Health & Fitness

04/15/20

In March 2020, with the U.S. reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Secure 5G and Beyond Act (S. 893) and the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act (S. 1822) were signed into law.

The duo will accelerate the adoption of 5G, or “5th Generation,” wireless networks across the U.S. — and in so doing, force Americans to receive unprecedented levels of exposure to the millimeter wave (MMW), which has shown potential to harm human health and the environment.

The 5G act requires the president to develop a strategy to ensure the security of 5G mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructures in the U.S., while assisting “allies and strategic partners” to maximize the security of such systems.¹

The Broadband act requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue rules regarding data collection to ultimately improve the accuracy of maps showing where broadband is available in the U.S.²

What’s more, the 5G Act requires the president to consult with the FCC, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense and other agencies and submit a plan to Congress within 180 days detailing how secure 5G will be implemented.

With millions of Americans suddenly working remotely, it’s an opportune time to for regulators to move 5G forward — but it’s a move that has many experts concerned. Still, the legislation is moving forward under the guise of bringing faster internet to Americans, at any cost. The House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is led by chairman Frank Pallone, Jr., said in a statement:³

“The bills signed into law … by the President are critical to ensuring that all Americans can access broadband and that our networks are secure and trusted. The need for connectivity is even more critical now that millions of Americans are teleworking and learning from home in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

We must prepare our networks for the 5G future and ensure federal agencies work together on a comprehensive plan to identify and address security risks in 5G and future wireless technologies — the Secure 5G and Beyond Act requires exactly that …

It’s also long past time to fix our nation’s faulty broadband maps. Accurately mapping unserved and underserved communities is essential to promoting the deployment of high-speed service to all Americans and ensuring our investments have maximum impact. The Broadband DATA Act will help tremendously with those efforts …”

Does EMF Exposure Raise Coronavirus Risk?

In the interview above, Brian Hoyer — one of the primary consultants for my latest book, “EMF*D” — discusses how electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation may be impacting the COVID-19 epidemic and your infection risk. Many have raised questions about whether there is a connection between 5G and this pandemic.

While unproven, one current theory is that EMF radiation — and the addition of 5G in particular — could be having an impact. Hoyer cites data from Arthur Firstenberg’s book, “The Invisible Rainbow,”⁴ in which he catalogued epidemiological evidence showing that as electrification of the world was implemented, throughout the course of history, viral pandemics ensued.

To put it simply, poor immune function and ill health combined with environmental stressors such as heightened EMF exposure might create a perfect storm where the virus has an easy way to get into the body and can reproduce faster.

Smaller 5G Wavelengths Pose Unprecedented Risk

In the video below — “5G Beware,” created by Greater Earth Media — three experts discuss the pitfalls of rolling out 5G technology before its effects on humans and the environment are understood. Unlike the “4th Generation” (4G) technology currently in use, which relies on huge 90-foot cell towers with about a dozen antenna ports on each, the 5G system uses “small cell” facilities or bases, each with about 100 antenna ports each.⁵

Expected to be 10 to 100 times faster than 4G technology and capable of supporting at least 100 billion devices,⁶ 5G relies primarily on the MMW bandwidth, which is between 30GHz and 300GHz, according to EMF coach and author Lloyd Burrell.⁷

“MMWs … do not travel well through buildings and they tend to be absorbed by rain and plants. This interferes with the signal. Added to this, high frequency waves like MMWs also have much shorter wavelengths that can’t travel far,” he says.

“To counter this problem 5G will utilize smaller cell stations (and the technology of beamforming) that’ll scramble/unscramble and redirect packets of data on a no-interference path back to us. This could mean wireless antennas on every lamp post, utility pole, home and business throughout entire neighborhoods, towns and cities,” Burrell explains,⁸ and herein lies one of its greatest potential problems — and threats to public health.

In “5G Beware,” Atul Deshmane, commissioner of Whatcom County Public Utility District in Washington state, walks down the street with an EMF meter, which shows EMF levels “way above the safe limit” with 4G technology. “If 5G increases this by an order of magnitude, maybe that’s something to be concerned about,” he says.

‘This Is Our Generation’s Tobacco’

Jon Humphrey, a music educator in Bellingham, Washington who has decades of professional IT experience, compared the telecommunications industry to Big Tobacco, stating that 5G technology is our generation’s tobacco. “As usual, 5G, like 4G and 3G before it, is mostly a marketing term and most of what you’re being told isn’t accurate,” Humphrey says.⁹

The antennae enclosures added to utility poles and lamp posts may not only be eye sores, including antennae enclosures that are up to 6 cubic feet each, but also pose a very real threat to public health. While MMWs have not been widely used before, there are some concerning findings to date, according to Telecom Power Grab, including that sweat ducts in human skin act as antennae when they come in contact with MMWs.¹⁰

Dr. Linda Goggin, of Feel Good Functional Medicine in Bellingham, also warns in the film that 5G technology will turn us all into lab rats, part of a giant experiment, as no one knows what 5G will do to human health:

“We are in our infancy in terms of our understanding of what electromagnetic fields do to the body. And we’re wondering if it is a problem. We function because of moving currents in our body. That’s a basic principle.

Nerves function because of the shifts in movement of electric charge. The structure of the water in our body is very important for normal function and that also is affected by charge coming from outside the body. This whole field of the electromagnetic spectrum affects us ... It’s got to be studied by scientists.”

5G Connection in Areas Hardest Hit by COVID-19

Interestingly, many of the areas hardest hit by COVID-19 have recently implemented 5G, which might render residents more prone to serious infection by lowering their immune function. Hoyer cited Dr. Thomas Cowan, who brought up a potential connection between 5G and COVID-19 during a March 12, 2020, lecture at the Health and Human Rights Summit in Tucson, Arizona.

While I’m not saying 5G spreads the infection or is a vector of infection, it’s possible that it raises your risk by impairing your innate immune system’s ability to fight off coronavirus. According to Hoyer:

“[Cowan] is a top-notch doctor, he's on the cutting edge … he talks about Wuhan as one of the testing grounds for 5G, where 5G was first implemented in China. And what's interesting about Italy … is that Milan — the Lombardi area of Italy where two-thirds of the cases are — is considered the 5G capital of the European Union according to Vodafone, which is the big 5G carrier out there …

If you go on Vodafone's website, you can see the 5G map, and it's sprinkled throughout all Milan and Lombardi, that province up there. So that is definitely a more concentrated area.

… So, there's 5G in Milan, in Wuhan, and New York City is one of the highest, most intense [5G] areas I've seen, and Seattle … But 5G doesn't matter so much to me. It's about the intensity of the EMF. New York was basically as intense as a 5G area already, before 5G was implemented, in my opinion. It maxes out all of our meters wherever I go. There are hidden antennas everywhere in New York City.

[Seattle] has a lot of hills in the city, and right on Queen Anne, there are two huge radio towers with probably 100 antennas on them, just blasting the whole city. We've had assessments there where we've maxed out [our meters], and even shielded rooms upstairs and it still maxed out.”

US Government Spending $9.7 Billion for 5G C-Band Spectrum

Part of the U.S. government’s plan to fast-track the 5G rollout is an offer of $9.7 billion in compensation payments to satellite operators to give up their C-band spectrum licenses.

The C-band spectrum (from the 3.7GHz to 4.2GHz band) is currently used by satellite operators but is desirable for the telecom industry as, according to news outlet CommsMEA, “It blends the ability to deliver hyperfast download speeds in excess of 1Gbps with much improved propagation ranges, when compared to higher frequency spectrums.”¹¹

In a statement, the FCC called this a “critical step in implementing our comprehensive 5G FAST Plan, as it will rapidly put mid-band spectrum into the hands of innovators and consumers and pave the way for the United States to lead the world in 5G deployment.”¹²

US Banned Chinese Components Over Fears of Espionage

Privacy issues are another concern. Already, the U.S. government banned the use of Chinese components in the U.S. 5G network because of surveillance fears.¹³ Further, U.S. companies have also been banned from selling computer chips to Huawei Technologies Co., which is producing 5G base stations, citing national security concerns. According to Bloomberg:¹⁴

“US officials accuse Huawei of stealing valuable intellectual property and violating a trade embargo with Iran. The Trump administration blacklisted the company last year, saying there’s a risk Huawei could give Beijing access to sensitive data coursing through telecommunications networks that employ its gear.

Huawei has denied the allegations. Critics also said the US government imposed the sanctions to hobble China’s leadership in key aspects of 5G technology.”

The ban hasn’t stopped Huawei, however, which has continued to produce base stations without U.S. components. As of February 2020, Huawei had shipped about 600,000 base stations to mobile phone companies.¹⁵ China has also been fast-tracking their 5G networks and planned to activate more than 130,000 base stations by the end of 2019 in order to support its 5G network.¹⁶

Now, with people using technology to communicate digitally instead of face-to-face, virtually all communication is being sent through networks manufactured by China. If backdoors used for surveillance are built into 5G base stations, the tracking and surveillance that could result would be unprecedented in scope. According to Humphrey, however, even the race with China to roll out 5G is all smoke and mirrors. He states:¹⁷

“We can’t keep up with China on networking including with 5G. Why? Because China manufactures most of the fiber-optic cabling in the world. Fiber isn’t expensive here [in the U.S.], and it’s even less expensive in China. Small cells, like the ones used in 5G, have to be hooked up to fiber-optic cabling and since China installs their fiber in a public manner they can leverage it for use in the most efficient, cost-effective manner possible.”

Humphrey also states in “5G Beware” that the U.S. is far behind most of the rest of the developed world because it doesn’t have public fiber optics. While it’s sometimes said that 5G will ultimately replace fiber optics, Humphrey says this is laughable, since 5G requires fiber optics. “Fiber optics is safe,” he says, “it just carries light. You might as well just hook directly up to the fiber and have a choice in how much EMF exposure you’re getting.”

You Won’t Have a Choice to Opt Out, so What Can You Do?

Once it’s installed in your neighborhood, you won’t have a choice to opt out of 5G exposure. “5G will be virtually everywhere, with the options of being able to simply “get away from it” being very limited as millions of small cell devices are rolled out,” Humphrey says.¹⁸

As for lowering your EMF exposure, you can download a free chapter from my book, “EMF*D,” that summarizes most of the major recommendations.

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This Colorful Spice Can Help Treat Anxiety and Depression

Saffron, stigmas of the purple crocus flower, is one of the most intriguing plants on Earth. It only blooms once a year and has only three stigmas when it does, making it one of the world's most expensive spices by weight. It takes about 170,000 flowers to produce a single pound of saffron.¹

Saffron is primarily grown in Iran but is also cultivated in Afghanistan, Italy, Morocco, Spain, the Netherlands and the U.S. It is usually hand harvested, not mechanically harvested, adding to its significant cost.

Saffron has a centuries-old history as a much sought after herb with healing properties. Kings, queens, pharaohs and monks used saffron in their food and drinks, baths, during prayers and to scent their beds.² In the Middle Ages, saffron was so highly prized, those who sold adulterated saffron were imprisoned and harshly punished.³

Given saffron's high price, it's good to know that in cooking, a "little goes a long way." For most recipes, a pinch of soaked, dried and crushed saffron threads will do the trick — 1 teaspoon of saffron threads equals about one-eighth teaspoon of ground saffron. In addition to its culinary uses, saffron also has a number of valuable health benefits.

Saffron Is Linked to Many Health Benefits

Scientific studies have found saffron to be effective in treating depression, memory loss,⁴ anxiety,⁵ premenstrual syndrome,⁶ spatial learning impairment due to chronic-induced stress⁷ and liver cancer.⁸

Its active components exert anticonvulsant, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects and serve as radical scavengers, according to studies.⁹ Historically, saffron has been used to relieve the pain of kidney stones and stomach aches.¹⁰

A 2013 study published in the journal Pharmaceutical Biology explored saffron's anticancer properties. After reviewing the current research on saffron, the researchers wrote that:¹¹

"Saffron possesses free radical-scavenging properties and antitumor activities. Significant cancer chemopreventive effects have been shown … Based on current data, saffron … could be considered as a promising candidate for clinical anticancer trials."

The researchers hypothesize that the anticancer properties may come from:¹²

"… the inhibitory effect of saffron on cellular DNA and RNA synthesis, the inhibitory effect on free radical chain reactions, and that the saffron extract exerted the metabolic conversion of naturally occurring carotenoids into retinoids …

Another report showed that saffron contains lectins, which suggested that the antitumor activity of saffron is mediated by lectins … Recently, Amin et al. (2011) showed that saffron exerted a significant chemopreventive effect against liver cancer through inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis."

In addition to disease fighting properties, saffron contains important nutrients like iron, which is good for blood and muscles; magnesium, which is good for nerves, muscles, bones and heart rate; and manganese, which helps regulate blood sugar, metabolize carbohydrates and absorb calcium.

Saffron also contains potassium, which is good for adrenal and kidney function; vitamin B6, which is good for the brain, nervous system and hormones; and vitamin C, which assists the immune system.

Research Shows Saffron Relieves Depression and Anxiety

Depression can be a serious condition marked by a persistent sad mood, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty thinking, concentrating and experiencing pleasure and even thoughts of suicide and death.¹³

Patients with chronic disease, when they also have major depressive disorder (MDD), are at higher risk of heart disease, hormonal disorders, Parkinson's disease, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.¹⁴ But the too-widely prescribed antidepressants are no answer to depression and there are serious reasons people avoid them.

Many cannot tolerate the side effects of these drugs, such as weight gain, sexual dysfunction, flattened mood and suicidal ideation.¹⁵ Others do not want to take drugs that are difficult to discontinue.¹⁶ Moreover, the drugs are barely effective in mild or moderate depression.¹⁷

The good news is that studies are finding saffron is a promising treatment for depression and the anxiety that often accompanies it. According to a meta-analysis in Nutrition Reviews, which looked at 23 saffron studies:¹⁸

"Saffron had a large positive effect size when compared with placebo for depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms … Saffron could be an effective intervention for symptoms of depression and anxiety."

Saffron May Be Useful in Major Depressive Disorder

An estimated 7.1% of the adult U.S. population experienced at least one major depressive episode in 2017 and the majority were prescribed antidepressant drugs. Sadly, many patients stay on these drugs long-term, which may compromise their health. Clearly the chance of substituting saffron in treatment of MDD is an encouraging prospect. Research published in the Journal of Integrative Medicine found that:¹⁹

"… saffron may be helpful for treating depressive symptoms among individuals with MDD. In the two studies that examined the effects of saffron supplementation versus placebo control groups, a large effect size was found in favor of saffron supplementation.

For the three studies that examined the effects of saffron supplementation compared to antidepressant groups (i.e., fluoxetine [Prozac] or imipramine), significant improvements in depressive symptoms were observed among participants in both conditions … Taken together, the findings of the trials included in this meta-analysis indicate that saffron is an efficacious strategy for treating MDD in the short-term."

The researchers admitted that MDD is a difficult and refractory diagnosis:²⁰

"Remission of MDD is difficult to achieve with less than 50% of patients responding to standard treatments (e.g., antidepressants). For patients who are not responding adequately to an anti-depressant, the two main current treatment approaches are switching drugs or trying alternative approaches such as herbal medicine."

As might be expected, subjects in the study who were given saffron exhibited fewer adverse effects than those given the antidepressant imipramine. Subjects given saffron did experience adverse effects like headaches and nausea, but the effects did not differ from subjects given placebo.²¹

Another study in the Journal of Affective Disorders also noted fewer unwanted side effects with saffron, while still reaping positive effects similar to those of antidepressants. According to the authors:²²

"A number of clinical trials demonstrated that saffron and its active constituents possess antidepressant properties similar to those of current antidepressant medications such as fluoxetine, imipramine and citalopram [Celexa], but with fewer reported side effects."

The Actions of Saffron Mimic Those of Antidepressants

Though side effects from saffron appear less serious than side effects from prescription antidepressants, the mechanisms of action may be similar, according to research published in the Journal of Pharmacy & Bioallied Sciences:²³

"Similar to antidepressants, saffron may exert its antidepressant effect by modulating the levels of certain chemicals in the brain, including serotonin … saffron extract might inhibit serotonin reuptake in synapses. Inhibiting synaptic serotonin reuptake keeps serotonin in the brain longer, thereby enhancing its positive effects while combating depression …

It is suggested that the inhabitation of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin reuptake by crocin and safranal [components of saffron] might be the possible mechanism of antidepressive effect of saffron …

Scientifically proven traditional uses of saffron as antidepressant suggested that crocin exerts its antidepressant effect by increasing cAMP response element binding protein, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor inducible levels in rat hippocampus."

Saffron may also be useful against oxidative stress, according to a paper in the Journal of Pharmacy & Bioallied Sciences, which notes that:²⁴

"These medicinal properties of saffron may be attributed to a number of its compounds such as crocetin, crocins, and safranal, which have strong antioxidant and radical scavenger properties to protect against a variety of reactive radical oxygen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines."

Saffron May Be Useful in Mild to Moderate Depression

Antidepressants are widely seen as ineffective in mild to moderate depression.²⁵ However, studies show that saffron may well treat such conditions. According to a meta-analysis published in the journal Planta Medica, which looked at 11 randomized saffron trials and pooled data from nine studies:²⁶

"… saffron has a significant effect on the severity of [mild to moderate] depression. Available data from randomized, controlled clinical trials support that saffron is significantly more effective than placebo and non- inferior to tested antidepressant drugs."

A meta-analysis in the journal Human Psychopharmacology also found initial support for the use of saffron for the treatment of mild to moderate depression.²⁷ Like other scientists who have studied saffron, the authors believe its actions are likely due to its "serotonergic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuro-endocrine and neuroprotective effects."²⁸

In the six placebo-comparison studies they reviewed, they found "saffron had large treatment effects," and that "when compared with antidepressant medications, had similar antidepressant efficacy."²⁹

Saffron May Treat Depression in Special Populations

When depression occurs in certain special patient populations, such as those who are older or who have a history of percutaneous coronary intervention, it can have more serious consequences. Saffron may be a particularly good option for these patients. As noted in a study of older patients published in Psychiatry Research:³⁰

"A total of 50 older out-patients with MDD were randomly assigned either to the saffron condition or to the sertraline [Zoloft] condition for six consecutive weeks … Symptoms of depression decreased over time, with no advantages or disadvantages for the saffron or sertraline condition …

The pattern of results suggests that both saffron and sertraline have the potential to significantly decrease symptoms of depression. The results are clinically relevant, because major depressive disorders in older people is a health concern.

The results are further relevant, because saffron appears to be a powerful antidepressant for older people, who might be more reluctant to the use of synthetic drugs."

In research published in Journal of Affective Disorders, patients who had received percutaneous coronary intervention were also able to get depression relief using saffron:³¹

"A significant correlation exists between coronary artery diseases and depression. The aim of this trial was to compare the efficacy and safety of saffron versus fluoxetine [Prozac] in improving depressive symptoms of patients who were suffering from depression after performing percutaneous coronary intervention …

By the study endpoint, no significant difference was detected between two groups … Remission and response rates were not significantly different as well. There was no significant difference between two groups in the frequency of adverse events during this trial …

Short-term therapy with saffron capsules showed the same antidepressant efficacy compared with fluoxetine in patients with a prior history of PCI who were suffering from depression."

Clearly the intriguing plant, saffron, has a lot more to offer than spicing up culinary dishes. The possibility of using saffron for the treatment of depression is great news, considering the many dangers of psychiatric drugs currently on the market.

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A gut-to-brain circuit drives sugar preference and may explain sugar cravings

Researchers restore sight in mice by turning skin cells into light-sensing eye cells

Researchers have discovered a technique for directly reprogramming skin cells into light-sensing rod photoreceptors used for vision, sidestepping the need for stem cells. The lab-made rods enabled blind mice to detect light after the cells were transplanted into the animals' eyes.

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Antiviral drug baloxavir reduces transmission of flu virus among ferrets

Biomechanics of skin can perform useful tactile computations

Researchers use snake venom to solve structure of muscle protein

How 'hypermutated' malignant brain tumors escape chemotherapy and immunotherapy

B+S LIVE: Full body cardio blast with Cory George

The retention effect of training

Good news for Crohn’s sufferers: Australian scientists find ‘cure’

Viral photo of married nurse couple perfectly captures all of our hopes and fears

Turn your lounge room into a Barry’s Bootcamp with Blake Bridges’ epic workout

Improving the treatment of periodontitis

Soot may only be half the problem when it comes to cookstoves

A more plant-based diet without stomach troubles: Getting rid of FODMAPs with enzymes

A plant-based diet is a good choice for both climate and health. However, many plant-based products, especially legumes, contain FODMAP compounds that are poorly digestible and cause unpleasant intestinal symptoms. A study has succeeded in breaking down FODMAPs with enzymes and producing new, stomach-friendly plant-based food products.

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Intimacy, sex, and COVID-19

Home with your partner and hours of time ticking slowly by? As the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 continues to spread widely in the US and beyond, restrictions that promote social distancing do, too. By now, you may find yourself essentially quarantined at home with your partner. While this can be a wonderful time to connect with each other, you may have questions about how much intimacy is safe.

A refresher course on how the coronavirus spreads

Evidence shows that the virus spreads person-to-person through sustained close contact.

The virus is carried in respiratory droplets transmitted by sneezing and coughing. If people are nearby, droplets might land in their mouths or noses or possibly be inhaled.
Viral particles called aerosols may float or drift in the air when an infected person talks, sings, or breathes. People nearby may inhale aerosols.
Research shows the virus can live on surfaces and may be spread when a person touches those surfaces, then touches their face.
Whether an infected person sheds the virus in saliva, semen, or vaginal fluids isn’t known. Although the virus has been found in feces, transmission of the virus this way appears to be rare, if at all.

The definition of “sustained close contact” may change as we learn more, but running or walking by someone who has the virus is a lower risk scenario. Being in the same room as an infected person so that you’re breathing the same air for a while is a higher risk scenario. Expert opinion differs on what close contact entails and how many minutes of close contact is high risk. Generally, being within six feet of someone infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 for longer than a few minutes can put you at increased risk of getting the virus.

How safe is intimacy with a partner?

True, many forms of intimacy require a closer distance than the six feet of separation recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Yet this does not mean that you should isolate yourself from your spouse or partner and stop being intimate at all. If both of you are healthy and feeling well, are practicing social distancing and have had no known exposure to anyone with COVID-19, touching, hugging, kissing, and sex are more likely to be safe. Similarly, sharing a bed with a partner who is healthy should not be an issue.

Be aware, though, that the CDC reports that some people may have the virus and not yet have symptoms during the early part of the incubation period (presymptomatic). Additionally, some people never develop obvious symptoms of COVID-19 (asymptomatic). In either case, it’s possible that the virus might spread through physical contact and intimacy.

What about intimacy if one partner has been ill?

If you or your partner have been sick with COVID-19 and are now recovering, this CDC page explains ways to prevent the spread of germs, including not sharing bedding –– or presumably, a bed –– and abstaining from all intimate contact until

at least seven days after symptoms first started
and other symptoms have improved
and at least 72 hours fever-free without the use of any medications.

However, one study suggested that the virus may shed for up to 14 days, so you may want to minimize contact for up to 14 days.

During this time, the person who is sick should self-quarantine and limit use of common spaces as much as possible. It’s important to wipe down all common surfaces, wash all bedding, and take other steps recommended by the CDC if a person is ill.

The good news? Public health authorities in Shenzen, China found that there was a 14.9% transmission rate among household contacts. Risks to household members are minimized through steps that include self-quarantine for the person showing signs of illness and excellent hand hygiene for the whole household.

What if your partner works in a job where there’s a high risk of catching the virus?

If your partner works in a high-risk field such as healthcare or has contact with the general public, decisions around intimacy or even self-quarantine in the absence of symptoms are personal. Some healthcare workers have quarantined themselves from their families, while others practice good hand hygiene and have a separate set of clothing dedicated for work. You and your partner should discuss what you are both comfortable with, since there are no evidence-based guidelines currently, given that this is a novel virus.

What about starting a new relationship?

For those people who would like to start a new relationship, that should be considered carefully. All of us should be practicing social distancing at this time due to the pandemic, and dating does not comply with recommendations for social distancing. While this time is challenging, social distancing is of the utmost importance to keep you and your loved ones safe.

Are any forms of intimacy and sex completely safe right now?

Six feet of separation required by social distancing may not entirely slow you down. Masturbation, phone sex with a partner who doesn’t live with you, and sex toys (used just by you) could play a big role in sexual intimacy, particularly in this moment. And if you’re not in the mood for sex and are wondering how anyone can engage in intimacy in this moment, that’s also normal. People have different psychological responses to stress. If living through a pandemic has dampened your sexual desire, it will return once life returns to normal.

If you do have a regular intimate partner, keep in mind that coronavirus is not the only issue that you should be concerned about. You should use contraception if you are not planning on conceiving, and you should use a condom to protect against sexually transmitted infections. For more information, see the Harvard Health Birth Control Center.

For additional information on coronavirus and COVID-19, see the Harvard Health Publishing Coronavirus Resource Center and podcasts.

The post Intimacy, sex, and COVID-19 appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

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Breastfeeding may lead to fewer human viruses in infants

Even small amounts of breastmilk strongly influences the accumulation of viral populations in the infant gut and provides a protective effect against potentially pathogenic viruses, according to researchers who examined hundreds of babies.

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Think running is not for you? Try this

The first time I tried running, I hated it. It was only two miles, but I was positive I would never, ever run again.

Sure, I understood the many benefits of running like improved heart health, weight management, and better moods. Yet, like many people who initially swear off running, I believed you had to run for many miles and many hours on a regular basis to make it worthwhile.

How much running adds up to benefits?

It turns out my thinking about running and health was all wrong. Research suggests that you don’t have to run far, fast, or even that often to reap the rewards from running.

For instance, a meta-analysis published online Nov. 4, 2019, by the British Journal of Sports Medicine looked at 14 studies involving more than 232,000 people, and found that running only once a week for less than 50 minutes has significant health benefits, such as a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and death from all causes.

Even if you are a complete novice, or the idea of running sounds off-putting, you should still give it a try. “Many people think running is not for them, or they can’t do it well, but running is a simple skill and an easy activity to get into,” says Michael Clem, a doctor of physical therapy at the Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Outpatient Center. “After all, we’ve been running since we could walk.”

Run then walk

An easy way to ease into running is a run/walk program. With run/walk, you run for a brief period at a comfortable pace and then take a walking break until your body recovers. You repeat this back-and-forth cycle for a certain amount of time or distance. The goal is to slowly increase your running time and decrease your walking time until you run for a total of 20 to 25 minutes. You can do this either outside or on a treadmill.

Here is how a beginning program works:

Run for one to two minutes and then walk for four to five minutes until you have fully recovered.
Repeat the pattern five times.
Do this routine twice a week on nonconsecutive days.

After one or two weeks, increase your running time to three or four minutes and walk two to three minutes or until you have recovered. Repeat the pattern five times.

When this becomes easy, run for five minutes and walk for a minute or until you have recovered. Complete the pattern four to five times.

Once you reach 20 to 25 minutes of running with few, if any, walking breaks, then you can adjust your running and walking times to fit your exercise goals like running longer or faster, or just staying where you are and focusing on consistency.

It’s running’s range of possibilities that turned me into a believer. Once I realized that running is an individual endeavor that doesn’t conform to specific guidelines or expectations, I began to enjoy it. I now run for as long and as fast and as often as I want, knowing that any time spent running is time well spent.

The post Think running is not for you? Try this appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

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Mouse study shows 'chaperone protein' protects against autoimmune diseases

How expectations influence learning

During learning, the brain is a prediction engine that continually makes theories about our environment and accurately registers whether an assumption is true or not. A team of neuroscientists has shown that expectation during these predictions affects the activity of various brain networks.

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Breathing heavy wildfire smoke may increase risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Heavy wildfire smoke may raise the risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. To reduce exposure to wildfire smoke, researchers advise people to stay indoors with doors and windows closed, to use high-efficiency air filters in air conditioning systems, avoid exertion, and consider seeking shelter elsewhere if the home does not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside.

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Little scientists: Children prefer storybooks that explain why and how things happen

Children have a never-ending curiosity about the world around them and frequently question how and why it works the way it does. Researchers have previously demonstrated that children are interested in causal information, but had not yet linked this to a real-world activity, such as reading. A new study finds that children prefer causally-rich storybooks, suggesting that such content may be more engaging and could help to increase children's interest in reading.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3cg5hwM

Breeding a hardier, more nutritious wheat

Being right-brained or left-brained comes down to molecular switches

Scientists may have solved one of the most puzzling and persistent mysteries in neuroscience: why some people are 'right-brained' while others are 'left-brained.' The answer lies in how certain genes on each side of the brain are switched 'on' and 'off' through a process called epigenetic regulation. The findings may explain why Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders frequently affect one side of the body first, a revelation that has far-reaching implications for development of potential future treatments.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2XON1Hd

Transposable elements play an important role in genetic expression and evolution

Big variability in blood pressure readings between anatomical sites

Long spaceflights affect astronaut brain volume

Extended periods in space have long been known to cause vision problems in astronauts. Now a new study suggests that the impact of long-duration space travel is more far-reaching, potentially causing brain volume changes and pituitary gland deformation.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2yeVGYw

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