Latest news with #Dober
The Guardian
29-04-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Feeling stressed and wondering if a ‘cortisol detox' can help? Not so fast
As a psychologist, Carly Dober's clients often come in talking about their cortisol levels as the reason things are hard for them. When Dober asks them where they came across that information, the answer is often the online wellness space, where the idea of a 'cortisol detox' is promoted as an antidote to stress and exhaustion. Excess amounts of the hormone is also being blamed for everything from increased belly fat to disrupted sleep and the advice to 'detox' often involves influencers recommending programs spanning meditation, spending time in the sunshine, changes to diet, specific supplements like ginseng and ice baths. Dober says these online influencers advocating a cortisol detox are 'hijacking attention' using a medicalised name to give themselves an air of legitimacy that can translate to followers, engagement, money and customers. 'It sounds like an easy fix to whatever issues might be happening in your life to target one particular chemical [but] the framing of this as a dangerous chemical is really problematic because it's necessary,' Dober says. Cortisol is the body's main stress hormone, produced by the adrenal glands, and your body usually produces the right amount of cortisol to keep you healthy. Prof Creswell Eastman, an endocrinologist and clinical professor of medicine at the University of Sydney, says cortisol is an 'essential hormone for life' which regulates blood pressure and the metabolism. Cortisol levels do increase with everyday stresses – and cause blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar levels to rise with them – but that process is actually protective to help you solve problems and overcome that source of stress, Eastman says. 'It's our physiological response to the flight and fight mechanism, ensuring that we can survive some threat to our wellbeing. That's why we make cortisol.' If someone's adrenal glands were to be taken out and they were no longer able to produce the cortisol hormone, when they were confronted with a stress they would not be able to respond to it, he says. The only people who have too much cortisol have the rare Cushing's disease – when the body makes too much cortisol – or Cushing's syndrome, which occurs when a person takes too many medicines that are similar to cortisol, Eastman says. 'There's no way you can detox from that.' 'There's no such thing as detoxing from cortisol excess.' Dober says 'we need a healthy 'Goldilocks' amount of stress to thrive and grow and to learn. As humans, we don't want to have no stress in our lives. It's not realistic.' Chronic stress – which lasts longer than three months – does impact health, wellbeing and immune system, she says. Stress management should be part of people's everyday self-care, but Dober says the focus on the cortisol levels themselves is unhelpful and there are no ways to quantify them for the average person. She warns some 'cortisol detox' tips being given could be harmful, especially when it is assumed the tips will work for everyone. As just one example: cold plunges or cold water immersion therapy can be dangerous for those with pre-existing heart conditions. Prof Karena Burke, the head of the school of psychology at the University of Wollongong, says 'just focusing on cortisol reduction can be problematic, and not having enough is just as problematic as having too much'. 'There are aspects of the 'detox' process that is really great advice, but honestly the focus people should have is on changes to their lifestyle overall and sustaining those changes over time,' Burke says. 'It is possible to 'feel better' after two to three weeks on these sorts of programs, but that's because they also focus on dietary changes, stress management techniques and factors like reducing alcohol, spending time outside in nature and on increasing social connection.' If someone is feeling that they are constantly stressed, they can try techniques like relaxation, deep breathing and journaling, or increasing their physical activity – walking outside or along the beach is just as good as going to the gym – and working on their sleep hygiene, Burke recommends. It is important to consult a doctor, counsellor, psychologist or another healthcare professional, especially if someone is feeling really stressed or if they are planning major lifestyle changes (including dietary changes). A professional can assist to monitor the impacts and adaptations taking place. Burke says, 'we've all heard it before, but there are few (if any) quick fixes, and there needs to be an individualised approach taken – that may mean experimenting with different things to see what works best.' Dober says if people have genuine concerns around their cortisol levels, they should see their GP or an endocrinologist, but if we are thinking about general life stress, 'trying to learn how to best manage stress at different points of your life can be very, very helpful'. Natasha May is Guardian Australia's health reporter Antiviral is a fortnightly column that interrogates the evidence behind the health headlines and factchecks popular wellness claims What health trend do you want examined? Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian.
USA Today
31-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
John McCarthy weighs in on Manuel Torres vs. Drew Dober stoppage at UFC on ESPN 64
John McCarthy thinks Manuel Torres vs. Drew Dober at UFC on ESPN 64 was stopped too late. Torres (16-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) dropped Dober (27-15 MMA, 13-11 UFC) with a straight right, followed by a series of unanswered hammerfists to score the Round 1 TKO in Saturday's co-main event at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Many, including Torres, took issue with how long it took referee Mike Beltran to wave the fight off after Dober wasn't intelligently defending himself. Veteran referee McCarthy acknowledges that it's tough to gauge sometimes, but thinks Beltran let Dober take too much unnecessary damage. 'The stoppage was a little slow when you look at it,' McCarthy said on his 'Weighing In' podcast. 'It was good, but it was a little slow because of the uniqueness of what you watched off of the way he went down and then the way he just stayed in one spot eating 15 shots that were hard and again, people think, 'Oh a hammer fist.' 'Hammer fists have power. I just don't know how to tell you man, don't let someone get a free shot on the side of your noggin with a good hammer fist because we've done studies on all that stuff, and you'll get people able to throw a hammer fist every bit as hard as someone throwing a straight shot.' McCarthy says Beltran should have trusted his initial instinct. 'He actually stepped in, and then was like, 'Oh, got to give him more of a shot,'' McCarthy said. 'It's like: No, you should have stopped it there. You had the right read. But I understand why he didn't.' Dober, who now has lost three straight fights, took to X to react to his loss. 'Well, that sucked. A beautifully timed one two by Manuel Torres. There's not much to go off of other than, unfortunately, stepping in front of the rear hand of a long power puncher. 'As much as I love Mexico City, it's given me two of my most embarrassing losses of my career, haha. But the food and people are still the best. I'm happy and healthy and excited to be a stay at home dad for a while.' Well, that sucked. A beautifully timed one two by Manuel Torres. There's not much to go off of other than, unfortunately, stepping in front of the rear hand of a long power puncher. — Drew Dober (@DrewDober) March 30, 2025 As much as I love Mexico City, it's given me two of my most embarrassing losses of my career, haha. But the food and people are still the best. I'm happy and healthy and excited to be a stay at home dad for a while. — Drew Dober (@DrewDober) March 30, 2025 For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.
USA Today
30-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 64 video: Manuel Torres hammerfists Drew Dober for quick TKO
Manuel Torres delivered another thrilling performance in his young octagon career Saturday when he quickly dispatched of veteran Drew Dober in the UFC on ESPN 64 co-main event. Torres (16-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) promised excitement in the lightweight matchup at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, and he lived up to that when he hurt Dober (27-15 MMA, 13-11 UFC) with a huge straight right for a knockdown followed by a series of hammerfists for the TKO at the 1:45 mark of Round 1. Dober protested the stoppage in the immediate aftermath, but didn't appear fully aware what had unfolded. Check out the replay of the stoppage below (via X): Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 64 results include: For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC Mexico City ‘Weekend Lock' ... What's Yours?
Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images UFC Mexico City is less than 24 hours away ... It all goes down this weekend (Sat., March 29, 2025) from inside Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico. In the main event, former two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Flyweight champion, Brandon Moreno, takes on No. 8-ranked contender, Steve Erceg, in a pivotal 125-pound showdown. Advertisement We've started a new series at called 'Weekend Lock,' where we share one bet that we feel could slap South of the Border when the chaotic dust settles. We also want to hear what our readers think (that's you!), so please tell us your most confident UFC Mexico City betting lock in the comments section below (full UFC Mexico City odds here). We're 3-0 so far, so let's keep keeping on below ... UFC Fight Night: Dober v Green Moreno vs. Erceg might be UFC Mexico City's official main event, but Drew Dober vs. Manuel Torres is the people's main event and hands-down the most entertaining scrap on the card. And that's because one of these guys is getting sent to the shadow realm by the end of the night. Advertisement Which brings me straight to Weekend Lock: Dober is going to knockout Torres ... regardless of his 'new' strategy. I get it — Dober might be on the back nine of his career, dropping three of his last four with two stoppages in there. But, hold up because those losses were to Renato Moicano and Jean Silva, who are absolutely tearing it up right now. Plus, the Silva fight only ended because of a gnarly cut ... not because Dober was out cold. And that other stoppage? Matt Frevola finally cracked that granite chin (see it here); however, before that, Dober's durability was borderline legendary. The dude is tough as nails, never shies away from a firefight, and lives by the 'take one to give one' philosophy ... even if he's teasing a gameplan switch for this fight (sure, Drew, we believe you!). Advertisement Now, Torres? He's a wild man — 'Loco' ain't just a random nickname. But, he's sloppy and eats shots like they're delicious tacos at a popular street cart. He got slept in his last fight against Ignacio Bahamondes (watch highlights), and even in his brutal knockout win over Nikolas Motta, he got cracked first. Yeah, he's six years younger than Dober and might hit a little harder, but his defense is basically nonexistent. That's a recipe for getting starched against a veteran like Dober, who still possesses insane power in those hands. I'm riding with Dober by knockout at +130. It's a value pick for a guy who can weather the early storm and land a fight-ender. Here is a brief counterpoint argument to take Torres: Advertisement GROK AI added this as well: Betting on Manuel Torres for his fight against Drew Dober at UFC Mexico City on March 29, 2025, could be an intriguing option for several reasons, based on his fighting style, recent performances, and the context of the matchup. Here's a breakdown of why you might consider placing a bet on him: Torres is known for his explosive, high-octane approach in the lightweight division. The 30-year-old Mexican fighter has a reputation for finishing fights early, with 13 of his 15 career wins coming inside the distance—11 in the first round alone. Torres also has multiple paths to victory. While he's a finisher by nature—50% of his wins are by submission—he's facing a Dober who has lost 30% of his fights by submission. Torres averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes and has a 66% takedown success rate, contrasting with Dober's 17% takedown accuracy and 56% takedown defense. If Torres mixes in his grappling (2.26 takedowns per 15 minutes), he could exploit Dober's historical vulnerability on the ground, especially given Dober's recent skid of three losses in his last four fights. Manuel Torres To Win By KO/TKO/DQ: +200 Manuel Torres To Win By Submission: +400 Manuel Torres To Win By Decision: +1100 Draw: +5000 Drew Dober To Win By KO/TKO/DQ: +300 Drew Dober To Win By Submission: +1100 Drew Dober To Win By Decision: +225 Do you agree with our lock of the weekend? Please sound off in the comments and let us know your most confident UFC Mexico City pick this weekend. Correct 'lock' predictions will be shared in our 'Best of the Best' article next week, too. Remember that will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Mexico City card right here, starting with the ESPN+ 'Prelims' matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 7 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+). To check out the latest and greatest UFC Mexico City: 'Moreno vs. Erceg' news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. More from
USA Today
29-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 64: Manuel Torres vs. Drew Dober odds, picks and predictions
In a 3-round lightweight bout on the main card, Manuel Torres and Drew Dober meet at UFC on ESPN 64 Saturday at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's UFC odds around the UFC on ESPN 64: Torres vs. Dober odds, and make our expert picks and predictions. The prelims start at 4 p.m. ET with the main card beginning at 7 p.m. (ESPN2/ESPN+). Records: Torres (15-3-0) | Dober (27-14-0) The 30-year-old Torres fights in front of his fellow countrymen at Arena CDMX in Ciudad de Mexico. The switch-stance fighter takes the walk with a 3-inch reach advantage over the veteran American fighter Dober. Torres also holds a 7.17-to-4.39 significant strikes landed per minute advantage, while also landing those strikes at 56.57% to only 45.44% for the 36-year-old southpaw. In addition, Torres has managed a 2.26 takedown average, while Dober has posted just a 0.67 TD Average. Torres suffered a Round 1 KO/TKO loss to Ignacio Bahamondes last time out at UFC 306 – Riyadh Season Noche UFC in mid-September 2024. That halted a 3-bout in streak to start his UFC career. All 3 of the victories came in Round 1, too. Dober has suffered back-to-back losses to Jean Silva and Renato Moicano since his most recent victory Oct. 7, 2023 against Ricky Glenn via KO/TKO in Round 1. He is just 1-3 in his past 4 fights, too. The southpaw Dober has seen 6 of his past 7 fights end via KO/TKO, with a TKO – Doctor's Stoppage loss in Round 3 against Silva last time out, and he is 4-2 in those 6 KO/TKO results since March 12, 2022. Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here. UFC on ESPN 64: Torres vs. Dober odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:25 a.m. ET. Fight result (2-way line) : Torres -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Dober -105 (bet $105 to win $100) : Torres -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Dober -105 (bet $105 to win $100) Total rounds: 1.5 (Over +140 | Under -190) 1.5 (Over +140 | Under -190) Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +450 | No -800) UFC on ESPN 64: Torres vs. Dober picks and predictions TORRES (-115) is fine to play on the 2-way line, either as a singular play, or as part of a multi-leg parlay. Torres has the leg up on Dober because he is fighting in his native land, so the crowd will be heavily on his side. Don't underestimate the fact that this fight is at elevation, too, and Torres is much more acclimated to fighting in Mexico City, where Dober could struggle with his cardio more than a mile above sea level. TORRES BY KO/TKO OR DQ (+200) is worth a look for the chance to double up on the method of victory on the 7-way line. UNDER 1.5 ROUNDS (-190) will cost you nearly 2 times your potential return, and that's only worth playing as part of a multi-leg parlay, or with an odds boost. As far as the 'Will the fight go the distance?' prop, you cannot play No (-800), which sets you back 8 times your potential return. Either straight up, or as part of a multi-leg parlay, including this prop makes absolutely no sense. There is just no value here otherwise. Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis. For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and us on Facebook.
