Welcome to the Stars Hollow Gazette‘s Health and Fitness News weekly diary. It will publish on Saturday afternoon and be open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.
Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.
You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here.
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What To Cook
Monday October 14th is Canadian Thanksgiving Day. It’s also a Federal Holiday in the US, Columbus Day, or in some states and cities, Indigenous Peoples Day. So lets celebrate with our northern neighbors and cook.
What’s the fastest way possible to roast a turkey for Thanksgiving? Skip the whole turkey: instead, roast bone-in breasts and legs. Once you put the pieces in the oven, they cook in about 1 hour and 15 minutes, and are so much faster and easier to carve and serve.
This savory wild rice dish is the ultimate gluten-free stuffing and doubles as a holiday-appropriate grain salad with lots of fresh herbs. Cook the grains in well-salted water for much longer than you’d think; until the rice is splitting open, it’s not done.
If you’ve ever asked if mashed potatoes can be cooked ahead, the answer is this recipe. The texture is like that of a twice-baked potato.
This simple gravy can be made in advance to avoid a last minute scramble before serving your Thanksgiving feast. Or use the rendered turkey fat and pan juices to make the gravy after roasting your bird for maximum flavor.
Harissa lends both a spiciness and an earthiness to this savory sweet potato dish. We promise you won’t miss the marshmallows
For maximum caramelization, make sure the cut side of the Brussels sprouts are flush with the bottom of the baking dish. As the whole thing bakes, the salty pancetta fat will melt over the sprouts imparting luscious porky flavor as the pancetta itself turns crisp.
The spirit of a Key lime pie in the guise of a luscious cranberry curd. The contrast between the snappy press-in crust and the tart filling in this recipe is pure genius.
By Mid-Century, Heat Waves Could Cover Far Bigger Areas
Previous research has predicted that the number and intensity of heat waves will increase, but this study is the first to examine changes in their potential physical size.
Pet Turtles Linked to Salmonella Outbreak: CDC
Seven people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported, the CDC said in an update about the ongoing investigation.
Nearly 5 Million American Kids Are Obese, New Study Finds
About 4.8 million American kids aged 10 to 17 — just over 15% — were obese in 2017-2018, according to a new report.
Standard Memory Tests for Seniors Might Differ by Gender
More women than men were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) when sex-specific scores were used on memory tests, researchers report.
Home-Cooked Meals Linked to Lower PFAS in the Body
People who tended to eat more fresh food and food prepared at home had slightly, but measurably lower levels of five “long-chain” PFAS chemicals in their blood compared to those who ate more of their meals at fast food and other types of restaurants.
Could Eating Healthier Be a Natural Antidepressant?
Those who embraced healthier food choices reported less anxiety and much better moods within weeks, according to findings published Oct. 9 in the journal PLOS ONE.
Humans May Possess Ability to Regrow Cartilage
The researchers are calling it the “inner salamander capacity.”
Could a Pill Replace Insulin Shots?
This experimental pill can withstand the trip through the gastrointestinal tract, scientists report. When it gets to the small intestine, it breaks down into dissolving microneedles that attach to the intestinal wall and release the drug into the bloodstream.
STD Rates Continue to Rise in the U.S.
STD rates in the United States are continuing a years-long climb — including a sharp rise in the number of babies born with syphilis.
Only a Third of Pregnant Women Get Needed Vaccines
About two-thirds of pregnant women in the United States don’t get vaccinated against both flu and whooping cough, putting them and their newborns at risk, a new report from the CDC says.
Air Pollution Kills as Many People as Cigarettes
The American Lung Association’s 2019 “State of the Air” report shows that more than 141 million people live in counties with unhealthy air, an increase of 7 million people from the 2018 report.
Your Dog Might Just Extend Your Life
Dog ownership decreases a person’s overall risk of premature death by 24%, according to researchers who conducted a review of the available medical evidence.
Many ICU Admissions May Be Preventable, Large Study Suggests
As many as 1 in 6 of the ICU admissions could have been avoided, the researchers found.
Aspirin, Antihistamines: Kids Often Use OTC Drugs in Suicide Attempts
Antidepressants, antipsychotics and antihistamines were also common choices, the researchers added.
Cause of Paralyzing Illness in Kids Remains Elusive
For several years, the CDC has been investigating the condition, called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). It’s a rare disease that attacks tissue in the spinal cord, causing muscles and reflexes to weaken.
Fungal Invasion May Drive Some Pancreatic Cancers
The finding could advance the prevention and treatment of pancreatic cancer, which is usually fatal because it’s often detected too late.
Mind-Controlled ‘Exoskeleton’ Restores Movement to Totally Paralyzed Man
For the first time, a quadriplegic patient was able to walk and control both arms using this neuro-prosthetic, which records, transmits and decodes brain signals in real time to control an exoskeleton
Just a Little Weight Loss Can Put Diabetes Into Remission
Researchers found that losing just 10% of your body weight during the first five years you have the disease can lead to remission of type 2 diabetes.
Organic Chicken Less Likely to Harbor a Dangerous ‘Superbug’
A related study found that almost one-third of meat and poultry were contaminated with antibiotic-resistant forms of the bug, M’ikanatha said.
‘Chemical Burns’ May Be Vaping Lung Damage Source
The researchers saw no evidence of tissue damage from lipids such as mineral oils, which until now have been a suspected cause of vaping-linked lung injuries.
Seaside Living Soothes the Mind of Rich and Poor Alike
The investigators compared people’s health to their proximity to the coast and found that people living in towns and cities near the coastline reported having better mental health, even the poorest folks.