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.

What Is the Most Popular Ethnic Food in the US?

The United States has long been considered as a melting pot – an environment where diverse individuals and classes of people coexist. That is mirrored in the country’s food choices. Food is a means for many Americans to learn and appreciate diverse cultures. According to a report, Mexican food is the most common ethnic food in the largest number of states. It is particularly common in the West Coast. However, Chinese cuisine is the most common nationwide. According to Georgie Mihaila, a food blogger, both cuisines have a colorful history attached to Chinese and Mexican immigrants in America. Restaurants serving Thai, Korean, Vietnamese, and Japanese cuisine are also gaining popularity across the region. The demand for more varied food experiences is being led by millennials. Millennials have overtaken Generation X as the country’s largest age demographic. The majority of them are between the ages of 26 and 40. These people tend to talk about their meals on social media. Americans are getting more experimental in their food selections in general.

Scientists Solve Mystery About Stonehenge

British scientists say they have solved a mystery involving Stonehenge, the well-known stone monument in Wiltshire, England. Scientists announced this week that they have discovered the origins of many of Stonehenge’s massive stones known as megaliths. People used those stones to construct milestones, landmarks, and other buildings thousands of years ago. According to the scholars, a small piece from one megalith was instrumental in solving the mystery. For over 40 years, the little piece of stone has been stored in the United States. According to chemical research, the bulk of Stonehenge’s megaliths, known as sarsens, came from a place known as the West Woods. The ancient monument is about 25 kilometers away. Researchers are still uncertain how the stones were transported to Stonehenge. David Nash of the University of Brighton who led the study clarified, “Given the size of the stones, they must have been pulled or pushed on rollers.” He added that the discovery might provide people a better understanding of the hard work behind Stonehenge.

France Wonders: Who Owns Colonial Art?

Is it an illegal act or a political one to remove an African art from a European museum? This issue has been in discussion at the French court during the trial of a Congolese activist demanding the restoration of his country’s art. “It belongs to us!” an African woman who was attending the trial cried out. After a museum lawyer claimed that the art belonged to the French state, the woman started to weep and then left the courtroom. Thousands of art pieces from former African and Asian colonies can be seen at the Quai Branly Museum in Paris. Colonial authorities took many of the precious artworks and brought them to French museums. Congo-born Emery Mwazulu Diyabanza and four other activists are charged with attempted robbery after trying to steal a 19th-century African funeral pole from the museum. They livestreamed the act on Facebook, claiming it was a protest. The activists were immediately caught by officials. “We are the legitimate heirs of these works,” Diyabanza argued in a trial. He also clarified that he was not trying to nick the art, and he just wanted to uncloak its origin.