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Butternut squash, Brussels sprouts and apples are all amazing fall superfoods and the perfect reason to get cooking. Cheap and versatile, butternut squash is loaded with fiber and vitamin A. For an easy butternut squash mash, cut the squash in half, discard the seeds and roast for about 1 hour at 350 degrees. Scoop out the flesh and mash with olive oil, chopped fresh rosemary, grated Pecorino cheese and salt. Roasting is also a great way to prepare Brussels sprouts, rich in vitamins C and K. Cut Brussels sprouts in half and saute with some olive oil in a large skillet over high heat until lightly browned. Then bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for eight to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar and chopped hazelnuts. Apples are a great source of hunger-busting fiber, and apples baked in a slow-cooker make for a fabulous, filling dessert that’s quick to prepare. Easy-As-Pie Baked Apples 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, pecans, raisins or prunes 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon cinnamon 6 Gala or Macintosh apples 1/2 cup apple juice or cider 2 tablespoons orange liquor (optional) In a large bowl, mix the sugar, walnuts, butter and cinnamon to make a filling. Using a grapefruit spoon with sharp edges, a melon baller or a small paring knife, core most of the way through each…  read on >

Narcissism is not a good look at any age, but new research suggests it fades as people enter their 40s. However, the degree of decline in narcissism varies between individuals and can be related to their career and relationships, the researchers added. Overall, the “findings should bring comfort to those who are concerned that young people are problematically narcissistic,” said study co-leader Brent Roberts, a psychology professor at the University of Illinois. “With time, it seems most people turn away from their earlier narcissistic tendencies.” Narcissism is a personality trait characterized by the belief that you’re smarter, better-looking, more successful and more deserving than others. The study included 237 participants whose levels of narcissism — specifically vanity, belief in their leadership skills and sense of entitlement — were assessed at age 18 when they were freshmen at the University of California, Berkeley, and again at age 41. Most of the participants showed a decline in narcissism as they aged. Only 3% had an increase and a few had the same level of narcissism at ages 18 and 41, the findings showed. The researchers also found that each aspect of narcissism examined in the study had particular impacts on the participants’ lives. For example, those who had higher levels of vanity at age 18 were more likely to have unstable relationships and marriages, and more likely…  read on >

The loss of a loved one is one of life’s most stressful events. But new research suggests that having a furry loved one still at home may help ease the pain. Investigators looked at 437 older adults, some of whom lost a spouse, either through divorce or death. They found that having a cat or dog at home was linked to an easing of loneliness and depression. Study leader Dawn Carr, an associate professor of sociology at Florida State University, said the research team was surprised by the results, which were particularly meaningful because loneliness and depression have been found to be risk factors for death and other health problems, just like smoking. Pets can provide support during stressful times — even petting a dog or cat can calm you, Carr noted. In the study, the researchers compared the mental health of people who stayed married to those who didn’t, over a four-year period. They also looked at whether owning a dog or cat had any effect on mental health. The study found that while all people who became widowed or divorced did have some decline in their mental health, having a pet seemed to make a difference. Patients without pets who experienced such a loss had an average of 2.6 symptoms of depression, but that fell to just 1.2 symptoms for those with pets.…  read on >

(HealthDay News) — Color blindness is a vision deficiency that affects the perception of color, says the National Eye Institute. People with color blindness aren’t aware of differences among colors that may be obvious to those with normal vision. Sometimes, people who have color blindness aren’t aware of their condition unless they’re tested. Simple everyday tasks like selecting ripe fruit or deciphering traffic lights can pose challenges. Since color blindness can go undetected for some time, it’s important to have children, especially boys, tested if there is a family history of the condition. There is no cure for color blindness. However, there are lenses, aids and smartphone apps available to help those who are color blind.

There’s no shortage of reasons to get your omega-3s, which are abundant in fish and their oils. But high consumption of fish and their oils has created a shortage around the world. In addition, fish can be costly, and there are also concerns about toxins, like mercury, which affect many fatty fish to some degree. Since omega-3 fatty acids play a role in vision, brain health, reproduction, and healthy skin and hair, the hunt is on for other sources. One source that’s also a boon for vegans are omega-3s made from marine algae, rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, carotenoids, vitamins and essential amino acids. In fact, eating this algae is how fish become so rich in omega-3s. Harvesting microalgae is not only a more sustainable alternative to fishing, but also algae don’t seem to carry the risk of contamination by pollutants. Scientists are just beginning to explore the health benefits of microalgae and how best to harvest it. But small studies have already found that algae oil capsules can be as effective as eating salmon or taking traditional fish oil supplements. While microalgae is already available in capsule and drop forms, it’s possible that we’ll see it in food and beverages in the not-too-distant future. Also, remember that some plant-based foods deliver omega-3 fatty acids — canola oil, walnuts, ground flaxseed and edamame, to…  read on >

Everyone goes through moments of worry, but for some people, anxiety takes over their lives. How can you tell if you’re an average worrywart or if you might have an anxiety disorder? Your degree of distress is often a good indicator. Normal anxiety typically comes from a specific source of stress, like an upcoming job interview or a fight with your spouse. When the issue is resolved, the anxiety usually eases. With an anxiety disorder, you could be anxious all of the time and worry about everything from money to sexual performance to the well-being of loved ones, often for no good reason. Putting a Name to Your Feelings Excessive worrying is a sign of what’s called “generalized anxiety disorder.” Sudden episodes of anxiety, distress or discomfort that may be accompanied by troubling physical symptoms, like a rapid heart rate, can be signs of a “panic disorder.” Anxiety over something specific — like the fear of flying, heights, small spaces or spiders — are all very common “phobias.” One sign of a problem is the intensity of your distress — if your anxiety is out of proportion with the problem when a real problem exists. The amount of time you spend worrying is also a clue. A study of people’s worry diaries found that those with an anxiety disorder worried for more than five hours…  read on >

Taking courses online has made it easier for thousands of college students to meet their degree requirements, but this type of learning may hold the most benefit for people who are interested in continuing education throughout their lives. Courses that let you explore a topic of interest or gain a new skill for work keep your mind sharp and could even pay off with a promotion. Being able to do coursework online often means you can fit it into your schedule, no matter how hectic it is. This is especially true if you choose a class with pre-recorded sessions, though you might prefer one with a live experience and participant interaction. Online study also allows you to take classes from universities that could be thousands of miles from home. There’s no shortage of choices with varying fees. But there are also free courses from outstanding institutions. For instance, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has put material from 2,400 courses online through its MIT OpenCourseWare. The HarvardX program offers free courses from Harvard and its partners, including MIT, the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Texas System and Boston University. The idea is that the feedback from participants can improve their courses and help independent learners enrich their lives. The only thing you need besides an internet connection is self-discipline. It could take more…  read on >

From defective child car seats to deadly virus outbreaks at restaurant chains, you’re likely to learn of major product recalls and serious health warnings through various news outlets. But there’s such a large number of alerts, big and small, that you might not hear about all of them, or hear about them soon enough to take steps to protect yourself and your family. One way to stay current is to sign up with the various government agencies that deliver alerts directly to your inbox or smartphone. You can also follow those agencies on Twitter or Facebook. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration puts out alerts about drugs and supplements, medical devices, vaccines and cosmetics through its MedWatch program. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is your source for recalls as well as safety standards for household items, and the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service reports on problems from contamination to food mislabeling, such as not listing an allergen like nuts or eggs on a packaged item’s ingredients label. To make signing up easier, the government has created Recalls.gov, a one-stop-shop for six key agencies. On the site, you can request recall notifications and get a variety of safety tips, as well as conduct your own searches under seven categories: consumer products, motor vehicles, boats, food, medicine, cosmetics and environmental products. You also…  read on >

Motorists are more likely to plow into a deer on U.S. highways after the annual “fall back” end of daylight saving time (DST), a new study shows. That’s because frisky deer in the middle of their mating season (also known as rut) are crossing roads that become shrouded in darkness earlier in the day with the time change, researchers explained. There’s a 16% increase in deer-vehicle collisions in the week following the shift from DST to standard time, according to a report published Nov. 2 in the journal Current Biology. What’s more, nearly 1 in 10 of all deer-vehicle wrecks occur during the two-week period around the switch from DST to standard time, researchers found. Adopting permanent daylight saving time could save dozens of deaths, thousands of injuries and more than $1.1 billion in damages every year, just by warding off deer-related car crashes, researchers say. “Wildlife-vehicle collisions are a huge and growing problem,” said co-lead author Calum Cunningham, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Washington. “There are social costs — people killed and injured — and it’s also a conservation problem as it’s one of the largest sources of human-caused mortality of wildlife,” he said in a university news release. An estimated 2.1 million deer-vehicle crashes occur in the United States each year, killing about 440 people, causing 59,000 injuries and racking up…  read on >  read on >

Although blood pressure levels among Americans rose during the COVID-19 pandemic, new research suggests things could have been far worse. “We expected blood pressure control to be worse due to decreased physical activity, stress, poor sleep and other cardiovascular disease risk factors that worsened during the pandemic,” said study leader Dr. Hiroshi Gotanda, an assistant professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. “But the results were better than we expected, probably because of the use of telemedicine and home monitoring of blood pressure,” he noted. For the study, which was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, researchers looked at the electronic data records of more than 137,500 adults who had high blood pressure (hypertension) and were treated at Cedars-Sinai, Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City, and Ochsner Health in New Orleans. Patients were an average age of 66. About 57% were women, while 30% were Black. The researchers compared blood pressure outcomes before the pandemic, from August 2018 through January 2020, with those during the peak of the pandemic, from April 2020 through January 2021. The number of blood pressure readings declined by as much as 90% during the first three months of the pandemic. Measurements began to increase as the months passed, though they were still below pre-pandemic levels. This may…  read on >  read on >