Spring Garden Street
That ' s actually the name of a street in Philadelphia where my paternal ancestors lived, but it seemed like a good title for this post. If I still had the energy to keep up the Windham County blog I would have put it there, but for now I ' ll just leave it here.Living in the temperate zone we do have to get through the winter, but our reward is spring, which you can ' t have otherwise. I got a load of horseshit from my neighbors last fall and now I ' m starting to spread it around. I planted a Concord grape next to my front porch, with a decent scoop of manure in the hole, and my idea is that it will grow up the column an...
Source: Stayin' Alive - April 16, 2024 Category: American Health Source Type: blogs

Digital Health, Menopause, And The $150 Billion Ignorance
The idea of this story came from personal experience. During the past year, I have spent countless hours and a bucketload of money trying to figure out what the heck is wrong with my health. I was feeling worse and worse, having various symptoms, totally inexplicable with my impeccable test results. During this journey, not a single doctor asked or suggested that my symptoms may come from entering perimenopause – the stage of life of women preceding menopause.  I am 47 years old, and as I have learned since then, extremely average in starting to have perimenopause symptoms at the age of 47. Also very average ...
Source: The Medical Futurist - February 22, 2024 Category: Information Technology Authors: Andrea Koncz Tags: TMF Lifestyle medicine female health menopause tech Source Type: blogs

Whole Roasted Squash With Tomato-Ginger Chickpeas & Za ’atar
I read myself the riot act about 6 months ago, when my cholesterol level reached a new high. My doctor seemed nonplussed, perhaps because my cardiac calcium score was a perfect zero. But I was not happy. Yes, I had lost weight and was exercising, but to be honest, my heart belonged to cheese. And eggs. And ice cream. Something had to change. Breakfast was easy. The whole eggs (which I had been eating almost daily) were replaced by Starbucks Sous Vide Egg whites or oatmeal served with a side of chicken sausage. Lunches were yogurt or soup or vegan bean burritos or salad or tuna or peanut butter. I started snacking on nu...
Source: The Blog That Ate Manhattan - February 21, 2024 Category: Primary Care Authors: Margaret Polaneczky, MD Tags: Vegetables Butternut Squash Chickpeas vegetarian za'atar Source Type: blogs

Sunday Sermonette: The Just World Fallacy
 The " just world fallacy " or illusion is a cognitive bias that assumes the consequences of actions are morally determined -- that people ultimately get what they deserve based on the rightness of their actions. Psalms 36 and 37 are among many that express this fallacy as fact. Indeed, the just world fallacy is central to most religions -- God rewards the righteous and faithful, and punishes the wicked and impious. Of course this is not true. Note verse 11 of Psalm 37, which the RSV translates as " The meek shall possess the land. " KJV translates this as " The meek shall inherit the earth, " and I suspect that ...
Source: Stayin' Alive - December 31, 2023 Category: American Health Source Type: blogs

Za ’atar
I’m excited about this season’s Za’atar, because its almost entirely from foraged or home-grown spices. We picked the sumac along a dirt road in Northern New Hampshire in late June. It was the most luscious, oil-packed, fragrant sumac I’ve ever encountered. (Read about how to find and dry sumac here.) The oregano and thyme hailed from Pennsylvania and New York City, grown in sis Rosemary and friend Paula’s container gardens, as well as my own window box in the mountains. I dried the sumac by laying them it for a couple of weeks on a cooling rack atop a baking sheet, and the other herbs...
Source: The Blog That Ate Manhattan - November 16, 2023 Category: Primary Care Authors: Margaret Polaneczky, MD Tags: Uncategorized food gifts handmade holiday gift homemade gifts spices Sumac Xmas gift za'atar Source Type: blogs

A Spice As Effective As Medication For Indigestion And Heartburn
The spice has been used as a herbal medicine to treat digestive problems, infection and inflammation. (Source: PsyBlog | Psychology Blog)
Source: PsyBlog | Psychology Blog - November 4, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Mina Dean Tags: Stomach bloating Source Type: blogs

The Ultimate Guide to Superfoods: Nourishing the Brain Beyond Basics
Conclusion As we stand at the crossroads of ancient tradition and groundbreaking technologies, it's evident that our past still holds the key to our future. And in researching longevity and the desire for an active and healthy life, nutrition emerges as our ally.  We broke down the benefits of the 5 most overlooked superfoods and how to introduce them into our diet seamlessly, as well as the juxtaposition between age-old wisdom and cutting-edge science by showcasing humanity's continuous journey towards holistic well-being.  Incorporating them into our diets is more than just a trend; it's a testament to...
Source: PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement - October 25, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Nahla Davies Tags: featured health and fitness productivity tips self-improvement superfoods Source Type: blogs

The Aromatic Herb That Makes You Smarter
The herb has been used for thousands of years by humans. (Source: PsyBlog | Psychology Blog)
Source: PsyBlog | Psychology Blog - October 5, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Jeremy Dean Tags: Boost Brain Power Source Type: blogs

Great Food Can Improve Brain Development (Even Before Birth)
What we eat – and what our kids eat – affects so much in life: appearance, energy, cognition, focus, mood, how often we get sick, how quickly we get better, how likely we are to develop a chronic disease, and how we age. Every bite of food is either an investment in our future, a new debt we are taking out, or some of both. There are many ways to enjoy the benefits of real food. One healthy way of eating that has been studied a lot is the Mediterranean diet, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, fish, herbs, spices, and olive oil. Red meats, processed foods, and added sugars are limited. ...
Source: Conversations with Dr Greene - September 5, 2023 Category: Child Development Authors: Alan Greene MD Tags: Dr. Greene's Blog Uncategorized Mediterranean Diet Pregnancy Nutrition Top Family Nutrition Source Type: blogs

Vasodilators For High Blood Pressure: Types, Side Effects, Drug Interactions
Conclusion In summary, vasodilators play a pivotal role in managing cardiovascular conditions, including hypertension, which is rapidly becoming a global health concern. By expanding the body’s blood vessels, these unique medications can improve blood flow and decrease the pressure exerted by the heart, thereby providing relief to numerous patients worldwide. Their applications are diverse, extending beyond hypertension to conditions like angina, heart failure, and even erectile dysfunction. However, these medications should be taken carefully and always under the supervision of a doctor due to the potent...
Source: The EMT Spot - July 27, 2023 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD Tags: Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs

Central Agonists For High Blood Pressure: Types, Side Effects, Drug Interactions
Conclusion In summary, central agonists, a notable class of hypertension medications, offer an alternative modality when other first-line antihypertensive treatments fail to show desired results or cause intolerable side effects. They operate via a unique neurocentric mechanism that primarily functions centrally in the brain, impacting blood pressure regulation by decreasing systemic arterial pressure and heart rate. Despite their potential side effects and potential for interactions with other drugs, their therapeutic utility in the context of hypertension management remains undiminished. Moreover, certain cen...
Source: The EMT Spot - July 27, 2023 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD Tags: Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs

Potassium: The Silent Ally In Your Battle With Hypertension
Conclusion: Balancing Potassium Intake As Part Of An Overall Healthy Lifestyle While elevating your potassium intake can be instrumental in your battle against high blood pressure, it’s essential to remember that it’s part of a broader health strategy. There’s no magic bullet in managing blood pressure. A symphony of lifestyle adjustments working in harmony is what lays the groundwork for victory. Eating an overall healthy diet, limiting your sodium intake, getting regular exercise, and quitting smoking if needed – all these factors dance hand in hand with your potassium intake. These habits f...
Source: The EMT Spot - July 26, 2023 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD Tags: Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs

Beta-Blockers For High Blood Pressure: Types, Side Effects, Drug Interactions
Conclusion In conclusion, beta-blockers serve as an indispensable tool in the realm of modern medical treatment, particularly in managing a broad range of cardiovascular conditions. Their unique mechanism of action, which includes decreasing heart rate and blood pressure, confers a significant cardio-protective effect. This, combined with their versatility and the extensive clinical experience with their use, has cemented beta-blockers as a first-line treatment for various conditions, from hypertension and heart failure to anxiety and migraines. Although beta-blockers present unique benefits, it’s crucial...
Source: The EMT Spot - July 24, 2023 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD Tags: Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs

Alpha-Blockers For High Blood Pressure: Types, Side Effects, Drug Interactions
Conclusion To summarize, the treatment of hypertension is a critical aspect of healthcare due to its significant impact on cardiovascular health. While natural supplements and lifestyle modifications are important for overall well-being, the use of chemical drugs in managing hypertension remains necessary. Chemical drugs for hypertension have undergone extensive research and have been proven effective in lowering blood pressure levels. Alpha-blockers offer a targeted approach to address the specific mechanisms involved in hypertension, allowing for precise blood pressure control. They work by inhibiting the ...
Source: The EMT Spot - July 17, 2023 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD Tags: Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs

My Most Intense Psychedelic Journey So Far
I blocked off Friday evening for another magic mushroom journey. For the two experiences last month, I used about 1.5g of dried mushrooms each time. This time I opted to take 4.2g, eating the dried mushrooms plain, starting at 5pm. I trust my intuition regarding how much to take, figuring this much could invite a fairly intense experience. It was actually super intense, way beyond what I experienced with ayahuasca and my two prior mushroom trips. It really started kicking in after about 40 minutes. I put on an eye mask and laid back on the couch while listening to music. It flowed nicely at first with lots of red-orange...
Source: Steve Pavlina's Personal Development Blog - July 17, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Steve Pavlina Tags: Creating Reality Lifestyle Source Type: blogs