Highlights of this Week’s Edition

🍔 Impossible Whoppers: Plant-Based Meat Not as Healthy as Marketed

🍤 “Forever Chemicals”: Seafood Diets Linked While EPA Sets Limits

🏄‍♂️ The Push for the 4-Day Work Week and How it Could Benefit Lifestyle

🧘 The Positive Impacts of Mindfulness & Meditation on Health & Healing

😴 HBN Feature Article: Spring Cleansing 101: the Importance of Sleep (Part 4 of 4)

🤓 This Week’s Health Hack: Buy or DIY Infrared Heat Lamp for Pain Relief, Relaxation & Sleep

Recent Breaking News

Plant-Based Meat Alternatives Linked to Increased Health Risks 

Recently, there has been a lot of press about the benefits of plant-based diets, and over the last few years plant based meat alternatives have made their way into the meat sections at grocery stores and on the menus of fast food joints thanks to companies such as Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, the supplier of Burger King’s “Impossible Whopper.” But a growing concern has been that these PBMAs may not be healthier than real meat at all due to the addition of high levels of sodium, additives, and saturated fats. A recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that compared to eaters of traditional meat, regular consumers of plant based meat alternatives had higher blood and sodium levels associated with diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. So it appears that as tasty as they may be, PBMAs may not be everything they were once cracked up to be  (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition)

Seafood Diets Linked to “Forever Chemicals”; EPA Sets Limits

“Forever Chemicals”, technically named per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, made the news twice this week. These “Forever Chemicals” are found virtually everywhere in the environment and found in many household products, and take thousands of years to break down, and have been found to have negative health consequences including reproduction problems, developmental delays in children, suppressed immune system, and certain kinds of cancer. This week, new research published in Exposure and Health reported higher levels of PFAS in seafood such as shrimp, haddock, lobster, salmon, and canned tuna, suggesting that those who eat high seafood diets may be more susceptible to exposure. Meanwhile, the EPA released new regulations requiring public water systems to test for six common PFAS and is imposing limits on the amounts that can be included in drinking water (CBS News)

New Study Examines the Relationship Between Cholesterol and Blood Sugar to Depression and Anxiety

A new study involving 211,000 participants highlights the important relationship between cholesterol, blood sugar and stress related disorders including depression and anxiety. The researchers found that higher blood sugar and triglyceride levels were associated with future risk for depression and anxiety, whereas “good” cholesterol (aka HDL cholesterol) seemed to have protective effects  (JAMA Network Open)

WEEKLY FEATURE

Spring Clean 101 - part 4
“Improving Your Sleep”

This Week’s Top Picks & Trends

The Push for the 4-Day Workweek: What Would You Do With An Extra Day?

Is there anyone you can think of that wouldn’t want to work fewer hours? Over the last several years there has been lots of discussion and even new legislation has been proposed that would encourage 4-Day workweeks instead of the typical 5-Day. Many companies are even ahead of the curve, experimenting with 4-Day workweeks with their employees. Find out more about the push for the 4-Day workweek and read about real-life experiences with a reduced or compacted work schedule (Time)

How Meditation & Mindfulness Can Support Health & Healing

Most people are at least somewhat aware that meditation and mindfulness can produce a more relaxed state. But it’s not just for yogis and those looking for some casual stress relief. A regular practice is associated with a number of positive health outcomes including pain relief, relief from stress-related disorders such as anxiety and depression, and improved immune and cardiac health, just to name a few. Find out more about the amazing benefits of a regular practice (Mindful.org)

“Rejoyn” Becomes the First FDA Approved App for Depression

With at least 21% of US adults expected to be diagnosed with a major depressive episode in their lifetime, and the use of antidepressant medications skyrocketing, the FDA recently approved an App called Rejoyn as a treatment for Major Depressive Disorder. According to the Rejoyn website, “it’s a 6-week prescription brain-training program that is designed to help improve how the brain processes emotions.” The site reports that in clinical trials, it resulted in reduced symptoms of depression without side effects. The app uses a 6-week program based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that includes lessons, exercises, and reminder messages and should be available on both iOS and Android platforms (LifeHacker)

Note:Are you or someone you know in need of support and not sure where to turn? You can contact the National Helpline toll free at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889. It is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

This Week’s Health Hack

INFRARED HEAT & RED LIGHT LAMP FOR PAIN & COLD RELIEF, RELAXATION & SLEEP

This is a health hack that was introduced to me several years ago by a natural health practitioner when I was needing relief from chronic sinus congestion. Since then, I’ve also had some acupuncturists and body workers use infrared red light therapy in their sessions and I’ve found it very relaxing and healing. It helps to promote healing and relief to sore muscles and injury areas in the body, can help provide relief for congestion due to chronic sinusitis or colds, and can provide stress relief.

Many people have great results when using it before bed to help them get to sleep. Although you can purchase more expensive lamps made specifically for red light therapy, you can also get the same effect by purchasing infrared heat bulbs and a lamp from a hardware store, getting both for under $30.

This is what I use at home and I just attach the lamp to a microphone stand. To use it safely, make sure the light is placed about 2 feet from the body; it should be warm on the skin but not too hot. If you notice skin flushing, you should move it a little further away. When used on a local area, such as a shoulder, it can help provide pain relief and help to speed the recovery process. It can also be used more broadly like on the chest for relaxation.

Warning: be sure to secure the lamp as the bulb can get very hot, be sure to not allow the lamp to get to close to clothes are other fabrics, and be sure to keep the lamp a safe distance away from your skin.

You can find low budget options here and here or buy one specifically for therapy such as the Beurer Infrared Heat Lamp  on Amazon here >>>