Young Valley man advocates for others with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
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Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NFL smelling salts ban: NFLPA provides key updates on policy
The NFL announced Tuesday its teams would be prohibited from distributing smelling salts to its players during the league's 2025 season. However, the league did not actually ban the products from being used, as the NFLPA clarified Wednesday. "We were not notified of this club policy change before the memo was sent out," the NFLPA wrote in a message to its players, per ESPN. "To clarify, this policy does not prohibit player use of these substances, but rather it restricts clubs from providing or supplying them in any form. The NFL has confirmed this to us." The confusion stemmed from the NFL's initial memo to players, which explained why NFL clubs would no longer be permitted to distribute smelling salts to its players. "In 2024, the FDA issued a warning to companies that produce commercially available ammonia inhalants (AIs), as well as to consumers about the purchase and use of AIs, regarding the lack of evidence supporting the safety or efficacy of AIs marketed for improving mental alertness or boosting energy. The FDA noted potential negative effects from AI use. AIs also have the potential to mask certain neurologic signs and symptoms, including some potential signs of concussion. As a result, the NFL Head, Neck, and Spine Committee recommended prohibiting the use of AIs for any purpose during play in the NFL. "In light of this information, effective for the 2025 NFL season, clubs are prohibited from providing or supplying ammonia in any form at NFL games. For clarity, 'ammonia' refers to ammonia capsules, inhalers, ammonia in a cup, and any form of 'smelling salts.' This prohibition applies to all club personnel (including but not limited to team physicians, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches and coaches or other personnel). The prohibition applies through the entirety of all NFL games, including during all pregame activities, and halftime, and applies on the sideline and in stadium locker rooms." Several NFL players took the memo to mean the use of smelling salts had been banned outright. That upset many, including San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, who said he was "distraught all day" after reading the memo. "I'm an every drive guy," Kittle said of his use of smelling salts in an appearance on NFL Network. "I considered retirement. We got to figure out a middle ground here guys. Somebody help me out, somebody come up with a good idea… I miss those already." After the NFLPA's clarification, Kittle no longer has to worry about negotiating a middle ground. He will, however, have to provide his own stash of smelling salts if he wants to continue using them in 2025. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL players not banned from using smelling salts, NFLPA says
CBS News
4 minutes ago
- CBS News
Former member of rock band Boston now helping heal patients with the power of music
A former performing member of the rock band Boston is harnessing the power of harmony and healing with free music visits to bring people comfort and joy. It's a far cry from his touring days with the platinum-selling band between 2012 and 2014. Yet guitarist and vocalist David Victor knows something big could happen among those in his small audience recently at a Veterans Affairs facility in Martinez. "It's like the sense of smell, said Victor. You smell something, and it awakens you. I think music has that same effect," said Victor. He first saw that effect more than a decade ago when he performed with the band at a Southern California children's hospital for charity. "At the time, I was singing a lot of Boston songs that, you know, 8-year-olds had not been exposed to, but yet, their eyes would light up," he noted. That opened his eyes to music's power to heal. "It was so meaningful and beautiful, and I just thought, this should be," he said. So Victor founded Harmony and Healing in 2019. Since then, the San Ramon-based nonprofit has provided free live music visits - in person and over live video conferencing - to hundreds of patients in hospice, hospitals and rehab facilities nationwide. A digital marketing strategist by day, Victor has seen the impact of his musical visits on people in memory care. "They'll go back to when they were 18-and-a-half years old, driving a Camaro or something, having the time of their life," Victor said. "It's something only music can do." Harmony and Healing's regular visits are part of the VA's recreational therapy care for the whole person. Air Force veteran Mancy Gant, who deals with PTSD, ends his day on a high note. "I had a mindset where I was able to calm down and listen to the lyrics of the song, and it really felt good," Gant said. Victor struck the right chord for Army vet Norman Kimball's sense of well-being. "Life hasn't been good for me for the last 15 years, and this is something that I really need to keep going forward and not falling back," Kimball said. Harmony and Healing's team of two dozen artists includes Jordyn Foley, who portrays princesses like Elsa from Disney's "Frozen" movie. The monthly visits bring a special kind of magic to patients receiving respite and end-of-life care at George Mark Children's House in San Leandro. The facility's child life coordinator Kyle Amsler said the patients look forward to each visit. "It brings so much joy, so much life into the house," Amsler said. "David has really understood the power of music for kids in pediatric palliative care.". Victor hopes to reach more people nationwide: he is seeking more professional artists in a variety of music genres. The artists are paid, and part of the money is raised through private fundraisers at people's homes. People can host a benefit concert for Harmony and Healing to perform and generate funds to help the nonprofit expand its gift of music to others. "I feel wonderful that we can do this and make people happy," Victor said.
Health Line
15 minutes ago
- Health Line
The Kitchen Gadgets and Goods That Make Eating for Menopause Easier
Diet is one of the most powerful levers you can pull to manage menopause symptoms. Here's how to stock your kitchen for success. It's easy to read recommendations about how to eat for menopause symptoms, but it's sometimes harder to put them into practice when you have a trillion other things to focus on. Change is hard. Your favorite meals, recipes, and your cooking habits are not immune. Jerlyn Jones, a registered dietitian who focuses on female health, explained why certain nutrients are helpful for menopause and where to focus your energy in the kitchen. 'Dietary patterns directly affect and benefit common symptoms,' she says. To help make a menopause diet easier, we've recommended some tools and snacks to help you stock up for the journey. Meet the expert Jerlyn Jones, MS MPA RDN LD CLT Jerlyn Jones is a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of The Lifestyle Dietitian LLC, an Atlanta-based nutrition consulting practice. Her specialty is integrative nutrition with an emphasis on food sensitivities, digestive problems, and female health. For eating more omega-3s You may have been told to eat more fish. Do it for heart health, they say. Do it for hot flash defense, they say. Jones explains that omega-3s can especially improve sleep quality by helping regulate serotonin, a precursor to the natural sleep aid melatonin. But if you're not big on seafood, you're probably rolling your eyes right now. Like it or not, a lack of omega-3s stands in the way of good health before, during, and after menopause. Why omega-3s matter for menopause Menopause equals reduced estrogen, which makes it harder for your body to metabolize fats well. Omega-3 fatty acids can help this process. A 2020 review found that supplementation with omega-3s (as well as vitamins A, C, and E) for menopausal women was associated with lower levels of certain lipids that increase oxidative stress and, therefore, risk of heart disease and diabetes. A 2021 study also found that postmenopausal women who had taken omega-3 supplements had a better quality of life score when using the Menopause Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL). This is a specific assessment tool for menopausal women and their symptoms. Older research also suggests omega-3s may play a role in improving depression and hot flash symptoms brought on by menopause. Hacks for eating more omega-3s An air fryer is a must for cooking salmon and other fish to the perfect texture. Flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts, soybeans, and hemp seeds are also high in omega-3s. Add soaked chia seeds or ground flaxseeds to smoothies or other nuts and seeds to salads. Replace olive oil with hemp seed oil in your salad dressings, but avoid cooking with it, as its smoke point is low. If you still cannot eat enough omega-3s through food, consider a supplement. Nordic Naturals Cod Liver Oil sounds foul, but the orange flavor proved to be tasty and much easier to take than large fish oil capsules. Shopping list Healthline's review This is a favorite air fryer of Healthline editor Kristin Currin due to the dual baskets. It allows her to cook protein, such as stinky fish packed with omegas, in one side and veggies in another. She even uses her air fryer to make dog treats from salmon skins, but that's a topic for another time. Healthline's review Rita Mauceri is one of Healthline's go-to testers for menopausal wellness, and she praised this product. 'The Nordic Naturals orange-flavored cod liver oil is a game-changer for me, and I don't use that phrase lightly. As someone who has struggled to find a fish oil that I can actually take every morning, this was such a brilliantly simple solution.' For eating more protein Females in menopause need around 1 to 2 grams (g) of protein per kilogram of body weight. Say you weigh 170 pounds, that's 77 kilograms, and the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) is 77 to 154 g of protein per day. What could that look like on a plate? An example of a day's worth of meals courtesy of Jones: Breakfast: Tofu scramble made with 3 ounces of tofu, 1 cup of red kidney beans, and mixed vegetables — served with 1 cup of halved strawberries and a half cup of soy milk (28.7 grams of protein) Lunch: 1 cup of quinoa, 3 ounces of grilled salmon, and 1 cup of sautéed spinach (36 grams of protein) Dinner: 3 ounces of grilled chicken, 1 cup of brown rice, and 1 cup of broccoli (35.7 grams of protein) Total protein: 100.4 grams Why protein matters for menopause Declining estrogen levels strike again when it comes to healthy bones and muscles, both of which can lose density and strength during menopause. Additionally, metabolism tends to slow down as you age in general, but particularly during menopause (you guessed it — low estrogen is still to blame). This can make weight gain and weight management a prime focus for individuals at this stage. Protein can help on all these fronts by increasing feelings of fullness and supporting hormones involved with appetite. It helps with muscle mass, particularly when paired with exercise. Meanwhile, the collagen in protein promotes good bone density. Hacks for increasing protein Blend a container of cottage cheese using a small blender or hand immersion blender. This emulsifies it and makes a great base for sauces at dinnertime. High protein mac and cheese, yes, please. Drink a smoothie along with your lunch, complete with yogurt and a scoop of protein powder. Snack on cheese instead of chips. Mozzarella, parmesan, and Swiss cheeses have higher protein content than others. Shopping list For eating more whole grains Swapping white rice for brown rice is not groundbreaking news (wild rice is good, too). But there are a number of other whole grains you can try for variety. Let's face it, it's the spice of life. Think: oats, quinoa, millet (great in salads), barley, whole rye bread, and buckwheat. Why grains matter for menopause Whole grains are a good source of B vitamins and fiber. 'Aiming for 35-40 grams of fiber a day, mainly with whole grains, is associated with weight loss, a lower risk of coronary artery disease, and cardiovascular disease,' says Jones. These are all risks that increase with menopause. In addition to lowering disease risk in the long term, they may also help decrease menopause symptoms in the short term. A 2020 review of existing research found that women who ate more whole grains, vegetables, and unprocessed foods experienced less intense symptoms. Hacks for eating more whole grains Snack on popcorn. Opt for plain kernels and pop them old school on the stove (rather than prepackaged options with extra sodium and additives). Join the overnight oats trend (recipe linked below), and make them with milk. Bonus points for swapping in walnuts, which provide omega-3s. Add protein powder to make it a triple threat. You'll want a package of Ball jars or other glass jars as a vessel to make these ahead of time for the week. An Instant Pot or rice cooker cooks rice only slightly quicker, but it can be more convenient because you can set it and forget it, rather than having to monitor and stir. Shopping list For eating more phytoestrogens Phytoestrogens, likely a less familiar nutrient, are compounds (mostly found in plants) that can positively affect estrogen levels. They include isoflavones and lignans. 'It's not clear how someone can know if they are consuming enough phytoestrogens,' explains Jones. However, she points to one study that recommends 20 mg per day of soy isoflavones supplementation during perimenopause for symptom reduction. Think soy products like tofu, flaxseeds (which are also great for eating more whole grains), dried fruit, berries, and garlic. Why phytoestrogens matter for menopause Older research suggests that they can help reduce hot flashes, improve brain fog and sleep, and even benefit bone health. More research from 2025 found that phytoestrogens may also help prevent postmenopausal obesity because they bind directly to estrogen receptors and mimic estrogen, increasing metabolism. Phytoestrogens are also linked to improved heart health and cholesterol levels. As a bonus, they may also improve skin wrinkles, pigmentation, and hydration. Hacks for eating more phytoestrogens Drink green tea — hot or cold. Consider an iced tea maker for summertime. Experiment with tofu dishes. Unless you're a plant-based eater, try incorporating tofu into your side dishes rather than replacing your meat proteins, as traditional meat still has more protein. Circle back to those veggies. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts are good sources. Shopping list
