Things You (Probably) Don’t Know About the 4th of July

The United States observes its Independence Day on July 4th, with massive outdoor festivals of music, fireworks, and food usually held in cities and towns throughout the country. In 1776, Former US President John Adams wrote that this day shall be memorialized in American history. He was, however, referring to the second of July. That was the day the Continental Congress voted to secede from the British Empire, where colonies were given the status of self-governing nations. Independence Day, meanwhile, was declared on the fourth of July, which is why Americans have celebrated on that day since 1776. Celebrations include barbecues, parades, and fireworks. Some people also rejoice by devouring as many hot dogs as they can. Since the early 1970s, Nathan’s Famous, an American company that operates a chain of fast food restaurants, has organized a race to see who can consume the most hot dogs in 10 minutes on July 4th. The competition features 30 to 40 contestants who are split into two groups based on their gender. This year, on the contrary, celebrations are limited as the country is banning or refusing large crowds due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the U.S., Some Men Are Helping Women Give Birth

These days, the number of pregnant women who choose to work with a doula is increasing. Doulas are neither nurses nor doctors but professionals who help ease the pain of the mother giving birth. CAPPA and DONA are some of the doula training organizations in the United States. According to them, most doulas are women but, in the present day, more and more males are being trained to be doulas. According to Brian Salmon, a male doula, the attitude of people to male doula has already developed through time. Before they were met with hesitations but now, they are met with open arms. As expected, not everyone will accede to the idea of a male doula, just like how some are uncomfortable with male doctors. On the other hand, Yale Nogin, a father and a doctor, is working on different methods on how to include men during childbirth. He leads a class to help other men prepare for childhood. He added that through being educated and informed on the matter, they will be able to earn their partner’s trust. It really is important for the father to have a role in childbirth especially if he is well-informed. Furthermore, when a woman is giving birth, she is most at ease and content when she sees and hears the face and voice of someone she cares for.

Negative Self-Talk Can Hurt You

Sometimes little self-criticisms are necessary. However, too much of this can be detrimental to one’s brain and eventually, life. Negative self-talk is that little voice inside your head which tells you that you are not good enough. It also keeps on bringing back the memory of your faults and mistakes in the past. The effect of negative self-talk was seen firsthand by a professor. He wondered how his students despite being always present in class and doing well in all other school works, still have a hard time when it comes to exams. He said that these students fold under pressure when taking an exam. This is called “test anxiety.” This is suffered by students as they realize that in taking an exam, there is a lot on the line. Being reminded that their future may depend on these exams, brings them a lot of pressure, which prevents them from focusing on their studies. The professor talked to one of his students about the matter. The student told her that when she is about to take an exam, she keeps on hearing negative self-talks such as why is she tense and why is she not remembering what she studied. After hearing this, the professor engaged his student in positive self-talk. When the student tried doing it, her grades became higher compared to her previous exams. This is also used by the professor to her friends and neighbors. The goal is to regain one’s self-confidence.

WHO: Too Much Screen Time Bad for Children

World Health Organization (WHO) recently released guidelines as to children’s screen time. Along with this is an announcement that children 5 years of age and below should only have a maximum of an hour per day of screen time, while 1-year-olds and below should not be exposed to devices. The guidelines further provide that children 5 years of age and below should also be physically active and have enough time for sleep. WHO noted that these years are among the most formative years of children, thus it should only be monitored. Common behaviors among children of these ages which include riding motorized transports instead of walking or cycling, watching television, and playing inactive screen-based games are found to be connected with poor health. Researchers from different institutes said that the WHO guidelines were focused on screen time and did not take into consideration the quality of the material watched and the possible benefits of electronic media. While WHO did not go into detail about the harm of screen time, it noted that lack of sleep in children increases body fat and that shorter periods of sleep are linked with more screen time.

Strong Sense of Smell May Be Linked to Longer Life

In a study conducted for 13 years, researchers were able to conclude that older adults who have a stronger sense of smell are more likely to live longer. The study conducted showed that older adults who have a weak sense of smell are 30 percent more likely to die in a period of 13 years. However, the increased risk of dying was limited to those who were first reported with good-to-excellent health. This is an indication that a poor sense of smell is a possible sign of a worsening health condition even before it can be identified through medical tests. But with those adults who have poor health, the sense of smell does not make a difference. The study also showed that a poor sense of smell may be an early health warning or signal that the weakening of the human mind and body is about to begin. The study is limited as it tested the sense of smell of the subjects only once and because participants in the study are all physically active. Researchers suggest that doctors test the smell of their patients as a poor sense of smell can be a bellwether of a worsening health condition.

Dandelions: One of the Healthiest Foods on the Planet

With their radiant colors and pleasant smell, everyone loves flowers. However, the case is not the same for dandelion, which is considered the most hated flower in the United States. Despite being the most hated flower, the dandelion is one of the healthiest foods on the planet. Ranking number 16 in a 2014 study of the healthiest foods, dandelion even topped the popularly healthy kale and broccoli. Dandelion is rich in vitamins A, B, C, E, and K. It also provides lots of iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It is also rich in fiber and may help in the balance of bacteria in the digestive system. Aside from the nutrients it gives, another great thing about dandelion is that there is no waste as you can eat it from the bottom of the roots to the top of the flower. The dandelion grows fast. It is drought-resistant. The roots spread easily as do their white, soft, seed-filled tops. Lastly, it is fun for children as they believe that their wishes will come true if they were able to blow all seeds off with just one breath. Even if the wish isn’t granted, the seeds have spread far and large, allowing more of this nutritious food source to flourish.