professional help.

It was then that Williams was diagnosed with Sjgrens syndrome, an autoimmune condition that affects the nervous system and is identified by symptoms such as dry mouth and eyes, fatigue, and joint pain. She stepped away from the U.S. Open for the rest of the year and as a result, she fell from the top 100 tennis players for the first time since 1996.

Sjgrens syndrome cannot be cured, but it can be treated with medication and lifestyle changes. In addition to taking medication, Williams adopted a raw vegan diet to help manage her symptoms.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, following an anti-inflammatory diet may help alleviate symptoms of Sjgrens syndrome. This means eliminating common triggers, such as red meat, dairy, refined carbohydrates and sugars, alcohol, and gluten. However, no two bodies are alike, so a change in diet may affect people in different ways.

I learned so much about the food system and how it can affect your body and your health. As an athlete if Im not at optimal performance, someone else will be, Williams told Fast Company. The star athlete returned to tennis in 2012 and finished the season ranked at number 24.

Now, nearly a decade later, Williams has applied her experience with going plant-based to launch Happy Viking.

She no longer follows a strictly raw vegan diet, but she still leaves animal products off her plate. In a 2019 interview with Insider, the tennis player said she introduced some cooked foods into her diet. Lentils are now one of her favorite post-workout meals.

That way of eating was just hard to maintain for long periods of time, she said. Sometimes you just need something more substantial some rice, some potatoes after a workout.

Happy Viking is available through the online store or through Amazon.

LIVEKINDLY is here to help you navigate the growing marketplace of sustainable products that promote a kinder planet. All of our selections are curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, LIVEKINDLY may earn a commission.

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The high fat, low carb keto diet could help people with diabetes control their blood sugar, according to a new research analysis.

Researchers found the keto diet improved blood sugar and insulin resistance, and also helped patients lose weight.

This adds to a growing body of evidence that keto could be a helpful treatment for type 2 diabetes as well as obesity, but more long term research is needed to how better implement the potential benefits.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

There's even more evidence that a keto diet could help patients with diabetes control their blood sugar.

In a review published November 30 in Nutrition and Diabetes, researchers from the First Hospital of Jilin University in China looked at 13 different studies of the keto diet as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. They found that the low-carb, high fat diet was effective at helping diabetics control their blood sugar levels and improve their sensitivity to insulin.

The keto diet also helped obese and overweight participants lose weight - an average of 19 pounds across all the studies, which ranged from one week to a year in length.

This study is a promising addition to existing evidence that keto can benefit people who have type 2 diabetes or are at risk of developing it.

Researchers theorize that it works because eating carbohydrates raises blood sugar levels. Typically, the body produces a hormone called insulin to regulate blood sugar, but people with type 2 diabetes have become resistant to the effects of insulin.

Reducing carbs targets the source of the problem by preventing blood sugar from rising in the first place, said Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, a professor at the West Virginia University School of Medicine who haspublished several studies on keto and diabetes.

"The most impactful thing on your blood glucose is the amount of carbs in your diet. The low-carb diet is effective because it lowers the insulin load," Cucuzzella previously told Insider. "Insulin is the master switch."

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Unlike carbohydrates, dietary fat doesn't raise blood sugar. By replacing carbs with fats from foods like avocado, dairy, nuts, fish, olive oil, or meats, the keto diet helps people reduce blood sugar spikes without cutting calories or having to eat less.

This newest analysis didn't look at side effects of the keto diet, since few of the studies included that information. It was also limited to relatively short-term data.

A lack of longer-term data on the keto diet has led some doctors and dietitians to express concerns about the high fat content of keto diets, particularly when it comes from saturated fats like red meat and dairy. That's because those fat sources may increase the level of unhealthy cholesterol in the body, upping the risk of heart disease.

Another obstacle for keto research is that the definition of the diet varies widely. In this analysis, the keto dietranged from fewer than 15 grams of carbohydrates a day to as many as 30 to 50 grams of carbs, or as much as 10% to 14% of total daily calories.

The types of fat sources can also vary widely, particularly in popular representations of keto, which depict the diet as relying heavily on red meat like burgers and bacon, butter, and even fast food.

This can make it tricky to determine which, if any, of these versions are best for health and which might have unintended negative effects. More research could help people find the diet that works for them.

A 'well-formulated' keto diet is one that focuses on whole-food sources of fats, retains nutrient-rich vegetables, and avoids processed food even if it's low-carb, according to Dr. Sarah Hallberg, medical director for Virta Health, a company that specialized in keto diets for type 2 diabetes.

"The idea that this is all meat sticks and heavens knows what else is not true," Hallberg previously told Insider.

Read more:

The keto diet may help people with diabetes control their blood-sugar levels

A woman successfully used the keto diet and intermittent fasting to control her diabetes without medication

A low-fat, high-carb vegan diet could speed up your metabolism and boost weight loss, a new study says

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Development & Aid, Editors' Choice, Featured, Food & Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, Food Sustainability, Global, Headlines, Poverty & SDGs, Regional Categories, TerraViva United Nations

Food Security and Nutrition

A young boy cooks food at his home in Masunduza, Mbabane, Eswatini. Experts say the current food system does not promote or produce healthy diets. Credit: Mantoe Phakathi/IPS

MBABANE, Dec 3 2020 (IPS) - As the world accelerates towards achieving the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, it is time to replace the current broken food system. With only a decade left to reach the deadline, evidence shows that the way food is produced, processed and transported is not only destructive to the environment but it is also leaving millions behind.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) The State of Food and Nutrition in the World 2019 report, over 820 million people across the world are hungry. In the meantime, the World Health Organisation states that in 2016, 1.9 billion adults were overweight and, of these, 650 million were obese.

Moreover, in 2005 the agriculture sector accounted for more than half of the global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic showed that an already fragile system was not resilient as more people were left hungry as lockdowns imposed by governments across the globe exposed a system that relies on transporting food for several miles across the world.

Farmers in African countries grow what they do not eat and eat what they do not grow. Eswatini, for instance, does not grow enough maize to feed its 1.1 million people but it exports tonnes of sugarcane to Europe each year. It does not help that more than a billion tonnes of food are wasted globally each year.

As experts observed during the one-day Resetting the Food System from Farm to Fork summit hosted by the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition Foundation (BCFN), on Dec. 1, the food system is incapable of taking the world to the promised land Zero Hunger by 2030.

This is because despite the lack of access for many people and the negative impact agriculture has on the environment, most of the available food is not healthy.

According to Jeffrey Sachs,professor and director of the Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University and director of the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the world needs a new food economy.

Food is overly processed with too much sugar added to it, leading to unhealthy diets, said Sachs. He blamed this on companies who are obsessed with profit to the point of feeding people with highly addictive processed foods and poor regulation by governments to ensure a change of behaviour.

Sachs said while diets will differ based on cultural context but, generally, healthy diets have more fruits and vegetables and are based more on plant protein rather than animal protein.

Changing the food system is a complex challenge, but the first step is to knowwhere we want to go, and thats toward a healthy diet produced with sustainableagriculture, said Sachs.

While many of the speakers during the event lamented a broken system, Chris Barrett, professor and co-editor-in-chief of Food Policy at Cornell University, said it is not all gloom and doom. He said the system has been phenomenally successful in 2020 such that the world is seeing a record high cereal harvesting despite the pandemic and climate change. He also said about 5 billion people will have access to affordable healthy diets this year.

How do we combat the challenges while acknowledging the successes? he asked.

As other speakers noted, it is a system that was designed many years ago and it has served its purpose. The current cracks to the system are a sign that it needs to be replaced with one that is compatible with the new normal.

While technological advancement and innovations are part of the proposed solutions to change the system, policy formulation and education for behavioural change are equally important. Protecting the rights of the marginalised such as indigenous people and ensuring that they have access to land are part of the game-changers.

Elly Schlein, the Vice President Emilia-Romagna, Italy, observed that political will and resources are needed to create the right incentives to change the system.

A timely discussion as the world gears for the U.N 2021 Food Systems Summit which the U.N Secretary-General, Antnio Guterres, will host on November 30 to December 04. The objectives of the U.N. Summit are:

The Resetting the Food System from Farm to Fork summit produced five recommendations for the U.N. meeting, which Dr Agnes Kalibata, the Special Envoy for the 2021 Food Systems Summit, gladly accepted. She said the summit presents an opportunity to evaluate progress towards 2030 and shift things around to ensure that the SDGs are met.

A decade is enough to shift things around as suggested by Guido Barilla, the Barilla Group and BCFN Foundation chair. He said only doubters would want to languish in their comfort zone claiming a decade is too short to change the status quo.

While bringing issues to the table and discussing them during a summit it important, the real test is in the implementation of strategies that such meetings produce.

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Fixing the Food System to Produce Healthy Diets - Inter Press Service

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Unhealthy versions of love are often romanticized by the mass media so its no wonder we find ourselves in dysfunctional relationships thinking they are normal.

Take The Notebook, one of the most famous romantic movies of all time.

Why is love going to be really hard? Is that what we should expect from love?

Now lets consider The Fault in Our Stars.

I understand the sentiment but again, why is pain a consequence of love?

Lets take one more example, this time from the Golden Age of cinema:

No, jealousy is not a good sign, and it certainly isnt healthy.

We can so easily overlook the real meaning in these sentiments because its love and we have come to expect that:

Shakespeare clearly has a lot to answer for.

If we are ever to figure out what healthy love is then we need to go back to the drawing board.

The dictionary definition of love is an intense feeling of deep affection.

By definition then, love is not an emotion. Love lasts for longer than emotions do which come and go as and when we need them. In addition, we can feel numerous emotions when in love, and because there are good and bad emotions we can easily conclude then that love can also be good and bad.

But, if love is not an emotion, then what is it?

One definition which I think goes some way in explaining the intangible quality of love is:

Love is first and foremost something we feel in our hearts. It is when love manifests itself as an emotional experience that it is characterized by the sort of profound ecstasy or deep attachment that, when suddenly interrupted or unreciprocated, can cause intense suffering.

Berit Brogaard, Professor and Director of the Brogaard Lab for Multisensory Research at the University of Miami.

So, love = joy unless restricted in some way then love = pain. This definition also explains the link love has with emotions in that it manifests itself as an emotional experience.

So, what if we listened to the emotions and feelings that we experience when in love and then rationally decide whether we want to feel that way rather than just accepting it for what it is? Would this not lend itself to a healthier version of love?

If youve ever done something stupid for the sake of love (havent we all?) then you may have justified it by saying you were following your heart (emotional) rather than your head (rational). But then isnt that the same as saying that we cant rationalize what we feel.

It seems then that we dont need to understand love to be able to feel it and yet if we want a healthier version of love then we need to be able to rationalize what we feel. In the process of rationalizing we then identify whether what we have is either a healthy or unhealthy type of love.

Lets look rationally then at three types of love that most of us will experience in our lifetime and identify exactly what is healthy and what is not.

Regard for ones own well-being and happiness

At the core of all healthy loving relationships is self-love because self-love promotes a higher level of self-worth and this, in turn, means you are more likely to make healthier choices in your relationships. Expressed in the simplest way possible:

Healthy self-love is having compassion for yourself. You accept who you are, and that is not to say you dont recognize that you have flaws but you dont let that reduce your self-worth. Its like being your best friend supportive, uncritical, and caring. If you have a bad day then you give yourself a break, you dont beat yourself up about it because you are human and you are not meant to be perfect. Self-love can mean different things to different people but here are some examples of what healthy self-love can look like:

Unhealthy self-love can fall into the realm of narcissism. High levels of self-importance can result in the inability to form meaningful relationships with others. Signs of narcissism can include:

Thankfully, research shows that narcissism is extremely rare and actually the majority of people fall into the low self-confidence category. Females are more likely to suffer from low-self confidence than males and while this does improve with age why wait when you can start practicing self-love now.

To love someone without conditions.

This type of love can often be mistaken for reciprocal love. Yet, the true definition is to offer our love without repayment. That is to say that you can love someone unconditionally but they may not love you unconditionally.

Healthy unconditional love is accepting the person (partner, parent, child) for who they are. It is giving love without expecting a particular outcome or in other words not placing conditions on the love you give. But most importantly it is about establishing boundaries of what is and isnt acceptable in the relationship.

Unhealthy unconditional love is allowing someone (partner, parent, child) to overstep boundaries. In this sense, unconditional is actually just allowing someone to walk all over you. An example of this may be if you allow a parent to criticize you or a partner to cheats on you. Unconditional love doesnt mean accepting bad behavior that negatively affects you.

While unconditional love does not expect anything in return, if you are in a relationship with someone who you unconditionally love but who does not unconditionally love you back then there is an imbalance in power. Therefore, if you are in a relationship with someone (partner, parent, child) who places conditions on the love they give you then this is not healthy. For example, a partner that only loves you when you are a certain weight or a parent who only loves you when you choose the career that they want for you.

As we found earlier when trying to define love, there is an expectation that love = pain. However, setting clear boundaries will go a long way to eliminating that pain. For example, telling a parent I love you but I will not allow you to tell me what career I must choose, or to a partner I love you but I will not allow you to constantly speak negatively about my appearance.

Do you see that self-love plays a key role here? Having a high level of self-worth will help you to recognize unacceptable behavior in relationships and call it out.

Spend your time on those who love you unconditionally. Dont waste it on those that only love you when the conditions are right for them.

Love that is not reciprocated.

La douleur exquise (French) the heart-wrenching pain of wanting someone you can never have.

Here is a love that does cause pain or as we found in Berit Brogaards definition intense suffering. It can include love for someone you have never been with or even love for someone you have been with but who no longer returns that love.

It may seem odd then to think that there may be healthy and unhealthy versions of unrequited love but like with all love there are always two sides.

Unhealthy unrequited love is expecting that they will change their mind or worse still trying to get them to change their mind. It can include self-destructive tendencies like trying to break up their relationship (if they are with someone else) or even berating yourself for being so stupid that you would expect them to love you. If you are finding it difficult to move on then speaking with a therapist may help.

When we talk about healthy unrequited love, it is more about learning to accept the situation as it is as that will enable you to move on. Yes, this is easier said than done love doesnt just go away, taking time to grieve is important. However, you should never have to fight for someones love, and going back to what we learned about self-love this should teach you that you are worthy of love and if someone doesnt realize that then you shouldnt waste your time on them.

By focusing on self-love, it will help you to rebuild your confidence and find someone who does love you for who you are.

Love doesnt have to be the tortured version were led to believe it should be. Yes, we feel love with the heart but that doesnt mean you cant use your head and rationalize whether the love you have is good or bad. Choose healthy love and you will have healthy relationships. And remember that self-love is the first love you must learn if you want to love and be loved.

This post was previously published on Medium.com.

***

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Its challenging to find a fitness instructor who offers personalized workout programs and diet plans by examining your body types. But Dor Eckstein isnt your ordinary fitness instructor. He likes to talk to his clients in detail about their lifestyle, eating choices, exercise habits, and work schedule to create tailor-made workout programs.

Mr. Eckstein is a fitness instructor at the renowned Wingate College and a part of the ISA International Sports Nutrition Organization. We are happy to have Mr. Eckstein with us today to answer a few of our questions.

Q: Mr. Eckstein, thank you for talking to us today. Can you tell us how youre able to help so many clients achieve their fitness goals?

Some like to lose weight, while others want to gain muscle mass. But most of them cant achieve their fitness goals in time because they dont understand their body type properly.

A: I think a lot of people are not happy with their physique. Some like to lose weight, while others want to gain muscle mass. But most of them cant achieve their fitness goals in time because they dont understand their body type properly. Heres where I can make a difference. I consider the body type first before recommending any diet plan and workout programs. Clients who listen to my instructions religiously have already noticed significant changes in their physique.

Q: Whats your process of working with your clients?

A: First, you need to contact me by sending your name and contact details. You can even come to my clinic in Tel Aviv or make a face to face video call. During your appointment, you can tell me everything about your lifestyle, past experiences while trying to reach a fitness goal, eating habits, and how many times you exercise every week.

I assess everything before providing any exercise program. Next, I will examine your fat percentage, body types, and your metabolic rate. Once I have all these details, I prepare a nutrition menu and a training program based on the above information. I expect my clients to follow my instructions if they want to improve their fitness and overall health. I conduct follow-up meetings every month so that I can suggest any changes to your program if required.

Q: What if someone has a question regarding their nutrition menu or workout program before the follow-up meeting?

A: Once a client decides to follow my fitness program, I share my phone number. My clients can contact me by calling or texting me on WhatsApp. I am usually prompt to answer any type of query unless I am sleeping or attending an appointment.

Q: What message do you have for those who want to become a fitness instructor?

A: You shouldnt stop reading about nutrition and fitness. The more you read, the more you learn about how different types of bodies work. And the more you know, the more knowledge you gather on dealing with different kinds of clients. Even though I am a professional fitness instructor now, I read academic articles on nutrition whenever I get time.

That dedication and passion speak volumes about your success. Thank you, Mr. Eckstein, for your time today. Without question, the world needs more fitness instructors like you who have an unwavering passion for helping people lead healthier lifestyles.

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During the height of the protests over the police killing of George Floyd in May, Rose Barboza felt conflicted. She wanted to join the demonstrations but had a four-year-old at her Saco home and was concerned about catching or spreading the coronavirus. Instead, Barboza began to consider another way to fight using her purchasing power.

Online directories popped up nationally, spotlighting Black-owned businesses and educating people about how seeking out these businesses can help, at the local level, reduce the racial wealth gap, support entrepreneurship and job creation for Black Americans, and send a message that representation matters.

This story was originally published byThe Maine Monitor.

The Maine Monitor, formerly known as Pine Tree Watch, is a local journalism product published by The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, a nonpartisan, nonprofit civic news organization based in Augusta.

But, companies in Maine remained largely off the lists. Maine is the nations whitest state, with nearly95 percentof its population identifying as white.

Barboza discussed this on a hike with her brother.

And then BAM! This idea came, Barboza said.

Two days later, on June 1, she launchedBlack Owned Maine, or BOM, a virtual directory of businesses in the state that are at least 50 percent Black-owned.

Barboza, a recent University of Southern Maine graduate with a degree in marketing and international business, had been furloughed from her job in the travel industry and was brainstorming ideas for her own venture. She wanted to build a website and considered opening a marketing agency.

I was like, Oh my gosh, this is all of that in one thing, Barboza said. I finally found my niche. I finally found the thing that I can focus my energy on and its something that I know about already. I can list 100 (Black-owned businesses) off the top of my head.

She enlisted the help of her friend, Jerry Edwards, a Portland music producer who goes by the name of Genius Black. The directory swelled.

Black Owned Maine now lists more than 250 businesses, nonprofits and contractors; 14,600 Instagram followers; and a podcast. Barboza said events and a clothing line are in the works.

The group also raised $50,000 in four months, and began awarding innovator grants for listed businesses looking to rebrand and family grants for households struggling to pay bills because of the pandemic. Barboza, who had to return to work July 1, was able to quit her job in October to work on the site and its projects full time. Now she is looking to help build online presences for micro-businesses that may not have websites.

While a few question whether the directory is necessary, supporters say highlighting Black-owned businesses benefits the states economy and enables people to counteract some economic racial disparities.

Barboza, who is of mixed race and grew up in Lewiston, said Black businesses tend not to be part of the mainstream, often do not come up high in internet searches and sometimes cannot afford to advertise on traditional platforms. Giving them exposure in the directory helps broaden their customer bases and gets consumers thinking more consciously about their spending decisions.

Rebeccah Geib, an ultra-runner, credits Black Owned Maine with helping her find The Exercise Design Lab in Bar Harbor, where she lives. Jacques Newell Taylor opened the business in 2019 after running his own exercise studio in Los Angeles for 15 years. Taylor specializes in designing customized exercise programs that integrate neuroscience to help improve brain health and athletic performance.

Geib was surprised she had never heard of the business, especially because it aligns so well with her lifestyle, values and needs as an athlete.

How was it possible that as an athlete and just an overall fitness nut, I had no idea that this business even existed, and I had no idea who Jacques was? she wrote in an email, noting that Bar Harbor has a small year-round community.

Geib, who is white, said its not just the physical gains shes made that keeps her coming back to The Exercise Design Lab, its the conversations she has with Taylor about race and community.

I train with Jacques because its one of the most enriching experiences Ive ever had, she said, and without Black Owned Maine, who knows how long it would have been before I discovered (him).

Geib said she always thought that she was a person who supported racial justice, but realized while attending a Black Lives Matter rally that showing up at a protest was not enough: she needed to take action.

Black Owned Maine is now this tangible resource to use in order to take a step toward being an ally, she said.

One challenge Taylor has faced is the independent mindset locals have about exercising: they hike, bike, run and go to the gym, he said, but are not as adventurous when it comes to trying a new approach.

But being on Black Owned Maine has already gained him four clients in addition to Geib. They too had been to a Black Lives Matter rally and decided to follow up. They found The Exercise Design Lab on the site, checked out the program and were intrigued.

Now theyre all here, every single one of them, Taylor said. I was moved in many ways that people who dont have to, actually made a conscious effort to support Black-owned businesses.

Being listed on the site also has led to conversations that were prickly and uncomfortable with a few other clients who said they do not consider race when making decisions about products and services, and questioned how drawing attention to race is helpful.

But Im OK with that, he said.

Pointing tostudiesshowing thatdiverse teams outperformnon-diverse teams in sports, academics and business, Taylor said part of his mission is to help communities recognize that the idea of diversity is not just a nice thing to do, or even just the right thing to do; its the thing to do if we really do want to push ahead and prosper, and have opportunities for future generations.

He sees the directory as especially important for a state like Maine.

This idea that you have this website, this listing that is saying, Hey look, weve got some diversity here, is going to be really important to attracting other people of different backgrounds to come and say, Well they can do it, maybe I can do it. Maybe theres some opportunity there.

Genius Black, who grew up in Texas and attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick, echoed this in a recent BOM podcast.

Black Owned Maine as a directory and a resource and as a brand is also helping the state of Maine stand up and represent itself as a place thatdoeshave people of color,doeshave Black people,doesconsider diversity, he said. Were going to bring money to this economy; people who wouldnt have felt comfortable coming here and spending their dollars and voting with their dollars.

Taylor said hes looking forward to connecting with other Black business owners in the state through events or meetings hosted by BOM. Hes already used the resource to find and visit another Black business on Mount Desert Island: the Quietside Cafe in Southwest Harbor.

Ultimate Car Care in Portland is also listed on the site. Its owner, Joe Kings, said hes pleased theres a directory to help Black businesses connect. He was part of a group that attempted to start a Maine Black business alliance about 20 years ago that never went anywhere.

We met in meetings and talked about it, but we just never could get it off the ground. So we just walked away from it, he said. But Im very proud of (BOM) being out there now.

Kings said he has been involved in many projects over the years dedicated to helping Black-owned or minority-owned businesses stimulate the economy and thrive. Ultimate Car Care has funded Portlands Juneteenth celebrations for 23 years.

He couldnt tell if being listed on the site has brought in more business because hes always been busy. He said he has a customer base that extends to Augusta and beyond and is often booked three weeks out.

Weve been doing this for about 25 years, and people just kind of know where to go, he said. Its hard to say (whether being listed on BOM has had an effect) because it just never stops.

Shawn Garner of Lewiston said highlighting successful Black businesses like Kings is important to inspire young Black entrepreneurs who may be surrounded by negative influences like he was, growing up in a high-crime area of Florida. Almost four years ago he ended up staying in Maine after what was supposed to be a short visit. The people he was traveling with left him behind.

When I came up here, I didnt know heroin was as big as it was, and I dont do (hard) drugs because Im an athlete, he said. He had laced a blunt with heroin. I wanted to fight him, and so he told me to catch a bus back to Florida.

Garner had no money for the trip so he started working at Hannaford in Gardiner, and for a while lived at Trinity Mens Shelter in Skowhegan. During that time, Garner kept telling himself he could do better, be better. So he decided to start his own business.

Outside of his various day and night jobs working security at bars in Portlands Old Port, as a manager at Hannaford and now as a FedEx driver he has built a clothing design business,Upstylish, specializing in shirts with inspirational quotes, and now face masks.

Garner mainly advertised by word of mouth, handing out business cards and wearing his T-shirts to the gym or his security jobs. When Barboza heardhis story, she asked him to join Black Owned Maine and is now helping him find stores that will carry his clothing.

Garner said he started Upstylish to show people who grew up in situations like his that there are options outside of crime. He sees Black Owned Maine as furthering that mission.

A lot of people from my neighborhood were either selling drugs or killing people or robbing people, he said. Having the website of Black-owned businesses of Maine can show a lot of young Black entrepreneurs that you can make money other ways, by being an entrepreneur, having a rap career, anything that youre good at.

Everybodys born with a gift. Thats what Black Owned Maine does. It teaches young Black entrepreneurs to thrive in their own gifts.

Another successful business listed on Black Owned Maine is Mogadishu Business Center and Restaurant in Lewiston. Its owner, Shukri Abasheikh, came to the United States from Somalia, where she had her own store, but lost it with her home during a civil war. She lived in Atlanta, then moved to Lewiston in 2002 with a wave of Somali arrivals.

Tensions were high that year. Then-mayorLaurier Raymond wrote an open letter asking Somali people to stop comingand said resettling them was straining the citys resources. Awhitesupremacistgroupprotestedin the city. At the time, Abasheikh defended herself and her fellow Somalis.

I say No, we do not come for welfare, we come for work, we come for peace, we come for education, she said. My dream is I work and my children get education.

While obstacles remain, there has been an outpouring of support for immigrants in the last 18 years, andstudiesshowthe economic benefits they brought to the area.

In 2006, Abasheikh was able to open the Mogadishu store after working as a high school janitor and at L.L. Bean. She has put the struggles of her early days in Lewiston behind her.

Everybody (likes) me, she said. They call me Mama Africa, Mama Shukri. We cook Somali food, we cook Somali tea. They come in, Black and white everybody (Theyre) happy, they try the food, I explain the food, they buy.

Abasheikh said directing support on Black businesses seemed unnecessary to her, especially as businesses with owners of all races are struggling.

Everybody needs support, not only Black businesses, she said. When (the coronavirus came) everybody (slowed) down, a lot of stores closed, Black and white, and everybody needs help.

Barbazo and Genius Black agree.

Thats something we keep pushing every day, Barboza said. Small business, whether Black-owned or not, is the driving force of the economy, especially here in a small state.

Barboza is compiling a directory of resources for the site that she hopes will be accessed by anyone, regardless of race, who wants to open or grow a business in the state.

By teaching people to focus on local Black business, were teaching them to focus on local business in general, Genius Black added. Black Owned Maine is really about supporting the economy of Maine.

But data shows the pandemic is hitting Black people especially hard. In June, Maine had the highest racial disparity in COVID-19 cases, with Black residents contracting the virus at 20 times the rate of white residents. While Black Mainers made up less than two percent of the population, they accounted for more than 22 percent of the positive cases. Most of those cases came fromimmigrant communitieswhere it was more common for people to live in crowded apartments without the ability to isolate, and to work in front-line jobs.

Now, with cases spiking throughout Maine, that disparity has dropped, but Black people are still affected at a disproportionate rate. As of Nov. 20, they made up 11 percent of COVID-19 cases in the state.

The economic impacts of the pandemic also have been greater and persisted longer for people of color, James Myall of the left-leaning Maine Center for Economic Policy,reported.

Based on his analysis of the latest U.S. Census and Maine Department of Labor data released Oct. 20, Myall found that different racial groups in Maine started with low unemployment before the pandemic, but unemployment among the Black workforce showed the greatest increase, peaking at about 30 percent in May, compared to 15 percent for the white unemployment rate. In August, 15 percent of the Black workforce was still unemployed compared to six percent of the white workforce.

A recent survey of immigrant business owners conducted by ProsperityME, a nonprofit dedicated to helping immigrants and refugees in Maine achieve financial stability, raised some red flags for its executive director, Claude Rwaganje.

Of 250 immigrant businesses the organization tried to contact many Black-owned only 125 were reachable. Of the 125 respondents, 60 percent did not apply for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, and Rwaganje said few applied for Maine Economic Recovery grants. He cited lack of information or assistance, language barriers, or incomplete record keeping and licensing as barriers to applying for pandemic relief.

Small Business Administration dataon PPP loans awarded through Aug. 8 is not complete when it comes to the race of recipients. Only about 2,500 of the 25,279 grant recipients listed answered the optional question on race. Of those that did, only 11, or 0.4 percent, indicated they were Black.

Im concerned that the fact that the majority were not able to submit a rapid response or recovery grant request, Rwaganje said. That is a warning for me, to see how theyre going to survive beyond this pandemic.

ProsperityME plans to conduct a more comprehensive survey to understand the impacts of the pandemic on Black immigrant businesses.

COVID impacts aside, many who use Black Owned Maines directory are looking to support Black businesses as a way to counteract some broader racial disparities that persist.

Something that gets overlooked is that its not just about stopping a bad thing from happening, Genius Black said. Its about counteracting the bad things that have been happening.

In Maine, over 53 percent of Black children lived in poverty compared to approximately 15 percent of white children in 2017, and only one-quarter of black people own their own homes, compared to three-quarters of white people. Black Mainers are six times more likely to be incarcerated than white Mainers and Black students are 2.4 times more likely to be suspended from school in Maine than white students, according to another report by Myall.

What we find about why people support Black Owned Maine and think about supporting companies like ours is that its a way to protest, said Genius Black. Its a way to say, Im going to use my resources, Im going to use whatever I have to (make) change. The economys going to flow regardless, so Im going to make sure that its flowing through Black folks.

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Online directory aims to help Black businesses thrive in nation's whitest state - PenBayPilot.com

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If you dont make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness.

Life was good until you ended up in the hospital from an unexpected illness perhaps from pneumonia, a urinary tract infection, an unexpected surgery, a scheduled surgery or even COVID-19. After your hospital stay, you thought you would be well enough to manage the rest of your life without any further health complications.

When you were discharged, your doctors may have prescribed rehabilitation or home health therapy involving physical, occupational and/or speech language pathologists. These health care professionals taught you exercises to help you recover so you can return to your prior level of function. And, after your rehab was completed, you were given a home exercise program and were set to go.

This sounds pretty easy, right? All you needed to do was follow the plan and everything would be fine. Unfortunately, being consistent, safe and compliant with a home exercise program is not as easy as it sounds, and non-compliance is one of the main reasons affecting your recovery.

Adherence to home exercise programs after rehabilitation is a significant problem, with estimates of non-compliance as high as 50 percent. Even those who try to follow their program often have difficulties completing their exercises and the recommended repetitions.

Patients have many perceived barriers that prevent them from adhering to their exercise plans, including forgetting to exercise, not having time, not fitting into their daily routine, work schedules and transportation.

As rehab specialists, we understand that cognitive, behavioral and physical barriers affect a patients willingness to adhere to their prescribed exercise program. But we also understand its importance.

If you fail to adhere to your prescribed exercise program, it may extend the duration of your treatment plan, and also make it less effective. A number of studies have linked strong exercise adherence to improved treatment outcome in patients experiencing neck and back pain and osteoarthritis symptoms.

There is also lots of evidence that physical activity prevents disablement and disease in the older adult, and that physical activity reduces falls and fall injuries by 35 to 45 percent. The benefits of physical activity also extend to a reduction of risks associated with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity and anxiety/ depression. It can also delay cognitive impairment, improve sleep and prevent unhealthy weight gain.

So, how can you stick to your program? It begins with changing your attitude toward exercise. How many times have you heard, When were young, we work out to look good. As we get older, we work out to survive.

The good news is that you have options after rehab or home health to help you maintain consistency in your program.

At Morpheus Wellness, we provide a safe, holistic and effective means of continuing fitness after rehab and home health. We encourage and promote an active lifestyle as you age, while integrating your interests, hobbies and/or athletic activities into a personalized program. Physical activities often used for older adults include aerobic, strength, flexibility and balance exercises.

The staff at Morpheus Wellness incorporate a strategy of supervision, feedback and reinforcement provided by a wellness coach, private pay physical therapist or personal trainer.

By providing good feedback, motivation and sound coaching, there is increased adherence in home-based exercises, because patients know they are performing their task correctly.

While family members or home care aides are almost always well intentioned, they may not be trained and prepared to help perform or correct exercises established by the therapist. And, they may increase the risk of injury by not recognizing unsafe movements/mobility or not be able to identify poor technique.

Exercise and physical activity is one of the main pillars of healthy habits, in combination with sleep, nutrition and mental health. Like the poet Diane Ackerman wrote, I dont want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.

Visit MorpheusWellness.com, or call 813-586-0542.

Published December 02, 2020

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Life after Rehab and Home Health - The Laker/Lutz News

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Pulmonary rehabilitation may be most effective when including exercise training, breathing techniques, and education and psychosocial components for patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), according to a recent review.

Past studies have shown pulmonary rehabilitation to improve exercise capacity, muscle strength, functional capacity, and health related quality of life (HLQOL) in patients with AECOPD. It can reduce symptoms, hospitalizations, and unscheduled healthcare visits for patients while also enhancing patients ability to self-manage their AECOPD and achieve self-efficacy.

However, such programs vary widely, not only in terms of which components are included, but also by where they are delivered (home, outpatient, inpatient, etc), for how long, at what intensity, and whether the patient is alone or in a group. The authors of this review wanted to determine which program designs appeared to be the most effective.

The systematic review, published in the European Respiratory Review, looked at 6029 studies and narrowed their analysis to 42 studies published before March 2020 from 19 countries.

The studies included at least 1 component of pulmonary rehabilitation, included patients within 3 weeks of AECOPD onset or until 2 weeks after hospital discharge, were written in English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish, and were randomized, controlled trials.

Results from a total of 3569 patients with a mean age of 69.1 years and a mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 39.4% predicted.

The list of components used in the studies included education and psychosocial support, aerobic training, strength training, breathing techniques, exercise training, electrostimulation, positive expiry pressure therapy performed with noninvasive ventilation or devices, home diaries, respiratory muscle training, nutrition, and whole body vibration.

Of the 42 included studies, only 38.1% (16) used pulmonary rehabilitation officially as an intervention. Of the studies that only used 1 or some of the intervention components, the most common ones used were exercise training (30/42), education and psychosocial support (24/42), aerobic training (23/42), strength training (23/42), and breathing techniques (23/42).

The combination of exercise and breathing techniques presented the largest weighted mean difference (WMD) (41.06; 95% CI, 131.70-49.58). This combination intervention also presented a greater WMD than control groups.

Breathing techniques was the best performing intervention at decreasing dyspnea in patients (WMD 1.90; 95% CI, 0.533.27). Breathing techniques (effect sizes [ES] 0.15; 95% CI, 0.28-0.57) and breathing techniques in combination with exercise (ES 0.11; 95% CI, 0.280.50) were the interventions that reduced the length of hospitalization the most, but again, significant differences between the interventions were not found.

In addition, patients knowledge was one of the outcome measures presenting larger ES, showing how empowering pulmonary rehabilitation can be during AECOPD, wrote investigators.

Investigators also found that short-term programs presented better results and increased exercise capacity compared to longer-term programs.

Most of the evidence published described hospitalized patients, who often present more severe exacerbations and/or have a more severe underlying conditions than those managed in an outpatient setting. Investigators said that because more than 80% of patients with COPD are managed on an outpatient basis, future research should focus on those patients.

Investigators concluded that additional research should compare the included interventions in programs of different lengths, durations and frequencies of sessions, and intensities of exercise training to further establish what program design would be most effective.

Reference

Machado A, Silva PM, Afreixo V, Caneiras C, Burtin C, Marques A. Design of pulmonary rehabilitation programmes during acute exacerbations of COPD: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Eur Respir Rev. November 20 2020;33(6):978-985. doi: 10.1183/16000617.0039-2020

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At the end of a hard workout, Emily Mitchell and her teammates on the UC Santa Cruz women's basketball team can take a moment to catch their breath togetherbut there are no high-fives or fist-bumps.

With workouts and team meetings moving to Zoom during the pandemic, things look a little different for UC Santa Cruz Athletics and Recreation this year. But despite the challenge of COVID-19 and the need for physical distancing, its been a year of adaptability, growth, and achievement for the department, coaches, student staff, student-athletes, and the campus fitness and recreation communities.

Athletics and Recreation has persevered through the shutdown of in-person operations and the postponement of athletic seasons, while upholding the themes of leadership, community, and merit in all of their programmingsuccess that's been fueled by passionate students and staff.

Students are a central part of our department, said Sue Harriman, director of Athletics and Recreation. We often seek feedback from them on important issues before making key decisions because we want to find ways to further enrich the student experience.

The mission of Athletics and Recreation stands beyond ensuring students attain physical wellbeing; its a department that enhances the student experience through athletic and recreational activities, along with leadership and community-building opportunities.

Varsity student-athletes remain adaptable and resilient

Athletics and Recreation is composed of multiple program areas: NCAA Division III athletics; FitLife (group and personal fitness); Adventure Rec; intramural sports; sport clubs; boating; Physical Education courses; and a variety of camps, clinics, and workshops.

Varsity athletics includes more than 300 student-athletes competing in 15 different sports. With the completion of the departments new brand identity in June 2020 and UC Santa Cruz athletics celebrating 40 years as members in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Athletics and Recreation brand exudes the characteristics of pride, inclusivity, and excellence.

Our athletic teams won five conference championships and four 'coach of the year' awards this past 20192020 academic year, said Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Recreation Dino Pollock.

With COVID-19 restrictions in place, fall and winter sports teams have been most affected by canceled conference play and championship opportunities.

Competition is a huge motivator when it comes to training athletes, said UCSC's men's and womens head swimming and diving coach Matt Crawford. Without that and having no feasible way to train together as a team, its really hard to maintain that level of focus and team cohesiveness.

Last year, the mens swimming and diving team won their conference championship. This year, theyre having to resort to individualized, on-land training until they can come together again in the pool. The ultimate hope is for both teams to have some semblance of a season this academic year, stated Crawford.

Womens basketball player Mitchell (College Ten 21, literature, education minor), who is also co-president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), shares the frustration her fellow Slug fall and winter student-athletes are feeling.

As everyone on Mitchells basketball team awaits the news of when they will be able to practice together in a gym once again, they are getting creative on ways they can stay engaged while apart.

Some of those ways include an accountability partner program, where new basketball recruits are teamed up with veteran teammates; holding workouts with each other over Zoom; attending weekly online meetings with our coach; and coming up with fun ways to compete virtually, said Mitchell.

Although many of her teammates are not in the area, the few that are local, including Mitchell, have started practicing at outside basketball courts together, while wearing masks and maintaining safe distances apart.

S.L.U.G. leaders

While athletic teams hold onto hope for what the new year will bring in terms of seasons, Athletics and Recreation realized that strong leadership is of particular importance during this unprecedented time.

With the switch to online programming this spring, one of the challenges the SAACwhich addresses interathletic relations, community service, and campus relationshas been faced with is developing ways in the virtual world for student-athletes to practice their leadership skills.

Athletics and Recreation staff and student-athletes have collaborated to meet that challenge with the initiation of the S.L.U.G. (Student-athletes Leading Up to Greatness) Leadership Academy, a 10-session, experiential learning program kicking off this winter quarter.

The curriculum, which builds on UCSCs Principles of Community, covers topics on emotional intelligence, group dynamics, interpersonal communication skills and strategies, and civic responsibility, preparing the 23 student-athletes selected into the program to be leaders in their sports, in the classroom, and in their local communities.

Fitness and Adventure Recreation go virtual

In addition to varsity athletics, Athletics and Recreation adapted quickly on multiple other fronts when the UC Santa Cruz community pivoted to remote operations.

The departments group exercise program, which offers a variety of classes such as kickboxing, Zumba, yoga, and HIIT, switched to a fully online format this past springand, much to the departments surprisethe virtual classes have garnered an overwhelming, positive response from the campus community.

We don't have a complete picture to know if virtual group exercise is more engaging than in-person group exercise offerings, but our reports are showing that virtual GX classes are keeping students engaged with their personal fitness during the pandemic, said Clint Angus, associate director of Athletics and Recreation.

We are certainly looking forward to more opportunities to make our programs accessible to the UC Santa Cruz community, whether that's in person or remote. We want to make it happen for our students, added Angus.

Another recreational program known as Adventure Rec, which promotes outdoor adventure experiences for students, has been offering virtual workshops this fall. From the Getting Started in the Outdoors series and behavioral first responder certification courses, these workshops are intended to prepare students for future Adventure Rec trips.

Staying determined while looking toward the future

For varsity athletics, the ultimate hope for the remainder of the academic year is for each team to have some sort of season, which may or may not include in-person practices and competition play depending on COVID-19 restrictions.

Women's soccer, women's volleyball, women's cross country, men's cross country, and men's swimmingthe five teams that won conference championships during the 20192020 seasonwant to do everything they can to retain those hard-earned titles.

In spring sport news, we're excited to see the women's and men's tennis teams continue their journey to success after being recognized for two national team scholar-athlete accolades this year, said Embele Awipi, sports information director.

Regardless how this academic year concludes, Banana Slug student-athletes will not let the pandemic slow down their momentum.

As Athletics and Recreation staff and students prepare for the new year, they see the potential for new opportunities to arise that will further enrich the student experience, including the West Field House floor and facility renovation; the development of Physical Education courses for credit; and the expansion of the group exercise virtual library, personal and small group fitness training, Adventure Recreation orientation programs, and innovative intramural programming.

As Pollock put it, The future is bright, and we couldnt be more excited to see what comes next for our department.

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Resiliency is the name of the game for UC Santa Cruz Athletics and Recreation - UC Santa Cruz

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Contrary to what many believe, a study finds that weight management is not more difficult for older adults.

While people often assume that losing weight is harder later in life, a new study concludes that this is not so. The research offers encouragement for older adults hoping to reap the health benefits of maintaining a healthy weight.

In an obesity program conducted at a hospital in the United Kingdom, weight loss was unaffected by age, with statistically equivalent results for people younger and older than 60.

Senior study author Dr. Thomas Barber, the scientific lead of the Human Metabolism Research Unit at the Warwick Medical School, in the U.K., explains that for people whose health would benefit from weight loss:

Weight loss is important at any age, but as we get older, were more likely to develop the weight-related comorbidities of obesity. Many of these are similar to the effects of aging, so you could argue that the relevance of weight loss becomes heightened as we get older, and this is something that we should embrace.

The studys authors write that weight loss may help older individuals address more than 50 comorbidities common with age, including diabetes, osteoarthritis, and mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Increased mortality and a general lack of well-being in older adults are also associated with obesity.

The results of the new study appear in Clinical Endocrinology.

There are a number of reasons why people may discount weight loss in older people, says Dr. Barber. These include an ageist perspective that weight loss is not relevant to older people and misconceptions of reduced ability of older people to lose weight through dietary modification and increased exercise.

The study provides evidence that weight loss programs administered by medical professionals, in particular, have value.

Older people may feel that hospital-based obesity services are not for them, Dr. Barber acknowledges. Nonetheless, he suggests, Service providers and policymakers should appreciate the importance of weight loss in older people with obesity for the maintenance of health and well-being and the facilitation of healthy aging.

The study shows, Dr. Barber says, that Age, per se, should not contribute towards clinical decisions regarding the implementation of lifestyle management [in] older people.

The team analyzed the medical records of 242 randomly selected people who had participated in the obesity service offered by the Warwickshire Institute for the Study of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism (WISDEM) program between 2005 and 2016.

The researchers divided the cohort into two groups: people under 60 and people aged 6078. All participants had morbid obesity at the outset, with BMI measurements over 40. The analysis compared weight loss outcomes in the two groups.

Participants in the program managed their weight with dietary changes and more exercise, and medical professionals had customized the program for each individuals needs. Psychological support and encouragement were also provided.

The researchers took weight measurements before and after participation in the WISDEM program.

While the older group spent slightly less time in the program 33.6 months as opposed to 41.5 months weight loss in both groups was statistically equivalent.

People in the older group lost an average of 7.3% of their body weight, while those in the under-60 group lost 6.9%.

Given the health benefits that can result from weight management in people of any age with obesity and especially those who are already experiencing age-related health issues, Dr. Barber concludes:

Age should be no barrier to lifestyle management of obesity. Rather than putting up barriers to older people accessing weight loss programs, we should be proactively facilitating that process. To do otherwise would risk further and unnecessary neglect of older people through societal ageist misconceptions.

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