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FRIDAY, Nov. 8, 2019 (American Heart Association News) — Washington Heights, a historic neighborhood on Chicago’s far South Side, faces the modern-day challenge of boosting health, education and economic opportunities for its residents. At the forefront of this revitalization effort is The Endeleo Institute, and its success stories are multiplying. “Endeleo” is a Swahili term for progress and growth. The nonprofit aims to create a culture of health and rejuvenate the neighborhood’s 2-mile West 95th Street corridor by partnering with health organizations, institutions, local government and businesses to push community improvement projects forward. On one end of that corridor is the Carter G. Woodson Regional Library. Endeleo recently helped spearhead its restoration and worked to make it a hub for health information, creating a state-of-the-art space for all ages to congregate. “Dementia and Alzheimer’s were running rampant in our community,” said Melvin Thompson, executive director of Endeleo, the community development arm of Trinity United Church of Christ. Washington Heights’ population is predominantly African American, a group about twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias compared with their white counterparts. Brain health is connected to heart health, Thompson said, and Endeleo works to promote cardiovascular wellness, too. The library, home to the largest African American history and literature collection in the Midwest, was refurbished with $9 million in government funding. It reopened in… read on >

Mass shootings, health care and the 2020 presidential election are significant causes of stress for American adults, a new survey finds. The poll of more than 3,600 U.S. adults found that 71% of them said mass shootings are a major source of stress, an increase from 62% in 2018. Hispanics were most likely to say mass shootings are a significant source of stress (84%), followed by blacks (79%), Asians (77%), Native Americans (71%) and whites (66%). Health care is a significant cause of stress for 69% of the respondents. Among the 47% who experience stress about health care at least sometimes, the cost of health care is the most common source of that stress (64%). Adults with private insurance (71%) were more likely than those with public insurance (53%) to say the cost of health care causes them stress. Overall, 55% worry that they won’t be able to pay for health care services they may need in the future, according to this year’s Stress in America survey from the American Psychological Association (APA). The online survey, conducted by The Harris Poll, also found that 56% of respondents have significant stress about the 2020 presidential election, an increase from 52% in the period before the 2016 election. Stress related to climate change rose to 56% this year from 51% last year. Stress associated with widespread sexual… read on >

The popular herbal supplement kratom may cause liver damage, researchers warn. Kratom is widely available in smoke shops and online. It’s a botanical product made from Mitragyna speciosa, a tropical evergreen tree found in Southeast Asia. At low doses, it’s a stimulant. At high doses, it has an opioid-like effect. Use of kratom has risen sharply since the start of the opioid epidemic, and more than 90 deaths have been linked to it, researchers say. “There are risks associated with using kratom, and liver injury is on the list of things that are a potential consequence of using it,” said William Eggleston, a clinical assistant professor at the Binghamton University-State University of New York’s School of Pharmacy. He wasn’t involved with the study, but reviewed the findings. There were eight cases of reported liver injury associated with kratom products in the study. Eggleston said this may not seem like a lot, but they are enough to be concerning. “Maybe we need to re-evaluate whether or not this drug should be available as a dietary supplement,” he said. Unlike prescription drugs, dietary supplements don’t need approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. And though kratom is a legal herbal supplement, the FDA has warned against its use. The agency has called it “opioid-like” and cited concerns that it might pose an addiction risk. Some patients… read on >

A new federal report points to an oily chemical known as vitamin E acetate as the likely culprit behind more than 2,000 cases of severe lung illness among vapers. After taking fluid samples from the lungs of 29 vapers who were hospitalized for the illness in 10 states, scientists from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spotted the chemical in all of the samples. “This is the first reported identification of a potential toxicant of concern (vitamin E acetate) in biologic specimens obtained from [these] patients,” the researchers said in the Nov. 8 online edition of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. “These findings provide direct evidence of vitamin E acetate at the primary site of injury.” But the CDC researchers added that more study is still needed. “Based on these data from 29 patients, it appears that vitamin E acetate is associated with [severe lung illness]; however, it is possible that more than one compound or ingredient could be a cause of lung injury, and evidence is not yet sufficient to rule out contribution of other toxicants,” according to Benjamin Blount and his colleagues at the CDC. Vitamin E acetate is derived from vitamin E, which is found in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, and leafy green veggies. It is available as a dietary supplement and skin treatment. But when vaped… read on >

Just because your upper arms are temporarily hidden under sweaters and jackets doesn’t mean you should neglect them. Here’s how to tone them with weights for better definition now and when they’re fully back in view. Hammer Curls: These are an effective variation of the bicep curl. Stand straight, a dumbbell in each hand, arms at your sides, wrists facing inward. Without moving your upper arms, raise the dumbbells until the ends closest to you touch the fronts of your shoulders. Hold briefly, then slowly lower the weights to the start position. If lifting both arms simultaneously is too difficult, do this exercise with alternating arms. Alternating Hammer Curls: This advanced variation of the Hammer Curl is done in the basic plank position. Get on all fours. If you’re strong, extend your legs straight behind you, with toes flexed. If not, keep your knees bent on the floor. Arms should be straight, but rather than having palms flat, each hand holds a dumbbell flat on the floor. Contract your abs and keep your upper body straight as you press your bodyweight onto your left hand. Now raise the weight in your right hand until the end closest to you touches the front of your shoulder. You’re moving only your forearm and keeping your right elbow close to your right side. Lower with control to the… read on >

Want to get more fish in your diet with a lot more flavor? This two-step technique yields a crispy outside and flaky fish within. Cooking fish in a skillet is a fast and flavorful way to prepare this healthy, low-calorie protein. The trick to searing fish and getting a crisp top is to start with a light dusting of flour. This alternative to breading also saves a lot of calories. Then, to get the same type of crunch without deep-frying, give your filets a short blast in the oven. If you’ve shied away from cod in the past, it’s time to try it again. It’s a high-protein, low-fat fish, and a good source of B12 and niacin. Crispy Cod With Spinach 2 tablespoons gluten-free or whole-wheat flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 teaspoon paprika 3 tablespoons grapeseed or safflower oil 2 6-ounce cod filets Cooking spray 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 pound baby spinach 1 tablespoon butter Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place flour on a plate and mix with salt, black pepper and paprika. Dip filets into flour mixture and transfer to another plate. Add the oil to an oven-safe skillet and warm over medium-high heat for about 1 minute. Add the filets and cook, without turning, for 4 to 5 minutes until crispy. Flip the filets in the pan and… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Infants need a balance of nutrients to grow properly and be healthy, says the American Academy of Pediatrics. Although homemade formulas may seem healthy or inexpensive, they may not meet your baby’s nutritional needs. The academy mentions some do’s and don’ts of homemade baby formula: Do choose recipes that have been reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Don’t feed your infant milk made from very young cows or milk substitutes. Don’t use formulas imported from other countries. Don’t add excess water to powdered formula or non-concentrated liquid formula.

If you’re looking for a way to liven up your dishes with a great tasting, low-calorie condiment, zesty gremolata is for you. Gremolata is an Italian chopped herb mix and, as exotic as it sounds, it takes just three ingredients to make: lemon zest, parsley and garlic. It’s full of flavor but has hardly any calories, and it’s naturally fat- and salt-free. You can mix up a batch and then use it as a delicious accompaniment to grilled meats and fish instead butter- or oil-based sauces. Or toss it with pasta for an alternative to tomato sauce. It makes an especially tasty way to flavor mushrooms for a very healthy side dish. Basic Gremolata 1 lemon 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley 3 garlic cloves, minced Use a vegetable peeler to remove yellow zest from the lemon, being careful not to get any of the bitter white pith layer. Mince the peel and transfer it to small bowl. Note: If you have a microplane grater, you can use it instead to make the zest. Add the parsley and garlic. Store for up to five days in the fridge. As an accompaniment to a protein, this makes enough for two servings. Multiply the ingredients as needed. Mushrooms With Gremolata 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 pound mushrooms, such as button or Cremini 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/8… read on >

When it comes to sculpting a better booty, here’s the bottom line: You need to strengthen your glutes. And more than giving these muscles a toned look, working them also improves the mobility of your hips, helps stabilize your core and eases lower back pain. Here are three to add to your repertoire. Pulsing Squats: This is a great variation of the classic squat. Stand straight with your legs shoulder-width apart. Now lower yourself into a squatting position and pulse — that’s a gentle bounce. Pulse three to five times per squat, then with control return to the start position and repeat. Quadruped Bent Knee Hip Extensions: Grab an exercise mat and get down on your hands and knees. Slightly contract your abs to stabilize your core. Lift one leg behind you, keeping the knee bent at 90 degrees. Only the thigh is moving upward. Stop when the sole of your foot is facing the ceiling. Then, with control, return to the start position. Complete a full set on this side before switching legs. Pulsing Side Leg Lifts: From the same position on all fours, stretch your right leg out to the side in line with your hip. Raise the leg to hip level and pulse it up and down about an inch at a medium, steady pace, about three to five times before lowering… read on >

From Halloween through New Year’s, holiday weight gain affects people the world over and, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, it can happen with any major holiday, not just the winter ones. As you might know firsthand, it’s a lot harder to lose that weight than to put it on. So even if you start every new year with just an extra pound or two, if you repeat this pattern yearly, your weight will just keep rising. That’s why the best approach is preventive — being aware of extra calories, starting now. There is another, separate challenge to healthy eating during the cold weather months in many parts of the country — much less availability of locally grown fruits and vegetables. It’s still possible to buy foods like berries and peppers, for instance, but you’ll pay a higher price, and in some regions, the selection of fresh produce simply shrinks. That helps explain the results of a study that polled women in North Dakota. Researchers found that diet quality was lower in winter when foods like corn, berries, tomatoes and lettuces were less available. What to do? Switch to dark leafy greens, squashes and root vegetables, and supplement with frozen fruits and vegetables, which can be as nutritious as fresh because they’re typically packaged soon after harvesting. Another smart… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

AHA News: On Chicago’s South Side, Revitalization Aims for ‘Culture of Health’

Survey Shows Americans Feel Stressed

Kratom May Cause Liver Damage: Study

Vitamin E Acetate Is Leading Suspect in Vaping-Linked Lung Illnesses: CDC

The Essential Upper Arm Shape-Up

A Tasty and Nutritious Way to Prepare Fish

Health Tip: Do’s and Don’ts of Homemade Baby Formula

The Healthiest Condiment You’ve Never Heard Of

Bringing Up the Rear: A Workout for Your Glutes

How to Head Off Holiday Weight Gain