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Fireworks are a beautiful sight to behold, but they can damage your hearing if you’re not careful. Protecting your hearing should be one of the safety precautions you take when you and your family are at fireworks displays and other events on the Fourth of July, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) says. Fireworks and firecrackers can be as loud as 150 decibels, which is louder than a jackhammer or jet plane take-off. Noise levels of around 75 to 80 decibels are considered safe. The louder the noise, the quicker hearing damage occurs, according to the ASHA. Noise-induced hearing loss is completely preventable, but is irreversible once it occurs, the association warned in a news release. The ASHA offered the following Independence Day hearing safety tips. Use hearing protection. Basic earplugs can be picked up at drug stores and provide hearing protection for most teens and adults. For children, well-fitting earmuffs over earplugs are typically a good idea. Keep your distance. Stay at least 500 feet from loud noise sources such as speakers, a stage, or fireworks launch sites. The closer you are, the greater the risk to your hearing. Plan your exit strategy. If you develop ringing in your ears or any other ear discomfort, you should leave the event. If you continue to have pain or ringing in the ears, or have difficulty hearing,… read on >

The Fourth of July holiday is one of the most deadly times on America’s roads, so Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is urging everyone to avoid drinking and driving. “Celebrating our nation’s independence with backyard barbecues, fireworks displays and other festivities should be fun, not dangerous,” said Bob Garguilo, executive director of MADD Connecticut. “Celebrate safely by designating a non-drinking driver every time plans include alcohol,” Garguilo said in a MADD news release. Police will be setting up sobriety checkpoints during the holiday. These checkpoints allow officers to stop vehicles to check to see if drivers have been drinking. July has more drunk driving deaths than any other month, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the toll over the July 4 weekend is particularly high. Drunk driving accounts for about 40% of all traffic deaths during July 4 and the weekends before and after. From 6 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2017, to 5:59 a.m. Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 39% of all traffic deaths were alcohol-related, and drunk driving killed 237 people during that time period, according to the NHTSA. Drunk driving is the leading cause of death on U.S. roads, yet is completely preventable, MADD notes. The group urges Americans to take personal responsibility year-round, not just on holidays. If you drink, use taxis, public transportation, rideshare services, or get… read on >

It’s well known that omega-3 fatty acids, or omega-3s for short, are important anti-inflammatory nutrients that, along with many other functions, reduce heart disease risk. What’s unclear is whether you can get these benefits from a capsule. Studies involving supplements have recently been called into question. That’s why it makes sense to focus on foods rich in these fatty acids. Note: A prescription formula has been found effective to reduce triglycerides (a type of blood fat), with an omega-3 concentration much higher than suggested for the general population, but it must only be taken under a doctor’s direction. The easiest forms of omega-3s to absorb are DHA and EPA, and fatty fish (like salmon and tuna) and grass-fed beef are among the best sources. Walnuts, ground flax and chia are good sources of plant-based omega-3s, called ALAs, and are versatile cooking ingredients. Their absorption rate is lower than those of DHA and EPA, however. Here’s a tasty way to get your omega-3s. Walnut-Crusted Tuna 2 tablespoons ground walnuts 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed 2 tablespoons chia seeds 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper 1 egg, preferably omega-3 fortified 2 6-ounce tuna filets Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix walnuts, flax, chia seeds and black pepper in a pie plate. Whisk the egg in a separate dish. Dip tuna filets into the egg and then press into… read on >

Being able to go online offers a wealth of knowledge, keeps you connected to loved ones and makes all sorts of transactions more convenient. But there’s a downside. In a nationwide survey by the Pew Research Center, more than three-quarters of respondents said they liked having access to a vast wealth of information, and two-thirds said it helped them simplify their lives. Those with many electronic devices felt that all the gadgets made it easier to manage a steady flow of information. People commonly search for community news; information about health care or insurance; school or education; traffic or commuting; personal finance; government services or benefits; work-related topics; and home repair. But the survey also found that 20% experience what’s known as information overload. Some are stressed by all the information they must keep track of, and some find it difficult to find information needed to deal with institutions like their bank, for instance. Other research has looked at work-related information overload, chiefly from emails, which can eat up your day and leave you overwhelmed and unable to focus. One study found that the more time spent on email, the less productive — and more stressed — people felt. Regain control by limiting how often you check your inbox and then prioritize. Read only essential emails during the day. Put the less important ones in… read on >

Although many restaurants, offices and even apartment buildings are smoke-free, American universities appear to be an exception. By 2017, only 1 in 6 had gone completely smoke-free or tobacco-free, a new study reveals. “Continued success in increasing the adoption of comprehensive smoke-free and tobacco-free protections at institutions of higher learning will strengthen smoking prevention among nonsmokers, increase quitting among current smokers, and protect youth and young adults from the negative health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke,” said researchers led by Dr. Kelly Blake of the U.S. National Cancer Institute. The research team discovered smoking was still allowed in colleges and universities in the District of Columbia, New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Only Iowa at 87%, Arkansas at 62%, North Dakota at 55%, Guam at 67% and the Northern Mariana Islands at 100% had smoke-free policies in more than half of their higher-learning institutions. The researchers estimated that only 27% of students and 25% of faculty members were covered by strict school or state smoke-free laws. For the study, investigators used data from these two sources: the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation and the U.S. National Center for Education Statistics Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. The report was published July 2 in the journal Tobacco Control. More information The American Lung Association offers more state-by-state information on smoke-free laws.

Social media is helping spur the e-cigarette epidemic among America’s teens, a new study suggests. Nearly 15,000 Instagram posts related to Juul, the most popular e-cigarette brand, were released between March and May 2018, researchers found. More than half the posts focused on youth culture or lifestyle-related content that would appeal to teens, according to results published July 2 in the journal Tobacco Control. One-third of the posts contained overt promotional content that highlighted ways to obtain Juul-related products at a reduced cost, including discounts and giveaways, the researchers added. These promotional posts “had links to commercial websites,” said senior researcher Elizabeth Hair, senior vice president of the Schroeder Institute, Truth Initiative, in Washington, D.C. “Not all of them were from Juul corporate; some of them were from companies selling the Juul product.” This sort of social media promotion is fueling the use of e-cigarettes among teens, Hair said. “Over 20% of our youth are using e-cigarettes,” Hair said. “We’ve been doing such a great job of changing the nation’s direction on cigarette usage, and now we have a new epidemic we’re facing.” But Juul Labs spokesperson Lindsay Andrews noted that during those three months, the company itself issued only eight Instagram posts. Most posts from third-party users, Juul says “Six of these were testimonials from former adult smokers, one was a letter from our… read on >

Somewhere between the Mom who obsessively wipes down every knob and toy her child might touch, and the Dad who thinks rolling in the dirt is “good” for kids, there’s a healthy medium, British experts say. “We have to find a way to protect against infectious diseases and harmful microbes, whilst at the same time sustaining exposure to the essential beneficial microbes in our world,” explained Sally Bloomfield. Bloomfield is a member of the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene, and also the co-author of a new report that surveyed British adults on their attitude towards dirt and germs in the home. The 2018 survey, from the Royal Society for Public Health, suggests people are confused about how much dirt is OK. A lot of that confusion is probably coming from the rise of the “hygiene hypothesis” — the notion that today’s homes are overly sanitized, and kids need contact with germs to build up healthy immune systems. But this notion can be taken too far, as Bloomfield’s group found. In fact, nearly one in four people polled agreed with the statement that “hygiene in the home is not important because children need to be exposed to harmful germs to build their immune system.” Men were twice as likely as women to express that opinion. On the other hand, misconceptions around the level of “danger”… read on >

Pickled vegetables are healthy and crunchy treats, and when you make them yourself, they’ll have great savory flavor with a lot less sodium than packaged varieties. Note that pickled foods are different from fermented foods, such as yogurt and kimchi. Pickling is soaking a food in a salty or acidic solution. Fermentation is the result of a reaction that occurs between a food’s own sugars and bacteria. Both are tasty and good for you. Firm veggies like radishes, green beans and fennel work best, because they won’t get mushy in the pickling liquid. Even if you’ve never been a radish fan, this recipe will turn you into one. Try them over Mexican dishes like black beans and rice, or nibble on them right out of the jar for a quick snack. Pickled Radishes With Orange Rind 1/2 cup white vinegar 2 teaspoons sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup cold water 2 2-inch strips orange rind 1 pound radishes, thinly sliced 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced Place vinegar, sugar, salt and cold water in a large saucepan. Mix well and add orange rind. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook for 30 seconds until the salt and sugar totally dissolve. Turn off the heat and add the radishes and red onion to the liquid. Let stand until the vegetables reach room temperature. Spoon… read on >

No matter how committed you are to eating healthier and/or losing weight, making drastic changes can be hard. A better approach is to make small shifts in the foods you eat every day, according to the U.S. 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines. Here are 10 to aim for. To boost your diet efforts over time, try one a week. Shift from white bread to whole-wheat bread or a wrap. Shift from meat to seafood, or replace meat in recipes with beans and vegetables twice a week. Join the Meatless Monday bandwagon to gradually reduce the red meat — beef, lamb and pork as well as processed meats — in your diet. Shift from salted to unsalted nuts, and from regular canned soups and vegetables to low-sodium varieties. These are painless ways to reduce unnecessary salt. Shift from butter to olive oil, and from creamy dressings to vinaigrettes. This increases unsaturated fats in your diet while reducing saturated ones. Shift from whole milk to 2%, and then to 1% milk. Even though some studies have reported that full-fat dairy is not the health threat it was once thought to be, this shift will cut calories if you need help losing weight or maintaining a loss. Shift from cream-based pasta dishes to ones with red sauce. This also cuts saturated fat. Shift to roasted squash chunks from French fries.… read on >

Kids whose moms don’t get enough sunshine during pregnancy may be more likely to develop learning difficulties, researchers report. The finding stems from data on more than 422,000 school-aged children in Scotland. Low levels of exposure to UVB rays — but not UVA sunlight — during the entire pregnancy was linked to learning disabilities later on. Because only UVB rays were implicated, the researchers suspect the effect relates to insufficient vitamin D production. Exposure to vitamin D in the first trimester of pregnancy is essential for fetal brain development, the researchers said. The percentage of kids with learning disabilities varied by month of conception. It ranged from nearly 17% among children conceived in July to 21% among those conceived in February, March and April, when exposure to sunlight is less. However, the study could not prove a cause-and-effect relationship. “Learning disabilities can have profound life-long effects on both the affected child and their family. The importance of our study is that it suggests a possible way to prevent learning disabilities in some children,” said lead author Jill Pell, director of the University of Glasgow’s Institute of Health and Wellbeing. “Clinical trials are now needed to confirm whether taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy could reduce the risk of learning disabilities,” she said in a university news release. The report was published June 27 in the… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Don’t Let Fireworks Deafen You

Don’t Drink and Drive on the Fourth

A Tasty Way to Get Your Omega-3s

How to Avoid Information Overload

Few U.S. Universities Are Smoke-Free

Social Media a Big Driver of Teen Vaping Craze: Study

Reacting Against a ‘Too Clean’ World, Some Parents Go Too Far the Other Way

Add a Flavor Punch to Your Meals: Give Pickled Veggies a Try

10 Food ‘Shifts’ to Improve Your Diet

How Does Sunshine During Pregnancy Affect Learning?