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As students take a step into another year and another semester, exams and busy schedules, the Mindfulness Center at Brown continues to connect University researchers from diverse areas of study.

The Mindfulness Centers mission is to develop research and provide evidence-based mindfulness programs that are inspiring and accessible to communities worldwide, said Eric Loucks, director of the Mindfulness Center and associate professor of epidemiology, behavioral and social sciences and medicine. Its principal aims are in research, mindfulness programs, training experts in the field and collaborating with other organizations to produce system-wide impacts, he added.

Mindfulness involves increasing peoples awareness of their emotions and bodily reactions so that they may alter their behavior as needed, said Jud Brewer, the director of research and innovation at the Mindfulness Center and associate professor of behavioral and social sciences at the School of Public Health. Mindfulness training is there to help people live better lives, and that involves changing both physical behavior, (and)also mental behaviors, like judging ourselves or worrying.

Since the Center opened in the Jewelry District in 2017, it has connected investigators who incorporate mindfulness into their research, The Herald previously reported. These researchers come from various Brown-affiliated institutions, including the School of Public Health, Warren Alpert Medical School and neighboring hospitals.

A study on the effects of mindfulness on blood pressure was published in November. The results from the clinical trial were part of a larger project funded by a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health in 2015, The Herald previously reported. The project team, consisting of researchers from multiple disciplines and universities, conducted systematic reviews on how mindfulness influences self-regulation and self-awareness, Loucks said. He was one of the principal investigators of the study.

If hypertension, or high blood pressure, is not properly controlled as is the case in about half of people with the condition it can cause stroke and heart disease, which are the biggest killers in the world, Loucks said. The study sought to determine whether mindfulness skills like self-awareness, emotional regulation and meditation could reduce hypertension when applied to medical regimens that affect blood pressure, such as exercise and eating, he added.

Participants of the study, who had been unable to regulate their blood pressure through physical activity, diet or medications alone, underwent nine weeks of mindfulness training. Afterwards, they were asked to incorporate the techniques into other daily behaviors of their choosing, Loucks said. Prior research on the reduction of blood pressure through mindfulness without the application to other behaviors yielded inconsistent, and less significant, findings, Loucks said. But this clinical trial resulted in a significant drop in average blood pressure among the participants, and these decreases were noticeable as early as three months following the program.

Whereas the intention of this first trial was geared towards determining the acceptability and efficacy of the mindfulness interventions, the research team is currently finishing a second, randomly controlled clinical trial for which Loucks hopes to have results by this summer. This study includes a control group that did not undergo mindfulness training a component that was absent from the first trial. If this subsequent study confirms the results of the November study, the next steps may include improving the efficacy and efficiency of the studied mindfulness techniques, and offering this kind of program to the public, he added.

Director of Integrative Cardiology and Prevention and Associate Professor Monica Aggarwal at the University of Florida, who was not involved in the study, researches the effects of nutrition and lifestyle on cardiovascular health. Seeing more studies showing an integrative approach to managing cardiovascular risk factors is excellent, Aggarwal wrote in an email to The Herald. I believe we will be seeing more and more studies showing that an integrative approach works in the coming years.

But seeing more metabolic parameters of stress and more clinical parameters would have been great, Aggarwal wrote.

Another principal investigator of this project, Willoughby Britton, assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior and of behavioral and social sciences, has also researched meditation. Britton directs the Clinical and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory with Visiting Professor of Religious Studies Jared Lindahl.

After Britton came across a counterintuitive and surprising finding in a previous study that meditation reduced sleep she has further investigated potential consequences of mindfulness.

As part of the Varieties of Contemplative Experience project the largest study ever conducted on negative meditation experiences Britton studied meditation teachers and 60 meditators who were experiencing difficulties resulting from meditation, she said. Britton has also been investigating the bodily and mental effects associated with various meditation practices and how outcomes may differ among people with varying personalities or conditions, she added.

From a clinical perspective, Brandon Gaudiano, a psychologist and associate professor of psychiatry and human behavior and of behavioral and social sciences, conducts research at Butler Hospital. His work involves the application of acceptance and commitment therapy an approach that alters peoples behavior using their values in those with psychotic disorders and depression, Gaudiano said.

He has partnered with Associate Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Psychiatry and Human Behavior David Williams on an ongoing investigation using mindfulness to help increase physical activity in those who have depression, Loucks said.

The Center has been innovative in its incorporation of technologies such as digital therapeutics and functional MRI an imaging technique that can be used to show how meditation affects brain activity, Brewer said.

In his own lab, Brewer investigates meditations impact on the brain and mindfulness apps effects on health. For example, the Unwinding Anxiety program used a mindfulness application targeting anxiety, and the results revealed significant reductions in anxiety after a couple of months, he added. The findings illustrate how mindfulness training reduces peoples susceptibility to their emotions, which alleviates anxiety, Brewer said.

Amidst the stresses of college, the free Mindfulness-Based College program at the Mindfulness Center has showed positive results in a clinical trial, Loucks said.

In its research, the Mindfulness Center has also addressed diversity.

After expanding to the west from eastern cultures, wealthy communities have become the primary beneficiary of mindfulness programming, said Assistant Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences and of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Jeffrey Proulx.

But Proulx, who joined the Mindfulness Center Sept. 2019, works to bring mindfulness research to underserved populations. Proulx came to the University because the Mindfulness Center here is one of the premier locations of people who guide the policies of mindfulness around the world, he said. Proulx, who is Native American, has focused on bringing mindfulness to Native American communities to alleviate prevailing distress and intergenerational trauma, he added. Stress can elevate heart rate, reduce brain volume and negatively impact the immune system, Proulx said.

Unlike other researchers studying mindfulness in Native American communities, Proulx is creating unique interventions for them, he said. His current projects include studies of mindfulness programs with Native American communities in Oregon and California, the Eastern Band Cherokee in North Carolina, and the Narragansett Tribe in Rhode Island. Proulx receives feedback from communities in attempt to find parallels between Native American traditions like berry picking, dancing and meditation and mindfulness practices, he said.

Proulx focuses his work on bringing mindfulness interventions in really respectful ways to Native American communities His ability to navigate through diversity and inclusion is inspiring, Loucks said.

Im just excited that Im at Brown and at the Mindfulness Center, especially because of their commitment to diversity, Proulx said. The Mindfulness Center is filled with people that have such an open focus on the future and on being inclusive.

Although the researchers affiliated with the Mindfulness Center are based in many different locations, the establishment has enabled collaboration amongst the researchers and between them and mindfulness educators, Loucks said. We have very strong mindfulness research, but then we also have very strong mindfulness teacher training programs so theres a lot of synergies between those two.

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Research thrives at Mindfulness Center - The Brown Daily Herald

The opening of one of the largest YMCAs in the nation in Pittsford comes as Ys in Clifton Springs and elsewhere undergo major overhauls

From the splashy new $40 million YMCA in Pittsford to a revamp of the oldest YMCA building still used in the nation, in Clifton Springs, YMCAs across the region are undergoing big changes.

The next-generation YMCA is evident at the Schottland Family Branch, which opened last fall at the corner of Clover Street and Jefferson Road in Pittsford. The 140,000-square-foot facility on 20 acres offers everything from a golf and sports simulator to a gigantic aquatic center with a pirate shipwreck-themed splash pad, whirlpool and current channel. In an exercise your mind center, find sound and recording booths for music and video production not to mention a whole host of health and wellness programs and the latest in fitness equipment.

Its not your grandfathers YMCA, but the Schottland Family Branch one of the largest in the country is a prime example of what the organization founded in England in 1844 has been up to in recent years.

It doesnt stop there. YMCAs in rural communities are stepping up, too, to upgrade outdated buildings and revamp how they deliver programs and services.

Modern Y for historic village

The Palace Theatre in Clifton Springs, an early 20th-century building that oncehoused a theater downtown, has been part of the Clifton Springs YMCA for decades. Reconstruction of the facility, which is set to begin April 1, will create a modern wellness center with a fully accessible welcoming lobby and space ideal for personal training, indoor sports and youth fitness programs. Without compromising historic architectural features, the 3,300-square-foot renovation of the Palace will be the first phase of a $1.5 million upgrade that includes the YMCAs original building across Crane Street that dates back to 1879.

A $300,000 state grant recently announced by the Regional Economic Development Council is the icing on the cake, said Todd Freelove, executive director of the Clifton Springs Family YMCA. The grant puts the Y closer to meeting its fundraising goal for the Palace renovation, Freelove said. The Clifton Springs Y is eyeing renovation of its original building to tentatively begin this fall. The 5,500-square-foot upgrade of the original YMCA building will triple the size of the weight room and create a spacious area for child care, among other programs.

Freelove talked about the community support that has made the project possible as he showed off the aging facilities with uneven floors, narrow hallways and fitness machines crammed together.

A native of Phelps, Freelove said the Y has been part of his life for a long time. He has worked at other YMCAs in the area and now calls the Clifton Springs YMCA home.

This is my place to be, he said.

Situated above the desk in his office, a bulletin board is filled with photos of kids, cards and drawings. He said he sees the YMCA fulfilling its mission of serving the community and promoting core values respect, responsibility, honesty and caring and he is excited to be part of that.

Not just a health club

At the Geneva Family YMCA, a $750,000 state grant announced in 2018 is going toward a 9,600-square-foot expansion and renovation of its facility on Williams Street. It will create more space for health and wellness programs that include chronic disease prevention and recovery. The Y will continue to play a role in economic development through expanded on-the-job training and certification programs for youths.

The YMCA is not just a health club, said Charles Evangelista, chairman of the Geneva Ys Capital Campaign Steering Committee. We really listen to what the community needs and weve aligned our programs for those needs.

The fastest growing demographic is senior citizens and so more space and programs need to be devoted to this group, Evangelista said. At the same time, the Y provides programs for all ages and the entire family, he added. A nonprofit organization, the Y provides scholarships and financial help so people who couldnt otherwise afford the Y benefit, he said. Evangelista mentioned that this is especially important in Geneva where the poverty rate is higher than many other communities.

If Ys are not out there doing work for the community and making sure everyone has access, regardless of ability to pay, we might as well be just another gym down the street, he said.

Evangelista said the $4.5 million upgrade of the Geneva Y is a necessity to have a modern facility that meets the needs. He sees the goal within reach and a possible groundbreaking this spring.

Look to the future

Back in the 1990s, Laurie OShaughnessy visited a YMCA in North Carolina that partnered with the medical community. The concept is catching on with YMCAs in New York state, said OShaughnessy, CEO of the Canandaigua Family YMCA. Though New York is late to the game, it has allowed us the opportunity to perfect those relationships, she said.

The YMCA of Greater Rochester, which oversees 11 area Y branches including the new Schottland Family Branch, is behind this concept of marrying Y fitness and wellness offerings with healthcare. A collaborative agreement announced in 2018 gives area residents greater access to UR Medicine wellness programs and clinical services at all YMCA of Greater Rochester sites. The Schottland branch includes a 15,000-square-foot wellness hub with medical services for Y members and the community at large.

The Canandaigua Y, which is an independent YMCA and so not under the Greater Rochester umbrella, is also working to strengthen community health and well-being, OShaughnessy said.

Integrative health is a trend nationally and the YMCA of Greater Rochester and UR Medicine are proud to be part of that trend, she said. In the future, Canandaigua would welcome that opportunity.

The Geneva Y, also one of 48 independent YMCAs in the state, is exploring a partnership with a healthcare system, Evangelista said. As part of its renovation and expansion, the Geneva Y has had discussions with UR Medicine Thompson Health and Finger Lakes Health, to see which partnership would make the best fit, he said. Evangelista said it makes sense to have a one-stop shop where you can visit a healthcare provider and benefit from health and wellness programs.

Recent developments at the Canandaigua Y include a two-year management agreement that was signed this Jan. 1 with the YMCA of Greater Rochester. The YMCA of Greater Rochester will provide the Canandaigua Y with consultation and help in areas including membership, programs, marketing, fundraising, IT, human resources and property management.

Rich Buch, who has been the Canandaigua YMCAs director of business and finance for seven years, is now employed by the YMCA of Greater Rochester as the Canandaigua branch director. OShaughnessy and Buch are working closely leading up to OShaughnessys retirement March 31.

Discussions are also underway regarding use of a recent $20,000 state grant through the Regional Economic Development Council to upgrade Canandaigua Y facilities. OShaughnessy said she is excited for the future of the YMCA, where she has worked for three decades.

We are constantly looking at all options to better the Y, serve the community and ensure long-term sustainability, OShaughnessy said.

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Rebuilding the YMCA - MPNnow.com

The smell of burning mugwort fills the air. Tiny bundles of the spongy, earthy herb, used for thousands of years to facilitate healing in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), have been attached to the acupuncture needles protruding from my stomach. Subtle pinpricks of heat weave their way under my skin as I breathe in the pungent scent. The distant patter of rain forms an impromptu soundtrack as a tropical shower sweeps through the jungle canopy directly outside my treatment room.

This is my first experience of moxibustion an ancient acupuncture technique used to warm the meridians, with the aim of smoothing the flow of both blood and chi. I am four days in to a Wellness Immersion programme at Amanpuri, and much is being done to address sluggishness and imbalance in my body.

Aman Resorts flagship property opened in Phuket, Thailand, in 1988, setting the bar for its signature brand of intimate luxury, now found in 21 destinations around the world. Last year, Amanpuri also became the first of Amans properties to launch integrative medical services, supplementing its already expansive wellness offering with a dedicated medical centre. Its exactly the kind of multilayered, 360-degree approach that todays affluent, holistic, health-conscious travellers have come to expect.

Amanpuri, which is Sanskrit for place of peace, is located on a private headland on the west coast of Phuket, with sweeping vistas of the Andaman Sea and Bangtao Beach. The resort was recently extended and enhanced, and is home to 40 Thai-style pavilions and 40 private villas. I am staying in one of the latter a villa that artfully combines traditional Thai design features with a contemporary minimalist aesthetic, set across three floors and engulfed in dense tropical vegetation, with dedicated staff and a dark-tiled infinity pool offering views across an expansive white-sanded bay.

I am greeted on my first day at the propertys new Holistic Wellness Centre by the beaming, baby-faced Ms Pimchanok, who, I learn, has a masters in movement and exercise science, and a gentle way of breaking less than savoury news. Our first stop is the 3D scanning machine, which serves up photorealistic images highlighting the consequences of my largely sedentary, office-bound, exercise-poor lifestyle. It is a searing dissection of every contour of my anatomy hip, waist, thigh, bust and bicep measurements; waist-to-hip and trunk-to-leg volume ratios; a body shape rating that measures the relationship between my shape and cardiovascular-related risk factors; and a detailed assessment of my posture that determines everything from the tilt of my head to how my weight is distributed when I stand. It is a sobering read, softened slightly by Pimchanoks cheery delivery.

Next up is a consultation with a doctor, who recommends a bout of physiotherapy when I mention a recurring issue with lower back pain, and then a lengthy discussion with the centres TCM specialists, Kimberly Rose, Amanapuris immersion manager, and Shinichi Kiyose, the resorts spa and wellness director. There is a confessional air to the experience, as I answer intimate questions about my sleeping habits, stress levels and attitudes towards food. Both Rose and Kiyose examine my tongue and perform a pulse diagnosis an age-old technique that involves taking the pulse at three points on the wrist. The quality of the pulse at specific points offers up information about the status of particular organs in the body, and Rose and Kiyose ascertain that there is an imbalance in my spleen and stomach, as well as blockages in my liver and gallbladder. I head off to lunch as all of this information is pored over and used to create an entirely personalised schedule of treatments for me.

A daily wellness menu forms part of the experience, serving up a choice of healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner options. Nutritious morning dishes include white quinoa porridge with almond milk, cinnamon and walnuts; a mango-colada smoothie bowl; or acai, beet and nut power smoothie bowl to be eaten in the privacy of your villa or overlooking the resorts 27-metre infinity pool. Lunch and dinner consist of soups, salads and mains highlights include a zingy Tom yam soup with tofu and vegetables, a seaweed and kale salad with an orange miso dressing, and courgette fettuccine al a fungi. Its all tasty, fresh and filling, although, given the constant temptation of the propertys Japanese, Italian and Thai restaurants, the choices on the wellness menu can sometimes feel limited. Luckily, healthy snacks are placed in my room every evening, including a moreish salted dark chocolate concoction, to keep late-night cravings at bay.

Amanpuris Wellness Immersions offer four pathways: weight management, detox and cleansing, mindfulness and stress management, and life reset. Medical services range from chemical peels to physiotherapy, while TCM therapies include cupping, four-handed Abhyanga oil massages and Acu-Laser therapy. The immersions can vary in duration and generally include a combination of spa treatments, medical sessions and private or group movement classes, including yoga and Muay Thai.

My treatment plan starts with a Grounding Massage a signature treatment designed to address fatigue and jet lag. Earthy essential oils lull me into a meditative state, counterbalancing the deep pressure of the massage, which is meant to provide relief from physical pain. Also on my schedule is Chi Ne Tsang, a deep abdominal massage that is meant to rebalance and enhance digestion and energy levels, and clear out blockages. My therapist, Khun Maam, kneads away, eliminating toxins, before sending me off with a series of dietary suggestions, recommending that I consume more ginger, pepper, milk thistle, dandelion tea and turmeric.

Treatments are interspersed by visits to the resorts hydrotherapy facilities trying to withstand 30-second stints in the sub-Arctic cold plunge pool and then defrosting my extremities in the hot pool, steam rooms and infrared sauna. The days are marked by intermittent tropical showers, best enjoyed in the spas open-sided relaxation areas, where I lie on a lounger reading my book as the rain falls in dramatic sheets all around me. Place of peace is right.

Programme lengths and packages vary; an Intensive Wellness Immersion starts from $1,840 (Dh6,757) per night, based on single occupancy

Updated: January 26, 2020 05:18 PM

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Moxibustion and Muay Thai: we try Amanpuri Phuket's holistic wellness retreats - The National

One organization is aimed at providing an integrative approach to address a patients mind, body and spirit.

PrivaMD, 16986 Robbins Rd., Suite 180, works to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western medicines. Instead of being a sick fix, physicians work to get to the root cause of a patients problem and treat them as a whole person, said Heidi Naperala, PrivaMD CEO and founder.

Were trying to shake up healthcare a little bit, she said.

PrivaMD started in October 2018, and the Grand Haven facility opened in May 2019.

Naperala has worked in healthcare since 2005 and has consulted in the United States and Canada. Naperala said they current healthcare system is broken, filled with patients who have long waits to see a doctor and dont get answers, and physicians who are busy and unable to practice the way they want.

Naperala said they wanted to provide something different, so they met with a panel of patients and perspective clients who helped them create PrivaMD. Naperala explained its the wisdom of Eastern medicine with the benefit of Western medicine technology, and providers can choose what works best for their patient.

Its the best of both worlds, she said.

Four PrivaMD physicians see patients for primary care/family medicine, womens health, functional medicine for women, and pain management/medical acupuncture. Theyre also working to add an additional provider. Two social workers also see patients. Naperala said its a collaborative environment to address the whole patient.

Providers see patients ages 5 and older.

The providers are independent and contract with PrivaMD for practice management. Naperala said the structure allows physicians to focus on getting to know patients and getting to the root cause of issues, while also giving physicians flexibility on who they refer patients to for various services.

Instead of seeing dozens of patients each day, physicians typically see eight patients daily, Naperala said. Appointments usually range from 30 minutes to an hour to provide the physician time to get to know the patient and find the underlying cause of a problem instead of masking the issue with pharmaceuticals.

We dont just pull out a chart, Naperala said. We pull up a chair.

Wellness services are also offered through PrivaMD, and individuals who arent patients can access them. Some of the services offered include IV nutrition therapy, infrared sauna, ionic foot detox, acupuncture, diagnostic testing, health cooking classes, and massages.

While insurance is accepted, Naperala said some patients opt to forego using insurance because of coverage limitations. PrivaMD also offers membership options for clients to receive services.

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, recently toured the Grand Haven facility. During the congressmans visit, staff shared their journey and experiences in the healthcare field.

Huizenga credited PrivaMD for innovatively thinking and approach to delivering healthcare.

Huizenga said that although he doesnt believe the Affordable Care Act was the right answer to address healthcare, he believes it started asking the right question about what can be done to change healthcare.

While alternative medicine isnt for everyone, Huizenga said it shouldnt be excluded.

Since opening, PrivaMD continues to see an increase in patients seeing their services. One day last week alone 18 new patients signed up, Naperala said.

In the future, Naperala said plan to grow along the Lakeshore and add additional services for patients.

For more information about PrivaMD, call 616-213-0253 or visit privamd.org.

Read more:
An integrated approach to healthcare | News - Grand Haven Tribune

Washington, D.C.Processed foods are highly correlated with obesity, according to research from George Washington University (GW).

GW researcher Leigh A. Frame, Ph.D., MHS, said in a press release: When comparing the U.S. diet to the diet of those who live in blue zonesareas with populations living to age 100 without chronic diseasethe differences are stark. Many of the food trends we reviewed are tied directly to a fast-paced U.S. lifestyle that contributes to the obesity epidemic we are now facing. Dr. Frame is Program Director for the Integrative Medicine Programs, Executive Director of the Office of Integrative Medicine and Health, and Assistant Professor of Clinical Research and Leadership at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and co-author of the paper.

The rising obesity epidemic in the U.S., as well as related chronic diseases, are correlated with a rise in ultra-processed food consumption, says the press release. The foods most associated with weight gain include potato chips, sugar sweetened beverages, sweets and desserts, refined grains, red meats, and processed meats. Other dietary issues include insufficient dietary fiber intake and an increase in food additives.

Dr. Frame added: Rather than solely treating the symptoms of obesity and related diseases with medication, we need to include efforts to use food as medicine. Chronic disease in later years is not predestined, but heavily influenced by lifestyle and diet. Decreasing obesity and chronic disease in the U.S. will require limiting processed foods and increasing intake of whole vegetables, legumes, nuts, fruits, and water. Health care providers must also emphasize lifestyle medicine, moving beyond a pill for an ill.

Continued here:
Processed Foods Highly Correlated with Obesity, Study Finds - WholeFoods Magazine

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pendulum Therapeutics, an evidence-based microbiome company, announced today the formation of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and Medical Advisory Board (MAB). The two boards comprise experts in metabolic disease, computational biology, genetics and microbiology who are faculty members at world-leading medical institutions.

Pendulum Therapeutics is the first and only microbiome company to apply the discoveries of high-resolution, long-read DNA sequencing to the development and commercialization of microbiome interventions targeting specific diseases. Advisory board members are working closely with Pendulums leadership team as the company seeks to apply genomic discoveries to the continued development of microbiome interventions.

We are incredibly fortunate to have these world-class experts support our work by providing ongoing guidance to our scientific and medical strategy and tactics, said Colleen Cutcliffe, co-founder and CEO. Together, we have created the first microbiome intervention for type 2 diabetes with both scientific and medical data. We are excited to work with our advisors, both collectively and individually, to further our mission of making millions of lives healthier through microbiome-targeted medical probiotics.

Ive long believed that the next major medical breakthroughs would come from analyzing and deciphering the complex world of the microbiome through rigorous excellent DNA science, said Eric Schadt, dean for Precision Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and founder and CEO of Sema4. Pendulum Therapeutics has built a microbiome discovery and development platform that stands at the center of this new field of medical innovation and is poised to revolutionize how we address chronic diseases through paradigm-shifting medical innovations.

Pendulums Scientific Advisory Board (SAB):

Pendulums Medical Advisory Board (MAB):

About Pendulum TherapeuticsPendulum Therapeutics is the first and only microbiome company to apply the discoveries of high-resolution, long-read DNA sequencing to the development and commercialization of microbiome interventions targeting specific diseases. Pendulums proprietary innovation platform enables identification of microbiome mechanisms of action and rapid translation from discovery and development through human clinical validation. Founded in 2012 by a diverse team of scientists with deep microbiology, biochemistry, computational and clinical expertise, Pendulum has raised $57 million to date. Sequoia Capital led its Series B with repeat participation from Mayo Foundation, True Ventures, Khosla Ventures, AME Cloud Ventures and others. Formerly Whole Biome, Pendulum Therapeutics is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, please visit http://www.Pendulum.co.

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Pendulum Therapeutics Announces Formation of Scientific and Medical Advisory BoardsGlobally Recognized Metabolic Experts and Industry Luminaries...

We, Global Marketers.biz, after comprehensive analysis, have introduced a new research study on Global Nutrigenomics Testing Market. The report provides a unique competitive analysis of the size, segmentation, competition, trends, and outlook in the manufacturers operating in the industry. It covers the key manufacturers profiles in detail along with market entry strategies, production analysis, market share, revenue forecast and regional analysis of the Nutrigenomics Testing industry. It particularly delivers wide-ranging analytical information on regional segmentation.

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This study considers the Nutrigenomics Testing market value and volume generated from the sales of the following segments:

Growth Drivers and Industry Trends:

The Global Nutrigenomics Testing Market is divided into different segments with reference to the geographic, types, applications, and manufacturers. Our team of scholars has followed a focused and realistic research outline in order to inspect the vital market dynamics like drivers, restraints, and opportunities in many areas across the world.

Regional Analysis:

The report covers a forecast and an exploration of the Nutrigenomics Testing Market on a global and regional level. The historical data is given from 2015-2020 and the forecast period is from 2020-2026 based on revenue (USD Billion). The Nutrigenomics Testing industry was estimated at XX Million US$ in 2020 and is probable to grasp XX Million US$ by 2026, at a CAGR of XX% throughout 2020-2026.

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Table of Content

1 Global Market Overview

1.1 Scope of Data

1.1.1 Scope of Yields

1.1.2 Scope of Companies

1.1.3 Scope of End-Use

1.1.4 Scope of Product Type

1.1.5 Scope of Geographies

1.2 Global Market Size

2 Regional Market

2.1 Regional Sales

2.2 Regional Demand

2.3 Regional Trade

3 Key Manufacturers

3.1 Company A

3.1.1 Company Info

3.1.2 Product & Services,

3.1.3 Corporate Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)

3.1.4 Recent Expansion

3.2 Company B

3.2.1 Company Info

3.2.2 Product & Services

3.2.3 Corporate Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)

3.2.4 Recent Expansion

3.3 Company C

3.3.1 Company Info

3.3.2 Product & Services

3.3.3 Corporate Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)

3.3.4 Recent Expansion

3.4 Company D

3.4.1 Company Info

3.4.2 Product & Services

3.4.3 Corporate Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)

3.4.4 Recent Expansion

3.5 Company E

3.5.1 Company Info

3.5.2 Product & Services

3.5.3 Corporate Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)

3.5.4 Recent Expansion

3.6 Company F

3.6.1 Company Info

3.6.2 Product & Services

3.6.3 Corporate Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)

3.6.4 Recent Expansion

3.7 Company G

3.7.1 Company Info

3.7.2 Product & Services

3.7.3 Corporate Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)

3.7.4 Recent Expansion

4 Major End-Use

5 Market by Type

6 Price Overview

6.1 Price by Manufacturers

6.2 Price by End-Use

6.3 Price by Type

7 Research Conclusions

8 Appendix

8.1 Methodology

8.2 Research Data Source

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Global Nutrigenomics Testing Market By Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2025. - NY Telecast 99

Question: You have helped me out in the past so I thought Id get your opinion on this. On a recent show, a doctor was talking about which foods to eat and which to avoid. He said that you should be eating nuts, but dont eat cashews, as they are not a nut, but rather a seed, and contain high levels of lectin. I always thought that cashews were a tree nut just like walnuts, etc. Can you shed some light on this for me?

Answer: In this case, Im afraid my opinion would not be worth much. I needed the expertise of horticulturist, Pat Regan, who humbly describes himself as a friend who spends a lot of time pondering plant parts and identification.

Pat explains that the names we commonly use often distort the scientific terms for plant parts. Fruit and vegetable are typically considered the worst abused but nut probably comes in first place, he says.

All true nuts are seeds, but not all seeds are nuts, says Pat.

Kind of like all trees are plants but not all plants are trees?

Absolutely.

So a nut is a type of seed. Got it.

Botanically, he continues, a nut is a dry fruit with one seed and a thick hard shell. Think of acorns, hazelnuts, chestnuts or hickory nuts. On the other hand, cashews come from a fleshy fruit, not a hard shell. They are more like plums, apricots, cherries and olives.

Cashews, says the Integrative Medicine Department at UC Davis, are technically not a nut. Although they grow on trees, they are really seeds that grow from a strange-looking fruit called a cashew apple.

Incidentally, Pat continues, peanuts (a legume), walnuts, almonds and pecans are not true (botanical) nuts, either. Nor are pine nuts, pistachio nuts and Brazil nuts, and yet most would call me a nut for saying so.

As for lectins, these are proteins that occur naturally in most raw plants, including cashews. The good news is that cooking destroys the activity of these proteins one reason why cashews are always sold roasted or steamed.

The other reason is that raw cashews are enclosed in a shell that contains a resin called urushiol, the same rash-causing substance found in poison ivy. Heat inactivates urushiol another reason cashews are always sold shelled and roasted or steamed.

One last word about nuts in general, including the not true nuts. They are a good source of protein, micronutrients, healthful fats and disease-fighting antioxidants. And according to the Micronutrient Information Center at Oregon State University, consuming a variety of nuts on a regular basis is associated with a lower risk for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

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ELLSWORTH, Maine (WABI) - Keeping your body moving and your mind in a good mood can be harder to do in the winter.

But the Ellsworth Public Library wants to help you out.

The library will be hosting four free exercise classes to help people active this winter. The classes will be on Saturdays at 1 p.m.

Tai Chi with Nina Zeldin is set for January 25. Essentrics Apprentice Class with Wendy Lessard, LMT will be February 15. Yoga with Machelle LaHaye wis scheduled for February 22. Pilates with Charlotte Clews will be March 28.

Because of the popularity, an additional class time may be added, too.

This programming is made possible through a grant from the National Library of Medicine in conjunction with Healthy Acadia. Space is limited and registration is required. All materials for the classes will be provided.

To sign up, call the library at 667-6363 or visit http://www.ellsworthlibrary.net.

The library and Acadia Integrative Medicine are also partnering to present "Stay Happy this Winter" Thursday, January 23 at 6 p.m.

Dr. Christy Seed will share information about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and different ways to treat it. The talk will focus on the benefits of light therapy and the importance of Vitamin D and exercise during the winter months. A brief Q&A will follow.

The library now offers two light therapy lamps for patrons to check out and one lamp for library use. Recommended usage is 20-30 minutes per day. Always consult your physician before starting a light therapy program. You can call the library for more information.

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Ellsworth Public Library wants to help people be active, happy in winter - WABI

Hossein Derakhshankhah, 1, 2,* Samira Jafari, 1, 2,* Sajad Sarvari, 3 Ebrahim Barzegari, 4 Faezeh Moakedi, 5 Milad Ghorbani, 6 Behrang Shiri Varnamkhasti, 1 Mehdi Jaymand, 7 Zhila Izadi, 1, 8 Lobat Tayebi 9

1Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 2Zistmavad Pharmed Co., Tehran, Iran; 3Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Science, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA; 4Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 5Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA; 6Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; 7Nano Drug Delivery Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 8Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; 9Marquette University School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Zhila Izadi; Lobat Tayebi Email izadi_zh@razi.tums.ac.ir; lobat.tayebi@marquette.edu

Abstract: The advent of porous materials, in particular zeolitic nanoparticles, has opened up unprecedented putative research avenues in nanomedicine. Zeolites with intracrystal mesopores are low framework density aluminosilicates possessing a regular porous structure along with intricate channels. Their unique physiochemical as well as physiological parameters necessitate a comprehensive overview on their classifications, fabrication platforms, cellular/macromolecular interactions, and eventually their prospective biomedical applications through illustrating the challenges and opportunities in different integrative medical and pharmaceutical fields. More particularly, an update on recent advances in zeolite-accommodated drug delivery and the prevalent challenges regarding these molecular sieves is to be presented. In conclusion, strategies to accelerate the translation of these porous materials from bench to bedside along with common overlooked physiological and pharmacological factors of zeolite nanoparticles are discussed and debated. Furthermore, for zeolite nanoparticles, it is a matter of crucial importance, in terms of biosafety and nanotoxicology, to appreciate the zeolite-bio interface once the zeolite nanoparticles are exposed to the bio-macromolecules in biological media. We specifically shed light on interactions of zeolite nanoparticles with fibrinogen and amyloid beta which had been comprehensively investigated in our recent reports. Given the significance of zeolite nanoparticles interactions with serum or interstitial proteins conferring them new biological identity, the preliminary approaches for deeper understanding of administration, distribution, metabolism and excretion of zeolite nanoparticles are elucidated.

Keywords: zeolite, mesoporous, nanostructure, biosafety, biomedical applications

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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Biomedical Applications of Zeolitic Nanoparticles, with an Emphasis on | IJN - Dove Medical Press

New DelhiThe medical community from India, Asia Pacific and the USA joined the speakers here in New Delhi on Sunday at a two-day conference and workshop over fundamental doctrines of anti-aging.

As many as 300 doctors, including world renowned clinicians and researchers in the field of integrative medicine, participated in the conference to sensitise people on the importance of intermittent fasting and long life.

American Academy of Antiaging Medicine (A4M) with Smart Group conducted Indias first anti aging International conference.

Speaking at the event, Dr. B K Modi,Founder-Chairman, Smart Group said, There is an uncanny similarity between ancient Indian science fundamentals of Anti Aging, it is my earnest wish that India leads this global anti aging era.

I am very glad that doctors in India are taking a keen interest in preventive health. I wish more people discover the benefits of preventive health, and can lead happy & healthy lives, beyond 100, he added.

Dr Modi also announced to create wellness cities in New Delhi and Modipur and Rampur Aby 2025.

A host of converging technologies like artificial intelligence, Robotics, Virtual Reality, Digital Biology, sensors, will clash into 3D printing, blockchain, quantum computing and global gigabyte networks in the near future and it will completely change the dynamics of the healthcare industry and how it will be delivered, said Preeti Malhotra, Chairman, Smart Bharat & Chairman, Organising Committee Smart A4M India Conference.

Preventive healthcare has a profound effect on human longevity, awareness and mental wellbeing. I am very happy that we have been able to bring A4M to India to initiate this conversation, much needed in a country like ours, she noted. (IANS)

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Preventive Health Care is Key to Long Life: Experts at India's First Anti-Aging Conference - India New England

Deepak Chopra, Special to SFGate

By Deepak Chopra, MD

The recent reckless skirmish between the U.S. and Iran held a deep irony. Neither side wanted to go to war, and yet neither side could talk to each other except in terms of war. Language and action go together. If you are stuck in the metaphor of war, with its winners and losers, revenge, enmities that last for generations, and the macho image of the warrior, you can never end war even though you want to.

There is no clean end to war once you are in a war mentality. Winners in one war become losers the next, and combat runs into a quagmire in which it is obvious that neither side will be able to claim victory, war thinking keeps stubbornly drilling home the same metaphor of war. As history teaches us from World War I to Vietnam and now Afghanistan, wars are at once pointless, relentless, and endless. War heroes on one side are war criminals on the other.

There is a way to end war, and one sees signs of the solution appearing wherever people realize that we share the same goal, to achieve a prosperous, healthy, sustainable planet. War doesnt serve this shared goal, and the question is how long it will take for a positive global purpose to overshadow the metaphor of war that is embedded in nationalism, tribalism, racial and ethnic divides, and the other fellow travelers of war. All of these divisions are mind-made. They exist because we constructed them, and the secret is that whatever you made you can unmake.

In the face of so much blood and death, it seems strange to root war in a misguided concept. What William Blake called our mind-forgd manacles are a form of self-imprisonment. Change your concepts, and only then will the manacles fall off. Here are some of the replacements for the whole concept of war.

These ideas work in any negotiation, whether between nations or in a family. When we lack these ideas, we cannot turn them into coping mechanisms. War is the worst of all coping mechanisms, yet in many cases conflict is the first response we make when we feel resistance, obstacles, and pushback.

When people dont know how to cope, nations dont either. The basis of peace is peace consciousness in individuals. Even though you and I cant change how nations interact, we have the choice to be units of peace consciousness and to put the ideas listed above into daily practice. The survival of the planet depends on as many people hearing the call in the shortest possible time.

DEEPAK CHOPRA MD, FACP, founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a modern-day health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. He is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego. Chopra is the author of over 89 books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. His 90th book and national bestseller, Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential (Harmony Books), unlocks the secrets to moving beyond our present limitations to access a field of infinite possibilities. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century.

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10 Ways to Resolve All Conflicts and End War - SFGate

The event, which this year returns to Singapores Hilton hotel from July 7-9, will feature speakers from the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, National University of Singapore and Mahidol University / The Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand (FoSTAT),

There will also be sessions revealing the latest insights from the Malaysian Dietary Supplements Association (MADSA), Food Industry Asia and Mercer.

Delegate registration is now open, with an earlybird 20% discount offer.

The event takes place as the number of older persons in the region is expected to more than double from 600 million today to nearly 1.3 billion by 2050.

Organised by the publishers of FoodNavigator-Asia.com and NutraIngredients-Asia.com, the event brings together brands, suppliers, regulators and market experts to assess how the industry can meet the food and nutrition needs of older consumers of today and tomorrow.

Editor-in-Chief of both titles, and Regional Head of APAC at publisher William Reed, Gary Scattergood, said:Crucially, the event comes from the perspective that healthy ageing begins from conception. It assesses innovative food and nutrition solutions across all age spans, which will ultimately help people enjoy a healthy, as well as longer, older age.

Confirmed speakers include:

John Hellmann, Vice President, Government Affairs, Asia Pacific, Herbalife

Dr Yong Shan May, Principal Scientist, Bioefficacy and Bioactive Discovery, Brands Suntory

Dr Sam Henderson, Chief Scientific Officer, Cerecin

Dr Lesley Braun, Director, Blackmores Institute

Tana Limpayaraya, CEO, Amado Group (Thailand)

Dr. Mario Chin, Co-founder & CSO, Avant Meats

Associate Prof Satoshi Fukumitsu, Innovation center manager, NIPPN

Assistant Professor Anadi Nitithamyong Mahidol University / FoSTAT

Dr Jung Eun Kim, Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology, National University of Singapore

Dr. Ram Vishwakarma, Director, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine Jammu

EE Fern Wong, Board Member, Malaysian Dietary Supplements Association

Godelieve van Dooren, Partner, Mercer

Some of the key themes for the 2020 event will include:

Snacking for seniors:How the worlds leading FMCG brands can create options that aid Healthy Ageing

Reformulation and fortification:Expert insights on how to tackle the ticking economic and social timebomb of obesity and diabetes through reformulation strategies

Innovation for infants:How the latest research and product innovation is helping infants make the best start in life leading to tangible health outcomes in later life

Functional foods focus:The regions leading functional foods pioneers will share their healthy ageing strategies and experience in our dedicated showcase

Protein potential:The latest research around intake levels, product innovation and muscle health.

Indigenous insights:Research is booming in areas such at TCM, Ayurveda and Maori/Aboriginal botanicals and how they can be used for food and nutrition innovation. Well be hearing from an expert panel

Retail revolution:The regions leading retailers will share their views on how they can meet the needs of senior consumers, both online and offline.

Medical and clinical case studies:Well be hearing about the key advances being made in the area of foods for hospital patients as well as clinical nutrition solutions.

Markets and policy:Regulatory experts, decision makers, economists and trends analysts will be sharing the latest date into the economic, social and policy impacts of ageing.

To find out more, and view our highlights video from the 2019 event, please visit theevent website.

If you are from a major finished product brand and would like to discuss speaking opportunities, email gary.scattergood@wrbm.com

And to find out about our comprehensive partnership and sponsorship opportunities, email sueann.peh@wrbm .com and tim.evans@wrbm.com

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Healthy Ageing APAC Summit 2020: Academic and industry experts from Singapore, India, Thailand and Malaysia join the bill - FoodNavigator-Asia.com

Try to have your meals at the same time every day, Luke Coutinho suggests

Every Monday comes with an opportunity to work towards improving your health and fitness goals. Taking care of your health, weight is fitness is important because of many reasons. It makes you look and feel good. It is important to keep you disease-free. And more importantly, staying fit and healthy can also make you happy. In one of his recent videos on Facebook, lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho shares 6 tips that can follow this week for better physical, mental and emotional health.

Within the next five days, you need to follow these lifestyle changes every day and it can help in improving your health.

Try to get an early dinner, preferably by sunset. Luke suggests that you should have your dinner by 6.30-7 pm in case sunset happens around that time. Try to keep a gap of 2 hours between your dinner and bed time. Having early dinner is one practice that can help you sleep better, improve your sleep quality, reduce your weight, appetite, cravings to sugar, caffeine and much more.

This week try to eat dinners early, preferably by sunsetPhoto Credit: iStock

For the next 5 days, try to eat your breakfast, lunch, dinner and the other mid meals at the same time. Achieving this goal can control cravings effectively.

Organise your day in a way that you sleep at the same time every day and also wake up at the same time. Starting today, sleep at the same time every day and wake up at the same time. Doing this can reduce the lethargy and fatigue

Aim for exercising regularly this week. Aim for an hour, half hour or even 15 minutes if you can this week. Regular exercise is the most effective way to achieve good health, lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. It can help in getting your heart rate up, regularise your blood pressure, and much more.

Every morning when you wake up, just spend 5 to 10 minutes in doing what you love. It should be something that calms you down and motivates you to go ahead with the day on a positive note. It can either be meditation, or making a to-do list for the day, prayer, music, yoga or anything else that you would like to start your day with.

Have a morning ritual that calms you down and helps you start your day on a refreshing notePhoto Credit: iStock

Restricting use of social media is important for your own mental peace. It can help you get some me-time and also reduce your screen time which strains both your eyes and brain. Organise your day in a way that by the time you reach home, you are completely off social media.

These small yet highly effective lifestyle changes can do a lot in terms of improving your health, physically and mentally.

(Luke Coutinho, Holistic Lifestyle Coach - Integrative Medicine)

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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#MondayMotivation: This Week, Try To Make These 6 Lifestyle Changes For Better Health And Weight Loss - NDTV News

Therapies like yoga, meditation, mindfulness and sound healing programmes can help us manage work-realted stress, which often translates to ill health and low productivity levels.

Increasing job uncertainty, grueling work hours and an abject lack of work-life balance often translates to heavy stress in our professional lives. Rapidly changing nature of jobs, 24/7 connectivity and the resultant pressure of constant deadlines have turned Indian workplaces into pressure cookers where thousands of young professionals struggle to maintain mental balance. Rates of burnout or exhaustion syndrome are high among bright professionals who fail to reach their full potential because stress gets the better of them on their way to success. A survey by insurance company Cigna TTK found that a whopping 89% of people were suffering from stress, with work and finances being the primary causes of stress.

Interestingly, a number of corporate organisations have realised the negative impact stress is having on their employee productivity, and holistic wellness programmes have gained much traction. However, it is important to educate people at individual levels as well to learn to cope with stress on a daily basis. While we cannot change the stressors, we encounter every day, we can most certainly change the way our mind deals with them.

A number of alternative therapies can help individuals achieve better mental health and wellness. These therapies can be adopted as a way of lives as coping mechanisms for the mind. A study published in the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal concluded that yoga, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy were very effective in promoting overall mental health and preventing burnout due to work-related stress among participants.

Lets take a look at some alternative therapies that can help you cope with professional stress:

Mindfulness:

Mindfulnessis a psychological process through which one tries to maintain complete awareness of the present moment. It trains the mind to prevent distractions of the future or past musings. Achieving a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, acts, sensations as well as the environment plays a very impactful role in reducing stress. When you are bathing, you are focusing completely on the act of water interacting with your body; when you are eating, you are doing it so mindfully that all your thoughts are focused on your movement from the plate to the palate and beyond. A study published in theJAMA Internal Medicinereview found that a mindfulness-based programme helped reduce anxiety symptoms in people with generalised anxiety disorder. Another study published in the journalBiological Psychiatry found significant changes to the brain on scans after just three days of mindfulness meditation on 35 unemployed people experiencing major stress of a job search.

Mindfulness works by inducing a sense of calmness and improving focus. Mindfulness is even associated with lower levels of inflammation markers.

Yoga:

Yoga and meditation are widely known to induce benefits for mental health including stress management. Yoga combines the physical and mental disciplines to help achieve a peaceful alignment between the body and mind. When combined with meditation, yoga relaxes and soothes the nerves, aligns the mind towards a calm centre and helps an individual become more mindful of the present. Approach has significant benefits for stress and anxiety. Yoga doesnt just help in stress management, it also helps curtail the negative impact of stress on the body and reduces risk factors for chronic diseases, such as heart disease and high blood pressure. Yoga modulates the stress response systems by training the mind to perceive stress and anxiety differently.

Sound Healing:

Sound healing or music therapy is another highly under-utilised therapy that has significant benefits on stress and anxiety healing. It can effectively be termed as vibrational medicine with the use of music, singing, and sound tools that release vibrations to better the mental, emotional and physical state of a person. Sound healing creates a shift in our brainwave state by using entrainment; a bio-musicological sense that refers to the synchronisation (e.g. foot tapping) of humans to an external perceived rhythm such as music and dance. Entrainment creates a stable frequency in the brain. This allows for the mind to go from the normal beta state (normal waking consciousness) to the alpha state (relaxed consciousness). Quite similar to meditation which regulates the breath, sound healing influences the shift in the brain through its frequency.

Sound healing particularly helps in reducing anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders. A study published in the Journal of Evidence-based Integrative Medicine examined the impact of sound meditation, specifically Tibetan singing bowl meditation, on mood, anxiety, pain, and spiritual well-being. It found participants experienced a significant reduction in tension and feeling of spiritual well-being also significantly increased through sound healing.

The author is the director, Poddar Wellness Ltd and managing trustee, Poddar Foundation

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Alternative therapies to cope with workplace stress - The Sunday Guardian

Want to up your game when it comes to health and wellness?

From free barre class to seminar on human touch, there's plenty to do when it comes to holistic activities to enrich your weekend. Read on for a rundown.

Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions.

From the event description:

When: Saturday, Jan. 18, 9:30-10 a.m.Where: Adelante Austin, 1206 W. 38th St.Admission: Free

Click here for more details, and to get your tickets

From the event description:

When: Saturday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.Where: River City Wellness, 8708 S. Congress Ave., Suite 570Admission: $5 (Early Bird)

Click here for more details, and to get your tickets

From the event description:

When: Saturday, Jan. 18, 1-2:30 p.m.Where: Cancer Rehab and Integrative Medicine, 4130 Spicewood Springs RoadAdmission: Free

Click here for more details, and to get your tickets

From the event description:

When: Saturday, Jan. 18, 7-9 p.m.Where: Cenote - Windsor Park, 6214 Cameron RoadAdmission: Free

Click here for more details, and to get your tickets

This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.

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4 health and wellness events worth seeking out in Austin this weekend - Hoodline

In early June of 2018 elite middle-distance runner Robby Andrews was on fire. Was, unquestionably, at the top of his running game. The then-27-year-old had just run one of his fastest races ever: 3:36 in the 1500 meters at the Oslo Diamond League Meet in Norway, beating out 18-year-old phenom Jakob Ingebrigtsen. Which is why, for Andrewswinner of the 800-meter national outdoor title in high school, holder of a national indoor record in the 800 meters as well as the 1000 meterswhat happened two weeks later was such a shock.

June 21. The USATF Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. Andrews felt confident going into the 1500 meters, but mid-race he completely ran out of steam. He placed a disappointing fifth in his heat, not even qualifying for the finals. I dont know what happened, a confused Andrews told reporters after the race.

Kevin Morris

A few days later he came down with flu-like symptoms. For the next month he battled nasty upper respiratory and sinus infections and 102-degree fevers. Training just sucked, says the Olympian. My paces were nearly 40 seconds slower than theyd been just a few weeks before. Andrews went to his doctor, who ran tests for everything from Lupus to Lyme, but they all came back negative. I was told, There is literally nothing wrong with you, recalls Andrews. But there had to be, he knew. This could not possibly be all in his head.

Still, he had a contract with Adidas to fulfill, so Andrews traveled to Europe, where he clocked disappointing times: 3:44 in the 1500 meters at the Lignano Meeting International in Italy; 1:52 in the 800 meters in Flanders Cup Kortrijk in Belgium. For the remainder of the summer, Andrews felt constantly wiped out. Normally he would be up at 7:30 to train; now, he couldnt pry himself out of bed until 10. The few days a week he forced himself to run, hed get so dizzy and breathless hed have to quit after 20 minutes. Every afternoon, he napped for up to four hours.

He kept thinking how closely his symptoms resembled those of people he knew whod had Lyme, including his older sister Kristin (also a runner who is a 2020 Olympic hopeful) and his former roommate, Donn Cabral (a 2012 and 2016 Olympian in the 3,000-meter steeplechase), so Andrews asked to have his Lyme test re-run in September. It came back positive. The doctor wanted to prescribe antibioticsthe standard treatment for Lymeimmediately, but Andrews was worried about the side effects. Instead, he decided to take the advice of a holistic doctor who had helped his sister during her bout with Lyme in 2016.

Once a week Andrews swallowed eight drops, an hour aparta concentration of herbs such as ashwagandha, rhodiola, turmeric, licorice root, and cordycep mushroomsthat the holistic doctor said would help strengthen his immune system. He soaked his feet in a proprietary blend of herbs that he was told would draw toxins out of his body. He spent more than $1,000 on treatment. He didnt care if anyone thought he was nuts. He just wanted to feel better.

And he did, for a few months. My energy went way up. I could run three miles without having to stop, says Andrews. Then, in February, it all fell apartan almost overnight, dramatic decline in his physical and emotional health. Fatigue weighed down his body. Headaches crackled through his brain. He was sweating so much at night that he had to change the sheets. And perhaps the worst? Really depressive thoughts. It was a dark couple of months, Andrews says. If it wasnt for my girlfriend and family, I would have gone days without talking to anyone or leaving the house. He raced at the U.S. Championships at the end of February on Staten Island, in the 1000 meters. I felt bad from the first step. Something was wrong. He clocked in at 2:26dead last.

Drew Reynolds

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Disillusioned with the holistic protocol, Andrews finally accepted a prescription for antibiotics in March. His doctor told him to take them until his symptoms were relieved for a full month. Andrewss concerns about side effects were valid; the antibiotic gave him severe fatigue and headaches, brain fog and GI issues.

Desperate to make the 2019 world championship team, he ran the 800 meters at the Adrian Martinez Classic in April, only to come in last, again. In June he set his sights on the Princeton Qualifier. I missed my college roommates wedding for it, that is how important this race was for me, he says. Midway through the 1500-meter race, he dropped out, wheezing and depleted.

Andrews felt like he was out of options. And although he didnt know it at the time, he had entered the Lyme Wars, a fiercely contested fight about why some Lyme patients develop chronic, relapsing symptoms even after treatmentand what to do about them.

A stealth pathogen. Thats what some researchers call the corkscrew-shaped bacteriaBorrelia burgdorferithat causes Lyme disease, now one of the fastest growing infectious diseases in America. More than 300,000 new cases are diagnosed every year, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Black-legged ticks pick up Borrelia from the birds and small mammals they feed on, then they pass the bacteria into our blood when they feed on us, usually from May to Septemberprime months for logging miles on wooded trails and grassy park paths.

Removing a tick quickly lowers your risk for infectionit takes an estimated 36 to 48 hours for the arthropod to transmit Borrelia. But once the bacteria enters your body, it is a master of evasion. The Borrelia can spread from the skin to other tissues, which can make it more challenging to treat. Your immune system takes days to a few weeks to recognize any infection, including Lyme. Thats why the standard Lyme testwhich checks for antibodies (not the bacteria itself)can more easily give a false negative test early on, like Andrewss did.

When your body finally detects Borrelias presence, it launches an immune response to fight it, which is what can bring on flu-like symptoms such as sluggishness, fatigue, muscle aches, and joint pain. Runnersespecially those who spend hours outside during the summer training for fall marathonscan attribute symptoms to overtraining.

The majority of Lyme cases are easy to treat and cure with a 10- to 28-day course of antibiotics, says Paul Auwaerter, M.D., the president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Ying Zhang, MD, Ph.D., a leading expert on the Lyme bacteria and a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, disagrees. Lyme can be a really terrible disease and a very complex one. Different patients have different responses, and the disease can manifest in different ways, says Zhang, who believes Lyme can indeed develop into a chronic form that resists the current antibiotic treatment.

Indeed, for around 20 percent of Lyme patients, a dose of antibiotics isnt the end of the story. Not by a long shot. They continue to suffer from a variety of symptoms that can last for months, even years: fatigue, headaches, muscle and joint pain, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disruptions. The frequently used medical term for these persistent problems is Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS). PTLDS means that we know that a patient has had Lyme, has gotten a course of antibiotics, and doesnt feel like theyve bounced back, says Auwaerter.

PTLDS is often referred to as chronic Lyme, a term Auwaerter disparages as a catchphrase for otherwise unexplained fatigue, pain, and neurologic symptoms in people who dont meet the diagnostic criteria for Lymeusually obtained by medical history, a positive blood test, and physical exam. But diagnosing Lyme can be tricky. In the first three weeks after infection, the test detects Lyme only 29 to 40 percent of the time and some 30 percent of all Lyme patients, like Andrews, dont get the telltale bullseye rash.

Drew Reynolds

Drew Reynolds

What really keeps the controversy alive is this: There isnt yet a sensitive and reliable test that can determine if ongoing symptoms after Lyme treatment are due to an ongoing active infection, says Brian Fallon, MD, director of the Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at Columbia University. Without one, some medical organizations, like the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), believe chronic symptoms may be due to the persistence of the Lyme bacteria. They suggest that for some patients, the potential risks of treating with antibiotics for longer periods of time outweighs the consequences of an untreated persistent infection. Giving credence to this argument are several recent studies that found Lyme bacteria remained in animals even after they were treated with antibiotics. And in March, Zhang and his colleagues found that a slow-growing form of persister Lyme bacteria not only resisted standard single antibiotic treatment, but also caused more severe arthritis-like symptoms in mice. They found that a cocktail of three antibioticsdaptomycin, doxycycline, and ceftriaxonecompletely killed the bacteria, and they are now planning clinical trials to see if the result is the same in humans.

On the other hand, groups including the IDSA maintain that symptoms that linger after antibiotic therapy are not due to an ongoing active infection of the Lyme bacteria and therefore should not be treated with additional rounds of antibiotics because theyre unlikely to help. Six clinical trials have shown that long-term antibioticsbeyond the recommended 28 dayare not effective, says Auwaerter. Plus, long-term use of antibiotics can lead to serious side effects, such as blood clots and, even, in rare cases, death.

If chronic symptoms are not caused by an active infection, then what? It could be due to an autoimmune reaction, where a prior infection has triggered an immune reaction that is now acting independently, or it could be that the prior infection changed the brain activation patterns, Fallon says. Theres some evidence to support both of these processes.

While researchers debate, patients are left sick, with lots of questions, and no good answers. Its devastating for peoples lives and some are willing to try anything to get better, Fallon says. After his dismal race in Princeton, Andrews was one of them.

This June, after battling symptoms for nearly a year, Andrews visited Mark Sivieri, M.D., a board-certified family practice doctor in Maryland who is also board certified in integrative medicine (which pairs traditional medicine with complementary therapies). Andrewss cousin had been seeing him for her own ongoing Lyme symptoms. There was an instant connection: Sivieri had also been a professional runner; he and Andrews even shared a coach at one point. During the three-and-a-half-hour appointment, Sivieri studied Andrewss previous blood tests. He noticed that, in addition to Lyme, Andrews had tested positive for two other tick-borne infections (Andrews says the doctor who had ordered the test never mentioned them).

Ticks carry and transmit loads of other bacteria, parasites, and viruses beyond Borrelia burgdorferi. A single tick can make a person sick with several diseases at the same time, including Anaplasmosis (a bacterial infection that causes fever, aches, chills, and muscle aches), Babesiosis (a parasitic infection that attacks red blood cells), and Powassan virus (which can cause an infection in the brain and can even be deadly). And not all doctors check for these when they are focused on Lyme; those who do test for them may believe the antibiotics prescribed for Lyme will be enough to wipe out the co-infections. The estimates for co-infection rates with Lyme disease can widely range anywhere from about two to 40 percent. And not only are some, such as Powassan, more dangerous than Lyme, but simultaneous infection, some research suggests, may make Lyme harder to treat or recognize, and might affect how the immune system responds to Burgdorferi.

Sivieri put Andrews on a 60-day course of the two antibiotics hed previously been taking to kill the bacteria for Lyme; he also prescribed a medication to wipe out the co-infections. He said the night sweats and the shortness of breath, thats what the Babesia parasite does, it eats your red blood cells and prevents the oxygen from moving around your body. Thats obviously a big concern for runners. I couldnt breathe well when running, right from the start, says Andrews. And Im a trained athlete.

Sivieris tests showed that Andrews was also sensitive to gluten and dairy; he recommended avoiding them to help take pressure off his immune system. My stereotypical Italian grandma was aghast when I told her no more pasta and chicken parmesan, Andrews says. That was a big transition for me. But if thats whats was going to get me better, I didnt care at all.

Drew Reynolds

Sivieri then turned to natural remedies to help strengthen Andrewss immune system, putting him on adaptogenic herbssaid to help with all types of stresssuch as curcumin which can reduce the inflammatory response caused by Lyme.

Using alternative medicine to nuke hard-to-kill bugs might sound like folklore, but science is starting to back the theory: Zhang recently found that, in laboratory dish tests, 10 oilsincluding from garlic cloves, myrrh trees, thyme leaves, allspice berries, and cumin seedsshowed strong killing activity against the non-growing and slow-growing persister forms of the Lyme bacteria, even better than standard antibiotics. We need to do proper clinical trials, to see how to use them more effectively without being toxic but [in the future, I believe that] the more effective treatment is going to come from a combined approach of antibiotics with essential oils or natural products.

The combination of traditional and alternative medicine helped Andrews. The past year has been brutal, but he finally feels like his old self again. I wake up in the morning and I have energy all day, he says. Im not sweating at night, [there are] no headaches. The depressive thoughts are gone. Im training at full capacity. He plans to run the indoor season in 2020, still in hopes of achieving the Olympic qualifying time.

He stopped taking antibiotics in mid-August, now its complementary treatmentsincluding vitamin C for his adrenals and immune system and curcumin for inflammation. He still avoids gluten and dairy and is content to continue the regimen for the near future. The supplements could be pointless, but hes not going to chance it. It seriously feels like I have my life back, he says. This is me. Im back to me.

Continue reading here:
Robby Andrews Lyme Disease Recovery | Running With Lyme Disease - Runner's World

Thursday, January 16, 2020 4:38 p.m. EST

By Vishwadha Chander

(Reuters Health) - Common myths about low back pain could lead to more pain, ineffective care and unwarranted anxiety, researchers say.

Low back pain is the world's leading cause of disability, and it's often associated with costly care that can sometimes be harmful, Peter O'Sullivan and colleagues write in an editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Myths about back pain are common and can be reinforced by the media and well-meaning clinicians, the authors note.

This misinformation "can lead people to fear back pain, respond to it in unhelpful ways and drive poor healthcare," O'Sullivan said in an email. "Myths often cause negative emotional responses such as fear, distress and loss of hope," he added, as well as behaviors like over-protecting the back and avoiding movement, activity and work.

O'Sullivan, a specialist physiotherapist with the School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, told Reuters Health that almost daily, he comes across patients who hold unhelpful beliefs.

In their editorial, O'Sullivan and his colleagues identify 10 common myths about low back pain, and counter each of them with back pain facts that are supported by evidence.

Among the myths are the idea that low back pain will become persistent and will worsen with age, that pain is always a sign of tissue damage and requires rest, and that scans and invasive procedures are always needed to diagnose and treat low back pain.

In fact, the authors write, the evidence says persistent back pain can be scary, but it's rarely dangerous or life-threatening and it's unlikely to leave you in a wheelchair.

Getting older is not a cause of back pain, they add, and evidence-based treatments can help at any age. Persistent low back pain is rarely related to tissue damage and scans rarely show the cause of back pain.

Low back pain is not caused by poor posture while sitting, standing and bending, and it's also not caused by weak core muscles. Injections, surgery and strong drugs usually aren't effective for persistent back pain in the long term. Finding low-risk ways to control pain is key.

Dr. Houman Danesh, director of Integrative Pain Management at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, said it's common in his experience, too, to find patients holding beliefs like those in the list of myths.

"I usually have to spend a portion of my office visit untangling them, the most common being patients who say they have a herniated disc from 20 years ago and have chronic back pain. That is a rare occurrence," Danesh, who was not involved in the editorial, told Reuters Health in an email.

"It is sad and frustrating when patients take on a false identity based on a myth and lose a large part of their quality of life."

Danesh disagreed, however, with some of the authors' advice. For instance, there are cases when strong medications, injections or surgery can be used to treat low back pain, so that "is not entirely a myth," he said.

"There are times these treatments are necessary, and a medical evaluation is needed to determine the best course of treatment."

O'Sullivan said research into understanding back pain has increased, but societal beliefs and clinical practice were slow to catch up.

"Clinicians and doctors must spend time to ask patients what they understand about their back pain - its cause, consequences and how best to care for it - and then provide practical ways to manage it," he said.

SOURCE: https://bit.ly/2FuhlfI British Journal of Sports Medicine, online December 31, 2019.

Read more from the original source:
Myths may worsen low back pain and promote ineffective treatments - Midwest Communication

My first experience with olfactory virtual reality was truly trippy. Wearing a VR headset and holding a controller in each hand, I stood in a 3D room at OVR Technology in Burlington, gazing at a virtual table holding plates of tomato slices, garlic bulbs and basil leaves. As instructed by Jesse Stein, vice president of product and marketing, I used the controllers to pick up items with my white-gloved hands, bring them to my nose for a whiff and place them on the pizza beside me.

After I'd plunked down a few slices and bulbs, a lawn mower drove by, unattended, sounding just like a lawn mower and spewing grass in my general direction. As the four-wheeled interloper receded, I pushed a red button to slide the pizza into the oven.

The visual and auditory elements of this surreal experience were amazing. I felt like I'd been transported onto the Holodeck in a "Star Trek" show. But most remarkable were the scents provided by OVR Technology garlic, cut grass, hot Italian pie that wafted toward my nose at just the right moments.

The first time OVR Technology CEO Aaron Wisniewski tried VR, "It kind of blew my mind," he told Seven Days. "I immediately was like, 'This is the future. This is so cool. There is so much that can be done with this. But the thing that's missing, the thing that would make it feel like a real experience, is what I specialize in, which is scent.'"

Unbeknownst to many, "Our sense of smell is the only one of our senses with a direct link to the memory and emotions section of our brain, the limbic system," Wisniewski said in a TEDx Talk recorded in Stowe last May. "Every time you have an experience, it's inextricably linked to the smell of that moment and stored in the memory banks that make us who we are."

He believes that olfactory virtual reality could serve many purposes, from enjoyable to life changing. It could enhance a meditation practice, train employees in a task, teach first responders greater resilience to stress, diagnose anosmia (a loss or impairment of the sense of smell) and deepen exposure therapy for vets with posttraumatic stress disorder.

OVR Technology's mission, Wisniewski said in an interview, "is to have real-world positive impacts by enhancing the virtual world through scent. It's not just a cool thing or a gimmick. We want outcomes and impacts that are measurable."

The company aims to improve health care, education and training, and its first product is a three-component platform called Architecture of Scent. One component is the small ION device, which straps onto a VR headset, close to the wearer's nose. ION contains the second component, nine cartridges that store and emit highly realistic scents created by the company, or "scentware." The third component is software that interacts with VR software to cue delivery of scents in precisely measured doses timed to correspond to the headset wearer's behavior.

The scent of a rose should "be more intense the closer you get to it," Stein said. "Or, if there's a wind blowing" in the VR environment, the software calibrates "how the wind carries that scent."

Wisniewski cofounded OVR Technology in 2017 with his brother Sam Wisniewski, company COO and CFO; Matt Flego, CTO; and Erik Cooper, head of design. The four met at Generator maker space in Burlington. There, the Wisniewski brothers founded Alice & the Magician Cocktail Apothecary, which sells edible elixirs and aromatic mists; and Flego and Cooper founded M//E Design, an industrial design and prototyping company.

The Wisniewskis still own Alice & the Magician, now located on Pine Street, but spend most of their time at OVR Technology. "A really talented operations manager takes care of the day-to-day" at Alice & the Magician, Aaron Wisniewski said.

Last June, Flego and Cooper closed M//E Design, which had designed such products as the popular Core 360 active seating chair, to focus exclusively on the new business.

In 2015, the four founders learned about VR from Kip Steele, technical leader at Asure Software. Steele, who worked in information technology at the University of Vermont at the time, brought a headset to Generator.

About a year later, Champlain College started an experimental project to combine scents with VR. Faculty members invited Wisniewski to serve as a scent expert, and soon he and the other founders had created software, scentware and a prototype of the ION device.

"It looks like an elaborate mousetrap," Flego said of the prototype. At the proof of concept a successful demonstration of the olfactory virtual reality technology "we impressed some people, got a little bit of traction and a little bit of money," he recalled. Wisniewski was convinced that the product had huge potential, and soon his brother, Flego and Cooper joined him in creating OVR Technology.

A key collaborator who has helped guide development of the Architecture of Scent is Albert "Skip" Rizzo, a research professor at the University of Southern California and director for medical virtual reality at USC's Institute for Creative Technologies. He researches the use of VR to assess, treat, rehabilitate and increase resilience in psychology patients. Rizzo received the American Psychological Association's 2010 Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Treatment of Trauma for his work using virtual reality-based exposure therapy to treat PTSD.

Rizzo "has a deep understanding of how scents are an integral piece of the puzzle of PTSD," Wisniewski said. "We've been working closely with him and getting feedback from him on what types of scents to develop and how our technology can be effective with exposure therapy."

Rizzo is currently perfecting his Bravemind VR program for vets with PTSD and plans to distribute it to more than 100 VA hospitals around the country. OVR Technology is developing combat-related scents to enhance Bravemind.

Closer to home, OVR Technology is collaborating with David Lg Tomasi, who teaches and conducts research in the UVM Integrative Health program and Larner College of Medicine. He's also a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist at the UVM Medical Center.

"There is a lot of neuroscientific evidence of the role that sensory activation plays in our brain for general well-being," Tomasi said, "and by that I mean either in the stimulation of the olfactory bulb or the virtual-reality type of strategy."

Just as people can trick their brains into stimulating salivation by thinking about sucking on a lemon, he explained, VR can trick the brain into releasing neurotransmitters that are specifically focused on well-being.

"What is brand new is this combination" of olfactory stimulation and virtual reality, Tomasi emphasized.

"We've been doing integrative medicine for years on the patient psychiatry unit, mostly focusing on dietary examples, exercise, meditation, art therapy," he continued. But some patients can't participate due to medical issues, and Tomasi believes OVR Technology's product could help reduce their pain, stress and anxiety.

Not all olfactory virtual reality scenarios are as wacky or surreal as the pizza-with-lawn-mower demo I experienced. Tomasi found OVR Technology's woods-like demo so realistic that it was "really peaceful and nurturing. You could walk around, see the trees, see the landscape, the leaves and stones and rocks. You could pick up a marshmallow to roast, and you could have some water."

Sometimes, users forget that they're not in the real world. "Early on, we had a demo with a picnic table in it," Wisniewski recalled. "People would become so immersed in the environment that, within a minute or two, they would try to lean on the picnic table and fall over." After seeing a couple of people "hit the deck," the company adjusted the demo to keep people safe.

Within the next month or so, Tomasi and OVR Technology will launch a pilot study to collect qualitative and quantitative data from 12 volunteer UVM Medical Center inpatient subjects on the therapeutic value of olfactory virtual reality. A lot of research went into the study, which the team is confident is the first of its kind worldwide in a psychiatric setting. "It is groundbreaking research," Tomasi enthused.

A few other companies are also developing olfactory virtual reality, but OVR Technology's current challenges stem from more immediate concerns than competition. Because the VR industry is evolving quickly toward faster and smaller headsets, the company is already designing a smaller version of the ION device. It's also creating a "volume knob" to allow users to control the strength of scents delivered by the device.

Truth be told, I had a hard time smelling the tomato, basil and grass clippings in the demonstration. Though my brother's nose made him a successful New York City sommelier, my sniffer thinks Bayley Hazen Blue is a lot like Brie left in the fridge too long. I'd have welcomed a way to control the scent intensity, as would others who've experienced OVR Technology demos, Flego said.

"It's a lot like hearing: Different people hear different frequencies, and there are tons of factors that degrade over time," Stein noted.

But the company is determined to make its technology seamless. In the long term, "we envision that the relationship between smell and virtual reality will become as ubiquitous as sound and television," Wisniewski said.

His commitment to this goal stems in part from a cautionary concern. Culturally, we have deprioritized our sense of smell and sanitized our environment to include fewer scents, Wisniewski noted. He cited research showing that anosmia can lead to depression, anxiety and physical harm.

"If we continue down the path of being glued to screens and virtual reality, while ignoring this extremely important primal sense that has been refined over millions of years, the implications are kind of alarming," he said. "We don't have that many senses. You take away one, and I don't see it going well."

Original post:
OVR Technology Is Creating Olfactory Virtual Reality for Health Care, Education and Training - Seven Days

Congestion home remedies: From ginger to honey, carrots and cardamom, there are many remedies that can offer relief from cough, cold and increased congestion. Read here to know all about them. HIGHLIGHTS

Congestion home remedies: The rains have delayed the respite from cold weather that Delhiites may have been expecting this time around. Coughing, cold, congestion and sneezing may have increased for some of you. This is the right time to take some precautionary measures if you want to prevent your condition from getting worse. The most important thing to do is wear appropriate clothes and keep yourselves covered with warm clothes. Wear a muffler, cap, gloves, socks, jacket and everything else that will offer protection from the cold weather.

Besides, there are a few home remedies that can help in reducing congestion because of cold weather. Lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho shares a few of them on Instagram.

Ginger contains anti-inflammatory properties that can be beneficial for you in more ways than one. It can help in reducing congestion and clearing nasal passages. To make ginger tea, mash a piece of ginger (fresh ginger). Add 3 black pepper corns, a pinch of cinnamon, some cardamom, and 3 mashed garlic cloves. Boil all the ingredients well in a glass of water and reduce it to half. Add a tsp of honey to sweeten this infused tea. According to Luke, this tea "works the best" for reducing congestion, cold, cough, sneezing and other symptoms that worsen in the cold weather.

Ginger can offer relief from cough and cold during change of weatherPhoto Credit: iStock

Also read:Ginger For Congestion: Know How It Works And Ways To Use Ginger For Reducing Cough, Cold And Congestion

Carrots are a rich source of Vitamin C, the immunity-boosting vitamin which can help in fighting colds, allergies and sinus infections. Carrots also contain Vitamin A, which can help in keeping your mucous membranes healthy. Eating carrots, winter squash and sweet potatoes can provide you with beta carotene which your body converts into Vitamin A. Coconut oil, on the other hand, can help in dealing with irritated or sore nose, which often occurs after a few days of suffering from cold. Prepare carrot juice with fresh carrots and add 1 tbsp of raw coconut oil to deal with increased congestion because of change in weather.

Also read:Speed Up Your Weight Loss Process With Carrots This Winter; Know Other Health Benefits

Blocked nose, sinus infection and congestion can be effectively curbed with the help of steam inhalation. Luke suggests adding 1 tbsp of ajwain to the steam water. Inhale it for 5 minutes and it can help in breaking down of mucous, he says.

Honey can be helpful in offering relief from cold and congestion. You can prepare a lemon infused tea and add 2 tsp honey to it. Honey can soothe you while lemon juice in hot water can reduce congestion.

Honey can offer relief from cough and sore throatPhoto Credit: iStock

Also read:Surprising Benefits Of Honey For Weight Loss, Wound Healing And Much More

(Luke Coutinho, Holistic Lifestyle Coach - Integrative Medicine)

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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Change Of Weather May Have Increased Congestion: Try These 4 Home Remedies For Immediate Relief - Doctor NDTV